The club was lit up, a mix of swirling neon lights and the steady bass of music creating an atmosphere that teetered between relaxation and chaos. Shaw sat at a private table near the back, nursing a glass of bourbon. This wasn’t his first time in such a setting; he had long since mastered the art of blending in while keeping his mind sharp. His dark suit blended with the shadows, his eyes fixed on the entrance as he waited.Minutes ticked by before Liam finally arrived. His tailored blazer and confident stride screamed wealth, but Shaw could see the cracks beneath the surface—the nervous glance around the room, the slightly clenched jaw. Liam was trying too hard to appear composed.“Mr. Carter,” Liam greeted, extending his hand with a practiced smile. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”Shaw stood, matching his smile. “No, you didn’t, and please, call me Shaw.”The handshake was firm, professional, but there was an unspoken tension between them. They both sat, Liam signaling for a drin
Mia’s POVThe grand conference room buzzed with anticipation as the businessmen settled into their seats. The sleek, polished wood of the long table gleamed under the overhead lights, and the low hum of murmured conversations filled the air. Today was crucial—this meeting would determine the future of the collaboration between three prominent corporations, including Carter Enterprises and AMT Corporation, her heart racing in sync with the room's palpable energy. It had been days of preparation, and now, everything rested on the next few hours.Shaw entered with his signature confidence, his sharp suit emphasizing his imposing presence. He moved with purpose, his steps calculated, and Mia couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he commanded the room. By his side, she clutched her tablet, ready to assist at a moment’s notice. She had worked tirelessly to prepare for this, aligning everything perfectly for Shaw's vision. The weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders, but she wa
“C’mon, babe, you know all this is only temporary,” Liam pleaded, his voice soft but filled with urgency. He stood in the middle of their bedroom, his hands outstretched toward Maya, who sat on the edge of the bed, her arms folded defensively. Her face was a mix of frustration and sorrow, a look that had become all too familiar in recent days.“This is already becoming too much, Liam,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. She averted her gaze, staring down at the carpet as if searching for an answer. “I can’t keep pretending this doesn’t bother me.”“Please, Maya.” Liam knelt in front of her, his hands resting gently on her knees. “Don’t let your jealousy stop us from reaching our goals. We’ve come so far together. Don’t give up on me now.”Maya hesitated, her eyes filling with unshed tears. She hated feeling like this—like a pawn in a game she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to play anymore. But Liam’s words tugged at her heartstrings. She loved him, and despite her doubts, she
Mia stared at the lipstick in her hand, its bright red casing gleaming under the dim light of the bathroom. The bold color felt out of place in her world of neutral tones and understated elegance, like a foreign object dropped into the wrong life. Its presence mocked her, taunting her with questions she wasn’t ready to ask. She turned it over carefully, as though it might reveal answers if held just so. A faint scent came from it, one that wasn’t hers. The floral undertone was sharp and cloying, completely unlike the subtle perfumes she preferred.Her pulse quickened. Who could this belong to? The thought stabbed at her, quick and sharp. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to calm down. And then the darker thought crept in, uninvited but persistent. Did Liam bring someone here?Her throat tightened. She squeezed the lipstick in her palm, its smooth surface a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her. Confronting him seemed like the logical choice, but the words s
The air in Mia’s room felt cooler than usual, a soft breeze brushing against her skin as she stood in front of her mirror, holding up yet another dress Grace had insisted she try on. The room was a riot of color, with dresses sprawled across the bed in various shades of elegance. The current dress, a dark, somber hue, made her frown.“I don’t like this one,” Mia said, handing the dress back with a sigh.Grace, who had been reclining on the bed, groaned dramatically and sat up. “Mia, that’s the seventh dress. At this rate, you’ll miss the party altogether.” She grabbed another option from the pile. “What about this one?”Mia turned, surveying the dress Grace held. Her eyes lit up as the emerald-green fabric caught the light, its shimmer hinting at sophistication and charm. She held it against herself and admired the way it complemented her figure.“Yes,” Mia said, her voice decisive. “This is the one.”“Finally!” Grace threw her hands up in mock relief before flopping back onto the bed
20 Minutes Earlier Maya’s grin widened as she led Liam down the dimly lit corridor, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Her grip on his wrist was firm, her touch electrifying. She glanced back at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.“Come on,” she urged, her voice a low, seductive whisper. “We’ll only be a few minutes. You’ll thank me later.”Liam hesitated, his gaze darting nervously to the bustling party behind them. The faint hum of conversation and laughter still filtered through the hallway, a distant reminder of the event they were supposed to be attending.“Maya, I don’t know about this,” he said, his voice tight with unease. “What if someone walks in?”She rolled her eyes, tugging him forward with a teasing laugh. “Relax, Liam. Everyone’s busy networking, mingling, or glued to Ahmed’s speech. No one is coming back here, trust me.”They stopped in front of a door, slightly ajar, revealing a dimly lit, unoccupied conference room. Maya pushed it open with a f
