Casey P.O.V"Yes, I’ll be there in a minute," I said, hanging up as the cab screeched to a stop in front of the hospital. "Here." I handed the driver the fare and quickly got out. I was meeting my cousin for lunch at a restaurant a few blocks away from the hospital where she worked.As I entered the building, my phone buzzed with a message. I pulled it out from my bag and glanced at the screen.‘I have been stuck because of work. Wait for me for ten minutes. I will be there.’ I read.I sighed. “Well, looks like I’ll have to wait.” I tucked the phone back into my bag and stepped to the side. That's when I saw Sam, my ex-boyfriend and his fiancee , Susan, were exiting a room just down the hall, with Dr. Hart walking behind them, a file in his hand. They hadn’t noticed me yet. They stopped to talk outside the room.so I subtly moved closer and pretended to linger near the reception desk, keeping my back to them, to listen to what they were saying .“Take it easy,” I heard Dr. Hart said to
Author P.O.V. “Hmmm…” Casey muttered as she scanned the series of books on her cousin's bookshelf. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as her fingers brushed over a particularly dusty volume. But nothing had quite caught her interest yet. Behind her, Zazu sat curled up on the couch, swirling wine in her glass with a smirk playing on her lips. She watched Casey with mild amusement. “So let me get this straight. You are telling me that lousy son of a bitch got that girl pregnant, and then you hurt yourself while spying on them?” Zazu asked, dissolving into laughter. Casey turned her head, her expression unimpressed. “Laugh all you want. It is not like your boyfriend is cheating on you,” she retorted dryly, her eyes drifting back to the bookshelf. Her cousin’s laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by a silence that was heavy and disconcerting. Casey arched an eyebrow but did not look back. Her focus was caught by a peculiar title on the top shelf. Standing on her good foot, she stretched
Casey P.O.VThe sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the terrace as I sat on a sunbed, surrounded by the plants . In my hands was the book I found on the top shelf this morning, but I was not able to focus on a single word . My mind was far away, replaying the conversation with Zazu. I couldn’t shake the look on her face when she told me about Brooks. The hurt in her eyes, the tears she tried to hold back. The soft rustling of leaves in the breeze was the only sound keeping me company, my back was facing the neighbor’s balcony.How could someone be so cruel? I clenched the edge of the book tighter as I thought about how she had been hiding her pain for so long.It was not until the book was no longer in my hands that I snapped out of my daze.I immediately stood up and turned around to see Owen standing there, a mischievous grin on his face as he read the cover."‘One Hundred and One Ways to Get Your Dream Man’. A book that will help you to find your soulmate" Owen smirked.
Casey P.O.V It was Sunday morning, and the sunlight streamed gently through my window, casting soft, golden shadows across the room. The faint chirping of birds outside my window added to the serene ambiance. I stretched lazily in bed, savouring the quiet, before finally pulling myself up. Another day, another routine. After brushing my teeth and splashing cold water on my face to shake off the remnants of sleep, I slipped into a comfortable T-shirt and shorts. The cool fabric brushed against my skin, and I combed my damp hair back after a refreshing shower. Feeling more awake, I stepped out of my room and made my way to the living room, the familiar scent of coffee guiding my steps. Zazu was sprawled across the couch, her legs stretched out lazily, sipping her morning coffee as though she had all the time in the world. A magazine hovered above her face, her eyes scanning its pages with rapt attention. The rich aroma of her coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace o
Owen P.O.V "OWEN BROWN, YOU BETTER HAVE SOME EXPLANATION FOR THIS ARTICLE! WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? YOU SAID YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, THEN WHO ARE THESE WOMEN YOU’RE FOOLING AROUND WITH?!” I winced at the sound of my mother’s voice blasting through the speaker of my phone. She always had a way of making everything feel like the end of the world, especially when it came to the mess that was my love life—or lack thereof. “DID I RAISE YOU TO BREAK WOMAN’S HEART AND WHAT DO YOUR GIRLFRIEND SAY ABOUT THIS?” her voice was getting louder and louder with each second. Damn it, why did she have to bring up my imaginary girlfriend now of all times? "Mother,my girlfriend knows nothing in that article is true, I—" I tried to explain, but she was not having any of it. Her high-pitched, exasperated tone cut me off before I could finish my sentence. "Then why is this news circulating? Do you know how embarrassing this is? I found out about my son’s wild... behaviour from my daughter's
Casey P.O.VInside, the ballroom was dazzling. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the elegantly dressed crowd. Waiters moved through the sea of people, offering champagne and hors d'oeuvres, while soft classical music played in the background. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet lively.Zazu and I navigated our way through the crowd, exchanging polite smiles and nods as we went. Till now everything is going well but I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. We went out through the pilot door, to the back swimming pool where others were.After a few minutes, we found a small table near the edge of the swimming pool. Zazu sank into the chair with a sigh, and I followed suit, grateful for the break from standing.“I think I need a drink before the night really gets started,” Zazu said, scanning the area for a waiter. “What about you?”I nodded. “Definitely.”As if on cue, a waiter appeared with a tray of champagne flutes. Zazu grabbed two, h
