(Olivia’s POV)The morning after the storm was unnervingly quiet.The tension from the previous night wavered like static in the air. Armando had left early, barely offering a word as he slipped out of the penthouse. I didn’t stop him, and he didn’t explain where he was going. It felt easier that way—ignoring the lingering heat of his touch and the unanswered questions swirling in my mind.But the stillness of the penthouse was suffocating. Every room felt too big, too empty, and I needed something to occupy my hands. Anything to drown out the thoughts I wasn’t ready to face.The library seemed as good a place as any.The space was cavernous, the kind of room that could swallow you whole if you weren’t careful. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed with books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in decades.I traced my fingers along the spines, letting the feel of the leather ground me. Most of the titles were unfamiliar—business texts, histories, and biographies of peo
(Armando’s POV)I should’ve seen it coming.The first call came just after dawn, dragging me out of the few hours of restless sleep I’d managed to get. I answered it before the second ring, already knowing it wouldn’t be good news.“It’s started,” Matteo said, his voice clipped and cold. “Ferro’s people are making moves. They’ve frozen two accounts in Zurich and intercepted a shipment at the port.”I gritted my teeth, sitting up in bed. “How?”“We’re still figuring that out,” he replied. “But it’s calculated. Precise. He’s going for the throat.”I hung up without another word, my mind already racing. Alessandro Ferro had been circling like a shark for months, but this? This was bold, even for him. He wasn’t just testing the waters anymore—he was striking where it hurt.By the time I walked into the living room, Matteo was waiting for me, papers spread across the coffee table and a laptop open to a series of spreadsheets that made my stomach churn.“Four shipments stalled,” he said wit
(Olivia’s POV)It wasn’t the kind of decision you planned.One moment I was pacing the penthouse, trying to make sense of the storm brewing around us. The next, I found myself in Armando’s office, standing in front of his desk with trembling hands.The tension from our last conversation still sat heavy between us. He’d been gone most of the day, leaving me alone with my thoughts—the worst place to be. His words played on a loop in my head: Stay out of it.But how could I? Ferro was attacking, Samantha’s name had resurfaced in whispers, and Armando’s silence was like a wall I couldn’t scale. I could do anything to get back at that witch Samantha.So there I was, staring down at his files. His fortress of neatly labeled folders and encrypted documents.I told myself I was just looking for clarity, for something to make me feel less like a pawn in whatever game Armando and Ferro were playing. But the moment my fingers brushed against the edges of those papers, I knew I’d crossed a line I
(Olivia’s POV)The room was so cold, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones no matter how hard you tried to shake it off.I sat on a stiff leather chair, my wrists free but my body frozen in place. The walls were bare, industrial gray, and the only sound was the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. I wasn’t tied up or restrained, but the two men stationed at the door made it clear I wasn’t going anywhere.Ferro hadn’t shown himself yet, but I could feel his presence in the room—an invisible weight pressing against my chest, heavy and suffocating.The door creaked open, and there he was. Alessandro Ferro.He was taller than I’d expected, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, his every movement exuding power and control. His dark eyes locked onto mine as he entered, his lips curling into a smile that sent a chill down my spine.“Olivia Pierce,” he said smoothly, his voice low and calm. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”“I can’t say the feeling is mutual,” I replied, my
(Dual POV)(Olivia’s POV)Ferro had left me alone with his words, the weight of his offer pressing down on my chest like a vice. Betray Armando, and Ferro would destroy James for me.It wasn’t just the deal that rattled me—it was the possibility that Ferro might be right about Armando’s lies.The door creaked open, and I stiffened, expecting Ferro’s return. But instead, I heard quick, muffled footsteps outside, followed by shouting.Then came the gunshots.One. Two. Three.Each one sent a jolt through my body, and the air suddenly felt too thin.What’s happening?I stood slowly, my legs shaky beneath me, when the door burst open with a force that knocked it against the wall. My breath caught in my throat.“Get up,” Armando commanded, his voice low and dangerous.And just like that, everything changed.His voice cut through the haze like a knife, sharp and commanding.I stared at him, my mind struggling to keep up with what I was seeing. Armando was here, standing in the doorway like a
(Olivia’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the past few hours replaying in my mind like a broken record. Ferro’s words, Armando’s confession, the cold efficiency with which he’d rescued me—it all blended into a haze of confusion and exhaustion.I was too drained to cry, too numb to feel anything except the nagging ache in my chest. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, its incessant vibration cutting through the silence.Reluctantly, I picked it up.That’s when the world shifted and my eyes went wide and wild.The message was from an unknown number, a single link accompanied by two words: “Watch this.”I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen. Every instinct told me to delete it, to ignore it, but curiosity—or maybe masochism—got the better of me. I clicked.The video began, shaky and grainy at first, like something captured on a hidden camera. But when the image cleared, my stomach dropped.It was me.The footage showed me at a gala weeks ago, leaning into Armando’
