Gabriel’s POVThe second the doctor stepped inside, I was on him. “Fix her.” The words came out like a threat. Because they were. He barely had time to kneel beside her before I was crouching next to him, watching his every fucking move. His hands pressed against her throat, checking her pulse. He peeled back her eyelids, his face unreadable. The stethoscope came next. Each second that passed felt like a blade against my throat. “Why the fuck isn’t she waking up?” My voice was sharp. Too sharp. But I didn’t give a damn. The doctor looked at me. “She’s alive, but her condition is critical.” I held onto that word. Alive. Barely. “She needs proper medical equipment. A hospital.” “No.” The word was automatic. Final. A hospital meant attention. Questions. Cameras. I wasn’t about to let the entire fucking world speculate over Aria’s unconscious body. The doctor didn’t look surprised. “If she doesn’t get professional care, she might not make it.” I stilled. The air in the room chan
Gabriel’s POV The morning of the fifth day felt like suffocating under water. I hadn’t slept. I couldn’t. The world outside this hospital kept moving, but mine had been stuck in a single moment—the second I found her, broken and bleeding, barely breathing. Every passing hour felt like a noose tightening around my throat. Every breath she took was a battle, and I was losing my fucking mind waiting for her to wake up. By now, I’d memorized every inch of this fucking room. The doctors had started to dance around their words. Their tones softer, measured. Like they were preparing me for something I refused to hear. “We should begin discussing long-term care options…” I lifted my head, the words cutting through the haze of exhaustion. Long-term care. Something inside me snapped. I stood so slowly it was almost deliberate. “What did you just say?” The doctor hesitated. “Mr. Deveraux, I only meant—” “What. Did. You. Just. Say?” I could see it now—the way his throat bobbed, the wa
Aria’s POV It had been weeks since the hospital. Weeks since I opened my eyes to find Gabriel staring at me like he had been holding his breath for days. Since then, everything had changed. He had been there for me—every single day. I didn’t have to ask. I didn’t have to reach for him. He was just there. Always watching, always making sure I was okay. I had never seen this side of him before. Not like this. At first, I thought maybe it was just guilt. Maybe he felt responsible for what had happened. But guilt didn’t explain the way he looked at me now. Or how he touched me—soft, careful, like I was something fragile. Something his. We had gone back to the office a few times, but mostly, we worked from home. It felt… intimate. The space we shared, the moments in between. He made sure I ate. He made sure I rested. He made sure I knew—without saying a single word—that I wasn’t alone. And somehow, somewhere between all of it, I fell in love with him. I wasn’t even sure when it happe
Aria’s POV I wasn’t going to make this easy for him. Gabriel thought he had me right where he wanted—pinned to his lap, his hands gripping my hips like he owned me. Like all he had to do was murmur something in that dark, knowing voice, and I’d fold. Not happening. I tilted my chin up, meeting his gaze head-on. “Since I’m already here?” I echoed, my voice light, teasing. “And what exactly do you think I can’t handle?” His lips curved, slow and dangerous, like he saw straight through me. “Would you like a demonstration?” I scoffed, shifting slightly—a mistake. His hands flexed, fingers digging into my waist just enough to make my breath hitch. I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to react. He wanted proof that he was getting to me. I refused to give him that. Instead, I leaned in—too close, too deliberate. My fingers found the collar of his shirt, tracing the crisp edge, barely skimming his skin. He tensed, just slightly, and I smiled. “Oh, I don’t need a demonstrat
Gabriel’s POV Her breathing was still uneven, her body still warm beneath mine, the aftermath of what we’d just done lingering in the air like a secret. I should’ve moved first. I should’ve given her space—helped her straighten up, helped her fix herself. But I didn’t. I stayed. My hands flattened against the desk on either side of her, caging her in even though the moment was already over. My chest was still pressed against her back, my heartbeat still heavy against her skin. I wanted to stay inside her. Hell, I wanted to ruin her for the rest of the day. But I felt her shift, her breath steadying, the way her fingers slowly reached for the fabric of her dress, pulling it down to cover herself. It was the only signal I needed. Reluctantly, I pulled back. Just enough. Just to let her stand, to give her room to fix her dress properly, to smooth down her hair. And then, as she straightened, I saw it. The way her brows knit together for a fraction of a second. The hesitation.
