The First TestWalking into the conference room, I could feel the weight of their stares. Some were curious, others doubtful, and a few openly unimpressed. I wasn’t surprised. To them, I was just the billionaire’s reckless daughter who threw away everything for love, only to come crawling back after a failed marriage.I took my seat at the head of the table, my posture straight, my face calm. The room was filled with my late parents’ board members, key investors, and longtime business partners. These were the people who had kept the company running after my father’s passing. Now, they were about to determine if I was capable of leading it.One of the older men, Mr. Carter, cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Mira, it’s impressive that you’ve decided to take over your family’s empire. But let’s be honest, your experience in business is… limited, to say the least.”I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “I see. So what exactly are you implying, Mr. Carter?”A woman named Mrs. Patel,
Dinner with a LiarI sat in my home office, staring at the project sketches spread out in front of me. The hotel was in shambles—failing revenue, bad management, and a ruined reputation. I had spent the last few hours going through reports, trying to figure out my first move, but the more I read, the more restless I became.This wasn’t just about fixing a hotel. This was a test. A challenge from the board and investors who thought I wasn’t capable. I couldn’t afford to fail.Just as I was about to pour myself a drink, my phone rang.Aaron.I stared at the screen, debating whether to answer. I had no time for his mind games, but at the same time, I was curious. What did he want?I answered. “What?”“Mira.” His voice was calm, careful. “I want to see you.”I frowned. “Why?”“Just to talk.”I exhaled. A part of me wanted to ignore him, but another part wanted to see what he was up to. He had been mute when I returned, then suddenly started talking again after I confronted him. Now he wan
A Toast to DeceptionAaron stopped by an expensive liquor store on his way home, selecting a fine bottle of wine. This was a moment to celebrate. He had gotten away with it. Again.As he drove home, he replayed the dinner in his mind. The way Mira had spoken, the way she had dismissed their past like it was nothing more than a failed marriage. She had no memory of what he did.He smirked.When he arrived at the family estate, he went straight to his mother’s room, holding up the bottle. “We’re drinking tonight.”His mother, who had been sitting at the edge of her bed, gave him a tired look. “Drinking? For what?”Aaron grinned. “She doesn’t remember.”At those words, his mother’s face softened with relief. She exhaled slowly, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.“Are you sure?” she asked, standing up.“Positive,” Aaron said, opening the wine bottle. “She said she was shot by some random thugs. She thinks she lost her memory. She doesn’t suspect a thing.”His mother t
The Hotel Sitting in the backseat of my car, I tapped my fingers lightly against my lap, my thoughts swirling as we weaved through the city streets. Today was a big day—meetings, plans, and a full team waiting for me at the hotel. But just as I was setting my mind on the task ahead, a familiar building came into view.My company.Or rather, the company I built with Aaron—the one he stole from me.My jaw tightened as I tore my gaze away. “Focus on the hotel. One step at a time.”When my car pulled up in front of the hotel, I adjusted my sunglasses and stepped out, my heels clicking against the pavement. I inhaled deeply, scanning the building in front of me. It was old, worn down, and a shadow of what it used to be. But I saw potential—my potential.This place would thrive again, and I was going to make damn sure of it.But just as I was about to head out my eyes met with her .Aaron’s sassy little fiancée.I didn’t flinch, but she did. For a split second, her expression tightened, as
A Change of PlansI sat across from Alex in the dimly lit restaurant, the sound of quiet chatter and soft music filling the space around us. The dinner had gone exactly as I planned—straight to business. I laid out every detail about the hotel, what needed to be done, and why I needed his help.Alex listened carefully, barely interrupting as I spoke. When I was done, he leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment before nodding.“I’ll help,” he said, pulling out his tablet. “But first, we need a strategy.”He spent the next half hour walking me through a detailed plan. A PowerPoint presentation, charts, projections—Alex had come prepared. He always did. He had a sharp mind, one of the reasons I knew he was the best person for this job.When we finished going over everything, he set his tablet aside and took a sip of his drink. Then, with a slight smirk, he asked, “So… is this why you called me for dinner?”“Yes,” I said simply, meeting his gaze.His smirk widened. “No personal
Two can playAs I sat in the car, my mind kept going back to Alex. His sudden coldness earlier still bothered me, but I wasn’t going to dwell on it. I had bigger things to focus on.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—Michael.A slow smirk crossed my lips. Right on time.I answered, keeping my voice light. “Michael, what a surprise.”He chuckled on the other end. “You sound like you weren’t expecting my call.”I leaned back in my seat, playing along. “Should I have been?”He laughed again. “I was hoping to take you to dinner tonight. What do you say?”I had just finished dinner with Alex, but that didn’t matter. My plan was still on. If there was one thing I knew, being with Michael would cause an even bigger stir than being with Alex. Michael was powerful, untouchable, and if I became his woman, it would be a direct threat to everyone who had wronged me—including Aaron and his family.And I was more than willing to play the part.“Sounds lovely,” I s
