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Riley's POVThe dim lighting softened the room’s walls and ambiance, but nothing could dim the intensity of the disgust already sitting in my gut. I forced a polite smile as the old billionaire, Sheffield, continued to eye me with a gaze that made my skin crawl. His thin lips turned up in a smirk, the kind of smile that said he’d seen and taken all he wanted in life without a second thought. And tonight, I was apparently just one more thing for him to admire and consume.Meanwhile, Jaxon was talking, going on about the company’s latest venture, weaving the tale of success he hoped Sheffield would buy into. But Sheffield’s attention was only half on the conversation, his gaze repeatedly flickering back to my face as though he were examining a new piece of art he planned to add to his collection.I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my emotions in check. I hadn’t expected anything like this when I was told to come here tonight. My thoughts flickered back to the arrangements Jaxon
Jaxon's POV The moment Sheffield returned from the bathroom, his satisfied smirk met mine. He strolled over with the same air of entitlement I’d come to expect, his eyes gleaming as they landed on Riley, who stiffened in response. Riley's expression was a barely concealed mixture of frustration and contempt, and it amused me to no end that he was struggling to hide it.I gently hit Riley's shoulders and he turned to look at me with obvious resentment plastered on his face."You had better smile if you don't want to see my bad side" I said, my voice going to a malicious tone.Riley's eyes widened in shocked as he stared at me, wondering what he might have done wrong."I'm trying my best here" he replied. "It's not exactly easy to smile comfortably when you're being given off to an old man as a piece of candy for him to have a taste."Riley rolled his eyes then returned his gaze to the ground."Nevertheless, you should smile" I said plainly."I'm trying my best" he said."Then try har
Riley’s POVI lingered a few steps behind Sheffield and his bodyguards, my jaw clenched tight. My irritation simmered under the surface, threatening to boil over. Every sound he made only fed my growing hatred for the person responsible for this debacle: Jaxon.My fists clenched at my sides as I replayed his words in my mind.Jaxon didn’t care about me or what this would cost me. He only cared about the contract, the money, and proving to the world that he could make anyone bend to his will—even me.I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from groaning aloud. If only I’d never met Jaxon. If only I could go back in time and erase him from my life. But I couldn’t. And now here I was, trailing behind an old man who was visibly struggling to climb a flight of stairs, all because Jaxon had decided this was my problem to solve.“You’re doing great, sir,” one of the bodyguards said, his voice cheerful.“Don’t patronize me,” the old billionaire snapped. He paused on the next step, grip
Riiley’s POVAs soon as I returned, I sat back on a chair, creating space between me and the old billionaire. Sheffield leaned back in his chair, his eyes watching me with unsettling intensity. I tried to focus on anything else—the clock on the wall, the air conditioner. But nothing could distract me from the weight of his gaze. “You seem tense,” Sheffield finally said, his tone light, almost playful. I forced a laugh, shaking my head. “Not at all. I’m just… ready to get everything sorted. Busy schedule and all that.” He smirked, clearly unconvinced. “Busy schedule, huh? You look like someone who’s carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.” I shrugged, keeping my voice casual. “It’s just part of the job.” “Hmm,” he murmured, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the armrest. His gaze didn’t waver, as if he could see right through my facade. Then, without warning, he pushed himself out of the chair and walked over to a speaker in the corner of the room.
