**************CHAPTER 38~Kaia’s POV~The boardroom was filled with energy as the executives gathered for the weekly strategy meeting.Blaze sat at the head of the table, exuding his usual commanding presence, while I took my usual spot to his right.Across from me, Natalie Price settled into her chair, her sleek bun and her designer suit practically announced her confidence. She flashed a smile at Blaze as she set her tablet down.“Let’s begin,” Blaze said, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs.As the meeting progressed, I outlined the financial trends and market forecasts for the upcoming quarter.“That’s an interesting perspective, Kaia,” Natalie said smoothly after I finished. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “But I wonder if we’re being overly optimistic with these projections. Perhaps focusing on more conservative targets would better align with industry trends.”I forced a smile, though my irritation bubbled withinThe projections are based on hard data, Natalie, not spec
**************CHAPTER 39~Kaia’s POV~My phone buzzed as I exited Blaze’s office, still fuming from our heated exchange. Glancing down, I saw the message was from an unknown number.David Mercer.It was David Mercer, CEO of Mercer Enterprises. His message read: Ms. Gold, I trust this message finds you well. I’d like to discuss the proposition I mentioned in detail. Would you be available for lunch today?I hesitated, unsure how to respond but when my mind replayed the scene in Blaze’s office, my decision began to take form. The bitterness from my conversation with Blaze was still fresh. A lunch meeting with Mercer wasn’t something I had planned, but right now, it felt like the perfect distraction from the emotions swirling inside me.The decision was made. I grabbed my bag and informed my secretary of my plans. “Cassie, I’ll be back before the end of the day. If urgent, forward it to my email and give me a beep.”“Yes, Ms. Gold,” she replied, her curiosity barely concealed.Mercer
**************CHAPTER 40~Kaia’s POV~I felt the air shift as the waiter’s voice carried through the restaurant. “This way, Mr. Black.”My stomach twisted into knots. Blaze was here.Of course, he’d pick this exact place, at this exact time, to hold his lunch meeting. Was he stalking me or what?There’s no way it could have been a coincidence, right?I forced my expression into something neutral, though my pulse was racing.David was still speaking, but his voice felt distant instantly. I could barely concentrate as I imagined Blaze walking just beyond the thin walls of our VIP room.‘Focus, Kaia.’ I schooled myself. Blaze wasn’t a problem now. I could finish with David and still go to him.I offered David an apologetic smile, trying to shake the distraction. “I’m sorry, I—what were you saying?”David’s perceptive gaze lingered on me briefly before he smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You seem a little preoccupied, Kaia. Everything alright?”“Yes,” I said quickly, thoug
**************CHAPTER 41~Blaze’s POV~The company had been buzzing with the usual chaos, but my mind was set on something—or rather, someone—else. Kaia.I had booked a reservation for lunch at La Vie earlier in the day, intending it as a brief escape from the suffocating grind. She’d been irritated with me all morning, in fact, since the previous day, but I figured lunch would soften the edges.At exactly noon, I called her office to let her know. To my surprise, her secretary informed me that Kaia had stepped out.Stepped out?Something about that didn’t sit right.She was still new, and I doubted there were already business clients she needed to chase after so soon. If there was, I believe she would have informed me concerning it. I decided to head to La Vie anyway, hoping she’d meet me there. When I arrived, I had the waiter guide me to the private room I had reserved. As I settled into my seat, I pulled out my phone and called her.The faint ringtone sound reached my ears—not
**************CHAPTER 42~Kaia’s POV~The afternoon air did little to cool the fire burning inside me as I stormed out of the restaurant, my heels clicking furiously against the pavement. I couldn’t face Blaze for another second, not after his possessive display and that maddening kiss.But going home wasn’t an option either. Not with the storm of emotions twisting through me. I just didn’t want to encounter him and I knew going to my parents or even my best friend's would be like hiding in plain sight. I wanted space and I was going to get it.I flagged down a taxi that pulled up almost instantly. “Taxi!” I slid into the backseat, slamming the door shut behind me.“Where to, miss?” the driver asked politely.“Anywhere but here,” I said curtly, then sighed. “Actually, take me to the Platinum Crest Hotel.” It was far enough from the restaurant and from everything else weighing me down.The ride was silent, giving me too much time to replay the scene with Blaze. The way his gaze had
**************CHAPTER 43~Kaia’s POV~The moment the door creaked open, my heart froze.Blaze.Standing in the doorway, his tall figure created a shadow that filled the entire room. His bright blue eyes burned with anger, and his lips were pressed into a tight, harsh line.I swallowed nervously and stepped back, but it felt pointless against the intense energy radiating from him.