Kira was still talking with Cooper when he offered to help her. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable firmness in his tone when he said, “I’d like to invest in your bakery.” Kira hesitated, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Her lips parted as though to respond, but she closed them again, frowning slightly. “I appreciate the offer, but… I can’t accept it,” she said, her voice soft yet resolute. “Why not?” Cooper asked, tilting his head slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her. “It’s not because I disregard your kindness,” she said quickly, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her apron. “But my shop—it’s not worth it. I can’t let you waste your money on something so… small.” Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability she was trying to hide. Cooper smiled faintly, leaning forward. “Small? Kira, your bakery is more than just a shop. It’s a reflection of your hard work and passion. That makes it more than worth it.” Kira’s eyes softened, and for a
Kira looked up from the pastry counter, her brows furrowed in confusion as the man who just walked in addressed Cooper as "Mr. Delarosa." The name rolled off the stranger’s tongue like he’d practiced it, but it was wrong. She tilted her head slightly, her lips parting to say something, but Cooper beat her to it. “Ah, you must be new here,” Cooper said with a relaxed chuckle, his sharp suit somehow making the moment feel less awkward. He clasped a hand on the man’s shoulder, his charming grin never faltering. “It’s Cooper. Always Cooper.” Kira’s gaze flickered between the two men, trying to piece together the odd exchange. Her stomach twisted uneasily, a quiet warning she couldn’t ignore. She wiped her flour-dusted hands on her apron, her voice wavering as she interrupted their conversation. “Um, excuse me. I think I need to close up the shop for the day. My partner isn’t here, and, well, with all the commotion earlier…” Her voice trailed off, and she glanced at Cooper nervously.
Eva couldn’t hide her emotions as she stepped out of the taxi in front of the restaurant. The plan was simple: meet Cooper, the man she had been dreaming of since the day they met, for a date that she hoped would solidify their connection. But fate had other plans. Her heart froze when her eyes caught sight of something—or rather, someone—she hadn’t anticipated.There they were, standing just outside the restaurant, in front of the shopping mall next door—Kira, her childhood best friend, and Cooper, the man she wanted for herself. Eva took a step back, her body trembling with disbelief as she watched Kira wrap her arms around him in a warm embrace. Cooper didn’t resist; in fact, he smiled at Kira as though she was the only person in the world. Eva’s stomach churned, a bitter taste rising in her mouth. A wave of anger mixed with jealousy surged through her, leaving her momentarily unable to breathe. Her chest tightened, and tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them back. **"How
After her dinner date with Cooper, Eva stormed into her apartment, her face flushed with a mix of anger and unease. Her thoughts swirled as she paced the small living room, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. "What does Cooper even want?" she muttered under her breath, her brows knitting together. She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up inside her. Yet, beneath the irritation, there was something else—an undeniable pull toward him. Eva flopped onto the couch, her head falling back against the cushions. "I need Cooper," she whispered, her voice trembling with determination. "He's handsome, rich, tall... those gorgeous eyes and those lips..." She trailed off, biting her lip as a faint smile crept onto her face. The thought of Kira suddenly intruded, making her expression darken. "I don't want Kira to ruin my moment with the love of my life," she spat, her voice sharp and bitter. When Cooper dropped her off earlier, she'd lied about wher
Kira woke up to the soft golden sunlight streaming through her small apartment window, the rays illuminating the delicate necklace Cooper McDonald had gifted her. She had placed it on her nightstand, where she could admire its intricate beauty each morning. Her fingers lightly traced the pendant, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips. “It’s time to move on, Kira,” she whispered to herself. “He has a girlfriend. I need to stop dreaming.” She shook off the pang of longing and rose from bed, stretching her arms as she gathered her strength for the day ahead. After freshening up and throwing on her favorite apron over a plain pastel dress, Kira headed to her tiny kitchen. Breakfast was a quick affair—a slice of toast and coffee—her thoughts already drifting to the bakery she had poured her heart into. As Kira unlocked the door to her bakery, the familiar scent of flour, vanilla, and hope filled the air. She smiled, glancing around at the little shop s
Cooper stepped into his penthouse, his muscles aching from exhaustion. The day had been long and grueling, his mind burdened with the weight of everything that had happened. His jaw clenched as he shrugged off his suit jacket, tossing it onto the couch. His thoughts swirled like a violent storm, refusing to settle. Eva’s behavior had been… odd. The moment Kira mentioned the card, Eva had reacted too quickly—too sharply. Why? Why had she been so eager to steer the conversation in a different direction? It didn’t sit right with him. Cooper knew the restaurant was something he wanted to invest in, yet Eva seemed far from pleased about it. It was as if she had some hidden agenda, something tied to the bakery, and maybe even something personal against its owner. But what? He exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple as he loosened his tie. That wasn’t even the worst of it. What truly unsettled him was Diego’s men. The sight of them hovering around Kira like vultures had sent a wave of ang
