Asher’s POVThe office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished as always, her expression calm and professional, but there was something behind her eyes, hesitation, maybe even doubt.“Mr. Sterling,” she said, her voice level, “the board meeting starts in two minutes. We need to leave now.”I exhaled slowly, nodding as I grabbed the file I had barely skimmed through. Two minutes. I had two minutes before I’d be sitting in a room fu
Asher’s POVI sat in my office, staring out at the city skyline, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The disaster at the last meeting wouldn’t leave my mind. The company board did not have faith in me.Some investors had walked out, disgusted by the company’s ties to the mafia. I had tried to salvage the situation, offering reassurances, but their expressions had been unreadable, their minds already made up.I needed to act fast. If I didn’t, I would lose the majority of our investors, and the company would crumble. That wasn’t an option.The company was our legacy; the sacrifices made were too much to let everything fall apart because of one reckless decision.The only way forward was to sever ties with the mafia completely.My jaw tightened as I reached for the intercom. “Evelyn, get in here.”The door opened a moment later, and Evelyn stepped inside. She was as composed as ever, dressed in her usual tailored suit, tablet in hand, waiting for my orders.“Yes, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, her v
Asher’s POVThe morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains as I adjusted my cufflinks, my movements slow and deliberate.Ivy stood behind me, smoothing out the creases in my shirt with gentle hands.Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.“You look good,” she murmured, stepping in front of me to fix my tie. Her fingers brushed against my skin as she adjusted the knot, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “Strong. In control.”I exhaled through my nose. “I wish I felt that way.”She placed her palm flat against my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You are that way. No matter how overwhelming things get, you always find a way.”I looked down at her, at the quiet confidence in her eyes. “I wish the board saw it that way. They’re circling like vultures, waiting for me to slip so they can tear me apart. Investors are already wary because of our affiliations with the mafia, and now I had to cut ties just to give them a reason to stay.”She nodded, her
Asher’s POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood surface. The board members had just left, their concerned voices still ringing in my ears.I had assured them I would find a solution, but the truth was, I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin.How did I end up in this fucking mess? I thought bitterly.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand down my face. There were too many moving pieces, too many variables beyond my control. Should I respond with actual proof of their shady dealings?That could backfire. Exposing them might bring the whole house of cards down on me too. Maybe I should talk to the Don, but would that really solve anything? If anything, it might make things worse.My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I exhaled sharply and straightened. “Come in.”Evelyn stepped inside, her expression unreadable. “Asher, the FBI is here to see you.”My body tensed. Federal authorities had a way of making people say thing
Isabella’s POVThe newsroom was finally quiet. After wrapping up my evening show, most of the crew had cleared out, leaving me alone in my office.The glow from my computer screen illuminated the small space, reflecting off the framed awards on the shelf behind me.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, savoring the rare moment of peace.Then my phone rang.I glanced at the caller ID and froze. Asher Sterling.My heart did a small, stupid flip before I could tell it to calm down. It had been years since high school, and even though he was married now, I had never stopped caring about him.I hesitated for only a second before picking up.“Well, well, well,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “To what do I owe the honor, Mr. Sterling?”“Isabella,” he said, his voice tight. No pleasantries, no playful banter. He was in trouble.My expression sobered. “What happened?”“You’ve seen the news.”I had. Sterling Industries, the mafia, human trafficking. It was a mess. And now, hearing his
IvyI glanced at the text I had just received moments ago. It was a simple, sweet message that read: “Meet me at Amore Hotel. I have a surprise for you.” Just like the first time I read it, it made me blush hard. I turned off the ignition and got out of the car. The hotel stood grand and familiar, a place Max and I had visited many times before. I twirled around and shut my eyes, savoring the gentle caress of the chilly night breeze against my skin.My thoughts ran wild, imagining what kind of surprise awaited me behind that door. Max was never one for grand gestures, so this was a first. Giddy and full of excitement, I walked towards the receptionist. “Hi…”She looked up at me with a wide smile. “Hello, Miss Whitfield.”Of course, she recognized me. This was Max’s and my getaway spot. He didn’t like his studio apartment, so we usually spent our time together here.My smile widened. “A reservation was made?”“Yes, Mr. Max Martin,” she confirmed, glancing at her computer. “Your usual s