(Olivia’s POV)The plan was simple—or at least, Armando made it seem that way.We sat across from each other at the kitchen table, the lights casting sharp shadows across his sharp jaw lin. His jaw was tense, his brow furrowed as he outlined the steps we’d take to dismantle James’s latest stunt.“First, we discredit the video,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Matteo is already working on tracking the source and finding evidence of manipulation. We’ll leak the truth before the media has time to run with the lie.”“And James?” I asked, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.Armando’s eyes darkened. “He won’t get another chance to humiliate you. I’ll make sure of it.” He sounded so confident as he locked eyes with me.I nodded, though my chest still ached with the weight of everything and truly couldn’t believe that James was still bent on ruining me after the betrayal from him, after using and dumbing ne like a piece of trash. “And what about me? What do I do?”“You focus on staying s
(Samantha’s POV)There’s a certain art to betrayal.The trick is to always stay one step ahead, to make people think they’re the ones pulling the strings while you tighten the noose around their necks. That’s what I’d done with James and Armando, manipulating them both while feeding Ferro just enough information to keep him hungry.But the thing about playing with fire is that it burns.And tonight, I was about to get scorched.The meeting was supposed to be routine—another dark, smoky room filled with Ferro’s cronies, another exchange of information that would leave me just a little richer and a little closer to untangling myself from this mess.But the moment I stepped into the room, I knew something was wrong.Ferro was already seated at the head of the table, his sharp suit impeccable, his cold eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement. Beside him, James leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.“Gentlemen,” I said smoothly, stridi
(Armando’s POV)I watched from the shadows as Olivia left Ferro’s estate, her steps faltering, her face pale.She didn’t know I was there. She didn’t know I’d followed her, seen the way Ferro’s eyes gleamed with victory as he leaned in close to her, whispering words meant to ensnare her on his balcony.But I knew.Ferro wasn’t just playing a game—he was closing in. And if I didn’t act now, I’d lose her forever.——The office smelled of smoke and leather, the air thick with the pressure of decisions I didn’t want to make. Matteo stood across from me, his expression grim as he laid the latest report on my desk.“Ferro’s moving fast,” he said, his tone clipped. “He’s consolidating his power, leveraging everything he’s got. He’s coming for you, boss.”“And Olivia,” I said, my voice low.Matteo hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Especially her.” I exhaled heavily and gritted my teeth.The thought of Ferro anywhere near her sent a surge of rage through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. Ferr
(Olivia’s POV)Ferro’s estate felt colder when I left.The deal had been struck, but as the gates closed behind me, a knot tightened in my chest. I was in over my head, aligning with a man like Ferro. But James had to fall—there was no other way. That was the one thing I craved and I was willing to give my all for that to happen. As much as I was angry and wanted to hate Armando, I just couldn’t and I hated myself for that.Still, Ferro’s parting words haunted me: “Remember, Olivia, trust is for fools. You’re better than that.”———-The office hadn’t changed, but James had.He sat behind his desk, the smirk I once found charming now a mask for desperation. The lines around his eyes were deeper, his posture less confident. But the arrogance was still there, festering beneath the surface. Just setting my eyes on the maniac made my blood boil.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “The prodigal wife. To what do I owe this honor?”I stepped forward, the folder clutche
(Dual POV)(Olivia’s POV)I ran.The echoes of their voices—James’s accusations, Armando’s desperate pleas—still clung to me as I stumbled into the night. My chest was tight, my vision blurred, and the ring on my finger felt like a shackle I couldn’t remove fast enough.Everything was a lie.The man I had trusted, the man I had begun to care for, had orchestrated the destruction of my family. Armando had played me, just like James and Ferro had, and now I was left in the ruins of their games.I tore the ring off my finger.It wasn’t a declaration. It was a surrender. And I knew just what to do to make everyone pay.Olivia’s POVI didn’t know how long I wandered the streets before I ended up outside Ferro’s estate.The guards at the gate didn’t stop me this time. They simply stepped aside, their expressions unreadable as I walked through the towering iron gates.Inside, the house was quiet, save for the soft hum of classical music floating through the air. Ferro was waiting for me in t
