Hey amazing Readers! Wow, what a chapter. My longest one yet. MIla's back in the thick of it, with old flames and new faces, and things heating up fast. I know you have questions, so stick around because it's just getting started.
MILA“Just act surprised.” Camila linked me, sounding calm and reassuring. That was all I needed to know to get into character.“Camila!” I gasped, allowing my voice to tremble with the right amount of shock. My eyes widened in shock, taking in the chaotic swirls of red, yellow, and blue paint that covered her from head to toe. Almost like a mad artist used her as the canvas for abstract art. It was almost comical, but the look in her eyes told me that this was all part of her plan.“I’m so glad you’re here,” Camila said, beaming as if this situation was the most normal thing in the world. “The tour was boring but the West Wing was interesting.” She gave me a pointed look, and I knew exactly what she was hinting at. That was our destination. “I wanted to add a personal touch, you know, so people could know I was here.”“Okay,” I said, looking at the behemoth that was standing behind her. His presence was commanding, and I could feel the weight of his gaze as he assessed me. There was s
MILAI barely had time to duck behind a nearby bookshelf before the door swung over. I cursed myself for not having a scent mask spray in my bag. I calmed myself, hoping my heartbeat was faint to their ears, though theirs were moving too fast for mine to matter.Where are you? He’s getting suspicious,” Camila said, her tone edged with urgency.“Just hurry up before Alpha Gregory comes back,” a woman’s voice urged, ushering a man into the room.“Why do we need all this information about MAD Stylez anyway?” the man asked, his voice carrying a note of frustration.“Who knows and who cares?” the woman snapped back, clearly eager to get out of there. I heard the sound of a drawer opening and then closing with a soft thud. “Wait, do you smell that?” The man asked, sniffing around the room. “It’s a sweet scent and the presence feels… off.”He moved towards my direction as I flattened myself against the wall. IF he got too close, I'd have to use Rayne’s power to knock him out, but the woman a
MILAI stood at the head of the table, every eye on me, waiting for my lead. I looked over the details and dossiers of my targets, feeling the pressure of this journey on my shoulders. This was my plan, my revenge, and I had to make sure it went off without a hitch. “Okay, people. Time for Operation ‘Get Daddy’!” I announced, trying to cut through the nervous tension in the room. Predictably, the room filled with groans and laughter.“No way in hell I’m calling it that,” Alex said, shaking his head.“More like Operation Zaddy,” Camila laughed, picking up Alpha Gregory’s dossier. “In another dimension, Alpha Gregory could get it.”“Hey, I still have young ears here,” Laura complained, shooting a disapproving look at Camila. “Can we not?” Jenna muttered, her face scrunching up in disgust. “I just threw up in my mouth.”“Geez, fine,” I smirked, raising my hands in mock surrender. “We’ll table the name for now.” The laughter faded, and I felt the atmosphere shift. “So, I have a meeting
ARILuna Emily truly outdone herself for the ceremony, transforming the typical sterile conference room into a curated oasis. The air was rich with the intoxicating scents of jasmine and vanilla, adding an air of sophistication to the already lavish setting. Every detail, from the sculpted hedges to the towering floral arrangements, screamed elegance and exclusivity. I moved through the crowds of industry elites, investors, and of course, the students of the school. I offered smiles and nods, basking in the admiration and subtle envy that followed me.Wearing one of my own designs, a stunning emerald-green dress that hugged me as if it were made for a goddess, I made sure every bead caught the light with each step. The diamond earrings I chose to wear were a quiet reminder to everyone present of the life I lived–the life they wished they could have.But as usual, my father’s voice cut through my moment of glory. “Make sure you’re on your best behavior at this ceremony, Arianna,” he sai
ARII stepped up blocking Mila’s view of Frances. “It is fine,” I said. “So, like I was saying Mister…”“Sorry, Arianna. I wasn’t finished with my point,” Mila said with a smile.Before I could stop her, Frances leaned in, intrigues. “It’s fine, Mrs. Aliz. I’d like to hear the young lady’s thoughts.”There was no way she knew anything about diamonds, even if she could probably afford one now. Mila’s smile deepened, her confidence probably bolstered by his attention. “Synthetic diamonds may be popular, but there will always be a market for rarity and exclusivity–things that cannot be replicated by machines.”She paused, letting her words sink in and the crowd around us was eating it up. Mr. Deveaux’s expression was neutral, but I saw a hint of approval. Again, I tried to take control.“Well, everyone knows…”“I’m still not finished,” Mila said, glancing at me before moving back to Mister Deveaux. “Since Mrs. Aliz has something important to add that just can’t wait, I’ll get to the point
