Casey P.O.VBefore dessert arrived, I excused myself to use the washroom. With my purse in hand, I made my way through the restaurant, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The air was cool, and the scent of food lingered in the background, but I hardly noticed any of it. My thoughts were jumbled, running a mile a minute, and this was the perfect moment to take a breath.Pushing open the washroom door, I stepped inside and quickly entered one of the stalls. I did my business, grateful for the brief escape from the awkward dinner conversation at the table. After finishing, I stepped out to wash my hands, the washroom still completely empty. The sleek marble countertops and polished mirrors reflected my hurried movements as I turned the tap on.As I was washing my hands, the door behind me creaked open. I did not pay much attention to the person entering and focused on myself, staring down at the running water, lost in thought. When I finally turned off the tap and glanced to
Casey P.O.V.The entire restaurant had broken out into loud whispers , and I could feel dozens of eyes burning holes into my back.I need some air. The sting from Grace’s hand still lingered on my face, and as much as I wanted to storm out, the part of me that hated public scenes felt frozen in place.I was about two steps away from making my grand exit when a familiar voice stopped me. I turned back .“Do not believe her Grace. She and her cousin are not much different.” Brooks’s ex wife came and stood beside Grace with her arms folded on her chest. They both looked like Cindrella’s two stepsisters trying to look down on me but failing miserably. “Trying to shag another woman’s man.”I copied her terrace .“Didn't I tell you? Do not stick your nose where it should not be stuck.” I gave her a mocking smile. “Oh I forgot. You let dicks of other men stick in you when it should not be sticking. Isn't it how you ended up divorced in the first place because you slept with Brooks' best frie
Casey P.O.V. “After you, ma’am,” Owen said in a terrible attempt at a British accent, holding the car door open for me. He even bowed his head dramatically like some old time chauffeur, his lips twitching with amusement. I stifled a laugh, biting my lip. “Why, thank you, kind sir,” I replied, matching his bad accent with one just as ridiculous. I stepped into his luxurious car, settling into the soft leather seat as we shared a chuckle over our botched accents. Owen closed the door behind me with a flourish, still playing his part, before he hurried around to his side. Once inside, he buckled his seatbelt and started the car. The engine purred to life, a deep, throaty hum that reminded me of the car’s price tag, and we pulled out of the parking lot. “Damn. Tonight was eventful. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. Non-stop drama,” Owen muttered, shaking his head slightly as he turned the car and took the other lane. “Uh-huh, and the drama was not even about you,” I sighed, l
Casey P.O.V."Is it too late to go back to the car and crash it?" Owen whispered beside me, his eyes glued to my mother, who stood in front of us like a warden ready to pass judgement."I am regretting not taking the first option now," he added, swallowing hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously as he stared at the broom in her hand.“Told you. You should have, at least we would be in hospital, kicking.”My mother was terrifying. She had that look on her face, the one that could make grown men confess to things they had not even done. She was standing in front of us with a broom in her hand, and tapping her right foot on the floor. Her face twisted in anger as her eyes were moving back and forth between the two of us. Fury was blazing through her eyes that might shoot fire at us. I felt like I was the helpless cartoon character who had awakened a fire breathing angry dragon who was going to shoot fireballs at any moment and burn me alive.Behind us, the rest of the family cowered in
Casey’s P.O.V."I know it is fast, but I can not stay without your daughter," Owen said, pulling me closer by the waist, his hand resting protectively on my hip. I froze under his touch, heart pounding in my chest, not because of him but because of my mother's eyes that were shooting lasers at us by now. My mother’s gaze flickered between the two of us, like a hawk deciding whether to swoop in for the kill or let her prey go for a few more seconds.She turned, glancing at the rest of my family, probably hoping for some silent opinions. Everyone shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Then she turned back to us, a slight narrowing of her eyes. "Yeah, I get it, but why don’t we wait until—"Suddenly, Uncle Matthew, who had been completely fine a second ago ,clutched his chest with both hands pressing against his heart. His face contorted in pain, his knees bent . They buckled under his weight. He gritted his teeth. His whole body wobbled forward and he fell down the ground , laying on his
Casey P.O.V."Surprise! Happy Birthday, Ryder!" The excited chorus of voices rang out as Ryder’s family, colleagues, and friends emerged from the house, faces bright with anticipation, until well until what was waiting in the garden.They stopped short, mouths hanging open, eyes wide with disbelief. The scene before them was pure chaos, and it was nothing like what anyone had expected. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud, while Zazu, standing beside me, stifled her own amusement, her shoulders shaking with silent mirth.Grace stood behind the cake table, knife in hand, she had a big smile on her face, her eyes locked on Ryder who was standing there, blindfolded and grinning, completely unaware of the carnage his party had become. The crowd gawked at the decorations behind us, where everything had spiralled wildly out of control.The neighbourhood wasn’t much better. Some neighbours who were heading inside their house stopped dead in their tracks, staring in horror at th
Casey P.O.VRyder was desperately trying to explain himself to his elderly parents, who looked more bewildered than ever. Sorry aunt and uncle , your son is a piece of shit."Mom, Dad, this is not what it looks like! It is just a prank! Grace is just making a joke . She—”“Well jokes on you , you are the one who was trying to date another woman when you were already with someone else and on top of that you slept with her.” Zazu said with disdain as she pointed her finger at Jennifer.Ryder turned his head with fury itching on his face.“Zoey, you have nothing to do with this. So stay away from this. If it was not for your cousi—.” A hand came into my line of sight that smacked Ryder on his cheek. Ryder's mother stepped before him."Ryder!" his mother gasped, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions. "When did you become like this? I never raised you like this. Disrespecting a woman, using them for your own selfish means, hurting her feelings. So when did you become like this?” Her fr