Riiley's POVThe conference room buzzed with the low hum of murmurs as my colleagues and I filed in. The heavy glass door swung shut behind me, and I reluctantly took a seat near the back, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. At the front of the room, Jaxon stood like a king surveying his court, his crisp navy suit hugging his broad shoulders. His presence was magnetic, commanding respect and silence as soon as he opened his mouth. I stared down at the notepad in front of me, willing myself to keep my expression neutral as he began his speech. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Jaxon began, his deep voice cutting through the chatter like a blade, “I called this meeting because I want to commend the team for their hard work. Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Steele Enterprises.” His eyes swept across the room, pausing momentarily on me. My stomach twisted, but I kept my face blank. “We successfully secured Sheffield’s investment,” Jaxon continued, his tone measured, confi
Jaxon’s POVThe view from my office window rarely failed to command my attention. It was a sea of concrete and glass, stretching endlessly into the horizon. Today, though, my focus wasn’t on the cityscape. My eyes were fixed on the street below, watching two figures walking side by side toward the restaurant in the building next door. Riley and Eric. I’d spotted them as they left the office, Eric’s tall frame and easy confidence unmistakable. His hand had hovered too close to Riley’s back, and the way he looked at Riley—too soft, too interested—made my blood simmer. I leaned back in my chair, my fingers positioned under my chin as I thought over what I’d just witnessed. Riley, my reluctant little pet, walking off to lunch with someone else. It wasn’t jealousy—no, I didn’t do jealousy—but irritation prickled under my skin. Riley was supposed to be mine. I had made that very clear. And yet, here he was, laughing and smiling with Eric like he didn’t have a care in the worl
Riley's POVThe restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft lighting that cast a golden glow over the polished wood tables. A faint hum of conversation filled the air, blending with the gentle clinking of cutlery against plates. The smell of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces drifted through the space, wrapping me in a ball of comfort. Eric and I were seated in a cozy corner booth, the kind that made you feel a little more at ease, shielded from the rest of the world. It was the first time in a long while I felt I could breathe without the weight of someone’s expectations crushing down on me. “So,” Eric began, his tone warm and inviting as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “How’ve you been these past few days, Riley? Really been meaning to check in, but things have been a little hectic on my end.” I smiled, appreciating his genuine concern.It was refreshing—different from the suffocating control Jaxon wielded over me like a weapon. “I’ve been managing,”
Riley's POVThe taxi pulled up to the luxury hotel, its glass walls glittering under the city’s nightlights. I swallowed hard as I stared at the place. Of course, Jaxon would stay in a hotel this extravagant. Everything about him screamed money, power, and arrogance, and I was walking right into his world once again.Holding my phone in one hand, I pushed through the revolving glass doors and stepped into the lobby. The polished marble floors gleamed under my worn sneakers, and the receptionist behind the massive desk offered me a polite but distant smile as I approached.“Good evening. How can I help you?” she asked, her tone professional.I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortably out of place in my simple jeans and jacket. “I’m here to see Jaxon Steele. Could you tell me which room he’s staying in?”Her brows lifted slightly, her trained composure faltering for just a second at the mention of Jaxon’s name. That was the kind of presence he commanded—even his name made people pa
Riley's POV The car came to a smooth halt in front of the restaurant, its glowing elegance an extravagant display of glass and lights. The sheer elegance of the building was enough to make anyone feel out of place, but I was used to this now—Jaxon’s world of wealth and sophistication had become familiar territory. Before I could reach for the door handle, it swung open, revealing one of Jaxon’s bodyguards standing tall and imposing. His movements were precise, almost rehearsed, as he stepped aside to let me out. “Thank you,” I said politely, stepping onto the almost busy driveway. “Please let the driver know to stay ready. I won’t be too long.” The bodyguard nodded respectfully, his deep voice steady. “Understood, Mr. Matthews" he said.I adjusted my jacket, smoothing down the runples and took a moment to take in the sight of the restaurant. The evening air was delicious, the faint scent of sweet and expensive perfume being carried through the breeze. A valet hurried past,
Jaxon's POV The first thing I became aware of was a soft, persistent voice pulling me from the suffocating depths of unconsciousness. It wasn’t sharp or startling, but it was there—gentle and warm, like a light tug at the edges of my mind. “Jaxon… Come on, Jaxon. It’s time to wake up now.” Alexis. I’d recognize her voice anywhere, even in this hazy void. She was the only one that could annoy me to wake up.I tried to respond, to open my eyes, but my body felt like it was filled with something heavy.My limbs were tight, my chest tight, and even my eyelids refused to cooperate. Still, her voice didn’t falter. “You’re stronger than this,” she said, her tone firm but encouraging. “Riley needs you, Jaxon. We all do. So, wake up already!” That name—Riley. It sparked something in me, like a fire lighting in full force.Slowly, painfully, I willed my eyelids to move. The room around me came into focus, and the first thing I saw was Alexis’s face hovering above mine, her eyes wide