Mia walked barefoot, holding one of her heels in her hand. Tears ran down her face as she remembered all the times Grace warned her not to get back together with Liam, if only she listened her heart wouldn’t be broken by the same man. It slowly began to rain but she didn’t care she continued to walk under the rain.‘Maybe this is just how men are, it’s in their nature to cheat.’ She thought to herself as the rain drenched her and ruined her make up The rain fell in a relentless drizzle, its cold sting matching the weight in Mia’s chest. She stormed past the grand front doors of the event, her heel and foot clicking on the wet pavement, each step faster than the last. Her chest heaved as emotions swirled inside her like the stormy clouds above. The voices of mingling guests faded behind her, drowned out by the pounding of her heart and the rain.A few minutes later a black car stopped near her and rolled the window down, it was shawShe didn’t listen she just continued walking aimles
The next morning, Mia stirred from a restless sleep, feeling marginally better but still groggy from the cold that had crept into her bones the previous night. The sunlight streamed through the gaps in her curtains, intensifying the pounding ache in her head. Groaning, she rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head, but it was no use. The events of the previous night replayed vividly in her mind—Liam’s betrayal, Maya’s mocking smirk, and the sheer humiliation she felt as she stormed out of the event.Eventually, she dragged herself out of bed, her body heavy with exhaustion and heartbreak. Sticking to her usual routine, Mia shuffled into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and stepped into a warm shower. The heat offered some relief, soothing her tense muscles, but it did nothing to wash away the ache in her chest.After throwing on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, she made her way to the kitchen, where Grace was already seated, sipping her coffee and scrolling through
Kim’s phone beeped. She had been expecting the message ever since. She had been pacing around the house. And for some reason, Shaw’s face had filled her brain. She wasn’t able to think properly. All she wanted was the news that she was yet to get. And now that she was getting the text that she had been waiting for, she was smiling. Check the news stations, the message had said. She quickly picked her remote and checked out the entertainment station. Just as expected, the pictures of Shaw and Mia had filled the television. They were sitting there in a restaurant, looking at each other affectionately. Kim was slightly annoyed that she wasn’t the one sitting there with Shaw at the table. But it didn’t change the fact that all of Shaw’s life was now out in the open. He could barely go out in public with her if it wasn’t displayed out there. He wouldn’t have had any idea that she was the one that caused it anyway. He would probably think that Mia was doing everything,and it was Mia’s fau
Mia didn’t know what to expect. She was still glowing from everything that went on the night before. The way he held her while she slept. She woke up to the sight of him looking at her affectionately, scared to move so that she won't wake up. She was extremely shocked that he could be that caring. And she was shocked that he was ready before she finished having her bath. Well, that’s just the way men get dressed, isn’t it?This time, he didn’t take her to the posh restaurants that she was trying so hard to get adjusted to. He took her to one of those homely roadside cafes. As soon as they walked in, the sound of the bell went off at the door. The nostalgic feeling consumed Mia as the smell of coffee and cakes filled her nostrils. She looked at Shaw, and he took his hands in hers as he led her to the inner part of the restaurant. The people eating there were obviously coming just after a run. “We have to go to the office really soon,” she said, with her voice shaking. He stopped in h
“N-nothing,” Mia stuttered, looking at Shaw. Her heart was in her mouth. Grace also didn’t know what to say. She managed to clear her throat and speak up.“Just some female issues,” Grace said. As far as she was concerned, that was the only thing she had to say to keep men from asking unnecessary questions.“Oh alright,” Shaw said, and dropped the cups of coffee. Suddenly, he froze. “Did you both come across Ahmed on your way here?”Grace was about to speak, but Mia gave her the signal to stop speaking. She didn’t want to tell Shaw about anything that concerned Ahmed yet. They had seen him and he smirked, asking her what she was doing at her boss’ house so late at night. She didn’t have anything to say to him, and he told her that she could come and meet him at his office. And that he had all the information that she needed. He knew that she was looking for every information that concerned Shaw and the bridge that her parents died in. She was shocked that he knew everything that sh