The Game of GolfI stared at Alex’s message for a long time.“Are you seeing Michael?”I didn’t know what to say.I could tell the truth, but that would only make things more complicated. And I wasn’t in the mood for whatever lecture he had planned.So I lied.“No, I’m not seeing Michael.”The reply came almost instantly.“Stay away from him. He’s kind of dangerous.”I frowned at the screen. Was Alex saying this out of concern? Or was it because he had his own issues with Michael? Either way, I wasn’t going to ask. I left the message on read.A few minutes later, my phone rang again. This time, it was Michael.“Did you forget about the golf course?” His voice was smooth, teasing.I smirked. “Of course not. I’ll be there.”The next morning, I dressed carefully. If I was going to play this game, I was going to play it well.A fitted white golf dress, short enough to tease but elegant enough to not look desperate. A sleek ponytail, just a touch of makeup, and sunglasses that screamed con
An old Ally The golf game was already interesting enough with Aaron and Alex showing up, but things took an even more surprising turn when I saw a familiar face—Michael’s father.He was a good friend of my late father, and seeing him brought back a wave of memories. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to approach him. If there was anything I had learned from my father, it was that connections were important, especially in business.“Mr. Carter,” I greeted with a polite smile.He turned around, his eyes widening in surprise. “Mira? My goodness!”I barely had time to react before he pulled me into a warm embrace.“I thought I’d never see you again,” he said, stepping back and looking at me properly. “When I heard what happened… I tried to reach you, but Aaron made sure no one could.”I gave him a bitter smile, unwilling to go into that part of my past. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”He nodded. “And I heard you took over your father’s business. He would be so proud.”“Thank you
(Mira’s POV)It was time for Alex to leave, and as much as I wanted to avoid the awkwardness, I wasn’t sure how to act around him now. But before I could overthink it, he gave me a small smile and said, “Don’t make this weird, Mira.”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.“I just want to make things right for you,” he continued. “And I don’t want to rush things. Let’s just… keep it cool.”I nodded. That was probably the best thing to do. Everything felt so overwhelming already, and I didn’t need to complicate it even more.As he reached for the door, he turned back to me. “You don’t have to worry about Aaron,” he said, his voice firm. “I’ll keep you safe.”I believed him.We stood there for a while, talking about random things—jokes, childhood memories, and silly arguments about whether pineapple belonged on pizza. It felt natural, effortless, like we hadn’t just gone through a night filled with chaos.When it was finally time for him to leave, he walked to his car, and I
The Confession(Mira’s POV)Cynthia drove me home in silence, the only sound in the car was the hum of the engine. My head was still spinning from everything that had happened. Tonight was supposed to be fun, but instead, it had turned into another night of chaos.When we pulled into the driveway, I let out a tired sigh. “Thanks for the ride,” I mumbled, unbuckling my seatbelt.But the moment I stepped out of the car, my stomach twisted painfully.Alex was standing there.Under the dim glow of the streetlight, I could see his knuckles—bloody and bruised. His jaw was clenched, his face unreadable, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. The way he held his injured hand told me he was in pain, but he wasn’t even acknowledging it.Before I even thought about what I was doing, my feet moved on their own.I ran to him.The ache in my chest grew stronger with each step, and the moment I reached him, my emotions exploded.I hit his chest—softly at first, then harder.“Why?” I shouted, my
A Night Gone Wrong(Mira’s POV)Sitting in the VIP lounge with Cynthia, I sipped on my drink while we watched the dance floor. The music was loud, the bass vibrating through my body, but I was having a good time. It felt nice to unwind, to just sit back and not think about work, responsibilities, or the mess Aaron had made of my life.But, of course, peace never lasted long for me.“Come on!” Cynthia suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me up. “You didn’t come all the way here just to sit and watch. Let’s dance!”I laughed, trying to resist. “Cynthia, I’m not really—”“No excuses, Mira. Let’s go.”Before I could argue further, I was already being dragged onto the dance floor. The lights flashed, people moved in sync with the beat, and for a brief moment, I let myself enjoy it.Then, I felt someone behind me.I turned around, expecting a stranger, but my heart dropped when I saw who it was.Aaron.Drunk, stumbling, and looking at me with the same arrogance he always had.“Mira,” he slurre
