**************CHAPTER 14~Kaia’s POV~The woman stepped into view, her movements fluid like she owned every inch of space she occupied. Her sharp features were framed by perfectly styled auburn waves, her cream gown clinging to her figure in a way that was as bold as her confident smile.“Natalie Price,” Blaze said evenly, his tone giving away none of the tension I could feel radiating off him.“Blaze,” she cooed, her voice dripping with familiarity as her lips curved into a smile that was far too pleased to see him. “I was wondering if you’d show up tonight.”My stomach churned. There was something about the way she said his name, her tone laced with something intimate, that made my skin crawl.“I’m here, as you can see,” Blaze replied, his voice calm, his stance unreadable.But Natalie wasn’t done. She closed the distance between them, her gaze flicking briefly to me before dismissing me entirely. “I’m surprised you didn’t come find me sooner,” she said, her fingers brushing lightl
**************CHAPTER 15~Kaia’s POV~I stormed away from Blaze, my heels clicking sharply on the floor as I headed toward the balcony. The cool night air would do me some good—anything to clear the boiling frustration in my chest.I hadn’t even reached the doors when I bumped into someone, the impact spilling a glass of wine all over his suit.“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” I blurted, panic and mortification filling my voice.The man stepped back, looking down at the stain with a slightly amused expression. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his dark hair was neatly styled. His sharp suit, now splattered with red wine, was clearly expensive.“It’s fine,” he assured me calmly. His gaze met mine, and I caught the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Though I think this makes us even. You look like you could use a drink.”“I—” I hesitated, unsure how to respond.“For spilling my drink,” he continued, the smile widening slightly, “you at least owe me something. And judging by the
**************CHAPTER 16~Kaia’s POV~Blaze’s lips on mine was a force I wasn’t prepared for. My mind screamed at me to pull back, to push him away, but my body betrayed me, melting against his touch. The softness of those lips made me wish for more.When I finally managed to snap out of the haze, I tore myself away, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I stared at him, wide-eyed. “What the hell was that?” I managed, my voice shaky with anger and something I didn’t want to name. He didn’t answer but kept his piercing gaze fixed on me, his expression unreadable. I had soon forgotten we had company. My entire attention was fixed on Blaze and believe me, he loved it. Before I could react further, his hand shot out, catching my wrist as I instinctively stepped back. “Time to go home,” Blaze muttered in a commanding tone. Too stunned to argue, I let him lead me out of the party. My mind whirled, my heart pounding, the memory of his lips against mine refusing to fade. The dri
**************CHAPTER 17~Kaia’s POV~“Jealous? Of you or them?” I shot back, my voice laced with incredulity. “You must be dreaming, Mr. Black.”Blaze’s smirk widened, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned against my desk. Right now he was the perfect picture of nonchalance. “Really? Because last night told a different story.”I folded my arms tightly across my chest, summoning every ounce of indignation I could muster. “Last night was… a mistake,” I said firmly, though my voice wavered slightly under the weight of my own lie.“A mistake, huh?” Blaze said, tilting his head as though pondering my words. “Funny how mistakes feel so intentional.”The casual arrogance in his tone made my blood boil. “Don’t twist my words,” I snapped. “Whatever you think happened last night—it won’t happen again.”Blaze stood upright, his towering frame closing the distance between us in a few measured steps. “Won’t it?” he murmured, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone that sent an inv
**************CHAPTER 18~Kaia’s POV~The door to my office swung open with a resounding thud, shattering the charged atmosphere like a glass shattering on tile.I stumbled back instinctively, my lips tingling from the kiss and my heart hammering in my chest like I’d been caught red-handed. Blaze, on the other hand, didn’t flinch. He straightened leisurely, his expression infuriatingly calm, though his eyes still burned with a dark intensity that made my knees weak.I looked at the door to see who had interrupted us and there she stood. Natalie. Of course, it was Natalie.Her perfectly made-up face froze for a split second and her carefully painted lips parted in what looked like genuine shock. But the moment passed quickly, and she schooled her features into a mask of composed superiority, crossing her arms over her tailored blazer as she stepped further inside.“Am I…” Her lips curled upward in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Interrupting something?”Blaze didn’t miss a beat
**************CHAPTER 19~Kaia’s POV~After the bunch of work, I couldn’t face Blaze at home just yet. I still felt the intensity of our earlier encounter lingering on my lips and mind, and I needed air, space—anything to calm my racing thoughts.That was how I ended up at the upscale mall, accompanied by Blaze’s ever-efficient butler. Shopping had seemed like the perfect distraction—a mundane activity to take my mind off the chaos.I was browsing through clothes racks when my fingers brushed over a stunning ivory blouse with intricate lace details. It was elegant and simple, the kind of piece that would fit perfectly into my wardrobe.Just as I was about to place it in my cart, a manicured hand shot out, yanking it from my grasp.