Gabriel’s POV The moment I read the message, the weight of it settled in my chest like a heavy stone. Sabotage. I sat there for a second, unmoving, letting the words sink in, letting the reality of what it meant register in my mind. Someone had been siphoning money from my company—testing the system, waiting for the perfect moment to take more. And they had done it under my nose. Aria shifted slightly, still fixing herself beside me, but I wasn’t seeing her anymore. My mind had already switched into something colder and sharper. I reached for my desk phone, pressing the button that connected me directly to Jonathan. “Come to my office,” I said. “Now.” Jonathan didn’t ask questions. He never did. A few minutes later, the door opened, and he stepped inside, his expression unreadable, but his eyes sharp, already assessing the situation. He closed the door behind him, waiting. “We have a problem,” I said, leaning back in my chair, my fingers tapping lightly against the desk. Jon
The call came late at night. Gabriel had just stepped out of the shower when his phone rang, and the moment he answered, I knew. I saw it in his eyes. How the color drained from his face, how his grip tightened around the device as if holding onto it could somehow change what he was hearing.His grandmother was gone.He didn’t say a word. Just stood there, towel slung low on his hips, water still dripping from his hair. I barely had time to react before he turned on his heel and left the room, walking out as if the walls were caving in on him.I followed him to the balcony, where he stood, hands braced against the railing, head bowed. The city lights stretched endlessly before us, but I knew he wasn’t seeing any of it. His shoulders were trembling slightly, his breath uneven. Gabriel never let his guard down—not in public, not in private. But in that moment, I saw the cracks in the armor.“Gabriel…” I whispered, stepping closer.He didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge me at first. Then, af
Gabriel’s POVWhen my grandmother died, she left everything to me. The estate, the properties, the businesses—every single thing. Not a damn cent to Ethan. Not even a piece of land to appease him.I should have expected it. I did, in some ways. She was never blind to who Ethan was, never fooled by his charm the way others were. She saw what lay beneath—the recklessness, the ambition fueled by entitlement rather than discipline. She once told me that power, when given to the wrong hands, destroys more than it builds.But even knowing all of that, I still braced myself for the fallout when the lawyer read the will aloud.I saw the disbelief flicker across the faces of those in the room. The unspoken question hanging thick in the air: Why would she do this?I didn’t need to answer. The answer was already there, written in the years of choices she made—choices that led her to place the entirety of our legacy in my hands alone.Ethan’s silence was the loudest thing in the room.For the fir
ARIA’S POVI needed air. Space. Sanity. Something.The second I stormed out of that office, I didn’t stop walking. I just kept going. Past the hallway, past the fake smiles and curious stares, until I hit the rooftop door and shoved it open.Cold wind rushed against my skin like it knew I was seconds from losing it. I walked to the edge, gripped the metal railing, and let out a breath that trembled against the fury in my chest.What the hell was he doing here?Of all the damn places on earth. Colorado. My job. My world.And now he was standing there like a ghost that refused to stay buried.I heard footsteps behind me, and my stomach sank.“Ari…”Of course.I didn’t turn. “Don’t come near me.”“I just want to talk.”I turned then, slow, sharp. “You’ve done enough talking, Gabriel. You did all your talking with that divorce paper.”He flinched, just slightly, but I didn’t stop.“You made me leave, without a word. No explanation. Nothing. And now what? You show up here, what? You buy th
Aria’s POVSofia leaned in, her voice just above a whisper. “I mean… I can’t speak on that. But apparently, the new CEO is holding private meetings with all the department heads today before he meets everyone officially. There’s no official memo or calendar update, but people are talking.”I blinked, a sudden unease crawling up my spine. “Talking how?”She tapped her phone. “From what I heard, he’s already met with Marketing and Sales. PR is in there now. Editorial is next.”“What?” I froze.Editorial. That’s my department.How am I just hearing about this now? Why didn’t I get any sort of information?I forced a smile, mumbled a quick thank-you, and nodded before heading to my desk. My chest was heavy with nerves. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to start from scratch again. I’d just begun to find my rhythm here. It finally felt like I was getting a foothold—finally stepping into the future I’d envisioned for myself. Event planning wasn’t just a job to me; it was my second chance. A wa
Aria's POVWe’d been sitting here for a while now, settled into our booth, chatting like it was just any other evening. Dylan was easy to talk to, surprisingly so. Maybe I’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t exactly my type, but he wasn’t a bad guy. Actually, he had a way of making me laugh without trying too hard. Maybe that was a nice change.I couldn’t help but smile as he raised an eyebrow at the wine list. “How do you choose between something like this and something more... adventurous?” He gave me a teasing look, like he knew what I was thinking.“Well, you have to be in the mood for it,” I replied, leaning back in the booth, still looking at my menu. “But sometimes, it’s about taking a risk. You know?”He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “Taking risks, huh? Yeah, I can get behind that. I’ve had my share of those.” He shrugged casually, almost nonchalantly. “Started my own company with almost no money. Almost lost it all, but it worked out. Sometimes you just have to take the le
