Jordan’s POVI sat behind the heavy oak desk in my office, looking at Ethan standing in front of me, calm and collected. I knew deep down that entrusting Ethan into my right-hand man slot made sense, he was charming, well-liked by the workers, and steady under pressure. I wasn’t going to throw myself into the things I did with Andrew.This time, I had to be explicit. No burdening, no doubling up on duties. Ethan would only handle operations, making sure that the mines were functioning, and the workers were inspired. I craned back in my chair and looked into his steady gaze.“You will manage Crystal Bay's day-to-day affairs while I am away,” I replied, my voice steady but quiet. “But I want your attention only on the mines. Leave the expansion plan to me,” I warnedEthan nodded, his face implacable. “Understood, sir. I won’t let you down.”I believed him. Ethan wasn’t merely competent; he was reliable and yet a part of me couldn’t let go of that lingering doubt. Andrew had been reliab
Sierra’s POVThe journey from Crystal Bay to Villa Marina Resorts had been blissfully uneventful, still and serene compared to the turmoil that had just consumed us. This short escape from our bland reality was all that Jordan and I had ever wanted. The resort, nestled on the outskirts of town, promised peace as well, with its lush tropical gardens, twinkling infinity pools and the hypnotic thrum of waves crashing on the far-off shore. Jordan had chosen this spot for its promise of peace, and I couldn’t have agreed with his choice more.The salty air washed over us, mixed with a whiff of blooming jasmine as we turned into the driveway. A glorious and effortless hypnosis in the form of the song of the birds and the faint sound of the waves. I got out of the car and closed my eyes for a moment and took it all in. The briny ocean air felt like a salve on my frazzled nerves, tousling the strands of my hair and caressing my skin with a featherweight that made me feel liberated.Jordan le
Sierra’s POVWe got out of our room and walked to the swimming pool area of the resort, where the afternoon sun bathed the landscaped gardens in gold. Blooming hibiscus flowers lined the path toward the pool, their greens and reds in stark contrast to the cerulean pool.As we moved close, my eyes fell on two couples relaxing at the poolside. Sprawled side-by-side on what appeared to be the highest-priced sunbed in the city, they looked completely at ease, partaking in what could only be termed as a sexified sunbath naked. I instinctively bit my lip, stifling the laughter bubbling in my chest, and elbowed Jordan gently. “This is… different,” I muttered with a filched grin.Jordan cocked an eyebrow, looking both amused and skeptical. “I guess they’re taking advantage of the ‘private’ part of the resort,” he said, shaking his head dryly. “Let’s just go find our own corner.”We chose a shady corner on the pool’s far side, far from the uninhibited couples. I tossed my towel over a lounge
Sierra’s POVWe walked out of the pool, water droplets trailing down our bodies as the warm breeze dried our wet skin. The sun was going down, spilling golden light all over the resort grounds. We grabbed our towels and dried ourselves off, joking briefly about who had stayed underwater for a longer period. Returning to the primary building, we passed a reception desk and the lively receptionist stopped us a few steps away.“Excuse me,” she said, beaming so brightly it rivalled the resort. She flashed a small, nicely designed card. “We’re having an event tonight, kind of a mini-auction party.” It’s quite the draw here at Villa Marina. Games, dancing, and an opportunity to bid on some rare items. You and he should absolutely see it.”I arched my right brow and looked at the card then took it from her. "An auction at a resort? And a party, too? That’s..... different,” I replied, my voice laced with curiosity.“It’s one of our signature events,” the receptionist said. “Entertainment, an
Sierra's POV Finally out of college, I have my life set out for me, dreams I had kept hidden within me was ready to be revealed. I do not want to be a restaurant owner like my parents, I want to have a big fashion house where the whole Crystal bay would see and be marveled of. I just have to find a way to convince mom and dad that this is what I want to do and I don’t have to take a position in one of the famous restaurant in Crystal bay Who wouldn’t want to work at Enchanted Crystal Restaurant? I know, I know but I really want to do something else, my passion. Summoning all the boldness one can summon, I finally stepped into the living room where I met father and mother seated. They both looked at me and I gave them a nervous smile. Have they been waiting for me? Did they know I’ve been outside? “Sierra, just the lady we’ve been looking for,” Mother joked and I forced out a smile again. “Yeyyy, I’ve been meaning to see you both too” I responded as I dropped my bag and sat down.