(Olivia’s POV)The proposal was nothing like I imagined.Armando didn’t kneel. There were no flowers, no grand declarations of love. Just him, standing in the middle of the living room, his dark eyes piercing mine as he held out a velvet box.“This is what needs to happen,” he said simply.I stared at him, the uncertainty of his words pressing down on me. “What do you mean, ‘needs to happen’?”His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might backpedal. But that wasn’t Armando. He never faltered.“It’s the only way to solidify the alliances we’ve been building,” he explained. “A show of unity. Strength.”“So this is about business,” I said bitterly, folding my arms across my chest.“It’s about survival,” he corrected, his tone sharp.I wanted to laugh, to throw the ring box back at him and tell him to shove his survival. But when I looked at him—really looked at him—I saw something I didn’t expect.Fear.Not for himself, but for me.“Olivia,” he said, stepping closer, his voice
(James’ POV)The whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t enough to dull the weight in my chest.My reflection in the office window stared back at me, the sharp lines of my jaw and the glint of my watch mocking me. Once, I’d been untouchable. Once, the name James Calloway had commanded respect. Now, I was a man clinging to the edges of a world that had spat me out, a world Armando Moretti ruled with iron fists and Olivia Pierce at his side.That bastard.I set the glass down, my fingers drumming against the desk. Every move Armando made was calculated, every step another reminder that I’d been outplayed. But that didn’t mean I was out of the game. Not yet.The knock on the door came precisely on time.“Come in,” I said, adjusting my tie.Ferro entered, his sharp suit and sharper smile giving him the air of a man who thrived on chaos. He took the seat opposite me without waiting for an invitation, his eyes assessing, calculating.“James,” he said smoothly, leaning back i
(Dual POV)Olivia’s POVThe penthouse was eerily quiet when I returned, the weight of Ferro’s words clinging to me like a second skin.“With me, you could be so much more.”The idea gnawed at me, tempting and terrifying in equal measure. Ferro had made himself out to be the devil I knew—the one who told me the truths Armando wouldn’t. But deep down, I knew he wasn’t a savior. He was a predator, circling me because he saw the cracks Armando had left behind.But was he wrong?I didn’t trust Armando anymore—not fully. His secrets, his violent world, the files that laid my life bare—it was all too much. And yet, the thought of betraying him made my stomach turn.I found him in the living room, his figure partially illuminated by the warm glow of a single lamp. He sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped tightly together. He looked up as I entered, his dark eyes locking onto mine like a predator sizing up its prey.“You’re late, where did you go to?” he said
(Olivia and Ferro POV)Olivia’s POVSleep was a distant memory.I tossed and turned, Armando’s words replaying in my head on a loop. “This is protection, Olivia. Do you have any idea how many people want you dead?”Every time I closed my eyes, the image of that secret room surfaced—the files, the photos, the lies disguised as truths. He said it was for my protection, but how could I believe that when everything about him felt like a game I didn’t know the rules to? It was more as though everything around me was a lie and to be truthful, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.He hadn’t come to find me after our argument. He’d stayed in his office, the door closed, leaving me alone to drown in my thoughts. Still while thinking about my life, I couldn’t stop to have flashbacks of how Armando fucked me. The memory was alway fresh in my head and each time my nipples get so hard at the thought of him. I really wanted to stop thinking about it but still couldn’t get it off my head. The way h
(Olivia’s POV)The penthouse was quieter than it had ever been.The kind of silence that didn’t feel like peace but like the edge of a storm. Armando hadn’t said a word since we’d left the auction. He hadn’t needed to—the blood on his shirt, the fire in his eyes, and the bodies left in his wake had spoken loudly enough.I was exhausted, my thoughts a tangled mess as I walked aimlessly through the sprawling space. The events of the night replayed in my mind on a loop: Ferro’s taunts, the bids climbing higher and higher, and then the explosion of chaos when Armando made his move.Protector or predator?I didn’t have an answer anymore.I’d seen the lengths Armando would go to for me. I’d felt the raw intensity of his actions, the way he’d cut through Ferro’s men like they were nothing more than obstacles in his way. But the violence—the sheer, unrelenting force of it—had shaken something loose inside me.And then there was the auction itself, the truths Ferro had dangled like bait. My na
(Armando’s POV)The moment Ferro said her name, the world tilted.Olivia’s name on that screen. Her life, her family, her scars—laid bare for the vultures to pick apart.Ferro had crossed a line, and I was done playing his game and I couldn’t stick to my plan anymore.I stepped into the spotlight, tearing off the mask I’d worn to blend into this den of filth. My fury cut through the crowd like a blade, and they scattered as if sensing the storm I was about to unleash.“Enough,” I said, my voice low, sharp, and final.The crowd froze. Even Ferro, who thrived on chaos, faltered for a moment before regaining his smug composure.“Armando,” he said smoothly, spreading his arms like a ringmaster basking in applause. “What a surprise. Have you come to bid, or just to steal the show?”“You’ve gone too far,” I said, my words laced with venom. “Take her off the docket. Now.”Ferro smirked, tilting his head as if he found my anger amusing. “I don’t think you understand how this works. Once a sec