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A Very Stiff Start
Last Updated:
2025-02-03 19:40:34
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Billionaire's Choice This Is Power
When the car pulled up in front of the Deveraux Group’s headquarters, Gabriel didn’t wait for me. The company was a towering skyscraper in the heart of San Francisco, shaped like a sleek, modern rectangle with sharp edges and reflective glass panels that mirrored the sky. At the very top, the gold company logo stood proudly against the dark glass, visible from blocks away.He stepped out first, adjusting his cufflinks as if he had somewhere far more important to be. I sighed, tightening my grip on my purse before following him.The moment his shoes hit the pavement, I saw the shift. Employees outside immediately straightened up. Conversations died, and people hurried to adjust their posture as they spotted their CEO walking in. Even the doorman, who had been chatting with a receptionist, quickly stood at attention, bowing his head slightly as Gabriel strode past.I sighed and followed, gripping my purse.The moment I stepped inside, all eyes were on me.The sleek, modern lobby—its ma
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Billionaire's Choice Gabriel’s POV
Sleeping in the same room as her was the last thing I ever wanted.But I wasn’t about to disrespect Grandma—not when she had the power to ruin everything I’d built.She had made it clear. If I didn’t play along, she’d donate everything to charity. Everything I had sacrificed for, every late night I had spent working, every deal I had closed, wouldn’t it all be for nothing. I wasn’t going to let that happen.So, I kept my mouth shut through dinner, even when that fraud’s voice irritated the hell out of me. I nodded when necessary, pretended to listen, and the second it was over, I left.I didn’t wait for that fraud. I didn’t even look at her.I just went straight to my room.By the time she walked in, I was already standing by the window, dressed in nothing but my shorts. I didn’t acknowledge her. I didn’t have to.I knew she was staring.I could feel it, the weight of her presence lingering by the bed, watching me like she was waiting for something.I clenched my jaw, keeping my back
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Billionaire's Choice You're My Enemy
I looked at the laptop Jonathan handed me and was shocked. With all due respect, had Grandma completely lost it? Giving Aria shares from the company? I was taken so aback.I scrolled through the document, rereading every line, hoping I had misunderstood. But there it was - clear as day. 25% of the company’s shares, transferred to Aria’s name. My jaw tightened.I closed the laptop, exhaling slowly through my nose. “When did this happen?” I finally asked, my voice tighter than I intended.Jonathan shifted slightly. “The paperwork was finalized yesterday.”She really thought she could force this into something real. That by giving Aria shares, by tying her to the company, she could make this marriage mean something.The most annoying part is they all kept me in the dark. I turned to Jonathan, my voice clipped. “Summon her.”Jonathan gave a small nod and stepped out without another word.I leaned back in my chair, my fingers laced together as I waited. That witch had some explaining to d
Last Updated : 2025-02-06Billionaire's Choice The Battle Begins
The tension in Gabriel’s office was suffocating as the clock neared the end of the workday. He barely glanced up from his laptop, his fingers tapping impatiently against the desk. His mind was consumed with unfinished business. Contracts, negotiations, and the mess from his so-called wife.Jonathan stood near the door, waiting for instructions. The moment Gabriel signed off on his last call, he exhaled sharply and shut his laptop.“Tell the chauffeur to leave the keys. I’ll drive myself home,” Gabriel ordered without looking up.Jonathan hesitated for a second. “Sir, are you sure? The roads are…”“Did I stutter?” Gabriel snapped, rubbing his temples. “I don’t need a damn chauffeur breathing down my neck today.”Jonathan nodded quickly and left to relay the message.By the time Gabriel reached the parking lot, the sleek black Mercedes-Maybach S-Class was waiting for him. He yanked the door open and slid into the driver’s seat, resting his hands on the wheel. His jaw clenched as he let
Last Updated : 2025-02-07Billionaire's Choice Kitchen Gossip
