Agatha POV:I sat across from Charles in Dad’s fancy office, the weight of our new “partnership” heavy in the air. My gut churned with a feeling of unease that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I tried to tell myself everything was okay.“So, Charles,” I started, keeping my voice calm and steady. “What’s the plan? How do we deal with this Xing Enterprises situation?”Charles leaned forward, his elbows on the shiny desk.“Well, Agatha, I’ve been doing some… deep research on Xing Enterprises. And I’ve found some… interesting things.”I raised an eyebrow, curious in spite of my doubts. “Go on.”“It seems Xing Enterprises has been making some… shady deals lately. Deals that, if everyone knew about them, could ruin them.”A chill ran down my spine. “Shady deals? What are you saying, Charles?”He held up his hand, looking serious. “Now, now, Agatha, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying your family did anything wrong. But Xing Enterprises… they have a reputation for being… dirty in thei
Agatha’s POV:Days blurred into weeks, a chaotic jumble of meetings and strategic planning. The potential alliance between Campbell Enterprises and NexGen felt like a giant, complicated dance, with me stuck in the middle trying to please both my father and Charles. And all the while, a tiny voice inside my head whispered, "What about what you want, Agatha?"But it was hard to even think about what I wanted with Nathan’s shadow still looming over everything. He was like a stubborn weed in my perfectly manicured garden, popping up again and again no matter how hard I tried to pull him out.I couldn't shake the memory of him showing up at my house, his eyes pleading, his voice raw with regret as he begged for another chance. It had shaken me, made me doubt my decision to push him away. Had I been too harsh? Was there still a chance for us, even after everything?Those thoughts battled with the very different feelings Charles stirred in me. His smooth charm and constant attention wer
Agatha’s POV:I stared at my computer screen, my reflection staring back at me – a woman with dark circles under her eyes and a frown etched on her forehead. agatha POV:Exhaustion tugged at me, but sleep was a distant dream these days.The Xing Enterprises threat loomed over everything. Charles and Dad were working nonstop, trying to find a way to stop them from taking over NexGen. Charles was… intense. He was always around, offering help, advice, and those lingering touches that sent shivers down my spine.But after his stunt with the ring, a part of me held back. Could I really trust him? He said all the right things, but his methods… sometimes they felt a little too ruthless, too calculated.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was an email from… Nathan. My heart skipped a beat. Why was he contacting me?I clicked on the email, my fingers trembling slightly. It was short, the subject line simply reading: “Something you need to know.”My breath caught in my throat a
Nathan’s POV:My finger hovered over the send button, a bead of sweat trickling down my temple. The email draft felt dangerous, like a ticking bomb. Sending it would blow up any chance of fixing things with my dad, and maybe even destroy Richards Inc.What am I doing? Am I really going to betray my own company?But the memory of seeing Agatha at the De Rossi mansion, the hurt in her eyes, the way Charles loomed over her like he owned her… it ignited a desperate fire inside me.I can’t let them hurt her. I have to do something. Even if it costs me everything.I couldn’t let Xing Enterprises destroy her family’s legacy. Not when I knew Agatha was their target. Not when I held the power to stop them.This isn’t about winning her back, I told myself, but a part of me knew that was a lie. It’s about doing what’s right. About being the man she deserves.Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes and clicked “send.”Regret hit me like a punch to the gut. What have I done? I’d just thrown a
Agatha’s POV:"Agatha?" His voice, rough with surprise, sent a shiver down my spine. "God, he is delusional," I thought, rolling my eyes. Did Nathan really think a single phone call could erase everything, fix the giant mess he'd made?I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay calm and cool. Time to put on my professional mask. "Yes, Nathan, it’s me," I said. "I apologize for calling so late.”“You can call me anytime you like,” he said, his voice softer now, sending a warmth through me that I quickly pushed away.Don't fall for it, Agatha. Remember what he did. I reminded myself. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a second.“Isn’t Camille in the room?” I asked, my voice hardening.“Please, Nathan, I’m not playing your games. Respect your fiancée, and respect me.”It felt strange, a little hypocritical, to be the one demanding respect for his fiancée, but the thought of them together, in his bed, made my stomach twist.“She’s… asleep,” he mumbled.“Right,” I said, not
Charles’ POV:I strolled into Aldo's office, a confident smile plastered on my face. Agatha was waiting, her brow furrowed as she studied some documents spread across the massive mahogany desk. The morning light filtering through the window illuminated her hair, turning it into a halo of golden fire.“She's even more beautiful when she's focused.”I thought, my chest tightening with a longing that surprised even me."Good morning, my love," I greeted her, my voice smooth and warm.She looked up, her expression guarded. "Charles. I didn't realize you were coming today."Her voice was cool, distant. My smile faltered slightly. Something was off."Is everything alright, Agatha?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. "You seem… troubled."She sighed, those deep, mesmerizing eyes clouded with a sadness that twisted my gut. "It's nothing, just… a lot on my mind."I knew instantly. Nathan. She'd talked to him. A surge of jealousy, hot and possessive, flooded through me.That bastard. Even when
Agatha’s POVThe conference room buzzed with nervous energy. Lawyers shuffled papers, advisors whispered in hushed tones, and Dad paced back and forth, his phone glued to his ear. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating.We were on the verge of exposing Xing Enterprises’s dirty tricks, but a knot of unease twisted in my gut. It wasn’t just the risk to NexGen, to my family’s legacy. It was Charles.He was the architect of this whole plan, the mastermind behind our counterattack. His brilliance, his ruthless efficiency, had both impressed and scared me. He’d been my rock, my protector, during these turbulent weeks. His presence, always reassuring, had filled a void I hadn’t even realized existed.But a shadow of doubt, a nagging whisper of suspicion, lingered in the back of my mind.His methods, sometimes, felt too brutal, too calculating. And his past, shrouded in secrecy, remained a mystery I couldn’t quite unlock.“Agatha, are you ready?” Charles’s vo
Agatha POV:Sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Every time I closed my eyes, Charles’s face would swim into view – his warm smile, his reassuring touch, those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. But then, the image would twist, morphing into a shadowy figure with a hidden agenda, his words laced with deceit.Shady dealings… Xing Enterprises… Denies Allegations.The words from the article about his past echoed in my mind, a relentless, haunting refrain.I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had to confront him.“Charles, we need to talk.” My voice was tight, my hand trembling slightly as I held the phone to my ear.At the first hour in the morning, he was in my office, looking even more handsome than usual in the daylight. His tailored suit emphasized his broad shoulders, his brown eyes filled with concern.Part of me, the part that craved his touch, his reassurance, wanted to forget about the article, about my doubts. But the other part, the part that had been hurt, b