Aria’s POVWalking through the hallway of the Elixir office, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and accomplishment. The meeting with the research team had gone exceptionally well. We had thoroughly evaluated the latest products, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I was in high spir
Aria’s POVI glanced at my reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing down the simple, navy-blue dress that clung just right to my figure. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but somehow, I felt like a queen. The soft fabric and modest cut seemed to do their job well enough. I grabbed my clutch a
Samuel’s POVAs I watched Aria’s stunned reaction to the gift, my heart pounded harder than ever. I knew this was the right time to share something more profound. My hands felt clammy, and I struggled to steady my voice.“Aria,” I began, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. “There’s something I
Aria’s POVFive Years LaterThe soft light filtered through the large, floor-to-ceiling windows of my perfume studio, Velvet Vibe, casting a warm glow on the shelves lined with glass bottles of essential oils and extracts. The air was filled with the delicate, intoxicating scents of rose, sandalwood
Aria’s POVBefore I could respond to Samuel’s question, the waiter arrived with our two giant pizzas. The sight of the golden-brown crust and bubbling cheese was enough to momentarily distract everyone. Jasmine’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly reached for a slice.As we dug in, savoring the delicious
Aria’s POVAs we stood there, alone in the quiet hallway, the future seemed to hang in the balance. My heart raced, and the question of whether I was ready to face the changes ahead—or to stay with what I had come to cherish—felt overwhelming.Samuel broke the silence with a soft chuckle. “You know,
Aria’s POVFive years. Wow. It’s been a very long time. Jessica and I wheeled our suitcases through the crowd at the airport, and my heart pounded with each step closer to the exit. Memories of Victor and the life I’d tried to leave behind flooded my mind. Jasmine clung to my hand, looking both ne
Aria’s POV“Jessica, look at this,” I said, my voice tinged with disbelief. I pointed to the screen where Thorn Enterprises' logo was prominently displayed.Jessica glanced over and raised an eyebrow. “Wow, that’s unexpected. I didn’t realize Thorn Enterprises could be involved in something like thi
Wendy’s POVIt wasn’t supposed to go this far.I crouched behind the low wall outside the edge of the old warehouse, heart hammering as the rain came down in cold, relentless sheets. The building was dimly lit, tucked away in a forgotten pocket of the city, but I knew what was happening inside. I’d
Samuel’s POV"Wait for me, I'll bring it to you now," I told Aria over the phone, my fingers brushing against the envelope sitting quietly on my desk. Her voice was tight. "Thank you, Samuel. Please be careful.""You too."I ended the call just as footsteps approached my study. I turned, surprised
Aria’s POVI was halfway down the corridor when my phone buzzed again.It was Jessica: Packaging floor. Terminal 4. Now.My heels clicked against the tiles as I turned sharply and practically jogged to the elevator. My chest was tight, my pulse a steady hammer in my ears.I tried calling Wendy again
Aria’s POVI locked my office door, pretending to take a call as I slid the flash drive into the secure offline laptop Jessica and I used only for emergencies. The light blinked once, then twice, and the folder opened.I held my breath as the contents loaded.Documents. Dozens of them.At first glan
Samuel’s POVI wasn’t exactly sure what brought me to the Velvet Vibe office that morning.Maybe I wanted to check in on the tech team after the breach. Maybe I wanted to make sure Aria was okay, after everything. Or maybe—and this was harder to admit—maybe I just wanted to see her.I walked in, and
Aria’s POVMy phone buzzed on the table, vibrating next to my untouched coffee.Victor.I answered quickly. “Hey, everything okay?”“I’m really sorry, love,” he said. “I won’t be able to drop by the office. Emergency meeting with the board. One of the European partners is threatening to pull out unl
Aria’s POVThe smell of buttery pancakes and fresh strawberries filled the air as I poured a generous drizzle of maple syrup onto Jasmine’s plate. She beamed up at me, still in her pajamas, her feet swinging under the breakfast table.Victor was making coffee, humming to himself, hair slightly tousl
Aria’s POV"Okay, so we've locked the backend to only three admin logins," Jessica muttered, her eyes glued to the screen. She had dark circles under her eyes and her fourth coffee of the day in hand. "I had the IT team purge the cloned QR redirect code from our database. But if the data's been stol
Aria’s POVThe laughter in the room was easy, flowing like music that hadn’t been played in far too long. It was the kind of afternoon I had only dreamed of during those long, uncertain nights. One filled with light, warmth, and peace.But what caught my eye most wasn’t the cake or the wine or even