Shaw was putting on tracksuit bottoms. He didn’t have a shirt on. Hell, he just finished having his bath and his hair was wet and sleek. He was shocked when he heard the doorbell go off. He quickly went to check who it was. He silently hoped that it wasn’t anybody that was going to ruin his mood. He was slightly annoyed when he figured out that he was slightly late to call the security men to ask who was at the door. He was already almost there. He swung the door open, ready to see anything. He was shocked when he saw a smirking Ahmed in front of him. In his hand, he held a glass of whiskey. Shaw wanted to punch him there on the spot until his nose bled. Instead, he managed a small smile. “What are you doing here, Ahmed?” he asked, closing the door slightly to show Ahmed that he wasn’t even invited.“Nothing,” Ahmed, said shrugging. “Quite a show you put up at the last meeting we attended. I just wanted to compliment you for it.”Shaw cocked an eyebrow. “Come on, tell me where the m
Liam was minutes away from smashing the television. There was no single channel that Maya liked watching, that Mia and Shaw’s face wasn’t there. He hated the way the media was paying attention to everything that they did on that night. “It’s not like they did anything that special,” he said to himself in frustration. If only he knew what was coming next on the news.“They actually look cute together,” Maya said, chewing her popcorn. It was like she was even looking for any channel that talked about them, and then, she stayed there until the gossip was over. It wasn’t like she was trying to rub salt in Liam’s wounds, she simply adored the dress that Mia wore both times that evening. She couldn’t lie that she also envied Mia’s shape. She planned to order for it once Liam paid her the money that he promised to give her.“Did you hear how much Shaw Carter paid for Mia during the auction?” she asked, looking at Liam with wide eyes. Liam rolled his own eyes in response.“Five million dolla
“The baby is doing just fine,” the doctor assured Mia, smiling that she was worrying unnecessarily. She couldn’t take any risks. It felt like the baby was the only thing that she lived for. A text appeared on her phone. She checked and saw that it was Liam. She was about to ignore when she saw what was actually written on it. “Just a little warning that you should reconsider the marriage. Or else, this might be the last time that you will be heading to the hospital to check up on your baby.”She looked around immediately, worried that he was somewhere around, looking at her. The doctor frowned, sensing her worry.“You shouldn’t worry much,” she said. “Both you and the baby don’t need any stress at this point.” Mia tried to calm down immediately. She nodded, standing out and taking her prescriptions for the medication that she needed. Her eyes were still on her phone as she headed out of the hospital. She was completely distracted until she bumped into a hard body. “I’m sorry,” she
Shaw didn’t know what to expect when he saw Mia coming out of his office. “Was there something she was looking for?” he asked himself as he watched her flip pancakes in his kitchen. It had been years since he had anybody cooking for him. But she was doing it without asking any questions. She couldn’t have been pretending right? He rubbed his face with his hands, trying not to think too much. He already had Ahmed on his tail. And he hadn’t even started dealing with him for all the things that he had done to him in the past. Mia had helped him with all information that he needed. All that was left was the execution. He couldn’t be more glad that Mia wasn’t even one bit shy. She looked very confident when she woke up this morning. She wasn’t avoiding him either. “Food is ready,” she said as she placed a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He inhaled the heavenly aroma and thanked her for the food. She smiled as she sat down beside him and ate in silence. For the first time, she wasn’t
Mia’s PovI stirred in the bed, with Shaw’s hands wrapped around me. I blinked, trying to take in the design of the room. It almost looked like a hospital with how white almost everything was. His breathing was steady at the back of my neck. I couldn’t smell anything except the scent of him. He smelled so good, I didn’t want to smell anything else.His hands were firmly against my stomach. A feeling of warmth spread in my chest. Then it hit me that he didn’t know that I was carrying his child. There was no need for me to feel anything. I tried to move, then I realized that his office was probably somewhere in the house. There was no way such a rich man didn’t have an office at home. I had to find the documents that must have concerned my parents.It was definitely somewhere around right?I tried to wiggle myself out of his hold without making any noise. I put my two feet on the floor, before practically sprinting out of the room, and shutting the door quietly behind me. I honestly fe
Mia’s PovI was already so disgraced. But that was nothing compared to what I was feeling. Shaw was my boss of course. But nobody knew that he was probably the father of my child. How many people did I have to tell? Only Grace knew about it. and I regretted not bringing her to the party more than anything. Kim was finally quiet after Shaw said all that. I had no idea what he was talking about. But as long as all eyes were finally off me, I honestly had no issue with it. everybody went back to dancing like nothing just happened. I spotted Liam in the crowd. He smirked at me like some sort of warning. Shaw spent the rest of his time trying to be a bad dancer just so that I could laugh, but my mood was already ruined. And besides, he was a really good dancer. Better than I could ever be. “Come,” he finally said, holding me by the hand as he led me away from the party.***Shaw’s PovI watched her ass sway with the gown that she was wearing. It let me get a glimpse of her toned legs. I