The evening unfolding so perfectly that it just makes me feel like I didn’t want it to, or so I thought. Thiago and I had just shared the most incredible dance, lost in each other, wrapped up in a world that felt like it belonged solely to us. I couldn’t stop smiling, feeling lightheaded with the warmth of his words still ringing in my ears. His touch had lifted me from the anger I had felt earlier, watching Derick and Agatha flaunt their sham of a relationship. But nothing could have prepared me for the man I saw next—My father. Romeo Martinez.Of all people, he was the last person I wanted to see at that moment. The minute I spotted him across the room, making his way toward us, my body quickly stiffened. My father's face wore a mask of thinly veiled fury, and I could feel the storm brewing behind those dark, menacing eyes of him.I gripped Thiago’s arm out of fear, already bracing for impact, but it was too late. My father approached me recklessly with such scandalous words as t
Thiago’s hand stayed firmly around my waist as we left the grand ballroom behind. The noise of the party fading as we walked down a quiet corridor. My heart somehow was still racing from the confrontation with my father, and my thoughts were spinning with everything that had happened. I was relieved to be away from the chaos, but something about Thiago’s demeanor kept me on edge. For some reason, it was like Thiago wasn’t just leading me away to cool off. And I had my presumption to be correct when we stopped in front of another door at the end of the hallway. It was unlocked, and I glanced at Thiago, confused. “What are we doing here?” I asked, my voice low, and my pulse still racing from earlier. I thought, perhaps, he just wanted to put more distance between me and my father, to shield me from the prying eyes of the partygoers. But there was something in his gaze, a seriousness that unsettled me.Thiago leaned down, his lips brushing lightly against my ear, and whispered, “Yo
The tension in the air was suffocating as I stood next to Thiago, watching Jasper greet us with that unsettling smile of his. His demeanor was calm, too calm for the situation we had just walked into, and it set off every alarm in my body. Despite the opulence of the room and the grandeur of the event outside, I could feel the danger lurking beneath Jasper’s false pleasantries.“Thiago, well my dearest cousin, I have the finest wine here for you. Would you like to try it too?” Jasper greeted, flashing a grin that never quite reached his eyes. He gestured casually toward a decanter on the side table, two glasses already prepared. But as Thiago didn’t bother, Jasper resorted to saying, “Well, didn’t expect to see you here.” Thiago didn’t move. His grip on my hand was firm, his body tense. I could feel the intensity rolling off him, the calm surface barely concealing the storm underneath.“No,” Thiago replied, his voice icy. “I’m not here to drink, Jasper.”Jasper arched an eyebrow, th
The ride home from the event was quiet, but in a comfortable way. I leaned back into the soft leather seat of the car, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened—Jasper’s underhanded schemes, the unexpected encounter with my father, and the sheer tension that seemed to follow us wherever we went. But Thiago’s presence beside me was the one thing grounding me, keeping me from unraveling completely.I glanced over at him, his profile illuminated by the soft lights from the dashboard. He looked as calm and composed as ever, but I could see the subtle tightness in his jaw, the way his hands rested firmly on his knees. He was always in control—always the one making sure everything was handled. And tonight had been no different.“I’m sorry,” I said softly, breaking the silence.He looked over at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “For what?”“For… tonight. For my father showing up like that. For everything Jasper is doing.”
As Thiago pulled me closer, the soft rhythm of the waves mirrored the steady beat of his heart. His kiss grew more intense, filled with a passion that left me breathless, a fire igniting between us that made me forget everything else. His hands slid down my back, anchoring me against him, and in that moment, the world ceased to exist. It was just him and me, wrapped in the warmth of each other’s embrace.When we finally pulled away, our foreheads rested against each other, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. I felt lightheaded, like I was floating on some cloud I never wanted to come down from. Thiago's eyes bore into mine, his gaze so full of affection and tenderness it made my heart flutter all over again.“You know,” he said softly, his voice low and husky, “I wasn’t expecting tonight to go the way it did.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “But being here with you… none of the rest matters.”I felt my cheeks heat, my lips curving into a smile of my own. “You always have a
FEW DAYS LATER, and I have returned to my normal routine at the Bermudez group company building felt like a breath of fresh air. After the whirlwind of the Zorich party and the chaotic encounter with my father, it was nice to settle back into the comfortable rhythm of my life with Thiago. He had been supportive, always encouraging me to focus on my work and reminding me that I was capable of overcoming any obstacle that stood in my way. Each day, I found myself immersed in projects that would help me tackle the Martinez Corporation, my father’s company. It felt empowering to take control and strategize ways to weaken their hold in the market. I had gathered intel and crafted plans with my team, determined to prove that I could outmaneuver them, despite my father’s influence. As I settled into my office on a Monday morning, the sun streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over my workspace. I smiled as I glanced at the framed photo of Thiago and me on my desk, our f
The following morning, the sense of unease still lingered, but I couldn’t afford to let it consume me. After everything, I knew I had to keep moving forward. The moment I entered my office, I felt a rush of determination settle in. My plans to defeat the Martinez Corporation weren’t going to derail just because of a cowardly threat. If anything, this only fueled my resolve. Lucia greeted me with a worried look, but I brushed it off. “I’m fine,” I reassured her, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. “Let’s focus on today’s agenda.” The morning passed smoothly enough, though my mind kept drifting back to the dead rats, the threat. I couldn’t help but wonder who was behind it. Could it be someone within my father’s circle? Or was it someone I’d overlooked? By noon, Thiago called me, his voice steady yet laced with concern. “How are you holding up, Wifey?” “I’m okay,” I sighed. “Trying to stay focused. Have you heard anything from your team yet?” “I have some
Almost a week after the event, and chaos abruptly came to ruin my afternoon at the office.I leaned over my desk, eyes scanning the documents spread across it, trying to focus. The expansion plans for New Zealand were critical, and I had been working tirelessly on them for weeks. The stakes were high, especially knowing that Martinez Corporation was trying to edge their way into the same market.I paused, rubbing my temples as the realization hit me once again—this wasn’t just business. My father, Romeo Martinez, was clearly trying to test me, pushing back against everything I had worked for. It wasn’t enough that he had humiliated himself at the Zorich Group’s party, throwing a tantrum and being shut down by Thiago. Now he wanted to challenge me on an international scale, in front of potential investors, to make me look weak. “He’s really testing me,” I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t let him win. Not again.I picked up my phone and dialed Lucia. She was my go-to for anything