It’s the day of the gala, and I’m panicking. “You look good, Dee,” Jessica says. “Are you sure? Does the color of the dress seem right? Am I wearing too much makeup or too little? Is the dress too tight? Am I doing the right thing?” Jessica sighs, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Remember, you don’t have to do any of this. Just say the word, and I’ll send Uncle Bruno’s limousine away.” I chuckle. “I can’t believe he sent a fucking limousine.” Yup, Uncle Bruno has never been discreet. True to his word, I got an email with all the details—event schedule, seating plan, and my spot in the hall. Seeing my name, Desiree Blackwood, on such a high-profile list nearly had me in tears. But the real jaw-dropper? I had a front-row table, right across from the keynote speaker’s. I mean, I’d be practically staring into Mr. Hart’s eyes. My fingers are trembling. Jessica steps back, giving me a once-over. “The dress is perfect, Dee. The emerald green really brings out your eyes, and
Oh. My. God. I'm face to face with Mr. Hart, and there's no doubt he's talking to me. His blue eyes stare right into mine, and I can't look away. This is the moment I've been waiting for, but now that it's here, I'm completely speechless. I just keep staring. And staring. “Cat got your tongue?” he says. I shake my head, trying to gather my thoughts. Maybe if I pretend this is a casual encounter with a cute barista, I’ll remember how to speak. “Why are you following me?” he asks. I’d pictured this moment so many times. What I’d say. How I’d say it. I practiced in front of my mirror, perfecting my body movements. Don’t smile too much—it makes you look cheap. Don’t slouch—it decreases your height. Don’t look away—hold his gaze. Don’t speak too fast—it makes you sound demented. Don’t flip your hair—everyone does that. But in none of those rehearsals did I say what I’m about to say now. “I was just looking for the restroom,” I blurt out. He looks me up and down, as though he's not
So far, Mr. Hart has led me through an endless series of corridors. Left, right, left, right. Door after door passes by, each one looking exactly the same. Just when I think we've reached the end, another hallway appears. It’s magical. It’s scary. I feel like we’re moving around in circles, or moving through a wonderfully constructed maze. “Where are we going?” I ask, finally breaking the silence. “You’ll see.” I’ll see? I don’t like that answer. What does it even mean? Am I getting kidnapped by a billionaire? Strangely, that doesn’t scare me as much as it should. Or is he a cannibal? Am I allowing myself to be easily escorted into a slaughterhouse? “Mr. Hart—” I call out, trying to sound more confident than I feel. Maybe if I keep talking to him, he’ll remember that I’m human. And as a fellow human, it would be inhumane to eat me. “Call me Caspian,” he says, leading me into another quiet corridor. Wonderful. We’re on a first-name basis. I guess that means I’m not getting
No way. That door wasn’t there before—I’m absolutely sure of it. It was a blank wall when I was standing right in front of it. Where did it come from? “Are we allowed in here?” I ask, trying to mask my astonishment. “Well, you’re not allowed. I have a key,” he replies with a grin. As I step into the newly revealed room, it becomes clear that it’s an office, but not like any I’ve ever seen. The walls are entirely made of reflective glass—just mirrors. “Do you, um, own this place?” I ask. “Do people really own places?” he muses with a thoughtful look. “I’m a major shareholder in this foundation.” Well, none of the articles I’ve read had mentioned that. It must be a top secret. Do I need to sign an NDA or something? If so, I’m probably getting sued, because there's no way I'm not spilling every detail to Jessica the moment I see her. I mean, look at this place! How long could I possibly keep it a secret before I explode? Despite the abundance of mirrors, the room doesn't fee
Caspian’s eyes lock onto mine. There’s a playful glint in those eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk. He leans back slightly in his chair, his posture relaxed but attentive. “And how, lovely lady, do you plan to seduce me?”I want the ground to open up and swallow me. I feel my face flush, and for a moment, my mind races, trying to come up with a clever response. But all I can think about is the way his eyes seem to see right through me.“I…,” I begin. “Well, I didn’t think that part through. That’s why I was observing you. To figure out what might work.”“So after two hours of staring, what did you discover?”“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head. “Absolutely nothing. You’re hard to read.”Caspian reaches for the bottle of scotch. He pours the rich, amber liquid into his glass, filling it just enough to leave a small gap at the top. Then, with a casual glance, he picks up my glass. Despite the fact that there’s still some alcohol left in my glass, he tops it off with scot
Caspian's POVIt’s Sunday, eight days since I met the red-haired angel, and I think I’m slowly losing my mind. I see her in my dreams. I see her when I’m wide awake. Desiree Blackwood. Her name is stuck in my head. I remember everything about her—her sharp eyes, her fiery hair, and the way she smelled. I see her in the faces of people I pass, hear her voice in the quiet moments, and feel her touch when I’m alone.It’s not just a crush; it’s a need. Eight days have felt like forever, and I can’t stop thinking about her. I can’t focus on my work. Every time I try to think about something else, her image pops up in my mind.Why do I feel this way about her? Is it because she’s a challenge, or because of the fire in her eyes? I don’t know. All I know is that I’m hooked, and there’s no way to stop it.Beep, beep… beep, beep… beep, beep…I pick up the phone. “Yes?”“Boss,” my private investigator says, “I have the information you need.”“Which of them?”“Desiree Blackwood.”Just hearing
