Victor’s POVThe board meeting continued, and the discussion shifted toward expansion plans. I took a deep breath, determined to regain control. “As part of our growth strategy, I propose we solidify our partnership with Velvet Vibe and explore collaborations with other fast-rising retail companies.
Victor’s POV“This is totally absurd,” I repeated, more to myself than to the members whose eyes seemed to be sizing me up. “I have led this company through challenges that would have broken lesser leaders. We’ve made strides in our partnerships and market positioning, and I won’t let my leadership
Aria’s POVI gasped, clapping a hand over my mouth as Shane’s whisper echoed in my ear, faint but crystal clear. There was no mistake about it. Marry me. Those words cut through the distance between us, as if she were standing right in front of me instead of behind Victor’s closed office door. My
My hands trembled with anger, my fingernails digging into my palms. She was trying to play him, manipulate him into submission with her saccharine voice and veiled threats. It was disgusting, and it infuriated me to my core. But Victor—he was smarter than that. He had to be.There was a brief silenc
Aria’s POVThe line went dead.I stared at my phone, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind aching with Shane's words. A wave of dread settled over me. I couldn’t shake the terrible feeling that this wasn’t over, that we were only scratching the surface of what Shane was capable of. And worse, I fel
Victor’s POVIt had been days since I last set foot in the office. The polished floors, my favorite oak desk, the glass doors with my name on them—it all felt like a distant memory. I wasn’t hiding, though. No, I have my reasons for staying away. Just for now, perhaps.Each morning, I found myself
Victor’s POVThe next day, I woke up to the sun filtering through the curtains. My phone buzzed on the bedside table, pulling me from the fog of sleep. I glanced at the screen and saw Phil’s name.The message read: Shane’s called an official board meeting. She’s ready to announce herself as the majo
Victor’s POVThere was a moment of stunned silence before the board members began murmuring among themselves, their expressions shifting as they processed my unexpected entrance.“Victor, I didn’t expect you to be here,” Shane recovered quickly, her voice feigning nonchalance as she forced a smile.
Aria’s POVThe sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting golden stripes across the kitchen floor. Outside, the wind rustled the trees in soft waves, the kind of quiet that used to feel like a luxury—but now, it felt like a miracle.I stood barefoot by the open window, sipping tea, watc
Aria’s POV"There they are! By the dock!"The shout tore through the air like a whipcrack. My heart jumped."Get down, Jasmine!" I hissed, pulling her low into the hull of the boat.More frenzied shouts followed, echoing from behind the locked boathouse door. Then came the unmistakable sound of spli
Aria’s POVThe tunnel walls closed in the farther we ran, the air thick with dust and something ancient, something forgotten. The flickering light from my phone barely illuminated the path ahead as Jasmine and I rushed forward, our footsteps echoing off the stone.We had no idea where we were going—
Victor’s POVThe moment Greco grabbed my mother’s arm, I saw red.Alicia struggled against Greco’s grasp, her body twisting as she tried to wrench herself free. But his grip was unyielding—ironclad. His smirk darkened, turning into something twisted, dangerous."You always were stubborn," Greco murm
Aria’s POVI grabbed Jasmine’s hand and pulled her close, my pulse hammering as I ran toward the secret door. My fingers fumbled with the hidden latch, my breath short and uneven. Come on, come on—Click.I shoved the door open just enough for us to slip inside before sealing it shut behind us. The
Victor’s POVThe moment the man at the far table shifted, my entire body went rigid. One second, he was still, the next, his hand dipped into his jacket.A gun? A knife?I was ready to move. One wrong twitch from him, and I’d take him down before he could even stand. My pulse pounded in my ears as I
Aria’s POV"Are Jasmine and I the real targets?" I whispered to myself, the thought chilling me to my core.No. That was silly. I was being paranoid.I shook my head, trying to dismiss the fear that had settled like ice in my veins. The bodyguards said they needed to secure the cabin, and logically,
Aria’s POVI stared at my phone, my fingers gripping it so tightly that my knuckles ached. Still nothing. No calls. No messages. The meeting had to be happening now, but I had no idea what was going on.I tried dialing Victor again. Straight to voicemail. Samuel? No response either.A pit of dread s
Victor’s POVThe new location was a damn ghost town. An old diner stood alone at the edge of the road, its flickering neon sign barely casting enough light to illuminate the cracked pavement in front.Samuel and I sat in the car, staring at the building through the windshield. "This place is dead,"