Victor’s POV“Fabian,” I called, catching him in the hallway outside the meeting room at Velvet Vibe just as he was about to turn the corner. He stopped, turning around with a slight smile.“Oh, hey, Victor, good to see you,” he said. “How’s everything going with the collaboration?”“Moving smoothly
Victor’s POVStanding here, looking at Aria and Jessica with that fierce resolve blazing in their eyes, I realized that stopping them was no longer an option. They wanted to face this danger directly, on their own terms.“Alright,” I said finally, my voice heavy with reluctance. “But if you’re going
Aria’s POVI rang the doorbell, feeling an unexpected rush of nerves as I waited. It had been a long time since I’d been to Victor’s home, and even though I told myself it was just the thought of the training that unsettled me, I knew it was more than that.One of Victor’s staff opened the door with
Aria’s POV“Alright,” Victor said, moving closer to adjust my stance. His hands found my shoulders, gently shifting them back, and then he stepped even closer, his hands grazing down my arms to place them correctly, his body rubbing against mine at one point. Shit. “Keep your elbows in,” he murmur
Aria’s POVThe silence between us thickened, filled with all the things we hadn’t said. I could still feel the echoes of his words—I was going crazy thinking about you. The admission lingered, like a raw wound exposed, and I couldn’t look away from him, couldn’t ignore the way my heart raced, each b
Aria’s POV“Alright, Aria,” the trainer said, clapping his hands with a nod of encouragement. “Ready to show us what you’ve got?”“Let’s do it,” I replied, trying to hide the quickening of my pulse as I glanced at Victor. This was our second training session, and he’d gone all out, hiring a professi
Aria’s POVThe session finally wrapped up, and the trainer clapped his hands one last time, beaming at us. “Great job, everyone. You’re picking this up quickly—maybe you guys are really naturals, or it’s just that you’re all already in good shape.”Jessica grinned at me, nudging my shoulder. “Guess
Aria’s POVTonight is the night.The thought ran through my mind, sending a shiver down my spine as I wrapped up the last of my work at Velvet Vibe. I glanced at Jessica, who was just as focused, her brow furrowed as she assigned tasks to our team members. We’d both worked late to ensure everything
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