The connection seems to take forever, each second stretching out as I wait for the call to go through. Finally, Bruno’s familiar voice answers, smooth and composed. “Mr. Hart, what a pleasant surprise.” “I need to talk to you about a guest you had at the Luminary Gala,” I say, going straight to the point. Bruno’s tone shifts, becoming more serious. “Of course, Mr. Hart. Which guest are you referring to?” “Her name is Desiree Blackwood. She was wearing a green Chanel dress, long and wavy red hair, expensive jewelry—” “I know who Desiree is, Mr. Hart. There's no need for the descriptions.” “Perfect.” “What has she done? Stolen something? Maybe the fine china?” he jokes. I’m no longer in the mood for his jokes. But his words hit home. That’s exactly what she did. She stole something. It may not be the cups and plates, as Bruno said, but she’s still a thief, nonetheless. Because she stole me; she stole my attention. I can forgive many things, but not this, not theft. No one
This is the eleventh time Mabel has flipped her hair. I’ve been counting.She’d say something ordinary like, “Pass me the salt shaker, Mikey,” and flip her hair. “What time is it, Mr. Hart?” Another hair flip. “This food is so nice. What is it, Italian?” And yet another hair flip.I don’t know why, but that simple act annoys me greatly. Why not just tie up the damn hair? We’re eating, for goodness’ sake. But I hold my tongue. This is Mike’s fiancée, after all. I have to be civil. I don’t want to end up like one of those parents whose children never come home for the holidays. And maybe I’m a little bit—just a tiny bit—biased against her because of Desiree. I need to be open-minded. She might turn out to be a great person, and I don’t want to ruin our future daughter-in-law and father-in-law relationship by hating unnecessarily.“I have to say this, Mr. Hart,” Mabel says, flipping her hair for the twelfth time, “your house is beautiful. So grand. The furniture. I can’t even…”“Thank yo
I nod, my throat tight. “You better be.” The doors to the delivery room swing open, and suddenly, I’m surrounded by bright lights, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and the calm, authoritative voices of nurses. My mind is racing. My body, however, is focused on one thing: the relentless, excruciating contractions that feel like my insides are being wrung out like a soaked towel. “Breathe, Desiree. You’ve got this,” a nurse says, guiding me onto the bed. Caspian bursts through the door moments later, his hair disheveled, his suit jacket gone, and his sleeves rolled up. He looks like a man ready for battle. And, honestly, that’s what this feels like. “I’m here,” he says, taking my hand again. His grip is warm, solid, a lifeline in this sea of chaos. I glare at him through the pain. “You did this to me.” He leans down, brushing a kiss against my sweaty forehead. “I know, baby. And you’re doing amazing.” “Amazing? I feel like I’m being ripped in half!” I shout, my voice cracking wit
~~Months later~~ My best friend, Jessica, decided to organise a baby shower for me. She rented a penthouse. I know Caspian's involved in this. Who else is paying for the penthouse? The penthouse is everything Jessica promised and more—sleek marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of the city, and enough floral arrangements to make a florist weep. There’s an extravagant dessert table with a towering cake. And, of course, the unmistakable Caspian touch—a champagne fountain. I take it all in, my eyes narrowing suspiciously as I glance at Jessica, who’s currently trying to pass off the event as “modest.” Modest my ass. “You’re sure this wasn’t Caspian’s idea?” Jessica flashes her most innocent smile, which is about as believable as a politician’s promise. “I mean, he may have helped. But you deserve this! Come on, Dee, when was the last time we celebrated you?” I snort, adjusting the sash draped across my belly that reads Mom-to-Be. “You mean besides the
Desiree's POVWe're at a press conference.Cameras flash like lights at a club, and the buzz of reporters fills the air like a swarm of relentless bees. I hate it. Every second of it. But I stand tall, my hand resting in Caspian’s, my knuckles white from the grip. He doesn’t seem fazed—his jaw set, his eyes gleaming. He’s in his element.Me? I’m a bundle of nerves hiding behind a tailored dress and a painted-on smile.The tension in the room is obvious. Every gaze is pinned on us, every microphone is pointed in our direction. There’s no escaping it.Caspian steps forward, adjusting the microphone. His presence is magnetic. Commanding. He could announce the end of the world, and people would believe it was for their own good.He clears his throat, and the room falls silent.“For weeks now, CypherEdge Dynamics has been under siege,” he begins. “An individual named Mabel Blackwood infiltrated our company. She blackmailed board members, manipulated shareholders, and attempted to undermine
