Zach POV.Today was the inauguration, and as I walked around, waiting for my family to get ready, the house I had grown up in felt almost foreign to me. I'd always been couped up in my room half the time for fear of running into my dad or mom, so some of the rooms in the mansion felt like a maze to me.I took a turn down to father's office, it was a more familiar territory since I'd been called there a lot after I did something wrong. It was also the same place I had told him to let me be with Vega, that I loved her and that I was not going to leave her. Well, we all knew how that turned out. I got to his door, going to push it open but pausing when I heard his raised voice."Don't ever call me Ray, we've talked about this five years ago and my answer is still the same as it was before… don't be ridiculous, why will I do such a thing, I'm an honest businessman… Well if you know all that then you should stop pushing for this. I co-own that property with Franco Vandenberg, you're never
Arielle sat in her room, talking to the cops through her Ipad as they updated her about the case of Jenny and what they had turned up so far. It was the first time they were telling her something positive In five years and she could help her face-splitting grin. "That's freaking epic, I gotta say I wasn't expecting such good news from you, I'm glad you didn't let all the money I paid you to go to waste. I hope in a few weeks we'll finally have her behind bars"."You don't have to worry Miss Arielle, we're going to make sure you're satisfied with the result of this case. Jenny might have changed her face and her last name, but she's in the country and we'll have her in no time"."I'm glad to hear that. As I said, I'm just happy to know all those millions I spent didn't go to waste. Well thank you for the update"."It's no problem, I'll be calling at the same time next week"."Of course," she said and ended the call, a smile of satisfaction on her lips. Jenny was going to get what she
Vega POVJake came up to me holding two glasses of wine, with an eyebrow raised as he noticed me staring at Zach as he made his speech."Keep your mouth shut about it" I hissed as I took the drink from him.Jake grinned. "I didn't say anything""But you were about to, and I'm sure it was going to make me mad"."I basically live to annoy you don't I"."No, you live to save me from all my problems". I sighed, then sipped the wine."You look amazing by the way, but the way you keep sighing is not going to get you a man tonight, or maybe you don't need a man since you've already set your eyes on that brooding male on stage," he said, his chin pointing towards Zach Dante."It's not going to work. He's here for his revenge". I wished he wasn't. Jake paused, turning to face me. "What do you mean revenge, for what exactly"."The whole thing that happened in college"."He's still not over that. I thought he said it was all a game for him. Look, you deserve better than him ok. You should just
Vega POV.The standoff was nerve-wracking, so I subtly pulled out of Zach's arm with a nervous smile, my face burning. "Can we talk for a minute?" I asked Zach and he nodded even though his gaze was pinned on Ryan who was trying to match his stare and not tremble. "Excuse us then," I said and took his hand. It was almost on reflex but I didn't want to let go once I did, so I pretended that my heart wasn't hammering against my ribcage as I pulled him through the guest that was milling around. The camera flashed, and I knew this would be made into a ridiculous headline tomorrow.It was also surprising that Zach didn't try to tug his hand free from my hold. I looked around, trying to get a free space where we could talk but everywhere I looked, I saw people already occupying most of the spots. He suddenly grabbed my hand that was holding his and then he was tugging me toward the elevator. We stepped into it and as soon as we did, he punched in the number to the floor for his office."We
Ray stepped into the hall, his eyes scanning through the crowd of people having fun as they mingled and danced the night away, but he wasn't interested in them, he was only there for Andrianna. He would talk to her and try to get her onboard the marriage because, without her and the land deeds, there was no way that his family could ever rise in the ranking. His phone rang in his pants pocket and he cursed, muttering under his breath as shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He answered the call with a snap. "What do you want""No need to be so annoyed, I'm just trying to make sure everything is moving according to plan. I waited for you to call and update me about what progress you were making but you didn't, so I decided to check up on you"."I don't need you watching my fucking back Jenny. Just do as you are told. I already said I had this under my thumb, so I don't have to call you every damn second to give you a report. I told you that I could handle everythin
Zach's POV.I kept my gaze on Vega, too afraid to blink in case everything that had happened was just a dream and I was slumped off somewhere, surrounded by people trying to resuscitate me. It was surreal, but I wanted the moment to last forever. She'd bared her soul to me, given me her body without holding back and I felt unworthy because I didn't deserve such honesty, not after everything I'd done to her. It was the first time that someone hadn't let me go, even though I deserved it, even tho I pushed her away, even tho I'd hurt her with my words and actions. It was the first time that someone had fought to keep me, and it made my heart swell so much that I thought it would burst out of my chest.The feeling was mind-blowing because all the hate and the ache I'd felt for the past few years seemed to be a thing of the past and as I stared at her, I wanted to lock up the moment forever, with just me and her and the precious gift she'd given me. Her love made me feel as if I was soa
