ADAM “Well, well. Look who’s become a CEO. Congratulations.” Carter joined Chase and me at Paradise Ave bar on the Upper East Side. It had officially been a week since I was introduced to Generations, our newest subsidiary, and another week since I set foot in that goddamn office. I needed to calm myself from lusting over Eloise, experiencing blue balls for a week, because I didn’t want anyone else. That was bad news. I smirked, swirling the rich amber liquid in my glass. “It’s a new era. And might I remind you that no one believed Rafe would entrust it to me, including you?” I gestured toward Carter. Chase chuckled, clinking his glass with mine. “You guys sound like you’re in a competition.” This guy… I still couldn’t get him and Eloise out of my thoughts. He was her first. First in everything, just like she said. Lucky little bastard. “That’s how it is in our family,” Carter told him, patting his back. “If you knew Adam, you would understand. Among all of us Sebastians, he’s t
ELOISE “Morning, Jenna. Surprised to see you this morning,” I chirped, flashing her a mischievous grin. Jenna had been pulling all-nighters at her current job, and it seemed like we hardly had a chance to catch up despite sharing the same roof. “Good morning to you, too. You look different today,” she remarked, then her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. What did you do to your hair?” I smirked. “I decided to get a haircut after work yesterday.” “Damn, you’re rocking the new look, but those long locks were your asset. Why on earth did you do that?” Jenna asked, getting up close and even daring to touch a few strands. Honestly, I was just annoyed without any major reason. Not major, I repeat. There was just this guy who kept haunting my thoughts, not letting me get a good night’s sleep, and I just couldn’t stand it. He hadn’t even had the decency to show up and left me hanging, waiting for me to decide, though I hadn’t figured it out. Not that I didn’t want to get back at Zoey and Cha
ELOISEI tried to push away the sad news Mr. Ross had dropped on me earlier in the morning. Keeping myself calm as usual, I noticed Trina conversing with someone from the IT department. She was packing her stuff into a large box while the IT person unplugged her computer cables. “What’s going on?” I furrowed my brow. “Did you quit?” Trina burst into laughter. “Seriously? I’m one of the top employees of this company! No, we’re relocating!” she exclaimed excitedly. “We? To where?” “We’re getting our own special office.” My eyes widened. “A new office just for our team?” “No, just you and me. We’ll be working closely with the boss,” she explained. “The boss? Wait, what do you mean?” I was already dealing with the shock of Malcolm’s news, and now another surprise awaited me. Working closely with Zoey or Chase was something I never wanted to do, not at all. Trina playfully rolled her eyes. “Come on. You can’t fool me with that innocent act. I know you’re smarter than that.” I blin
ELOISE “Why me and Trina? Why not Ms. Craig? She’s our boss," I asked him. “Ms. Craig will be needed in your department,” Adam said simply. “Remember what we spoke about in the car last week?” “The collaboration, yes. I understand.” “You and Ms. Jackson have the potential to work at the Sebastian Picture headquarters, and both of you will be in charge of giving me reports directly. We will choose only one of you. And since you are such a stubborn, defiant woman with a smart mouth, I had to tell you this when I shouldn’t. It’s too early and unfair to Ms. Jackson, don’t you think?” I avoided his eyes. I was just too triggered by his actions. Obviously, I was wrong about that. Mixing personal relationships with work wasn’t a good idea, and my judgment was clouded. But wow! A chance to work with Sebastian Pictures? That was huge. An opportunity that would only come in a million years. It was one of my biggest dream! I bit my lip. “I’m sorry.” “You need to learn your place, Ms. W
ELOISE Dang, it was already seven. I blew out a sharp breath and squeezed my temples with my fingers. The pending paperwork had consumed me, and I hadn’t noticed the time passing. Trina had already left because she needed to prepare dinner. I glanced at my phone and furrowed my brows, seeing 34 missed calls and 20 text messages from Trina. I had completely lost track of time. I tapped her number to call her back. “Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t notice the time.” “Where are you? I thought you were supposed to be here at six?” she questioned, her voice laced with impatience. My bad. “I know.” I sighed, feeling guilty. “I’m finished here. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” “I’ve been calling a million times, but you wouldn’t answer.” “I’m so sorry. My phone was on silent.” She grunted in panic. “I was going to tell you that there was a change of plans. Our parents came here with my brother, so we can’t have dinner here tonight. We’re going out instead. It was a surprise; I didn’t know th
ELOISE “Yes, and you must be Harvey,” I replied with a smile. He chuckled, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Trina was right about you, but her description was slightly different,” he remarked. “Right about what?” I asked, curious to know what his sister had shared about me. “But oh, where is Trina?” “She sent me here alone. She’s stuck with our parents.” What the heck? I immediately wanted to protest. She must have done this on purpose. “Why don’t we sit first and order our dinner?” he said again. “Of course.” He walked to my side and pulled out a chair to help me sit. To be fair, he was thoughtful. It’s like we were already friends who hadn’t seen each other for a long time. I sat across from him. I watched him as he put his iPad in his briefcase. I also noticed how casual he looked in his blue shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a black suit jacket. “What brings you to New York, if I may ask?” I asked. “Oh, I’m here because I have a business project. My work h