“Mr. Hart,” Aaron’s voice oozes through the line, smug and infuriating. “I trust you’ve been thinking about my offer.”“More like thinking about how to kill you,” I mutter under my breath, then louder: “I’ve considered it. But I need proof Desiree is alive. Now.”A pause. Then, Desiree’s voice, faint but there. “Caspian, please…”It takes everything in me not to lose it. “I’m here, Desiree. Hold on.”Aaron returns. “Satisfied?”“Barely,” I say. “You’ll get what you want. But not a second before I see her safe.”“Fine,” Aaron agrees. “Bring the drives to the location we’ll send you. Alone. And no tricks, Hart. Or she dies.”The line goes dead.Antonio is already moving, giving quick commands into his headset. “They’ll never see us coming,” he promises.I grip the phone. “They’d better not.”Because if they do, I’ll burn the entire city down before I let them take her away from me.---I park a block away from the designated warehouse, my pulse thudding in my ears. I sit there for a mom
The tone sends a chill down my spine. Calm, too calm, like this is a business deal and not—“Where is she?” I say. “If you’ve touched her—”“Tsk, tsk,” the man interrupts, almost amused. “Let’s not start with threats. You’re not in a position to make them.”I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles white. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”“Don’t I? Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Hart. Ruthless. Powerful. But none of that matters here.”My free hand balls into a fist at my side. “What do you want?”Finally, he gets to the point. “You’re going to deliver something to me. Two things, actually. First, the drives you took from Mabel’s mother’s house.”My mind races. How does he know about those?“And second,” he continues, “your shares in the company. Sign them over. All of them.”I laugh, sharp and humorless. “You think I’ll just hand those over? Do you know what they’re worth?”“Oh, I know exactly what they’re worth.” His voice drops. “I also know what she’s worth to you.”The a
Caspian's POVIt’s been over two hours since Desiree disappeared, and the hospital has called the police against my wishes.I’m pacing the waiting room like a caged animal, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead doing nothing to quell the pounding in my skull. Every passing second feels like an eternity, a loud and unrelenting reminder that she’s not here, that I don’t know where she is, that I failed to protect her.“Mr. Hart,” one of the officers starts, her voice too calm, too measured, like she’s asking about a lost cat. “Let’s go over this again. You’re sure your wife didn’t… leave voluntarily?”My fist clenches so hard my knuckles crack. I whip around, staring at her like she’s grown a second head.“Voluntarily?” The word leaves my mouth dripping with venom. “You think she just decided to disappear in the middle of a goddamn ultrasound?”The other officer, a man with a face so nondescript I could forget it in seconds, clears his throat. “We’re just trying to establish all possi
Desiree’s POVI wake up feeling like my head has been split in two.Pain radiates from the back of my skull, throbbing with every heartbeat. My mouth feels like I’ve swallowed sand, and the metallic tang of blood lingers on my tongue. I try to move, but my arms won’t budge. Cold metal digs into my wrists, and the sharp edge of panic slices through the fog clouding my mind.“Welcome back.”The voice is smooth, almost polite, but it sends a chill racing down my spine. I force my eyes open, blinking against the dim light until the blurry figure in front of me sharpens into focus.Aaron.He leans casually against a table, his arms crossed, a smug grin stretched across his face. He looks like a villain from one of those old spy movies—too polished, too composed, too damn pleased with himself.“What the hell,” I croak, my voice raspy. “What is this, amateur hour? I thought kidnappers were supposed to wear masks.”He chuckles, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring my sarcasm. “You’re in go
Caspian's POVDesiree has been gone for too long.I glance at the clock on the wall, tapping my fingers on the armrest of the chair in rhythm with my heartbeat, which is getting louder and faster with every passing second. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Maybe this is one of those “pregnancy bladder” situations everyone warned me about. But how long does it take a pregnant woman to pee? Five minutes? Ten? I’ve lost track of time, but it feels like hours.I shift in my chair, trying to shake off the gnawing sense of unease creeping up my spine. The ultrasound pictures are still in my hand, slightly crumpled from where my grip has tightened.“She’s fine,” I mutter to myself. “She’s fine.”But the words don’t stick.Standing abruptly, I glance toward the hallway leading to the bathroom. The corridor feels longer than I remember, its sterile walls closing in like they’re mocking me. Every instinct in me screams that something isn’t right.Dr. William steps out of an adjacent room, looking surpr
Dr. William turns to us, his smile widening. “It’s a girl.”For a moment, the world stops. A girl. We’re having a daughter.“A girl,” I repeat, the words tasting foreign and magical on my tongue. Tears spill over before I can stop them, and I press a hand to my mouth, overcome with emotion.Caspian is silent beside me, his gaze fixed on the monitor. When he finally speaks, his voice is rough, as if he’s struggling to keep his own emotions in check. “A girl,” he echoes. Then, with a soft laugh, he adds, “God help her if she inherits your stubbornness.”“Excuse me?” I glare at him, though the tears streaming down my face probably ruin the effect. “She’s going to be the perfect combination of both of us, thank you very much.”“Let’s hope she leans more toward your good looks than my temper.”“Let’s hope she doesn’t inherit your ego,” I shoot back, though my voice is choked with laughter.Dr. William chuckles, stepping back to give us a moment. “I’ll print out some pictures for you two. T