Kira arrived at her bakery that morning, determined to open early. She had received multiple orders from clients who wanted cakes and other baked goods, and she needed to get started right away. Recently, she had bought an ice cream machine, something she had been excited to introduce to her shop. The moment she posted about it online, the demand for ice cream cups skyrocketed, and now she had to meet her customers' expectations. As she approached the entrance, she shifted her bag onto her shoulder and reached into her pocket for the keys. But just as she was about to unlock the door, she felt it—a distinct tap on her shoulder. Her breath hitched, and she spun around so fast that her long, dark curls bounced over her shoulder. Her heart pounded. Someone had definitely touched her. But when she turned, there was no one there. The street was empty except for a few distant passersby who were too far away to have been the culprit. A chill ran down her spine. *Was I hallucinating?*
The past few days—no, weeks—Kira couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her thoughts circled like a restless storm, always coming back to the same haunting questions: Why does it feel like my best friend is turning against me? Why is my boyfriend suddenly so angry? So distant? Her brows furrowed as she wiped down the already spotless counter in her bakery. The smell of vanilla and buttercream filled the room, but even the sweetness in the air couldn’t soften the bitter taste of confusion that lingered in her heart. The unease clung to her like flour dust on a black apron. And ever since she met him—that mysterious man named Cooper—her life had taken a strange turn. Cooper, with his slick black suits and a car that probably cost more than her entire shop, had walked into her life like a gust of wind—smooth, confident, and almost too good to be true. He had offered her a deal too generous to be ignored, promising to invest a life-changing amount of money into her bakery.
Initially, Cooper couldn’t believe his ears. His jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists against his sides as he stared at his grandmother with disbelief. She sat there, calm and composed on the velvet couch, her silver hair pulled back into a neat chignon, her eyes piercing into his like twin daggers of wisdom."We need to make peace with the Martinez family," she said again, her voice calm but firm. "Edward Martinez and I have come to an agreement."Cooper's voice cracked as he retorted, "You made peace? With Edward Martinez? Grandmother, they are our rivals. Our enemies!"The room felt colder suddenly. Tension slithered into the air like smoke. Cooper’s heart thudded with anger, but he swallowed it. He always tried to keep his temper in check when he was with her. No one disrespected Grandma Marlene, not even the city's most feared Mafia boss—Cooper himself.Marlene rose slowly, her silk gown trailing the floor. Her elegant presence exuded
In a secluded, undisclosed location, where shadows seemed to breathe and the silence was almost suffocating, a dimly lit room reeked of stale cigarette smoke and power. A man, cloaked in a heavy aura of authority, sat relaxed but stern on an aged leather chair. He puffed smoke from his cigarette with a face void of empathy, the flickering embers casting fleeting red glows across his angular jawline. His eyes, cold and calculating, remained fixed on the man kneeling before him.The kneeling figure, clearly younger, trembled slightly as he kept his head bowed, sweat trickling down his temple. His posture screamed submission, but his clenched fists betrayed a swelling frustration."You useless idiot!" the seated man barked, slamming his palm against the wooden armrest. The sound echoed like a gunshot.The younger man flinched."You're messing with Mr. Cooper! Do you even understand what that means? He's not the kind of man you play games with. He's a
For a moment, Kira thought maybe—just maybe—God in heaven had finally answered her prayers. Her heart thudded with disbelief as she stared at her phone screen, her fingers trembling. The sudden rush of positive reviews flooding the online platforms left her speechless. Just yesterday, her world had been crumbling beneath her feet. She had been crying herself to sleep, anxiety gnawing at her bones.Her beloved restaurant—her dream, her sweat, her everything—was on the verge of collapse. The weight of it all had been unbearable. Bad reviews had poured in like an unending storm, accusing her of causing food poisoning, of negligence, of running an unsanitary kitchen. One even claimed that her desserts tasted like regret. The negativity had spread like wildfire, and the damage had been nearly irreversible. Her loyal customers stopped showing up. Even her suppliers started pulling back.Kira clenched her phone, blinking back the sudden tears that clouded her vision. She