ELOISE I gasped. He swept me off my feet a bit, but I shouldn’t be fooled by sweet talk. I already learned from experience. I glared at him and forcefully pulled my arm away. “You want me? Well, aren’t you a player? I don’t believe you. I don’t like how you look at me, how you talk, or how you do things in such a strange and mysterious way. You’re supposed to like Zoey. We’re not friends either. Please, let me go now, Mr. Sebastian.” I pushed away from him with all my might, leaving him with a confused and startled expression. He stood there like a statue, and I was relieved that I could finally put some distance between us. I had already said plenty, and I couldn’t bear to be near him any longer. He was strange in ways I couldn’t explain; all I knew was that I had to stay away from him. I returned to dinner with Harvey, and our food was already served. He watched me closely, noticing my change in demeanor. “Is there something wrong?” he asked softly, concern clear in his gray e
ADAM Harvey fucking Jackson was all over her like they were some happy couple, and Eloise didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, even though it was torture to watch them flirt right before me. There was when she touched his arm while laughing, and I’d never seen her laugh like that with me. But before that, she dared to call me strange. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in.” Ms. Jackson entered and closed the door, and she came alone. Where’s Eloise? Perhaps it was the perfect time to ask Ms. Jackson what her brother was doing here and his agenda. “Sit down, Ms. Jackson,” I ordered. “Of course, sir.” She took a seat in front of me. “Where’s the report?” “Here.” She placed the binders carefully on my desk. “Eloise is still working on hers. She’ll give it to you today.” “I see, but before we proceed…” I looked up at her and stopped swinging my chair. “Let’s cut the bullshit and be real. It’s been a long time. And since when did you become Trina, T
ELOISEThat evening, while I was showering, Adam joined me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind while his lips placed soft kisses on my shoulder. I moved my hair to the side and looked back at him. Even after everything, it still felt surreal. Adam was my husband now.Just a few weeks ago, I met this man because of a simple mistake on a blind date, and he became someone who supported me. But there was still so much I had to learn about him, many things we needed to resolve and discuss.Under the shower, we stayed silent, savoring each other’s presence. Words became unnecessary with each kiss on my shoulder, neck, and back. I surrendered to the surge of emotions, my body burning with every touch of his fingers on my skin.Adam’s lips traveled down my back to the space between my buttocks. I moaned, arching my back as his tongue slid through. I gripped the wall; the only sounds were the splashing water, my rapid heartbeat, and my heavy breathing. His fingers traced my slit, and my
ELOISEWhen the doctor left, Adam and I watched Davina sit beside Malcolm’s bed, her hand never leaving his face.The doctor told us he didn’t know when my brother was going to wake up, but he should still be able to from his temporary coma.Davina was the first to speak. “How… how could Callum do this to me? After everything…”Dad was standing by the window with his hands folded across his chest when he finally broke his silence. “Callum did it because I let him. Because my ambition and greed blinded me.” There was a long pause before he turned to face us. “I did this. I did this to our family... to Malcolm. I was too focused on making sure the Cunningham name stayed strong. I was one-sided.”Davina’s eyes flicked, and her lips pressed tightly together. “You can’t blame yourself for this. I asked you to—”“I can blame myself,” Dad cut her off. “I’ve seen the signs. To think that I almost gave away my only daughter.” He waved his hand towards me.My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure
ADAM Eloise and I continued to move through the crowd, accepting congratulations and well wishes from the guests. I kept glancing around the room, scanning the crowd for any sign of Jonathan, but he had taken the initiative and was now talking to Callum. He had probably slipped away during the ceremony to begin his part of the operation. Now, all I could do was wait for him to make contact. Eloise chatted with her relatives near the buffet table when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I stepped away from the crowd, keeping my movements casual. I checked the message. It was from Jonathan: We spotted the ambulance, but one of my men outside hit a small complication. I glanced around again, making sure Callum wasn’t watching, and I remained calm. I moved toward a secluded reception corner, pressing the phone to my ear as I dialed Jonathan’s number. Jonathan gestured to Callum to wait a moment as he answered my call. “Jonathan, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice low but urgent. “I’m sor
