Victor’s POVThe car came to a halt, and I stared out the window, taking in the scene before us. The Mirage Casino’s entrance was unmarked, nestled between two anonymous buildings in a part of town that would have seemed nondescript to anyone else. But thanks to Dr. Levine’s directions, we’d found i
Aria’s POVI stood a few steps behind Victor, watching him play his hand at the blackjack table. He was composed, focused, slipping effortlessly into the role of a casual gambler. But my eyes drifted over the room, taking in the grandeur of the place, the way everyone moved as if they belonged here,
Aria’s POVSamuel stood in the far corner of the lounge, blending into the scene so effortlessly he might have been born into this world of smoke, shadows, and secrets. The dim lighting softened the sharp angles of his face, casting an aura of mystery that fit right in with the room’s quiet elegance
I swallowed, knowing that his warning was valid. As much as I wanted to dismiss his concern, I knew he was right. “Noted. I’ll keep it light if I have to ask anything.”He gave a small nod of approval, and I felt his gaze soften just a bit. “Good. You’ve got a solid intuition, Aria.” Before I could
Aria’s POVI stood frozen, watching the scene spiral out of control. The man’s voice grew louder, filling the room with an anger that seemed to shake the walls. People inside the lounge were gathering around, drawn in by the spectacle, whispering in hushed, urgent tones.“Hey, calm down!” the dealer
Aria’s POVFabian held Jessica’s hand tightly as we slipped through the far side of the lounge, her steps shaky, her face pale. I could feel the tension radiating off her—she was struggling to keep it together, to put on a calm front, but I could see the cracks in her composure. Meanwhile, Victor k
Victor’s POVI watched as Fabian guided Jessica over to a nearby table, his arm still protectively around her shoulders. Jessica looked shaken to her core, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself. Aria pulled a chair close, her voice soft and comforting as she handed Jessica a glass of ju
Victor’s POVFrom where I was hiding, I saw the guards haul Troy into the room, his face pale and sullen, his hands restrained but still trembling from the scuffle outside. I could feel his desperation radiate from across the room, an instinctive terror that sharpened the longer he stayed in the pre
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