ARTHUR POVIt was late at night the next day, and I sat on the old wooden stool in the dimly lit shed. The smell of soil and damp leaves was heavy in the air. Korra was out getting food for the both of us.I pondered on the events of the previous night, waiting for her to come so we can plan our next move. The small space was cluttered with tools and pots, and the only light came from a single bulb on the ceiling. I had been waiting for a little over 20 minutes, my muscles taut as wires, when my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Henry’s name, sending a cold tremble down my spine.Why was this fucker calling me now?I answered on the third ring, trying to mask the tension in my voice. “What?”Henry’s voice was clipped, his tone sharp and commanding. “Arthur, you’re done. Forget about the documents.”I blinked, momentarily stunned. “What do you mean, done? We haven’t—”“I said you’re done.” Henry interrupted, his tone giving no room for starting an argument. “I’ve got someone else on
ARTHUR POVThat was all the encouragement I needed. I crashed my lips on hers again, my hands roaming her body with urgency. Korra responded in kind, her fingers swiftly unbuckling my belt as my hands slipped under her shirt, caressing the smooth, soft skin of her back.We moved together, stumbling backwards until Korra's back hit the wooden wall of the shed. I pressed against her, pinning her with my body as I kissed a trail down her neck. She gasped, her head falling back against the wall as she wrapped a leg around my waist, pulling me closer. Fuck.I kissed, sucked, licked, caressed her neck until she was holding onto me for support, and her hot gasps were the only sounds she made."Arthur," she breathed, her voice thick with need. "We don't have much time."I nodded, understanding her tone. We were exposed here, vulnerable. Anyone could walk in at any moment. But the danger only seemed to heighten my desire. I loved situations like this.With practiced ease, I lifted her legs wr
MAXWELL'S POV I wiped the sweat from my brow as I tightened my boxing gloves. The familiar scent of leather and sweat filled my nose, reminding me of every fight I’d ever had in this gym. Kieran’s place hadn’t changed much over the years…old posters of boxing legends hung on the walls, and the ring was still as worn as the first day we stepped into it. Today, it felt like stepping back in time.Kieran stood across from me, bouncing lightly on his toes. He had that familiar grin on his face, the one that said he was ready for a good fight. I knew that look well. He was always ready. Even though he acted like a pussy sometimes.“You ready for this, Max?” he called out, his eyes sharp and focused.I smirked, tapping my gloves together. “Always. Question is, are you?”He chuckled, rolling his shoulders. “You know it. Let’s see if you still got what it takes, old man.”“Old man, huh?” I shot back, stepping closer. “I’m only a year older than you.”2, but who's counting?“Yeah, but you act
ISABELLA'S POV I woke up with a start, my head heavy and eyes groggy from the nap I hadn't intended to take. The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls from the setting sun outside. I reached over to the bedside table and grabbed my phone. The time read 8:00 PM. How long had I been asleep?A faint sound reached my ears—the front door closing softly. Maxwell was finally home.I threw the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My feet touched the cold floor, sending a shiver up my spine. I stood, and heard the distant sound of footsteps in the hallway downstairs. Anger boiled inside me, a slow burn that intensified with each step I took. He had told me he fired Holly. He had lied.I headed downstairs, my heart beating fast, my hands balled into fists at my sides. The living room was dark, but I could see the faint outline of Maxwell's figure near the entrance.He was facing away from me, removing his shoes. He was in his boxing attire, the gray shirt cl
ISABELLA'S POV The morning light streamed through the window, covering the room in a soft, golden glow. I stretched, enjoying the warmth on my face, and took a deep breath. Today felt like a good day. Holly and I were going to the art gallery, and I was looking forward to it. I hadn't been out much lately, even to visit my mom. I craved something exciting, and I needed a change of scenery, something to brighten my mood.I got up and walked over to the closet, thinking about what to wear. I wanted something light and cheerful, something that would match the day’s promise. I pulled out a floral dress, just as footsteps sounded outside my door. Before I could turn around, the door opened, and Maxwell walked in.He looked sharp as always, his suit perfectly tailored, his hair neatly styled. But his face was serious, his brows furrowed as if he was deep in thought. “Hannah,” he said, fixing his gray eyes on me, “are you sure you want to go out today?”I frowned, surprised by his tone. “Ye
ISABELLA'S POV The cool evening breeze swept through the streets as Holly and I walked back from the art gallery. The paintings we’d seen still danced in my mind, vivid splashes of color on blank canvases. There had been so much life in them, so much emotion. Yet now, as we walked down the dimly lit streets, a strange feeling settled in my stomach, a sense of unease I couldn’t quite explain. It was like a whisper in the back of my mind, telling me something was wrong.We were indecisive on where to go for dinner, so Holly offered to cook instead. As always. Who was I to decline?Holly was chattering away about one of her favorite pieces, the portrait of a woman with sad eyes. It was my favorite piece too. She spoke with so much excitement, but I could barely concentrate on her words. My mind was somewhere else, tangled in thoughts of Hannah's proposal. What did she mean by all that? I had never met Henry, so I had reason to believe she was lying about his identity. I didn't know wh
MAXWELL'S POV The alarm clock buzzed like a drill in my ear. I groaned, slamming my hand down on it to silence the noise. Another day, another mountain of work to climb. I swung my legs out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced out the window. The sun was already up, casting a harsh light on the city below. I sighed.Hannah hadn't slept with me last night. She was angry, and so was I. It was part of why I didn't sleep well.I showered quickly, the cold water jolting me fully awake. I didn’t bother with breakfast — just grabbed a coffee from the machine on my way out the door. The drive to the office was uneventful, a blur of traffic and honking horns. By the time I parked my car and walked through the front doors of Blackwood Enterprises, I was already thinking about the stack of paperwork waiting on my desk.“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood,” Sarah, my assistant, greeted me as I stepped out of the elevator. She was efficient, sharp, always on top of things — just the way I
MAXWELL'S POV The Gilded Rose wasn’t my usual choice for meetings. It was a place where people came to be seen, to flaunt their status and connections, not to have serious conversations. But Keiran had insisted.He said this woman, Clarissa, had information on Arthur, and I was willing to listen to anything that might give me an edge. Now, as I stepped through the heavy oak doors and into the dimly lit interior, I regretted agreeing to this whole thing. A hostess in a black dress greeted me and guided me to a secluded corner. Clarissa was already there, sipping on a glass of wine, her expression calm but her eyes sharp as they watched me approach. She was striking, with dark hair cascading over her shoulders and a confident smile that seemed a little too rehearsed. I could see why some men might find her attractive, but to me, there was something that just put me off about her polished appearance. It was like she was trying too hard to play a role. “Mr. Jones,” she said, standing