Aria’s POVA few days later, I was back at Velvet Vibe, immersing myself in what I was passionate about — creating new scents. The studio was a sanctuary of creativity, filled with the rich aromas of various fragrances. I was especially excited about a new project: a perfume for men.As I mixed and
He smiled, and I noticed the way his eyes never left mine, a look of genuine interest and care shining through. “You always have a way of making things feel… personal. That’s what I love about your work.”His words made me pause. The sincerity in his voice struck me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
Victor’s POVI stared out the window as the car rolled through the familiar streets toward my mother’s house. She’d been calling nonstop since the gala, playing her usual role of the neglected mother. “You never have time for me anymore, Victor,” she’d said on the last call, her voice sounding emoti
“Am I?” I snapped.She shrugged as if none of it mattered. “I have better things to do than sabotage your little projects or go after your no-good ex-wife.”I wasn’t buying her act. She always played innocent, even when she was knee-deep in trouble. I remembered clearly how she used to throw Aria in
Samuel’s POVI stared into my coffee cup, watching the steam curl up lazily, as I waited for my private investigator Jason to arrive. We’d agreed on this meeting in a low-key coffee shop, far from prying eyes.When Jason finally showed up, I could tell from the grim set of his jaw that the news wasn
Samuel’s POV“You can't be serious,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “All of this—just to take Victor down?”This woman wasn’t just driven by ambition—she was consumed by it. Her words echoed in my head. Take over Victor’s company. That’s what all this had been about. Not just business, but a personal ve
Aria’s POVAfter a long day at work, I gathered my things, eager to finally head home. It had been a productive day, but I was exhausted. Just as I reached for the door, Victor appeared, his face grim.“Aria, wait,” he called, making me pause. There was a tension in his voice that sent my heart raci
Victor’s POVFrom where I sat, I could barely keep my anger in check. The small room seemed to close in on me as I listened to Thomas’s revelations. My knuckles began to turn white as I balled my hands into fists tightly. It’s really Pierre and Shane. As this truth began to sink in, my anger intens
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