Serena’s POVI can’t sleep.No matter how much I toss and turn, the feeling of Bill’s hands on me during training, the way his body hovered over mine, and the heat between us won’t let me rest. My mind keeps going back to that moment on the mat. The closeness, the intensity, the way he looked at me.
Serena’s POVI’m finally getting the hang of this.Training with Bill is going way better than I thought it would. At first, it was awkward — especially after all the tension from the other night — but now, we’ve settled into a rhythm. There’s still that tension, sure, but it’s like we’ve learned to
Serena’s POVI shouldn’t be here.I sit at the small corner table in Trattoria Rossi, my fingers tapping lightly on the stem of my water glass. The restaurant is dimly lit and cozy, but I can’t shake the unease that’s been sitting in my stomach since I walked in. I didn’t bother dressing up for this
Serena’s POVI wasn’t prepared for this.Calvin sits across from me, his eyes shifting nervously as he takes a deep breath. His usual calm, gentle demeanor is nowhere to be found, replaced by something heavier. The tension in the room is thick, and I’m just waiting for the truth to hit me, but I hav
Serena’s POVMy eyes blur with tears as the weight of Calvin’s words sinks in.I can barely process it all — the warehouse, Bill getting shot, the hospital, the fact that I was put under for an emergency C-section and woke up to find out my baby was gone. But deep down, something doesn’t feel right.
Serena’s POVI’m dragged into the backseat of a sleek black car, and before I can even process what’s happening, the door slams shut behind me.I struggle against the hands gripping my arms, the guards seated in front of me holding me down with a roughness that makes my skin crawl. My breath comes i
Serena’s POVI can’t stop shaking, but I keep the gun steady, aiming it between the guard and the man sitting across from me.My heart’s racing, every nerve in my body screaming at me to stay alert, to keep control. But the man — this calm, polished stranger — just looks at me with that unsettling s
Bill’s POVThe contract I’m staring at might as well be written in a foreign language.I’m in my study, supposedly reviewing some final agreements for Pinnacle AI, but my mind keeps wandering. The numbers blur together, and I rub my temples, trying to force myself to focus. But then, my phone rings.
Calvin’s POVStevie’s been here for three days, and I’m starting to think she’s allergic to letting people take care of her.She spends most of her time holed up in the guest suite, emerging only when absolutely necessary, like meals. Even then, she always looks like she’s bracing herself for an amb
Stevie’s POVThe ride to the clinic is quiet. Calvin’s hands are steady on the wheel, his focus fixed on the road. I know he’s trying to make this feel normal, like he’s not driving me to an appointment that confirms the biggest change in my life. It doesn’t work.“You didn’t have to drive me,” I sa
Stevie’s POVThis has to be the fanciest kidnapping in the history of bad ideas.I’m standing in the foyer of Calvin’s penthouse, staring at the polished marble floors, the towering windows, and a chandelier that looks like it could fund a small country. Everything about this place screams luxury—to
Calvin’s POVHospitals always feel the same—like time slows down, stretching every second into an eternity. I’m standing outside Stevie’s room, staring at the door, willing myself to move. My hand hovers near the handle, but I can’t bring myself to push it open.I can hear her voice faintly through
Serena’s POV“Stevie, stay with me,” I mutter, my voice shaking as I keep one arm wrapped around her shoulders. Her weight sags against me, and I feel the panic rising in my chest.“I’m fine,” she whispers weakly, but her pale face and unfocused eyes say otherwise.“You’re not fine,” I snap, flaggin
Serena’s POVThe office feels quieter than usual. Maybe it’s the late hour or the fact that most people have already gone home. But as I glance across the room at Stevie, hunched over her laptop, I know something’s off.She’s always had a way of pushing through, of pretending everything’s fine when
Calvin’s POVFatherhood.The word keeps bouncing around my head, refusing to settle. It feels foreign, heavy. Like trying on a jacket that doesn’t fit but knowing you’re stuck wearing it anyway.I stare out the window of my office, watching the city buzz below. Cars honk. People hustle. Life moves o
Stevie’s POVI’m pacing my living room, muttering to myself like a lunatic.“Calvin, listen—no, that’s too polite.” I stop and shake my head, trying again. “Look, Calvin, I don’t owe you an explanation. That’s better. Straight to the point. No room for debate.”I glance at the mirror above my couch
Calvin’s POVI see her before she sees me.Stevie’s stepping out of the building, her bag slung over her shoulder, sunglasses perched on her nose. She looks like she’s trying to blend into the crowd, which is almost funny considering Stevie Malone doesn’t exactly do subtle.“Stevie,” I call, walking