Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe phone buzzed sharply against my desk, its vibrations cutting through the tense silence of the room. I pressed it to my ear."What is it?" I bellowed"Boss, the Shipments are gone" My hear sank at those words. “What the hell do you mean by my shipments are gone?” My voice came out in a low growl, steady despite the fury bubbling beneath. The man on the other end stammered, throwing out excuses about an intercepted truck, and something about radio silence from the drivers. My fist slammed against the desk, rattling the crystal tumbler by my hand.“Get your fucking ass out there and find it!” I barked. “I don’t care how. Get every damn man out there looking for it, and don’t call me until you have answers!”Ending the call, I hurled the phone onto the desk and began pacing. Each step felt like it vibrated with the anger coursing through me. Billions were at stake, and I couldn’t afford these amateur mistakes.The door burst open without warning, and Alejandr
Elena's Point Of View The door slammed shut behind me with a force that echoed through the quiet hallway, rattling the paintings on my walls. My chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, fury coursing through my veins like a wildfire. Nicholas and his goddamn need for control. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to tell me I wasn’t allowed to go out alone. What did he think I was, a child under lock and key? I thought he had agreed to let me do as I wanted?Dropping into the chair by the window, I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to steady my breathing. No, I couldn’t afford to lose my head over him, not now. The heirloom I needed from my father’s estate was too important. If it weren’t for that, I’d have found a way to defy Nicholas just to prove a point. But today wasn’t the day. I would have my moment, but definitely not now.A soft chime interrupted my brooding. I reached for my phone, frowning as the screen lit up with an instagram notification. It was Drew a close
Nicholas’s Point Of View"Here's the Plan for the next Quarter...." The conference call had been dragging on for over an hour, the monotony broken only by the occasional sharp question from me and the hesitant responses of my staff. I was supposed to be at the club today, doing an inspection in person. But no, I’d made the decision to stay. Why? Because of her.Elena.Last time I’d stepped away for a full day, she’d managed to worm her way into my private library, unearthing things she had no business touching. Since then, I’d kept her under closer watch, assigning men to her every move. But Marco's recent discovery of her position in my life had tightened the leash even further. I couldn’t risk her slipping out of my sight again and falling into the wrong hands.“I don't think you all are using your damn brains, what happened to Improving the VIP service?” I barked into the phone. "And cut the crap about needing more funding. If the money's not being managed properly, heads will rol
Elena’s Point of ViewThe sun was setting as I sat in Drew’s car, its golden rays casting long shadows across the gate. “Thank you for today,” I said, clutching my purse tightly. My voice was soft, hesitant. I didn’t want to make this moment any more complicated than it already felt.“I had fun,” Drew replied with a warm smile, his blue eyes meeting mine. “We should do this again.”I nodded, but I knew the truth. Hanging out again would be impossible, not with the way my life was structured. Drew had no idea about the web of danger I was entangled in. Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine for the briefest second.I jerked back, my pulse quickening. “Drew, no,” I whispered, stepping out of the car.“I’m sorry, Elena, I just..” he said quickly, his face a mix of regret and embarrassment.“It’s fine,” I muttered, shutting the car door before he could say more. My steps quickened as I approached Nicholas’s estate gate, my heart hammering in my chest. What ha
Nicholas’s Point of ViewAlejandro’s laughter grated on my nerves as the car sped down Fifth Avenue. The city buzzed outside, but his chuckling made it feel like I was trapped in a pressure cooker. “Why do you want to recognize Elena as your wife all of a sudden?” he asked, his tone light but laced with curiosity.I shifted in my seat, rolling the words in my head. Recognize Elena? I wasn’t doing this out of some romantic ideal. I wasn’t the kind of man who wore his heart on his sleeve. “Because it’s time,” I replied curtly. “She needs to fit into my world and learn to protect herself from people like Marco.”Alejandro threw his head back and laughed harder, a sound that echoed in the confined space of the car. “Protect herself? Seriously? This isn’t about Marco. This is about sending a message to that Drew guy, isn’t it?”My head snapped toward him. The name cut through me like a knife, sharp and unexpected. “Who the hell is Drew?”Alejandro smirked, clearly enjoying my ignorance. “T
Elena’s Point Of ViewThe mirror reflected a woman I barely recognized. The stylist's skilled hands pulled and twisted my hair into an intricate updo while another dabbed a brush across my cheekbones, adding a soft blush. The Lilac Mikado gown I wore shimmered under the warm lights of my room, hugging every curve in a way that would undoubtedly command attention. Nicholas had insisted that I look perfect for tonight’s event, and I wasn’t one to disappoint, not out of loyalty, but necessity.It wasn’t lost on me that this was more about his reputation than anything else. Still, I couldn’t deny the small flicker of satisfaction as I glanced at my reflection. For once, I felt more... powerful.My phone buzzed on the vanity, snapping me out of my thoughts. Drew’s name lit up the screen. A knot tightened in my stomach. He’d been persistent, relentless even, since the day Marco had oh-so-kindly outed me as “Mrs. De Luca.” Drew’s curiosity had morphed into determination, a dangerous cocktail
