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Riley’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the glass windows of Jaxon’s mansion as Alexis and I walked out together, the silence between us feeling both heavy and uncertain. My footsteps were slow, hesitant, as if part of me wanted to linger, to listen to the muffled voices I could still faintly hear from the house. The argument between Jaxon and his father had been intense, their voices cutting through the grandeur of the mansion like glass. I couldn’t shake the discomfort I felt. Seeing Jaxon like that—his usual air of control completely unraveled—was unsettling. The man I had thought was untouchable, impervious to weakness, had looked so vulnerable, so human. Alexis led the way, her heels clicking against the smooth driveway. The crisp morning air did little to ease the tension knotted in my chest. “Are you okay?” she asked, glancing back at me. I nodded stiffly, though the truth was far from it. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “You don’t look fine,” she said, her voice soft but p
Jaxon’s POVMy father’s voice thundered through the vast living room, his words echoing off the polished marble floors and the towering walls of glass. I stood in front of him, my arms crossed, my expression set like stone. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. “You think you’re doing well?” he scoffed, pacing back and forth. His perfectly tailored suit only served to add to the sharpness of his words. “You think running the company means showing up when you feel like it and gallivanting with your flavor of the month?” My jaw tightened. “Gallivanting? Is that what you think I’ve been doing?” I shot back, my voice steady but cutting. “You’ve seen the numbers. The company’s profits have soared in the past quarter. I’ve closed deals you couldn’t even dream of. That’s what you should care about, not my personal life.” He stopped pacing and turned to me, his gray eyes cold and unyielding. “Don’t delude yourself, Jaxon. You’re only succeeding because of the fou
Riley’s POVThe soft hum of my phone pulled my gaze downward, my fingers itching to unlock the screen and check for the reply I’d been hoping for all morning. My message to Jaxon sat there, still unanswered. Worse, I saw the small indicator that showed he’d read it. A faint wave of disappointment washed over me, but I quickly tamped it down. It wasn’t anger or even irritation that lingered in my chest—it was understanding. After the scene this morning, Jaxon had enough on his plate. His father’s presence was a storm cloud over his otherwise confident demeanor, and I could only imagine how much worse the pressure must feel behind closed doors. Still, a part of me wished I could just talk to him. Even a simple, “I’m here if you need me” felt like it would make a difference. But the idea of anyone seeing us together and jumping to conclusions was enough to keep me fixed to my desk. Jaxon was already in a delicate situation; the last thing he needed was office gossip adding to his
Jaxon’s POVThe air in my office was thick, suffocating, as my father lowered himself into one of the sleek leather chairs in front of my desk. His every movement was deliberate, his demeanor a blend of calculated calm and unrelenting authority. I could see it in his sharp gray eyes—the storm brewing just beneath the surface. A small, mocking laugh escaped his lips before he looked at me, his piercing eyes boring into my skin. I could tell instantly he wasn't just angry, he was furious."You have got to be kidding me" He said after being quiet for what felt like forever.I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued by his words which seemed alien to me. I wanted to understand what he meant by such things he said, but nothing came to mind."What exactly are you going on about?" I asked. "Do you want to say another derogatory thing about my staff or is there something else wrong I have done that you would happily like to point out?"I remained standing behind my desk, my fingers gripping
Riley’s POVThe tension in the office was palpable as Jaxon’s father stormed out of his son’s office. His face was a mask of rage, his lips pressed into a tight line, and his entourage followed him like shadows, their polished shoes clicking against the tiled floor. I stood frozen by my desk, my heart racing. What had happened in there? It looked like they had just had a very heated exchange and judging from the expression on Arthur's face, I think it's safe to say he lost.I glanced toward Jaxon’s office, half expecting to see him emerge looking triumphant or defeated. But the glass walls revealed nothing except the faint reflection of my curious coworkers whispering among themselves. “Wow,” Chloe murmured from her desk beside mine, leaning closer. “Did you see that? The way he walked out… It’s like he wanted the whole world to know how mad he is. Something’s definitely not right between those two.” I hesitated. Chloe’s knack for digging into drama was almost legendary, but I
Jaxon’s POVWhen the door had slammed shut behind my father, it left a vacuum of tension in its wake. I stood rooted to the spot, my fists clenched, my chest heaving as the last of my adrenaline slowly began to go away. The words I had dared to utter still echoed in my mind: "Go ahead and try."It had been a bold declaration, one meant to mask the creeping fear beneath my defiance. My father had always been larger than life, wielding power like a weapon. He didn’t just own his influence—he was influence, the kind of man who could break someone with a whisper to the right ears. And I had just dared him. But what choice did I have? I wasn't just going to sit still and allow him say those things to my face without any form of retaliation.Doing that would only mean he still had power over me and if he could sense that, then he would use it to his advantage, causing me to lose everything I have worked tp achieve in this company.My office was silent now, save for the faint hum of th
Riley’s POVThe world felt like it was closing in around me and I had no control whatsoever.I was still processing all the words that had been thrown at me by Arthur Steele and it only hurt more to think that he perceived me as something close to a leach or a parasite.My cheeks burned with the sting of humiliation, and my heart beat loudly in my chest. Arthur Steele’s voice continued playing in my ears, every insult and accusation reoccurring on repeat like a cruel melody. I instantly hated coming to work.I wished the ground beneath me would open and swallow me whole, freeing me of this suffocating embarrassment which made it impossible for me to move from the place I seemed to have stayed rooted.The stares of my coworkers were unbearable—dozens of curious, judgmental eyes boring into me. It didn't surprise me that they would begin talking about the confrontation between both of us and I could only wonder what was going through their heads as I felt their eyes poke holes throug
Jaxon’s POVThe world around me had tilted for a moment as Eric’s fist connected with my jaw. Pain radiated through my face, sharp and hot, and I stumbled back, one hand instinctively flying to my lip. The inevitable taste of blood filled my mouth, and I felt my own anger rising like a tidal wave. "You're going to regret doing something as stupid as that" I said, my voice barely a whisper.My employees, the ones who had been so shamelessly watching Riley and me moments ago, were now frozen, their wide eyes darting between Eric and me. The entire office felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the explosion they all knew was coming. “Riley, are you okay?” Eric’s frantic voice broke through the stunned silence. I barely registered his words as I steadied myself. My lip throbbed, and when I pulled my hand away, I saw a bit of blood smeared across my fingertips. The sight of it made my blood boil and I almost couldn't control the hatred I was feeling in that moment.If I
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