I wished I were dead. I wished I'd sustained a brain injury, or better—had found myself in an alternate universe in order to explain why my husband was hunched over my sister, railing her from behind.The mugs of coffee I carried dropped to the floor and shattered, alerting the two unholy lovebirds to my presence. My husband, Kent, turned sharply and gasped. “Lia?” He hastily pulled his up his boxers to cover himself. My attention switched to Samara who looked away and quietly adjusted her dress. “Why are you avoiding my gaze, Samara. Why not look at me?”She continued to keep her eyes away from me. Even as Kent approached me, I couldn't stop looking at Samara. The weight of what I'd discovered was too much to bear. “Lia,” Kent started with a calm voice. “I can explain.”I chuckled. The fact tears weren't pouring from my eyes surprised me. It just goes to show how unbelievable this situation was. Kent and Samara together in my office. I nodded. ‘“Go on. Tell me something I don't
Slowly, my eyes came open to focus on what appeared to be a room. At first, and for a long time, nothing made sense. Eventually, it clicked. I understood based on the posters on the walls and the strong scent of antiseptics in the air. This was a hospital. I looked down on myself, finding numerous tubes attached on me. Flashes of the accident, divorce and the overthrow flashed before my eyes. My throat tightened. The question now was how had I made it here? Was it the work of a good Samaritan? The door swung open and a nurse worked in. She gasped at first, then wore a wide smile. “Oh my goodness.” She turned to head out, but for some reason, stopped in her tracks. She started towards me. “Good morning, ma'am. I'm sure you're confused but you're in safe hands,” she said apologetically. “How serious are my injuries?” I asked. I knew I'd been involved in an accident. I wanted her to knowanswered I was aware. “Not so significant,” she replied. “I lost consciousness. I'm pretty
THREE YEARS LATER…“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine, my prince.” The little boy stirred as I gently shook him. But he didn't wake. I couldn't help the smirk that tipped my lips as I heard his tiny snore the next second. Stirling a giggle, I caressed his ear. He squirmed. “Okay, Mommy is serious now. Time for school.”Hearing this, he peeled open his eyes. Those cute blues flashed at me before he snuggled close to me. I gave a satisfied chuckle as I wrapped him in my arms. “You slept like the king you are.” I kissed the top of his golden hair. “Mommy didn't quite.”“Morning, Mommy.” he said in a groggy voice. “Morning love,” I kissed his head again, holding him close. My eyes shut close. It was always this way, me hugging Caleb so tight as though I wasn't going to see him again. I couldn't help it. He was my world. He was my joy. He was the reason I hadn't ended my life three years ago, but instead strived to keep living. And plot revenge. “Alright. Time for school now.” He groane
There had to be a way out of this. Surely, he should know I wouldn't have slammed the door if I'd known he was inside. I took a deep breath to collect my thoughts. “It's not what you think.”“It certainly is, Miss. I don't need to be a brainaic to know what you exhibited was utter disrespect ““I didn't even know you were in there.” My tone came out sharp.. He narrowed his eyes at me. “I'm sorry. But I didn't know you were there or anyone was.”“That's not an excuse. Out of my office “ he concluded, going back to his computer. How could someone be this hardhearted. He was Aaron Donovan, the CEO of Donovan Corporation. He was known to be ruthless, but I hadn't imagined him to be this cruel. Anger surged within me. Nobody had ever treated me with such disrespect. Suddenly, he looked up at me and his brows shot up. “You're still standing there?”“I need this job. Please. I've put my all into this interview. I have a lot of goals, goals that I believe will help the company.”He regarde
As my alarm chimmed, I imagined smashing it and somehow having that turn back the hands of time. But the alarm had cost me close to a million dollars at an antique auction. The thought of inflicting such an injury on an inanimate object didn't seem becoming of me. For the first time in my thirty years of existence, I didn't feel like leaving my room. My footsteps towards the bathroom was lazy; I had forgone the routine of press-up. I didn't look forward to getting to the office because my frustration levels would likely increase today. Finding a replacement for the insolent lady proved extremely difficult. After showering, and dressing up, I settled in the living room with Geneviv to have breakfast. Her face softened. Before I could ask what the problem, she spoke, “You don't look cheerful. What's the problem?”“I don't wear a cheerful face,” I reminded her, stifling the smirk which itched to appear on my face. “Obviously.” She rolled her eyes. “But this case is different. Your w
The morning light filtered through the tall glass windows of Aaron Donovan’s office as I stepped inside, heart pounding louder than my heels against the polished floor. I wasn’t sure why I’d agreed to come back, but I had. This was my shot. I had to make it count. The receptionist gave me a look—was it judgment, curiosity? I couldn’t tell. Either way, I held my chin up and walked straight to Aaron’s office without hesitation. I hadn’t had time to fully think through my decision. But now that I was here, there was no turning back. No more second-guessing. I was going to prove I could do this job, no matter what it took. Aaron didn’t intimidate me—at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. When I reached his door, I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. If this was going to be awkward, it wasn’t my fault. I knocked, and before I could second-guess myself, I pushed the door open. Aaron was standing by the window, his broad back facing me. As always, he exuded power and control