Andrianna POV."What do you think they're talking about, I think they're taking too long," Vega asked, looking worried as we waited for Markus and Zach to finish talking, wherever they had gone to talk, which was absurd. They could have just moved a bit away and chatted, but Markus was dramatic and here we were. Jake crossed his arms, then smirked as if he knew something we didn't."Ok, spill it out, you're looking too smug to not know what they're talking about"."I don't. It's just that I know why Markus is acting that way" he said leaning closer."Pray to tell us, why is he suddenly acting like he's Vega's father"Jake smirked, his voice dropping lower. "I and Markus have been roleplaying, you know where I'm the brat and he's the big daddy that punishes me for being bratty" he whispered with a wink. "But I've got to say, he's taking the role of Daddy way too seriously".I had not been expecting that, and judging from the horrified look on Vega's face, she wasn't either."Jake! Too
Vega POV."I'm just glad you look so happy Vega, I was so worried about you back then but I didn't want to say anything, I didn't want to risk hurting your feelings more than they already were." Mom said and I smiled."I know, and I'm fine now. We just got back together and I know it's going to work out this time"."I'm sure it will. I'm just glad you both worked out your differences, and that he came back for you. My baby is one lucky girl, that guy is freaking gorgeous but I have to tell you that your father was way more handsome than him"I laughed. "I'm not even going to fight you on that".She burst into a laugh. "You better not, 'cause you'd be fighting a losing battle. I can be a very good lawyer when I have to be, especially for sacred causes".She was freaking killing me. "I got it ma. I wouldn't dare go against you in court, cause you being a lawyer, the case is already a done deal." I said, choking back a laugh as she chuckled. "I've got to go back to the party, I need to
Zach POV. I groaned as the black mask placed over my face was ripped off, the bright light in the room making me wince, while Andrianna cursed beside me, as she struggled around in her bonds. I took in the situation, tested the strength of the binding and when it gave a little, I knew a little work on the knot would get it to loosen in time, that was if I didn't get shot before. Andrianna and I must have had the same thought as Arielle spilled everything she knew to us because we both rushed off to look for Vega, thinking that Ray was going to go for her. We had been searching everywhere when someone called to say they had her and I had gotten so furious and scared that they were going to hurt her that I didn't think everything through as I followed their instructions to a T. I glanced around the room, searching for Vega, my heart pumping erratically in my chest. I couldn't bear it if I saw Vega slumped over somewhere, hurt or dead. I inhaled deeply when I noticed that it was only
Vega POV."I'm just glad you look so happy Vega, I was so worried about you back then but I didn't want to say anything, I didn't want to risk hurting your feelings more than they already were." Mom said and I smiled."I know, and I'm fine now. We just got back together and I know it's going to work out this time"."I'm sure it will. I'm just glad you both worked out your differences, and that he came back for you. My baby is one lucky girl, that guy is freaking gorgeous but I have to tell you that your father was way more handsome than him"I laughed. "I'm not even going to fight you on that".She burst into a laugh. "You better not, 'cause you'd be fighting a losing battle. I can be a very good lawyer when I have to be, especially for sacred causes".She was freaking killing me. "I got it ma. I wouldn't dare go against you in court, cause you being a lawyer, the case is already a done deal." I said, choking back a laugh as she chuckled. "I've got to go back to the party, I need to
Andrianna POV."What do you think they're talking about, I think they're taking too long," Vega asked, looking worried as we waited for Markus and Zach to finish talking, wherever they had gone to talk, which was absurd. They could have just moved a bit away and chatted, but Markus was dramatic and here we were. Jake crossed his arms, then smirked as if he knew something we didn't."Ok, spill it out, you're looking too smug to not know what they're talking about"."I don't. It's just that I know why Markus is acting that way" he said leaning closer."Pray to tell us, why is he suddenly acting like he's Vega's father"Jake smirked, his voice dropping lower. "I and Markus have been roleplaying, you know where I'm the brat and he's the big daddy that punishes me for being bratty" he whispered with a wink. "But I've got to say, he's taking the role of Daddy way too seriously".I had not been expecting that, and judging from the horrified look on Vega's face, she wasn't either."Jake! Too
