The moonlight bathed everything in a soft silver hue. I had just slipped on one of the silky robes provided by the resort when I decided to go check out the rest of the property—curious about the place Jesse had brought me to. He was still lounging on the bed, half-covered by the sheets, looking too tempting for his own good.“I’ll be right back,” I told him.“Hurry, or I’ll come dragging you back myself,” he teased with a lazy smirk.I grinned and stepped out.Moments later, while Jesse leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head, a soft knock came at the door.“Come in,” he said absentmindedly.The door creaked open, and a young, strikingly beautiful staff member stepped inside, her hips swaying with a tray of freshly folded towels. Her name tag read Elsa.“Sir,” she said, her voice low and sultry. “I’ve brought extra towels for your evening comfort.”“Just leave them by the door,” Jesse replied without looking at her.But Elsa didn’t move toward the door. Instead, she set the
The Next MorningSunlight never quite touched this place, but the ambient glow of the starlit sky filtered in gently through the expansive windows. It was a strange kind of beauty—otherworldly, like we’d fallen into a dream that didn’t want to end.I stretched under the silky sheets, feeling the warmth of Jesse beside me before I even opened my eyes.“Good morning, Mrs. Roberts,” his voice was a smooth rumble against my neck, lips brushing my skin.“Mmm,” I mumbled, still drowsy. “Stop calling me that. I’m not officially your wife.”“You will be,” he whispered confidently. “Soon.”I turned to face him, eyes still half-closed, “You’re too smug in the mornings.”“And you’re too cute when you’re sleepy,” he teased, leaning down to kiss my nose.Then he got out of bed.“Get dressed,” he said, throwing a robe gently at me. “Something simple. You don’t need to look too fancy… you’re about to get wet.”My brows rose instantly. “Jesse.”He grinned, wicked and playful. “Relax, it’s not what yo
Our lips met—fierce, deep, and trembling with everything we couldn’t say in words. Jesse pulled me closer, like he wanted to merge our souls together. His hands cradled my face as he kissed me again and again, like he needed to be sure I was really his now. I wasn’t even sure when I ended up in his lap, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck, but I didn’t care.The world outside faded. There was only us.He rested his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling, eyes locked.“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say yes,” he whispered, brushing a kiss across my cheek, then my jaw. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything this much in my life.”I smiled, my voice still shaky. “You already have me, Jesse. You have me now, baby.”He kissed me softly again, this time slower, deeper—full of promises and quiet devotion. Then he stood up with me still in his arms and spun me around, laughing as I clung to him.“Careful!” I gasped through a giggle.“I can’t help it,” he grinned.
I got tired of the game at some point and flopped onto the couch with a sigh, the bright lights of the screen flashing lazily against my face.“Ugh, Daniel, I gotta go,” I mumbled.He chuckled over the phone. “Alright, Bella. But admit it—we make a good team.”I smiled faintly. “Yeah, we do. Thanks for playing with me.”He hung up, clearly pleased with how far we’d climbed in the rankings. But as the silence of the penthouse closed in, I realized how hollow it felt without Jesse.Minutes passed. Maybe an hour. I stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the city blur beneath a veil of twilight. Then—Click.The door opened, and Jesse stepped in, his silhouette cutting against the fading sun.“Baby,” he said, his voice low and warm, “Did I take too long?”I didn’t answer. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face into the crook of his neck. I had missed him more than I realized in those few hours.“Yes, you did,” I whispered. “What’s happening, Jesse? Wh
The moment I saw the news explode across every gossip site, I knew the bomb had landed perfectly. Joan’s name was trending for all the wrong reasons—affairs, scandalous photos, and sordid voice notes with a certain married socialite. It was delicious.But something was missing.I wanted her to know. I wanted her to hear it from me. Let her know I’m responsible for her downfall.So I grabbed my phone, took a deep breath, and dialed her number. She picked up almost instantly.Joan: (panicked) “Hello?! Who is this?!”Me: (sweetly) “Why so anxious, Joan? Afraid someone might’ve dug up all the skeletons in your closet?”There was a pause. Then, her voice turned sharp.Joan: “Bella? You’re the one that released those articles about me!”I let out a low chuckle. “Oh, Joan. You should really work on your password security. ‘QueenJoan123’? Really?”Joan: “You hacked me?! You—”Me: “Careful how you speak to me. I haven’t even released everything yet.”Her breath hitched. “You lying little—”Me:
Reluctantly, they nodded.Ten minutes passed. Then twenty.Nothing.Dallas returned, and the look on his face said it all.“Sir,” he whispered in my ear, “someone’s tampered with the software. They disabled key files. It wasn’t an internal glitch.”My jaw clenched. “Who?”“We’re still checking logs, but… it looks intentional.”I looked back at the table. The representatives were gathering their briefcases and standing up.“Gentlemen, please,” I said, desperate now. “Give me until tomorrow. I promise I’ll have this fixed.”One of them raised a brow. “You expect us to delay international schedules because your system is unprepared?”“Unprepared? No,” I shook my head. “Sabotaged.”Their expressions shifted slightly—but not with sympathy. Disappointment. Annoyance.“Mr. Julius,” the lead representative said, “this was your opportunity to show us your technology. And unfortunately… this has been a complete waste of our time.”They filed out one after the other, their silence louder than an