Asher’s POV“Contract marriage,” she whispered.I could see right through her forced bravado. It was cute to watch her. She couldn’t even hold my gaze, looking as nervous as hell.I smiled at her. “Of course.” Heaven knows how long I’ve waited for her and how painful it was to watch her waste herself loving someone who didn’t deserve her. I had my eyes on Ivy Whitfield for as long as I could remember. We were always stuck at the same society functions, dictated by the families we were born into. The first time I saw her, I was star-struck. We were just teenagers then. She had walked up to me, hands on her hips, and told me, “I wasn’t shit.” Apparently, I was already infamous among the ladies.“Deal...” I extended my hand to her. She hesitated.I wasn’t sure if she remembered, but ever since that day, I teased her relentlessly. I had always wanted her attention. I had always wanted her, and today she had played right into my hands easily. Of course, I tweaked a few things here and ther
Ivy’s POVI stood before a delicate wooden arch decorated with white, lush blooms. My strapless lace white dress clung to my figure, stopping mid-thigh, paired with matching white platform heels. My hair was styled to perfection, and light makeup graced my face. Despite it all, I fidgeted with my hands, glancing nervously around.The officiating lady across from me offered a pitiful look.I forced a small smile. “He’s coming, he’s just running late…” I didn’t actually know that. In fact, there were so many things I didn’t know about my would-be husband. Yet here I was, dressed in white, waiting to be married to the one person who annoyed me the most in the world.You’d think the drive home would have cleared my head. Or the long sleep afterward, or even the early morning cry. But none of it helped—not the sumptuous breakfast I’d had earlier either. My brain screamed at me to stop, but my heart kept leading me on.“Wow! You look delicious, babe!” That deep, mesmerizing voice came from
Isabella’s POVThe newsroom was finally quiet. After wrapping up my evening show, most of the crew had cleared out, leaving me alone in my office.The glow from my computer screen illuminated the small space, reflecting off the framed awards on the shelf behind me.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, savoring the rare moment of peace.Then my phone rang.I glanced at the caller ID and froze. Asher Sterling.My heart did a small, stupid flip before I could tell it to calm down. It had been years since high school, and even though he was married now, I had never stopped caring about him.I hesitated for only a second before picking up.“Well, well, well,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “To what do I owe the honor, Mr. Sterling?”“Isabella,” he said, his voice tight. No pleasantries, no playful banter. He was in trouble.My expression sobered. “What happened?”“You’ve seen the news.”I had. Sterling Industries, the mafia, human trafficking. It was a mess. And now, hearing his
Asher’s POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood surface. The board members had just left, their concerned voices still ringing in my ears.I had assured them I would find a solution, but the truth was, I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin.How did I end up in this fucking mess? I thought bitterly.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand down my face. There were too many moving pieces, too many variables beyond my control. Should I respond with actual proof of their shady dealings?That could backfire. Exposing them might bring the whole house of cards down on me too. Maybe I should talk to the Don, but would that really solve anything? If anything, it might make things worse.My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I exhaled sharply and straightened. “Come in.”Evelyn stepped inside, her expression unreadable. “Asher, the FBI is here to see you.”My body tensed. Federal authorities had a way of making people say thing
Asher’s POVThe morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains as I adjusted my cufflinks, my movements slow and deliberate.Ivy stood behind me, smoothing out the creases in my shirt with gentle hands.Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.“You look good,” she murmured, stepping in front of me to fix my tie. Her fingers brushed against my skin as she adjusted the knot, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “Strong. In control.”I exhaled through my nose. “I wish I felt that way.”She placed her palm flat against my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You are that way. No matter how overwhelming things get, you always find a way.”I looked down at her, at the quiet confidence in her eyes. “I wish the board saw it that way. They’re circling like vultures, waiting for me to slip so they can tear me apart. Investors are already wary because of our affiliations with the mafia, and now I had to cut ties just to give them a reason to stay.”She nodded, her
