KATIE’S POVMy heart skipped a beat, causing me to take in a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever she was about to say. “Oh, you don't need to look so agitated,” She pointed out and let out a little laugh. “It's essential, but I see you have something to do.“ She reminded, her eyes darting to my hands.“Oh, this?“ I motioned to the papers in my hand. “I'm just taking them to Shane. He has to file and sort them out.““Since when did we get a lot of paperwork?“ She asked, falling into step behind me. Well, she didn't seem to be in such a hurry to deliver whatever message she had for me, so I guess there wasn't bad news, right?“My thoughts exactly. One day out of here, and it seems a lot has gone under. I'll need to get more flash drives, though I'm sure we have enough already. Can't have lots of paper when we have computers.“My secretary, Tess, nodded in agreement. “I heard your big announcement earlier.“ she said, changing the topic.“Oh yes.. not sure you found out through
Katie's povI buried my head in my hands, feeling my frustration grow. I saw the messages Dylan was sent, and they were genuinely trying to pull out of the company—our best partners. I had to think quickly: what would Maverick do in this situation? Well, there was no way for me to know for sure since he was dead now. But I didn't think talking with the clients would harm them. That might work wonders.“Let them know I'm refusing their request,” I told him. “I want to talk with them, think that's possible?““I'll let them know,” he said, typing furiously on the keyboard. “Do you want to fix a meeting?“Well, duh, what had I just said to him? “Yes. I don't want to be the one to decide the date and time for them. Let them tell me when is convenient.“He nodded. He would send a mass message to the three of them. But wait, what if it wasn't just those three clients harboring suspicions of me? Undoubtedly, the others had heard the whole incident. “You know what?” I stamped my palm on hi
AUTHOR’S POVMatt was talking, but Blaze could barely hear what he was saying. Not because he couldn't attend but because he wasn't listening. The reports the manager had brought to him since Friday had been sitting on his desk without him sparing them a glance. How could he bother himself with workers' reports when his life turned upside down? How he managed to hijack him and make him sit was still a mystery to Blaze. He had been patronizing him with grunts and nods of the head since he started talking. Blaze placed his hand on his chin, leaning on it. Now, why was Matt looking at him expectantly?“Sorry, I didn't get your question,” he said, sure that he had been asked some questions.“I asked if you understand why we have to let Miss Liana go.“ Matt said, repeating himself. He had asked the same question twice, so why did the CEO still have to ask him to repeat himself?“Oh, right." he had no idea who Liana was, but if the manager here felt that she shouldn't be working here anym
KATIE’S POVMy phone was ringing, the annoying tune persistent. Letting out a grunt, I reluctantly picked up the phone. My eyes darted over the screen to see who the caller was.Unknown number…I couldn’t help but wonder if it was one of her clients…“Mrs Katie?“ The person on the other side spoke as I placed it on my left ear. It was a voice that sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite put it.“Hi, who's speaking?“ I questioned.“It's Dorris. Where are you now?“ She asked, her voice a little shaky, and I could tell she was in a compromising situation.“On my way home. Is anything the issue?“ I quickly threw forth, my ears at alert, while my heart pounded loudly against my ribcage.“Yes, there's a huge problem. You can't come home,” She informed in a whisper, her voice graced with seriousness.“And why can't I? Have they forbidden me from coming back to my husband’s house?“ I snarled, a little annoyed at the carelessness of her words.Now, that would be an overstep on their side. They
KATIE’S POV“What do you know about the game afoot?“ I asked. She might know more than I did. After all, she had probably spent most of her life in that house.She shrugged. “little to nothing, but I know the most important thing. You're innocent. You don't strike me as someone who would do such anyway.“I had a sound mind to tell her that looks could be deceptive, even though I did know what I was capable of. “So if you know this, why don't you tell the police?“ I opted for it instead. It would be helpful to get her to give that statement on my behalf. Then, the police would have to investigate more instead of just concluding.She shook her head sadly. “I wish I could. I do. But what is my word against solid proof? They can easily decide that I'm lying, and where would that leave me?“As she explained, I understood her position in the case. She had to stay neutral or risk her job since Blaze was heading this whole conspiracy. And apart from that, she could be taken as my accomplic
AUTHOR’S POV“She's not answering,” Hunter said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. His brother had asked him to call Katie, telling him he was the only one she would answer. Well, he was wrong; not only had she not answered, but she had also switched her phone off. His second attempt was met with a switched-off response.Blaze heaved a sigh, annoyed. Why did Katie have to give them so much trouble? And why didn't she answer Hunter's call? He was confident she cared very much for him and would not hesitate to do so, but that was all an act, too. “This is so fucked up," he said. Everything had been since he had found out the truth. And now, to add to it all, Katie was suddenly missing.How was that even possible? She had no idea what was happening in the home, and her secretary had said she came to work this morning. She also said she left early, and if that was true, she should have been back hours ago. Except if she hadn't gone to work and the secretary was lying. Or, more li
