Novel-novel oleh Whimsy

The cafe I'm sitting in is definitely not where I expected to meet my… partner of sorts. The air is filled with a low, happy buzz – the clatter of ceramic mugs, the hiss of the espresso machine, and the murmur of distant conversations. It smelled of roasted coffee beans and something sweet, like cinnamon. My gaze drifts to the walls, plastered with whimsical illustrations of capybaras in various poses, some wearing tiny hats, others lounging in miniature pools. The workers even lean into the theme, sporting adorable variations of capybara ears clipped to their uniform caps. I've never met this guy but I would have thought that he would be the stuffy type that preferred quiet, and expensive restaurants. Not a struggling business that served latte with animal foam art.A man walks in and I sit up straight, my eyes narrowing, monitoring him as he goes to the counter. He's a little bit older than I assumed, early fifties give or take, with a round belly straining slightly against the butt

“Ma'am, this silk blouse, in the emerald, would perfectly complement your eyes,” the sales associate cooed, holding up a shimmering garment in front of me. I glanced at the top briefly, enough to appreciate its design for a moment, but even the beauty couldn't keep my mind from wandering.“I'll take it. Ring it up with the others,” I replied, handing her my platinum card. Stella, from the brief glance on her nametag revealed, snatched it with a delighted gleam in her eyes, and walked away, no doubt eager to swipe it and get her commission. I gritted my teeth. Another strike against Kade. Despite the fact that my net worth was running in billions, I hated spending money, a statement which didn't make sense considering the lengths I'd gone to, to acquire it. Somehow, every dollar that left my account, caused a familiar knot to tighten in my chest and a phantom ache in my shoulder.I supposed the persistent fear of suddenly finding myself back on the streets, penniless and destitute was

The car screeched to a halt in front of Nok, a sleek, modern building that catered to the palates and discreet meetings of some of the world's most influential figures. As I stared up at the building, a surge of adrenaline rushed through me. I was meeting Kade without his knowledge…again! This time, however, not for pleasure. A knot tightened in my stomach at the thought of Kade, a familiar surge of anger battling with an unwelcome flicker of curiosity. Mostly anger, though. Pure, unadulterated fury at what he has done.Every part of me buzzed, an urging to lash out at everything and anyone, but I clamped down on the impulse. I had vented enough for today, in front of my employees no less. I couldn’t lose it in front of Kade too.There was no point in letting him know he'd succeeded in rattling me, a feat no one had managed to accomplish in years. I would first uncover his angle and then proceed from there. The elevator ride up to the sixth floor felt like I would be in there forever

“Explain to me, why you still haven't found the person responsible for this?” I stared at the fools all lined up in front of me. Forty-five percent of Wing Pharmaceuticals, stolen right under my nose. My head of IT, Ben, a small mousy man who I could probably snap in half, fidgeted, his gaze fixed somewhere above my head. My chief financial officer, Sarai, clutched her hands together, her knuckles white, her usual composure replaced with tremors. My lawyer, Davies, was also present and while he was usually a calm presence, I could tell by the he kept clicking his pen that even he was nervous.“Mona, we’ve been working tirelessly,” Ben began, his voice laced with apprehension. “We’ve scoured every digital footprint, every backchannel. It’s like they vanished into thin air after the transaction.”“Vanished?” I repeated, My voice was dangerously soft, a silk-edged blade. “That's your excuse! No one takes a huge chunk of my company and then disappears without a trace.” “Or perhaps you’re

Kade's POV “Well, that was certainly entertaining,” she said, voice dripping with an almost theatrical nonchalance. “He really does have a flair for the dramatic, doesn't he?” I stared at her, my mind reeling. There was no sign of distress, no anger, not even a flicker of annoyance in her eyes. Just unsettling amusement. “A performance?” I repeated, my voice tight. “Mona, he just accused you of… well, I don’t even know what he accused you of, but whatever it was he was clearly furious.” She shrugged, “Eh. Emilio is always furious, especially when he doesn’t get his way.” She takes a step closer, and the jasmine scent, mixed with something else—something warm and spicy—enveloped me. “Besides,” she continued, her voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial murmur, “that's what happens when people can’t handle being played at their own game.” I blinked, stunned. “Played? What exactly did you do to him?” A mischievous glint appeared in her dark eyes. “Let’s just say I acquired a rat

Kade's POVI was half-listening to Emilio drone on and on about his golf club, my attention drifting, when a jolt of raw energy coursed through me. It wasn't a physical sensation, but a deep, primal thrum in my bones, an undeniable knowing that seemed to paralyse me on the spot. She's here! A ripple of murmurs started at the far end of the hall, near the entrance. Heads turned, bodies parted, making way for someone who commanded attention. Only one person I'd ever met could elicit that kind of response. Ignoring Emilio's ceaseless monologue, I turned, my gaze locking onto her as she moved deeper into the room. She was easy to spot, towering over most of the crowd, at over six feet tall.My eyes swept downwards, and I nearly had a coronary right there on the floor. Her gown, a deep crimson, like the heart of a ruby, flowed around her, clinging to her curves before cascading to the floor like a whispered promise. The off-shoulder design exposed the delicate curve of her collarbone, and