ELOISE The band began to play another slow song, and Callum pulled me close, his hand resting on my lower back as we swayed to the music. His touch felt heavy and awkward, and it stung so painfully that it felt like he’d burn me alive. “You look beautiful tonight, Eloise,” Callum said, his voice low and smooth. “I’m sure Adam feels like the luckiest man in the world. It should've been me.” “I didn’t agree to this dance so that you could flatter me,” I replied, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. His eyes squinted. “Are you flattered?” I rolled my eyes. “Hello, no. Where’s Malcolm?” He studied me momentarily, his eyes searching mine as if looking for something. “You know, I’ve always admired your strength. It’s not easy being in your position. But you’ve handled it remarkably well.” “Answer the question, Callum,” I said firmly. He sighed. “He’s safe. He’s right outside the premises, in a private ambulance with a doctor tending to him.” “How are we going to get him b
ELOISEIn fairness, I was in awe of the garden reception decorated with pastel colors, our color motifs, floral arrangements, and a lengthy buffet for fancy guests under the twinkling fairy lights. The soft mainstream music from the live band filled the air with laughter and conversations.From the outside, despite all the reasons and family drama, it was the perfect evening, just as I had always imagined for my wedding. I couldn’t shake off the thoughts of the challenges that awaited us.I walked through the crowd, exchanging smiles and greetings, but I was especially eager to see the Sebastians. As I approached their table, their presence at the reception meant a lot to me, and I hadn’t had the chance to greet them properly yet. I spotted them gathered under a large oak tree, the soft light making their happy faces glow. Rachel and Benjamin were sitting together, looking engaged in a conversation. Sitting next to them were Rafael and Julian, Adam’s older brothers, each holding one
ELOISEThe day had finally arrived, and I couldn’t believe it was real—my wedding day. I had always imagined what this day would feel like, but reality had a way of twisting those dreams into something more and less than I had imagined.I couldn’t fully explain what I was feeling. Nerves buzzed under my skin, mixed with a tingling excitement that I could feel on my fingertips and even a bit of fear. This was it. I was really going to get married—to the best, most understanding man I had ever known, not to mention the sexiest man alive.A smile tugged at my lips as I thought of Adam—his touch, his voice, the way he had been my rock through everything. But my heart kept pounding in my chest. It wasn’t just the typical wedding day jitters. My mind was also drifting to the idea that Malcolm was alive and that this was the day Callum and I had agreed I would get my brother back, as well as the secrets Adam and I were keeping from Logan and Davina.The soft hum of conversation drifted throu
ELOISEI returned to my father’s mansion feeling drained and exhausted, as if the spa’s effects had worn off. Everything happened in a flash, and it felt like my brain wanted to stop functioning. Back at the hospital, all that mattered was Malcolm. I kissed his forehead and said my temporary goodbyes with a heavy heart.By the time I entered the grand hall, Nina came running to me for an embrace. She was crying her lungs out, and all I could do was tap her back.“Where have you been? It’s almost midnight. I waited for you until they closed, but you weren’t there. We were so worried about you. What happened?” She stepped back to look into my face.“I was…”Adam suddenly came to me and wrapped me in his arms, tight, as if he had been longing for me. He was breathing hard. He hugged me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. He didn’t say anything for a moment. He was just there, holding me, feeling me with every touch and fingertip.“Adam…” I whispered. Then Mr. Ross approached us.“Miss, I had
ELOISE My brother lay there unconscious, with oxygen attached to his mouth and other things connected to his body. Tons of questions swirled in my head: How did he get here? What did Callum do to him? How did Callum fake his death? Didn't they bury him? Didn't Dad see his body? We even went to his grave. But those questions didn’t matter now. Malcolm was here, alive, even though he was in a coma. I ran to him and held his warm hand, staring at his skinny face. He looked tired but still handsome. He had been here all this time, kept alive only by these machines. We had mourned him. “What did you do? I knew it. I knew you did this.” I glared at Callum. He rolled his eyes and slipped his hand into his pocket, looking relaxed as if Malcolm wasn't his nephew. “Alright, I did this, did that. I just had to do what I had to because, in the end, I knew your father would ditch me.” He walked closer and casually sat on the bed next to my brother. “Now, are you going to negotiate?” A sur
ADAM I played pool and had brandy with Logan until evening, and he asked about my relationship with Eloise, just the basics. I was waiting for him to show any sign of the man Eloise used to tell me about, but he remained private and diverted the conversation to something else whenever I tried. I don't despise the man for what he did for his daughter, but I haven’t grown any liking for him; I was only trying to be civilized. He also wanted this business expansion to Las Vegas, implying that he only accepted our engagement because he expected me to invest. I didn’t find any anomaly in their plans for their expansion. Blackwood was actually managing that quite well, not that I praised him (because he was a low-life asshole and a criminal who leeched off the family), but there were still illegal transactions happening inside among their elite members. If I was to invest in such a business, I needed to make sure that fucker wouldn’t touch anything I’d work hard for. “I wanted to hear w