**************CHAPTER 34~Shawn’s POV~The dimly lit bar reeked of cheap whiskey and regret, the kind of place where people came to drown their failures. For me, it was the perfect setting to plot my comeback.Sipping the amber liquid in my glass, I leaned back in my seat, my mind spinning with plans. The image of Kaia standing tall during her presentation today still burned in my mind, mocking me. She had always been strong, but now, with Blaze Black at her side, she was untouchable.For now.Beside me, Derek, my longtime friend and occasional enabler, swirled his drink lazily. He had the kind of face that could charm most people, but tonight his expression mirrored my simmering frustration.“Still thinking about her?” Derek asked, his tone dripping with disapproval.I scowled. “She humiliated me, Derek. After everything I gave her. And now she’s prancing around like she’s better than me.”Derek raised an eyebrow. “She is married to Blaze Black. That’s a pretty big step up.”I glare
**************CHAPTER 35~Kaia’s POV~The city faded as I drove through the quiet suburban streets, the gentle rustle of trees lining the road soothing my frayed nerves.After the whirlwind of emotions at work, I needed a break—an escape from the intensity of Apex Global, from Blaze’s unreadable smirks, and especially from the weight of being Kaia Gold, Blaze Black’s wife.So I turned to the people who had always been my sanctuary: Tiffany and Bethany, my best friends since college.Their shared house came into view, its porch light glowing warmly in the evening dusk. Parking in the driveway, I took a moment to inhale deeply before stepping out and heading to the front door.Before I could knock, the door swung open, and Tiffany’s wide grin greeted me. “Kaia!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “You finally decided to show your face, huh?”“About time,” Bethany called from the living room, her voice teasing. She appeared moments later, her glasses perched on her nose and a bo
**************CHAPTER 35~Blaze’s POV~The door opened to reveal a petite brunette with sharp eyes and a cautious demeanour. Tiffany, if I recall correctly. One of Kaia’s best friends.“I’m here for Kaia,” I said without preamble. “I know she’s here.”Tiffany hesitated for a beat, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her options. Finally, she nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.“She’s in the living room,” she said reluctantly.The house was cozy, with a warmth that contrasted the sharp, sterile edges of my world. I followed Tiffany until my eyes landed on Kaia.She was perched on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in her lap, her eyes glued to the television. The carefree smile on her face sent a pang of something unfamiliar through my chest—relief, perhaps, or maybe irritation at how easily she could detach herself while I’d spent the last thirty minutes looking for her.I cleared my throat. “Hello, Kaia.”Kaia froze, her head snapping toward me. The excitement on h
**************CHAPTER 37~Kaia’s POV~The moment Blaze’s car rolled to a stop in the driveway, I unbuckled my seatbelt and flung the door open, not sparing Blaze a glance. As I stormed towards the house's entrance, my heels clicked angrily against the pavement, and my heart pounded with frustration.I didn’t care about his insistent gaze boring into my back or the sound of his hurried steps chasing after me. All I wanted was to slam the door in his smug, self-assured face.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice was calm but edged with warning, but I didn’t care.He wanted to drag me home, fine. He tried to act like he could dictate every moment of my life, okay. But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it without a fight.Halfway to the doorbell, I felt a strong grip wrapped around my wrist, stopping me mid-motion.“Kaia,” Blaze’s low voice growled from behind me.I turned sharply, glaring up at him. “What?”His grip tightened, but not enough to hurt. He spun me around, pressing me back against th
**************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 55~Kaia’s POV~The moment I stepped downstairs, I could feel the shift in the air.Blaze stood at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in a black tuxedo, his hair styled just enough to look effortlessly put together. His blue eyes flickered up, and for the first time tonight, his usual cocky smirk vanished.His gaze raked over me, from the deep emerald silk gown hugging my figure to the high slit that teased my thigh with every step I took.I knew I looked good.And from the way Blaze’s jaw clenched slightly, I knew he knew it too.I descended gracefully, keeping my expression composed. “Are we late?” I asked as I reached the last step.Blaze blinked once before schooling his face back into its usual unreadable mask. “No,” he said, offering me his arm. “But you sure know how to make an entrance.”I smirked and looped my hand around his arm. “That’s the idea.”With that, we headed out.**************~At the Event~The venue was a masterpiece—elegant chandeliers
**************CHAPTER 54~Kaia’s POV~Shyne.I knew that name.At Blaze’s uncle’s birthday celebration, I had seen her approach Blaze, a woman too poised, too familiar, and clearly accustomed to getting attention. Even then, I had noticed how his entire demeanour barely shifted the second she appeared—his features hardening, his irritation barely concealed.Back then my anger or jealousy didn’t make me see it, but later, when I thought about it, he masked it, which was why I thought he was entertaining her.And now, here she was, calling at this hour.I wasn’t sure what to think.Was she just some annoying family friend? Someone his father had imposed on him? Or was she—I cut off the thought before it could fully form.Blaze hadn’t even responded yet. He just sat there, his grip on his phone tightening.I suddenly felt like an intruder in a conversation I wasn’t supposed to be a part of.“I’ll leave you to it,” I murmured, stepping back and smoothing the creases of my apron, as if
**************CHAPTER 53~Kaia’s POV~Blaze’s phone call lasted longer than I expected. He had walked out of the kitchen, irritation across his face as he answered. I lingered for a moment, listening to the deep rumble of his voice before deciding to focus on dinner.The aroma of roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and garlic-buttered asparagus filled the kitchen. I plated everything carefully, setting the table like nothing happened even though my mind kept circling back to Blaze’s tense expression.As soon as I was done, I wiped my hands on a napkin and made my way to his room. Just as I reached his door, it swung open, and Blaze stepped out.