ANASTASIA’S POVThe blaring ringtone of my phone jolted me awake, immediately followed by the continuous ringing of my doorbell. I groaned, yanking the pillow over my head to block out the noise. Who in their right mind would be ringing my bell this early? They must have a death wish.“Damn it,” I muttered, throwing off the covers and stumbling out of bed. Snatching my phone from the nightstand, I squinted at the screen to see who was calling me. It was my mother. Just perfect.“What?” I answered in an irritated tone as I shuffled toward the front door.“That’s no way to talk to your mother, Anastasia,” she said, her tone sharp as always.I rolled my eyes and opened the door, only to find five people standing there, each holding more than two boxes and bags.“What the hell is this?” I asked, switching the phone to my other ear.“If only you’d bothered to pick up earlier, I wouldn’t have to explain,” my mother snapped. “That’s your makeup, hairstyling, and styling team. They’re there t
NOLAN’S POV The Ivanovos' backyard looked nothing like its usual self. They had tiny lights hanging from the trees, allowing a soft glow to sprawl over the space. The seating area was covered with a white canopy to provide shade for the guests. There were different flowers everywhere, I could only recognize the roses and lilies arranged alongside other flowers. I could feel my mother’s death stare boring into me from where she stood. I couldn’t blame her, I was two hours late to the ceremony. It was all thanks to Dimitri, who insisted on throwing me a bachelor party the night before. The bachelor party ran too late because Dimitri insisted we make the most of my ‘final hours as a free man’. The pounding headache I was feeling served as a harsh reminder of how bad an idea the party was. I walked up to mother who was standing across the yard talking to another woman. As I walked up to her, I braced myself for the scolding that was to come. Before mother could scold me I swoo
ANASTASIA’S POVI groaned as the sunlight streaming through the light curtains woke me up. I tried to roll over to shield myself from the brightness, but something blocked my movement. I froze on the spot because I wasn’t expecting to have anyone in my bed. It had to be Athena. She has crashed at my place multiple times so it had to be her. With a playful smirk, I lifted my leg to kick her awake. Before I could kick her a second time, a deep unfamiliar voice rumbled from who I thought would be Athena.“Easy there,” the voice said.I bolted straight out of the bed with my heart hammering against my chest. The sudden movement sent a sharp pain through my skull, I pressed my hands to my temples as I let out a groan and tried to steady myself. I tried to look around at who was talking to me, but my vision was blurry and I couldn’t make out anything from my surroundings. “Are you okay?” the voice asked again, softer this time.I didn’t respond, as I was trying to make sense of what was
ANASTASIA’S POVFLASHBACKI fumbled with my keys as I tried to steady my trembling hands, but the alcohol in my system made it almost impossible. The stranger beside me held me up with his firm grip as we both stumbled through the door when I finally opened the door.As soon as the door closed behind us, he pressed his body into mine pinning me against the door. He crashed his lips against mine, kissing me like he’d been waiting for this moment all night.I drunkenly tried to flip our positions so I’d be in control. But, it was like he saw it coming. He gently pressed his right hand against my throat, choking me, while his left hand trailed down to my ass and grabbed it firmly. The kiss grew hotter and more desperate as he slipped his hands under my knees and lifted me from the ground and my legs instinctively wrapped against his waist. His hips started grinding against mine as his lips moved from mine and trailed hot kisses down my neck and sucked on it, making me gasp. With my sha
NOLAN’S POVFastening the last button on my shirt, I grabbed my suit jacket laid out on the bed, and slipped it on. My eyes darted to the dresser, searching for my watches, but they weren’t there. Frowning, I checked the other side, but they were nowhere to be found.Great. Just great.This morning already didn’t start great, thanks to Anastasia’s parents blowing up my phone. Their precious daughter hadn’t returned home after our altercation at the wedding. Not that I cared anyway.Stepping out of the room, I spotted Maria, the maid, coming out from the kitchen.“Maria!” I called sharply. “Where are my watches?”She froze mid-step looking nervous as her eyes widened. “I… I’m not sure, sir. But I can help you look for it.”I didn’t have the patience for that. “Don’t bother. I’ll just get another.” I muttered as I waved her off. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I scrolled through my contacts and dialed Dimitri.“Get me a new watch and bring it to the house,” I said when he picked up. “A
ANASTASIA’S POV I watched as Nolan walked off with his friend trailing behind him. His words, "Fix it. I don’t need my day getting worse than it already is," were still echoing in my head. Who did he think he was to talk to her like that? I yanked the band from my hair so it cascaded down my shoulders. I ran my hands through the strands and made sure they covered my neck "Satisfied?" I muttered to myself, imagining Nolan's smug face. I straightened my posture and made my way to the living room.Walking into the living room for the first time, it had high ceilings and tasteful decor, it gave off the minimalistic and expensive vibe. At the same time, it felt cold and impersonal, just like the marriage I’d been forced into. Everyone was already seated around and my gaze briefly met Nolan’s before I sat in an empty seat opposite him. "Good," Mr Russo began in his deep voice. "Now that we’re all here, let’s discuss the merger. This union isn’t just about your marriage. It’s mostly about