I sat in the coffee shop, my eyes glued to the screen of my laptop, but my mind kept drifting.The adrenaline rush of my return to Donovan Corporation hadn’t worn off yet. It was a strange sensation, like stepping into a familiar room after years of being away.The smell of polished wood, the hum of a thousand voices in the background—it was the same, but I wasn’t the same.I knew Aaron would never let me off easily. He might have given me a second chance, but that didn’t mean he trusted me, or that he wouldn’t be watching my every move. And that was fine. He could watch. I would make sure he saw exactly what I wanted him to see. But there was something more I needed.Something he wouldn’t give me just by offering me a job as his secretary. I needed access to the people who truly ran the show, the ones whose names were whispered in boardrooms and whose decisions shaped the fate of entire industries.I was scrolling through my contacts when I saw her name. “Geneviv.” I hadn’t thought a
Ophelia’s POVThe day after I met with Geneviv, I was restless. My mind wouldn’t stop running through the possibilities, all the ways I could use the opportunity she had given me.I hadn’t expected her to be so willing to help, but I knew better than to believe it came without a catch. There was always a catch when you were dealing with people like her, with people like Aaron.The next morning, I arrived early at the office, ready to make my presence known. It was a quiet day, most of the other employees in their respective corners, but the tension in the air was palpable.I could feel it, the slight unease that had settled in ever since the interview disaster with Aaron. But now, things were different. I had a plan.A better plan. Geneviv’s words from yesterday echoed in my mind: You don’t mess with my brother. Not unless you’re prepared for the consequences. I wasn’t naive. I knew Aaron was ruthless. But what Geneviv hadn’t said was how far I was willing to go to get what I wanted.
Ophelia’s POV The next few days passed in a blur of reports, meetings, and Aaron’s relentless demands. He was back to his usual self: curt, exacting, and impossible to please. Yet, there was something different—a crack in his veneer that revealed itself in fleeting moments. A brush of his hand as he handed me a document, a lingering glance during a meeting, or a subtle softness in his voice when he addressed me directly. But he never overstepped. Aaron Donovan was a man who thrived on control, and it was clear he wasn’t ready to relinquish any part of it—not even his feelings. That morning, I found myself in the middle of a particularly hectic schedule. Aaron had tasked me with organizing a last-minute meeting with international partners while also preparing a detailed analysis of competitor strategies. My desk was a minefield of sticky notes, files, and my half-drunk coffee. “Miss Lewis,” Aaron’s voice called from his office. I sighed, setting down the highlighter I’d been usin
Ophelia’s POV The next few days passed in a blur of reports, meetings, and Aaron’s relentless demands. He was back to his usual self: curt, exacting, and impossible to please. Yet, there was something different—a crack in his veneer that revealed itself in fleeting moments. A brush of his hand as he handed me a document, a lingering glance during a meeting, or a subtle softness in his voice when he addressed me directly. But he never overstepped. Aaron Donovan was a man who thrived on control, and it was clear he wasn’t ready to relinquish any part of it—not even his feelings. That morning, I found myself in the middle of a particularly hectic schedule. Aaron had tasked me with organizing a last-minute meeting with international partners while also preparing a detailed analysis of competitor strategies. My desk was a minefield of sticky notes, files, and my half-drunk coffee. “Miss Lewis,” Aaron’s voice called from his office. I sighed, setting down the highlighter I’d been usin
Ophelia’s POV The tension between Aaron and me had reached an unspoken truce, though the dynamics of our relationship were far from simple. Each day in his office was a chess match of emotions and professionalism, neither of us willing to make the first move. Aaron remained as sharp and demanding as ever, yet there were cracks in his icy demeanor—moments that felt too intimate for the boundaries we claimed to maintain. That morning, I was deep in the throes of a particularly frustrating task. Aaron had requested a detailed analysis of prospective mergers, and the data was a labyrinth of numbers and trends. I stared at my screen, rubbing my temples as the words blurred together. “You look like you’re about to throw that laptop out the window.” His voice startled me, and I looked up to see Aaron standing in my doorway, arms crossed, an amused glint in his eye. “Not out the window,” I muttered. “But maybe into the coffee machine.” He stepped into my office, glancing at the jumble o
Ophelia’s POV The tension between Aaron and me was becoming unbearable. Each passing day felt like a tightrope walk. We kept our interactions strictly professional, but there was an undercurrent—a simmering attraction neither of us acknowledged. I was drowning myself in work, hoping it would numb the confusing emotions that surfaced whenever Aaron was near. The merger had turned into a whirlwind of meetings, legal reviews, and negotiations. My calendar was packed from dawn till dusk, leaving little room for anything else. But the busier I stayed, the more aware I became of Aaron’s presence. It wasn’t just his commanding tone or his sharp intellect. It was the subtle things: the way his eyes crinkled slightly when he was deep in thought, the quiet moments when I’d catch him watching me, and the rare times when his icy exterior softened. One particularly chaotic morning, I found myself rushing through the office corridors with a stack of documents balanced precariously in my arms.
