Chapter: Chapter 18Ariana"What? You slapped him?"I threw Tessa a glare as I settled a sleeping Lily on her bed. And gently pulled the blanket over her, making sure she was tucked in properly before brushing a kiss against her forehead.She stirred slightly but didn't wake.Quietly, I switched off the bedside lamp and dragged Tessa out with me.I let out a tired sigh before dropping onto the couch and facing her. "Yes. I did. Can we not make it sound like I committed a federal crime?"She looked like she couldn't decide whether to panic or burst into laughter."He deserved it."Every single bit of it.Tessa slowly shook her head before folding her legs beneath her. "Okay...Start from the beginning."I told her everything."...He questioned the way I was raised."Tessa's expression immediately changed."He implied that because I grew up without my mother..." My voice caught for a brief second before I forced myself to continue. "That somehow explained who I am."I shook my head."I don't care how angry
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 17DamienI should've known better than to let Vanessa into my office. The woman had mistaken one ounce of tolerance for an invitation.Now she refused to leave my side. "Dami, do you think this necklace goes with tonight's dress?"I didn't even bother looking up from the document in front of me. "It doesn't matter.""Oh."She sounded disappointed for exactly two seconds before speaking again."What color tie are you wearing tonight? Maybe we should match."I signed the last page with more force than necessary. "I don't care.""You always say that."Because I genuinely didn't. I tossed the pen onto my desk and pinched the bridge of my nose.The image from earlier flashed through my mind.Ariana opening my office door. The surprise on Ariana's face before she immediately apologized and disappeared.It wasn't as though I'd done anything wrong. Vanessa had adjusted my tie without permission. Before I could stop her, Ariana had walked in.End of story.So why had that moment stayed with me t
Last Updated: 2026-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 16Ariana"I am not wearing that."Tessa looked up from where she was kneeling beside my bed, holding up a fitted emerald green top."Why not?""Because It's just a team dinner, Tess.""It's a welcoming dinner.""Same thing.""It is not the same thing."She sighed dramatically before tossing the green top onto the bed and digging through my closet again."I seriously regret telling you."She gasped."You regret telling your best friend?""Yes.""I'm offended.""I'll live."She pulled out another outfit this time around a dress."What about this?""No.""You haven't even seen it.""I don't need to."She huffed."I swear, Ariana, getting you dressed is harder than negotiating world peace."I flopped backward onto my bed."Tessa. There is absolutely nothing special about tomorrow."I pointed toward the pile of clothes she'd already thrown onto my bed."I'm not the only person they're welcoming. There are six other new executive staff members. So why are you acting like it's some royal banqu
Last Updated: 2026-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 15DamienMy fist connected to the asshole face sending him crashing into the chair. The metal legs screeched across the concrete floor.I grabbed him by the collar before he could fall completely and slammed him back upright."Look at me."His head lolled. Blood stained the corner of his mouth. Not enough to cool my anger. Not yet.I crouched in front of him. The warehouse was silent except for the sound of old fluorescent lights overhead.Six of my men stood around the perimeter.The bastard tied to the chair had stolen an information from me. And in our world, information was worth far more."One last time," I said quietly. "Who gave you access to the shipment routes?"Silence.I drove my fist into his stomach. The impact folded him forward against the restraints.A strangled sound escaped him.For three weeks I had been cleaning up the mess he caused. And this idiot happened to be the weakest link.I grabbed his jaw. Forced his head up. "Try again."Fear flashed across his face. Goo
Last Updated: 2026-06-24
Chapter: Chapter 14Ariana"I think the doctor wrapped the wrong body part." I pointed at Matt. "Your leg is injured, but clearly your mouth is the one that needs a bandage. You've been talking nonstop since I got here."Matt placed a hand over his chest. "I can't believe this betrayal. I thought we were friends.""We are.""Then why are you attacking me?""Because you're exhausting."Tessa burst out laughing. Matt pointed at her. "See? This is exactly what I've been dealing with. I'm tired of this hospital."His voice held genuine frustration now. "I want to leave."Tessa looked up from her laptop."No."Matt groaned dramatically. "Stop treating me like a child."Tessa stared at him."A child?""Yes.""Matt, you literally tried to get out of bed yesterday by yourself.""I was fine.""You fell.""I slipped.""You fell.""It was a controlled fall."I immediately started laughing. Tessa looked seconds away from committing a crime."A controlled fall?" she repeated."Yes.""You nearly took your IV stand wit
Last Updated: 2026-06-22
Chapter: Chapter 13Ariana "I swear to God, Tessa, one day I'm going to strangle that man."I stood in the restroom, gripping my phone between my shoulder and ear while I patted my wet face with a paper towel. "No, seriously. I'll make sure there are no witnesses and then I'll do it."Tessa snorted. "Can I help?"A laugh escaped me despite my irritation."You're supposed to be talking me out of murder.""I'm your best friend, Ari. Not a therapist. Don't worry about him. Karma is coming.""It needs to hurry.""Trust me. It will."I chuckled. The frustration slowly eased from my shoulders."Right. I'm not even supposed to be talking about him. How's Matt doing?""Oh, he's fine. But if you ask me, you'd think he's the healthy one and everyone else is injured."A laugh escaped me."Still talking nonstop?""You have no idea.""Poor nurses.""Poor me."I laughed harder.The accident had scared all of us, but thankfully Matt was recovering. His leg had been badly injured and he was stuck in the hospital for n
Last Updated: 2026-06-21
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