Daniel P.O.VFrom the corner of the room, I crossed my arms, pretending to look amused by the spectacle. I had been waiting for this day, not because I wanted to celebrate his engagement, but because I knew that my time was coming. Owen had always been the golden boy, the one everyone expected to lead Brown Group into a new era. But if I could expose him, if I could prove this was nothing more than a façade, then I would be the one standing in his place.The board had already been whispering I just needed to stir the pot.I waited until the ceremony was over, and the guests began mingling again. The media was all over Owen and Casey, asking them questions, taking photos. The more public they made this relationship, the harder it would be for him to wiggle out of it when the truth came out.I approached a couple of the board members, keeping my tone light and conversational. “Well, that was quite the surprise, wasn’t it?” I said with a chuckle.One of them, Mr. Allen, turned to me with
Casey’s P.O.V.The car ride home felt charged with an unspoken tension. Owen sat rigidly in the driver’s seat, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, as if the weight of the night pressed down on both our shoulders. I wanted to break it, to ease whatever was bothering him, but the words wouldn’t come.I glanced at him, catching the flicker of his jaw clenching, and I instinctively placed my hand on his thigh. His gaze dropped to my hand. I quickly removed it. But he then caught my hand and placed it back on his thigh.“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. “You have been quiet since you came back from the terrace.”“It is nothing,” he said, but the way he spoke felt anything but dismissive. “Just Daniel doing what he is best at. He is causing problems again.” I nodded, not wanting to press him further, though I felt he was holding something back.We arrived at our apartment complex, and Owen parked outside. He
Casey P.O.V“I..can.not..breath..ah” I think my dress is trying to take out every freaking living daylight out of me.“Oh don't be so dramatic.I know you will just be fine.” That dumbass screamed from the other side. I should have made him wear this then would have understood what meant by choking by your dress.Adjusting the tight red dress Owen had forced me to try on and when I put on the ridiculous high heels I discovered I could not even bend to buckle up the heels otherwise this fucking thousand dollars dress will rip off .Stupid fucking dress. I choose not to wear heels. No need for another trip to the hospital. This was not me at all. It seems like it had a vendetta against my personal space. I could barely breathe, but here I was, doing a full runway turn in front of the mirror."Owen, this is absurd," I called out from inside the dressing room, tugging at the hem of the dress that refused to go lower than mid-thigh. "I look like a naughty librarian who was asking to be ben
Casey’s POVOwen placed a pile of clothes he had picked out on the counter, setting aside the ridiculous options we had previously rejected. All I could think about was how much this was going to hurt my wallet. He reached into his wallet, pulling out a sleek black credit card, ready to hand it over to the cashier, who had started scanning the items.“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked, placing a hand on his arm. “These are my clothes. I will pay for them.”Before Owen could answer, the cashier announced the total. “Twenty thousand dollars.”My head snapped toward the cashier so fast I might have pulled something. My eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”I knew designer clothes were expensive, but twenty thousand? I had not anticipated anything close to that. My stomach dropped. It was more than I could afford right now, and I felt the burn of embarrassment creeping up my neck.I glanced back at Owen, who gave me a tight-lipped smile and passed the card to the cashier, ignoring my prote
Zazu P.O.V.I was lying on the couch, flipping through a magazine when I heard a soft, muffled noise. I closed the magazine to see if I was hearing things or not. I heard that terrible sound of crying again. I thought I was at home alone.When did Casey come back? She left this morning before I came back from work. We did not have much communication in the last few days. I know she is hiding something for me but what? I have no idea.The sound was too faint at first, but soon it turned into something like sobbing that can puncture your ear drums. I sat up straight. It is definitely her.Why is she crying?I set the magazine aside and walked toward her bedroom. I should have brought my ear plugs.My cousin can be a nice and beautiful person but she is a ugly crier ."Casey?" I called softly, knocking on her door. "Are you okay?"There was a beat of silence before she responded, her voice thick and shaky. "I’m fine."I frowned. That did not sound fine at all. "Then why are you sounding li
Casey P.O.V.I was wiping my face with a tissue, trying to rid myself of the traces of my crying session, when my phone started ringing. Zazu, still sitting beside me, leaned forward and glanced at the screen. Her eyes widened in panic."Aunt Avery is calling!" she announced, lifting the phone from the nightstand like it was a live grenade.My eyes shot open, wide in disbelief. My mother. Well there goes my heart in panic mode.Of all times,why now? How did she manage to call at the worst possible moments? Could not she have just waited a few more days?Zazu pushed the phone toward me, but I frantically shook my head, my eyes pleading with her. I mouthed a desperate "No!" and backed away, wanting to be anywhere but here. I looked around the room, trying to think of an escape route, but there was none.Zazu was not having any of it. She shoved the phone back into my hand, giving me a pointed glare that said, Pick up the phone, Casey. It was clear I was not going to win this fight. The p
