Victor’s POVBack in my office, I was lost in thought, staring out at the city lights twinkling below through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I poured myself another glass of wine, savoring the bitter taste that matched my mood.Aria’s voice broke the silence. “Do you want to talk about it?”I s
Aria’s POVAs I dialed Victor’s driver, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The vulnerability in his eyes, the way he was looking at me—it stirred something deep inside. My pulse quickened as I thought about how close we were, and an overwhelming urge to kiss him flashed through my mind.But I
Aria’s POVThe room felt smaller, quieter, as if nothing else existed but the two of us. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My heart pounded in my chest as he leaned in, closer and closer, until our faces were inches apart. His lips hovered near mine, a breath away, and for a moment, I thought he was going
Aria’s POV“Jessica, I’ll be fine,” I assured my best friend, forcing a smile. “I can handle this.”“Are you sure you want to meet with him? All by yourself?” she asked again. “Yes, I’m sure. It’ll be okay.” I gave her shoulder a squeeze before heading back to my office. “Aria, I’ll be right outsi
Victor’s POVAs soon as I saw Pierre standing in Aria’s office, heat flushed through my veins. I could sense the anger rising inside of me. The urge to punch him was almost unbearable. My fists clenched at my sides, knuckles whitening as I imagined breaking his nose.Pierre smiled like he owned the
Aria’s POVAs I listened to his meaningful words, I could feel my cheeks reddening and my heart beating so fast. It seemed like he wasn’t only talking about the smart perfumes. For a while, I was speechless. I cleared my throat, gathering myself. “Thank you, Victor,” I said. “This will do so much f
Victor’s POVArriving at the sprawling suburban house, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The place was impressive, as I’d heard it would be. I heard that Aria’s parents had bought it years ago, a retirement home that clearly spoke of their success and financial recovery. I parked be
Aria’s POVEveryone was quiet for a while, including Jasmine who looked confused. My heart was racing as I realized I’d just stood up for my ex-husband in front of my parents. I didn’t even understand why I did it. To my surprise, Mom suddenly forced a smile and said, “Of course, you’re welcome to
Victor’s POVI stood outside my mother’s door, holding Jasmine’s hand as I knocked twice. She shifted beside me, her fingers fidgeting with her sweater.The door opened, and Alicia stood there, surprise flickering in her sharp blue eyes as she took in the sight of us.“Victor,” she said, then her ga
Aria’s POVI swirled the glass vial in my hand, watching as the pale amber liquid coated the sides before settling again. The scent profile still wasn’t quite right, but I was close—so close I could almost taste it.The Velvet Vibe lab was quiet except for the soft hum of the air filtration system a
Aria’s POVI watched Victor, his face an impenetrable mask, his hand still holding mine. My heart ached for him, but to my own surprise, I felt something else too—pity for Alicia. For years, I had harbored resentment toward her, believing she had always looked down on me, dismissed me as unworthy o
Victor’s POVConfusion, anger, and apprehension swirled inside me, an unyielding force I couldn’t contain. I had no idea what I was walking into, but I knew one thing—I needed answers.As we pulled up in front of my mother’s house, I saw the glow of light through the living room window. She was stil
Aria’s POVThe revelation settled over us like a looming storm cloud, dense and unrelenting. Antonio Greco wasn’t just some powerful mafia boss—he had been the one controlling Shane. That alone was unsettling enough. My mind spun as I connected the dots. Shane had spent years trying to tear down Th
Victor’s POVThe moment we stepped into The Mirage, the air seemed to constrict around us. It felt as if we were being watched every step of the way.Overhead chandeliers sputtered in their golden glow, illuminating the velvet walls in fractured patterns, as if the very light was hesitant to linger
Victor’s POVWhen I arrived home, I found Aria in the garden, staring off into space, her arms wrapped around herself as a cool evening breeze swept through. The soft rustling of leaves was the only sound, the usual laughter of Jasmine absent. I knew she was in the playroom with the nanny, giving Ar
Victor’s POVI wasn’t going to let Aria face this alone.The moment I left our last conversation, I knew I had to take action. If there was a leak in my company, I needed to root it out myself. I refused to let this drive a wedge between us. She had to see that I was on her side, that there was no r
Aria’s POVI paced the length of the lab, arms crossed tightly over my chest, while Jessica sat on the stool near the counter, watching me with concern. The vials of stolen work still sat between us, a silent testament to the treachery lurking in our midst, waiting to be exposed.“We need a plan,” J