Maya Davis, a 25-year-old returning from studying abroad, meets the captivating Zane Moretti, a 36-year-old CEO, at a high-society event. Their instant chemistry sparks a passionate one-night romance, which results in Maya's unexpected pregnancy. Maya, forced into an arranged marriage, battles with Zane's mystery past, family betrayal, and rising threats. As Maya struggles with her affections for Zane and the danger that surrounds them, she discovers family secrets, including Zane's hidden twin sister. With foes closing in, will Maya and Zane's turbulent relationship withstand the continual threats, or will evil powers destroy their love?
View MoreMaya stood in the middle of her big bedroom, taking in the warm familiarity of it. The walls were painted soft cream, the tall windows letting in the late afternoon sunlight, dancing across her old bookshelves and childhood trinkets. A nostalgic smile tugged on her lips. It felt good to be back after years of studying overseas in Asia. She was unpacking her belongings in silence, the quiet hum of the estate seeming to settle her nerves. She wore a great, loose, oversized shirt that fell to mid-thigh and a pair of simple cotton underwear—her favorite outfit for comfort.
She had politely declined, though, when the maids offered to assist her, because this was going to be her space, and she wanted to settle into it on her own terms. Her father, Charles, was downstairs somewhere, precisely in his study, buried as always in his work.
The ringtone of her phone cut through the silence, and she looked at the screen to see Reese's name flashing and a grin spread across her face. Reese had been her best friend from middle school, and now Reese was chasing her dream in Hollywood, already making waves as a rookie actress. Maya swiped to answer.
"Reese!" she exclaimed, setting down the stack of books she'd been arranging.
"Maya!" Reese's voice exploded across the line, chipper as ever. "Finally, you're back in civilization. Tell me everything. How was Asia? Did you fall in love with some mysterious stranger? Get into a secret ninja society?"
Maya laughed. "Absolutely none of that, I promise. Just endless lectures, exams, and figuring out how not to get lost in Seoul."
“Well, that's a bummer. I, at least, was hoping for at least one spicy romance."
"Sorry to let you down." Maya rolled her eyes, her smile still on her face. "What about you, Miss Hollywood? Last I heard, you were about to audition for some big show."
"Oh my god, Maya, you won't believe it! I got the part! I'm officially playing the best friend of the lead in High Stakes! Like, it's not some huge role or anything, but still!”
"Reese, that's so cool!" Maya said. She was really excited for her. Maya flopped onto her bed, forgetting about unpacking for the moment. "You're going to kill it. I just know you will. Tell me about it."
Reese launched into a full rundown of her experience on set, including the scandal of a diva costar who had apparently thrown a fit because someone broke her nail. Maya laughed, happy to hear the sound of Reese's voice. It was grounding, hearing her friend chatter on like no time had passed.
Eventually, Maya got up and stretched. "I'm starving. I'm going downstairs to get a snack. Don't hang up. I still need to hear about this director you're crushing on."
"Oh fuck, he's gorgeous, but he's married, so he's strictly eye candy," Reese teased.
Maya padded downstairs, the phone pressed against her ear. The kitchen was just as she had left it-sleek marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and the faint scent of vanilla hanging in the air. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of milk, reached for a jar of cookies on the counter.
"So, tell me about your classes," Reese was saying as Maya poured herself a glass of milk. "Were they as intense as you thought they'd be?"
"Definitely, I thought my brain would explode during finals," Maya replied, balancing her phone between her shoulder and ear as she plated her snack. "But the experience was worth it. I learned so much, and the culture was incredible—"
The words caught in her throat as she turned and found a man standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
He was tall, commanding, and undeniably handsome. Dark hair framed his chiselled features, his silver eyes sharp and mesmerizing. A faint scar ran through one brow, adding an edge of danger to his otherwise polished appearance. His tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame; every detail screamed money and power. He looked to be in his early thirties, at least a decade older than her.
Maya's heart skipped a beat.
"Maya?" Reese's voice called through the phone. "You still there?"
Maya hastily hit End, without answering, heat filling up her cheeks. She set the phone down and clutched the edge of the counter for support.
"I'm sorry," the man said, his deep baritone voice smooth yet tinged with amusement. "I didn't mean to startle you.
“It's–it's all right”, stammered Maya, embarrassment mounting as she was uncomfortably aware of her state of undress. "I didn't hear you come in."
He stepped into the kitchen, his movements unhurried. "May I know who you are?"
She blinked, taken aback by the question. "I'm Maya. Charles' daughter."
