Carl’s Strict Rules(Carl’s POV Carl sat in his office, his fingers interlocked as he leaned back in his chair. His mind kept drifting back to the meeting—to Mia.She had surprised him.He had known she was competent, but watching her command the room with such confidence had been… unexpected. He had seen the way Hans had looked at her—intrigued, impressed. And Diana, for all her arrogance, had been forced to acknowledge Mia’s presence.Carl hated that it had come to this.That he had been the one to speak up for her.He hadn’t planned on defending her. He had told himself from the beginning that Mia was temporary, a woman forced into his life through circumstance. There was no reason for him to care whether she sank or swam.And yet…Diana.Diana had tried to belittle her. Not as an employee, but as his wife.That was what had pushed him to speak up.He knew his stepmother well. She hated him, just as much as she hated the fact that his father would choose him as the CEO instead of
A Battle on All Fronts(Mia’s POV I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the computer screen, but my mind was elsewhere.The presentation.I had done everything right. I had prepared for days, rehearsed in front of the mirror, and delivered my points with confidence. I had kept my posture straight, my voice steady. I had looked every board member in the eye, refusing to be intimidated.And yet…Diana.Her presence alone was enough to drain the air from the room.She sat there, watching me like a hawk, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the conference table in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The moment I finished my presentation, she leaned forward, her sharp gaze slicing through me like a blade."That was… an interesting attempt," she said, her voice sweet but laced with poison.The silence in the room was suffocating.I clenched my hands beneath the table, forcing a calm smile. "I appreciate your feedback, Chairwoman."Diana tilted her head, pretending to think. "Tell me, Mia.
Unraveling the Mystery(Hans’ POVI leaned back in my office chair, staring at the ceiling as my thoughts drifted back to Mia.There was something about her.Something that nagged at me.I couldn't explain it, but every time I looked at her, I felt like I had met her before. Like there was a missing piece I couldn't quite grasp.Yet, no matter how much I tried to connect the dots, nothing made sense.And it didn’t help that she avoided me like the plague.At first, I thought it was because she was married to Carl. Maybe she was just trying to maintain boundaries. But there was hesitation in her eyes every time we spoke.Like she was hiding something.And that only made me more curious.I wasn’t blind. I saw the way Carl treated her.Indifferent. Cold. Like she was nothing more than an employee.And yet, when Diana tried to put her down in front of the board, Carl defended her.That surprised me.Carl wasn’t the type to defend anyone—especially not his own wife.It was almost as if… he
Unspoken Emotions(Carl’s POV I wasn’t jealous.Not even close.But as I sat in my office, flipping through reports I wasn’t really reading, my mind kept drifting back to Hans.Hans and his smirks.Hans and his stupid jokes.Hans and his constant need to hover around Mia.It was annoying.And distracting.I tapped my pen against the desk, exhaling sharply. Why did it bother me?I had seen Hans flirt with countless women before. It was his nature.But watching him do it with her?That was different.Mia was supposed to be nothing more than my secretary.A contract.A convenience.But lately, she had become a problem.Not just because she was efficient at her job.Not just because she had impressed the board with her presentation.But because I noticed her.And that wasn’t supposed to happen.I had trained myself to be indifferent. Cold. Detached.It was easier that way.But the moment Hans started showing interest, something inside me shifted.I didn’t like the way she looked at him.
Breaking Point(Mia’s POV I turned off the shower, letting the water drip down my skin as I leaned against the cold tiles.The day had been unbearable.Carl had done everything in his power to push me past my limit.The extra workload. The sudden new rules.The constant belittling.It was too much.I wrapped a towel around myself and walked to my bedroom, but the weight in my chest only grew heavier.I can’t keep doing this.I collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as frustration, exhaustion, and memories I tried to bury came rushing back all at once.“Starting today, you’ll be handling all international correspondence directly. No more delegating.”“And I expect you to accompany me to all external meetings from now on. No excuses.”“No more personal outings with my stepbrother during work hours.”His words echoed in my head.Carl Oswald was suffocating me.It wasn’t just work. It was him.The way he looked at me with those cold, unreadable eyes.The way he dismissed me as if
A Dangerous Rival(Tashi’s POV I had always known Carl Oswald better than anyone.Or at least, I thought I did.For years, I was the only woman in his world who truly mattered. I was the one who stood by his side, who understood him when no one else could. He had always been mine.But now… things were different.Because of her.Mia.That woman had appeared out of nowhere, slipping into his life like an unwanted guest, a parasite feeding off everything that belonged to me.And worst of all?Carl was letting her.I leaned against the railing outside the Oswald estate, watching as the evening lights glowed through the massive windows. I could see them inside—Carl and Mia.She sat at the dining table, her face unreadable, her posture stiff.Carl sat across from her, his jaw tight, his fingers drumming against the table. He looked annoyed, but there was something else there, something he didn’t even realize was slipping through his carefully controlled mask.Something that made my stomac
An Unwanted Distraction(Carl’s PovTashi had been persistent.She had been asking for this dinner for weeks, making it clear that it wasn’t just a casual outing—it was an investment in our relationship. Or at least, that’s how she saw it.I knew what she was doing.Pouring more money into LiveStrong. Trying to prove she was the only woman who had ever been worthy of me.I let her believe whatever she wanted.Tashi had always been useful to me. She knew the game we played.But that didn’t mean I was going to indulge her delusions.So when she finally convinced me to meet her for dinner, I made sure Mia came with me.The moment we arrived at the restaurant, I could feel the tension shift.
