Once we arrive back at our penthouse suite, the atmosphere feels lighter despite the earlier chaos. The night’s excitement hangs in the air as we flop down onto the plush couches, laughter still bubbling between us. It had been quite the afternoon but we were anything but tired!“Okay, that was wild,” Aria says, throwing her head back in a dramatic fashion. “Who knew a restaurant outing would turn into a scene straight out of a movie?”Maira laughs, shaking her head. “Honestly, that slap should’ve been captured on my phone. I regret not filming it.”“Next time, don’t just film the food!” I chime in, a playful grin on my face. “Capture the drama too!"Aria’s expression shifts a bit as she rummages through her bag. “Well, we have some time to relax before getting ready for that party. It’ll be nice to unwind a bit, but I have to admit, I’m still buzzing from the evening.”“I’m with you on that,” I reply, stretching my legs out on the couch, and allowing myself to settle in.Just as I si
The night is electric as we stand in front of the club, lights flashing and music thumping from within. Aria's excitement is infectious, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I can't believe we’re finally here!” she exclaims, practically bouncing on her heels.“Buckle up, ladies! This is going to be a night to remember,” I say, matching her excitement.Maira adjusts her dress, a smile creeping across her face. “I’ve needed this more than anything. Just let loose, you know?”As we enter the club, the atmosphere engulfs us. The bass pulses through the air, and the vibrant crowd sways like waves on the shore. People recognize Aria immediately, their expressions shifting from surprise to delight. A couple approaches her.“Oh my god, Aria! Can we get a picture?” a girl squeals, her eyes wide with admiration.“Of course! Let’s do it,” Aria beams, leading them to the side while I catch Maira’s eye.“Look at that! She’s a total superstar now,” Maira says, her voice laced with a mixture of pr
Aria’s POVI wake up to the sharp sunlight streaming through the curtains, tugging me from the depths of a dream I can’t remember. My head throbs like a bass drum, pounding in sync with the music from last night—a melody of laughter and shouted secrets that now feels like a distant echo. I squint at the clock on the bedside table; it reads 2:15 PM.“Ugh, no way am I awake this late,” I groan, covering my eyes with my arm.“Welcome to the land of the living!” Maira’s voice comes from the bathroom, her tone drenched in sarcasm. “I thought we lost you to the tequila gods!”“Very funny,” I mutter, rolling over to find Emily sitting cross-legged on the other bed, her expression equally pained.“How are you feeling?” she asks, and I can hear the hint of concern in her voice.“As good as I can feel after last night’s fiesta,” I reply, wincing as I try to sit up. “What time did we even go to bed?”“Honestly, I think it was around four-ish,” Maira calls, emerging from the bathroom with a towe
Aria’s POVI can hardly believe my eyes when I spot Maira and Emily racing toward me across the beach. Their faces are pale, and there's urgency in their footsteps. Something's wrong."Aria!" Maira shouts, waving her arms as she gets closer.“Aria, we need to leave! Now!” Emily adds breathlessly.“Leave? What are you talking about?” I ask, completely thrown off. Sebastian looks confused beside me.But Maira doesn’t waste time. “We got a threat about you. Check your phone. We have to hurry!”“What do you mean? Who’s threatening me?” I feel my heart racing.“Just trust us! We only have thirty minutes before our flight!” Maira insists, her eyes wild with fear.I pull my phone from my pocket and quickly read the text Maira shows me. My stomach drops. That’s my dad’s number. “This can’t be real,” I murmur, terrified.“Aria, we need to go!” Emily urges, glancing nervously at Sebastian.“What about Sebastian?” I spin around, desperate for some tether to reality.“Sebastian, you can’t come,”
Aria’s POVAs soon as I get home I step out of the car with Emily and Maira behind me. I take a deep breath and push open the front door of my home or should I say “house” this place didn't feel like home. In fact, it never was. The familiar smell of polished wood and stale air greets me. Now though, the atmosphere feels heavy. I take a deep breath, readying myself for the confrontation ahead.“Aria!” my mother calls from the living room, her sharp and annoying voice cuts through and I feel like running out the door already. “You’re back early!”“Mother, I need to talk to Father,” I say, cutting her off.“What’s wrong?” She smiles even wider as if sensing my tension.“You knew didn't you?”“How else would you learn? Tch.”I scoff but she is not my problem right now. I move towards Caleb’s study and when I reach the doorway, my father sits at his desk, focused on some papers. He looks up, a smirk crossing his face.“Aria, what’s—”“Stop acting like everything is fine!” I cut him off,
Aria’s POV“You went as far as threatening me and all for what? Susan? To balm this bruised relationship we have? How could you even think for a second that that was helping?” I scoff at his audacity and say nothing more. I walk out of the study and I'm not too surprised to see a smirking Susan at the door.“My, my. If it isn't the bitch and friends.” She says and it takes all I have in me not to push her out of the way but even heaven knows that will turn into a story.She gives me a once over and opens her mouth to probably say the stupidest things.“Well, well, look who it is,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Princess Aria, back from her little tantrum.”I roll my eyes, trying to brush past her. “Move aside, Susan.”“Oh, what? Afraid Daddy won’t love you anymore? You’re acting so stupid,” she whispers in my ear, a cruel smile on her face. It sends a wave of irritation through me.I pull away, glaring at her. “You have no idea what I’m going through.”Out loud, she raise