I licked a crumb off my thumb as I leaned forward, my elbows now resting on the kitchen counter. The last bite of my sandwich sat comfortably in my stomach. Not the most exciting meal, but enough to keep me going until dinner.Across the kitchen, two women moved around with an ease that came from routine. I’d seen them before, chatted with them in passing. But I hadn’t really sat with them like this. They were older than me, both dressed in crisp white aprons, their sleeves rolled up as they handled the quiet tasks that came before cooking actually started. One was at the sink, rinsing a cutting board, while the other sorted through a basket of fresh vegetables.Maria and Elise. That was their names. I hadn’t asked directly, but I’d picked them up from listening. Maria, the shorter one with a round face and a smile that always seemed ready to appear, was the chattier of the two. Elise, taller and leaner, had a sharper look about her, like someone who noticed everything but only spoke
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Billionaire's Choice Married in Name Only
Gabriel’s POVThe tension at dinner was heavy and unsettling, because Ethan was back. I spotted him the moment I stepped into the dining area. He was already seated, leaning back with one arm draped lazily over the chair. A glass of red wine swirled between his fingers, and he watched it like there was something more interesting in the liquid than the people around him.I didn’t react. He wanted me to.Instead, I pulled out my chair and sat down, ignoring the way his gaze lingered on me, waiting for a response. Grandma sat at the head of the table, stiff and composed. The staff moved around quietly, setting down plates, but there was an unmistakable heaviness in the air.No one welcomed Ethan back.He smirked as I picked up my fork. “Didn’t think I’d miss a family dinner, did you?”I didn’t look at him. “Didn’t think you’d be back at all.”He laughed, deep and amused. “Well, you know me. Full of surprises.”No, I knew him. And surprises weren’t his thing. If Ethan was here, it wasn’t
Last Updated : 2025-02-09Billionaire's Choice Thin Lines
Gabriel’s POVYesterday, after dinner, when everybody had gone. I wasn’t in a rush to leave the dining room. Grandma also was still there, she sat across from me, her fingers lightly tapping against the wooden table, a habit she had whenever she was deep in thought. The house was quiet now, the air thick with the remnants of an earlier tension that hadn’t quite settled.Then she spoke.“I wasn’t surprised to see him today,” she said, almost absently.I didn’t need to ask who she was talking about.I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Of course you weren’t. He always comes back.”“He’s still my son.”“He’s still a problem,” I countered. “Let me guess. He’s broke again, and now he’s come running back to his safety net.”Grandma gave me a sharp look, the kind that used to send fear down my spine as a kid. But I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was a grown man who had spent years cleaning up after my older brother’s messes, and I wasn’t about to start again.“Gabriel, I know your brother has made
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Aria’s POVAdjusting to this job, and this life was still a work in progress.I sat behind my desk, sipping my morning coffee, staring at the view from my floor-to-ceiling windows. The city skyline stretched before me, glittering under the morning sun, a reminder of just how far I had come… and how much further I had to go.The office had started to feel a little less intimidating, though. The first few days had been overwhelming. Whispers, stares, the occasional polite-but-not-really-friendly smiles. I knew what people thought. That I didn’t belong here. That I was just the CEO’s wife, placed in an executive role as a formality.Honestly? I would’ve thought the same if I were them.But I was determined to prove them wrong.I glanced at the time. 8:45 AM. A little earlier than I usually started, but I needed the extra time to breathe before the chaos of the day began. My office, at least, was my safe space. Sleek, spacious, and surprisingly cozy. Gabriel, or rather, the company, had s
Last Updated : 2025-02-12
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Gabriel’s POVI exhaled, rolling my shoulders back before turning to her.I pulled open the passenger door, and the first thing that hit me was the sharp, acidic scent of vomit. Aria sat stiffly, her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap, her body tense. Her face was turned away from me, her breath shallow, and even in the dim light, I could see the way her shoulders shook ever so slightly.She was embarrassed.“Edward, take the car home,” I ordered, already reaching for her. “She’s coming with me.”Edward nodded.I didn’t give her the chance to speak. Instead, I reached for her—gently, but firmly. “Come here.”She hesitated, her pride forcing her to resist, but I didn’t let her. I slid one arm beneath her legs and the other around her back, and lifted her out of the car, cradling her against my chest. She weighed nothing. Her breath hitched.“I—”“Quiet.”Her body went rigid, but she didn’t fight me as I carried her toward my car. The scent of vomit lingered between us, but I di
