It’s early morning, and the sound of Caspian’s vibrating phone pulls me from sleep. The steady buzz is relentless, and I groan, shifting under the covers.“Caspian,” I murmur, reaching out to nudge him. No response.I roll over and give him a firmer shake. “Are you going to get that?”He stirs, rubbing his face as he grabs the phone from the nightstand. “Hello?” His voice is groggy. “Yes, we got in yesterday. Of course, we’ll be there. Alright. Bye.”I prop myself up on one elbow, narrowing my eyes at him. “Who was that?”“Mike,” Caspian says, dropping the phone back on the stand. “He says we’re all having breakfast together in thirty minutes.”“Thirty minutes? And he’s just now telling us?” I toss the covers off, already feeling the rush of panic. Caspian sighs, leaning back into the pillows like he’s still too exhausted to function. “You can start getting ready. I can’t feel my legs. You destroyed me last night.”I laugh, swinging my legs out of bed. “Try to keep up, old man.”With
Caspian's voice is calm, but I can feel the tension in every word.Mabel raises an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “What do you mean? We’re just gathering for a nice, casual meal. Can’t a family enjoy some time together without suspicion?”Caspian’s eyes narrow. “This isn’t family. This is a business meeting dressed up as a vacation.”Mike clears his throat. “It’s nothing formal, Dad. We just thought it would be good to get everyone together, talk a little about the future of the company. You know, something light.”“Light?” Caspian says. “Then why weren’t we told about this before?”I feel a cold chill creep up my spine. This is exactly what we don't need. Paul, Gladys, Mabel—they’re all too close, and now this surprise meeting with shareholders? It’s too much, too calculated.Mabel’s smile doesn’t falter. “Oh, we didn’t want to bother you with details, Caspian. You’ve been so busy lately, and we figured you could use a break. But you’re here now, and we’re all very excited about the fu
Caspian's POVThe bitch has won. Somehow, Mabel’s managed to twist the others around her little finger. But something feels off. I can see it in the way they avoid looking at me, their expressions tight and uncomfortable. Whatever they’re doing, they’re not doing it willingly. And Mabel? She knows how to push my buttons, to manipulate the situation to her advantage. “If there were any major changes,” I begin, “I should have been involved. This isn’t something you spring on people over breakfast.”Mabel smiles. “Well, you’re here now. No harm done.”“No harm?” Desiree asks. “You’re making major decisions without including the people who matter most. And the fact that Paul and Gladys are here—uninvited—tells me exactly what kind of game this is.”Mabel waves a hand dismissively. “Your issues with Paul and Gladys have nothing to do with this. That’s a personal matter, and frankly, not my concern.”Fiona, Desiree’s sister, speaks up. “Maybe we should just enjoy breakfast and talk later?”
I can feel the frustration boiling under my skin, but I don’t take the bait. Instead, I gesture for Peter to lead the way.Outside the room, Peter exhales, rubbing his temple. “Caspian, I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to go like this.”“What’s going on, Peter?" I ask. "Why is Mabel being pushed onto the board? And why does everyone in there look like they’re scared of her?”Peter hesitates, his gaze shifting nervously, avoiding mine. “It’s… complicated. Mabel… she’s got something on the board members.”“What do you mean?”He sighs. “She’s been gathering information. Blackmail. Personal stuff she’s been holding over their heads for months. No one wants her on the board, but they don’t have a choice.”I take a step back, letting the weight of his words sink in. “Blackmail? Are you serious?”Peter nods, looking ashamed. “She’s got something on me too. That’s why I voted her in. If I didn’t, she’d destroy everything I’ve worked for.”I run a hand through my hair, trying to process what he
Desiree and I are back in our hotel room. She collapses onto the bed with a frustrated sigh, covering her eyes.“I guess our plans are ruined,” she says.“What plans?”She lowers her arm slightly, staring up at the ceiling. “We wanted to get her out of Mike's life. But she's still there, Caspian. We wanted to get her out of the company, and not only is she still there—she's now a board director. How did it get so out of hand?”I pace to the window, staring out at the view of the sea. “She’s blackmailing them,” I say.Desiree props herself up on her elbows, frowning. “I figured that much. So what are we going to do now?”Without replying, I pull out my phone and begin typing a message to Mike. He and I have unfinished business, and I won’t let him hide behind Mabel any longer. He’s got some explaining to do. ‘Meet me at the golf course in ten’, I write, then toss my phone back onto the nightstand.“I’ve already called my private investigator,” I say, turning back to Desiree. “Antonio w
I freeze, caught off guard. That was the last thing I expected."You want me to kick her out?" I ask, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.“Yes. That's the deal. You divorce her, just like you said you would.”I stare at him, trying to make sense of what he's saying. “You’re really going to use your ex-girlfriend as a bargaining chip, Mike? After everything she’s been through because of you?”He shrugs, taking another drag of his cigar. "It's not about her. It's about making sure you keep your word. If you're serious about getting rid of Mabel, I need to know you're not just playing games, keeping Desiree around for yourself."My anger flares, and I feel the heat rise in my chest. "I didn't raise you to be this petty," I say. "If this is your way of trying to manipulate me, you're walking a dangerous line."Mike’s expression doesn't change. He takes another slow puff of his cigar, the smoke curling up into the clear sky. “I'm just trying to protect myself, Dad. I can’t keep seeing he
Desiree's POVCaspian has been gone for a while now. I keep looking out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but all I see is the sea. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.When he finally returns, he slams the door shut behind him. His eyes are on me.“Caspian,” I say. “Are you alright?”He doesn’t answer. He just keeps staring at me, his gaze burning with something I can’t quite read. Slowly, without breaking eye contact, he bends down, removes his left shoe, and flings it aside. Then he takes off the right one with the same slowness, flinging it aside too.Before I can ask what’s going on, he’s on me—his lips crashing into mine with a force that steals my breath. It’s wild, desperate, like he’s trying to pour everything he’s feeling into the kiss.“Oh, my god,” I gasp, pulling back for air. “What’s gotten into you? You’re like a wild animal.”“I want you,” he growls, voice low and rough. He sweeps his arm across the dresser, sending everything tumbling to the f
He doesn’t answer right away. His eyes darken as he stares up at the ceiling. For a second, I wonder if he’ll brush it off, deflect with some sarcastic comment, or change the subject altogether. But then he looks at me—really looks at me—and I can see the weight he's carrying.“I saw Mike,” he says. “We had a conversation. Things got... heated.”I frown, trying to piece it together. “About what?”“It’s complicated. But let’s just say, everything feels like a fight now. I’m fighting Mabel, I’m fighting Mike, I’m fighting for what’s mine. And when I came back here... all I wanted was you. To feel grounded. To remind myself what’s real.”I tilt my head, watching him closely. The strength he usually carries in his posture seems worn, weighed down by whatever confrontation he’s just come from. It makes my heart ache. “I’m here,” I say, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I’m always here.”He leans into my touch, his eyes softening for a brief moment. “I know,” he whispers. “That’s why I can’t