SHAWNADamien’s hand rested lightly on my shoulder as he led me outside. His touch was supposed to be comforting, but all it did was remind me of the chaos my life had become.“Shawna, calm down,” he started, his voice soft but firm.I yanked my arm away, my frustration boiling over. “Calm down? Damien, don’t tell me to calm down when everything’s falling apart!”He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his face etched with concern. “That’s why we’re talking. I need you to see the reason. Your aunt…”“Don’t you dare bring her up!” I snapped, spinning around to face him. My chest was heaving, and I could feel the heat of anger rising in my cheeks. “If Eugene and her mother hadn’t barged into my life, none of this would’ve happened! None of it! I wouldn’t be in this mess, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be dragged into Stacey’s madness!”Damien raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I know you’re upset, but—”“But what, Damien?” I interrupted, my voice cracking. “What is there to reas
STACEYThe moment I stepped into my penthouse, my phone buzzed incessantly, but I ignored it. My focus was on the mess at hand. Eugene had slipped through our fingers, and I was fuming. I slammed my bag onto the glass table, and the sound echoed in the silent room.A man, sitting calmly on my couch, raised an eyebrow at my outburst. "I take it things didn’t go as planned?""They lost her!" I snapped, pacing back and forth. "How incompetent can they be? They let Eugene escape, and now she’s out there, God knows where probably plotting something!"The man didn’t react much, just leaned back, crossing his legs. "And you’re sure it was a clean break? No one saw her?"I glared at him. "That’s not the point! The point is they let her go! I told them to keep an eye on her, and they couldn’t even manage that!""Relax," he said, in a tone that made my blood boil even more. "You’ve still got Damien, don’t you? Isn’t he the whole reason you’re doing this?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm do
KYLEI leaned against the door, watching the scene between Damien, Stacey, and my father unfold with mild disinterest. These dramatic exchanges had become routine, and I was tired of being caught in the middle of their endless tug-of-war. Stacey was barking out retorts like her life depended on it, while Damien’s father looked ready to burst a blood vessel. It was all predictable until I noticed Damien’s left hand.Twitching.He tucked it behind Stacey as casually as possible, but I’d seen it. Damien’s finger only twitched when he was lying. Always had.What could he be lying about?I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes as I tried to decipher his face. But before I could piece anything together, Damien called a truce and walked off with Stacey into the garden.That evening, I decided to join them.“Mind if I join?” I asked, plopping down on the chair before Stacey could get a word out.Her eyes narrowed into slits, and her lips pressed into a thin line. If looks could kill, I’d be six f
SHAWNAI sat on the couch, my fingers drumming nervously on my lap as Mom sat across from me, her gaze sharp enough to slice through my thoughts. I could feel her impatience radiating across the room.“Well?” she asked, tilting her head slightly and narrowing her eyes. “What did Damien say?”I sighed heavily, leaning back into the cushions. “He hasn’t told me anything yet,” I admitted, my frustration bubbling just under the surface. “He’s…hesitating.”Mom’s frown deepened, and she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “Hesitating? About what?” she snapped, her voice climbing a notch. “Shawna, this isn’t some casual decision. This is your life we’re talking about! Your safety. The kids’ safety!”“I know!” I shot back, running my hands through my hair. “Do you think I’m not aware of that? He just… he’s not ready to commit to a plan yet. I don’t know what’s holding him back!”Before she could say anything else, Grandpa Bryan cleared his throat from his spot near the window. His calm
SHAWNAKyle was sneaking around, and I wasn’t about to let him ruin everything we had worked so hard to set up.“Are you sure about this?” Liam whispered. His breath fogged in the cold air as he looked at me concernedly.I nodded, my jaw tight. “We can’t let him figure out what’s going on. If he does…”Before I could finish, Kyle took a cautious step away from the car, glancing around like he expected someone to pounce.“Now,” I hissed, grabbing Liam’s arm.We darted out from the shadows, Liam grabbing Kyle by the arm before he could take another step.“What the—!” Kyle yelped, stumbling as Liam’s grip tightened. His face twisted in surprise, his eyes darting from Liam to me. “Shawna? What the hell are you doing here?”I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I should be asking you the same thing. Why are you sneaking around?”Kyle’s shock quickly morphed into a sly grin. “Sneaking around? Oh, come on. You’re the ones lurking in the dark, pouncing on people like some secret agents. What ar