Billionaire's Choice The Attack
Gabriel’s POVThe moment I ended the call with Edward, I grabbed my keys and strode toward the garage, my mind a storm of calculations and frustration.She had insisted on leaving.I had been on my way. I had told Edward to not leave the restaurant before I got there. But Aria, being stubborn and impossible, had decided otherwise.I yanked open the driver’s side door and slid in, the engine roaring to life beneath my grip. As I pulled out of the driveway, I was already dialing Jonathan.He picked up immediately.“I need you tracking a vehicle. Grey sedan, following my wife’s car. Edward just confirmed it.”I couldn’t stop myself before I said it. My wife.There was no hesitation. “I’m on it.”“Get me everything. Were they waiting before she left? Did they tail her from the restaurant?”A few clicks on Jonathan’s end. Then: “They were parked a block away before she even stepped outside.”My jaw tightened. That confirmed it. This wasn’t a coincidence.“They’re taking the alternate route
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Gabriel’s POVSaturdays used to be mine.No meetings, no endless calls, no forced conversations. Just quiet.Some mornings, I’d work out in the private gym, the rhythmic sound of weights grounding me. Other days, I’d spend hours in my study, reading reports or reviewing investments, uninterrupted. If I felt like it, I’d take the car out for a long drive with no destination—just me, the road, and silence.But that silence had been harder to find ever since I got married.I told myself nothing had changed. That I still did what I wanted, when I wanted.And yet, here I was, sitting in my private lounge, drink in hand, watching her.The live feed played on my screen, and my eyes were locked onto it. Locked onto her.Aria sat in the corner of the restaurant, completely unaware that I could see her. She was smiling—really smiling. Not the forced, polite one she gave me. Not the blank look she used when she wanted to ignore me. This was different. Effortless. Real.I let out a slow breath, s
Billionaire's Choice Eyes Everywhere
Aria’s PovThe restaurant buzzed with the usual weekend crowd—brunch-goers sipping on mimosas, forks clinking against porcelain plates, and soft laughter weaving through the background noise. But my attention was locked on the entrance.Minutes passes and then, I saw them.Nicole. Jenna. Liv. My girls.Three hurricanes walking into a room—effortless, loud, and completely unapologetic.Before I could react, I was engulfed in a hug—Nicole’s arms tight around me, her silky black bob brushing against my cheek. She smelled like expensive perfume, the kind that lingered even after she left the room. “Do you know how much we missed you?” she huffed, pulling back just enough to scan me from head to toe. Her sharp brown eyes sparkled with mischief. “Look at you. Hair done. Nails done. Dripping in money. You look rich.”I scoffed. “I look the same.”“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re actually married now,” Liv gasped, holding me at arm’s length. Her sun-kissed blonde waves were lighter from the
Billionaire's Choice Unwanted Concern
Aria's POVI pushed the thought aside, forcing my mind to focus on something other than the unsettling weight of last night.I wasn’t about to sit here and analyze why Gabriel had helped me. That wasn’t something I needed to think about. What I needed was space, air and a distraction.I turned away from him, heading toward the bathroom for a shower. Not just because I had just woken up, but because I needed to wash off the remnants of last night. The heaviness in my chest. The way Gabriel's voice had been the one pulling me out of my panic. The thought of him carrying me here.I couldn’t think about any of that.So, without another word, I grabbed my towel and headed straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind me before Gabriel could say anything else.I let the water run hot, standing under the stream for longer than necessary. My muscles ached, my body still felt heavy, but by the time I stepped out, I was at least more awake. I wrapped the towel around me, wiped the steam off
Billionaire's Choice Did We?
