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CHAPTER 8
Last Updated:
2024-11-26 15:49:17
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 9
"I can walk," Maya protested as Zane lifted her from the wheelchair."Hospital policy to the door," he reminded her, though his arms didn't loosen even after they passed the threshold. "And I'm not taking chances with your recovery."A week had passed since the shooting. The media had been in a frenzy – headlines screaming about the Moretti twin revelation, Donovan's arrest, and the mysterious woman who'd taken a bullet in the chaos."Where are we going?" Maya asked as Alex opened the car door. She'd expected to return to her apartment, but this wasn't her usual driver."My place," Zane said firmly. "It's secure, and you need looking after.""I don't need—""Please." His voice softened. "Let me take care of you."Something in his tone made her relent. The past week had shown her a different side of Zane – vulnerable, sometimes even scared. He'd barely left her hospital room, handling business calls from a chair by her bed, his free hand always finding ways to touch her, as if reassuri
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"The building's been swept twice," Alex reported, pacing Zane's living room. His tone carried a mix of professionalism and frustration. "No signs of surveillance equipment, but the angle of that photo...""Had to be taken from the construction site across the street," Zane finished, his hand absently rubbing circles on Maya's back as she leaned against him on the sofa. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, calculating.Two days had passed since Luca's message. Two days of increased security, swept rooms, and Zane's growing tension. Every precaution felt insufficient, every corner of his life scrutinized. Yet, there was no response, no breakthrough—just silence, thick and oppressive."We're moving you both to a secure location," Alex continued, his voice steady, though his expression betrayed unease. He hesitated before adding, "There's something else. Isabella was spotted at Charles Davis's office this morning."The words landed like a stone in the room."What?" Maya sat up str
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 11
Maya’s fingers trembled slightly as she dialed her father’s number, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on her. Rain pelted against the penthouse windows, the relentless rhythm mirroring the storm of tension swirling in the room. Behind her, Zane paced like a caged predator, his movements sharp and deliberate as he ran through scenarios with Alex, their voices low but urgent.The phone rang twice before Charles Davis answered, his tone rough with exhaustion. "Maya?" he asked, his surprise evident. "It’s the middle of the night.""Isabella came to see you." Maya kept her voice steady, though her grip on the phone was tight. "What did she offer?"A long pause followed, heavy with hesitation. "How did you—""Dad, please," she interrupted. "We don’t have time. The board vote isn’t just about Moretti Industries, is it? They’re targeting Davis Corp too."Thunder crashed outside, a booming exclamation point to her words. She heard her father sigh heavily, the sound laced with wear
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 12
"Security feed from the west entrance," Alex reported, his voice tight with focus. The glow from his laptop cast flickering shadows across the room in the predawn darkness. "Maintenance crews entering both buildings over the past week."Maya leaned forward on the sofa, her exhaustion mounting but her mind razor-sharp. Rain streaked the penthouse windows, the storm a physical reflection of the chaos unraveling around them."Not maintenance," Elara said quietly, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade. Her arms were crossed tightly, her face pale but resolute. "Donovan used the same trick for smaller jobs. Workers who don’t exist, credentials that vanish when you look too close."Maya’s eyes scanned the grainy footage on the screen, her instincts flaring. Four hours until the board meeting. Four hours until the explosions. Her shoulder throbbed—a persistent ache that reminded her of the time slipping through their fingers—but she pushed it aside. They didn’t have the luxury of
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 13
“They’re herding us,” Alex muttered as they moved cautiously through Davis Corp’s underground parking level. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows on the concrete walls. Every security camera they passed was dark, the lenses lifeless."The working elevators, the accessible routes..." Maya's voice trailed off as realization struck her. "They’re leading us exactly where Luca wants us."She checked her phone again—still no signal from Zane. Her stomach twisted with dread, but she forced herself to focus. There was no time for fear.The maintenance tunnels stretched ahead of them, long and silent except for the occasional drip of water echoing off the walls. Maya’s shoulder throbbed with each step, the dull pain a reminder of how far her limits had been pushed. But adrenaline drove her forward. Somewhere above them, her father was coordinating the quiet evacuation of employees, using a staged fire drill as a cover. It was the best they could do wi
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 14