Ophelia’s POV Working closely with Aaron Donovan was beginning to feel like playing a dangerous game. The man had a way of peeling back my defenses without even trying, making me question everything I thought I knew about him—and myself. The day started as most did, with Aaron’s sharp tone barking instructions the moment I stepped into his office. “Miss Lewis, I need the quarterly reports from division heads by noon,” he said without looking up from his laptop. “Of course, Mr. Donovan,” I replied. “And schedule a meeting with the marketing team this afternoon,” he added, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “Understood,” I said, already jotting down notes. His demands weren’t new, but there was a tension in the air that felt different. Over the past few weeks, Aaron’s demeanor toward me had softened in small, almost imperceptible ways. He wasn’t outright kind—he was still the same demanding, no-nonsense boss—but there were moments when his gaze lingered too long or his voice di
Ophelia’s POV Working for Aaron Donovan was like trying to navigate a storm in the middle of the ocean—unpredictable, intense, and always teetering on the edge of chaos. Despite the exhaustion that came with the long hours and relentless pace, there was something invigorating about it. I thrived on the challenge, but Aaron… was a force unto himself. One moment, he was cold and calculating, barking orders like a drill sergeant. The next, he’d show glimpses of humanity so fleeting they left me questioning if I’d imagined them. Today was no different. “Miss Lewis,” his deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I stepped into his office. “Yes, Mr. Donovan?” “I need the revised merger documents on my desk in twenty minutes,” he said, not bothering to look up from his laptop. “Of course,” I replied, already turning on my heel. “Oh, and Miss Lewis,” he called after me. I paused, glancing over my shoulder. “Double-check the legal clauses this time. I don’t have the patience for amate
Ophelia’s POV Mornings in Aaron Donovan’s office always started the same way: precise, efficient, and intense. I had barely settled into my chair when he barked out his first order of the day. “Miss Lewis, I need the quarterly reports from R&D on my desk before my nine o’clock meeting.” “Good morning to you too, Mr. Donovan,” I muttered under my breath, already reaching for the files. “Did you say something?” His sharp gaze flicked toward me. “Not a thing,” I replied, forcing a neutral expression as I walked into his office. His desk was as pristine as ever, the only sign of his presence being the faint scent of his cologne that lingered in the air. I placed the reports in front of him, stepping back as his eyes scanned the first page. It always amazed me how quickly he absorbed information, dissecting complex data in mere minutes. “You reorganized this,” he said after a moment, his voice neutral but with a trace of curiosity. “I thought it would be easier to navigate that wa
Ophelia’s POV The next event came quicker than I expected, leaving me scrambling to prepare. Aaron’s instructions were precise but vague. “Formal, but not overly flashy. I’ll have the car pick you up at seven.” That was all he’d said before disappearing back into his office. As I stood before the mirror, adjusting the sleek black dress I’d chosen, I wondered what exactly tonight entailed. My duties as Aaron’s assistant were never straightforward, and the boundaries between professional and personal were increasingly blurry. The car arrived promptly, and the driver greeted me with a polite nod before holding the door open. Settling into the leather seat, I couldn’t help but notice how meticulously everything was maintained—Aaron’s influence was everywhere, even in the smallest details. Aaron was already inside the venue when I arrived. The grand ballroom was filled with an air of quiet sophistication, the kind that only money and power could conjure. Crystal chandeliers cast a wa
Ophelia’s POV The events of the gala lingered in my mind like an unresolved melody. I couldn’t shake the image of Aaron standing under the moonlight, his words cutting through the stillness of the night. “Control is an illusion.” There was something about the way he said it—raw, almost defeated—that felt so unlike the Aaron Donovan I thought I knew. For a fleeting moment, he had let his guard down, and I had seen a side of him I wasn’t supposed to see. I told myself not to dwell on it. Whatever vulnerability he’d shown was irrelevant. My focus had to remain on my plan, not on unraveling the mystery of Aaron Donovan. But as much as I tried to push the thought away, it clung to me. I arrived at the office the next morning determined to throw myself into work. The tasks Aaron assigned me were tedious and relentless, but they were a welcome distraction. If nothing else, they kept my mind from wandering where it shouldn’t. “Miss Lewis,” Aaron’s voice cut through the quiet hum of the of