KATIE’S POVI dozed off a couple of times as we wove in and out of the streets. I felt drained, and my legs ached, but at least I was sitting comfortably in a car halfway through the city instead of being locked behind bars. I wasn't completely safe now, heck, I wasn't safe at all, but at least this was something. As long as I could evade the police, I was safe. I wondered how long it would take them to realize I wasn't anywhere near and then alert police in the other districts, who would then spread their radar to other cities. That would be a process, and hopefully, it would be long enough for me to be safely hidden in the heart of wherever I was headed.That was what bothered me the most. Where was I headed? I had no idea. All I knew was I had to leave that city. But after that, then what? Where would I go? I knew no one else; the only family member I had was my stepmother, and she would not offer me a helping hand. I could already see the glee on her face as she handed me over
AUTHOR’S POV“So apparently, we have a lead,” Axel informed his brothers. He had just successfully arranged with that man an outrageously massive sum for him to bring Katie to them. He almost laughed at the excitement in the man's voice when the arrangement was concluded, and he had to be a fool to think that he would go through with his part of it.He thought he was at an advantage because he had Katie. Well, it was easy enough to take her and send him on his way empty-handed. There was nothing he could use to hold him to fulfil his part after all. If he chose to kill her instead of handing her over, then he had no problem with that. That was one less problem to solve.“A lead?“ Hunter asked, “Does anyone know where she is?““Not just where she is but where she's headed. He's driving her to Charleston.” He dropped, a grin playing on his face.Blaze felt impressed. Katie was a woman of big dreams, it seemed. Did Katie think she could get that far so soon without them finding her? And
Axel followed the man who came to take him out of the cell. He wasn't sure how long he spent here, but long enough to be really glad to be out. The smell of soap lingered on his skin, a bit too strong, but he welcomed it. It had been a long time since he used soap."There's your ride," the man said, pointing at the sleek red Camry parked in the parking lot of the station. In front of it stood Katie, arms crossed around her protruding middle.Axel felt a sad smile tug at the corners of his lips. Even in jail, he heard of the marriage between Katie and Blaze when Cicely came to visit.His smile disappeared as he remembered her expression when she spoke. The wistfulness in her eyes... It was obvious that she wished for her wedding, and she couldn't even have it soon.He had long made up his mind to marry her immediately after he got out of jail. He was able to beg her forgiveness, and she must really love him for actually letting all he did go. She assured him she'd wait; that was the onl
Author's pov Axel sat on Cicely's bed after several minutes of pacing the area and waiting for her to show up. Where the hell has she gone? He was considering going out to search for her when the door opened.But it was not Cicely who stepped through; and it was Lily with a painted expression on her face. "Axel," she began.He already knew what she wanted. Now that their plans had flopped, she probably wanted them to come up with a bigger plan."Save it, Lily, we're through." He shook his head in regret. "I was so foolish ever to think that this would actually work.""What do you mean by we're through?" Lily asked. "We're in this together, right?"Axel sighed. "Let it go, Lily. Find a way to get a new life...""A new life?" She looked devastated. "But I'm pregnant... I have nowhere to go, and you can't just leave me alone.""I have to," Axel replied. "I have to make things up with Blaze, and I know I'll be able to do that if I try.""And what about me, Axel?" Lily said, raising her v
Author's pov Blaze grinned as Tristan made his way to the dining room, where he and Katie were seated. It was a miracle how he could track his location with his phone number and then check all the buildings around for them. He never would have asked for a better friend; Tristan had already proven himself in more ways than he could count.Katie looked up from her phone. "Is that the man going to give us updates?" she asked.Blaze nodded. He was surprised Katie wasn't running from him by now. She even let him stay in her house without him asking. It made him wonder if the past few days' events had softened her towards him instead of making her hate him. He tried not to get his hopes up, though; her niceness didn't mean she'd like to end up with him, as he started to hope for. He couldn't help hoping, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.He wanted Katie back in his life despite all that had happened. As far as he was concerned, he was done with Lily. Katie should have been the one fro