Aria’s POVAfter a whirlwind of drama and tension at home, I had to move to Maira’s place, and soon enough, I found myself knee-deep in work now that I’m back from vacation with Maira. We’ve shared a much-needed break, but reality snaps back quickly. Maira rifled through her planner at her desk, sipping coffee to kick-start her day.“Alright, Aria,” she calls, glancing up enthusiastically. “We have three photo shoots lined up this week. Are you ready for this?”I lean against the doorway, a slight smile on my face, though a hint of tiredness lingers in my eyes. I was exhausted. “I guess so. It feels good to get back into it after everything that happened.”Maira stands up, the planner still in her hand. “Good! We’ll ease back into it. Remember, this is about letting your creativity flow, not just getting through the agenda.”“Normalcy? Ha! I call this anything but normal,” I chuckle lightly, shaking my head as I walk into the room. “This feels completely chaotic.”“Normal for us, the
Aria’s POVAfter weeks of looking, I finally found it—a gorgeous penthouse apartment with big windows and a view of the city. As soon as I walked in, I knew it was perfect. Sunlight filled the open living area, and my heart raced with excitement as I imagined how I would decorate it.“Aria, this place is amazing!” Maira exclaimed as she walked in behind me. She spun around, taking in the high ceilings and bright space. “You really scored!”“I can’t believe it’s mine,” I said, still in awe. “It doesn’t feel real.”We immediately started planning for a girls’ night, eager to make the space feel like home. I wanted fun snacks, drinks, and games to break the ice.“First up, we need to go shopping!” I announced with a big smile.Maira beamed. “Let’s do it! What do you need?”“Snacks, drinks, decorations, all of it!” I said, pulling out my phone to write a list. “And definitely some fun games.”With our list ready, we raced to the store. The aisles were filled with colorful party supplies,
Sebastien’s POVI rush into Aria’s room with Chloe, Maira, and Emily following closely behind me. The moment we enter, I see her sitting up in the hospital bed, her eyes wide and frantic. The sight sends a jolt of fear through me.“Aria!” I call out, moving quickly to her side. As soon as she sees me, her expression softens, and she visibly calms Down. What was she so frantic about?“Sebastien…” she breathes, her voice shaky. “Are you okay?”I kneel beside her bed, looking into her eyes. “I’m completely fine. Just worried about you.”Relief crosses her face, but then it crumples as tears start to spill from her eyes. “I thought… I thought Caleb was going to kill you next!” she sobs, her hands gripping the sheets.Anger rises in my chest as I hear her words. I reach out, carefully wrapping my arms around her. “Shh, it’s okay, Aria. You’re safe now. I’m here. You’ll be okay.”Her crying intensifies as she nestles into me, and I hold her tightly, wanting to comfort her as best as I can.
Vera’s POVI drive with purpose, focusing on the road ahead. The sun sets in the distance, casting long shadows across the highway. In the back seat, Susan, Michael, and Elizabeth sit, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. I can feel their eyes on me, wondering what’s going to happen next. Just what had those three idiots done to piss off the boss?“Where are we going?” Michael finally asks, breaking the tension in the car.“It’s just a little place outside the city,” I reply, keeping my tone light. “Sebastien wanted me to take you somewhere safe.”Elizabeth glances at me. “Safe from who? And this car is so small and dimly lit. Also, could you turn down your music? It's very annoying.” Tch. Whiny bitch.I chuckle softly. “You’ll find out soon enough.”As we drive further out of the city, I spot an abandoned area up ahead. “Perfect,” I think to myself. I turn onto a side road, and soon, I stop the car in a deserted lot surrounded by overgrown grass and dilapidated buildings.“
Sebastien's POVI sit in my car, gripping the steering wheel tight, the engine humming as I watch Caleb's house from across the street. I had him tracked down when I left the hospital. I know he's back home, and now it's time to confront him. The police might not want to act, but I won't wait for them. The bastard had to pay for what he did.After a few minutes, I take a deep breath and step out of the car. I walk up the driveway, my heart pounding with each step. The door stands slightly ajar, and I push it open. The house is dimly lit, and I can smell something foul in the air."Caleb!" I call out, my voice echoing through the empty rooms.I hear movement in the back, and I quickly make my way toward the sound. As I round a corner, I see him -Caleb leaning against the wall, a lazy grin spreading across his face."Well, look who finally decided to drop by!" he says mockingly."Cut the crap, Caleb. I know you ordered the hit on Aria," I say, my voice deadly calm.His expression shifts