The investors leaned forward slightly, intrigued. I smiled inwardly, knowing they were now hooked.I zoomed in on the global map. “Here, we can see live data streams from multiple international sources, processing billions of transactions per second. This is real-time data aggregation from diverse sectors—finance, health, retail, government. It doesn’t just sit in one database. It integrates seamlessly into various networks worldwide.”I glanced at their faces—curiosity was beginning to replace skepticism.The woman in the navy-blue suit, who had been the most critical so far, raised an eyebrow. “Live data? So this system adapts dynamically?”“Exactly,” I said, clicking through to another screen. “But it’s not just about gathering data. It’s about interpreting it. This is an AI-powered engine that learns from every interaction. The more it works, the smarter it gets. Predictive algorithms adjust in real-time to forecast market trends, consumer behavior, even weather patterns.”I could
“I outplayed you,” I corrected. “If your system was so good, it wouldn’t have crashed from a few keystrokes.”His fists clenched.I couldn’t help the satisfaction bubbling inside me. I’d done it. I’d won. And now, it was time to let him know just how thoroughly he’d been outclassed. But I wasn’t prepared for what he did next.He grabbed me by the arm, pulling me toward him with a grip so tight it almost hurt. I yelped, trying to pull away, but his hand was like iron.“Let go of me, Julius!” I screamed, trying to wrench myself free from his grip.But he didn’t let go. His face was twisted with a mixture of anger and desperation as he leaned in close. “You have no idea what you’ve done, Bella. I’ve worked for years on that technology—years! And you, you come in and steal everything right out from under me!”I could feel my pulse quickening, adrenaline flooding my veins. “I deserve it, Julius. You can’t even begin to understand what I’ve put into this. Stratosphere One isn’t just technol
Marcus stood waiting near the end of the corridor, arms folded, eyes sharp.“He talked?” he asked.I gave a tight nod. “Just enough.”“The black ring and dragon tattoo?”“Yeah.” I looked at Marcus. “Find every known criminal, agent, mercenary, and ghost in the underground with a dragon tattoo and a black ring. I want a list by tonight.”“Yes, sir.”“And Marcus—” I added, stopping as I reached him. “Double the security. If this masked bastard is watching, he’ll know Damon’s alive. And he’ll want him dead before he says too much.”Marcus’s jaw tightened. “Understood.”I walked past him, down the hall and into the war room. The lights inside flickered to life as I entered. I sat down heavily, opened the folder labeled “B-67 Blacklist,” and began scanning.It had been over a week since I left Dexy City—since I left Bella.I’d promised her I wouldn’t be gone too long, yet here I was. “Still nothing?” I asked Marcus without looking up from the intel sprawled out across the table.He shook
He started talking the moment the offer left my lips—his words spilling out like floodwaters from a broken dam.“I was working for him long before I started working for you,” Damon said, his voice hoarse, unsteady. “He... he saved me. I can’t even remember when it began. One day, I just started having these unbearable headaches—pounding, violent. It felt like my brain was cracking open. I was losing control.”His cuffed hands trembled violently. Sweat glistened on his temples, trailing down the curve of his jaw.“I started hearing things… seeing things. Paranoia took over. I’d black out and come to in places I didn’t recognize. Then one day—he appeared. Like he knew I needed help. He said he could fix it. Took me to a doctor, promised they’d make something just for me. A pill to silence the madness.”He paused for breath, voice cracking under the weight of memory.“Since then, I’ve taken one pill a year. Always on June 16th. He told me that was enough to keep it in check. Later, he as
The moment I arrived at the lab, I knew something was off.It was supposed to be a pharmaceutical facility—a lab, not a military base. But the amount of armed security stationed around the perimeter? Heavy-duty. Tactical. Coordinated. It was a fortress.I clicked the comm on my shoulder.“Call for backup. This isn’t going to be easy to invade alone.”Within minutes, Marcus and my men arrived. I didn’t waste time.“Marcus,” I said, keeping my voice sharp. “Did you deploy someone to pick up the old woman?”“Yes, sir. She’s en route to headquarters.”“Good.”I turned toward the entrance of the lab.“Let’s move.”We stormed the building—guns drawn, formation tight. The guards were caught off guard, clearly not expecting a full-on raid. We subdued them quickly. Clean and efficient. Inside, the place was cold, and daunting. It smelled of bleach and chemicals.I walked into the main operating room and sat on the nearest chair.“Who’s in charge here?” I asked, my voice echoing through the ye