Sierra's POV "I hereby pronounce you man and wife." The words echoed in my ears, their weight sinking into my bones. I was officially Mrs. Jordan Pierce. I still couldn’t believe it; I continued to stare at the man before me. “You may now kiss the bride” the priest announced and my heart began to race. I turned to face the man with a forced smile, I watched him take a step forward only for him to pause. With wondering eyes, I watched as he pulled out his phone from his pocket, “Hm,” that was the only thing I heard him say, I watched before my eyes how he walked away like he wasn’t in the middle of his own wedding. What just happened? I was staring with wide eyes, as many other men in the audience followed behind him, including his Best man. I was in a daze when someone came forward and addressed the crowd, “Well, huh… the wedding is over… You can go over to the hall and eat… and be merry” As if it was a normal thing, I watched people walking out, I stood there in a daze, and my
Jordan's POV "Tell everyone I’m coming." I instructed my assistant, who had called to inform me about the Chinese investors waiting for me. As I stepped out of the mansion, I noticed Sierra at the car, adjusting her dress while struggling to open the front passenger door. "What are you doing?" I demanded, seeing her wrestle with the handle. She had never been this serious as she is now. She looked up, defiant. "I'm going with you to work." I raised an eyebrow, exasperated, and shut my door, walking over to her. "This must be some kind of joke. Go inside." I ordered, my voice sharp. But she crossed her arms, lips pressed together in that stubborn look she’d mastered. “You’re not leaving me alone in that empty house, Jordan. I refuse,” Her insistence sparked something between annoyance and reluctant admiration. “The meeting I’m going to is not some corporate affair, Sierra. We’re headed underground,” I warned, my voice dropping low. But she didn’t flinch or back down. I had never
Sierra's POV I heard the commotion inside but stayed back, my heart pounding. Moments later, the door swung open, and Jordan stepped out, his hair disheveled, his knuckles bloodied. He looked like he was barely holding himself together. What must have gone wrong? "Let’s go." His voice was clipped, giving me no room to ask the questions. I followed without a word, feeling the tension radiating from him as we moved through the building. The workers averted their eyes, sensing the cold in his behavior. The journey back home was as silent as the one we had while we were going, but this time, he was so angry I could see and feel it. He kept making calls on our way back home, instructing his people and ordering them. I didn’t understand much until he mentioned that he had killed someone and expected them to come for revenge. My heart dropped to my stomach, he killed someone when he went in there? I thought it was only a harmless business meeting? Hours later, we arrived back at the ma
Sierra’s POVWe walked out of the pool, water droplets trailing down our bodies as the warm breeze dried our wet skin. The sun was going down, spilling golden light all over the resort grounds. We grabbed our towels and dried ourselves off, joking briefly about who had stayed underwater for a longer period. Returning to the primary building, we passed a reception desk and the lively receptionist stopped us a few steps away.“Excuse me,” she said, beaming so brightly it rivalled the resort. She flashed a small, nicely designed card. “We’re having an event tonight, kind of a mini-auction party.” It’s quite the draw here at Villa Marina. Games, dancing, and an opportunity to bid on some rare items. You and he should absolutely see it.”I arched my right brow and looked at the card then took it from her. "An auction at a resort? And a party, too? That’s..... different,” I replied, my voice laced with curiosity.“It’s one of our signature events,” the receptionist said. “Entertainment, an
Sierra’s POVWe got out of our room and walked to the swimming pool area of the resort, where the afternoon sun bathed the landscaped gardens in gold. Blooming hibiscus flowers lined the path toward the pool, their greens and reds in stark contrast to the cerulean pool.As we moved close, my eyes fell on two couples relaxing at the poolside. Sprawled side-by-side on what appeared to be the highest-priced sunbed in the city, they looked completely at ease, partaking in what could only be termed as a sexified sunbath naked. I instinctively bit my lip, stifling the laughter bubbling in my chest, and elbowed Jordan gently. “This is… different,” I muttered with a filched grin.Jordan cocked an eyebrow, looking both amused and skeptical. “I guess they’re taking advantage of the ‘private’ part of the resort,” he said, shaking his head dryly. “Let’s just go find our own corner.”We chose a shady corner on the pool’s far side, far from the uninhibited couples. I tossed my towel over a lounge
Sierra’s POVThe journey from Crystal Bay to Villa Marina Resorts had been blissfully uneventful, still and serene compared to the turmoil that had just consumed us. This short escape from our bland reality was all that Jordan and I had ever wanted. The resort, nestled on the outskirts of town, promised peace as well, with its lush tropical gardens, twinkling infinity pools and the hypnotic thrum of waves crashing on the far-off shore. Jordan had chosen this spot for its promise of peace, and I couldn’t have agreed with his choice more.The salty air washed over us, mixed with a whiff of blooming jasmine as we turned into the driveway. A glorious and effortless hypnosis in the form of the song of the birds and the faint sound of the waves. I got out of the car and closed my eyes for a moment and took it all in. The briny ocean air felt like a salve on my frazzled nerves, tousling the strands of my hair and caressing my skin with a featherweight that made me feel liberated.Jordan le
