ROBERT'S POV
I stood in Odette's office, my eyes scanning the contents of the folder she had dropped on her desk. Pictures of Josh and Ariana, leaked to the press. Photos of Emily, Flora, and Nate. My mind raced with questions. How did she get these? Who could have betrayed us so deeply? If Odette knew about Emily then what did she not know? God! I had thought that chapter of my life was over but here it was; peaking at me through Odette's folder.
ARIANA'S POV I said goodbye to Rob, feeling elated and still basking in the warmth of our intense moment together. I had no idea what I had been thinking, grabbing him and kissing him like that but I was glad I did. Watching him shout at Thompson had been arousing. At that moment, all I wanted to do was grab him and kiss him senseless. If we were somewhere private, I would have made love to him fiercely. We had shared a connection that left me breathless, and I couldn't wait to see him again.I called the chauffeur and in a few minutes, he was there to pick me up. As we drove to Barbara's office, I was focused on the task at hand. Our company was in critical condition, and I needed the best mind to help me come up with projections and a plan to save it. Barbara, with her exceptional data analysis skills, was the perfect person to turn to. Besides, I could trust her. After everything we had gone through together, I knew Babs would be honest with me. What if I failed? What if I let t
ARIANA'S POV "Ariana, please understand," Josh said, his voice gentle and concerned. "I'm only trying to help. I know you're going through a tough time with Vanderbilt Holdings."I narrowed my eyes, my mind racing with suspicions. What did he know about my company? How did he know we were struggling? "What do you know about my company, Josh?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral, but my voice came out sharper than I intended.He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Just what's been reported in the news. But I do know that times are tough, and sometimes, fresh perspectives can be helpful."I crossed my arms, my defenses up. Fresh perspectives? That sounded like corporate speak to me. What did he really want? And why was he being so secretive about his motives? I thought back to our previous conversations, I knew Josh owned a significant share in Graceland Hospital but that didn't mean he could help an international company like Vanderbilt Holdings. "And what makes you think
ROBERT'S POVI paced back and forth in Barbara's office, my mind racing with thoughts. Where was Ariana? I had tried calling her phone, but it was still switched off. I had called her assistant, but she hadn't heard from Ariana either. A sense of desperation was creeping in, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.Barbara got up from her seat, walking over to me. "Rob, try to stay calm. I'm sure Ariana is fine. She might have had an emergency or a last-minute meeting. Let's not jump to conclusions yet."Barbara couldn't know that. There was a possibility that Ari wasn't safe. With recent happenings, I couldn't trust anyone. It was now very obvious that
ARIANA'S POVI stood frozen, my phone still clutched in my hand, as the menacing voice echoed in my mind. "Come alone...or your precious Rob will pay the price." My breath caught in my throat, and my heart raced like a jackhammer. Panic set in, and I felt the familiar symptoms of a panic attack creeping up on me. My chest constricted, and I struggled to breathe. I tried to calm myself down, but it was too late. The hyperventilation took over, and I felt like I was suffocating.I collapsed onto the couch, my body shaking uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for air. The attack lasted for what felt like an eternity, leaving me exhausted and drained. When I finally regained control, I broke down into sobs, fear and anxiety consuming me.
ROBERT'S POVI stared at Ariana's purse, my mind racing with thoughts. Something was fishy, and I knew it. I quickly grabbed myphone and dialed Margaret's number. Maybe Ariana was with her, and I was just overreacting. But as soon as Margaret answered, I knew I wasn't."Margaret, it's Rob. Have you seen Ariana?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm."No, Rob. I haven't seen her. Is everything okay?" she replied, concern etched in her voice.I sighed, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. "I don't know, Margaret. I can't find her anywhere. And now I've found her purse at our house, but she's nowhere to be found."
ROBERT'S POVI punched Thompson with all my might, my anger and frustration spilling over like a volcano erupting. My fist connected with his face with a satisfying crunch, and he stumbled back, holding his cheekbone. For a moment, he looked like a wounded animal, his eyes wide with shock and confusion.But as I turned to face Odette, my rage only intensified. She stormed towards me, her face red with rage, her eyes blazing with fury."Robert, what is wrong with you?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the office like a thunderclap.I stood my ground, my fists still clenched, my arms trembling with tension. "You know exactly what
ROBERT'S POVI was taken aback by Detective Parker's offer, my mind racing with confusion. Why would he want to help me after everything that had happened? But as soon as I recovered from the shock, my entire body became consumed with rage. I remembered the way he had treated Ariana, the way he had arrested her and thrown her in jail without enough evidence. I remembered the pain and suffering he had caused her, and my anger boiled over."Get the hell out of my property!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the hallway. "You have no right to be here! You've done enough damage already!"I slammed the door shut, my heart racing with fury. I couldn't believe I had almost fallen for his trick, almost believing that he
ROBERT'S POVI tried to defend myself, but my father cut me off at every turn. "You have failed, Robbie," he said, his voice cold and harsh. "You have failed the company, and you have failed your family.""I understand your concerns, Father," I said, standing tall and meeting his gaze. "But let me remind you of the facts. Under my leadership, Vanderbilt Holdings has seen a significant increase in profits. Our stock prices have risen by 20% in the past quarter alone, and our market share has expanded by 15%. I've secured major deals with key investors and implemented innovative strategies that have boosted our revenue."My father scoffed, but I continued, unfazed. "I've worked tirelessly to salvage our reputation an