Jaxon sat in his office, eyes fixed on his laptop as he worked diligently. A knock at the door broke his concentration. Raising his head, he saw his private investigator, Charlie, step in with a mild smile.It was that time of the month again, and Jaxon silently hoped for good news. Rising from his seat, he extended a hand across the desk. "Charlie," he greeted."Mr. Waverly," Charlie replied politely. Jaxon gestured toward a chair, inviting him to sit."Tell me you've got good news," Jaxon said, settling back into his chair and pulling it closer to the desk.Charlie shook his head slowly, his expression apologetic. "It's the same, boss. There's no trace of her. Every lead just... circles back to..." He hesitated, studying Jaxon’s reaction.Jaxon’s face tightened with disappointment, his brow furrowing. "Her grave," he finished for him. Charlie nodded somberly."If you want me to keep searching, I will," Charlie offered with an encouraging nod, but Jaxon’s patience and faith was begi
Isla and Jaxon walked into La Pergola and Isla’s jaw was literally on the floor. Just when Isla thought the main dining area was heaven on earth, Jaxon led her further into a secluded VIP section tucked in a private corner. Her head tilted back as she took in the sheer elegance, trailing behind him in awe.It was, without a doubt, the most luxurious setting Isla had ever experienced. As they settled into their seats, a waitress approached, her smile as bright as the chandeliers above.“Mr. Waverly! It’s always a pleasure to see you,” said the waitress, “Sasha,” her name embroidered neatly on the pocket of her uniform. Jaxon responded with a faint smile.“You always say that, Sasha,” he replied coolly, his gaze steady. Sasha then turned her attention to Isla.“Welcome, ma’am,” she said with a polite bow. Isla returned the gesture, her own smile wide and a little nervous. Sasha glanced back at Jaxon.“What about Mr. Alex?” she asked with a knowing grin.“He’s not joining us today,” Jax
After eating, Isla felt noticeably better, even though she had barely touched her food. Jaxon couldn’t take his eyes off her, watching her every move and reaction.“You don’t have to go back to work if you’re not ready,” Jaxon said, lifting his glass of wine and taking a sip.Isla looked up, startled. “No. No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t want to go home. I’m fine, Mr. Jaxon. Really, I am.” She forced a wide smile, though it didn’t quite convince him. “I don’t want your pity or anything. I’m perfectly fine.”“I’m not pitying you,” Jaxon replied firmly. “I just want to make sure you’re in the right state of mind to work.”“I am,” Isla insisted. “Alex isn’t here, so it’s my responsibility to oversee your schedule and take care of you until he’s back.”“Oh?” Jaxon raised an eyebrow. “You want to take care of me?”Isla’s lips parted, and she stammered, “I… I didn’t mean it like that.”“Why not?” Jaxon pressed, taking another sip of his wine. “Can’t you take care of your boss?”“N
Jaxon drove into the underground parking garage, the hum of his engine echoing off the concrete walls. As his car came to a stop, his eyes landed on Alex’s vehicle parked not far away. Alex stood nearby, flanked by his driver, Ray and a sizeable group of their men, all poised and ready. Raising a brow in surprise, Jaxon stepped out of his car smoothly. Alex didn’t waste time and approached him.“Boss,” Alex greeted with a slight nod.“I wasn’t expecting you to be here,” Jaxon remarked.Alex nodded again. “Yeah, I should’ve called. I’m feeling better now,” he replied, but Jaxon wasn’t buying it.“I don’t think that’s the whole story,” Jaxon said, his voice laced with skepticism. “But if you’re set on keeping it from me, I’ll play along for now.”Before Alex could respond, the low rumble of engines filled the garage. Two sleek, black vans sped into view, coming to a sharp halt a short distance away.“We’ll discuss this later,” Jaxon muttered, shifting his focus to the approaching vehic
Alex pulled up in front of the bar, tilting his facecap low before stepping out of his vehicle. His long strides carried him across the road to the bar’s entrance.With his head bowed, he stepped inside, scanning the bar area for Michael. To his disappointment—and growing frustration—someone else was behind the counter.‘Seriously? First, he’s not on any apps, and now he’s not at work?’ Alex clenched his jaw as he approached the bartender. ‘Maybe he’s doing the midnight shift today,’ he thought, trying to stay optimistic.“Hey,” Alex greeted with a wide smile, though he couldn’t hide his disappointment. The bartender looked decent enough—nerdy, even—but he wasn’t Michael.“Hey! How’s it going?” the bartender replied, leaning on the counter. Alex’s gaze flicked to the name tag on his uniform: Toby.“I’m good, Toby,” Alex said, offering a polite nod.“Glad to hear that,” Toby replied, straightening up. “What can I get you?”“Erm…” Alex hesitated, leaning closer to the counter. The music
Alex stepped into the Hausmann & Co. jewelry store, his eyes immediately scanning the elegant interior. With steady strides, he made his way to the Rolex section, stopping in front of the sleek display case. Rows of exquisite wristwatches glinted under the soft, strategically placed lights. He paused, his gaze fixed on the collection.“Good day, sir,” a jewelry consultant greeted warmly from behind the counter.“Good day,” Alex replied, offering a polite smile.“Is there a specific piece you're interested in today?” the consultant inquired.Alex raised a hand, pointing to one of the watches.“An excellent choice, sir,” the consultant remarked. “That's the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, Oyster 40mm in platinum. Crafted from 950 platinum, it features an ice-blue dial—a signature of Rolex’s platinum models. Would you like to try it on?”Alex shook his head, his smile soft, “No need. It's a gift.”“For someone special? Even better,” the consultant said with a knowing grin.Alex arched a brow
