The evening was still, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound filling the grand dining room. I sat at the table, poking at the food on my plate without any real appetite. My mind was racing, stuck in a loop of the chaotic board meeting. Their words echoed in my head: unqualified, unworthy, only here because of Thiago.The board didn’t respect me. And as much as I tried to brush it off, it hurt more than I cared to admit. I was too deep in thought to even notice when Thiago started speaking. "Wifey?" Thiago’s deep voice snapped me out of my daze. I looked up to see him watching me, his brow slightly furrowed. "You’ve been miles away this whole time. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?"I sighed, putting my fork down. "It’s nothing, darling. Just... work stuff."He narrowed his eyes slightly, not buying my deflection. Thiago was always sharp, always attuned to my mood in ways that made it impossible to hide anything from him. But tonight, I didn’t feel like talking. N
The next few days passed in a blur of endless meetings, emails, and strategy sessions. I buried myself in work, determined to prove the board wrong and show them that I was more than just Thiago’s wife, more than just a placeholder CEO. But the pressure was relentless, and it was taking its toll. I hardly saw Thiago during the day, and by the time I got home at night, I was too exhausted to do much more than collapse into bed. And Tonight was no different from the previous nights. I dragged myself through the door, my mind buzzing with thoughts of revenue projections and market strategies. The weight of the company’s future felt like a boulder pressing on my chest. I was so preoccupied that I barely registered the sound of Thiago’s voice as he called out to me from the living room."Wifey? Come over here for a moment."I turned, seeing him sprawled on the couch, his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He looked relaxed, his eyes watching me intently as I stepped inside. The co
The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and warm, but I felt anything but rested. Thiago had left early again, something that had become a regular occurrence. I hated how the silence of our empty house echoed the doubts that had crept into my mind. I sat at the edge of the bed, my hands clenched into fists in my lap, my thoughts racing. The board’s disdain for me as CEO, the looming pressure of the company, the growing distance between Thiago and me—it was all starting to weigh on me more heavily than I could admit.After dragging myself through my morning routine, I headed into the office, trying to focus on the day ahead. But the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I could feel the tension in the air. People whispered as I walked by, their eyes following me with curiosity and thinly veiled judgment. I was used to the gossip by now, but today it felt sharper, like a knife twisting in my side.Lucia was waiting in my office, her expression unreadable as
The day started like any other, with a steady rhythm of chaos threatening to pull me under. But I had grown used to it, embracing the pressure like a second skin. It wasn’t until Lucia rushed into my office, her face pale and tight with tension, that the day took a sharp nosedive."Madam CEO, we’ve got a problem," she said, her voice edged with urgency as she dropped a stack of papers on my desk.I barely glanced up, trying to keep my cool. "What is it this time?""The Martinez Corporation," Lucia began, her hands trembling slightly as she pulled out a news article. "They’ve secured the Saskatchewan Project."The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze, my mind struggling to process the impact of what she just said. "What?" My voice came out in a low, disbelieving whisper.Lucia nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It’s all over the news, Madame CEO. They outbid us, and now they’ve got the deal."The room seemed to tilt for a moment, and I felt an overwhelming rush of pa
But even as we returned to our private room, the talk between us was became a little tensed. I paced by the window, my thoughts racing."You didn’t have to make such a show of it," I said, unable to look him directly in the eye. "I had it under control."Thiago leaned against the doorway, his eyes locked on me with that knowing gleam. "Did you, Wifey? You looked seconds away from losing them."I spun to face him. "I didn’t need you barging in like that! Now the board thinks I can’t handle the job without my husband coming to rescue me."His smirk only deepened, and I hated how infuriatingly calm he was. "Let them think what they want, Wifey. But I’ll let you in on a secret." He sauntered over to the bar and poured himself another drink, watching me with those piercing eyes. "They’re playing checkers, and I’ve been playing chess all along."I frowned, still frustrated but curious. "What are you talking about?"He sipped his whiskey slowly, savoring the taste before finally answering. "
FEW DAYS AFTER what seemed to be a chaotic week at the office, was already making me feel lightheaded each morning. I had gone used to seeing Thiago left the side of my bed empty each morning that today was a total surprised for me.I stirred awake, feeling the warmth of the early morning light streaming through the sheer curtains. And as my eyes blinked open, I was startled to find Thiago already awake, watching me intently. His half-naked form lounged beside me, his gaze burning into mine as if he'd been studying me for hours.“Morning, Wifey” he murmured, his voice low and intimate.I blinked rapidly, the grogginess of sleep still clinging to me. “Thia—darling?” My voice was barely a whisper, my heart doing that annoying flutter it always did when he was this close.He grinned, clearly enjoying my reaction. Without warning, his hand moved to cup my face, pulling me towards him for a deep, lingering kiss. His lips, warm and demanding, made me momentarily forget my confusion. My han