MILAEarlier that dayI sat across from Tyler in his office, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the Aliz Corporation contract. Tyler was mid-sentence about something–I had no idea what–but my mind was elsewhere. Specifically, on the encrypted message on Laura’s computer. When we cracked it open, there was a message: This wasn’t an accident. There was a photo attached of my parents on the boat. A photo that I had to have taken, but one I couldn’t remember capturing.It wasn’t my parents that had my attention, though. No, the red circle around the men on the dock, the ones placing something on the boat, kept flashing in my mind. They were responsible for the accident. Neither one looked familiar but one had a very distinctive scar across his face. The ones responsible for the accident. While Laura worked on trying to get the database to ID them, I was here. Stuck in a meeting with Tyler.“You know,” Tyler’s smooth voice broke through my thoughts, “I can already see that I’m lo
MILAAt the ceremonyAfter Amber's little outburst, I couldn’t help but trail her and Luna Franesca into the ladies’ room. Near the door, Luna Franesca’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. In the mirror, I could see Amber standing with her head down, while her mother’s biting words seemed to hit her like a physical blow. “Goddess, why can’t you be more like your sister?” Luna Franesca hissed through clenched teeth. “Arianna wouldn’t show up to an event and embarrass herself like this. She knows how to carry herself.And why are you not with Declan? I picked him out for you and you show up with a low-class fool!”“Leo is a friend, mother,” Amber said meekly. “He wanted to…”A slap across Amber’s face stopped her from talking. “I don’t care if he saved your life, Amber. He is a low-class leech and you deserve better.” Luna Francesca let go a breath, shaking her head. “You…. you’re a constant disappointment. Pull yourself together, Amber.”Amber’s shoulders slumped further, her b
ARII was able to laugh off that first moan but the others after it was almost involuntary. My mind raced as I tried to keep my composure. What the hell is wrong with me?! A subtle warmth crept through my body, starting in my chest and spreading like a wildfire. I wasn’t sure how many times I blinked, trying to shake off the sudden wave of heat. Then my pulse quickened, my palms grew clammy as the room seemed to grow warmer. Gabe appeared by my side with a glass of water, his concerned gaze locking onto mine. “Do you need to leave?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.“No, I’m fine,” I lied, my voice barely steady. He knew I was, but didn’t push it. It’s almost over anyway. Go away before people say something.”He squeezed my hand, and I offered him a weak smile, trying to focus on the runway. Just that simple touch from him made me cream my panties. This was insane. Come on, Ari. Just get through one more and then you can leave. I told myself, clinging my thighs together so hard th
MILAWater cascaded down my body like icy needles, doing little to calm the raging fire within me. I wasn’t sure how long I was in this shower. Or how or when I got there. All I knew was that it wasn’t working. My body was riddled with heat the moment Gabe touched me yesterday–a spark that ignited like a train on fire, consuming every nerve and refusing to let up. I barely made it back here, shedding my clothes in the car and the rest on the way to the shower.No matter how much I scrubbed and cleaned, I couldn’t wash away Gabe’s scent–that woodsy, chocolate spice that had wrapped around me when he helped me through my panic attack. “Why the hell did he touch me like that?” I muttered to no one in particular.“Because deep down you want him to,” Rayne answered. “Rayne,” I warned, not in the mood for her commentary.“Mila, you know I’m down with whatever choice you make,” Rayne continued. “But girl you have to make up your mind. This affects me too, you know.”“I know!” I screamed, g
GABEThe door to my office swung open, hitting the stack of boxes I’d neatly lined up along the wall. A couple toppled over, spilling the contents onto the floor.“What’s with all these boxes?” Arianna complained as she stepped inside. She didn’t so much as glance at the mess she’d just created. “Are you moving to a bigger office or something?”“Why hello to you too, babe,” I said, not bothering to look up from the paperwork spread across my desk.Noah, sitting in his play area, looked up at the sound of her voice. His face lit up, and he scrambled to his feet, his toy truck clutched in his hand as he ran toward her.“Mommy!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide to hug her. But Arianna took a graceful step back, halting him mid-stride. Her perfectly manicured hands smoothed the front of her designer dress as if his touch would leave a permanent mark.“Noah, sweetie,” she cooed. “What did Mommy say about touching her clothes, huh?”“Don’t get Mommy’s clothes dirty,” Noah answered obedi
MILAI felt his presence before I could fully register Tyler standing next to Leo. He gripped the wrist that held the knife with an iron grip. The tension in his muscles was visible, flexing beneath the tight fabric of his black button-down shirt. The sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal forearms corded with strength, and the shirt hugged his broad chest. His black pants and suede shoes completed the ensemble, along with a suit jacket draped casually over the other arm.The look was casual, but there was something very dominant about it. His jawline was shadowed with a light stubble, and the sharp cut of his golden eyes sent a shiver down my spine as they flicked to me for just a moment before returning to Leo. My legs seemed to wobble from the weight of his commanding presence.“Hot, holy hell,” Rayne purred her approval. I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from vocalizing a similar sentiment, but damn, she was right.“Control yourself, Rayne.”“You first,” she retorted.Tyler