Isla rushed out of the office to grab her bag. Inside, she had a candle and a lighter. She pulled them out and quickly returned.In the office, Jaxon had positioned a stool between the chairs in front of his desk, placing the cake and glasses on it. As he poured wine into the glasses, Isla carefully inserted the candle into the cake.He let out a scoff and shook his head. "You brought a candle too?""Of course!" Isla grinned. "What's a birthday cake without a wish?" She lit the candle with a flick of the lighter. As Jaxon finished pouring, he set the wine bottle down beside the stool."Go on, make a wish," she urged, her smile wide and expectant.Jaxon shrugged, folding his arms as he leaned back. "I don’t have any.""Don’t be like that, Mr. Jaxon," Isla pressed, her eyes widening. "Everybody wants something."He sighed, raising a brow. "Alright," he muttered, leaning forward. "Can’t even remember the last time I did this." Closing his eyes, he appeared deep in thought as the candleli
As Isla’s face neared his, Jaxon subtly turned his head to the side, causing her to freeze mid-motion. Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed hard, pulling back in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, her voice trembling with regret as she shook her head.Jaxon’s eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw tense. A storm of emotions churned within him. He wanted to kiss her, but the thought of giving away his first kiss so impulsively held him back. He needed time—time to be sure.The silence between them grew heavy and suffocating. Isla shifted uncomfortably before finally rising from her chair. The sound startled Jaxon, and his eyes flew open.“I… I should go,” she murmured, avoiding his gaze. Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed for the door.Jaxon’s jaw clenched as he watched her retreating figure. He wanted to stop her, to admit that he wanted the kiss too, but the words wouldn’t come. They caught in his throat, leaving him to wrestle with his t
Alex stepped aside and reached for his phone to call Jaxon, but just as he was about to dial, he spotted Jaxon’s car pulling into Mrs. Bennett’s compound.Lowering his phone, he strode toward the vehicle, barely waiting for Jaxon to cut the engine before speaking."I was just about to call you," Alex said as Jaxon unfastened his seatbelt and swung the door open.Alex continued, "No sign of her at the hospital yet. We just got here, so we’re not sure if she’s here either. We knocked, but no one has—""Someone just answered," Jaxon cut in, his eyes fixed on the house. He barely acknowledged Alex as he advanced toward the entrance. His men stood still, awaiting orders, while Alex trailed behind him.The door swung open, revealing Ivy. The moment she stepped outside, her gaze locked onto Jaxon, her expression hardening. ‘Of course, it’s him,’ she thought in disgust, shutting the door behind her."Don’t you think this is a bit dramatic?" Ivy scoffed, folding her arms. "We get it—you run a
"Jeremy wants a divorce." Ivy's voice was steady, but the weight of her words filled the room. She sank into the chair beside her mother’s bed, exhaustion lining her face. They had just returned from the hospital—Mrs. Bennett needed to rest before her next chemo cycle."What?!" Mrs. Bennett’s voice came out weak, yet the shock was evident in her expression.Ivy simply shrugged. "It’s Isla. Again," she muttered, and the confusion on her mother’s face deepened."What do you mean? What does Isla have to do with this?"Ivy scoffed. "If they hadn’t seen each other the day before, divorce wouldn’t even be on Jeremy’s mind. He claims they’re still in love, and apparently, she feels the same."Mrs. Bennett shook her head in disbelief. "That’s impossible. It doesn’t add up. Isla has a boyfriend—things are serious between them. I don’t believe she would say something like that to Jeremy. He must have misunderstood."A bitter laugh escaped Ivy’s lips. "Of course. I knew you’d defend her. You alw
“Isla!” Jaxon burst into his mansion, breathless. “Isla!” he called again, his voice echoing through the eerily silent house.Charlie’s words replayed in his mind as he rushed toward the stairs."Teresa has been here all along! Her mother changed their identities and appearance, terrified your father would come after the rest of the family. She fled Rome and has been hiding in a small house in Naples."“Isla!” he shouted once more, but the silence remained unbroken.Then he froze.Down the hallway, his study door was ajar.“Fuck!” he cursed, sprinting toward it.The moment he stepped inside, her scent lingered in the air. His stomach tightened as he rushed to his desk—only to find his journal missing. The rest of his belongings had been disturbed.“Fuck! She knows!” His pulse pounded as he bolted out of the study, slamming the door shut behind him. Without hesitation, he headed straight for her bedroom.The door was slightly ajar, and a cold dread settled in his chest. His worst fears
