I was about to fall asleep on the living area when I heard him opened the room’s door—Thiago never waited for an invitation when he decided to invade my space. I groaned and reluctantly stood up, brushing my hair back with my hands as I padded toward the door.Opening it, I found him standing there in his usual casual yet commanding style. He wore a simple black shirt and dark jeans, but somehow, he always managed to make even the most basic clothing look like a tailored power suit. His dimmed oceanic blue eyes flicked over me, taking in my tired state, and he gave me that smug smile that made my stomach do an unwanted flip."You didn't have to come home early," I said, trying to sound annoyed, but the exhaustion and my faltering willpower made my voice weaker than I intended."Of course, I did," Thiago replied, stepping inside without waiting for permission. He moved with the confidence of someone who owned the place, which, in many ways, he did—at least in the sense that he owned m
For a while, my thoughts was clouded by storm of confusion and exhaustion. How could I even begin to confess to him that I love him when I know for sure that what was only binding us two were the contract and desire for my body.Although Thiago had been telling me that he wanted to move forward with our relationship, I am still hesitant that we might just fall apart if we pursued this. I mean, I still have goals of inflicting revenge against my father, my ex-husband and stepsister.My heart may say that I want to but my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of my purpose for accepting the deal with Thiago in the first place.Suddenly, Thiago stirred slightly in his sleep, his hand twitching as if reaching for me even in dreaming state. It was like he couldn’t bear to be apart from me, even for a moment. And maybe that’s what terrified me the most—that I had let myself become so intertwined with him that stepping back felt impossible.With a deep sigh, I turned away from the bed, needing
The warmth of Thiago’s lips lingered on mine, and I felt my breath hitch slightly as I pulled back to meet his eyes. There was something different in his gaze now—an intensity, yes, but something softer, something more vulnerable. I had said the words. I had told him I loved him. And now, the moment hung between us, fragile and full of possibilities.I waited, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched his face for his reaction. Would he say it back? Would he laugh it off? I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I got was a smile—a genuine, slow, breathtaking smile that made my knees feel weak.“I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” Thiago said softly, his voice carrying a rare gentleness that made me feel exposed.I blinked, trying to process his words. He’d been waiting for this? My heart fluttered, a mixture of relief and confusion. I opened my mouth to respond, but the words got stuck, and I looked away, suddenly shy in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time."It wasn’t easy for me,
The morning of the international expo dawned bright, but the knot in my stomach was far from easy to ignore. This was the day—the event that could make or break my standing as the acting CEO of Bermudez Group. I had meticulously planned everything, left nothing to chance—or so I thought.Lucia and I arrived at the venue early to oversee the setup. The expo hall was buzzing with energy, a sea of booths and displays from companies all over the world, each vying for attention. Our booth was supposed to be a showstopper, with the centerpiece being a cutting-edge 3D design that Javier from the procurement division had been responsible for. It was crucial to our presentation. But, of course, things rarely go as planned.I stared at the empty display where the 3D design should have been. My phone clutched tightly in my hand while I listened to Javier’s stammered excuses on the other end of the line.“What do you mean it’s going to delivered late?” I snapped, pacing back and forth. My heart
A moment later, the panel judge arrived—a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and an air of authority. He approached the booth with an appraising gaze, and I stepped forward to greet him.“Good morning,” I said, offering a warm smile. “I’m Bridgette Martinez, acting CEO of Bermudez Group. Thank you for taking the time to visit our booth.”The judge nodded, his eyes sweeping over the setup. “Mrs. Bermudez, I’ve heard a lot about Bermudez Group. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve brought to the table.”I gestured to the LED screens, where our promotional videos played in a seamless loop. “We’re showcasing our latest projects and inno
With the 3D design finally in place, our booth transformed into something breathtaking. The LED screens lit up with vibrant images of Bermudez Group’s latest projects, and the 3D model projected an immersive view of our most ambitious real estate developments.Lucia and I stood back for a moment, admiring the setup. It had come together better than I had hoped, given the rocky start.“Wow,” Lucia whispered, her eyes wide. “It’s amazing, Madame CEO. I knew we could pull it off, but this? It’s stunning.”I nodded, feeling the same sense of pride. “Yeah, definitely, we
