[Vivienne]Inside, the place is dimly lit, with groups of people scattered around. The air is thick with smoke and the scent of cheap alcohol.I scan the room, spotting the bartender wiping down the counter, and a few rough-looking men in the back corner, laughing too loudly.Rosita tugs on my sleeve. “Are you sure about this?”“Not really, but we don’t have much choice. Something tells me if we straight-up went to them and asked for the feeds, they’ll throw us out before we get to make our case.”“Point,” she nods. “Fine then. Here I go. If I don’t make it back in one piece, please tell everyone I went down heroically.I roll my eyes. “You just need to chat them up, silly. You’re not going into a war.”“Yeah, keep saying that to yourself.”Then, she takes a deep breath, straightens her jacket, and strides toward the bar with the kind of confidence that makes me question her whole reaction outside.I hang back, my eyes still scanning the room, trying to keep a low profile.She leans o
[Vivienne]Shit. I stand quickly and turn, preparing to tell whatever lie comes to mind. But then I stop.It’s the same bartender Rosita was chatting with.In fact, now that I see behind him, Rosita is standing there, mouthing “sorry” and making a sad face.I hold back the urge to groan.The man continues to stare me down. Now that he’s no longer behind the counter, I can see he’s only a few inches shy of touching the ceiling in this small room. His shoulders are broad, and when he crosses his arms—probably to intimidate me further—his muscles seem to bulge out even more.I swallow. “Look. I can explain—” I start, but he cuts me off.“Save it for the boss,” he says, grabbing my arm and dragging me out.Rosita and I finally come face to face, and she gets her chance to apologize more audibly. “Sorry. I tried my best. But it’s like he could see right through me. Nothing I said worked.”“It’s alright. I knew this could happen.”“Really?” She tries to catch up. “So, what do we do now? Did
[Vivienne]Rosita and I follow the woman obediently.I mean, we could’ve tried to escape, but the idea seemed ridiculous. Where would we even run to? The bar was full of people who looked every bit as dangerous as you’d expect. Thinking they’d let us walk out without stopping us was laughable.Anyway, the woman leads us back to the bar, gestures for us to sit on the stools, and rounds the counter to stand across from us.Rosita and I exchange a glance, both of us clueless about what’s going on.The woman grabs two bottles of beer and slides them across the counter in front of us.Rosita is quick to take a sip, probably thirsty after that intense conversation she had with the bartender. Or maybe she’s just scared.I don’t touch mine. Instead, I look around the bar, watching people go about their day. Looks like they haven’t announced our little “crime” yet.“What’s wrong with her?” I hear the woman ask Rosita as she opens another beer.“Oh!” Rosita wipes her mouth with the back of her h
[Vivienne]I’m not sure I heard that right. “What?”The woman, who just introduced herself as Ruby, turns her gaze to Rosita. “Can you translate that for her, darling?”Rosita, who seems to be working on her third beer, nearly spits it right back into the bottle—something I’ve never seen her do before—and nods. “Yeah. Sure. What she’s trying to tell you, Viv, is that…”“I know what she’s saying.” God, what’s wrong with these people? Is this seriously how two strangers talk to each other? Or am I stuck in some weird dream I don’t even remember slipping into? Maybe they drugged me. Or worse.I turn to face Ruby. “What I don’t get is why you’re trying to help me. What’s in it for you?” There’s gotta be something. No one in this world does anything for free. Especially not something like this.“Joy. Satisfaction. You want more?”“So, you’re telling me you’re willing to help and don’t want anything in return?”Her eyes light up. “Exactly. It’s more like a public service. We help those who
[Vivienne]“Oh my God, this is going to be so much fun!” Rosita giggles, cupping her hands over her mouth to stifle the sound, but it’s a failed attempt.I’m already regretting this. “I don’t feel like it’s going to be fun at all.”“Oh, come on, are you kidding me? We’re going to raid a man’s house and tape him to a chair. This is as fun as it gets! Man, I always wanted to do that to Micah. You remember that bastard who broke up with me for that slutty Victoria, right? Shit. I wish I’d met Ruby before. I could’ve used some sweet revenge myself. I would’ve loved to glue him to the toilet seat, ‘cause that’s what he fucking deserves.” She spits it all out in one breath, huffing afterward.I turn to look at this new version of Rosita I’ve never seen before. “Are you okay? What happened to ‘moving on is the best payback to your haters’ and all that?”Rosita waves a hand dismissively, her eyes gleaming with that drunken enthusiasm that’s starting to worry me. “Oh, come on, Viv. That was th
[Caden]“Did we hear anything from Foxx Enterprise?”“No, sir. Not yet. But I communicated via email that we won’t be waiting for long. What we offer stands only until Saturday.”I nod, skimming the legal papers in my hand. “Good. And what about the Andersen project? Where are we on that?”“Our team is still working on the bid, sir. They haven’t finalized anything yet.”I close the file and drop it on the table. “Tell them to pick up the damn pace. We don’t have all week. I want the bid ready by the end of the day.”“Sure, sir!” Betty leaves the office, and I lean back in my chair, rolling my shoulders to dispel the exhaustion that’s been building up. That’s what happens when you’re running on less than three hours of sleep every night, I guess.I turn to my laptop, trying to focus on the next task at hand. I’m searching for a file I saved last night when the door to my office opens again. The click of heels against the floor and a familiar scent hit me harder than they should.No. Sh