“Dinner’s ready,” I said simply, stepping aside.Blaze hummed in acknowledgement, his usual smirk absent as he followed me to the dining table.For a while, we ate in silence.It was strange. The teasing, the heated moments, the arguments—all of it seemed to have faded into the background, leaving behind an unsettling stillness. I sig
**************CHAPTER 52~Kaia’s POV~“Bingo… a way to tame the hot CEO, Blaze Black.”Tiffany spread her arms dramatically as if she were staring at a billboard showcasing her master plan.From the couch, Bethany raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Yeah, Tiff? And what exactly is Lesson 101 on achieving that?”Tiffany spun around, her gaze locking onto me like a predator spotting prey. “Simple,” she said with a devilish grin. “We bring out the seductress in Kaia and tame the untamable CEO.”I blinked. “Excuse me?”Bethany chuckled, throwing a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “You heard her, babe. Apparently, our resident Ice King needs to melt a little.”Tiffany leaned forward, excitement buzzing in her eyes. “Think about it, Kaia. He’s so used to being the one in control. You, on the other hand, always react to his moves. It’s time to flip the script.”I scoffed, crossing my arms. “And how exactly do you expect me to do that?”Tiffany smirked. “By making him want you even more—but giv
**************CHAPTER 51~Kaia’s POV~If I wasn’t awake, the morning sunlight that streamed through the large windows of my bedroom, did so much to wremove the sleep from my eyes.I had just finished my shower, the lingering scent clinging to my skin as I rubbed body cream into my arms.Wrapped in a towel, I hummed ‘Bad Romance by Lady Gaga’, softly, enjoying the quiet moment. But just as I turned to grab my robe—A knock landed on my door.Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Blaze stepped inside like he owned the place.I gasped, clutching my towel tighter. “Excuse me?!” I snapped, eyes wide. “Do you just barge into people’s rooms without permission?”Blaze smirked, completely unfazed. “Technically, I do own this house. That includes this room.”I scoffed, folding my arms. “Not my room. This is my zone, my space. You don’t get to barge in.”Blaze leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking far too smug. “Relax, Kaia. It’s not like I haven’t seen a naked woman be
**************CHAPTER 50~Kaia’s POV~It had been a long day. After the bidding, we returned to the office, where Blaze worked like a maniac.His earlier teasing right now felt liek an imaginary thought I had with how focused he was.Based on what he said, thanks to the presentation, he saw a way to tweak the project to better benefit the masses while also giving the elites of society a way to spend their money and show the masses they aren’t all rich bastards.He called for a meeting with his team. After careful deliberation, the project was adjusted, but not in a way that would affect the results.I sighed, cleaning sweat from my brows. I watched Blaze from a distance. He had a glass of scotch in his hand while typing furiously.He had refused to hand the work over to someone else, and from the looks of things, Blaze was determined to see it through.Standing from my seat with my bag in my hands, I approached him, standing in front of his table. "It's late. I should advise you to c
**************CHAPTER 49~Kaia’s POV~The D-day arrived. The conference room was filled with anticipation as we took our seats. Today was the second round of the city project bidding—a make-or-break moment for Apex Global.Blaze sat beside me, exuding his confidence. I, on the other hand, was trying to keep my nerves in check. The stakes were high, and the competition was fierce.Across the room, I spotted David Mercer seated with his team. His eyes met mine briefly, and he offered a polite nod. I returned the gesture, keeping my expression neutral. The last thing I needed was Blaze catching wind of anything and turning this meeting into another unnecessary power play.And trust me, that man’s ego was something else.The government official leading the project stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, today’s presentations will determine the finalists for the city project. Each company will present its detailed proposal, after which our panel will deliberate. The
**************CHAPTER 48~Kaia’s POV~I could still feel the imprint of Blaze’s lips on mine, the heat of his touch lingering as he leaned closer, his smirk growing more insufferable by the second.“Wifely duties?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow and folding my arms across my chest. “You must have hit your head, Blaze Black, because I don’t remember signing up for that part of the contract.”His smirk widened, his gaze dropping to my lips briefly before returning to meet my eyes. “Oh, it’s in there. Probably in the fine print. You should read the clauses more carefully.”I scoffed, stepping back, but he didn’t let me get far. His hand shot out, capturing my wrist again. The way his fingers wrapped around me was firm but careful like he was afraid I’d vanish if he wasn’t careful enough.“You’re not funny,” I muttered, tugging my wrist half-heartedly.“I’m not trying to be, Kaia. You are my wife. It’s not a joke.”There was something in his tone—serious and raw—that made my heart skip a
**************CHAPTER 47~Blaze’s POV~The quiet crackle of the fireplace was the only sound in my study as I leaned back in my chair, flipping through the latest headlines in the business section of the paper. The world loved a good scandal, but they loved it even more when the powerful struck back.The news of the lawsuit had spread like wildfire. Summer’s smear campaign was unravelling, and my move to protect Kaia was already reshaping the narrative. The CCTV footage showing us leaving the hotel together had been instrumental in shutting down most of the whispers.Furthermore, the picture of Kaia and David eating at the restaurant showed some persons that Summer had been stalking, looking for a way to fabricate evidence to use against Kaia.Still, the fallout lingered, and I couldn’t shake the tight knot of frustration in my chest.A knock on the door broke my train of thought.“Come in,” I called, setting the paper aside.The door creaked open, and Kaia stepped inside. Her hesi