Leah’s POVI don’t see Dwight again for the rest of the day.It shouldn’t matter. But God, it does.His words replay in my head, each one colder than the last."What if Maya had been an important client?"That one sticks the most. It confirms what I already suspected—Maya wasn’t there for business. He didn’t need to clarify further. The implication was clear.I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. It shouldn’t bother me. Not when I’ve supposedly moved on. Not when I have Ethan.And yet, it does.More than that, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve ruined something. The almost-camaraderie we’d seemed to be developing, the rare moments when things between us felt easy, unforced. Now, that fragile thread has snapped, leaving only this unspoken wall between us.I push the thoughts away and glance at the time. Lunch. I have been skipping lunch too much lately and have noticed that my skirts have become a little loose around the waist.A break might help. A distraction.I stand, grabbing my p
Leah’s POVI stand in front of my closet, fingers trailing over the rows of perfectly pressed dresses.Pick your best.That’s what my father would expect.Anything less would be unacceptable.I exhale, stepping back slightly, my gaze sweeping over the meticulously organized space. Silks, chiffons, structured pieces in neutral tones—each one carefully selected, curated, and arranged. I know what he would say if I picked something too bold, too informal, too much like me.I finally settle on a sleek, dark green dress. It hugs my figure just right—elegant, refined, sophisticated. The kind of dress that doesn’t invite criticism.I slip it on, the cool fabric settling against my skin like armor.Next, my hair.I sink into the chair before my vanity, staring at the soft curls framing my face.Once, I had loved my curls.Wild and untamed, they had always felt like the truest expression of myself. Something uniquely mine. But my father had once told me, in his usual matter-of-fact tone, that
Leah’s POV When I arrive home, I feel more exhausted than I have been in months.I step out of my clothes as my brain plays back the events of today. From the woman who had been with Dwight to the brief meeting we had, where he pretty much warned me to stay professional.And then dinner with my father, where he reminded me that I wasn’t there to distract myself.But the truth was, I was deeply distracted by Dwight’s presence. And with the new knowledge that he had someone, I wondered how I was going to manage to keep my head in the game.I step out of my dress and into the shower, taking a much-needed bath. But as my body begins to tingle, I am reminded that I haven’t been touched in weeks.I shut my eyes and allow my fingers to roam my body as I try to drum up the image of Ethan in my head. Sweet, level-headed Ethan, whose love isn’t tumultuous, whose presence doesn’t leave my heart in turmoil.One finger flicks across one pebbled nipple, and I let out a low moan as the other hand s
Dwight's POVI lean back against the couch, one hand gripping my phone, the other swirling a glass of whiskey I haven’t taken a sip from yet. The city lights spill in through the tall windows of my apartment, casting a warm glow over the room. I exhale, listening as Maya’s voice fills my ear, light and effortless.“…So, of course, he tried to object, but the judge just looked at him like he was an idiot,” she says with a chuckle. “I swear, Dwight, the defense attorney was this close to getting held in contempt.”I smirk, shaking my head. “I don’t know how you deal with people like that every day.”“Easy,” she says. “I win.”I let out a low laugh, finally taking a sip of my drink. Maya is sharp—unapologetically so. Talking to her is easy. Entertaining. I’ve never been one for small talk, but with her, the conversations never feel forced.I should have done this months ago and not subjected my heart to hurt and hate. Talking to someone, getting to know how their day was, and telling the
Dwight's POV After we end the call, I stay seated on the couch, staring into my glass. The whiskey swirls, catching the dim light.Maya’s words replay in my mind, over and over."If you didn’t still have feelings for her, she wouldn’t be working for you."It’s a ridiculous thought. I have plenty of people working for me. My business is built on talent, not emotions. Leah is here because she’s good at what she does.That’s all.Right?I lean my head back, sighing.Maybe I did want to prove something to myself by bringing her onto this project. Maybe I wanted to see if time had truly dulled whatever we had.If I could be around her and feel… nothing.But I don’t feel nothing.I feel everything.Frustration. Annoyance. A strange, unwelcome sense of responsibility.And, worst of all, that lingering, unwanted pull. Had I tried to play with fire? Was this whole thing going to snowball on me?I shut my eyes briefly, willing the thoughts away.I don’t want Leah.Not anymore.But for some rea
Leah’s POVBy noon, I’ve made up my mind.Last night’s conversation with Ethan had left a knot in my stomach, and I refuse to let it fester. I need to fix this. I need to remind him—and myself—that we’re solid, that what we have isn’t fragile enough to break under the weight of a few misplaced emotions.So, I grab my purse and step out of the office, heading straight for the elevators. The morning had dragged on, filled with meetings, emails, and a brief yet impersonal exchange with Dwight about the campaign’s next phase. He had been all business, his voice cool, his demeanor unreadable. I had mirrored his professionalism, acting as though the past meant nothing.But the past wasn’t my concern today.Ethan was.The streets hum with life as I make my way to one of Ethan’s favorite cafés, the same one we used to frequent for weekend brunches when our schedules weren’t so hectic. I order his usual—chicken pesto panini, a side of seasoned fries, and an iced coffee. For myself, I get a gri