NOLAN’S POV“We have a shipment scheduled for tomorrow night,” Dimitri said from the passenger seat as we made our way to the office. “The docks are clear, and security’s tight. No leaks this time,” he added, scanning through reports on his tablet. I smirked keeping my eyes focused on the road. “There better not be. The last thing I need is another raid messing with our operations. What’s the update on the new routes?”“All set,” Dimitri replied confidently. “The eastern line is secure, and the drivers are fully briefed. No room for errors.”Before I could give him a response my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and answered sharply, “What is it?”One of my trusted workers spoke on the other end of the call. “Boss, we’ve identified who tipped off the government about the delivery.”My jaw tightened. “Where are you?” I asked in a low tone.“Warehouse, sir. Private room. The team’s already here.”I hung up without another word and turned to Dimitri. “Change of plans. We’re heading
ANASTASIA’S POV“I don’t care what the issue is, Felix!” I yelled into the phone, holding it to my ear with one hand while struggling to put on my jacket with the other. My voice echoed off the marble floors as I stomped down the hallway. “The shipment was supposed to be in the factory last month! What’s the excuse this time? Logistics? Customs? Or some other nonsense?”Felix’s nervous reply buzzed at the other end of the line. “Ma’am, it’s… it’s a customs hold. They’re… checking for irregularities. We’re working on—”“Working on it?!” I cut him off, reaching the bottom of the staircase. “You’ve had weeks to ‘work on it’! I don’t want your fucking excuses, Felix. I want results. That shipment is very important for production, and if I don’t get the release confirmation by noon, I’ll personally come down there and handle it myself. I’m sure you know what that means for you?”“Yes, ma’am,” he stammered.I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. “And what about the revised invoices
NOLAN’S POV“I can take a walk down the fucking street by myself, Nolan!” Anna snapped, already halfway to the door, her hand pressed against the arch of her back.I followed, stopping just behind her. “I can't let you go alone. You know that.”She turned slightly, her eyes a familiar blend of fire and frustration that had made me fall for her in the first place. “Nolan, I’m pregnant, not disabled.”“You know what? Maybe when my mother gets back from the store with Ivan, she can follow you for the walk. How does that sound?” I asked. She turned fully, with one hand dramatically pointing to her belly. “Nolan, if you don't let me go for this walk, I swear, I will fall face-first to the floor right here in this house. Your choice.”I stared at her, my lips parted slightly. I folded my arms, trying to gauge whether she was just venting or genuinely serious. She sounded exhausted.“Okay,” I said finally, raising my hands in surrender. “Okay. You can go. Just... be careful.”She gave me a
INTERLUDE(ANASTASIA’S POV)Pregnancy was supposed to come with strange cravings, mood swings, and a lot of hormonal crying. What I didn’t expect was for Nolan to turn into a full-time caregiver. It has been thirty weeks of pampering that bordered on suffocating. Since the doctor announced that I was pregnant, Nolan has barely left my side.He rubbed my feet even when I insisted I didn’t need it. He read pregnancy books and argued with my mother about prenatal supplements as if he was a professional. At first, it was sweet. But now? It is borderline suffocating.Just yesterday, he said I was walking too fast because I walked to the couch. And what was his response? “You should pace yourself. That’s... eight whole steps.”On most days, I didn’t know whether to kiss him or strangle him.And if Nolan was the overwhelming doting partner, Dimitri had become the chaotic uncle that no one asked for but somehow couldn’t get rid of. He was always around. I suspected he’d unofficially moved i
NOLAN’S POV“Anna!” I heard Ivan call out behind me. I turned around to see what was going on. I watched Anna drop and Ivan caught her. The second Anna’s body went limp, my heart nearly stopped.I ran up to check on her.“I’ve got her,” Ivan said, holding her.“No. Give her to me,” I snapped, snatching her out of his arms and cradling her against my chest. “Get the fucking car running. Now!”Ivan ran out the door without another word.I looked down at her pale skin as I carried her out of the warehouse. “Stay with me, Princess. You’re gonna be okay.”She didn’t respond.“Dimitri,” I snapped as I ran out. “Meet us at the clinic. Now.”He nodded, already pulling out his phone.The second I got to the car, Ivan had the back door open. I climbed in with her still in my arms. She wasn’t moving. My fingers stroked her clammy cheek as I whispered her name over and over again. “Anna. Baby, come on, wake up.”She didn’t move.My mind spiraled. This must be the fever she claimed was gone.“Dam
