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
A Lesson in Bicycles and RegretsJosh had never learned how to ride a bicycle, and I knew exactly why. His father had been too absent, too wrapped up in his own world to ever teach him. It was a small thing, really—just riding a bike. But to me, it was more than that. It was a reminder of all the things Aaron had failed to do as a father.So today, I had decided I would teach Josh myself.We were at the park, and Josh stood next to his new bicycle, eyeing it with uncertainty.“Are you sure about this, Mom?” he asked, raising a brow. “You don’t even know how to ride a bike.”I scoffed. “That’s not the point, Josh. I can learn while teaching you.”He sighed dramatically. “This is going to be a disaster.”“Hey!” I nudged his shoulder. “Have a little faith in me, will you?”He shook his head with a small laugh. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”With determination, I climbed onto the bike, gripping the handles tightly. Josh stood beside me, his arms crossed as he watched.“Alright,”
A Conversation We Shouldn’t Be HavingI was still sitting on the floor, my back against the door, when I heard a knock. My heart jumped.I held my breath, hoping—praying—it wasn’t who I thought it was. But then his voice came through the door, calm and steady.“I’m going to pretend like you never said that. Now, can we talk?”I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. Of course, it was Alex.Why was he coming to my room now?For a brief second, I debated ignoring him, but I knew that wouldn’t work. He wasn’t the type to walk away just because I didn’t answer. So, with a deep breath, I stood up, straightened my clothes, and unlocked the door.When I opened it, Alex stood there, his arms crossed, looking at me with that unreadable expression he always had when he was thinking too much.I shamelessly stepped out, tucking my hair behind my ear, trying to act like I wasn’t embarrassed.Alex chuckled softly.I frowned. “What?”“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head with an amused look.I narrowed m
A Protective Man The next morning, I stood in front of the hotel staff, my arms crossed as I listened to Alex lay out the renovation plans. The large conference room was filled with managers, cleaners, chefs, and other employees, all gathered to discuss the hotel’s future.“This is a fresh start,” Alex said confidently. “Mira and I want this place to not only be restored but to become even better than before. Every detail matters. The interior, the services, even the smallest changes—we’re aiming for perfection.”I nodded. “And I want all of you to be part of this. This hotel is like a home, not just for me, but for all of us. We need to work together to make it a success.”The employees nodded in agreement, and some even clapped. I could tell they were excited about the changes.After going over the budget, timeline, and responsibilities, the meeting finally ended. One by one, the employees left, leaving just me and Alex behind.“That went well,” I said, stretching my arms.“Yeah,”
Lena stormed into her home, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she tossed her purse onto the couch. The humiliation from her encounter with Mira and Alex still burned in her chest. She wasn’t the type to take an insult and walk away quietly. No, she would make them pay.She poured herself a glass of wine and sat down, already forming a plan in her mind. That was when her husband, Richard, walked into the living room, his tie loosened, exhaustion clear on his face.“You’re home early,” he noted, pouring himself a drink.“I had an interesting dinner,” Lena said with a smirk.Richard raised a brow. “And?”Lena leaned back. “I ran into Mira and Alex. And guess what? They admitted to sleeping together.”Richard scoffed, taking a sip of his whiskey. “What ! Wasn’t she married to his brother?”Lena’s lips curled into a devious smile. “That would make a good story, don’t you think? ‘CEO Alex has been sleeping with his step brother‘a wife even before their divorce and they have gon
Mira’s heart raced as she clutched Josh’s hand tightly, her fingers trembling from fear. The woods were silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was cold—too cold—and the night seemed to stretch on endlessly. She looked around, trying to find any sign of help, but the dense trees and thick fog obscured everything beyond a few feet.Josh was quiet beside her, his small frame shivering. He had been through so much already, and now Mira had to protect him, even if it meant risking her own life.She pulled him closer to her, trying to shield him from the chill, but her thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened before they ended up here.Two men had burst into their house, guns pointed at Josh, taking them both against their will. The flashbacks were vivid—Mira had screamed, had fought, but it was useless. They shot two of Alex’s security guards and dragged her and Josh out of the house. Her worst fears had come to life in that instant, and now they were h
Alex’s POVAlex paced around his office, his mind running wild with anxiety and frustration. Mira and Josh were gone, and the more he tried to track them down, the more the trail seemed to fade. His men were searching every inch of the city, every corner of their contacts, but there were no signs of them—no leads, no calls, just complete silence.His fingers tightened around the edge of his desk, the weight of the situation pressing on him harder than anything he had ever experienced.Who would do this? Who would dare take Mira and Josh?The questions rattled through his mind. He had powerful enemies, sure, but none of them would have the audacity to go after his family—his real family, the ones who mattered. And if it was someone who had been watching from the shadows, how did they even know how much Mira meant to him now?Just as his thoughts spiraled deeper into confusion, his phone buzzed sharply, interrupting his frustration. The unknown number that flashed on his screen gave him