Asher’s POVI sat in my office, staring out at the city skyline, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The disaster at the last meeting wouldn’t leave my mind. The company board did not have faith in me.Some investors had walked out, disgusted by the company’s ties to the mafia. I had tried to salvage the situation, offering reassurances, but their expressions had been unreadable, their minds already made up.I needed to act fast. If I didn’t, I would lose the majority of our investors, and the company would crumble. That wasn’t an option.The company was our legacy; the sacrifices made were too much to let everything fall apart because of one reckless decision.The only way forward was to sever ties with the mafia completely.My jaw tightened as I reached for the intercom. “Evelyn, get in here.”The door opened a moment later, and Evelyn stepped inside. She was as composed as ever, dressed in her usual tailored suit, tablet in hand, waiting for my orders.“Yes, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, her v
Asher’s POVThe office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished as always, her expression calm and professional, but there was something behind her eyes, hesitation, maybe even doubt.“Mr. Sterling,” she said, her voice level, “the board meeting starts in two minutes. We need to leave now.”I exhaled slowly, nodding as I grabbed the file I had barely skimmed through. Two minutes. I had two minutes before I’d be sitting in a room fu
Asher’s POVIt had been three weeks, and Marcus was still in a coma.Three weeks of sitting by his bedside, hoping for a sign, any sign, that he was coming back to us.I had spent most of my time at the hospital, sometimes with Ivy or Janine, but mostly alone.The doctors gave the same updates every day, their words rehearsed, their voices carefully measured: No change. Stable but unresponsive. We just have to wait.Wait.Like that was something I could do.I didn’t know how to exist outside of this hospital room anymore. My world had shrunk to this space, to the steady hum of machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic, and the unbearable sight of my brother lying still in that bed. But today, I had no choice but to leave.I was about to step out of the house when my father’s voice stopped me.“Asher,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “We need to talk.”I turned to face him. He looked exhausted, more worn down than I had ever seen him.The dark circles under his eyes, the way his s
Asher’s POVThe hospital room was unnervingly quiet, with the only other noise coming from the occasional rustle of fabric as I shifted in my chair and the soft beeping of the heart monitor.Yet, beneath the silence, there was an unshakable tension that made Marcus’s fragile state feel even more real, like he was on the edge of something irreversible, something permanent.It was the only sound breaking the silence, yet somehow, it was deafening. Each measured beep was like a countdown, marking the agonizing passage of time since the accident. Four days.Four days of waiting, of watching, of hoping for something, anything, to change.Four days since my world had come to a screeching halt.Ivy had been discharged, and I should have felt relieved. I should have been grateful that at least she was safe, that she had walked away from this with her life intact. But I couldn’t feel anything close to relief. Not when Marcus was still here, trapped in a lifeless state, hooked up to wires and m
Janine’s POVThe phone was cold against my ear, my grip so tight my knuckles ached.“I need you to meet me immediately,” I said, my voice sharp. “Bring as many men as you can.”There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then a gruff voice responded, “How many are we talking?”“All of them.”The words left my mouth without hesitation. I didn’t care what it cost. I didn’t care what lines I had to cross.My brothers were walking straight into hell, and I wasn’t about to sit back and pray they came out alive.They left without thinking it through.Marcus was smart, but sometimes even he let emotions cloud his judgment. Asher? He wasn’t thinking at all. He was too desperate, too reckless.I knew they weren’t ready for what they were stepping into, but they didn’t wait. They just went.And I wasn’t going to let them die because of it.The black SUVs I hired rolled up minutes later, their engines roaring loudly. One by one, the mercenaries stepped out, each of them armed to the te
Asher’s POVGunfire erupted the moment I stormed into the building with Luca and Marcus. The scent of gunpowder and blood filled the air, mixing with the sharp cries of men dropping to the floor.My heart pounded, but I barely registered the chaos. My mind had only one thought: Ivy.I scanned the dimly lit warehouse frantically, my pulse hammering in my ears. My grip tightened around my gun as I pushed forward, ducking behind a stack of crates.Then, through the haze of bullets and bodies, I saw her.Ivy.She stood near the back of the room, bound and struggling, her dark hair wild, her face pale. My breath caught in my throat. She was right there. So close. But she wasn’t alone. Taylor stood in front of her, a knife gleaming in her grip.Panic crashed through me. I turned to Luca and Marcus. “Be careful! Ivy’s right there!”Luca gave a sharp nod, his jaw clenched as he took cover and fired precisely at Taylor’s men. Marcus moved beside him, dropping two of them with clean shots. I ba