**************CHAPTER 8~Kaia’s POV~Later that night, I stood by the large window in my bedroom, staring out at the city lights as I tried to quiet my restless mind. Blaze’s words kept replaying in my head, his calm, arrogant declaration that I should work “where he could see me,” echoed in my mind. The sheer nerve of him.I crossed my arms, frowning as the memory of his smirk surfaced. This wasn’t just a job anymore—it was a challenge. It was a test of willpower.And if Blaze thought I’d roll over and play the obedient little assistant, he was in for a rude awakening.For now, though, I’d play his game. But I’d play it my way.Movement below caught my attention, and I peered down to see Blaze’s sleek car pulling into the driveway. My heart gave an involuntary jolt as I watched him step out, his broad shoulders silhouetted in the glow of the headlights.I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. Maybe that he’d come upstairs, knock on my door, and issue another round of commands. Maybe even
**************CHAPTER 7~Kaia’s POV~My eyes widened as I scanned the document Blaze had pushed across the desk. It was a detailed merger proposal—complex, high-stakes, and riddled with financial projections that would challenge even the most seasoned analysts.But that wasn’t what shocked me.The name of the company stood out like a beacon on the first page. Caldwell Enterprises.My heart stuttered, and I glanced up at Blaze, who was now lounging back in his chair with that infuriating smirk.“This is…” I trailed off, trying to keep my voice steady.Blaze’s gaze sharpened. “A merger proposal,” he said smoothly. “Caldwell Enterprises approached us last month. Their CEO is eager to partner with Apex Global. I want you to evaluate it, assess its viability, and draft a preliminary report by the end of the day.”I bit the inside of my cheek, my emotions whirling. He knew. He had to know. There was no way this wasn’t intentional.Shawn Caldwell’s name wasn’t explicitly on the document, bu
**************CHAPTER 10~Kaia’s POV~How do you explain to your two best friends that you got married before your wedding day—and to a complete stranger, no less?The incredulous stares from Tiffany and Bethany made my skin prickle. Bethany’s arms were still crossed, her policewoman pose in full effect, while Tiffany leaned forward, eyes wide, waiting for an explanation.“I’m waiting, Kaia,” Tiffany said, her tone teetering between frustration and disbelief.I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Okay, look. It’s not as awful as it sounds.” “Not as awful as it sounds?” Bethany's voice lacked warmth. “Yeah. We got married on the night of my bachelorette party,” I blurted out. Only then did I realize just how truly awful it sounded."You have just informed us that you married a man you barely knew, even before your wedding day, and then neglected to inform us."Tiffany leaned back with a loud scoff. “Who even does that? Is this some kind of post-breakup rebound thing? Because, Kaia, this is…
**************CHAPTER 11~Kaia’s POV~I stared at him, blinking as his words sank in. “A family dinner? This evening?”Blaze didn’t even flinch, his hands casually gripping the wheel as he steered the car. “That’s correct but not this evening. Tomorrow. My granduncle’s 70th birthday celebration.”I gaped at him. “And you dragged me away from my apartment tonight for a dinner happening tomorrow? Are you serious?”Blaze glanced at me briefly, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk. “Yes. You need a fitting tonight. Your dress must be tailored and ready for the event. Impressions matter.”I rolled my eyes, sinking back into my seat. “This is ridiculous.”“Perhaps.” His tone was maddeningly calm. “But it’s necessary.”I crossed my arms, my jaw tightening. “Why do I even have to go? Couldn’t you just tell them I’m busy or something?”Blaze’s smirk faded, replaced by a steely expression that sent a shiver down my spine. “My family expects to meet my wife. They insist on introducing my
**************CHAPTER 12~Kaia’s POV~I blinked, momentarily stunned by Shawn’s words. Brother? Blaze’s brother? The revelation was like a slap, but I quickly schooled my expression, unwilling to give Shawn the satisfaction of seeing me falter.Turning to Blaze, I searched his face for an explanation. He didn’t look surprised, nor did he bother offering me any clarification. Instead, his broke the ice, “Half-brother,” Blaze corrected. “And whoever she is with… I doubt it is any of your business.”Shawn’s gaze darkened. “Brother, it is my business. She called off our wedding without any reason, and now—”Without any reason? His words snapped something inside me. Anger surged through me, my heart pounding as memories of his betrayal flashed in my mind.My lips curled into a venomous smile as I stepped forward, my voice steady but laced with fury. Since Shawn wanted to embarrass me, he should not blame me for retaliating.“You should have thought about that before going balls deep in
**************CHAPTER 13~Kaia’s POV~At the mention of that phrase, it struck me. I gasped softly, the memory surfacing after years buried in the recesses of my mind. It was a rainy afternoon. A man in a suit flustered, walked into the shop, his expression tight with frustration.“You were a student at the time,” he said, his smile widening slightly as he saw my bewilderment. “Working part-time at a coffee shop near the university.”“I remember,” I said softly. “You… you lost your wallet, didn’t you? And your phone was in your car.”The granduncle chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “That’s right. A rather embarrassing situation for me. But you were kind enough to pay for my snacks and even offered me your phone to make a call.”I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I glanced at Blaze, who stared at me with disbelief and curiosity.“You refused to use my phone,” I continued, meeting the granduncle’s amused gaze. “You said it was your mistake and that you’d wait for your driver to c
**************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 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 wit
**************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 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 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 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 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 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 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 13~Kaia’s POV~At the mention of that phrase, it struck me. I gasped softly, the memory surfacing after years buried in the recesses of my mind. It was a rainy afternoon. A man in a suit flustered, walked into the shop, his expression tight with frustration.“You were a student at the time,” he said, his smile widening slightly as he saw my bewilderment. “Working part-time at a coffee shop near the university.”“I remember,” I said softly. “You… you lost your wallet, didn’t you? And your phone was in your car.”The granduncle chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “That’s right. A rather embarrassing situation for me. But you were kind enough to pay for my snacks and even offered me your phone to make a call.”I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I glanced at Blaze, who stared at me with disbelief and curiosity.“You refused to use my phone,” I continued, meeting the granduncle’s amused gaze. “You said it was your mistake and that you’d wait for your driver to c