Days after the expo…The mood in my office was light, even buoyant, as Marcus popped the cork off the bottle of champagne. Lucia cheered, and I couldn’t help but laugh as bubbles fizzed up and spilled over the edge of the bottle.“To our fearless Madame CEO!” Marcus said with a grin, handing me the first glass. “You really pulled off a miracle at the expo.”I raised my glass, trying to suppress the modest smile tugging at my lips. “I couldn’t have done it without the two of you. If anyone deserves a toast, it’s you both. You kept everything together when things almost went off the rails.”Lucia shook her head, pouring herself a glass. “Come on, Madame CEO. You’re the one who kept us calm. If it weren’t for you, I’d have probably been a nervous wreck the moment that panel judge showed up early.”I laughed, recalling how pale Lucia had gone when we’d been told about the judge’s sudden appearance. “Well, I might’ve been panicking on the inside, but outwardly, I had to keep it cool.”“And
I stormed out of the boardroom, my head spinning with everything Charles had just thrown at me. This couldn’t be real—he couldn’t just walk in here and claim the chairman position without any warning, without Thiago saying a word. As I made my way through the halls of the Bermudez Group building, I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. Thiago. I needed to hear from him. I didn’t bother sending a text; I called him directly, pacing in the corridor as the phone rang, each unanswered buzz only fueling my frustration. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Thiago answered."Hello, wifey," he greeted in that calm, almost teasing tone he often used, but this time, it only grated on my nerves.“We need to talk,” I snapped, not bothering with pleasantries. “Right now.”There was a brief pause before he answered, his voice softening. “What happened? Are you okay?”Completelyh ignoring his question, I immediately replied, “I’m coming over to your plac
The weight of Victor’s words settled deep in my chest long after they were spoken. I stared down at the amber liquid in my glass, but it offered no answers. Only more questions.Had I already lost the ability to choose? Had Thiago already decided for me?Victor sighed, rubbing his jaw as if he were debating something. Then, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and met my gaze.“I need to tell you something,” he said.A chill skated down my spine. “What?”He hesitated. Just for a second. And that alone sent warning bells ringing in my head.“Victor,” I pressed.His lips parted, but before he could speak, his phone buzzed sharply on the table.He glanced at the screen, and whatever he saw made his expression darken.I frowned. “What is it?”Instead of answering, he stood abruptly, snatching his jacket from the chair. “You should stay here tonight.”“What?” My heart stuttered. “Why?”His jaw tightened as he typed something on his phone. “Thiago’s looking for you.”Cold dread curled in
I clenched my fists, my pulse hammering in my ears. “I don’t have to choose anything.”Javier let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze steady, almost expectant. “That’s where you’re wrong, mija.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’ve already chosen—you just don’t realize it yet.”A chill ran down my spine.Thiago stepped between us, his broad shoulders cutting off Javier’s view of me. “If you’re done playing riddles, we’re leaving.”Javier exhaled sharply, clearly unimpressed. “You’re a fool if you think you can keep her out of this, Bermudez.” His gaze flickered back to me, dark amusement in his eyes. “And you, Bridgette… you’re an even bigger fool if you think you can outrun your own legacy.”Something in my chest tightened, but I refused to let it show. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. “Watch me.”Javier just smiled. “Ah, mi pequeña tormenta,” he murmured. “We’ll see how long that defiance lasts when the world comes crashing down.”Before I could say an
The air in the car felt suffocating. My pulse pounded against my ribs, but I refused to let my panic show.Thiago's expression had turned to stone, his body tense beside me. "How does he know we're here?"Mateo shrugged, too casual. "Your father has eyes everywhere, Bermudez. Did you really think you could waltz into Madrid unnoticed?"Thiago exhaled sharply. His fingers tapped against his knee in a slow, calculated rhythm—a sign that he was thinking, strategizing.I forced my voice to stay steady. "What does he want?"Mateo tilted his head, considering me. "To see you, of course. He’s given instructions for you to be brought to him—immediately."Brought. Not invited. Not welcomed.My fingers curled into fists. "And if I refuse?"Mateo’s smirk deepened. "Then you already know what happens next, princesa."I swallowed hard.Thiago shifted beside me. "She’s not going anywhere she doesn’t want to." His voice was calm, but the edge beneath it was lethal.Mateo chuckled, but his eyes remai
Thiago watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. He was waiting for me to flinch, to back down—but I didn’t.Instead, I met his gaze head-on. “Fine,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Let’s do it.”A slow, satisfied smirk curled on his lips. “That’s my girl.”I ignored the way my pulse jumped at those words. “Do you have a plan, or are we just throwing ourselves into the fire and hoping we don’t get burned?”His smirk widened. “Oh, we’re the fire, princesa. And it’s time they learn that the hard way.”He turned, already pulling his phone from his pocket. “Pack a bag. We’re leaving in an hour.”I blinked. “Wait—what?”Thiago didn’t even look up as he typed out a message. “You wanted to go on the offensive. That means moving fast.”Panic warred with the determination burning in my chest. “Where are we going?”He finally met my gaze, and for the first time, I saw something beyond amusement and arrogance. I saw purpose.“To the last place they’d expect us to be.”A chill ran down m