Aria’s POVAfter lunch with the girls, I quickly board a cab back home.“Well, more like Sebastien's place,” I murmur to myself.Soon enough, I get there and I get out of the car.As I walk towards the door, I remind myself to stay aware of my surroundings. The mansion’s surroundings are so quiet. Sebastien said something about having ghost staff. In other words, they were barely seen. There wasn't a soul in sight.But just as I reach the door, I notice something strange. A red light shone across my stomach. I freeze, my heart racing. What is that?I open my mouth to call out, “Sebastien?” But before I can say anything, there’s a loud crack. A sharp pain jolts close to my heart, and everything goes black.---Sebastien’s POVThe alarms blare, cutting through the calm of the afternoon. I jump up from my desk, my heart racing. “What the hell?” I mutter as I sprint toward the door.I fling it open and rush outside. “Aria!” I shout, panic gripping my chest. She was lying down crumpled on
Aria’s POVAfter our conversation, I grab my phone and dial Sebastien's number. My hands tremble a bit as I wait for him to pick up."Hey, it's me," I say when he answers."Aria! Where are you? Are you okay?" he asks, his voice tight with concern."I'm fine, but I need to let you know I won't be available for the rest of the day. I have some things to handle.""Things? What kind of things?" His tone sharpens, and I can hear the protective edge in it."I'm with Emily and Maira. We're just... sorting stuff out," I reply, trying to keep it casual."Sorting stuff out?" he presses. "What kind of sorting?""Mmmm, I can't talk about it right now," I say, feeling a rush of guilt."Where exactly are you?" he asks, his voice lowering as if he knows I'm not being entirely honest."Just at my friends' place," I say, hesitantly.Before I can respond, Emily reaches over and snatches the phone from me. "Sebastien!" she says into the receiver, her tone firm. "Listen, buzz off for now. Aria needs a br
Aria’s POVI slowly wake up, my head pounding and my mouth dry. The sunlight filters through the curtains, and I squint, trying to remember where I am. As my surroundings come into focus, I notice I'm in my room.Thank goodness I made it to bed last night. I sit up and suddenly recall everything I said while I was drunk. My heart races in panic. Did I mention Caleb? I felt so vulnerable, and now the memory stings.I throw off the blanket and rush to the living room. I need to talk to Emily and Maira. As I enter the room, my heart sinks. They are still asleep, curled up together on the couch. Emily's head rests on Maira's shoulder, and they look peaceful.Guilt washes over me. They shouldn't have had to drink with me. I feel like such a burden. Maybe I should sneak out before I wake them.I step quietly toward the door, but then Maira's voice breaks the silence. "Where are you going?"I freeze in my tracks. "Uh, just... out for some air?" I say awkwardly, trying to sound casual."Stop
Emily's POVThe atmosphere in the apartment is lively as we gather around the coffee table to play "Exploding Kittens." The brownies and cookies are laid out, and Maira fills some glasses with wine."Alright, let's get this party started!" Maira says, pouring generous amounts for all of us."I'm ready to crush you both!" I declare, feeling the excitement in the air. Maira glares at me but Aria laughs, picking up her hand of cards. "You think you can beat me? I've been practicing! Ever since the last game! No friggin 'way I'm losing."Maira shakes her head. "Practice doesn't make perfect in this game; luck does!"“Tch. Amateur. That's what you'll say but you'll see baby girl. I'm set out to win!”The game begins. We all giggle and shout as we take turns. I can't help but tease Maira each time she draws an exploding kitten card."Ha! You're out!" I tease, laughing."Shush! This is just beginner's luck," Maira retorts, rolling her eyes dramatically.Aria leans back, sipping her wine. "
Emily's POVI sit at my desk, surrounded by piles of files that seem to multiply every hour. Maira buzzes around me, checking in every few minutes. She keeps the coffee coming, which helps me stay focused on my work.“I really shouldn't have gotten so worked up about Aria and abandoned my job! I could have friggin done both!”“You couldn't and Emily, have you made any progress on those reports?” Maira asks, peering over my shoulder.“Getting there! I’m just figuring out how to present this data.” I scroll through the screen, feeling the pressure of the deadline looming.Suddenly, there’s a loud knock on the door. I look up, surprised.“Who could that be?” I say, glancing at Maira.“Let me see!” Maira rushes to the door, her excitement bubbling over. I hear her gasp.“Emily! Come quick! You won’t believe who’s here!”My heart skips a beat. Who could it be? I rush down the hall and stop short when I see her.“Aria!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around her.“Emily!” she cries, hugging me
Caleb’s POVI'm sitting here in this stupid prison, and the anger is boiling inside me. Aria divorced me—and just tossed me aside like I’m nothing. I can’t believe I thought she loved me. I always knew she was trouble. The moment she started associating with that crazy fixer, it was clear she was a trashy woman. I feel like such a fool. How dare she leave me?!I pace in my cell, fists clenched, imagining what I would say if I ever got out. “How could she do this to me?” I mumble to myself. It infuriates me! I thought we had something special. We had plans for the future—until she decided I was worthless.I pound my fist against the wall, feeling the sting but not caring. “I’ll make her pay,” I vow, my voice low and full of anger. “She thinks she’s so smart, but she doesn’t know who she is messing with. I’ll make sure she pays for this.”Suddenly, an officer walks by, eyeing me warily. “Quiet down, Caleb. You’re not allowed to cause trouble in here.”“I’m not causing trouble!” I snap.