“Blaze…” I began, my voice faltering as I tried to piece together an explanation.He didn’t immediately respond. His eyes swept over me, taking in my casual clothes, the plush luxury of the hotel suite behind me, and the phone clutched tightly in my hand.“What’s the matter?” I finally asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though my racing heart betrayed me.Thankfully, he didn’t have such perfect hearing to discern such.“What’s the matter?” he repeated in a dangerously low voice. “Would you be willing to explain the widespread belief that my wife is cheating on me?”I felt a mix of guilt and anger. I knew
**************CHAPTER 44~Blaze’s POV~Kaia’s lips collided with mine, and the heat of her sudden boldness shocked me. Kaia wasn’t supposed to do this. She wasn’t supposed to be taking control, yet here she was, grabbing the reins with ferocity I didn’t expect.For a moment, I froze, my mind grappling with the whirlwind of emotions and sensations. But then instinct took over, and I kissed her back with equal intensity.My hands found her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Every thought, every lingering trace of anger, dissolved in the electrifying connection between us. I was the one who she was kissing and not David. It was also proof that she was mine. Kaia’s fingers trailed down my chest, her touch sending sparks shooting through me.I groaned softly against her lips, feeling the tension in my body coil tighter. Just as I thought I had her, she pulled back, her hand splayed against my chest to stop me from closing the distance again.Her eyes locked onto mine, a mix
**************CHAPTER 45~Kaia’s POV~The next day at the office, the usual buzz of activity did little to settle the storm still brewing in my chest. Blaze’s actions last night lingered in my mind, but I wasn’t going to let him dictate my day. No. I tried my best and focused on every document that needed my attention, down to every meeting I was involved in which took a lot of mental effort not to think about the kiss I initiated and his response when he tried making David jealous over the phone.By mid-morning, a message pinged on my phone.David Mercer: I’m at Apex Global. Thought we could continue our conversation from yesterday.I stared at the text, my heart skipping a beat. Kaia: I’m sorry. Work calls. We can discuss this later when I have an answer for you.I sighed, happy to have chased Blaze’s bane from his company before the ever-jealous territorial CEO made my lips his public delightful threat. David Mercer: I understand. But I am not just here for you. I intend on pa
*************Kaia’s POVThe car ride home was mostly quiet.Blaze was at the wheel, one hand on the steering, the other occasionally tapping against his thigh. I didn’t press him for conversation. We were both exhausted. Meetings all day, back-to-back check-ins with the project team, Kayne Kyle hovering like a charming shadow I didn’t ask for.By the time we pulled into the estate, the sky was already turning dusky blue, the last traces of sunset melting into the city skyline behind us.As soon as we stepped through the front doors, we were greeted by the scent of something warm and cinnamon-sweet wafting through the air.Blaze raised a brow. “Smells like cake.”“It’s too quiet,” I muttered, glancing around the hallway. “Which means—”“She’s back,” he finished.Sure enough, when we turned the corner into the main sitting room, there she was.Grandma Black.Sitting upright and elegant in her floral-print blouse and pearls, legs crossed, a steaming cup of tea in her hand and a full spr
*****************CHAPTER 127~Author’s POV~The rooftop lounge of Seraphine, one of the city’s most exclusive members-only clubs, buzzed with low conversation and jazz humming through golden speakers. The skyline burned orange with the last of the sunset, and the air was thick with cigar smoke and quiet power.Kayne arrived just as David Mercer waved him over from a private corner booth.“Good timing,” David said smoothly, raising his glass as Kayne took the seat across from him.“I figured you'd pick somewhere dramatic,” Kayne replied with a chuckle, resting his blazer on the arm of the chair. “What are we drinking to?”“Progress.” David leaned forward, his tone was much cooler now. “And control.”Kayne raised a brow. “Sounds vague.”“Blaze is unravelling. Slowly. I’ve seen it. Ever since Kaia, he’s more emotional, more unpredictable. You showing up—getting close to her—it’s exactly what we need to keep him off balance.”Kayne smiled lazily, but his eyes sharpened. “You sound like
*****************CHAPTER 126~Author’s POV~The evening sun shone through the tall windows of Kayne Kyle’s penthouse suite, filling the space with warm light. From the top floor, the sprawling city unfolded—buildings like steel giants against a cotton-candy sky. But Kayne’s gaze was inward, fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass as his feet rested on the cool surface of the glass coffee table.The intercom’s soft buzz broke the silence. “Sir, Mr. Draven is here.”A smile touched Kayne’s lips. He stood and straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Send him up.”Two minutes later, the door yielded, and Draven Davion entered. Dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, his attire suggested ease, yet his presence never did. He moved with confidence into his cousin’s house while his eyes raked the surroundings. “Nice place,” Draven commented, his gaze sweeping over the penthouse a second time as though taking in anything he missed on first glance. “As expected.”Kayne chuckled, extend
*****************CHAPTER 125~Kaia’s POV~I was still sitting in the living room of my parents’ house when my phone buzzed beside me.Blaze.For a second, I considered ignoring it. My mind was still wrapped around the truth I had just uncovered. The weight of that document hadn’t left my chest since I found it.But I answered.