Zach's POV.I kept my gaze on Vega, too afraid to blink in case everything that had happened was just a dream and I was slumped off somewhere, surrounded by people trying to resuscitate me. It was surreal, but I wanted the moment to last forever. She'd bared her soul to me, given me her body without holding back and I felt unworthy because I didn't deserve such honesty, not after everything I'd done to her. It was the first time that someone hadn't let me go, even though I deserved it, even tho I pushed her away, even tho I'd hurt her with my words and actions. It was the first time that someone had fought to keep me, and it made my heart swell so much that I thought it would burst out of my chest.The feeling was mind-blowing because all the hate and the ache I'd felt for the past few years seemed to be a thing of the past and as I stared at her, I wanted to lock up the moment forever, with just me and her and the precious gift she'd given me. Her love made me feel as if I was soa
Ray stepped into the hall, his eyes scanning through the crowd of people having fun as they mingled and danced the night away, but he wasn't interested in them, he was only there for Andrianna. He would talk to her and try to get her onboard the marriage because, without her and the land deeds, there was no way that his family could ever rise in the ranking. His phone rang in his pants pocket and he cursed, muttering under his breath as shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He answered the call with a snap. "What do you want""No need to be so annoyed, I'm just trying to make sure everything is moving according to plan. I waited for you to call and update me about what progress you were making but you didn't, so I decided to check up on you"."I don't need you watching my fucking back Jenny. Just do as you are told. I already said I had this under my thumb, so I don't have to call you every damn second to give you a report. I told you that I could handle everythin
Vega POV.The standoff was nerve-wracking, so I subtly pulled out of Zach's arm with a nervous smile, my face burning. "Can we talk for a minute?" I asked Zach and he nodded even though his gaze was pinned on Ryan who was trying to match his stare and not tremble. "Excuse us then," I said and took his hand. It was almost on reflex but I didn't want to let go once I did, so I pretended that my heart wasn't hammering against my ribcage as I pulled him through the guest that was milling around. The camera flashed, and I knew this would be made into a ridiculous headline tomorrow.It was also surprising that Zach didn't try to tug his hand free from my hold. I looked around, trying to get a free space where we could talk but everywhere I looked, I saw people already occupying most of the spots. He suddenly grabbed my hand that was holding his and then he was tugging me toward the elevator. We stepped into it and as soon as we did, he punched in the number to the floor for his office."We
Vega POVJake came up to me holding two glasses of wine, with an eyebrow raised as he noticed me staring at Zach as he made his speech."Keep your mouth shut about it" I hissed as I took the drink from him.Jake grinned. "I didn't say anything""But you were about to, and I'm sure it was going to make me mad"."I basically live to annoy you don't I"."No, you live to save me from all my problems". I sighed, then sipped the wine."You look amazing by the way, but the way you keep sighing is not going to get you a man tonight, or maybe you don't need a man since you've already set your eyes on that brooding male on stage," he said, his chin pointing towards Zach Dante."It's not going to work. He's here for his revenge". I wished he wasn't. Jake paused, turning to face me. "What do you mean revenge, for what exactly"."The whole thing that happened in college"."He's still not over that. I thought he said it was all a game for him. Look, you deserve better than him ok. You should just
Arielle sat in her room, talking to the cops through her Ipad as they updated her about the case of Jenny and what they had turned up so far. It was the first time they were telling her something positive In five years and she could help her face-splitting grin. "That's freaking epic, I gotta say I wasn't expecting such good news from you, I'm glad you didn't let all the money I paid you to go to waste. I hope in a few weeks we'll finally have her behind bars"."You don't have to worry Miss Arielle, we're going to make sure you're satisfied with the result of this case. Jenny might have changed her face and her last name, but she's in the country and we'll have her in no time"."I'm glad to hear that. As I said, I'm just happy to know all those millions I spent didn't go to waste. Well thank you for the update"."It's no problem, I'll be calling at the same time next week"."Of course," she said and ended the call, a smile of satisfaction on her lips. Jenny was going to get what she
Zach POV.Today was the inauguration, and as I walked around, waiting for my family to get ready, the house I had grown up in felt almost foreign to me. I'd always been couped up in my room half the time for fear of running into my dad or mom, so some of the rooms in the mansion felt like a maze to me.I took a turn down to father's office, it was a more familiar territory since I'd been called there a lot after I did something wrong. It was also the same place I had told him to let me be with Vega, that I loved her and that I was not going to leave her. Well, we all knew how that turned out. I got to his door, going to push it open but pausing when I heard his raised voice."Don't ever call me Ray, we've talked about this five years ago and my answer is still the same as it was before… don't be ridiculous, why will I do such a thing, I'm an honest businessman… Well if you know all that then you should stop pushing for this. I co-own that property with Franco Vandenberg, you're never