Owen P.O.VI was doing cardio, and the music system was blaring with loud music. Google, my golden retriever, was sprawled out on the couch, taking his afternoon nap. He had been there since we got back from our run in the park, not a care in the world. Meanwhile, I was sweating through my routine, trying to shake off the tension from the week. I stood up after finishing my push-ups and moved to the dumbbells. The music was so loud that it drowned out everything else. As I lifted the weight, I thought I heard the faint sound of the doorbell ringing. I dismissed the thought, figuring I was just hearing things, and went back to my exercise.But there it was again, some kind of sound, barely audible over the blasting music. I ignored it, deciding to finish my reps before worrying about anything else. Then, out of nowhere, a loud scream rattled the walls of the apartment, somehow cutting through the pounding bass of the music."OWEN BROWN, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR IN TWO MINUTES OR I SWEAR TO G
Casey P.O.V.The tension in the dining room was suffocating as we all sat down to have dinner. I was seated next to Owen, trying my best to appear calm, but the oppressive silence made every bite feel forced. Across from us, Owen's sister, Lauren, picked at her food with little interest, and his mother, Maria, sat at the head of the table, observing everything like a hawk waiting for its prey and that prey might be me .I lifted my fork, aiming for the vegetables on my plate, when Maria broke the silence with a question that immediately set me on edge.“What about your family?” Maria asked, her voice light but laced with curiosity. Her eyes flickered over to Lauren before returning to me, expectant. “You both got engaged so fast. We did not really get a chance to know you or your parents. I would love to know more about you and your family.”My throat immediately tightened, and I tried to suppress the cough that was threatening to escape. This was exactly the conversation I did not wan
Casey P.O.V I focused on my computer screen, wrapping up the last few details for an upcoming client event. The office buzzed with the usual chatter, but I barely registered any of it. My mind had been a mess all morning, and concentrating felt impossible. No matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to, no, I refused to think about it. I just needed to finish my work and move on with my day. “Casey!” I glanced up to see my coworker, Amy, standing before my desk with a bright smile. "We are heading to that little Italian place down the street for lunch," she said, resting her hip against my desk. "You should come. You have been looking like you need a break today." For a second, I hesitated .I was not in the mood for socializing, But honestly, what else did I have to do? Sitting at my desk pretending to be productive was not doing me any good. Maybe some food and light conversation would help distract me. "I will meet you guys there," I said, offering a small smile
Casey P.O.V The morning was crisp, the air carrying the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee and anticipation as I stepped into the office building. A soft smile played on my lips, the remnants of a happiness I had not felt in a long time lingering in my chest. After the night I had spent with Owen, I had expected things to feel different, to shift in some way, even if subtly. But life had an odd way of throwing curveballs when you least expected them. That morning after, I had to leave in a rush. A call from my apartment complex about a water leak had jolted me awake earlier than I had planned. There was no time for drawn-out goodbyes or even a proper conversation. Owen was still asleep, his breathing slow and steady, the faintest crease between his brows as if he were already lost in some distant dream. For a brief moment, I hesitated, standing at the edge of the bed, watching him, debating whether to wake him up. Instead, I grabbed a pen and the nearest scrap of paper, scrawlin
Daniel P.O.V. The Investigation Begins The flashing red and blue lights painted the frat house in eerie hues as the police worked to control the chaos. Students gathered in hushed groups, their whispers carried away by the cold night wind. Some were crying, some were confused, and others were too drunk to comprehend the gravity of what had just happened. I stood frozen, my mind refusing to process the reality before me. Ann was gone. The girl who had been the light in my life, the only person I had ever truly cared about, was now nothing more than a lifeless body being zipped into a black bag. A uniformed officer, face hardened with years of experience, stepped forward. His sharp eyes swept over the crowd before he barked, “Everyone stay put. No one leaves until we have spoken to you.” A few students tried to step back into the house, but another officer cut off their path. “You heard the chief. Stay where you are.” The chief, a broad-shouldered man with a thick mustache, exhale
