Gina's POVSomething was off. I could feel it deep in my bones. No matter how I tried to push it aside, the uneasy feeling coiled tightly around me, refusing to let go. Elena’s kidnapping—it didn’t sit right. The pieces weren’t aligning the way they should, and that was enough to keep me restless. I had already sent the ransom for her release, yet something gnawed at me, a whisper in the back of my mind warning me that this wasn’t just a simple abduction. When the man provided me with the address where Elena had been held, it triggered something—an itch I couldn’t scratch. The address rang a bell, but I couldn’t immediately place it. His words replayed in my head, his voice gravelly through the receiver as he gave me the address where Elena had been held captive. An address that nagged at me like a splinter buried deep under my skin. I sat in my study, drumming my fingers against the polished wood of my desk, mind racing. The address felt familiar, too familiar. It wasn’t
Gina's POVI hated being played. The moment I made the connection between Elena’s so-called kidnapping and her own house, I knew she had staged the entire thing. But knowing wasn’t enough—I needed proof. Cold, hard evidence that would expose her little game and put me back in control. I reached for my phone and dialed the number of the man who had just sent me the address. He picked up after the first ring. “Yes, ma’am?” “I need you to track the kidnapper’s phone number,” I said without preamble. “Find out who he is.” There was a brief silence on the other end before he responded. “I’ll get to work immediately.” “Good. I’ll be waiting.” I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers against the desk. The anticipation burned through me like acid. I hated waiting, but this was a game of patience now. I needed the full picture before making my next move. All because of this investigation thing, I didn't go to work today. Wat would be the essence of going
Gina's POVPatience was never my strong suit. I sat there, gripping my coffee cup so tightly that my knuckles turned white, my foot tapping against the marble floor in an uneven rhythm. I was waiting—counting the seconds—until my contact sent me the final piece of this puzzle. The truth. My instincts had never failed me before, and they weren’t failing me now. I knew that when that message arrived, it would confirm what I already suspected. Elena had orchestrated the entire kidnapping. She had played the victim, forced my hand, and taken my money. But what I wasn’t prepared for was just how deep her deception ran. Five minutes. That was all it took. My phone vibrated against the desk, the sharp buzz slicing through the heavy silence in the room. I snatched it up immediately, unlocking it with practiced speed. The message was short. But the words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. “The account belongs to a woman named Catherine Jose. I'm sure you don't want to know
Gina's POVI crossed my legs, tapping my nails against the glass table between me and Lana. The soft clicks echoed through the dimly lit room, but my mind was too clouded with rage to focus on anything but Elena. She thought she could betray me and walk away unscathed? No. I would make sure she regretted ever crossing me. Lana leaned forward, her voice low and careful. “We need to be smart about this. If we rush, she’ll slip through our fingers.” “She won’t.” My voice was sharp, unwavering. “I’ll make sure of it.” I had spent months building my influence, ensuring no one dared challenge me. And yet, Elena—someone I had once considered useful—had turned against me. She thought she was clever, thought she could outmaneuver me. She was wrong. Lana smirked. “We could set a trap. Make her come to us instead of chasing her down.” I narrowed my eyes. “And how do you suggest we do that?” Before she could answer, the door creaked open. I immediately straightened as Alex walked in
Gina's POV I stormed into my office the next morning, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. The rage boiling inside me was barely contained, simmering just beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Jenna, my secretary, barely had time to greet me before I cut her off. “I don’t want to be disturbed today,” I snapped, not bothering to look at her. “Yes, ma’am,” she replied softly, stepping aside as I marched to my desk. I threw my bag onto the polished surface, exhaling through my nose as I reached for my phone. My fingers dialed the number with precision, my nails tapping impatiently against the armrest of my chair as I waited. The moment the call connected, I didn’t give James a chance to speak. “Get in my office. Now.” I ended the call before he could respond. I didn’t need to hear whatever excuse he had lined up—I’d hear it when he stood in front of me, sweating under my glare. A few minutes later, a hesitant knock sounded on m
Julian's POVThe evening had been quiet, peaceful even. For once, there was no tension in the air, no lingering arguments or unspoken words left to cut through the silence. We sat around the dining table, the warm glow from the chandelier casting soft shadows across the room. Monica sat to my right, Lily to my left, the clinking of silverware against plates the only sound filling the space. I had almost allowed myself to enjoy the moment when the front door swung open without warning. The sudden intrusion made Lily and Monica pause mid-bite, both of them turning toward the entrance with questioning expressions. A woman stepped inside, her presence commanding yet elegant. She was dressed in a fitted navy blue dress, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders in loose waves. A confident smirk played on her lips as she scanned the room before locking eyes with me. "Julian," she said smoothly, setting down her purse and walking toward me. It took me a second to process the
