Bill’s POVSerena moves around the living room, gathering her things like she’s trying to stay invisible. I can feel the distance between us, a quiet sort of discomfort. She’s focused, packing her stuff with a kind of carefulness that’s different from her usual pace. She’s barely looking at me, and
Bill’s POVThe notification pings on my phone, and I glance down at the email header. It’s from our project manager, and the subject line is all I need to see: RGE AI Division Bidding for NXT Gen Project Contract.So, Calvin’s really going for it.I lean back in my chair. I knew he wouldn’t stay qui
Bill’s POVEriksen clears his throat, catching everyone’s attention as he looks between Calvin and me. He’s one of the longest-standing investors on RGE’s board, a man who’s seen the company grow from a small startup into a tech giant.“Now that Mr. Richardson is here, shall we proceed?” Eriksen say
Serena’s POVWhen I walk through the office doors, I barely have a second to catch my breath before Stevie spots me from across the room. Her eyes light up, and she practically sprints over, pulling me into a hug so tight it feels like she’s trying to squeeze out the last few days of worry.“Serena!
Serena’s POVWhen we reach Bill’s place, I barely wait for the car to stop before I’m out, hurrying toward the door. Bill must’ve been watching out for us because the door swings open as soon as I reach it. He looks tense, his jaw set, and I can tell he’s just as anxious as I am.“Got here as soon a
Bill’s POV“I’m coming with you,” Serena says, her voice steady, leaving no room for argument.I meet her eyes, and I already know I won’t be able to change her mind. But I try anyway. “Serena, it could be dangerous. You don’t know what we’re walking into.”She shakes her head, her gaze unwavering.
Bill’s POV“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Harry spits out, his voice sharp and defensive. His eyes dart around the room like a trapped animal’s, his pale face betraying the fear he’s trying to hide.“Don’t lie to me,” I say, voice low, though I feel the fury simmering beneath. “Y
Bill’s POVThe world feels like it’s closing in, everything shrinking to this moment. Mom stands there, looking so much smaller than I remember, holding Collin close. She’s frail, almost unrecognizable.Her face is pale, gaunt, each cheekbone sharp, her eyes hollowed by dark shadows, and her hair —
Calvin’s POVThe Lancaster estate feels colder than usual today, and it’s not because of the weather. The vaulted ceilings and polished marble floors echo with the tension that always seems to fill the air when the family gathers.This isn’t a casual dinner or a holiday reunion. It’s a “concerned di
Stevie‘s POV“Calvin, I can’t just say yes.”The words tumble out before I can stop them, hanging in the air between us. His eyes, which had been so hopeful, cloud over with something I can’t quite place—disappointment, maybe, or worry.We’re sitting in my apartment, the baby gear shoved into the co
Stevie‘s POVThe lens feels foreign in my hands at first, like it’s judging me for neglecting it for so long. I twist the focus ring back and forth, snapping shots of random things in my apartment: the pile of laundry I still haven’t done, the chipped paint on the windowsill, the vase of wilted dais
Serena‘s POVI can’t focus. Not on the new campaign proposals sitting in front of me, not on the email from our partners in Paris, and definitely not on the cup of tea I made an hour ago that’s gone cold on my desk.All I can think about is Stevie.Her face, flushed with anger, tears glistening in h
Calvin‘s POVThe buzz of my phone pulls me out of my focus, its vibration rattling against the glass surface of my desk. It’s another alert, no doubt tied to the leak at Etoile de Collin. The headlines have been relentless: “Scandal Rocks Global Launch,” “Is Etoile de Collin Losing Its Shine?”I don
Stevie‘s POVThe click of my camera is the only sound in my apartment. The blinds are half-drawn, letting in just enough light to paint soft streaks across the floor. I’ve spent the last hour taking photos of mundane things — a chipped coffee mug, the shadow of my old ficus, the crumpled blanket I t
Calvin’s POVThe call comes in just as I’m reviewing a financial report in my office. It’s Serena, and I can tell immediately from her clipped tone that something’s off.“Calvin, we have a situation,” she says, not bothering with pleasantries.I lean back in my chair, setting the report aside. “What
Serena’s POVI tap my pen against the edge of the conference table, staring at the open file in front of me. My head’s buzzing, not from caffeine—I haven’t had nearly enough of that today—but from the words staring back at me in black and white.“Are you sure about this?” I ask Grace, my PR director
Calvin’s POVI’ve been staring at her address on my phone for ten minutes, trying to work up the courage to get out of the car. It’s ridiculous. I’ve faced down corporate takeovers and boardroom ambushes without flinching, but this? This feels harder.Stevie’s apartment building looms in front of me