Casey P.O.VI could hardly believe what I was seeing.I had just picked up two drinks from the bartender when I heard a commotion by the pool area.“YOU PATHETIC CUM SUCKING WHORE!” A woman screamed.What the fridging frutz . The people started gathering near the pool.Instinctively, I moved through the crowd, trying to see what the fuss was about.“Sorry” I pushed people out of the way while balancing the two drinks “Excuse me” I was apologising left and right as I struggled to keep the drinks balanced in my hands. “Sorry” “Excuse me” “Sorry” “Get your big butts out of the way man.” People were craning their necks, gasping, and laughing, making it harder for me to get through.When I finally broke through the crowd and reached the front, my jaw nearly hit the floor.OH . MY . GODDESS Standing at the edge of the pool, Zazu and Brooks’ date were locked in what could only be described as the world’s most chaotic catfight. They were tugging each other’s hair like wild animals, screaming
Casey P.O.VThe chaos around the pool finally started to die down, though cameras were still flashing, and people were whispering like they had just witnessed the scandal of the century. I stood there, still holding both drinks, frozen for a second longer than necessary as I watched Zazu resurface from the water. She looked like a drenched cat, mascara streaking down her cheeks, hair clinging to her face like vines. Her opponent, Brooks’ date, was not faring much better, splashing around beside her with an equally ruined look.I pushed through the remaining crowd, setting the drinks down on the nearest table, and rushed over to help. By the time I got close, Zazu was already pulling herself out of the pool, teeth gritted, breathing heavily. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, and I could see the anger radiating off her like heat waves.“Zazu, let’s get out of here,” I said, grabbing her arm gently but firmly. She was staring daggers at Brooks, who was trying to help his date up
Casey’s P.O.V The buzz of the gala preparations was a strange mix of chaos and excitement. The event was just a day away, and while the fallout from Rachel’s actions had initially shaken me, it had also ignited a determination in me that I hadn’t felt before. This was my chance to prove myself, to show Mr. Davenport and the supervisors that I could excel even under pressure. After the meeting yesterday, Rachel had stormed out of the office, leaving behind a trail of venomous glares and whispered threats. While her behavior had been exposed to some extent, I could not shake the feeling that she was not done with me. But I did not have the time or the energy to dwell on that. I had a gala to prepare. The morning was a flurry of last minute vendor calls and double-checking every detail. The floral arrangements, the seating chart, the lighting , everything has to fit perfectly in these puzzle. I had Karen helping me coordinate with the caterers, and even some of the supervisors had
Casey P.O.V The moment Rachel handed me that ridiculous list of tasks, I knew she was setting me up to fail. The smirk on her face as she walked away had been a silent declaration of war, and for the first time since joining the company, I was not willing to roll over and take it. Because of the disaster with the decoration Mr.Davenport had to shift his charity gala to the weekend. That was extremely embarrassing . I had spent the day scrambling to contact vendors and make last minute arrangements, but the absurdity of the tasks and Rachel’s obvious attempts to sabotage me became clearer with every failed call. But I still went with the lists and completed my task only to get burnt in the end because apparently the client never asked for those things. As the work day came to a close, I sat at my desk, staring at the crumpled list she’d given me. My colleagues whispered as they passed, their pitying glances making my skin prickle. They knew what Rachel was doing, but no one dared t
Casey’s P.O.V. The conference room was already filled when I walked in, my notebook clutched tightly in my hand. I glanced around, spotting Rachel at the head of the table. Her perfectly styled blonde hair catching the morning sunlight streaming through the windows and a confident serious look on her face gave her an air of authority that was hard to ignore. She had been a thorn in my side since the day I joined the company two days ago. Her ability to undermine me at every turn was nothing short of impressive, and I braced myself for whatever she had planned today. The other team members greeted me with polite nods, but Rachel barely acknowledged my presence, her attention focused on the papers spread out in front of her. She always had an air of control, as if every detail, every moment, revolved around her. “Morning, everyone,” Rachel began, her voice sharp and commanding. “Let’s get started. As you all know, we have been entrusted with organizing a charity gala for our clien