Daniel P.O.V. The Restaurant Encounter The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I scanned the space with sharp eyes. It was a quiet place, dimly lit with small booths lining the walls, offering privacy to those who sought it. The low hum of conversations blending with the occasional clinking of silverware. The air smelled of grilled meat and strong coffee, but my focus was elsewhere. My gaze swept past the occupied tables until I spotted her. A woman sat in the corner booth, her face obscured by oversized sunglasses and a baseball cap. She had long blonde hair, strands spilling over her shoulders,partially covering the side of her face. She was fidgeting, her fingers gripping the menu as she glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to her.She was trying too hard not to be noticed, her posture stiff, if she grip the menu any harder her finger will snap. Eva never wanted to be seen these days. I walked toward her without hesitation. She did not notice me at first, t
Casey P.O.V “Don't stop” Owen raised my right thigh and rested my leg over his shoulder. Because I was pretty sure he was trying to kill me, he slid one finger inside me while flickering my clit with his thumb. He pushed it in and out of me, so painfully slow my insides clenched around him. I lean back on my elbows, and a soft moan escapes my lips as I watch him withdraw his finger and add another. “Owen,” I moaned. “Mmm… That feels so good.” My head fell back in pleasure Owen slammed his fingers into me, hitting every pleasure point at once. “Come for me,” he groans, rolling his thumb over my clit. I moan in response, and he adds, his words were a little slurring, “That is it. Strangle my fingers like they are my cock.” I was on the edge of losing control, so close my entire body trembled. Owen clutched my thigh in his big hands, his mouth dangerously close to my aching clit. A shiver ran down my spine when his hot breath hit my over heated sensitive nub .His fingers glided in
Casey P.O.V. As I burst out of the stadium, the cool night air rushed against my skin, but I barely felt it. My heart was pounding as I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed Owen’s number. The line rang once. Twice. I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the screen in frustration. The call failed. Frowning, I tried again, but the same thing happened. A wave of unease crawled up my spine. I had just admitted to Zazu that I loved Owen, that I wanted to fight for him. But what if it was too late? I refused to let my thoughts spiral. Maybe his phone had died, or maybe he had put it on silent. Not wanting to waste another second, I called his office instead. Someone there had to know where he was. After a few rings, the call connected. “Hello?” a gruff male voice answered. I blinked. It wasn’t Barbara, nor anyone from Owen’s executive team. “Uh, this is Casey Maxwell. I am looking for Owen Brown? Is he still in the building?” The man sighed. “Sorry, ma’am, but everyone l
Casey P.O.V. The crisp January air brushed against my face as Zazu and I stepped out of the cab in front of the L.A. Stadium. The towering lights of the arena glimmered in the evening sky, and the hum of excitement from the crowd around us buzzed in my ears. I glanced down at my jersey-style top, a shade of blue and white to match the Los Angeles Rams team, and felt a rare sense of anticipation. Zazu adjusted her own jersey, grinning ear to ear as we approached the gates. “Can you believe Mark just handed me these tickets?” Zazu said, practically skipping beside me. “Poor guy. Bet he’s regretting his work emergency right about now.” “Well, his loss is our gain,” I said, laughing as we handed our tickets to the attendant. Once inside, we grabbed a large bucket of buttery popcorn, its warm aroma wafting through the air, and made our way to our seats. The stadium was electric, the roar of the crowd rising as the players from both teams jogged onto the field. I had not been to a footb
Owen P.O.V The Lawyer’s Appointment The hours dragged until it was finally time to meet the lawyer. I arrived early, the sterile waiting room doing little to calm my nerves. The lawyer greeted me with his usual professional demeanor, but his words barely registered. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the thought of Casey walking through that door and what it would mean for us once the papers were signed. I did not have to wait long. Casey arrived exactly on time, as she always did. She stepped into the room with her usual grace, but there was a tension in her shoulders that was not usually there. Our eyes met briefly before she turned to the lawyer, giving him a polite smile. She was cordial, professional, keeping everything on the surface. I hated it. We sat across from each other at the conference table as the lawyer went over the details, explaining the final steps. My eyes flicked to Casey now and then, but her gaze stayed firmly on the paperwork. “Say something.” The voi
Owen P.O.V The sound of my apartment door clicking shut behind me barely registered as I stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, and the city was already alive with its usual bustle. But it was not the noise or the brisk weather that caught my attention. It was Casey who caught my attention. She was standing a few feet away, next to her car, her arms crossed and her expression frustrated. Her car was off, yet she was not getting inside it. Instead, she was glancing down the road, occasionally stepping forward to flag a passing cab. Each one sped past her, leaving her standing there, tapping her foot on the pavement impatiently. I frowned. What was she doing here, looking for a cab, when her car was right there? Is her car not working? As I watched her wave her hand at yet another cab that did not stop, my new car pulled up. My driver stepped out of the vehicle, holding two Starbucks coffee cups in one hand. The steam rising from the lids told me they were fresh. “Morning, si