LOGINTyler stood beside me, his suit jacket unbuttoned, his hand resting lightly against the small of my back. He wasn't staring at the ticker. He was staring at me, his dark eyes carrying a warmth that felt like a quiet sun after months of endless winter."You're remarkably calm for someone who just reset the entire financial market," Tyler murmured, his thumb rubbing a slow circle through the fabric of my cream blazer."I'm calm because the truth is finally out there," I replied, turning to face him as the elevator chimed, its doors sliding open into the subterranean garage. "We spent so much time reacting to Norman, to Miller, to the press. Standing at that podium didn't feel like a defense. It felt like taking our lives back.""It was," Tyler said softly, his voice carrying a dark, resolute weight. "And no one is taking them from us again."We stepped into the waiting Maybach, the heavy doors sealing us off from the hum of the city. Alan took his place in the front passenger seat, turn
He didn't pause. Neither did he didn't hesitate."Effective yesterday morning, Arthur Miller was terminated from his position as President of the European Division for gross financial misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty," Tyler stated clearly. "A forensic audit conducted by my office revealed systematic embezzlement and unauthorized transfer of corporate capital. Formal legal filings and criminal charges have been submitted to local and federal authorities in Madrid and New York."A wave of murmurs rippled through the press pool, reporters frantically typing away on their laptops.A prominent senior financial reporter from The Wall Street Journal raised his hand immediately. Tyler gave him a curt nod."Mr. Rider," the reporter asked loudly, standing up. "There are persistent reports that your presence in Madrid was accompanied by Ms. Sarah Bennett, leading to widespread speculation about internal power struggles within the board—and romantic conflict bleed-over following your rece
By seven, the master dressing room of the estate was in total chaos. I stood in front of the full-length gilded mirror, smoothing down the lapels of my cream-colored double-breasted power suit. The tailored fabric fit like precision armor—sharp shoulder pads, a tapered waist, and wide-leg trousers that draped effortlessly over my four-inch nude pumps. My hair was styled in sleek, low-swept waves, and my makeup was immaculate, highlighting my cheekbones and bold red lips. I looked composed, formidable, and entirely untouchable.Behind me, the door swung open, and Tyler walked in.I caught his reflection in the mirror, and for a second, my breath hit a wall. He was wearing his midnight-blue three-piece suit, custom-tailored to accommodate the massive breadth of his chest and broad shoulders. A crisp white dress shirt and a dark silk tie completed the look. He looked like the absolute embodiment of corporate dominance—a billionaire who owned the ground everyone else walked on.Tyler sto
Leena gasped, practically scrambling down Tyler's suit jacket like a monkey to snatch the bag from my hands. "Thank you! I'm going to put it on right now! Rosa, look!""Hold your horses, young lady," Mae's warm, commanding voice cut through the driveway chaos from the top of the steps. She walked down slowly, her eyes scanning both Tyler and me with deep, maternal relief before she offered a warm smile. "Let your parents get inside first. They've been crammed in a tin can over the ocean for nine hours."Caleb walked beside Tyler as we headed up the steps, his hands shoved into his pockets in an exact mirror image of his father’s favorite posture. "Dad, I saw on the financial news network that Arthur Miller resigned due to 'sudden health complications.' Did you make him sick?"Tyler shared a quick, intensely amused glance with me over Caleb's head before looking down at his son. "Let's just say he realized the atmosphere at the Rider Group was no longer healthy for his career, Caleb. C
"Are you ready to go back into the cage?" he asked, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated pleasantly against the quiet cabin air. I smiled, slipping my hand into his, letting the absolute solidity of his grip anchor my sudden, fluttering nerves. "I'm not the same person who left this city, Tyler. They can't cage someone who knows how to open the door." Tyler’s lips twitched into a rare, deeply proud smirk. He pulled me up from my seat, his arm wrapping around my waist for a brief, possessive second before we walked toward the exit. The cabin doors swung open, and the humid, heavy New York summer air rushed in to greet us, carrying the familiar scents of aviation fuel, asphalt, and ambition. Alan, Tyler's head of domestic security, was already waiting at the bottom of the airstair, flanked by two idling black Maybachs. He gave a crisp, respectful nod as we descended. "Welcome home, Mr. Rider, Sarah," Alan said, opening the door to the lead vehicle. "The perimeter at the
I shifted slightly against the high-thread-count sheets, instantly meeting the solid, radiating warmth of the man beside me. Tyler was still asleep, one heavy, scarred arm slung possessively over my waist, anchoring me flush against his side. His sharp jaw was relaxed, the severe lines around his eyes smoothed by a rare, deep sleep.I stayed completely still, just watching him breathe. It was in these fleeting, private moments that I remembered the sheer weight he carried on his broad shoulders. He was trying to dismantle the corrupt, generational rot of his family's empire while simultaneously building a sanctuary for us and the children.Slowly, as if sensing my gaze, Tyler’s dark lashes fluttered open. His eyes, usually so alert and calculating, were warm and heavy with sleep. A low, gravelly hum vibrated against his chest as his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me entirely over him."You're awake," he murmured, his voice a deep, morning rasp that sent a familiar, pleasant th