Cooper stormed into his mansion like a wildfire, fury radiating off him in waves. The thick oak doors slammed shut behind him, reverberating through the grand marble hallway. His right-hand man, Blaze, followed closely, his sharp eyes darting around for any sign of weakness. Cooper’s jaw was clenched so tight his temples throbbed, and his fists were balled at his sides, knuckles turning white.The inner sanctum, their meeting room—known as "the Den"—was already filled with his top men, each one inked with the mark of loyalty, their expressions grim and stiff. The air was thick with tension, every man standing in silence, eyes locked on their leader as he entered the center of the room.“You all saw it, didn’t you?” Cooper's voice was low, dangerous, like the calm before a storm. “You saw how that pathetic excuse of a mafia group stormed our compound like cowards in the night and gunned down our men?”The silence broke like glass. "Yes, Boss!" they all roar
When Cooper decided to help clear Kira's name from the list of negative reviews and accusations following the sudden outbreak of food poisoning linked to her restaurant, he wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it. The incident had caused chaos—dozens of customers claimed to have suffered from severe diarrhea after eating at Kira’s place, and social media was ablaze with criticism. Her business, her reputation, everything she had worked for was crumbling like a dry leaf in autumn.Kira, devastated and teary-eyed, had nearly collapsed in Cooper’s arms when he promised to help. "I know a guy—a lawyer," he said, brushing her hair back from her face with a tender look in his eyes. "Just leave everything to me."She hugged him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... thank you so much, Cooper. I don't know what I'd do without you."That night, Cooper returned to his penthouse, a place of sleek lines and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that reflected the city lights. He paced across his
Kira couldn’t understand it—couldn’t control it. Every time she was around Cooper, her heart raced like a drum being beaten in a war zone. The way her breath caught in her throat whenever his eyes met hers wasn’t normal… or was it? She didn't know. But one thing was clear—this man affected her in a way she couldn't explain. There was something about him. Something… familiar. She had tried to brush it off countless times, convincing herself it was just a fleeting attraction. But the more time she spent with him, the more convinced she became that she had seen his face before—maybe in another life or a forgotten dream. The contours of his jawline, the storm in his eyes, the way he moved—it all stirred a strange longing in her chest. And yet… no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember where she knew him from. Earlier that day, when the chaos broke out and she’d nearly collapsed from the pressure, he had been there for her. No questions asked. Just like that, Cooper had ste
Kira couldn’t understand it—couldn’t control it.Every time she was around Cooper, her heart raced like a drum being beaten in a war zone. The way her breath caught in her throat whenever his eyes met hers wasn’t normal… or was it? She didn't know. But one thing was clear—this man affected her in a way she couldn't explain.There was something about him. Something… familiar.She had tried to brush it off countless times, convincing herself it was just a fleeting attraction. But the more time she spent with him, the more convinced she became that she had seen his face before—maybe in another life or a forgotten dream. The contours of his jawline, the storm in his eyes, the way he moved—it all stirred a strange longing in her chest.And yet… no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember where she knew him from.Earlier that day, when the chaos broke out and she’d nearly collapsed from the pressure, he had been there for her.
Kira was too stunned to speak when the furious customer stormed into her shop, his face flushed with anger and his voice booming across the cozy bakery like a thunderclap."You!" he barked, pointing a trembling finger at her. "What kind of poison are you selling in here? Every single person who ate that tray of cupcakes from your shop is now down with explosive diarrhea! My café is practically a war zone!"Kira blinked rapidly, trying to process what she had just heard. Her hands froze on the rolling pin she was cleaning, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat.“Wait… what?” she asked, eyebrows furrowing in disbelief. “Are you serious?”The man leaned across the counter, his eyes bloodshot and wild. “Do I look like I’m joking? I’ve had to shut my entire kitchen down because of your contaminated cupcakes! This is going to cost me thousands!”Kira's mouth parted slightly, her heart thumping unevenly. She shook her head slowl
Kira was bustling with energy that morning. Her auburn curls were tied into a loose bun, and a hint of chocolate flour still dusted her cheek—something she hadn’t noticed in her mirror rush to open shop early. Her café smelled like a dream: vanilla bean, warm cinnamon, and her bestselling dark-chocolate cupcakes fresh from the oven. She had already sent out most of her morning orders and felt a rush of satisfaction. Things were finally looking up. She glanced at her phone—no message yet from Mr. Cooper. Kinda odd… she thought. She had asked him to drop by today just to help out for a couple of hours. After all, he insisted on being involved, even though she had told him the night before, “You don’t have to come every day, Mr. Cooper. I’m sure you’ve got a million other things to do.” He had smiled that charming, mysterious smile and replied, “But I’ll come anyway. Just in case you need me.” Yet here she was, stirring frosting in a big silver bowl when her phone rang. It was his dr