EUGENEThe moment Kyle’s car taillights disappeared into the night, I turned to Shawna, frustration bubbling in my chest. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.“Why didn’t you just give him the contract?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. “It could’ve avoided all this mess!”Her head whipped around so fast that I almost took a step back. Her eyes were blazing, and her posture was tense. “Excuse me?” she said, her tone icy. “Risk my company to protect you and your mom? Are you serious right now?”I swallowed hard, but I wasn’t going to back down. “It’s just one contract, Shawna,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “One deal, and he’d have nothing to hold over us anymore.”She let out a bitter laugh, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you even hear yourself, Eugene? One deal? That’s not just a ‘deal’—it’s my business, my reputation! I don’t owe you or your mom anything!”Her words hit like a slap, and I flinched despite myself. I opened my mouth to argue, but she wasn’t done
SHAWNA The moment I stepped through my front door, I slammed it shut, leaning against it to catch my breath. My head spun from the confrontation with Eugene, but I couldn’t dwell on it. There was no way I was risking everything I’d worked for to clean up her mess. Not long after, there was a knock at the door. I groaned, hoping it wasn’t Damien returning to pester me about the contract. Liam and Damien stood there when I opened it, looking serious. “What now?” I muttered, stepping aside to let them in. Liam gave me a small smile. “We need to talk.” I crossed my arms. “If this is about Eugene, save it. I’ve made my decision.” “You’re being stubborn,” Damien said, his tone clipped. “I’m being practical,” I shot back. “Eugene and her mother have done nothing but take advantage of me. Why should I do anything that benefits them?” “Because it’s the right thing to do,” Liam said gently. “You’ve always cared about people, Shawna. Don’t let this change who you are.” I shook m
SHAWNA I froze, my eyes glued to Stacey as her smug smile widened. My brain struggled to catch up. What was she doing here? How was this even possible? “What… what are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaky. Stacey leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs with infuriating ease. “Didn’t the receptionist tell you? I’m the new owner of this company. Surprised?” Her tone was mocking, her eyes glinting with amusement. “You bought this company?” My words felt hollow, disbelief and anger swirling in my chest. “Why?” Stacey tilted her head, pretending to think. “Why not? It seemed like a good investment,” she said, her smile turning sharper. “But I’m more curious about what you’re doing here, Shawna. Running around all day, closing deals. What’s the rush?” I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My brain was stuck, trying to figure out how much she knew and why she cared. I stammered, “I-I—well, it’s just—” Before I could embarrass myself further
RAMONI was dead tired by the time we finished the meeting at the company. My shirt clung to my back, and my head was pounding from all the numbers and back-to-back discussions. All I wanted was to check my phone and unwind, maybe see if Phoebe had texted.I reached into my pocket. Empty.My heart skipped.I checked the table, the chair, and even under the folder I’d used. Nothing.“Where the hell is my phone?” I muttered.My uncle, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “Lose something?”“My phone. I had it before we came here.”He shrugged. “Maybe you dropped it at the house.”I didn’t like how quick he was to answer.Still, I forced a calm nod and stood up. “I’ll go check.”The ride back to his place felt like it took forever. My mind was racing. Phoebe. Had she called? Texted? What if something was wrong? My gut wouldn’t calm down.When I got to the house, I tore through every room I had been in earlier. The living room. The guest room. Even the damn kitchen. Nothing.My uncle
PHOEBEThe hotel was breathtaking, with marble floors, chandeliers sparkling like stars, a scent of roses, and money hanging in the air. My heels clicked softly as I followed the receptionist, who wore a perfectly polite smile. My coat was still wrapped tightly around me, hiding the dress Winnie helped me pick out. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves.“He’ll be with you shortly,” the receptionist said sweetly, opening a suite door for me. “Please, get comfortable. There are refreshments inside. Make yourself at home.”I gave a shy nod. “Thank you.”The door shut behind me.The suite was luxurious, with soft couches, a large table with drinks and fruit, and dim romantic lighting. I let out a small breath. “Wow…”I walked slowly to the table, brushing my fingers along the glass rim of a wine glass. Red wine. A chill ran up my spine, and I shook it off. Maybe he asked them to pour it before he arrived. Maybe this was his way of setting the mood.I pulled out my phone.