The silence of the Moretti estate was deafening that night. Every creak of the old wooden floors seemed to echo louder than usual, every faint rustle outside the windows amplified by the tension gripping Maya’s chest. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the images of Cocona’s haunting resemblance to her replaying in her mind.Zane’s words echoed like a mantra: “You’re walking into a war… but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”Safe. Was safety even possible in a house brimming with secrets and enemies lurking in the shadows?She sat up, unable to bear the stillness any longer. Throwing on a robe, she padded barefoot across the room and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The estate’s corridors were unnervingly quiet, their vastness amplifying her isolation.As she moved through the hallway, a faint light drew her attention. It spilled out from beneath the door to Zane’s private study, a subtle crack in the otherwise impenetrable darkness.Her instincts told her to turn ba
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 15
The Moretti estate felt colder than ever, the sprawling hallways steeped in an eerie quiet. Every shadow seemed to stretch longer, every creak of the floorboards sounded louder. Maya sat in the solarium, the soft hum of the fountain doing little to calm her nerves.Her phone was in her lap, the mysterious call from the previous night still playing in her mind.“He’s not who you think he is.”“Leave before it’s too late.”The distorted voice had been chilling, yet it stirred more questions than answers. Was it a genuine warning? Or just another mind game in the ever-tightening trap she felt closing around her?The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Alex striding into the solarium, his expression unreadable.“Morning, Miss Davis,” he said, his voice brisk. “Zane wanted me to check in.”“Checking in,” she echoed with a faint smile. “Is that your way of saying he’s worried about me?”Alex’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. “He’s being cau
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Maya didn’t sleep that night. The latest note weighed heavily on her mind, the chilling message echoing over and over:“He’ll destroy you too.”She sat by the window, her knees pulled to her chest, watching the estate grounds bathed in moonlight. Her exhaustion tugged at her, but every time her eyes drifted shut, she imagined faceless figures lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.By dawn, she made a decision. She couldn’t wait for answers to come to her. She had to find them herself.Maya knew Zane had locked the room where Cocona’s photographs were kept, but something about that room felt pivotal. It was more than just Zane’s connection to his past—it was a puzzle piece in the web of secrets that now consumed her life.After breakfast, when she knew Zane was out at a business meeting, she slipped away from the main part of the house and made her way to the eastern wing. The hallway was empty, and her footsteps were muffled on the thick carpet as she approa
Last Updated : 2024-11-30
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 234
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 233
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 232
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 231
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 230
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 229
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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 228
“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
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 227
It was dark in her study, Maya realized, as she sat at the mahogany desk with her fingers hooked over the side, going in circles. The weight of their decision sat heavy in her ribs, smothering, but also electric. They were heading into a war they had no guarantee of winning. And yet, there they were, opting to attack first.His face unreadable, Zane stood at the window, his silver eyes riveted to the line of the city skyline. He was like a soldier prepped for the fight, his body still, his mind a flurry of adjustments.Maya exhaled. “You really think this is going to work?Zane didn’t turn around. “It has to.”Maya leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “That’s not an answer.”Zane finally looked, and his eyes were keen. “Doubting it before we even get started isn’t either.Maya clenched her jaw. “I’m not doubting it. I’m being realistic. Gabriel isn’t Julian. He’s smarter. More connected. If we falter if we allow even a split in this plan he’ll rip us apart before we can eve
Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 226
Maya’s pulse raced as Luca’s words hung above the group like a heavy smoke. Gabriel Laurent.It wasn’t one of those surprises that should have caught her off guard. The Order was not about cleanliness. There was nothing trustworthy about its leaders. But to hear Luca say it so casually—as if it were the most natural thing in the world—knotted her stomach.Zane reclined in his seat, his silver eyes shrewd, calculating. He wasn’t responding, which meant he was getting creative.Luca smirked. “You look like a man trying to ascertain if I’m lying.”Zane exhaled. “That’s because I am.”Luca let out a low chuckle. “And?”Zane’s fingers rapped the table slowly and deliberately. “And you’re great at misdirection.”Luca clutched a hand to his chest, mock-offended. “That hurts, brother. Truly.”Maya clenched her fists. She hated this. The games, the deceits, the endless mind games where everyone was deceiving, and the only way to live was by out-lying everyone else.She exhaled sharply. “If Gab