[Caden]I kiss her.I kiss her until I grab her by the hips and heave her on the table.I guide her long legs to wrap around me while I bend her backward, kissing her until we both can’t breathe.By the time I pull away, we both are panting, hard. She glares at me as if she has reached a new level of hatred for me, and I gaze into her eyes, trying to understand why is it so hard to resist her.This is insane. I have always practiced a great amount of patience around her. I have resisted her even when it killed me to stay away. But now, when I don’t have any right on her, when she says she feels nothing for me, it feels like something inside me has changed. I can’t seem to imagine her with someone else. I can’t seem to entertain even the thought of her being with someone else.I frown.But before she raises her hand to slap me—again—I grab her wrist and pin her behind her back.She squirms. “Let go of me, Caden. Right this second. Or I swear to God—”I kiss her one more time, stealing
[Vivienne]I rush out of Caden’s office and bump into someone.“Oh, crap!” the woman says, but I’m too worked up to even think about helping her.I mumble a quick apology and practically race for the elevator.Once I’m out of the building and slide into my car, then—and only then—I let myself breathe. Tears of anger, frustration, and heartbreak come down like a tsunami.“Bastard!” I curse him, wanting nothing more than to hit him and curse him some more.If only I were like Ruby and her gang, I’d love to wipe that smirk off his stupid face.But then my eyes widen as I realize what the hell I’ve done.“Oh, no!” Did I just… tell him I’m getting engaged? That I’ve moved on to another man? That I have a man in my life—a man who doesn’t even exist?Oh, Vivienne. What the hell have you done? Why would you lie about something like that? What were you hoping to gain?Well, I had a reason, didn’t I? I wipe my tears and look out the window. It was the only thing I could think of to shut him up.
[Vivienne]Somehow, Rosita manages to convince me to attend the infamous masquerade ball.And God knows, after cutting myself off from this world of parties and social events, making a comeback like this feels weirdly uncomfortable as fuck.Anyway, I take a deep breath, giving myself a little TED Talk—just go in there and have some, I don’t know… fun?I shake my head and turn to the driver. “Stay close. I have a feeling I might be back early.”Stepping out of the car, I look up at the massive Oriental building.I’ve attended a few galas here before—by before, I mean back when I was in my teens, dragged along by my parents. But looking at it now, it feels like a different world entirely.Clutching the invitation, I move toward the entrance.The moment I step inside, the atmosphere swallows me whole.Velvet drapes, gilded walls, and the shimmer of crystal masks catching the light—everything screams wealth and secrecy.Masked guests drift past in elaborate gowns and tailored suits, their
[Vivienne]After bathing and changing Axel into a fresh pair of clothes, I ask Anna to take him downstairs.Meanwhile, I repeat the same process for myself—taking a quick shower and changing into something that doesn’t reek of the office and the stress that comes with it.I check my emails on my phone and get ready to head downstairs for dinner.But just as I’m about to leave, my gaze falls on the package Anna mentioned.I set my phone aside and check the return address.Not a company I’ve ever heard of.“Hmm… now, where the hell are you from?” I mutter, opening the box and checking the contents inside.Only to find another box inside—but not the same boring brown one. This one is white, with a little pink bow on top.Strange. I don’t recall ordering anything in the last few days.Frowning, I take the white box out an
[Vivienne] After one hell of a day, Axel and I finally make it home. As always, he yells for his favorite aunt—Anna. “I’m home! I’m home! Anna, where are you? I have so much to tell you!” Anna—the one person who has been with me through thick and thin, who has fought her own battles, escaping an addicted and abusive father to build a safe life for herself and her little brother—comes running. Her smile is as bright as the sun. Anna barely has time to respond before Axel throws himself into her arms, his little hands gripping her tightly. “You won’t believe what happened today!” Anna laughs, ruffling his hair. “Oh? What happened?” He pulls back, dramatically placing his hands on his hips. “First, Mommy was late—again.” He shoots me a pointed look my way, probably because I haven’t moved from my place. “Well, tell me something I don’t know,” she winks at me before shifting her attention back to my little, adorable boy. “And what else?” Axel launches into a rapid retelling of