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice came through, warm and deep. “I was thinking… dinner tonight? Just the two of us.”I hesitated, shifting on the couch. “I don’t think—”“It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” he cut in, gently. “Just you and me. Good food. Maybe some dessert we don’t finish because I can’t keep my hands off you.”I should’ve laughed. I almost did.But something in me wasn’t ready. Not tonight. Not after everything.Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say no to him. Not when he sounded so hopeful.“I’ll meet you there,” I said quietly.Later that evening, I arrived at the restaurant he had chosen—Maison Lune, a softly lit, elegant space tucked into a quiet
*****************CHAPTER 124~Author’s POV~Eriel Black was sitting in his cozy study, gently swirling the last bit of his aged whiskey in a crystal glass. The late morning sun poured in through the tall windows, filling the room with a warm golden light, but his mind was anything but calm.Not today.He had barely finished reading through his messages when one of the housekeepers knocked softly and entered with a bow.“Sir… Miss Crystal is here. She’s waiting for you in the living room.”Eriel’s brows lifted slightly. That was fast.He stood up without a word, set his glass down on the desk, and walked down the long hallway. The housekeeper disappeared behind him as he stepped into the big living room.And there she was.Crystal sat elegantly on one of the couches like she had all the time in the world, her legs crossed, one hand casually resting on the armrest as though she hadn’t been at the centre of a brewing storm. Her smile was faint, polite… and empty.“Uncle,” she greeted s
*****************CHAPTER 123~Kaia’s POV~The soft rays of sunlight filtered into the room through the sheer curtains, casting faint golden stripes across the bed. I stirred slowly, my limbs sore and heavy, my skin still tingling from the night before.The space beside me was empty.Blaze was gone.I blinked slowly, adjusting to the light. The room still smelled like him—warm skin, spice, and something undeniably masculine. I shifted slightly, my body humming in the places he had touched, kissed, and worshipped.As the memories returned, my face heated.I remembered how his mouth felt between my legs, how he growled my name like he needed it to breathe. And when we’d both passed out, exhausted and bare, I remembered waking up sometime in the middle of the night with his face nuzzled between my breasts, his soft breath warming my skin, his lips pressing lazy kisses there as if he never wanted to leave.I smiled to myself, biting my bottom lip.But just as I reached for the covers to r
*****************CHAPTER 122~Kaia’s POV~"I... I—""Cum," Blaze ordered.His teeth sank into my clit, and his fingers curled, and that was it.The dam burst, and my entire body convulsed.My voice cracked, and my limbs went numb."Fuck!"My body convulsed, and I was shaking, twitching, and shuddering.It was never-ending, and I couldn't breathe.His mouth stayed locked, sucking, and his fingers didn't stop moving.It was too much."BLAZE!!"But, Blaze kept his mouth where it was, and his fingers were relentless, and all I could do was cry his name, over and over, until I thought I might pass out.Finally, just when I was about to lose consciousness, Blaze's mouth slowed. He kissed and sucked lightly, his fingers drawing circles on the outside of my core."Are you okay?" he whispered, his mouth leaving my clit and returning to mine.I couldn't answer. It took about two minutes for me to fully recover all the while I smiled at him."Yes. Yes, I am," I replied."Good. Now, can I have y
*****************CHAPTER 121~Kaia’s POV~Blaze's tongue pushed deeper into my mouth, and I moaned. His steps faltered, and his grip around me, tightened.My mind was racing, trying to keep up with what was happening around me. But I knew where this was going, and I didn't want to stop it.We got to my room, and he kicked the door shut, and the next second, he was on me. His lips trailed down my neck, and his hands found the front of my robe.I gasped, but Blaze just continued his trail of kisses down my chest, tugging the thin fabric open as his lips explored the curve of my breasts."Fuck," I gasped.Blaze kissed lower, down my stomach and his hands slid beneath me, squeezing my ass, kneading, pulling me up, and then he dropped me gently on the bed.I landed on the sheets and sat up, but Blaze was already kneeling in front of me, his mouth inches from mine, his eyes wild."Kaia," he whispered. "Last chance. Tell me to stop."I shook my head. "No. I don't want you to stop. Ever."He
*****************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 h