A Night of ConfusionMia’s POV – If I had known Carl’s so-called “business meeting” was with Tashi, I would have come up with an excuse to stay at the office.Or maybe I would have thrown myself down the stairs.Anything to avoid this mess.The moment we walked into the restaurant, I saw Tashi’s face light up at the sight of Carl—her eyes practically glowing with excitement.And then she saw me.That glow vanished faster than a candle in a storm.“What is she doing here?” she asked, voice laced with irritation.I swallowed, already regretting this whole night.Carl didn’t even hesitate before answering. “She’s my secretary. She’s meant to be wherever I go.”The way he said it—so casual, so matter-of-fact—made my stomach churn.Because I wasn’t stupid.I knew what this was.He didn’t bring me here because he needed me.He brought me here to prove a point.To whom? I wasn’t sure.Tashi didn’t argue, but the way she gripped her wine glass made it clear she wanted to.Carl didn’t even sp
Mia’s Confrontation with Carl(Mia’s Point of View I had been patient.I had been silent.I had swallowed my pride, endured the cold glares, the sharp words, the constant reminder that I was nothing in his world.But tonight—tonight, I snapped.Carl had always been unkind to me, but lately, it had gotten worse.His indifference had turned into something sharper, something more deliberate.One moment, he would ignore me completely. The next, he would find the smallest excuse to criticize me.My presence irritated him.Everything I did seemed to bother him.And I could take it—I had taken it for weeks. But what I couldn’t take was the way he kept pretending.Pretending like he didn’t see me.Pretending like I didn’t matter.And yet, I knew he was lying.Because I caught him watching me when he thought I wasn’t looking.I noticed how he drank the coffee I made every morning, even when he never asked for it.I saw how his gaze softened for a split second when I brought him dinner, only
Carl’s Internal Battle(Carl’s Point of View I didn’t believe in fate.I didn’t believe in accidents either.Everything in life had a cause, a reason, a pattern. That’s how I had learned to navigate the world—by controlling what I could and shutting out what I couldn’t.But now, something was wrong.Mia.I saw her in color.And I had no logical explanation for it.For as long as I could remember, faces had been a blur to me. A disorder, they called it—prosopagnosia—but I had long since stopped caring for labels.I learned to live with it.I memorized voices, movements, the way people carried themselves. I didn’t need to see details to understand who someone was.But my world was gray.Everyone was the same. Shadows. Outlines. No color.Until her.Until Mia.The first time it happened, I thought it was a mistake. A trick of the light.But it wasn’t.It kept happening.Every time I looked at her, I saw more.The deep brown of her hair, the warmth in her hazel eyes, the soft blush of he
Mia’s Growing Influence(Carl’s Point of View I never liked changes.Routine was predictable, controllable. I knew what to expect, how things worked, and where everyone belonged. That’s how I kept my life in order, my emotions in check.But then she happened.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.My unwanted wife. My unexpected problem.She was supposed to be nothing more than a contract—an obligation. Yet, somehow, she was everywhere.And worse?I was starting to notice her.It started with something small.My coffee.I was particular about it—strong, just a little sugar, no milk. No one ever got it right. Not my previous secretaries, not my staff, not even Tashi, despite her years of working with me.But one morning, as I sat at my desk, drowning in files, Mia walked in and placed a cup in front of me.I barely looked at her. “I didn’t ask for this.”She didn’t flinch. “I know. Just try it.”I frowned, but the smell of it was familiar. Too familiar.I hesitated before picking it up and taking a
Tashi’s Growing Rage(Third-Person Point of View Tashi Matsuda had spent years by Carl Oswald’s side, believing—knowing—that she was the only woman who truly understood him. She had been patient, watching from the shadows, waiting for the moment when he would finally see her the way she saw him.But that moment never came.And now, it never would.Because of her.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.The woman Carl barely tolerated. The woman he was forced to marry. Yet, somehow, he was protecting her.Tashi had expected Carl to treat Mia like an obligation—nothing more. But instead, he was defending her. Subtly, perhaps. But still.It was enough to drive Tashi to the edge.She had wasted too much time waiting for Carl to come around. If he wasn’t going to acknowledge her, if he was going to let Mia take what should have been hers, then she would take everything from him.And she knew exactly how to start.By turning to the one man who had just as much reason to hate Carl as she did.Hans Oswald.