His eyebrows lifted fractionally, surprised. "Charles never mentioned he had a daughter.”
Maya raised her own brow. "And you are?"
"Zane," he stated, with no embellishment, his eyes steady on her.
She didn't know the name, and it didn't matter. The look on his face when he regarded her, intense and unreadable, caused her stomach to flutter. Chemistry crackled in the air between them, electric and undeniable.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Zane," she said, forcing a polite smile even while her heart galloped. "Sorry for, well this." She waved a vague hand at her oversized shirt and bare legs, willing the floor to swallow her.
His lips twitched, a ghost of a smile playing on them. "No need to apologize. I quite liked what I saw.”
Maya chewed her lip, undecided whether she should linger and ask more questions, or hightail it out the door and cut her losses. She settled on the latter. "I should go," she said in a rush, snatching up her plate of cookies and glass of milk. "It was nice meeting you."
She quickened her pace out of the kitchen, feeling his stare on her all the while. By the time she reached the haven of her room, her cheeks were ablaze, and her heart was racing in her chest.
Tossing her plate onto the nightstand, she fell onto her bed with a groan. "What just happened?" she muttered out loud to herself.
Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to see a message from Reese.
You hung up on me! Who was the hottie? Spill.
Maya blew out a breath, her mouth ticking upwards in a faint smile. She had an inkling that Reese wasn't going to let her off the hook this easily. And she was left wondering who this Zane was and why he was in her house. Why did he talk of her daddy with such familiarity despite her daddy being older than him? And why was her reaction towards him so instinctive, and if it was mutual.
Maya gazed out at the city through the window of her penthouse, watching the dawn break over the skyline. It was quiet now, but she knew it wouldn’t be for long. This war with Gabriel was nearing its final act, and by the sunset, one would be left victorious.She turned as she heard the door open. Zane walked inside, silver eyes sharp, movements measured, but she knew enough of him to feel the tautness behind his calm demeanor.“It’s time,” he said simply.Maya nodded. “Then let’s finish this.”Moretti Corp – War RoomThe normal tension in the war room had changed. No longer the vagueness of battle — but the gleam of victory. When Maya and Zane came in, Victor, Luca, and Adrian were already sitting. A huge digital map of the city was projected on the wall, red markers showing Gabriel’s known assets and weak points.Victor reclined in his chair. “We’ve tightened the noose. Gabriel’s financial network is collapsing, his allies are betraying him, and his only remaining political connecti
Gabriel Montclair clicked off the television, flinging the remote onto his desk with a muffled thud. He’d seen Maya’s interview from beginning to end, dissecting every word, every motion, every well-chosen pause. She hadn’t merely evaded his strike — she had turned it on him.He breathed out, letting the silence of his study settle over him. He had underestimated her. He could admit that now. Maya Moretti wasn’t merely a fearsome adversary — she was a survivor. Yet if he was going to win this war, he had to adapt.A knock on the door broke him from his musings.“Come in,” he called, his voice steady.The door opened and in stepped Ethan Blackwood. Ethan had been Gabriel’s second for as long as he could remember, a man who worked in the shadows, taking care of the parts of the business that Gabriel didn’t like to touch to keep his hands clean.“You saw the interview,” Ethan said, not even asking.Gabriel sat back in his chair. “I did.”Ethan closed the door behind him and walked ahead,
Maya paced her Moretti Corp. office as the weight of the impending war hung heavy on her shoulders. The early-morning sun poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the sleek interior in a golden light, but she hardly noticed. The papers on her desk began to fade together and her mind raced through the alternatives.Gabriel had made his move. He had gone after her history, her marriage, the life she had built so painstakingly. And yet she was unafraid — just seething with determination.Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Zane.Zane: We need to talk. Now.Maya let out a sharp breath, suppressing a rising irritation just under the skin. She took her phone and answered.Maya: Meet me in my office. Bring Victor.Nine minutes later, the door opened and Zane came walking in with Victor hot on his heels. Zane’s face was hard to read, but his shoulders were tense. He was angry — but not at her.Victor, always a cool mastermind, tossed a file onto her desk with an air of
The day arrived too soon, dragging Maya back into the ice-well of their war with Gabriel. She paced the window at her penthouse, coffee clutched in hand, watching the city below her stir. The weight of last night’s meeting with Philip Marquez was still heavy in her mind. They had won a skirmish, but the war was still in its early stages.Next, her phone vibrated on the marble counter. A message from Zane.Zane: Victor got the first buyouts. Gabriel will be feeling the squeeze soon. Meet me at the office.Maya drank the rest of her coffee and replied by text.Maya: On my way.Her husband, Adrian, had already left for the day. Their marriage was a matter of practicality rather than of love. It was a strategic maneuver — a winning of alliances and of power. Love had never been in the contract.But still, she couldn’t help but ache at the thought of the what-ifs.Brushing the thought aside, she got dressed, putting on the armor of the woman she had become.Moretti Corp – War RoomZane was