Dwight’s POVThe first time I see the pictures, I don’t react.At least, not outwardly.Maya laughs across from me, the sound smooth and rich as she swirls the wine in her glass. The restaurant is loud enough that our conversation feels private, tucked away in the corner of the upscale dining space. She’s mid-story—something about a client who thought they could negotiate a contract over Instagram DMs—but my phone vibrates against the table, drawing my gaze.I glance at the screen. A news alert. A handful of messages. Then, the headline.Leah Carrington and Ethan Lannister: Power Couple Spotted in the City.My stomach tightens.I should ignore it. Should let my phone face down and keep my attention where it belongs.Instead, I tap the notification.The first picture hits like a sucker punch.Leah, stepping out of Harper & Rhodes, her hand tucked securely in Ethan’s. The second—Ethan looking down at her with a familiar fondness, the kind of expression that belongs to a man who has ever
Leah’s POVThe city is bathed in golden light as I step out of the cab in front of Cece’s apartment. I clutch mk purse and let out a breathe, and then, make my way towards the front door. Cece opens the door before I even knock. She’s dressed in a loose sweatshirt and leggings, her natural curls piled on top of her head. I had sent her a quick text before I got into the taxi, so she'd been expecting me. Her eyes sweep over me, and immediately, she steps aside in silent invitation. “You look like you need wine.”I huff out a laugh. “Maybe, I need more than just wine.”She ushers me in, and the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla greets me. Cece’s apartment has always felt warm and inviting—a place where honesty isn’t just welcomed but expected.She disappears into the kitchen while I sink into the familiar and comfortable plush couch, kicking off my heels. Cece's house always feel like a second home. A moment later, she returns with two glasses and a full bottle of unopened red
(Felix’s POV)The moment the call ends, I let out a slow breath and lean back in my chair, pressing my thumb and forefinger against my temples. The tension coiled in my chest begins to unravel, but only slightly. Leah is safe. She’s fine. That should be enough to put my mind at ease.And yet, it isn’t.Because the moment relief settled in, something else took its place. Guilt.I had lashed out the second I knew she was all right. Instead of expressing relief, I questioned her decisions, criticized her choices—like I always do.Like I don’t know any other way to communicate with my own daughter.I rub a hand over my face and sigh. Damn it, Felix.I should have told her I was glad she was okay. I should have told her that I had been worried sick, that my mind had been racing with worst-case scenarios ever since I heard she was gone.But no. Instead, I asked her where the hell she had been. Because anger is easier than fear. Because control is easier than vulnerability.And now, I might
Dwight’s POVThe jet touches down in New York just before dawn. The sky remains a murky shade of blue, the city still shrouded in the last remnants of night. I should be exhausted—I haven't slept in nearly twenty-four hours—but exhaustion isn’t something I have the luxury of feeling.Not when two of my workshops have burned to the ground in a single night.The moment the wheels hit the tarmac, I unbuckle my seatbelt, my jaw clenched so tight it aches. The cabin door swings open, letting in a gust of biting cold air. It does nothing to cool the fury simmering beneath my skin. Without waiting for my driver, I descend the steps swiftly, pulling out my phone as I cross the private runway.Jordan’s name flashes on the screen. I answer immediately.“Tell me.”His voice is sharp, controlled. “The fires were fully extinguished a few hours ago. Both locations are in ruins.”I exhale slowly, my grip tightening around my phone. “Any injuries?”“A few. Some minor burns and smoke inhalation. But n
(Leah’s POV)The phone sits in my palm, the screen illuminated with a single voicemail notification.Dad.My thumb hovers over the play button, hesitating, even though I know I have no choice but to listen. There’s a quiet, sinking feeling in my chest as I prepare myself for what’s coming. My father never leaves voicemails. If he calls and I don’t pick up, he simply moves on—because Felix Carrington does not repeat himself.But this time, he did.I press play.Static crackles for a moment before his voice comes through, deep and controlled, but unmistakably tight."Leah."He pauses."Call me back when you get this."Another pause. A sharp exhale. His next words are quieter, rougher around the edges."I need to know you’re alright."And then, the voicemail ends.I sit there, frozen, the weight of those five words sinking into me. I need to know you’re alright.It’s not an order. Not a command. It’s something else. Something I’m not used to hearing from him.Something close to worry.My