Riley's POVThe quiet of my apartment was a welcome change after the constant hum of the hospital. I didn't have to deal with the relentless beeping of the machines connected to Jaxon and I have to admit, I felt relived that I didn't have to listen to it, even if for just a few moments.It honestly wasn't easy living without Jaxon and I couldn't believe I had become so close to him, so much that I couldn't imagine how my life would have been if we never met.I guess that's what happens with someone takes a bullet for you.I set my bag down and pulled out my phone, intending to check the time, but a text notification caught my eye. It was from Chloe. "Hey, Riley. How’s Jaxon doing?" She asked and I could feel her concern just from reading her short message.I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I finally typed out a response. "He’s still in the coma. The doctors don’t know when or if he’ll wake up" I replied, almost feeling like these words have become some kind of
Riley's POVThe steady hum of the machines filled the hospital room, a cruel reminder of Jaxon's fragile state. I sat beside his bed, my fingers holding his hand tightly, as if my touch could somehow bring him back to me. I couldn't deny it, I was actually hoping something like that would happen and finally end this nightmare once and for all.His face was pale, almost as pale as the clean hospital sheets, and the rhythmic beeping of the monitor was the only sign that life still flowed within him. It had been weeks—weeks since he’d taken that bullet meant for me, weeks since he’d fallen into this coma, and weeks since my entire world had come to revolve around this quiet, suffocating room. I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. “Jaxon,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the machines. “You have to wake up. Please. I don’t know how much longer I can do this without you.” There was no response, just the rise and fall of his chest, fixed and unchangin
Riley's POV The moment Jaxon hit the floor, my entire world shattered. I pleaded with him not to go into the light but as I knelt beside him, I could feel his life draining slowly.“Jaxon please don't leave me!” I screamed, holding his head and trying to get him to stay awake. His shirt was soaked with blood, the red stain spreading fast across his chest. My hands trembled as I pressed down on the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, glazed with pain, and he gave me the faintest smile. “Riley…” “Don’t you dare,” I said, my voice breaking. “Don’t you dare leave me, Jaxon. Stay with me.” His breath hitched, shallow and ragged, as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. I pressed harder on the wound, my hands slick with his blood. The warm, sticky sensation made my stomach churn, but I couldn’t afford to think about that now. Arthur stood a few feet away, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at Jaxon as though u
Jaxon's POV The world seemed to tilt on its axis the moment my father pulled the gun from his jacket. Since when did my father carry a gun? This was entirely new to me and I tried my best to process fast what exactly I was stsriiat: the barrel of a loaded gun.Growing up, I have always looked at my father as a man of power, control, and manipulation. He didn’t need weapons—his words alone had the sharpness of blades. But there he was, holding a gun, his face twisted in fury, and the cold metal glinting under the dim light. “Drop the gun, Dad,” I said, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. “This isn’t you. This isn’t how we do things.” His grip tightened around the gun, his knuckles white. “Don’t lecture me, Jaxon. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” Riley’s voice trembled behind me. “Arthur, please… put the gun down. You don’t need to do this.” Arthur’s eyes darted to Riley, his hatred so palpable it felt like a physical force in the room. “Y
Riley's POV The air in the room was suffocating, thick with tension and the undeniable scent of danger. My chest tightened as I glanced around, the four guards surrounding us like wolves circling their prey. My hands trembled, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. I had faced enough trials in one day and I was already too tired to even continue another confrontation.I instinctively grabbed hold of the back of Jaxon's shirt as I leaned in closer to him, feeling the intimidating stares from the bodyguards that surrounded us with their huge, muscular bodies."Don't worry, Riley. I've got you. I'll keep you safe" I heard Jaxon say despite the huge amount of tension he was under.I looked at Jaxon as he remained standing in front of me, his broad shoulders squared and his head held high. His body was a solid wall of defiance and determination, shielding me from the menacing gazes of the guards. Although I could feel his intention to protect me, I could tell our s
Jaxon's POV The cold night air felt sharp against my skin as I parked my car far from the house and stepped into the shadows. I kept my eyes on the road ahead to make sure I was a safe distance from where Riley was being held by my father.I checked my phone once again to make sure the tracker signaling Riley was still up ahead was still working despite being a considerably distance from town.I sent Chloe a text, updating her of where I've gotten and told her to be on standby because I had a feeling I might need her.I couldn't tell just how this rescue operation might go and I didn't want to take the risk of putting Riley's life in more danger than it already was.The safe house stood in the distance, surrounded by tall trees and an eerie silence that settled heavily in the atmosphere that almost made me shudder.I took quiet steps as I surveyed the environment to look for a good entry point where I was sure I won't be seen or detected by my father's goons.Thanks to all the James
Riley's POV I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my fingers brushing against the worn fabric of the blanket beneath me. My mind churned as I tried to piece together where I was and why Arthur Steele would have a place like this. Arthur didn’t seem like the type to hide away in secret locations. He was a man who dominated every room he entered, a master manipulator who controlled people and situations with ruthless efficiency. So why have a place like this? And more importantly, why bring me here? I rubbed my temples, the silence of the room amplifying the questions in my head. My thoughts spiraled, shifting to Jaxon. Was he looking for me? Did he know where I was? The idea that he might be out there, searching for me, gave me a small sliver of hope. My train of thought was interrupted by the abrupt sound of the door unlocking. I sat up, heart pounding, as one of Arthur’s bodyguards entered the room. He was the taller of the two, the one with the annoyed face.He thre