“Excuse me?” I said, turning to face the intruder.My stomach dropped.Standing before me was none other than Summer—the woman who had ruined everything.Her dyed-blonde hair was styled in loose waves, her lips painted an artificial red that matched her too
**************CHAPTER 20~Kaia’s POV~My pulse quickened as I read Blaze’s second message: ‘No need. I’m on my way.’I stuffed my phone back into my pocket, mentally bracing myself. Of course, he couldn’t just leave it alone. Blaze Black never did subtle.I tried to focus on the shopping at hand, pulling myself together as the butler silently trailed me. But no matter how many racks of clothes I flipped through, my nerves refused to settle.Exactly twelve minutes later—yes, I was counting—he appeared.Blaze walked into the store, commanding attention with his presence alone. Flanked by three bodyguards dressed in all-black tuxedos, Blaze exuded the aura of a powerful CEO who was impossible to ignore, even in a mall.Quickly, I looked away and focused on finding the clothes that I needed. Unfortunately, I was near the lingerie section when I felt him before I saw him. The faint scent of his cologne, warm and sharp, wrapped around me like an invisible tether.“Hello, wifey,” came his
**************CHAPTER 22~Kaia’s POV~I flipped through the document on Blaze’s desk while the air conditioner hum eased my thoughts. The numbers didn’t quite align, and I needed his signature before finalising the report.Blaze sat across from me, his chair reclined slightly as he reviewed another set of papers. His concentration was intense, his jaw set as he scanned the page.“Blaze.” I tapped the document. “You need to look at this.”He glanced up, his piercing blue eyes briefly locking onto mine before reaching for the paper. “What’s the issue?”“There’s a discrepancy in the financial projections for the third quarter,” I explained, leaning over to point out the relevant figures. “If we don’t adjust these numbers, it’ll affect our presentation to the board.”He studied the document for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. “I see what you mean. We’ll need to get the finance team on this immediately.”I nodded, jotting down a quick note on my tablet. “I’ll schedule a meeting with
*****************CHAPTER 120~Kaia’s POV~Dinner ended with the same polished charm it started with. I tried not to stay too late. Once we were done discussing business, I finished my meal before announcing that I wanted to take my leave. Thankfully, he wasn’t much trouble and allowed me to leave. Kayne accompanied me out of the restaurant like he had all the time in the world. The valet handed over my keys, and I walked ahead, mentally reviewing everything we had discussed. Every word. Every pause. Every calculated compliment.I stopped beside my car, turning to say a brief goodbye.“Thank you for dinner,” I said politely but guardedly.Kayne didn’t move right away. He simply stepped closer, not into my space, just near enough that I noticed. Then, with the same smooth confidence he wore like a second skin, he leaned in and kissed my cheek once, then the other.It was light, professional or formal and nothing out of control but I was still tense.He straightened and extended his
*****************CHAPTER 119~Kaia’s POV~Walking into Apex Global that morning felt like slipping into a familiar suit of armour.The moment I stepped through the revolving doors, the crisp chill of the air conditioning clung to me hard. I had barely slept, but I dressed sharply—black fitted trousers, a white blouse, a blazer, and heels that clicked purposefully against the marble floors.No more hesitation. No more distractions.I was here to work.As I approached the executive wing, Blaze’s secretary stood up from her desk, her hands folded professionally.“Good morning, Mrs. Black,” she greeted with a small nod. “Mr. Black is in his office… but there’s someone inside waiting for you.”I arched a brow. “Waiting for me?”She nodded. “Yes. He said it’s important.”“Right.” I adjusted my blazer and walked up to the double doors.I knocked once before pushing them open.Blaze stood near the windows, hands in his pockets, staring out like he was too focused on anything but the tension
*****************CHAPTER 117~Acer's POV~The club was dimly lit, the kind of place where the lights were low, the music was expensive, and the drinks even more so. Perfect for unwinding, or scheming—whichever came first, just like how Kelvin loved to call it.I slid into the leather booth, where Kelvin and David were already halfway through their drinks. Kelvin raised his glass in greeting, and David nodded.“About time,” Kelvin muttered. “We were starting to think you got lost in the city.”“I don’t get lost,” I said, grinning as I grabbed the drink waiting for me. “I just take scenic routes.”David smirked. “You always had a way with dramatic entrances.”I leaned back, sipping the whiskey. It was smooth. Just how I liked it.We talked shop for a bit—business, upcoming deals, the usual power-play conversation. Then Kelvin pulled out his phone, flicked to a picture, and slid it across the table toward me.“By the way, David’s been losing sleep over this one,” he said, half-laughing.