Mira’s POVJosh’s cries were the only sound keeping me from losing my mind.He clung to me, his little fingers digging into my arm as he sobbed, his body trembling against mine.“M-mom, I’m scared,” he whimpered, his voice breaking.I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to be strong. If I broke down now, it would only make things worse.“I know, baby. I know,” I whispered, tightening my grip on him. “But you have to stay calm, okay? No matter what happens, don’t say anything. Don’t cry too loud. Just… just listen to me.”He nodded against my shoulder, sniffling, trying his best to be brave.The men in the front of the car barely paid attention to us, speaking in hushed voices to each other as they drove. I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but their towering frames and rough voices were enough to terrify me.The car smelled like smoke and sweat, and the air was suffocating. My hands were tied behind my back with thick rope, making it impossible to hold Josh properly, but I
Mira’s POVA loud bang shattered the silence. My body froze. That sound—I knew it too well. It was the same sound I heard the night I was attacked years ago.Before I could react, the door burst open, and two hefty men stormed in. My heart slammed against my ribs.Josh.They had guns. And they were pointed straight at him.“Mommy?” Josh whimpered, his little hands gripping his toy car.“No!” I screamed, stepping in front of him. “Please, don’t—”One of the men grabbed me roughly, yanking me backward. Josh shrieked as the other man lifted him off the ground like a sack of rice.“Let go of my son!” I thrashed against my captor, kicking and clawing, but his grip was like iron.“Shut her up,” one of them growled.Something hard slammed against my temple. Pain exploded in my head, and my vision blurred.No. No. No.I felt myself being dragged outside. The cold air hit my skin, but it did nothing to clear the fog in my head.Then I saw them.Alex’s security guards. Two of them. Lying lifele
Mira’s POVThe second I answered the call, a voice on the other end spoke before I could say anything.“I’ve been expecting your call.”I exchanged a quick glance with Alex, who immediately leaned closer, listening intently. My grip tightened around the phone.“Who is this?” I asked cautiously.The man chuckled. “The guy you’ve been searching for.”Alex immediately caught on. He mouthed Aaron’s financial adviser?I kept my voice steady. “You worked for Aaron?”“Yes. And I know everything you want to know,” he said. “But there’s one condition.”I could already guess what was coming.“I need to remain anonymous,” he continued. “No names, no connections, nothing that ties back to me.”I hesitated. This was huge—someone on the inside willing to talk. But could I trust him? What if he was baiting me into a trap?Alex motioned for me to put the call on speaker, and I did.“You don’t want your name involved?” Alex asked. “Then why reach out?”The man sighed. “Because I know what Aaron is cap
Mira’s POVAs we stepped outside, the cold night air was a welcome relief from the suffocating tension inside. I had barely taken a few steps toward the car when I heard someone call my name.“Mira!”I turned just in time to see one of Aaron’s cousins rushing toward me. She was a little out of breath, her eyes darting around as if making sure no one was watching her.Before I could ask what was going on, she slipped a small piece of paper into my hand. “Call him,” she whispered urgently. “He has a lot you’d want to know.”I frowned and looked at the number scribbled on it. “Who is this?”She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. “Someone who knows things about Aaron. Things you should know.”That caught my attention. “What kind of things?”She shook her head. “I don’t want to get involved. Just call him. And Mira…” She smiled slightly. “I’m happy you got out of that marriage. And that you’re with Alex. He suits you better.”I blinked in surprise. Of all the reactions I had gotten ton
Mira’s POVThe morning of the family event came faster than I wanted. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have attended at all, but Aaron had sent a reminder message, probably hoping to intimidate me into showing up. I wasn’t the same woman he used to control. If anything, this was the perfect opportunity to make a statement.I focused on getting Josh ready first, helping him with his little tuxedo. “You look so handsome,” I said, adjusting his bow tie.Josh grinned. “I know,” he said confidently. “But why do I have to wear this? It’s too tight.”“Because it’s a formal event,” I said. “Besides, you match with Alex.”At that moment, Alex walked in, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo. He took one look at Josh, then at me, and smirked. “Did we all just decide to ignore the dress code?”I turned back to the mirror and admired my red dress. It was bold, fiery, and a complete rebellion against the expected white. “I guess so,” I said, shrugging. “White isn’t really my color.”Josh laughed. “Dad’s
Mira’s POVThe house was quiet when I walked in, the kind of silence that made the weight of the day feel even heavier. The plans, the secrets, the moves I had just started to make—it was all swirling in my mind like a storm. But there was one thing I needed to do before I could let the chaos take over. I needed to talk to Alex.I found him in the living room, leaning back on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone. His usual calm was there, but I could tell something was bothering him. Maybe it was the pressure of everything happening with Aaron or the shadows from his past that still seemed to haunt him.“Hey,” I said softly, sitting next to him. “We need to talk.”He looked up at me, his gaze steady. “What’s going on?”I took a deep breath, my thoughts scattered. But I started from the beginning, telling him everything that had happened with the two investors—how they’d come to me, their plans for a hostile takeover, and how they’d been waiting for the right moment.“They said they’
Mira’s POVOlivia had left earlier with a promise to get back to me with some information. When she called me back, her voice was different, a little more unsure than usual.“Mira, I’m not sure about this. It feels like everything is moving so fast, and I can’t help but wonder if we can trust these men.” Olivia’s words lingered in the air as I leaned back in my chair. The weight of the situation had started to settle over me.I knew exactly what she meant. It felt too good to be true that these men—who had been a part of Aaron’s inner circle, who had supported him for so long—were suddenly on my side. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if this was going to happen, I needed to take control and handle it the way I always did: strategically.“Olivia, show me the reports,” I said, my voice firm but calm.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Olivia responded. “Okay, I’ll have someone bring them to you. Just… Mira, make sure you’re really ready