*Five Years Later*[Vivienne]"I don’t think you’re even trying to understand what I’m saying here, Mr. Carter."The man frowns, sighing deeply, as if he thinks I don’t know what I’m talking about."Look, Ms. Richardson, I don’t mean to be difficult, but dropping the prices of such exclusive products can’t be good for business. Our credibility will take the brunt of it, and you know it.""That’s why I’m suggesting launching new sizes, Mr. Carter. Until now, our products have only catered to a certain audience, leaving out a vast majority of willing users who simply can’t afford them due to the high prices. My team has conducted thorough research and found that if we introduce smaller sizes, people who could only dream of using our brand will get a taste of it. And who knows? They might get hooked—willing to spend more over time—eventually leading to increased
[Vivienne]Once the doctors and the nurse leave, I don’t even have to wait for the doors to close.Rosita is already breaking into an explanation.“I can explain,” she says while I continue to stare at her in pure disbelief.“And how would you do that?” I ask after a moment of silence.I’m still standing where I was, still unable to wrap my head around whatever just happened.She breathes out a sigh, glancing over my shoulder as if making sure no one else walks in.“Something happened after you left last night, and I—”“And you decided to hide your real identity?”“No. That’s not why I—”I shake my head. “Please, then help me explain. What are you so afraid of? Why would you give them my name instead of yours?”She sighs once again, but this time she looks more exhausted than before. “I had to. And I will explain everything once you calm down and give me a chance to say my piece.”———————[Caden]I’m busy discussing a serious matter with the head of finance when Betty Adam, my assista
[Vivienne]It felt like a bolt of lightning striking straight down my spine.I couldn’t even wait for Harvey to explain anything further.I just got up and bolted, hurriedly telling him to rest while I took care of something.He must not have believed me because he tried calling after me.“Vivienne!” he yelled behind me. “Stop! What happened?”The moment I step out of his room, I nearly collide with Molly, the nurse.“Oh my, where are you off to?” she asks, looking both amused and confused. “My shift is over, so I came to do a last round. Is everything okay?”“I’m fine,” I say quickly. “My brother is awake. You can check on him.”“He is? That’s great news. I’ll go right away.”If Molly thought I was acting strange—too rushed, too eager to get the hell out of there—she didn’t say anything. She simply moved out of my way and headed into
[Vivienne]I end up staying by Harvey’s side thorughout the night.Afraid that strange woman would show up again.I don’t know why she bothered me so much. She might have been a visitor ending up in the wrong room, something Molly suggested when I shared the incident with her. But something inside me doesn’t have faith in that reasoning.Something was weird about her. The way she ran off. In the hurry that she was in.Who was she? And what was she doing in Harvey’s room?“Vivienne?” A weak voice enters my ears, and I jerk up from my barely-there sleep, only to find Harvey gazing at me with his soft eyes.“Hey,” I lean forward, holding his hand as he tries to reach. “How are you feeling now? I should better call the doctor—”“Where is she?” he cuts me off, blinking lazily, as if still trying to force his brain to focus.He must be talking about the woman with him during the crash.“She’s fine now. In fact, I was about to check up on her once you woke up.”He sighs, closing his eyes and
[Vivienne]After spending a few hours sitting next to Harvey, who has been drifting in and out of consciousness due to the painkillers, I ask Mom and Dad to head home.They’re old and don’t have the same stamina they once did.“You should get some rest too, Vivi,” Mom says, holding my hands in hers. “You’re pregnant, and this is too much stress for you to handle right now. Think about the little life inside you. You need to be more cautious.”“I know, Mom,” I say, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. “And I’m fine. I’ve booked a room at a nearby hotel, so I’ll be staying there until I get a call from one of the nurses that Harvey is awake. They said he’ll probably sleep through the night, so there’s no point in staying.”She nods. “Good, good. Your dad and I will leave then. But let us know when you get to the hotel—we’ll worry otherwise.”“Sure, mom. Don’t worry about it.”Finally, mom and dad leave, and I sit with Harvey for a while.I look at him, and hold his hand. “You better be aw
[Unknown POV]“You didn’t have to come,” the man in the black jacket says, pulling a cigarette from his lips—not that he was smoking in the first place.Some men just love to pretend, I guess.“I need to be sure,” I tell him as I step out of the car, my gaze lifting to the hospital building. “You’re sure they’re here?”“Absolutely,” he says with confidence. “I was the one who called 911.”“You did?” I snap my head toward him, frowning at his audacity. I’m paying him to do the job, not to think. “And why the hell would you do that? I strictly asked for a crash, not a damn rescue.”“But you did say you didn’t want them to die.” He arches a brow, like he knows so much better than me.I roll my eyes. “Well, I couldn’t have cared less either way. I only said that so you wouldn’t screw it up. Killing someone brings a lot more heat than just getting them hurt. And in my personal opinion, men fall apart under pressure.”“Well, not me, clearly,” he shrugs, and I somehow resist the overwhelming