ANASTASIA’S POVI zipped up my suitcase and leaned against it, pressing my palm against my forehead for the third time this morning. The fever I woke up with had dulled, but I was still feeling the fatigue in my bones.Nolan walked in with a towel slung over his shoulder, eyes dropping to where I sat at the edge of the bed zipping up my suitcase. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked, coming to crouch in front of me, lifting his hand to check my forehead.I brushed him off gently. “I’m fine, really. The fever's gone.He frowned. “You sure?”“I’m sure, Nolan,” I said, giving him a small smile. “I swear the temperature’s gone.”He gave me a long, assessing look before standing. “Okay… but I’m keeping an eye on you.”He didn’t look convinced but didn’t argue. Instead, he crouched to grab the handle of my suitcase, zipped it up completely, and rolled it beside his. As I stood and adjusted the strap on my purse, he watched me quietly. I felt the weight of his gaze and glanced up.“What?” I ask
ANASTASIA’S POVI opened the door, still in mid-conversation with Ivan. My words halted on my tongue.Nolan was standing at the entrance of the kitchen with his phone in hand. His eyes locked on me the moment I stepped into the house.My breath caught in my throat.“You’re home,” I said, unable to mask the surprise in my voice.He slowly slipped his phone into his pocket and began walking toward me.Ivan stepped forward instinctively, brushing past me to bring my box into the house. Our shoulders touched and suddenly, I wasn’t in the foyer anymore, I was tangled in sheets, lips tingling from kisses that weren’t my husband’s. I blinked the memory away and focused on Nolan who was now standing in front of me.His face was unreadable. “I asked Maria where you were,” he said quietly. “She said you haven’t been home in a week.”I straightened. “I went out of town for work,” I said, clearing my throat.His eyes searched my face for something. “Why didn’t you tell me?”I scoffed, not even b
NOLAN’S POVThe operations were finally over. It was time to head home.We were stationed in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, waiting for the chopper to fuel up and take us home. Camila leaned against a steel pillar, her arms crossed, boots clicking softly as she shifted her weight. She looked too at ease for someone who had carried out dangerous operations back to back for one month.“Are you always this quiet or I broke you?” she asked, sizing me up with her eyes.“Just waiting to get the hell out of here,” I muttered, watching Dimitri scroll through messages on a secured tablet nearby. She smirked and pushed off the pillar, walking towards me.“Hmm, I guess you don't really have the stomach for it,” she said, moving closer. “If you asked me, I’d say otherwise. You’re a natural.”I glanced at her, unamused. “I don’t think that's a compliment I’d like to take.”She gave a dramatic sigh, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket. “You’re still thinking about Raul’s sp
ANASTASIA’S POVIt had been a week.Seven whole days since I let Ivan touch me.Seven days since we both quenched our desires. And every day since then, I've been running.Not physically, but I haven’t been able to hold his gaze or stay in the room too long with him. He noticed also but didn’t press for anything. But I could feel him watching.Every time we were in the same space, that heavy silence would hang between us. His gaze was always fixed on me at every time, and I’d pretend I didn’t feel it like a burn on my skin.I’d lied to myself, thinking I could handle it. That it was just a one-time thing. Except, it wasn’t. Because every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the way he touched me. The way his mouth worshiped every part of me. And worse?I wanted more.And that terrified me.“Ma'am?”My head snapped up. I hadn’t realized I’d zoned out in the middle of the operations meeting. My fingers tightened around the pen in my hand as I turned to face the manager who was spe
ANASTASIA’S POV“Ivan…” I whispered as I stepped closer to him, closing the distance between us. My eyes met his, and I didn’t blink. “Unbutton your shirt.”He tilted his head, searching my face for any sign of hesitation. Maybe to be sure I wasn’t acting out of drunken impulse.But there was no uncertainty in me. Just rage and desire. Without hesitating, he obeyed. His fingers moved slowly from the top button, his eyes never leaving mine.My breath hitched as my eyes followed his every move.I watched the way his knuckles flexed with each button he undid and how his chest rose and fell.When he did the last one, I reached up to slide the shirt off his shoulders. My palms flattened against his skin, skimming down his arms, feeling every inch and every line of his body. After taking off the shirt, I reached down for his belt. I looked up at him again. “Take it off.”His hands worked at the buckle smoothly without hesitation. As he took off the belt, I reached for his zipper, but he
NOLAN’S POVIt had been two days since I left home, and I hadn’t heard a word from Anna. The silence put me in distress, and no amount of whiskey or distraction could drown out the guilt or the ache in my chest.We were all at the hideout waiting for the next order. Dimitri sat across from me, his eyes scanning through a few folders on the table. Camila was pacing by the window, talking to someone on the phone in low murmurs.“What's the word?” I asked, tapping my fingers on the edge of the table, trying to focus on the work at hand.Dimitri raised an eyebrow without looking up. “The usual—deals, contracts, risks. The buyer's still on the fence. They’re asking too many questions.”I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. “So, what's the next step? We wait for them to decide. Or do we push harder?”Dimitri didn't immediately respond like he was considering whether or not to say something. He finally met my eyes. “Maybe we push, but not too hard. We don’t want to spook them. The m