LOGINRaymond's POV I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Nia smile this much. She sat beside me in the passenger seat, talking nonstop about the interview, her hands moving animatedly every few seconds."I almost forgot the answer to one of the questions," she admitted with a nervous laugh. "For a second, my mind went completely blank." A proud smile spread across her face.I glanced at her briefly before returning my attention to the road. "You underestimate yourself too much."She leaned her head against the window. "Maybe."The car fell into a comfortable silence. The kind of silence where neither person felt the need to fill it with meaningless words. My phone buzzed inside the cup holder. I ignored it. Right now, nothing mattered more than getting her home safely."So..." she spoke again. "If I actually get the job..." She turned toward me. "Will you celebrate with me?"A small smile tugged at my lips. "What do you have in mind?"She shrugged. "I don't know. Dinner?""I'll take
Nia's POV The smell of pancakes still lingered in the apartment long after breakfast was over. I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Raymond rinse the plates. Who would've thought the feared mafia boss could cook breakfast and wash dishes? A small smile tugged at my lips. "What?" he asked without turning around. I shook my head. "Nothing." "I know that look. The one where you're secretly making fun of me," he said. I laughed. The shrill sound of my phone shattered the peaceful moment. I frowned and reached for it on the counter: Unknown Number. "Hello?" "Good morning. Am I speaking with Miss Nia Harrington?" A lady's voice came through. "Yes, this is she," I replied. "This is Sterling Media. We're calling regarding your application. We'd like to invite you for an interview today at two o'clock this afternoon." My eyes widened. "T-Today?" "Yes, ma'am. Can you make it?" "Yes! Absolutely," I said, excitement clear in my voice. "We'll be expecting you." The call ended
*Nia's POV*I woke up the next day with a massive headache pounding behind my eyes. I groaned, shaking my head slowly as I tried to piece together the blurry fragments of last night. The club, the drinks, Jesse calling someone. How did I even get back home? Did Jesse carry me? That seemed impossible. She could barely carry her own handbag when she was tired. There was no way she had carried my drunk self home.I frowned and sat up slowly, immediately regretting the decision when a wave of dizziness washed over me. I held onto the edge of the bed until the room stopped spinning. "God," I muttered. How much had I actually drunk last night?I looked down and realized I was wearing a large shirt that definitely belonged to Raymond. The fabric smelled like him, rich and masculine. I slipped out of the covers, wincing at the soreness in my body, and padded out of the room.The smell of bacon and pancakes hit me immediately. I walked into the kitchen and froze.Raymond stood there in my apr
*Nia's POV*Within twenty minutes, Jesse arrived at my apartment. She didn’t say much at first. She just pulled me into a tight hug before heading straight to the kitchen. She made two cups of coffee and handed me one.We sat on the couch, the silence between us thick and awkward. Guilt gnawed at me. I had blocked her for months, yet here she was the moment I needed her.“Go ahead,” she said softly. I poured everything out. Daniel’s betrayal, the public humiliation, Lila’s slap, the way Raymond had stormed in like a dark savior, and the confusing pull I felt toward him despite everything. Jesse listened quietly, nodding at the right moments, her expression never judging.When I finally finished, she let out a long breath. “Nia, your life is a mess.”I managed a weak smile. “Tell me something I don’t know.”“So this Raymond guy… he’s Daniel’s father?” she asked.I nodded.“Dirty move,” she said with a small smile. “You went for your ex’s dad.” I stared at her, and her smile faded. “Don
*Nia's POV*My phone buzzed on the nightstand again. I ignored it, just as I had ignored every call from him last night. Raymond had called me all night, but I didn’t pick up. I couldn’t. I was upset. Why would Raymond let that lady hold his neck and stand so close to him? Why is my life full of bad luck? First Daniel, now his father? Clearly, the universe hated me.A notification popped up on my phone. The message was from Raymond. Honestly, I didn’t want to open it. I wanted to show him I was upset, but curiosity got the better of me. I opened the message.Raymond: Bunny, I understand if you are upset. We can talk about it now. Pick up your damn call before you give me a heart attack.I stared at the message in disbelief. Was he seriously trying to guilt-trip me? A second message arrived before I could decide whether to laugh or be annoyed.Raymond: Don’t test my patience. If you don’t reply to this message or pick up my call, I will storm into your apartment, and God, you don’t wan
*Nia's POV* The woman stepped closer, the sharp click of her heels echoing across the training ground. Raymond didn't move. He just stared at her. A strange tension settled over the air as I glanced between them."Uhm... Raymond?" I asked carefully. He finally sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "What are you doing here, Valentina?"The woman smiled slowly. "Well..." she drawled, "that's not exactly how you greet a fellow colleague." Her dark eyes shifted toward me, a calculating look appearing in them. "A certain source of mine told me about your new toy."My entire body stiffened. Toy? Did she just call me a toy? I frowned immediately, my fingers curling into fists. Before I could say anything, Raymond's expression darkened. "Watch your mouth.”The warning in his voice was sharp enough to cut glass. Valentina only smiled wider. She looked completely unfazed by him. "I want to talk to you." She paused deliberately. "Privately." Her gaze flickered toward me again.I suddenly felt
Raymond stepped in, pure, unfiltered anger burning in his eyes. The entire ballroom seemed to freeze as his tall, commanding figure filled the doorway. Behind him, a dozen armed men in dark suits moved with military precision, quickly spreading out to surround the room.Guns were drawn and pointed
By the time I woke up, the sun had already set, casting warm golden light through the thin curtains of my bedroom. I reached for my phone on the nightstand to check the time. It was 10:00 AM. I rubbed my eyes sleepily and forced myself to sit up, my body still heavy with exhaustion from the chaoti
Nia's POV I got in without saying another word.The passenger seat of Raymond’s sleek black SUV felt too intimate, too warm after everything that had happened. The leather was soft against my damp skin, and his coat still draped around my shoulders carried his scent, rich and masculine, with hints
My eyes widened in pure horror. This wasn’t a costume party at all. The elegant ballroom was filled with people in sophisticated evening wear, tailored suits, designer gowns, sparkling jewelry, and formal attire appropriate for what looked like a high-society charity event.No costumes. No playful