Maya sat across from Zane in his office, eyes fixed on the latest reports spread across his desk. The tension between them was palpable, though unspoken. She knew that tight-jawed look—something wasn't right. Breaking the thick silence, she said, "Well? Are you going to tell me what has you so troubled, or must we sit here all evening stewing in uncertainty?"Zane didn't look up from the pages. "We lost three major investors this morning. Gabriel is sabotaging us financially just as he tried through his connections in The Order."Maya sighed heavily. "Do you have proof it's him pulling the strings?"Zane tossed the folder aside and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't need proof when I know his methods. He wants to crush Moretti Corp and he won't stop until he succeeds."Her eyes narrowed with steely resolve. "Then two can play at his game. If he aims to strangle us through our funds, we'll retaliate in kind."A trace of a smirk crossed Zane's stern features. "Spoken like a true p
The tension hanging over the room was palpable, with the weight of their impending choice bearing down on everyone. No turning back now—every action going forward could fortify their authority or shatter it completely.Maya placed her glass down deliberately against the polished table, her keen green eyes locking onto Zane’s. “If we’re moving ahead, it has to be flawless. No errors. No vulnerabilities.”Leaning in, Zane returned her gaze with calculated intensity glowing in his silver eyes. “I agree. We strike where they least anticipate financially, strategically. We take control before they realize what’s transpiring.”Sprawled casually in one of the leather chairs, Victor let out a low chuckle. “You two truly have a way of making corporate warfare sound sexier than shootouts.”Maya arched a brow. “Because it is.”Luca smirked from across the room. “I have to admit, witnessing this side of you, Maya, is unexpected. You appear to be genuinely enjoying the challenge.”Maya exhaled, cr
Maya perched at the head of a long glass conference table in Moretti Corp’s executive suite, tightening her grip on the edge of the financial report before her. The numbers did not seem to be adding up. Billions were on the move — just not where they were meant to be.She let out a breath through gritted teeth, forcing the unsettled feeling in her gut to subside. If this was what she suspected it was, they had a much bigger problem then The Order’s politics.Zane wore the endless scruff of a day’s stubble, and as he stood facing the skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. That was how he’d been all morning — still, methodical, his mind racing a hundred moves ahead. But Maya knew him too well.He was waiting. For confirmation. For proof. For the moment he was able to flip the game on its head.Maya broke the silence. “We have a leak.”Zane didn’t turn around. “How bad?”Maya swallowed. “Bad. Money is being siphoned off in dribs and
In the conference room, everything was polished elegance. In the center was a long, dark wooden table with high-backed leather chairs surrounding it. The quiet hum of brief conversations and the sound of footsteps down the hall indicated the weight that had become almost palpable in the air of the building itself. Helena tapped her fingers lightly on the table as she stared through the window. She was not thinking of the view, or of the empire to which she belonged; she was thinking about the invisible chessboard before her. Today, it wasn’t bloodshed or conquest; today, it was about manipulation, persuasion and control.Her thoughts are broken by the sound of heels snapping against the marble floor. She gazed upward, her frigid eyes meeting the silhouette that walked in.“You’re late,” she said, her tone smooth, though with a sharp edge.“I had some… business to take care of,” Elena said, the smile on her face a little tight, insufficient. She stepped toward the table, each step long
“Well I tried.” Maya said calmly, drumming her fingers on the sleek, polished surface of the table. Tall windows poured in the morning light, bathed the skyline in gold. It was nearly serene — if not for the storm brewing deep down.This was an alternate type of battlefield. No guns. No explosions. Only power, strategy and control. And in many respects, it was more perilous than any of the wars they had fought.Zane worked his cufflinks and his cool silver eyes drifted around the room as executives filed in, all advancing a few steps like cats on concrete, gripped by a primal instinct not to step on toes. They’d all heard Curator General’s whispers — about Gabriel, about the fall of The Order’s inner circle, about the man who had scratched and clawed his way to the top with his trademark ruthlessness.Now? They were wondering if he could hold it.Victor stretched lazily in his seat next to Maya, his smirk curling as he leaned in. “Tell me, princess, are you ready to watch your husband
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