Elena's POVI knocked firmly on the door, stepping back slightly as I waited. The cold night air brushed against my skin, but I barely felt it. My heart was steady, my mind sharp. I had thought about this moment for weeks, planned it down to the last detail. Now, it was finally here. When the door swung open, Julian stood frozen. His eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching slightly as he took in the sight of me. He looked almost… transfixed, as if he couldn’t quite believe I was real. I let the moment stretch, let him drink in my presence, before tilting my head with a smirk. "Are you going to let me in," I said coolly, "or should I start making myself comfortable right here?" That snapped him out of his daze. He blinked, his jaw tightening. "Elena," he finally murmured, his voice laced with disbelief. "You’re supposed to be—" "Gone?" I finished for him, arching a brow. "Yeah, I figured you’d think that. But as you can see—" I stepped closer, my voice lowering, "I’m ver
Elena's POV I sat on the couch, staring directly into their terrified eyes, my fingers toying with my gun.“I know you you must be curious about who I am, but trust me, you don't want to know. I'm just a nobody who felt used.”Julian lifted his finger, “can I ask a question?”I shrugged, “feel free”“How do you know Gina?”“I was just a simple house girl in her home. When she needed someone who would work as a spy for her, I made myself available.” I said.Silence enveloped the room, all of them dealing with their own thoughts.“You know I'm not actually sorry about Lily's miscarriage. Gina only wanted to return the favor.” I smirked, noting the change in facial expressions and stirs. But of course, they can't voice out their aggressions, for fear of being shot.I wasn’t the type to beg, far from it, but here I was, sitting in Julian’s living room, facing three pairs of eyes that probably wished I were dead. The tension in the air was suffocating, thick enough to strangle me. Julia
Gina's POV The next morning, I arrived at my office feeling drained. I hadn’t slept well, my mind running in endless circles around Elena’s threats, Alex’s suspicions, and now, the nightmare of having to employ Lily. I wasn’t ready for another battle, but it seemed fate had other plans. As soon as I stepped into my office, my secretary, Jenna, was already on her feet, her expression uneasy. “Mrs. Moretti, Mr. Thompson has requested to see you,” she said, her voice hesitant. I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. Of course. Mr. Thompson was the chairman of the board of directors, and I already knew why he wanted to see me. The partnership with Julian’s company had stirred more backlash than I’d anticipated. I wasn’t in the mood for another lecture, but delaying the conversation wouldn’t help either. “Let him in,” I said, forcing my voice to remain neutral. Jenna nodded and left. Seconds later, the office door opened, and Mr. Thompson stepped inside. The mom
Gina's POV I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms as Elena's voice echoed in my head. **“You’ll employ Lily in one of your companies. No objections, Gina.”** My lips had parted to protest, but Elena’s narrowed gaze cut me off. She tilted her head, her tone dripping with false patience. **“If you don’t, I’ll deal with Alex.”** My heart had stopped at those words. “Don’t you dare involve Alex in your blackmailing scheme,” I’d hissed, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. Elena only smirked, taking slow, deliberate steps toward me. “Then do as I say.” She turned, walking away with her henchmen, her expensive heels clicking against the marble floor. “You have a day to think about it.” And just like that, she was gone, leaving me standing alone in the empty building. I felt sick. I had fought Elena’s control for as long as I could, but she was relentless. She knew exactly where to strike to break me down. And now, she was using Alex. My husban
Gina's POV The evening was windy and the howl of the wind sent shivers down my spine. The quietness of the area gave me an eerie feeling which I couldn't shake away. Stepping out of my car, I left my bag and stuff inside, holding out only my car keys. I walked gingerly to the entrance, having this hunch that I was being watched. I glanced over my shoulders severally but no one was in sight. Elena had better be quick about whatever she has to say so that I can leave this strange place.The hall were I saw Elena the last time was empty unlike the last time. “Elena, I'm here now,” I voiced out but my voice echoed back, informing me that I was the only one here.Well, look who said I shouldn't be late.I leaned against the wall, thankful for the flat shoes I wore today. It would have been a worse situation if I wore heels. I called her line to be sure she was going to come but the line went straight to voicemail.I tried to occupy my mind with diverse things just so that time would pa