The moment I arrived at the lab, I knew something was off.It was supposed to be a pharmaceutical facility—a lab, not a military base. But the amount of armed security stationed around the perimeter? Heavy-duty. Tactical. Coordinated. It was a fortress.I clicked the comm on my shoulder.“Call for backup. This isn’t going to be easy to invade alone.”Within minutes, Marcus and my men arrived. I didn’t waste time.“Marcus,” I said, keeping my voice sharp. “Did you deploy someone to pick up the old woman?”“Yes, sir. She’s en route to headquarters.”“Good.”I turned toward the entrance of the lab.“Let’s move.”We stormed the building—guns drawn, formation tight. The guards were caught off guard, clearly not expecting a full-on raid. We subdued them quickly. Clean and efficient. Inside, the place was cold, and daunting. It smelled of bleach and chemicals.I walked into the main operating room and sat on the nearest chair.“Who’s in charge here?” I asked, my voice echoing through the ye
The adrenaline from the mission still pulsed in my veins, but I didn’t let it show. My focus now was Damon.Betrayal had a price.“Lock him up in Interrogation Room A,” I ordered coldly, wiping the blood from my busted knuckles as the president’s men dragged Damon out of the vehicle.One of them hesitated. “But… sir, shouldn’t we—”I cut him off with a sharp glare. “The president gave me full authority over this mission. I want him here. Under mycommand.”The soldier nodded slowly. “Alright, sir.”Marcus didn’t even speak—just yanked Damon forward and shoved him ahead of us. He looked like he wanted to kill him on the spot, but I gave him a look that said not yet.We reached the underground level of the headquarters. Metal doors lined the walls. Interrogation Room A was the coldest, most unforgiving room in the entire place.Exactly where I wanted him.Damon was shoved into the steel chair, arms wrenched behind his back and locked in titanium cuffs. His legs were chained to the floor.
Jesse’s POVLeaving Bella was the last thing I wanted to do. As I walked out that door, my chest felt heavy—like I’d left a piece of myself behind with her. She looked so small wrapped in my arms before I let go, her voice trembling slightly when she asked if I had to leave again. I hated this—having to constantly walk away from the one person who made me feel at peace. But some things had to be done. I decided to take the job because there was something I wanted from the president."Let’s get this over with," I muttered under my breath as I arrived at headquarters. "The sooner this is done, the faster I can get back to her."Inside the secure compound, I summoned Marcus and Damon—two of my most trusted men. They showed up fast, already geared up and serious.“I want five more men,” I said without wasting time. “We’re infiltrating the enemy base today.”Damon raised a brow. “Only five, sir?”“Yeah,” I confirmed. “We just need to extract a few materials. The president will send his a
Julius leaned forward, his voice low and venomous. “No, Bella. It’s all true. Jesse’s sister, Emma.” I shook my head in disbelief, unable to process what he was saying. “This doesn’t make sense. Jesse would never—”Julius cut me off with a harsh laugh. “You still don’t get it, do you? I’ve got the evidence. And so do you now.”He brought out another folder and gave it to me. Inside were more documents—police reports, coroner’s photos, and a handwritten confession. I flipped through them in a daze. Each piece was more damning than the last. My mind felt foggy, the words swimming in front of my eyes. The confession was chilling.I slammed the papers back onto the table, my breath coming in ragged gasps. “No. This isn’t true. You’re just trying to manipulate me, Julius. Why? What do you want from me?”“You think this is manipulation? You think I’m the bad guy here? I’m trying to protect you, Bella. You’re too blind to see what’s right in front of you. Jesse isn’t who he says he is. He’s
“I outplayed you,” I corrected. “If your system was so good, it wouldn’t have crashed from a few keystrokes.”His fists clenched.I couldn’t help the satisfaction bubbling inside me. I’d done it. I’d won. And now, it was time to let him know just how thoroughly he’d been outclassed. But I wasn’t prepared for what he did next.He grabbed me by the arm, pulling me toward him with a grip so tight it almost hurt. I yelped, trying to pull away, but his hand was like iron.“Let go of me, Julius!” I screamed, trying to wrench myself free from his grip.But he didn’t let go. His face was twisted with a mixture of anger and desperation as he leaned in close. “You have no idea what you’ve done, Bella. I’ve worked for years on that technology—years! And you, you come in and steal everything right out from under me!”I could feel my pulse quickening, adrenaline flooding my veins. “I deserve it, Julius. You can’t even begin to understand what I’ve put into this. Stratosphere One isn’t just technol
The investors leaned forward slightly, intrigued. I smiled inwardly, knowing they were now hooked.I zoomed in on the global map. “Here, we can see live data streams from multiple international sources, processing billions of transactions per second. This is real-time data aggregation from diverse sectors—finance, health, retail, government. It doesn’t just sit in one database. It integrates seamlessly into various networks worldwide.”I glanced at their faces—curiosity was beginning to replace skepticism.The woman in the navy-blue suit, who had been the most critical so far, raised an eyebrow. “Live data? So this system adapts dynamically?”“Exactly,” I said, clicking through to another screen. “But it’s not just about gathering data. It’s about interpreting it. This is an AI-powered engine that learns from every interaction. The more it works, the smarter it gets. Predictive algorithms adjust in real-time to forecast market trends, consumer behavior, even weather patterns.”I could