PHOEBEI slammed the front door a little harder than I meant to when I got home.Winnie looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. "Whoa. Somebody’s in a mood. What's wrong, sunshine?"I dropped my bag by the door and flopped onto the armchair with a loud sigh. "It’s Ramon," I said, pouting like a child.Winnie immediately perked up. "Ramon? Spill. What happened?!"I buried my face in my hands for a second before looking up at her. "We kissed. Like... really kissed. It was amazing. He kissed me like he needed me to breathe or something."Winnie squealed, hugging a throw pillow. "Oh my God! Finally!""Yeah, it was incredible," I mumbled, my cheeks heating up. "But right after that, he got a call. Emergency at home. He had to leave. Just like that."Winnie’s face softened. "Oh, babe...""I know he had no choice," I said quickly, fiddling with a loose thread on the armrest. "But... it sucks. I’m losing my mind over him, Winnie. I’m slowly going crazy. I want him so bad it hurts."Winn
PHOEBERamon’s eyes burned into me like I was the only thing he could see. I felt my cheeks heat up under his stare, and I shifted awkwardly on my feet.“Phoebe,” he said, his voice low and rough, “I want all of you…every part of you. I’m not afraid of being with you. I’m just... trying to restrain myself.”My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. Then I swallowed hard and said, "I want all of you, too, Ramon. I’m not scared."Something snapped between us.Ramon closed the space in a single, hungry heartbeat, grabbing me again and crashing his mouth onto mine. This kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was rough, fierce, almost desperate, like he had been starving, and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.His lips crushed against mine, demanding and urgent. I could feel the heat pouring off his body as he kissed me like he needed me more than air. His hand slid up, fingers threading into the hair at the nape of my neck, then wrapping
RAMONI tossed and turned all night. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t sleep. My mind kept racing, full of everything Uncle Richard had said... and Phoebe. Always Phoebe.I was falling for her. Hard. It scared the hell out of me, but it also felt so right. I didn’t just like her, I needed her. Every smile, every look, every word she said stuck in my head like glue.When morning came, I dragged myself out of bed, showered, and dressed like a man on a mission. I didn’t even think twice. I was going to see her. I had to.No more running. No more hiding.When I got to the worksite, she was there already, sorting through some papers, looking so focused and beautiful that it made my heart twist. She looked up and blinked like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing."Ramon?" she said, her voice small but full of surprise. "I thought... I thought you weren’t going to be available anymore."I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling awkward and stupid all at once. "Yeah, about that. I’m
WINNIEWinnie stared at me like I had just grown two heads. "What do you mean you don't know if Ramon likes you enough to be intimate?" she asked, her eyes wide.I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling small and stupid. "I don’t know, Win. Maybe... maybe he’s just not that into me. Maybe he sees me like a kid or something."Winnie shook her head fast. "No way. Anyone with eyes can see Ramon is crazy about you, Phoebe. Seriously. He looks at you like you hung the moon!"I smiled a little, but it didn’t reach my heart. "Then why is he so hesitant? Why does he always back away when things get... close?"Winnie opened her mouth to say something, then paused. Her face changed slowly, like she was putting puzzle pieces together."Wait a second..." she said carefully. "Have you guys ever... you know... done it?"I looked down at my lap, my face burning. "No," I whispered.Winnie’s mouth fell open. "Wait. You mean... never?"I nodded, feeling like I was about to sink into the floor."And he kn
RAMONI stood in the garden, massaging my temples and trying to figure out what just happened. I hated seeing Phoebe hurt. I hated that I was the reason for that look in her eyes, the one that made my chest ache. I wanted to run after her, fix it, explain everything better.I had just taken a step toward the house when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Billy and Jasper coming out. Great. Just what I needed right now.They stood there awkwardly for a second before Billy cleared his throat."Hey, man," he said, not meeting my eyes. "We, uh... we just wanted to say sorry."I blinked, surprised. "Sorry?"Jasper shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. For looking down on you. We didn't know... well, we didn't know you were who you are."I sighed, not really wanting to have this conversation. "It's fine," I muttered, even though it really wasn't."But," Billy added quickly, "we still think you're hiding something. And honestly... we don’t think you're worthy of our sister."Tha
PHOEBEThe second everyone was distracted inside, I grabbed Ramon’s hand and tugged him gently toward the garden. I was buzzing with excitement, my heart beating way too fast. I needed a moment alone with him, away from all the heavy stares and questions."Come on," I said, smiling at him. "Let’s get some air."He smiled back, letting me pull him along. The night air was cool and smelled faintly of roses. The garden lights made everything look soft and dreamy.Once we were far enough from the house, I stopped and turned to him, crossing my arms playfully. "So..." I began, raising an eyebrow. "You’re secretly rich, huh?"Ramon chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess so.""You guess so?" I laughed, nudging him with my shoulder. "Why didn’t you tell me?"He shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "I was going to tell you... eventually. I just wanted you to like me for me, you know? Not for anything else."I looked at him, my heart softening even more. His voice sounded so honest, s
PHOEBEI felt like I’d been holding my breath the whole night, but when Uncle Richard finally gave his answer, it was like the air rushed back into my lungs.“Well,” he said with a small chuckle, wiping his mouth with his napkin, “the truth is, we’re a wealthy family. Very wealthy. Ramon chose to keep that hidden because he didn’t want gold-diggers. He wanted someone who’d love him for who he is, not what he has.”There was a beat of silence.Then Billy blinked. “Wait… you’re saying Ramon’s been pretending to be broke?”“Not broke,” Uncle Richard clarified with a grin. “Just… simple. Down-to-earth.”Everyone at the table was stunned. I couldn’t help it, I let out the tiniest giggle. Then a bigger one. And before long, laughter started to ripple around the table. Even Jasper cracked a smile. It was like the whole room finally exhaled.I glanced at Mom and made a small, sneaky wink. She caught it instantly. Her lips curved just slightly, and then she gave a quick nod.“Phoebe,” she said