Ashley’s Move(Third-Person Point of View The evening air inside LiveStrong’s headquarters was cool, carrying the faint scent of polished wood and expensive cologne. Most employees had already left, but Ashley Kensington remained behind.She wasn’t here for work.She was here for him.Carl Oswald.The man who had always been just out of reach.The man she wanted—not for love, not for romance, but for power.Ashley adjusted her silk blouse, ensuring the buttons were open just enough to draw his attention without seeming desperate. She had spent years perfecting the art of seduction, using her beauty to get what she wanted. And tonight, she wanted him.Or at least, she wanted to ensure that Mia Miloslava Pankraz never had him.She found him in his office, exactly where she knew he would be. He was seated at his desk, focused on his laptop, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. His expression was unreadable, his sharp jawline tense with thought.Perfect.Ashley walked i
Carl’s Silent Protection(Carl’s Personal Point of View – I hated mistakes.Especially in my company.Especially in front of potential investors.And especially when they involved a deal I had been working on for months.The moment the presentation collapsed in that conference room, I felt a familiar irritation creeping up my spine.I had expected better from Mia.But as I sat back, watching her fumble through the mess, something didn’t sit right with me.Mia Miloslava Pankraz was many things—a woman forced into a marriage she didn’t want, a stubborn employee who didn’t fear me the way she should, and an unexpected distraction I didn’t need.But she wasn’t careless.She wasn’t the type to mess up an important presentation.And yet, she had.Or at least, that’s how it looked.The question was—why?I wasn’t the kind of man who jumped to conclusions.I believed in evidence. Logic. Control.And right now, everything pointed to one clear fact—Mia had failed.But something about her reacti
Hans’ Unresolved Mystery(Third-Person Point of View Hans Oswald was not a man who easily let things go.His mind was sharp, his instincts sharper. He had built his life on calculated decisions and an ability to read people within seconds.Yet, there was one person he couldn’t quite figure out.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.From the moment she walked into LiveStrong as Carl’s new secretary, something about her had felt familiar.The curve of her face, the way she carried herself, even the sharp retorts she gave when Carl underestimated her—it all tugged at something buried deep in his memory.But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t place where he had seen her before.And it was driving him insane.Hans sat in his office, fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk.His laptop was open, but the screen was a blur. He wasn’t focused on work.Instead, his thoughts kept drifting back to her.He had always been good with faces—except when it came to Carl, of course. Thanks to his prosopag
Mia’s Soft Side(Mia’s Point of View The night was quieter than usual.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Sleep refused to come. My mind was restless, tangled with thoughts I couldn’t silence.Ever since I married Carl, I had expected indifference, maybe even hostility. But I never imagined I would find myself caring—even in the smallest ways.It was absurd.And yet, here I was, thinking about him.Earlier tonight, I had heard him. A muffled sound from down the hall, something between a groan and a gasp. It was faint, but in the silence of the mansion, it was enough to catch my attention.I hadn’t planned on knocking on his door.But my feet had moved before my mind could stop them.And when he opened it, the look in his eyes had shaken me.Carl Jasper was many things—arrogant, controlling, unreadable. But tonight, he had looked…Lost.For the first time, he wasn’t the cold and untouchable CEO. He wasn’t the man who made biting remar
Carl’s Nightmares(Carl’s Point of View – I woke up with a gasp.The room was dark, except for the dim glow from the bedside lamp I had forgotten to turn off. My heart was pounding, my throat dry, my entire body tense with the remnants of a nightmare I couldn’t escape.It was the same one.The accident.The screech of tires. The shattering glass. The smell of burning metal.And the worst part—her voice.“Carl, baby, don’t be scared.”I squeezed my eyes shut, but it didn’t help. The images were still there.My mother.Her blood on my hands.Her face, twisted in pain, trying to smile at me.I could still feel the warmth of her fingers brushing against my cheek before they went cold.And just like every time, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t stop it. I was trapped in a moment I could never change.I sucked in a sharp breath and ran a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself. My shirt was damp with sweat, my body trembling slightly from the intensity of the dream.I needed air.Throwing