Drake’s POVI slumped forward, elbows on the desk, and stared blankly at the heap of papers in front of me. The numbers, graphs, and reports all smeared together into a meaningless mess. I rubbed my temples, trying to force myself to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Valerie.I could not get the picture of that morning out of my head, standing so close to her, feeling the magnetic pull between us. There was something different in her now, something I had never seen. She had always been on the periphery of my life, someone I used to know, someone whose existence I barely acknowledged. Yet, now, a strange and undeniable attraction stirred inside me, something I didn't understand and quite frankly didn't want to.I shifted in my seat, trying to push the thoughts away. I had work to do, important work. There were greater things to take into account than my confusing feelings for Valerie.Yet the image stayed with me, frank and insistent. Her lips, I had noticed them as I stood c
Valerie’s POVI stood behind the counter, the soft hum of the old woman's store filling the space around me. Light filtered through the large windows at the front, casting gentle beams on the rows of antique and odd trinkets lined up on shelves. I absently polished a wooden jewelry box, lost in thought. It was a quiet day, like most days, where only a few customers trickled in, browsing the shelves with curiosity but hardly ever purchasing anything.I had grown used to the slowness of the store, such a good contrast to the chaos of my life before. Working here gave me peace, a strange, unsaid calm that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. The old woman had become even more silent than usual, busying herself with inventory and pricing in the background. I could feel it in my bones that something was weighing on her mind, but I wouldn't dare approach the subject. The old woman simply wasn't the type to share unless it seemed utterly necessary.My thoughts drifted off to the un
Valerie’s POVI stood in the doorway of the storeroom. My heart was racing and my temper was hot. I opened her mouth, starting to say, "Hey, what's going on here?" protesting the decisions being handed down without the owner having any say. But the old woman’s hand reached out, her ice-cold fingers closing in an unyielding grasp around my arm. An intensity in the old woman's eyes hushed me before any words could leave my lips."Not now, Valerie," the old woman said in a low, urgent tone. "Let me handle this."My eyes widened in surprise. I had expected the old woman to accept the renovations, and to want the updating and improvement of the store. Wasn't that what anyone wanted? A new beginning? But the fire in the old woman’s gaze spoke another truth. It set off a spark of doubt in my brain. Why wouldn't the old woman want the renovations?" I-" I tried to talk, but the old woman shook her head, a determined look upon her face, and something else-fear?"Just trust me," the old woman s
Drake’s POVI had been up all night wrestling with my decision. The old woman’s request to move into the Chase mansion bothered me, but after hours of turning it over in my mind, I couldn't find a logical reason to refuse. She had her motives, but I couldn't deny that she held power, she knew things about my father, about the family legacy that no one else did. She had been such a fixture in this town that the very walls of her shop seemed to hold secrets.But agreeing to her conditions wasn't enough for me. If I was going to make this work, I needed something more something that would give me some kind of control over this situation. And that was when my mind turned to Valerie.Since we’d crossed paths that day at the store, Valerie had remained in the back of my mind, a fixture that I found particularly aggravating. No, what annoyed me was simply the fact that she had looked at me, not in fear, or awe, but almost in disdain. Like I was just one more man she couldn't stand to be nea
Drake’s POVI paced the length of the drawing-room, my mind racing, my thoughts tangling together in a whirlwind of frustration. Bringing the old woman into the Chase mansion was a decision I had not taken lightly, yet one I now couldn't help but second guess.Charlotte had been right to question me, yet the words that had spewed from her mouth, the venomous tone she had used when she'd spoken about the old woman as filthy, fired a spark within me, I hadn't felt in so very long. At that moment, the instant the word had escaped her lips, my temper had flared.I stood by the window, staring out into the darkening sky, trying to process it all. The faint sound of footsteps behind me pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see Charlotte standing in the doorway, her face twisted in anger."Drake," she snapped, her voice piercing the quiet. "We need to have a word. What on earth were you thinking, bringing that. that woman into our home?"I ground my teeth together, my patience wearin
Drake’s POVThe morning sun filtered in through the windows, casting a soft golden glow across the Chase family estate. It should have been a peaceful day, instead, I felt the tension as I entered into the grand living room to see suitcases by the door. My grandmother was bustling about, giving instructions to the household staff to pack her things into the car.My heart sank as I had hoped that, with the argument of yesterday still hot, we could all cool off and move on from it. But with a vision of my grandmother ready to leave, it felt like a blow to my stomach."Grandmother," I said, walking forward, "what are you doing?"The old woman glanced over her shoulder but did not stop the ordering about of the staff. "What does it look like, Drake? I'm moving out."I blinked, taken aback for a second by the casual tone in which she let such bombshells drop. "You can't just leave like this. Where would you go?"She waved her hand dismissively. "I have other properties, Drake. You forget
Ron’s POVI stood outside the study, leaning against the doorframe, a smirk playing on my lips. I had been hanging around the hallway, not by coincidence, but because I knew from experience in this household that eavesdropping on conversations often presented me with opportunities. And today proved to be no exception.I’d heard it all, the threat from Charlotte, Drake’s hesitation, and the ultimatum their grandmother had issued. It almost couldn't get much better. The poor guy was getting it between both corners, one side from Charlotte and her manipulations, another from his grandmother and her mysterious wants. Drake was feeling distinctly overwhelmed, and when Valerie did come, the situation that would ensue would swallow him whole. That would leave the perfect opening for me to finally take what I thought was owed me.A scheme was definitely forming in my brain, and I knew Valerie played a significant role in it. If I could manipulate the circumstances in my favor, then perhap
Valerie’s POV I wrapped myself in a world of color and creativity in the small back room of the art supply store, but my mind was somewhere else. The old woman who had taken up residence with Drake and Charlotte had just shared her ambitious plan with me. As I listened to the details, shock gave way to intrigue and excitement."You can't be serious," I said, my eyes wide. "You want me to live there with you? To be a part of all this?The old woman nodded, her eyes gleaming with the determined sparkle of mischief. "Yes, dear, I have been watching Charlotte for far too long. They are so confident, in their little bubble. But you and I, we can change that, can't we? We can turn things upside down for her.".My heart skittered as I absorbed the possibilities. "And you really think I can just walk in there and do that? What if they don't want me around?"The old woman waved a dismissive hand. "They don't get a say in this. You're strong, and you know how to play the game. Plus, having