Isla strode straight to the desk, her gaze sweeping the room in search of any clue—anything to prove she wasn’t just being paranoid.Reaching the desk, her eyes flicked over its surface. A few files lay scattered on top. She skimmed through them, but they were nothing more than work-related documents and contracts.Crouching slightly, she turned her attention to the drawers attached to the desk. Just as she was about to place her phone down and pull one open, her screen lit up with an incoming call.She frowned, glancing at the name. It was Austin. Her jaw tightened. ‘Bad timing.’ Without a second thought, she silenced the call and set the phone on the desk.Returning to the drawers, she tugged at one—locked. She tried another. Also locked.‘Locked drawers inside a locked room? That’s beyond suspicious.’ She tested each one, but none had been carelessly left open. ‘Great. Now I have to find the keys. And they better not be hidden too well.’Shifting her focus, she moved to the bookshe
Jeremy sped off in his car, heading to work. His eyes flickered to his phone screen once more, hoping for a message from Isla, but nothing.‘Did she know he was in the mafia before?’ The thought gnawed at him. He shook his head, refocusing on the road. He remembered clearly how much Isla despised the mafia when they were together. She never held back her disgust, always speaking about them with pure contempt.He had often wondered why, but she never gave him an answer. Sure, everyone knew the mafia was powerful, ruthless, and knee-deep in illegal business, but Isla’s hatred ran deeper. It was personal. And he knew that.‘There’s no way she knew and still got with him. He must’ve hidden it from her. But... why hasn’t she responded after reading the message?’ His jaw clenched as he tilted his head in thought.As he approached the turn under a bridge, he made the sharp curve, and caught sight of a car sticking unnervingly close behind him. His brows furrowed. Checking the rearview mirror
Isla woke up with a deep yawn, stretching her arm toward the empty space beside her. She expected to feel Jaxon lying next to her, but he was nowhere to be found.Her brows furrowed as she blinked her eyes open, glancing at his side of the bed. Letting out a quiet sigh, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand."Jaxon?" she mumbled drowsily, stifling another yawn.Sliding out from beneath the sheets, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and reached for her phone. Unlocking it, she found everything exactly as she had left it the night before.Slipping on her flip-flops, she padded toward the door and stepped into the hallway."Jaxon?" she called again, her voice echoing slightly as she made her way toward the stairs.The night before, after her conversation with Austin, she had made up her mind—she was going to tell Jaxon about it. Something about Austin wanting to meet up before explaining himself felt off to her. It almost seemed like he had nothin
Michael struggled but managed to carry Alex up the stairs and into his bedroom. Alex had been out cold the entire drive back to his estate.With a grunt, Michael dropped Alex onto the bed and let out a deep sigh of relief. He collapsed beside him, chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. Carrying Alex had taken its toll.Turning his head, Michael studied Alex, who lay peacefully beside him. He pushed himself up slightly, eyes fixed on Alex’s face, his expression unreadable.Resting his head on his hand, he kept staring. Asleep, Alex looked softer, almost innocent. Slowly, Michael reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face.‘Why does it have to be like this between us?’ The thought weighed heavy in his mind.As if sensing it, Alex stirred, his weary eyes fluttering open, locking instantly with Michael’s, who had been watching him intently.Without hesitation, Alex raised a hand, fingers ghosting over Michael’s face. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered, voice b
Gingerhead let out a hearty laugh, and Alex chuckled along, his gaze fixed on the man's face."You still haven’t told me your name," Alex said.Gingerhead sighed, taking a slow sip of his drink before meeting Alex’s eyes. "Do you really want to do introductions, or do you just want to fuck me?"Alex’s brows shot up in surprise. He hadn’t expected someone who looked so nerdy and reserved to be this blunt.And yet, he loved it."Well, I don’t like introductions either," Alex admitted, downing the rest of his whiskey, never breaking eye contact.Gingerhead bit his lower lip, then wordlessly slid away from the counter, his fingertips grazing up Alex’s arm as he moved.A smirk tugged at Alex’s lips. He stood and followed, watching as Gingerhead led him toward the hallway at the far end of the club. He deliberately maintained a bit of distance between them, stretching the tension with every step.Gingerhead kept glancing back, his expression teasing, seductive, his pace slowing just enough
Alex’s ears throbbed with the pulse of hip-hop music as he stepped into the club, still clad in his work attire after heading straight from the company.For the first time since Jaxon had uncovered the truth about him, he felt a slight sense of relief. But another weight still pressed on his mind. Michael.Weaving through the bodies moving on the dance floor, he made his way to the bar. The counter was crowded, but luck was on his side—an empty seat awaited him.He sank onto it with a heavy sigh, sweeping his gaze across the room. ‘Why’s this place so packed today?’ The thought crossed his mind before realization hit. ‘it’s Friday night, of course it is packed.’Turning to the bartender, he forced a strained smile. “Whiskey,” he ordered. She returned his smile with ease and nodded, reaching for a glass.As she worked, Alex dug into his bag for his phone, tapping open his DMs with Michael. Nothing had changed. Every apology he’d sent sat there, read but ignored. His jaw clenched. The s