Gina's POV Morning came too quickly. As I sat before my vanity, brushing through my dark, sleek hair, my mind kept returning to the message Elena had sent me last night. *The usual spot. 6 PM.* Simple words, yet they carried a weight I couldn’t ignore. Elena never called for casual meetings. This was about business, and when it came to her, business always meant trouble. I glanced over my shoulder at Alex, still fast asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. He had no idea what I was up to, and I intended to keep it that way. If he knew, he’d try to stop me, just like he always did. But Alex didn’t understand—power wasn’t given; it was taken. And I wasn’t about to let anyone stand in my way, least of all my own husband. Pushing my thoughts aside, I adjusted the cuffs of my blazer and grabbed my purse. I slipped out of the house without a sound, leaving before Alex could wake up and ask questions I didn’t want to answer. --- By the time I reached my office, the buil
Gina's POV I pressed the button at my headboard to summon Lana in. In two minutes, she knocked and stepped in gingerly.“You sent for me. Do you need anything?” She asked.“Please sit,” I tapped on the edge of the bed for her to sit. I rubbed my temples in utter tiredness.“I've been worried about this whole situation. I can't let Elena do something stupid. At the same time, I can't stand by and watch her destroy what I've built. This isn't what I envisaged. At all…” I started, trailing off as soon my voice got shaky.Lana took my hands in hers, giving it a little squeeze as she smiled.“Don't get all worked up. Everything will be fine in the end. Elena may think she has won, but she is just digging her own grave.” Lana assured.As vague as it sounded, it gave me some kind of relief. Everything would be fine in the end. All I have to do, is wait.I heaved a deep sigh of relief, “help my and draw my bath. I need to have dinner with Alex. He has been worried about me. I can't let him b
Gina's POVI barely noticed when I stepped through the front door. My mind was a haze, my body heavy with exhaustion. The weight of the day pressed down on me like an anchor, pulling me deeper into despair. My hand trembled as I dropped my purse onto the console table with a dull thud. I stood there for a moment, staring at nothing, trying to steady my breath. “Madam, you’re home,” Lana’s voice cut through the silence, soft and cautious. I turned my head slightly, meeting her worried gaze. “How was the meeting, Madam?” she asked. Something inside me cracked. My throat burned as I tried to swallow the lump forming there. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Lana stepped closer. “Madam, are you alright?” A bitter laugh slipped past my lips. Alright? I was anything but alright. “No, Lana… I’m not,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Her brows furrowed in concern. “What happened?” I shook my head, my vision blurring as hot tears welled
Gina's POV The boardroom was silent as we entered, save for the quiet murmurs and shifting of papers. The long, polished mahogany table stretched across the room, occupied by the board members, all of whom turned their attention toward me. Alex took his seat without a word, his posture stiff, his jaw clenched. Julian, despite the blood he had wiped off his face, still carried that smug arrogance as he sat across from me. I could feel the weight of their stares, the unspoken questions lingering in the air. Without hesitation, I stood, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles on my blazer before clasping my hands in front of me. My face was carefully composed, revealing nothing of the turmoil churning inside me. “Thank you all for coming,” I began, my voice firm. “I’ll get straight to the point. As of today, we are announcing a new partnership between this company and Julian’s firm.” A ripple of reaction swept through the room—muffled whispers, exchanged glances, the sound of a chair
Gina's POV I yanked at my wrist, but Julian’s grip was like iron. His dark eyes blazed with something raw, something possessive that sent a chill up my spine. "You belong to me," he growled, his fingers tightening around my skin. Rage burned through me, but beneath it, an unsettling flicker of something else—something I refused to name. I had spent years breaking free from Julian’s hold, from the chaos he brought into my life. I *would not* let him drag me back. "Let me go," I seethed, my voice low but full of warning. Julian only smirked. "Say it like you mean it, Gina." Before I could shove him away, the office door swung open. Alex. His presence hit the room like a thunderstorm. His sharp blue eyes locked onto Julian’s hand wrapped around my wrist, then flicked up to my face. His expression darkened, and in that moment, I knew—Julian had just made the biggest mistake of his life. Without hesitation, Alex strode forward, his movements precise, controlled, but crackl
Gina's POV The soft ticking of the clock was the only sound in my office. I sat behind my glass desk, staring at the documents in front of me, but I wasn’t reading them. My mind was elsewhere, my thoughts circling around one unavoidable fact—Julian was coming. For months, he had been trying to force his way into my company, showing up unannounced, waiting for hours, only to leave when I refused to acknowledge him. He wanted to see me. He wanted to confront me. And now, he had found a way in. I took a slow breath and leaned back in my chair, steeling myself. Julian had always been relentless. He wasn’t the type to walk away easily. That was why I had to be stronger than him. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called. Lisa, my secretary, peeked in. “Ma’am, Mr. Julian is here.” I exhaled through my nose. Right on time. “Send him in.” The door swung open, and Julian stepped inside, exuding the same arrogance he always had. His expensive suit