Casey POVMy jaw dropped as I stepped inside the private plane, the interior leaving me utterly speechless. I had known Owen was wealthy, but this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. The opulence was staggering, like I had stepped into a movie set designed for the ultra-rich.“Get your jaw off the floor; otherwise, no plastic surgeon will be able to fix your face,” Owen quipped from behind me, donning his aviator sunglasses with a casual ease. I snapped my mouth shut, shaking off my astonishment as I clutched my luggage, I shot a glare in his direction. Infaruting man.As I made my way further into the plane, a flight attendant approached me, taking my luggage without a word. I blinked at her, still taking in the luxurious surroundings. The plane was like a flying penthouse; everything was meticulously designed. The plush white leather couches were paired with elegant wooden finishes, and the soft lighting created a serene atmosphere. There were four seating areas, each equipped
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
Owen P.O.VThe kitchen had always been my sanctuary, a place where chaos transformed into order, where raw ingredients became something greater. Tonight, I hoped it could also be a bridge, a way to reach Casey. She had seen Eva’s public apology, and while it had cleared my name, it had not been enough to erase the hurt I had caused. I wanted to prove to her that my words were not hollow promises, that I truly meant every syllable when I said I’d do whatever it took to earn back her trust.I rolled up my sleeves and surveyed the ingredients laid out on the counter. Casey loved Italian food, especially a good homemade ravioli. I remembered her mentioning it once during one of our passing times. It had been a casual comment, something about how her grandmother, her mother's mother used to make it for special occasions. Back then, I had tucked the information away, never knowing I would use that gun for my benefit ever . But now, it felt like the perfect way to show her I was paying atten
Owen P.O.VShe did not say anything at first, her hand still absently scratching behind Google’s ears. The silence stretched between us, and I felt the weight of her guarded stare. It was as though she was trying to decide whether I was worth her time or effort but I could not let her go on thinking the worst of me without knowing the truth. She deserved an explanation. No more assumptions, no more misunderstandings. It was now or never.“Casey,” I said softly, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Please. Just give me a chance to explain what really happened that night. I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it was not what you think.”Her hand froze mid-motion on Google’s head, and she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed. “What’s left to explain, Owen? I saw her in your apartment. I saw her kiss you.”I exhaled, my shoulders sagging under the weight of everything unsaid. “You saw part of it, but not all of it. I never kissed her.”She crossed her arms, leani
Owen P.O.VThe silence in my apartment was deafening. Google lay at my feet, his tail wagging occasionally as if he sensed my distress. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Casey would not answer my calls, and her door had been firmly slammed shut by Zazu. I had no one to blame but myself.How could I have been so blind to let Eva in? I should have sent her packing the moment I saw her at the door. Instead, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Now, Casey thought I had betrayed her.The thought of Casey’s hurt expression the way she sat with her face in her hands made my chest ache. I could not let this stand. She deserved an explanation, but I knew words alone would not fix this. Actions had to speak louder.I needed to fix this.Google barked softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I scratched his head absently, an idea forming in my mind. “Alright, buddy. Let’s start with Eva,” I muttered.Next Day…..The next morning, I stood outside Eva’s office. It took a few calls and some ch
Owen POV I pulled on a navy sweater, smoothing the fabric as I glanced at myself in the mirror. It was casual, warm, but still decent enough to make an impression. Casey would appreciate it or so I hoped. She had a way of throwing me off balance with her sassy words and even sassy looks, but tonight, I wanted her to see a different side of me. It was not often I put thought into things like this. Dates used to be effortless,another night, another woman, no strings attached. But this was Casey I am doing all these for. And somehow, with her, everything felt different. The sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts. My chest tightened, and a grin spread across my face. She was here. Right on time. I headed for the door, my steps quick, excitement bubbling in my chest. When I opened it, my smile froze in place before vanishing completely. It was not Casey who stood outside. Eva was. My jaw tightened as I took in the sight of the woman standing on my doorstep, perfectly polished
Casey P.O.VGetting ready for a date with Owen felt like being stuck in a mystery novel where you already knew the twist would irritate you. The man refused to give me any clue about where we were going, just a vague instruction to “dress casually” and “wear warm clothes.” Honestly, what did that even mean?“I hate surprises,” I grumbled, glaring at the sweater I had thrown onto the bed.Zazu, sitting cross-legged on the floor, let out a dramatic sigh. “You’ve said that about a hundred times now, Casey. Relax, it’s a date, not a covert mission.”I shot her a look. “If I wanted a surprise, I’d order a mystery box online. Dates are supposed to have details, Zazu—details! So I can plan my outfit and prepare mentally.”“Mentally? You’re going on a date, not to war.” She chuckled, standing to inspect the sweater. “And for the record, this is perfect. Warm, casual, and adorable. Plus, he probably wants to see you comfortable, not freezing to death in a cocktail dress.”I groaned. “Fine, but
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