MILABack at the hideout, we poured over all the data we had on everyone.“I still don’t get why Gregory would have Arianna send someone to attack Jenna if he wanted to abortion from the start,” I wondered out loud.“Maybe he didn’t believe her,” Camila guessed. “Or he wanted to get rid of her too?”“This is all too frustrating,” Laura complained. “Can we just take them down already?!”Alex exited one of the rooms where Jenna was resting. We decided to move her here to keep her safe and keep any eye on her.“I’m with crazy eyes over here. What’s the move?” Camila asked, staring at the screen on the table.“I want to hit them from all sides,” I said, holding
MILAMy stomach twisted in knots as I stood at the foot of the bed, watching Jenna’s chest rising and falling in a shallow rhythm. I tried to heal her bruises, but they wouldn’t. Alex told me we had to wait until the blood transfusion pumps out all the Wolfsbane in her system before I could heal her.A whimpering sound caught my attention as I turned to see Laura fighting sleep. Poor thing was the first one to get to Jenna. Even I couldn’t forget the scene I came upon when I got that night from our mystery hacker.***Unknown: Jenna. Orphanage. Hurt.I raced back, dodging Gabe and the security tail. By the time I arrived, Laura and Camila were already there, holding an almost unconscious Jenna.“Mila, please,” Laura cried. “Heal her, please!”Blood was pooling beneath her from cuts too deep to be accidental. She blacked out with a ring falling from her hand. At the moment I didn’t know if it was important but I picked it up anyway. Maybe there was a reason she was safeguarding it. **
GABEI froze mid-jab, my eyes locking with Mila’s smiling face. Sparring with Mila was… complicated, and far from stress-relieving. Trading blows, getting in close would stir something I’d rather keep buried. Though Spencer didn’t seem to mind the offer.“We could test if she feels the bond too,” Spencer suggested, a little too eager.I chuckled, taking a step back from her. “You sure you’re up for that?”Mila tilted her head, smirked. “I’m the one offering. Unless you’re worried I’ll knock you on your ass.”Challenge accepted. I stripped off my gloves, gesturing to the open mat. “You asked for it.”“Just remember, Gabe,” she teased, her stance loose but ready. ”I don't pull punches for anyone.”Mila moved first–a quick jab to test me. I deflected easily, stepping back to gauge her. Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of the fight.“Come on, Alpha Gabe,” she taunted, circling me. “You’re not just here to dance, are you?”“Dancing burns calories,” I shot back, feinting left and aiming for
GABEAlpha Gregory rose from the table, flanked by his Beta on one side and Alpha Frank on the other, their movements calculated as though this meeting were a choreographed play. When Beta Brian and I approached, Gregory gestured for us to take our seats, his smile wide but hollow.“Alpha Gabe,” he said smoothly, “thank you for coming on such short notice. I know this little meeting was impromptu, but the matter requires immediate attention.” He paused, a practiced grin spreading across his face. “But before we get into it–let’s eat. My father always said, ‘Never make decisions on an empty stomach.’.”The feast materialized as the waitstaff set plates of roasted meats, steaming veggies, and desserts before us. Conversation flowed, but my focus wasn’t on the meal–or the company. I glanced at my watch for the third time, debating an excuse to leave. The truth? I didn’t want to be here, playing nice with Gregory or Brian. One man held Arianna’s career in the palm of his hand, while the o
TYLERDammit! I couldn’t get her out of my head. Everytime I close my eyes, I think of her. Mila. Those sharp brown eyes cutting through me without a word, the way she moved around effortlessly like she owned the place, and the way she looked at me, even anger, like I was… nothing.Her silence after the debacle at her last fashion show was louder than anything she could have said to me. I had failed her, again, and she wasn’t letting me forget it. Not with her avoidance, her cold glances, and her deliberate absence from every meeting I’d arranged.Now, I was walking down the hall, heading towards her office to demand her attention, and froze. Voices carried from behind a partially open door.“...you thought you could keep this a secret, Troy,” said Alpha Gregory, his voice low, but seething with menace.I held my breath, moving closer to eavesdrop. My father’s response was even quieter. “I’ll say this one more time, Gregory,” my father said. “I didn’t tell anyone about your dealings.”
MILASuddenly, a crash could be heard from the front and Leo’s dad screamed to the back. “Leo! We’ve got a problem out here!”Leo stiffened, his hand freezing on the rack before turning around, placing the bags nearby and heading out to the front. I let out a slow breath, silently thanking Laura and her goofy antics. I didn’t have much time, so I moved quickly. I carefully unzipped one of the velvet bags again and pressed a small tracking.“Down with your communist agendas!” I hear Laura scream before slipping out the back door. This whole thing was turning into something bigger than I expected, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were deep in dangerous territory. My phone buzzed with a text.Laura: That was fun!Me: Communist agendas?Laura: I didn’t know what to say, but it worked. Told you I’m good.Me: I’m heading back to office. You both good?Camila: Yeah and by the way you have some sexy company.I looked up to see Zeke leaning on the front of the car, his arms crossed an