Aria’s POVThe first thing I felt when I woke up was warmth. Softness. Comfort. For a moment, I let myself sink into it, my body instinctively relaxing against the mattress. But as consciousness fully set in, confusion followed. My eyes fluttered open, and the familiar sight of the bedroom came into focus. The realization hit me like a jolt. I was in Gabriel’s bed.My heart lurched.I hadn’t slept here in months. Not since that night. Not since everything between Gabriel and me had gone from unbearable to something even worse, something unfixable.I had kept my distance since then, choosing the couch over sharing this space with him. It wasn’t just about avoiding him; it was about me. About respecting myself. I refused to let myself be reduced to some fragile woman who clung to a man who didn’t even want her there. A sluggish heaviness weighed down on my limbs, like I had been wrung out and left to dry. Even as I sat up, a strange fatigue clung to me, making every movement feel slow
Billionaire's Choice Fighting Myself
Lately, the bed had felt colder—something I never thought I’d notice, let alone care about. But I did.I woke up to silence. No soft rustling of sheets beside me. No warmth lingering where she used to be. Just emptiness. The space next to me remained untouched, as if she had never been there at all.I’d been going to bed late lately, and waking up randomly in the middle of the night. Most times, like tonight, I woke up restless. I reached for my phone to check the time, it was 4:18 AM on Saturday.I turned my head slightly, already knowing what I’d find.She was curled up on the couch again.Aria lay on her side, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her body tucked into the corner like she was trying to disappear. A thin blanket barely covered her legs, and I couldn’t help but notice how vulnerable she looked.In the beginning, I’d caught her shivering on those first few nights. I almost reached for a thicker blanket more than once, but every time, I stopped myself. Instead, I’d j
Billionaire's Choice Collision
Gabriel’s POVThe moment Aria’s body went limp, my hands tightened around the wheel. My mind went, what the fuck?I flicked my gaze to her, expecting some kind of reaction. Another insult, maybe that smug smirk she always had when she thought she was winning. But there was nothing. Her head lolled slightly to the side, her breathing shallow.My pulse spiked as I slammed my foot on the brakes. The tires screamed as I yanked the wheel, pulling the car to a sharp stop on the side of the road.“Aria!” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but she didn’t flinch. Didn’t move.A cold sensation crept through my chest. No. This couldn’t be happening.I unbuckled my seatbelt, my heart pounding as I reached for her. I quickly unbuckled her seatbelt as well. My fingers pressed against her neck. Steady pulse. She was alive. Thank fuck.But that wasn’t enough. She still wasn’t moving, and my stomach dropped lower.I leaned in closer, trying to feel her breath against my cheek. The uneven rhyth
Billionaire's Choice Darkness
Aria’s POVYou’d think after an exhausting workday, I’d finally get a break. But no. Being Gabriel Deveraux’s wife means my suffering is round-the-clock.And the best part? I didn’t even hear about the event from Gabriel himself. Of course not. That would require basic communication, and my dear husband doesn’t believe in that. Instead, I heard it from Grandma.“Oh, sweetheart, you and Gabriel will be attending the exclusive tour tonight, right?” she had asked over tea, like it was common knowledge.I had paused mid-sip, processing her words. We are? Because I certainly hadn’t been informed. And judging by the way Grandma spoke, this wasn’t optional. It was an expectation.I wasn’t even surprised. Gabriel had probably planned to mention it at the last minute, just to piss me off. If it weren’t for Grandma, I would’ve been left scrambling.And that’s the thing, Grandma always has my back. We have a good relationship.Unlike the rest of this cold, power-obsessed family, she actually lik