Thiago’s entire posture shifted—controlled, calculating. His fingers tightened around his knife, but he didn’t move. Not yet.The blade against my throat pressed in just enough to sting. Not enough to cut. A warning.“Let her go,” Thiago said, his voice dangerously soft.The man behind me chuckled. “Now, now. You of all people should know how this works.”A shiver ran down my spine. They weren’t just some random attackers. They knew Thiago.I felt my captor shift slightly, his grip tightening. “Put the knife down, Bermudez.”Thiago’s jaw clenched. His knife hovered midair, hesitation flickering for just a second.Then, without warning—He threw it.Not at the man holding me.At the other attacker.A sharp cry echoed as the second man collapsed, the knife buried deep in his thigh.The split second of chaos was all I needed.I jerked my head back, slamming it into my captor’s nose. He cursed, his grip faltering.I didn’t waste time. I dropped, twisting free just as Thiago lunged.His fi
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. If this was a test, then I couldn’t afford to let them see any hesitation. Lucia grinned, sensing my frustration. “Don’t look so tense, Bridge. You wanted in, remember?” I shot her a glare. “You’re enjoying this way too much.” Thiago, who had been silent, stepped closer. His presence sent a ripple of awareness through me, but I refused to react. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single item—an old-fashioned stopwatch. “You have sixty seconds,” he said, pressing the button. I barely had time to register his words before Lucia shoved me—hard. My balance wavered, and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling down a small incline, my arms scraping against rough earth as I hit the ground with a grunt. I groaned, rolling onto my back, but before I could get up, Thiago’s voice called down to me. “Fifty seconds.” Shit. I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as I took in my surroundings. The woods stretc
The next morning, the training began.Lucia wasn’t gentle. She didn’t ease me into it, didn’t give me time to hesitate.“Again,” she snapped as I stumbled back from a sharp blow to my ribs.I gritted my teeth, lifting my arms to block her next strike. My muscles burned, my breath came in ragged gasps, but I refused to fall.“Sloppy,” Lucia muttered. “You’re thinking too much. Stop trying to predict—react.”Thiago stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching. He hadn’t said a word since we started.I hated that I wanted his approval.I lunged forward, aiming a punch at Lucia’s side. She dodged effortlessly, then swept my legs out from under me. I hit the mat with a grunt.“Better,” she admitted. “But not good enough.”I glared up at her. “You love this, don’t you?”She smirked, offering a hand. “A little.”I ignored her and pushed myself up.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thiago’s mouth twitch like he was fighting a smile.Lucia clapped her hands. “Alright, let’s move on. Time to ge
Lucia gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Somebody better start talking before I drive this damn car into a wall.”Victor ran a hand down his face, still tense. “Santiago attacked Bridgette. Thiago handled it.”Lucia’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, locking onto me. “You handled it, didn’t you?”I swallowed, my fingers still curled into fists. The weight of the gun’s grip still felt imprinted on my palm.“She shot him,” Thiago confirmed, voice rough.Lucia nearly slammed the brakes. “You what?”“He was going to kill me,” I snapped, defensive. “I didn’t have a choice.”Silence.Then Lucia exhaled, shaking her head. “Damn it, Bridge.”Victor, however, was focused on something else. “He’s not dead?”Thiago’s lips curled in something almost amused. “No. But he’ll wish he was when he wakes up.”Victor cursed. “We should’ve finished him off. Now he knows Bridgette isn’t just some pawn—he’ll come for her harder.”My stomach twisted. He was right. This wasn’t the ki
I took a step back, my breath coming too fast. I needed space. Air. Something solid to hold on to, but all I had were shifting lies.Santiago watched me, his smirk fading into something more dangerous—anticipation. Like he was waiting for me to break.I wouldn’t give him that.I forced my voice steady. “You don’t get to decide for me.”Santiago sighed, almost bored. “You think you have a choice?” He gestured lazily with the gun. “You were born into this world, hija. You don’t just walk away from it.”Victor stepped forward, his hand subtly shifting toward his jacket. “She’s not you, Santiago.”Santiago laughed. “And you still think you can save her?” His amusement vanished in a blink. “I’m giving her a way out. If she’s smart, she’ll take it.”My heart pounded. “And if I don’t?”His expression darkened. “Then you’ll regret it.”A flicker of movement. A breath of warning.And then Victor lunged.I barely had time to react before he was on Santiago, knocking the gun aside. A shot rang o