Casey P.O.V The plate of food was already half-empty when I returned to the living room. I had offered him to eat because it was already late.Owen was lounging on my couch, his long legs stretched out, his tie loosened just enough to make him look less put together but somehow even more attractive. He glanced up at me with a faint smile, but I could still see the tension in his shoulders still there, the storm brewing behind his eyes. Owen might have let Daniel get into his head than he let on. I hesitated in the doorway for a moment, biting my lip. He had just dropped a confession on me, a raw, unfiltered truth about how he feels about me. First I was happy that he felt something like I do for him but then confusion and fear because I knew how Owen was . I have enough experience of life time how cheating bastards are. I do not need anymore experience. It was fine until I knew what he felt because I thought it was a one -sided crush. I will soon get over it but now, I do not know ho
Owen P.O.V The office was eerily quiet as the hours dragged on. Most of the staff had gone home, leaving only the hum of the air conditioning and the faint tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, Daniel’s words echoed in my head. The bastard has successfully gotten into my head. Damn it. He had said Casey’s name like a taunt, he knew it would get a raise out of me. And like an idiot for a moment, I gave him what he wanted. The thought of him so much as speaking to her let alone trying to involve her in his games made my blood boil. Daniel is nothing but trouble. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples and sighed. The work in front of me felt like a burden now, a flimsy attempt to push away thoughts of Casey. Since Daniel left I was not able to concentrate. Casey had sent me a message earlier, saying her work was done for the day, but I had not had the chance to call her back yet. Grabbing my phone, I hesitated. She had said she was lea
Owen P.O.V I sat at my desk, my hand hovering over the keyboard, immersed in the details of a newly finalized contract. The past two days had been chaotic, and the remnants of it still simmered under my calm exterior. My name and reputation had been dragged through the mud, my investors rattled, my suppliers shaken. And all of it traced back to one man, Daniel Black.It had taken every ounce of strategy and persistence to stabilize what Daniel Black had tried to destroy. He hoped to see me fall but I stood on my ground, exposing his schemes in the media, ensuring everyone knew just how far he had gone. The fallout had been brutal for him. Just as I finished scanning a clause in the document, the sound of the door opening pulled my attention away from my computer. I thought it was one of the guys from the accounting section with the finance report. God I was so wrong. I wish I had not looked up.Standing before me was Daniel , he entered the office, unannounced, like he owns this place
Casey P.O.V The first day at Brown Group was nothing like I had expected. I had walked in with my head held high, eager to prove myself, but it did not take long for reality to hit. The office was sleek and modern, with glass walls, polished floors, and an air of efficiency. I was assigned a desk in the operations department, a space filled with a group of women who eyed me as if I did not belong. I could feel their stares from the moment I walked in, but I brushed it off. “Good morning,” I greeted with a polite smile, setting my bag down and adjusting the blazer I had chosen this morning. The women exchanged glances, whispering among themselves, their eyes flicking from my clothes to my face with a look I recognized all too well. Judgmental bitches get over yourself. This is an office not a New York fashion week ramp. “Morning,” one of them finally responded, her tone cold and clipped. She was tall, with sharp features and an even sharper attitude. Her name tag read Rachel Thom
Casey P.O.V The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped into the quiet hallway leading to my apartment. My heels clicked softly against the polished floors, each step a reminder of the long day that had finally come to an end. The interview at Brown Group had drained me, both mentally and emotionally. All I wanted now was to collapse on my couch and let the weight of the day fade away. Owen was out for a business meeting so I would not be thanking him for what he did any time soon. I unlocked the door and pushed it open gently, careful not to make too much noise. The living room was dark except for the faint glow of the TV, which flickered softly across the walls. I had not expected anyone to be awake, but as I closed the door behind me, I heard movement from the couch. “Casey?” a familiar voice called out groggily. I glanced over and saw Zazu sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked cozy, wrapped in a thick blanket, her dark hair slightly tous
Casey P.O.V The morning air was crisp as I stood in front of the towering glass building that was Brown Group’s headquarters. The corporate giant I had heard so much about, the one that Owen had worked so hard to build, and now, for reasons I could not quite explain, I was about to step into it. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. You can do this Casey. Show them what you have got. I had spent two days planning what I was going to do. After giving ten interviews and being rejected by eight I think I have acquired enough interview experience after not giving for five years.I was trying to figure out the best way to keep my identity hidden. I did not want any special treatment or the perception that I was here because I was his pretend fiance and now real wife which no one knows yet because we are crazy enough to get drunk and get married. But that was not the reason . I just do not want anyone to say I got this because I am his fiancée, so, I disguised myself