Victor’s POVThe glow of the suite felt almost hypnotic as Aria and I shared what remained of the red wine, the silence between us charged with a blend of anticipation and tension. We had already gotten closer to the secrets of this place than I’d expected, and yet, something told me we were only at
Aria’s POV“Isn’t it a little strange that they gave us a suite for free, too?” I asked, glancing down at the extravagant basket of treats. “Maybe Dr. Levine arranged it?”Victor’s brow furrowed as he considered the possibility. “Maybe. If his contact here is as connected as he suggested, they could
Aria’s POVVictor cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “I mean, I can just sleep on the sofa. It’s comfortable enough, and I’ll have the whole ‘living room suite’ to myself,” he joked, flashing a grin, though his tone held an edge of uncertainty.I couldn’t tell if he was j
Aria’s POVA tense silence came upon Victor and me as we each tried to fathom what the invitation might lead us into. Just then, a sudden knock jolted us both, and I felt my pulse race. Before either of us could react, the door creaked open, and in walked Jessica and Fabian. Immediately, I noticed
Victor’s POVThe moment the elevator jolted to a halt, I instinctively reached out, steadying myself against the wall, but the sudden darkness threw me off balance. The lights flickered once before plunging us into pitch black. I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs, but I forced myself to
Aria’s POVMy senses were on high alert, every sound and movement around me sharpening as I scanned the crowd. The bar was alive with activity, and it was almost too easy to get lost in the different sights and sounds. To my left, a man in a crisp suit was leaning in, flashing a practiced smile as
Victor’s POV“Victor should go,” Jessica argued gently. Her gaze flicked between Samuel and me, her jaw set. “Victor would know how to get the information we need.”Samuel’s eyes narrowed at her words. Then he scoffed. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Jessica. I’ve been here before. I know some p
Aria’s POVThe door clicked shut behind us, sealing Samuel and me away from the familiar noise of the lounge. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat loud and unsteady, as a staff member appeared before us, his expression neutral. Without a word, he turned and gestured for us to follow, his footstep
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