The car ride to the wedding was filled with an uncomfortable silence. I stared out of the window, watching the city blur past as my mind raced. I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight was going to be another one of Thiago’s carefully orchestrated games. He always had a plan—a way to keep me guessing, off-balance, and completely under his control.Thiago sat beside me, calm and composed, his hand resting possessively on my thigh. His touch, though light, felt like a reminder that no matter where we were headed, I was still bound to him.“You’re awfully quiet,” he said, breaking the silence. His voice was smooth, as though he hadn’t just upended my entire day. “Thinking about something?”I glanced at him, the weight of his question heavy in the air. “Just trying to figure out what your angle is,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. “You always have one.”His lips curved into a smirk, and he tilted his head slightly, studying me with that unnerving intensity. “You think I need
Thiago’s hand slid up my thigh, disappearing under the hem of my dress. My breath caught in my throat as I realized just how bold he was being. We were standing just behind the door to the restrooms at a crowded wedding reception, and anyone could walk by at any second.His fingers found their way to my most sensitive spot, and a sharp gasp escaped my lips. I bit down hard, trying to suppress the sound, but the intensity of his touch was overwhelming. Thiago smirked, clearly enjoying the control he had over me in that moment.“You’re liking this, aren’t you?” he whispered against my ear, his voice dark and teasing. “I can feel how wet you are.”“Thiago… stop,” I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper. But even as I said the words, I knew they lacked conviction. My body was betraying me, responding to him in ways I couldn’t deny.He laughed softly, the sound low and dangerous. “Stop? You don’t really want me to stop, do you, Wifey?”I tried to fight it, tried to regain control of th
The jet cut through the night sky, its engines humming beneath us like a beast biding its time. I sat stiffly in my seat, staring out the window at the endless black void below. The reality of what was happening still hadn’t fully settled.My mother was alive.And she was in Spain.I turned my head, watching Thiago from the corner of my eye. He had leaned back, fingers tapping against his glass in slow, measured beats. His eyes were on me, as if he was waiting for me to break the silence.I refused to give him that satisfaction.Instead, I asked the one question that had been burning in my mind since we took off.“How long have you known?”Thiago’s tapping stopped. He didn’t look away, didn’t flinch. “A few weeks.”A sharp breath left my lips. “A few weeks?” I repeated, my voice cold. “You let me believe she was dead for weeks?”“I didn’t let you believe anything,” he corrected. “I was gathering proof. If I had told you too soon, you would have gone straight to your father and gotten
The private jet hummed softly beneath us, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my chest. Spain. My mother. The words still didn't fit together in my mind. For years, I had assumed she was dead, lost in the wreckage of my father’s games. And now, she was suddenly alive? Hiding in another country?I gripped the armrest, my nails digging into the leather. “How long have you known she was in Spain?”Thiago didn’t hesitate. “A few weeks.”A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “And you just decided to tell me now?”He swirled the last of his drink before setting the glass down with a soft clink. “I told you when it mattered.”“When it mattered to you.”His jaw flexed, but he didn’t deny it. Of course, he wouldn’t. Thiago Bermudez wasn’t the kind of man to offer apologies.I crossed my arms, my body tight with frustration. “You should have told me the moment you knew.”His dark eyes settled on mine, unreadable but heavy with something that made my breath catch. “Would it have changed anythin
Thiago’s words lingered long after he pulled away, their weight settling like lead in my chest.You should have let me handle it.I clenched my fists, refusing to let his voice take root in my head. I had spent years fighting my battles alone, carving my own path despite my father’s suffocating grip. And now, for the first time, I had won. I had backed him into a corner, forced him to sign away what he had stolen.So why didn’t it feel like a victory?I forced a deep breath, turning away from Thiago. “I need a shower.”“Of course you do.” His voice was smooth, calculated. He leaned against the suite’s bar, watching me with an unreadable expression. “You always run when you don’t want to deal with something.”I froze mid-step but didn’t turn around. “I’m not running.”“No?” I heard the ice clink in his glass as he poured himself a drink. “Then look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel it.”Feel what? The suffocating tension? The invisible noose tightening around my throat? The way