Gabriel’s POV“Make sure they have the revised proposal by tomorrow morning,” I said, my voice firm as I scanned the papers in front of me, focusing on the numbers that would determine the next phase.Jonathan didn’t need reminding. He was already typing on his laptop, his eyes fixed on the screen, furiously going through the details. “Already on it. They’ll have it. Anything else before we call it a day?”I leaned back, dragging a hand through my hair, and checked my pocket watch. Her pretty face stared back at me through the glass, and it took me a moment to remember why I’d pulled it out in the first place, but my gaze quickly shifted to the time: past 8 p.m. I’d been at this for hours, but the job wasn’t done yet. There was no ‘normal’ workday when you were closing deals that would change the face of a city.I hadn’t wanted to be in DC. To be honest, I hadn’t wanted to be anywhere but in the comfort of familiar things, and by familiar things, I mean being in Colorado right now. Bu
Aria’s POV"Ugh, I swear," Jenna groaned, tugging her hair into a messy bun on screen. "If one more designer tries to sell me a ‘reinvention of classic minimalism’ that’s just a white shirt with a pocket, I’m quitting.""You’ve said that three times this year," Liv teased, propped up against a stack of pillows in what looked like a dreamy Airbnb. “Also, that white shirt is probably $700.”"Don’t remind me," Jenna rolled her eyes. “God forbid minimalism be affordable.”Nicole gave a small laugh as she scrolled through something on her iPad. “Meanwhile, I had to convince a luxury skincare brand today that launching a ‘gritty street-style’ campaign with models in couture was not... the vibe.”Liv made a face. "What does that even mean?"“Exactly,” Nicole said. “I think they just throw buzzwords into a blender and hope for the best.”I smiled quietly, watching them talk. I didn’t say much at first; I just listened. It had been a while since we were all on a call like this together, and so
Gabriel’s POV “You’ve got some nerve, Gabriel, coming all the way to Mexico to call for a truce. Do you really think you can reason with a man like me?” Diego’s voice dripped with venom, each word hanging in the air like a challenge. His eyes were cold, unblinking as they locked onto mine. I met his gaze with the same intensity, my voice calm and controlled. “I’m not here to fight, Diego. I’m here to talk. Nothing more, nothing less.” Diego’s sneer deepened, but I held my ground, my mind already retracing the events of the past two weeks. The eye-opening conversation I’d had with my father. The family dynamics. Diego’s past. My father had spoken of the years of bitterness Diego carried, the resentment born from how my grandfather had abandoned him and the death of his mother, a death he believed we were responsible for. But that conversation had been only the beginning. A week later, Andrew had dropped the real bombshell: documents that could bring Diego down. These weren’t
Gabriel's POVI didn’t say a word as the jet took off. The conversation with my father sat heavily in my mind, but I forced it aside. For now.I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. The cabin lights were dim, casting a muted glow over the polished wood and leather. The hum of the engines was steady, almost soothing.Then, almost instinctively, I reached into my pocket.The familiar weight of the pocket watch pressed against my palm, cool and solid. I flicked it open with my thumb. The soft click echoed louder than it should have in the silence.And there she was, her pretty face staring back at me. My Ari, my angel. The picture was taken in our bedroom, a moment I’d stolen when she had no idea. She was in her natural state, completely unaware of the camera in my hand. Her hair was a little wild from sleep, and her eyes had that soft, distant look that made her so damn beautiful. It was a simple shot, but I loved it, because it was her, in the most authentic and unguarded way. I ha
Gabriel's POVThe silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The air in my father's living room felt heavier than before, like the walls had closed in around us.I forced myself to breathe. To stay still. To absorb what I had just heard.Diego was family.I sat down, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up. “Explain,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.Andrew didn’t speak immediately. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, poured himself another glass, and stared into the amber liquid like it held the past itself. “You think you know the Deveraux family,” he said. “But you don’t. Not really.”I said nothing.He let out a slow breath. “This goes back to Richard,” he began. “My father. Your grandfather.”I knew that name well. The man who built the Deveraux empire. The man everyone claimed was ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.Andrew continued, “Richard had an affair while on a business trip to Mexico. A woman, who wasn’t just some mist
Gabriel's POVTCA wasn’t new to me. I had trained here for years, stepping into the ring whenever I needed an outlet. Back then, it was about control, about reminding myself that power wasn’t just about wealth or influence, it was about knowing I could end a fight before it even started.But now, it wasn’t about control.It was about survival.I adjusted my stance, muscles coiled with tension as Cole, my personal trainer, circled me. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, assessing, calculating. There was no sympathy in his eyes, no wasted words. Just the demand for perfection."You’re too slow," he said flatly. "Again."TCA wasn’t a regular gym. It was where professionals trained; fighters, bodyguards, men who understood that losing wasn’t an option.There were no influencers shadowboxing in front of mirrors, no weekend warriors pretending to be something they weren’t. This was a place for men who needed to be ready for war.I wasn’t new to combat, but this wasn’t about street fights or bru