An Unexpected Reunion(Mira’s POV)I tried my best not to make it obvious, but I was definitely waiting for Alex to say something.His words from earlier kept replaying in my mind. When the time is right, I need to tell you something.What was it?Did it have to do with our almost kiss? Did he feel the same way I did? Or was I reading too much into it?I stole a glance at him as we stepped into the club, but his expression was unreadable. The music was loud, the flashing lights making everything feel more alive. People were already dancing, the atmosphere filled with energy.Just as I was about to say something, I heard someone call Alex’s name.A guy approached us, grinning. it was daniel’s friend . Alex recognized him instantly and gave him a handshake.“Daniel,” Alex greeted. “Didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”“Man, you know me. Always around,” Daniel said, then turned to me. “Mira so good to see you here , you look hot”Alex threw him a look.I nodded politely, offering a small
(Mira’s POV)I had been staring at the clock endlessly, tapping my fingers against my dresser, waiting for time to pass. Every minute felt like an hour. I was already dressed, and I looked hot.The deep black dress hugged my curves perfectly, stopping just above my knees, classy yet daring. My makeup was light but flawless, highlighting my best features. My hair? Perfect waves that framed my face just right.I picked up my phone and took a few pictures for Instagram. It had been a while since I posted something for myself and not business-related. I smiled at the photos, satisfied.“Mom, you actually look hot,” Josh teased from my doorway, arms crossed with a smug grin.I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Oh, so I never look hot?”He shook his head dramatically. “Not this hot. Are you sure you’re going to the club and not a red-carpet event?”I threw a pillow at him, and he dodged it easily, laughing. But deep down, his words made me wonder.Would Alex bail on me tonight after what happened
“Let’s Pretend That Didn’t Happen” i said to myself. The second I stepped into my house, I rushed straight to my room and shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it. Josh was sitting on my bed, playing a game on his tablet, but as soon as he saw me, he smirked. “What was that about?” he asked, his voice filled with amusement. I groaned and covered my face. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” Josh chuckled. “You and Uncle Alex were about to kiss.” I gasped. “Excuse me?” I dropped my hands and looked at him. “We were not.” He rolled his eyes. “Mom, I’m not a kid. I saw it.” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but he dodged it, laughing. “Go to sleep, Josh.” He snickered. “Whatever you say, Mom.” Before I could throw another pillow at him, I heard a knock on my door. I froze. Josh raised an eyebrow. “You gonna get that, or should I?” I slowly walked to the door and peeped through the peephole. My stomach did a little flip when I saw Alex standing there, wavi
Stepping out of her comfort zone I stared at my closet, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.All I had were work clothes.Blazers. Pencil skirts. Crisp white shirts. A few modest dresses that screamed corporate boss rather than night out.I sighed. “Well, this is a disaster.”Josh, sitting on my bed with his legs crossed, let out a loud laugh. “Mom, you’re so funny right now.”I turned to him with a playful glare. “Oh? And what exactly is funny about this?”He grinned, eyes twinkling. “You, freaking out over what to wear to a club.”I scoffed. “I am not freaking out.”Josh raised a brow, clearly not convinced.I groaned and grabbed my phone, dialing Alex. He picked up immediately.“Yo,” he answered. “You ready for tonight?”“No,” I huffed, flipping through the clothes in my wardrobe again. “I have nothing to wear.”There was silence for half a second before he burst into laughter.“Oh no,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “The great Mira doesn’t have the perfect o
Taking Back ControlThe office was finally peaceful. No more chaos, no more betrayals—just me, my work, and the steady hum of productivity. I focused on my new project, checking every little detail carefully. Things were falling into place, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was back in control.Just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee, my manager walked in with a smirk on his face, holding a document in his hand.“You wouldn’t believe this,” he said.I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”“A direct mail from Aaron’s company,” he said, waving the paper slightly. “Do you want to read it?”Aaron? The name alone made my mood sour. There was no way he would have the guts to contact me himself. If anything, he’d use someone else to do his dirty work.“Let me see,” I said, taking the document from him.I skimmed through the contents, and before I could stop myself, I let out a loud laugh.Co-CEO?They really thought I would agree to that? After everything I had
Aaron’s Office ShowdownAaron sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of files while trying to ignore the growing headache pressing against his temples. The past few weeks had been stressful. His company was struggling, facing unexpected financial hits and internal instability. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, his assistant walked in.“Sir, the Chief Director is here to see you,” she announced cautiously.Aaron frowned. The Chief Director rarely showed up unannounced. Something was off.“Let him in,” he said, closing the file in front of him and leaning back in his chair.A few moments later, the Chief Director, an older man with silver-streaked hair and a sharp gaze, walked in. His expression was unreadable, but Aaron could sense the weight of his presence. He gestured toward the chair in front of him.“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Aaron asked, trying to sound casual.The Chief Director sat down, placing a folder on the desk. He adjusted his suit jacket and ex