My heels clicked against the polished marble of the lobby, my heart still hammering in my chest. The rush of adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet, but the weight of what had just happened was starting to settle.I had won. I had finally backed my father into a corner, made him sign away the power he had stolen.So why did it still feel like a hollow victory?I pushed the thought away and focused on the present.Thiago followed a few steps behind, silent but watchful. I could feel his gaze on me, tracking every breath, every twitch of my fingers. He was still angry. No, not just angry—furious.And I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.The moment we reached the car, I yanked the door open, but before I could slip inside, his hand shot out, slamming it shut again.I turned to him, fire flashing in my eyes. “Don’t.”Thiago stepped closer, his body blocking mine from the street, from the world. “You’re shaking.”I clenched my fists. “I’m fine.”His gaze swept over me, slow and calculated, readin
The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. My father’s fingers tapped against the rim of his whiskey glass, his mind working through the implications of what I’d just said. He was a master manipulator, but this time? He had backed himself into a corner.“You don’t have proof,” he said finally, but there was something uncertain in his voice.I leaned against his desk, forcing a smirk. “Oh, but I do.”Lucia’s voice crackled in my earpiece. “We have everything, Bridgette. His authorizations, timestamps, and even the IP addresses he used. All trace back to him.”I didn’t break eye contact. “I have enough to bury you in court. Fraud. Embezzlement. You’d be finished.”His jaw clenched, and for the first time, a flicker of unease crossed his face.Thiago, standing just behind me, chuckled lowly. “She’s not bluffing, Martinez.”I felt the heat of his presence at my back—solid, unwavering. And I hated that some part of me found comfort in it.My father exhaled slowly, setting his
I stormed through the ballroom doors, my heels clicking against the marble as I pressed a hand to my earpiece."Lucia, where’s Victor?" My voice was sharp, betraying none of the unease curling in my gut."Already on it," she replied. "He's pulling up transaction records now. But, Bridgette—""Just tell me."Lucia hesitated. "It looks internal."I froze mid-step.Internal?A chill swept through me. This wasn’t just some competitor hacking our accounts. This was someone inside Martinez Holdings.I pushed forward, ignoring the glances thrown my way as I made my way toward the exit. I needed to get to my office. Now.But then—A hand closed around my wrist.Firm. Possessive. Familiar.I turned sharply, my gaze colliding with Thiago’s. His eyes—dark, unreadable—searched mine."Let go," I said, my voice colder than ice.He didn’t. Instead, he studied me like I was a puzzle he was piecing together."Someone stole from you," he murmured. It wasn’t a question. He already knew.I yanked my wris
The world still saw me as Bridgette Martinez, the woman who clawed her way to the top, but behind closed doors, I was fighting battles that no one could see.Thiago's encroachment wasn’t just financial. It was personal. Everywhere I turned, he was there—at high-profile investor meetings, in the whispers of board members questioning my next move, in the shadow of every deal I tried to secure.And worst of all?He was still in my head.I sat at the head of the table, my expression unreadable as Lucia and Victor debriefed me on the latest developments.Lucia tossed a report onto the table. "Thiago's now the second-largest shareholder in Martinez Holdings."Victor leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "At this rate, it won’t be long before he’s in a position to demand a seat on the board."A chill crawled up my spine. I had spent years making sure no one—not my father, not Cynthia, not any man—could take my power away. And yet, Thiago was tightening his grip without ever raising
I woke up tangled in silk sheets, the ghost of Thiago’s touch lingering on my skin. The city skyline stretched beyond the glass walls of the penthouse, bathed in the pale hues of dawn. For a moment, I let myself savor the illusion of peace.Then reality sank its claws back in.Cynthia was gone, but her words still echoed in my mind. You’ve only traded one cage for another.I turned my head slightly. Thiago was still asleep, his features relaxed in a way I rarely saw. But even in sleep, he exuded control—one arm draped possessively over my waist, his grip loose but firm.Carefully, I slipped out of bed, moving toward the floor-to-ceiling window. The city buzzed below, alive with possibilities and dangers.I wasn’t naive.Thiago’s offer of a merger was strategic, but it wasn’t just about business. He wanted control. Over the empire I had fought to build. Over me.And the worst part?I wasn’t sure I minded.A soft rustle behind me made me tense. “You’re thinking too much.”I turned to fi
…me a knowing look. “Doesn’t matter. It’s about perception.”I sank into the chair across from him, exhaling sharply. “So, what’s our move?”He smiled.That slow, dangerous smile that always meant trouble.A Week LaterCynthia was gone. Her empire, shattered. Her name, tarnished.But the world didn’t pause for my victory. The moment she fell, new threats emerged—rival companies trying to swoop in, investors questioning my leadership, and whispers in the dark from people who had once feared Cynthia but now saw an opening to take me down.And then there was Thiago.Always watching. Always waiting.It was late when he finally cornered me in my office, his presence stealing the air from the room.“You’ve been avoiding me, Wifey.” His voice was smooth, but there was something sharp underneath it.I didn’t look up from the contract I was reviewing. “I’ve been busy.”Thiago chuckled, low and knowing. “Bullshit. You’re running, and we both know why.”I exhaled slowly, finally meeting his gaze