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe world seemed to narrow around me as my fist kept colliding with the bastard's face, the satisfying crunch echoing in the silence of the rooftop. Blood splattered, staining his skin and my knuckles, but I didn’t care. The only thing I could think of was his audacity. His fucking audacity to touch my wife, to think he could steal her away, let alone put his rotten lips on her.“Don’t you ever lay your hands on my wife again!” I growled, my voice as cold and sharp as a blade. Each word punctuated with another punishing blow.“Please Nicholas, stop!” Elena’s pleading voice cut through the haze of my anger, desperate and trembling. It took a moment for her cries to register, but when they did, I froze mid-punch. Slowly, I rose from Drew, my chest heaving with unspent rage. His face was a mangled mess, blood pouring freely as he groaned in pain beneath me.I straightened, wiping the blood off my knuckles with deliberate precision, my movements slow and calculate
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe sunlight pierced through the curtains, golden and unrelenting, burning into my skull like a cruel reminder of my hangover. My temples throbbed, and the bitter taste of last night's whiskey still lingered on my tongue. Groaning slightly, I pressed a hand to my forehead, wincing as the dull ache intensified.I shifted slightly, and that’s when I felt some thing, a gentle presence beside me. My head turned slowly, and there she wasElena!Her face was serene, lips slightly parted as she breathed softly, her hair splayed across the pillow like a dark halo.I couldn’t look away.For a moment, all my fury and confusion melted away. Her beauty was almost too much to bear, as if God had sculpted her from the heavens just to torment me. My gaze traveled over the delicate slope of her nose, the curve of her jawline, and the way her lashes rested like shadows on her cheeks.What would it be like to wake up to this beauty every morning? To call her mine in every sense
Elena’s POVI don’t expect Marco to bring him to me.I had asked him to keep this a secret.The rest house is quiet, tucked away from the chaos of the city, surrounded by nothing but open land and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees. It was supposed to be a safe space, a place to clear my head, to convince myself that leaving was the right choice.And yet, the moment I see him standing in the doorway, all those carefully constructed walls I built around myself begin to crack.Nicholas.He looks like hell. His sharp suit is wrinkled, his usually perfect hair is disheveled, and dark circles shadow his eyes. He’s always been so put together, so untouchable, but right now, he looks like a man on the edge. A man who hasn’t been sleeping. A man who’s been… suffering.I tell myself not to care. Not to feel.But my breath catches anyway.“Elena.”My name on his lips is hoarse, raw. There’s something almost hesitant in the way he says it, like he isn’t sure I’ll want to hear i
Nicholas’s POVI haven’t slept in days.She had done everything possible to be on my good graces but u didn't care, all I did was vent out my anger on her, I didn't even give her the chance to breath, now she was gone and all I could think of was my heart breaking in piecesThe weight of exhaustion presses against my skull, a relentless drumbeat of fatigue and frustration. The silence of the house is suffocating, the walls closing in on me with every passing hour. My hands tighten into fists as I pace the length of my office, the air thick with the scent of whiskey and regret.She’s gone.No matter how many times I try to push that thought away, it crashes back into me with the force of a wrecking ball. Elena is out there somewhere, hiding, disappearing into the world like a ghost. And I hate it. I fucking hate it.Marco was supposed to find her. He was supposed to bring her back. But it’s been days, and there’s been nothing.No calls. No updates.Nothing.My patience snaps the moment
Elena’s POVI had told myself I wouldn’t look back.Not at the city, not at the past, and especially not at him.But as I stepped out of the car and took in my surroundings, I realized how much I had underestimated the weight of my own emotions.The rest house was tucked away in the countryside, a stark contrast to the chaos I had left behind. It was a secluded sanctuary, surrounded by towering trees that swayed with the whisper of the wind. The air smelled clean, untouched by the scent of smoke, whiskey, or regret. The sky stretched endlessly above me, painted in deep shades of indigo as dusk settled in.For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.Marco shut the car door and turned to me, his sharp gaze assessing. “Not bad, huh?”I let out a small breath, nodding. “It’s… quiet.”“That’s the point,” he replied, motioning for me to follow him inside.The inside of the house was warm, but not in a way that felt welcoming, more like a place built for solitude. A hideout, not