*****************CHAPTER 116~Kaia’s POV~Ever since our little scandal situation with Crystal, I was glad Blaze wasn’t running to Shyne just yet. Even though he got angry with me, it was understandable, yet things still felt so shaky.My mind thought back to the vacation house we stayed at and how Snow was planning something about getting me pregnant. I shook my head, not wanting to think of it and focus on my drive back home.I hadn't spoken to David since then and I know he wanted to hear from me. I did not wish to play a game and dance in anybody’s hands anymore. Back home, I dropped onto the bed, still slightly damp from my workout. The silence in the room wrapped around me like a blanket I didn’t ask for.My phone buzzed. It was a message from the office.The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 9:30 AM, with Kayne Kyle and Kaia Black.Great.I stared at the screen for a long time, then tossed the phone on the bed.Why did it feel like I was being thrown into a fire that Blaze
*****************CHAPTER 115~Kaia’s POV~I was halfway through reviewing the quarterly reports when a knock came at the door."Come in," I said without looking up.My secretary stepped in, holding a sleek folder in her hands. "Ma’am, I wanted to inform you of a new assignment."I raised a brow, finally glancing up. She looked... hesitant. That immediately put me on edge.She placed the folder gently on my desk. "Effective today, you’ve been assigned to lead the negotiations on the Apex Global energy expansion project."I blinked. "Wait. What?""Kayne Kyle will be the lead from the investment firm’s side. You’ll be working directly with him over the next several weeks to secure the partnership terms."My mind froze for a second. Kayne Kyle? The same man from Draven’s files? This was… sigh."Does Blaze know about this?" I asked carefully, keeping my voice calm even as my pulse picked up.She nodded. "Yes, ma'am. He was at the meeting this morning when the announcement was made. His fa
*****************CHAPTER 113~Blaze’s POV~The morning came too damn fast.After what happened last night in the second parlour with Kaia, I didn’t sleep. I just couldn’t. All the while my mind kept replaying her words. They were stuck to me like a thorn—“You seem incapable of love.”I wasn’t even sure if I was angry, heartbroken, or just numb.But before I could make sense of it, I got a call from the office.Emergency board meeting. No warning prior but then again, it was my company, shig like this happened especially with my father as the Chairman.I left without seeing Kaia. Didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t even look toward her door when I passed it.She was probably still asleep… or pretending to be.By the time I got to Apex Global, the city was already moving like it had no time for heartbreak.As soon as I got in, the conference room buzzed with tension. I sat at the head, flipping through the project files, trying to stay focused, but my mind was scattered. My team filed in one b
*****************CHAPTER 113~Kaia’s POV~The city lights flickered in the distance as we pulled up to Blaze’s house. I didn’t say a word. Neither did he.I just wanted to be alone.Once inside, I headed straight for my room and let the silence swallow me. The hot bath I took was meant to relax me, but even with the steam and lavender-scented soaps, my thoughts wouldn’t settle. Still, I emerged feeling lighter. Not better, but… lighter.I slipped into a simple blue off-shoulder gown, the fabric soft against my skin. It cinched at the waist with a thin strap and fell just past my knees. My hair was damp, tumbling down my back, and for once, I didn’t bother taming it.I had one more thing to do before I could let this day go—I needed to check in on Blaze’s grandmother. The way I left… it wasn’t right.I needed to apologise and explain my sudden departure. She deserved that, at least.I walked softly through the hallway and stopped outside her room. My hand hovered over the door before
*****************CHAPTER 112~Kaia’s POV~I didn’t sleep that night. Not really. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the waves crashing in the background like a metronome counting down to goodbye.Morning came too fast.I got up, showered, packed my suitcase, and took one long look at the view from the villa window. It was beautiful.But beauty didn’t mean peace.I zipped my bag and stepped out into the living room.Blaze was already there. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept either. He stood when he saw me. “Kaia.”I didn’t give him a chance to speak.“This isn’t working,” I stated rather firmly, more so than I felt, so he did not try to sway me. “I need to go back.”To my surprise, Blaze didn’t argue. Didn’t ask me to stay. He just nodded once. “As you wish.” Even though I did not wish for it, the silence and stoic face he gave hurt the most.“Okay. See you later.”***************~Blaze’s POV~I watched Kaia walk away, her suitcase wheels rolling across the floor without wait
*****************CHAPTER 111~Kaia’s POV~I stormed into the bathroom and shut the door—not too hard, but enough to make a point. My fingers gripped the edge of the sink as I stared into the mirror. My reflection didn’t look as calm as I wanted to feel. I took a few deep breaths, trying to push back the swirl of emotions crawling under my skin.How was this even happening?Everything felt so sudden. One second, we were still untangling our mess, and the next, we were being shipped off to some luxury villa like we were on a second honeymoon. Not like we had one in the first place. Grandma meant well, but… this wasn’t how healing worked—not for me or us.I splashed water on my face and stood there, letting the cold sting pull me back to earth.When I finally walked out, Blaze was on the couch in the living room, his shirt sleeves rolled up, fingers sliding across his iPad as he scrolled. The villa was silent except for the gentle hum of the AC and the occasional rustle of palm leaves