KATIE’S POVNo way, I thought, staring at him and searching for any resemblance to Maverick. I could see none, but then again, I could barely see Maverick's face clearly in my mind. It had been so long ago, like another lifetime."You're lying," Blaze accused. With how he looked at Dylan, I was almost glad he was restricted from doing anything to him. Almost, though, in truth, I wished Blaze was free."Am I now?" Dylan said quietly, coming closer to Blaze. "When my mother got pregnant for your father, he left her, all because he saw a richer woman. You see, Maverick was a coward. His only way to survive was to milk off others' profits, and that's really who you're defending," he asked, turning to me.I stared at him, taking each word with a pinch of salt. I didn't want to believe him since he was the reason I was trapped here, and he even tried to kill me at the end of all this.But then, there was no other explanation for the absolute hate in his eyes as he spoke of Maverick. And why
Katie's povI gasped, staring at the limp bodies of Lily and Axel. "Oh my gosh, are they dead?" I exclaimed."Not dead, darling," the woman said. "These are stun guns," she waved the gun in her hand for emphasis."What kind of stun gun allows the victims to talk to?" Lily muttered against the floor. It was a comical sight seeing her lying there helpless when a moment ago she was gloating over us."The type we use, obviously," the woman replied. I squinted at her, unable to bear my curiosity anymore."Who are you?" I was trying to decide if she was a hero or a villain. She teetered on the edge of both, and I wouldn't say I liked that.She turned to me with a sigh and took off her mask. I gasped, eyes widening as I stared into the face of my former savior. The one person who believed me when I said I didn't kill Maverick and who helped me escape.Right on time again to get me out of this situation. "Doris?" I asked."Not just her." The man beside her said, taking off his mask too. I gas
Chapter 133Author's pov Blaze raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised." The answer was clear: if their places were switched, he would eliminate Axel before he could ruin the big plan."Surprised?" Axel asked. "You didn't think I'd be able to kill you if necessary?""No, I'm surprised we might think the same way," Blaze clarified. He saw the twitch in Axel's jaw, showing that he was irritated by that statement, which made him smile."Not the same way, brother. I'm way ahead of you.""Correct me if I'm wrong, but are both of you arguing about who thinks better right now?" Katie asked, turning to Blaze.Blaze nodded. "I'm trying to make sure there isn't a bigger brain behind this plot of his. Hard to believe it's just you, Axel."And not only that, he was stalling for time. Anything to keep Axel from rounding off his plan soon because if that happened, he would kill both of them so quickly.He wasn't afraid for himself, but Katie concerned him. She was already broken, and having no hope of s
Author's pov Katie gasped, staring at Axel. Of all the people she would have suspected, he wasn't even near her suspect list. Tears blurred her vision as she remembered what he said about her daughter."You beast!" she screamed, lunging forward. Curse these ropes; she would have been able to do something terrible to him. She wanted to hurt him just as he hurt her."How could you? All this while, after how close I was to your family, this is how you treat me? Why?" It was pointless straining to reach him; she slumped against the wall in defeat."I'm sorry about the child. That was not my intention. But it is what it is," Axel began, shrugging as he spoke. He had been shocked to hear."Fuck you, Axel!" Blaze thundered. How could he say he was sorry now? For killing his child, someone he hadn't even met in person.Blaze took a deep breath to calm himself down. The level of anger he was feeling was overwhelming, and the fact that he had no means to channel it out was the worst thing abou
Author's pov No, Katie gasped as Blaze fell to the ground. All that came out, though, was a frantic intake of breath, as she could not speak through the gag she hated so much. After all she had tried to tell Blaze, this stupid piece of cloth prevented her from saying anything.She wished she could rip it off, but her hands were bound, too. They had been since the first day. She glared at the man who knocked Blaze out, wishing she could wipe that smug grin off his face.He turned to her. "Don't look at me that way; he was foolish to come alone."He crouched to her level. "And if he did alert the police, then I'm afraid we'll have to kill you immediately. Either way, our mission will be accomplished."If looks could kill, he would be burned to smithereens by now. First, he wouldn't tell her anything about her child, and now he was threatening to kill her. After keeping her here for days, he did not even have a clue what to do to get him to free her."Just tell me what you want. Why do
Katie's povI blinked, confused. I could have sworn that my eyes were open, but surely, if they were, I would be able to see something. As it was, there was just nothing—pitch-black darkness, the oppressive kind that seemed to close in on you.I shut my eyes again and opened the—same thing. Now I was getting worried. In a rush, it all came back. I was in the car, just discharged from the hospital. There was music, and there was my baby in my arms.A baby that was no longer there since my hands were bound in front of me. I could barely feel my hands, and they were bound so tightly. I shifted, noting that there was a wall behind me, which I was leaning on.My feet were bound, too, most likely with the same material. I hated being tied up. It reminded me of the time when I was sold to the Griffins, a time I never wish to remember anymore.But at the moment, that was the least of my problems. Where was my child? Whoever had taken me couldn't have taken her away, too.It only became hard t