Nicholas’s POVI slam the door behind me, breathing hard.My hands are still clenched into fists, my pulse a chaotic mess beneath my skin.That kiss.What the hell was that?I press my fingers against my temples, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. I should have stopped her the second she leaned in. I should have pulled away before our lips even met. But I didn’t.Because for a fleeting, stupid moment, I wanted it.I wanted to feel her again.I curse under my breath and shove a hand through my hair, pacing across my room like a caged animal. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to stay angry, stay distant. I was supposed to punish her for what she did.But every time I try, something holds me back.Her eyes.Her stubbornness.The way she’s been pushing herself, breaking herself, trying so damn hard to prove something to me.And I hate that I care.Hours pass, but sleep doesn’t come.I sit at the edge of my bed, staring at nothing, wrestling with my own pride.Why ca
Elena’s POVThey say actions speak louder than words.If that’s true, then maybe... just maybe.. I can make him see me again.Because words don’t work.Not with Nicholas.Not anymore.He doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t even look at me.His silence is worse than his rage.I’d take the shouting, the accusations, the bitter words laced with anger. At least then, I’d know he feels something. But this? This void, this nothingness between us?It’s killing me.So I do the only thing I can.I prove myself.The morning air is crisp as I step into the kitchen, the scent of fresh bread and brewing coffee wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The staff, a mix of cooks and housekeepers, pause mid-task, their eyes widening in surprise as I roll up my sleeves."Miss Elena," an older woman, Maria, starts hesitantly, "what are you doing here?""I’m helping," I say simply, reaching for an apron.She exchanges a look with the others before laughing nervously. "That’s… not necessary. This is our job.""I w
Nicholas’s POVThe moment the front door shut behind them, I felt my pulse skyrocket. I stood in the middle of the sitting room, fists clenched at my sides, my body coiled so tight I could snap. The air in the room was thick with tension, the silence deafening except for the sound of my own breathing, deep, slow, controlled, but only barely.I had been standing there, waiting, drowning in the sheer fucking anxiety of not knowing what they had been up to. And now that they were back, the sight of them, smug and victorious, did nothing to ease my fury.I turned sharply, facing Marco, my voice slicing through the silence like a blade."What the fuck were you thinking?"Marco barely flinched, his expression unreadable as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch. "Nice to see you too, Nick.""Don't give me that shit, Marco!" I barked, stepping toward him, my jaw so tight it ached. "You should never have let her do this! Do you have any goddamn idea what could have gone wrong
Elena’s POVThe city lights blurred past the car window, neon streaks of red and blue casting fleeting shadows over my face. My hands rested on my lap, clenched together, the smooth fabric of my dress cool beneath my fingers. I could feel my heart pounding, a steady, insistent rhythm against my ribs. Nerves. Excitement. Dread.I had to do this.Marco, seated beside me in the driver's seat, glanced over. "You're awfully quiet," he remarked, his voice laced with something between curiosity and concern.I forced a small smirk, though my stomach was in knots. "Just mentally preparing myself to sell my soul."He huffed a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You're really going through with this, huh?"I turned to face him. "You thought I’d back out?"Marco kept his eyes on the road, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "No. But a part of me hoped you would."Silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken.Backing out wasn’t an option. Not when Nicholas still saw me as a liabili
Elena’s POVI had forgotten what fresh air felt like.For days, I had been locked away, my world reduced to four suffocating walls and the weight of my own regret. I had hidden from Nicholas’s cold, indifferent stares, from Marco’s careful glances, from the suffocating knowledge that I had ruined everything. But hiding wasn’t going to fix this.So, for the first time in what felt like forever, I stepped out of my room.The house was quiet, the kind of eerie stillness that made my skin prickle. The scent of polished wood and expensive cologne lingered in the air, familiar yet strangely foreign after my self-imposed isolation. My bare feet moved across the cold marble floor as I made my way down the hall, past the grand staircase, past the walls that had witnessed my downfall.Then I heard it.A voice. Low. Tense.I paused.The door to Nicholas’s office was cracked open, and from inside, I could hear the smooth hum of a newscaster’s voice filtering through the air. Normally, I would hav
Nicholas’s POVI stared out the window of the dimly lit office, watching the rain trickle down the glass. Each drop, like a tear of its own, fell to the earth, eventually joining the rest of the misery below. The city felt colder tonight, darker than usual. It wasn’t the weather... no, it was the storm brewing inside me. I could feel the weight of everything pressing down, suffocating me in a way that no amount of liquor or distractions could alleviate.Marco stood at the table across from me, his eyes glued to the monitor as he pulled up the latest intel on Alejandro’s movements. Every word he spoke was calculated, every gesture purposeful. This was necessary, and nothing... not even my tangled emotions.. could derail him from it. It was the only thing he knew how to focus on when it came to me, but tonight, something else was gnawing at him.He flipped through the files, not looking up as he spoke. "Alejandro's been busy. He's moving men into position, preparing his stronghold for t