Jordan’s POVI sat behind the heavy oak desk in my office, looking at Ethan standing in front of me, calm and collected. I knew deep down that entrusting Ethan into my right-hand man slot made sense, he was charming, well-liked by the workers, and steady under pressure. I wasn’t going to throw myself into the things I did with Andrew.This time, I had to be explicit. No burdening, no doubling up on duties. Ethan would only handle operations, making sure that the mines were functioning, and the workers were inspired. I craned back in my chair and looked into his steady gaze.“You will manage Crystal Bay's day-to-day affairs while I am away,” I replied, my voice steady but quiet. “But I want your attention only on the mines. Leave the expansion plan to me,” I warnedEthan nodded, his face implacable. “Understood, sir. I won’t let you down.”I believed him. Ethan wasn’t merely competent; he was reliable and yet a part of me couldn’t let go of that lingering doubt. Andrew had been reliab
Jordan’s POV “I am meeting with Ethan today about the replacement for Andrew,” I announced the next day to Sierra as we had our breakfast, my voice firm yet touched by a note of nervousness which I hoped she didn’t pick up. “Bless his soul,” she added almost reverently, her tone gentler as she peered out of the window. She sounded like a boom of thunder and her voice whipped my attention back to her. I felt my gaze harden, and then I turned to meet her eyes, my expression as inscrutable as the stone. She must have sensed the change in the room because she faced my glare, confusion furrowing her brow. “What are you looking at me like that for?” she asked as her brows knitted together in earnest. I did not answer right away, allowing the silence to extend between us. The gravity of what she had said hung in the air like an unwelcome guest. Did she not understand the impact her words could have? Or worse, did she know that and say them anyway? “Why?” she said again, her voice mor
Sierra’s POVI woke to the sharp, golden rays of the morning sun forcing their way through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I squinted against the brightness, groaning softly as I tried to shield my face with the edge of the blanket. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the lingering remnants of sleep, but something else gnawed at me. It was a subtle sense of emptiness.Turning to my side, I reached out instinctively, only to find Jordan’s space cold and vacant yet again. My hand rested there for a moment, the absence oddly palpable. With a sigh, I let my gaze drift to the nightstand. The last time this had happened, he’d left me a note, a little scrap of reassurance that he wasn’t far and that I was still on his mind. But today, there was no such note waiting for me.I bit my lip, brushing off the faint pang of disappointment. I shook my head, my hair falling messily over my face as I pushed myself upright. M
Jordan’s POVSierra nodded, squeezing my hand a little tighter. We said nothing more as we lay back in bed, the heaviness of the night sank in around us.But as I lay there, looking up at the ceiling, I couldn’t get Luca’s frightened face out of my head. So whatever healing he needed, we had to get a way to help him. I scooted over on the bed closer to Sierra, wrapping an arm around her and tucking her snugly up against me. Her warmth enveloped me, driving off the residual chill of the night. It was like she was made to be in my arms, something about the way she settled into me made me happy. Her skin was impossibly soft and was as smooth as silk, the warmth she exuded felt like home. As my fingers traced lightly across her arm, I couldn’t help but notice the fragility of it, the way it seemed to glow softly in the darkness of our room.She smelled amazing, a hint of the floral lotion she always used mixed with something uniquely hers,
Jordan’s POV“I am meeting with Ethan today about the replacement for Andrew,” I announced the next day to Sierra as we had our breakfast, my voice firm yet touched by a note of nervousness which I hoped she didn’t pick up.“Bless his soul,” she added almost reverently, her tone gentler as she peered out of the window.She sounded like a boom of thunder and her voice whipped my attention back to her. I felt my gaze harden, and then I turned to meet her eyes, my expression as inscrutable as the stone. She must have sensed the change in the room because she faced my glare, confusion furrowing her brow.“What are you looking at me like that for?” she asked as her brows knitted together in earnest.I did not answer right away, allowing the silence to extend between us. The gravity of what she had said hung in the air like an unwelcome guest. Did she not understand the impact her words could have? Or worse, did she know that and say them anyway?“Why?” she said again, her voice more empha
Jordans POV A comfortable silence settled over the room as we started clearing the table. The soft clinking of plates and the humming of the refrigerator echoed through the room. My thoughts were anything but still amidst the calm in the room. A nagging question tugged at my heart as to why Sierra hadn’t called me to tell me what was happened at the supermarket. It wasn’t in her nature to hold such a thing in. I looked at her as she stacked the plates, her actions purposeful but far off like her brain occupied a different place. Her lips compressed into a thin line, the edge switching barely seeing through the effort she was exerting to hide her feelings. “Why didn’t you call me?” I asked gently, shattering the silence. She hesitated before smiling at me, surprised. “I didn’t want to worry you,” she said, her voice low. “It wasn’t a big deal after all. The manager cross-checked the webcams and tendered an apology,” she said, her shoulders shrugging casually. I frowned and