Felix’s POVThe house is silent. Too silent.I sit in the dimly lit study, a half-empty glass of whiskey resting on the desk beside me. The amber liquid catches the glow of the desk lamp, flickering like dying embers, but it does nothing to warm me. Nothing does. Not anymore.The air in here feels stale, the kind of stillness that settles when a place has been left untouched for too long. I don’t remember the last time I had company in this house. Not real company. Not the kind that fills a place with laughter, movement, life.My fingers tighten around the glass. I take a slow sip, the burn of the alcohol cutting through the numbness creeping into my bones. I used to hate whiskey. Now, it keeps me company more than anyone else.I exhale, rubbing a hand over my face, my mind spiraling in one direction, over and over again.Leah.Where is she? Is she safe? Is she thinking about me the way I’m thinking about her?The thought of anything happening to her sends ice through my veins. The ki
Dwight’s POVThe hum of the jet is steady, a low vibration that fills the silence. But Dwight isn’t listening to it. He’s gripping his phone so tightly that his knuckles turn white.Two workshops. Gone.The first call had been bad enough—a fire, a total loss. But the second? That was no accident. He knows it deep in his gut.He leans back in his seat, staring at the glass of whiskey untouched on the table before him. His mind is racing, threading through every possibility, every enemy he’s made over the years.This wasn’t some random misfortune. Someone did this.The problem is, he doesn’t know who.Glimmr has competitors, plenty of them. People who’d love to see him fail, even if they don’t know he’s the one pulling the strings behind the brand. But outright sabotage? Arson? That’s a different level of hostility.And whoever did it made sure there was nothing left behind. No trace. No evidence of arson. No trails.Scrubbed clean.Dwight exhales sharply and presses the call button. He
Ethan’s POV“Is it done?”“Yes, sir.”“Good,” I mutter.The world sees chaos as an accident. A tragic, unfortunate event.I see it as strategy.My glass rests against my lips, the whiskey burning down my throat as I watch the city below. A storm of lights flickers through the skyline, but my mind is elsewhere—on a different kind of fire. One that has already turned a part of Dwight’s empire to ash.I set the glass down with a quiet clink, my pulse steady, my satisfaction quiet but absolute.This moment should feel like victory. And in many ways, it is. The first strike has been made. A calculated, well-executed move that no one will suspect. By morning, the news will break—one of Glimmr’s major workshops, up in flames, reduced to nothing but ash and twisted metal.A tragic accident, they’ll call it.An unfortunate loss.And Dwight?He’ll know better.That’s the beauty of it. No one will point fingers. There will be no investigations, no trails leading back to me. Just whispers. Just u
Dwight’s POVLeah’s words cut through me like a blade, sharp and precise, leaving behind a wound that refuses to close."You never gave me a chance to choose."She’s still looking at me, her eyes burning with hurt, anger, and something else—something unspoken but undeniably there. The weight of it settles in my chest, suffocating, pressing down with the full force of every mistake I’ve made.I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. I had thought leaving had been the hardest thing I’d ever done. But standing here, seeing the pain my absence caused her, knowing that I was the reason she spent years believing she wasn’t enough—it’s unbearable.And yet, even now, with so much standing between us, I can’t stop looking at her.She’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.The silk of her nightwear clings to her in a way that makes it impossible not to notice every curve, every dip of her body. The soft glow from the lamp casts a warm hue across her skin, highlighting the deli
Leah’s POVThe night drags on, stretching endlessly as I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep remains elusive, chased away by the endless cycle of thoughts circling in my head. No matter how much I try to push them away, they keep coming back—Dwight’s words, Cece’s questions, the gnawing uncertainty that refuses to let me rest.I turn onto my side, gripping the sheets. The weight of everything presses down on me. I had spent years believing Dwight had chosen to leave. Years convincing myself that, for some reason, I wasn’t enough to make him stay. And now, with one revelation, the past has been rewritten.I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to slow my racing heart.I had searched for him. After he disappeared, I had called, emailed, even gone to his office. But I had always been met with silence, with a void where he should have been. Eventually, I had stopped searching. I had forced myself to move on.But had I really?If I had, why does it still hurt this much?I exhale sharply and
Leah’s POVThe silence in my hotel room feels heavier now.I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone, but my mind is still caught in the last hour—still replaying Dwight’s words over and over."I was taken, Leah. Held captive. Tortured."I press my palms against my temples, my breathing uneven.Maybe I should take a shower. Maybe that would help calm me. I step into the glass stall and switch on the overhead shower, sighing as the lukewarm water pelts my skin.But even the heady sensation of warm water does nothing to quell the endless thoughts swirling in my head.I don’t know how to process this.I can’t process this.Dwight was taken. Not just gone—not just choosing to leave—but forcibly removed from my life. It’s the kind of revelation that should change everything.And yet, somehow, it changes nothing.So much time has passed. Why did he not reach out? I had been waiting. Hoping. Praying.I'd anticipated his return. Dreamt of it. But I'd never gotten it. Maybe if he had r