KATIE’S POV The grand ballroom of the luxurious Skyview Hotel was adorned with glittering decorations, cascading curtains, and shimmering chandeliers. This was a huge celebration for our organization and my little way of motivating the workers to be more efficient. All work, no play, would make them dull after all. Plus the fact that I wanted to get my mind off everything.As the guests arrived, they were greeted by a red carpet lined with golden statues and lush floral arrangements. The air was alive with anticipation, the murmurs of conversations blending seamlessly with soft music playing in the background. Each attendee was dressed to impress, their attire rivaling the elegance of the venue itself. I beamed with pride as I ensured that everything was in order. I have put in so much work and effort with the support of the event planning team to make sure this is a night to remember for everyone. I took great care in selecting the perfect ensemble for the prestigious award ceremo
KATIE’S POV“The master will not be joining you for dinner," a servant announced as we settled into our seats. I glanced nervously at his empty seat at the head of the table. Was he alright?“Did he say why?" I asked the girl. She shook her head. Well, that made sense. There would be no reason for him to explain to her anyway. I waved my hand to dismiss her. “You'll go check up on him, right?" Hunter asked me just as I turned my attention to my food. “Of course," I replied. I looked around the table. Axel and his girlfriend were seated beside each other, talking in low tunes. I heard footsteps and turned to see Blake walking towards us. For once, he was early to dinner, I noted, but that was not what caught my attention. I subtly craned my neck to look behind him, but I didn't see Lily there. Now, that was alarming, seeing how close they seemed to have grown since the day that Maverick announced their engagement.Blake's eyes met mine, and he offered a slight grin. I looked away,
KATIE’S POVI didn't even have the strength to fight against the tears that were rushing down my cheeks. What was wrong with me? Why did I allow Blake to attract me so much? I could still picture Maverick's hurt expression as he made his last statement. A statement that turned out to be a threat. The calm and kind Maverick had threatened to push me to my death. That was a testimony to how hurt he was. And it was all my fault, and I was turning everyone into monsters slowly. Things would never be the same between us again. His words were clear. No third chances. He was not going to let me play with his emotions, not again.I wasn't even sure if I felt remorseful just because I had been caught again. Sure, I knew what I was doing was wrong and wished to stop, but I took no real action to do so. No matter how dominant Blake was, he still needed my consent to have his way with me, and I hadn't exactly stopped or fought against him vehemently. It was plainly written on my face that I wa
AUTHOR’S POVBlake watched Katie leave his room, anger building up inside him. Her words reverberated in his head.How dare she throw his love back in his face? He was Blake, handsome and irresistible. No one said no to him. Absolutely no one refuses him.Here he was, trying to fight for them while she did nothing but give them up.“Fuck” he cursed, shoving his hands against his wardrobe. He could still smell her sweet scent. That was not something he could forget in a hurry, given how heady it made him feel. What he couldn't understand was why she had such a strong effect on him.Leaning against the mahogany structure, he dragged his hand along his face. This was a huge disaster; he had always felt things could go wrong if he confessed his feelings for her, but he never thought it would go this wrong. He had only imagined that they would face opposition from his father, but he believed that they would overcome whatever obstacle he put in their way and leave the older adult in the du
AUTHOR’S POVMaverick stared at his son, shocked that he had made such a remark. So he even knew the implications of his actions with Katie, yet he continued with it. What was wrong with him? “Why are you doing this then, if you know the scene it would create? The press would hungrily eat up the news, and that's not good for my image or yours or the company's either."“I do what I please, Father, and I'm careful. Isn't that how you raised me? To take every opportunity I find and make the most of it?"Maverick felt his patience snap as he took in his son's proud, unrepentant expression. Did I raise someone like this? He asked himself, devastated. Where was he when Blaze was turning out this way? A few years ago, he would never have imagined that his son would turn against him this way to attempt to bring a mother figure into his life again.He had thought Blaze's displeasure would wane, and in the long run, they would reconcile when he saw that he didn't want to replace their mother
KATIE’S POVA scream pierced the peace of the house again. This time, it was followed by the sound of an earsplitting alarm bell. It sounded like a fire alarm, and I wondered what was happening.Groaning, I turned to my other side. I had heard the scream before, but I was unwilling to come out. I doubted that whatever was happening was any of my business, and there was nothing real I could do to help. But before I could even think of drifting back to sleep, this loud sound shook the house again, and it seemed that whoever was causing all this commotion was trying to wake everyone up and drive them outside. Maybe there was a fire in the house.Sluggishly, I pull myself up, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. The clock on the wall told me that it was still the wee hours of the morning. It was barely six yet. So why was all this trouble for?And I couldn't smell any smoke.I could already hear movement outside and panicked voices. But I couldn't make out what they were saying; the
KATIE’S POVIt had to be untrue. This had to be nothing but a sick joke. Because how?My legs froze in the same place, my eyes stinging as they trailed over his lifeless body.It was true. Maverick was dead. And it wasn't even at the time the doctors speculated. I had always been prepared for his death since the doctor gave a date, but never had I imagined it would come sooner. The one question that kept recurring in my head was, 'Why?'No amount of preparing my mind for the evil day could have been enough, and I now saw that. The devastation I felt was crushing me mercilessly, partly because I thought it was my fault. If I hadn't come to argue with him, he would still have been alive. If I had never fucked his son, he would be scolding me right now for running over in my pajamas.“How—?" My voice trailed off. My throat got heavier. It was blocked, and my breathing was getting restricted.Axel was sitting by the side of the bed, his head in his hands as a dark-skinned man in blue sc
AUTHOR’S POVAxel watched Katie's expression turn sour as she stared at the papers he was holding. He had been surprised to see them, too, stacked on the desk in the corner of his father's room. He had stumbled upon them when he came in this morning. It was a bit of a surprise how he had noticed them, considering the circumstances that clouded his mind today. There he was, lying hungover in the room he lodged last night when he got a call. He had attended a party, and of course, it stretched through the night, just as he liked it. The caller turned out to be the butler, and he broke the terrible news.“Young master Axel,” The butler’s shaky voice echoed.“What is it, Greg?“ He had mumbled, annoyed to be woken up so early. Not especially during a hangover.“Something terrible has happened,” He started, causing Axel to groan.“If you can't go straight to the point, I'll have to end this call…” He responded.He would have done that regardless if it wasn't the urgency in his voice.“You