Novel-novel oleh Author Starlit

[LAURETTA POV]I had barely stepped out of the elevator before the news reached me. The continuous noise of clicking keyboards and ringing phones had been replaced by a low, hum of excitement. Toby, the junior copywriter, was practically vibrating in his chair, while two social media coordinators were huddled over a tablet, speaking in hushed, reverent tones."Her private jet cleared customs at O'Hare at six AM," one of them murmured."I heard the security detail already took three racks of custom gowns straight to the Peninsula Hotel," the other replied.I didn't need to ask who they were talking about. *Vanessa Whitmore.*For five years, that name had been a recurring bruise in my life. I had seen it emblazoned across glossy luxury magazines, splashed across European society blogs, and constantly linked next to Aaron’s name in the sports columns. She was a billionaire heiress, a major global philanthropist, and the undisputed diamond of the Chicago high-society circuit. To the

[LAURETTA POV]The ride to the arena was supposed to be twenty minutes, but I spent thirty sitting in car, staring at the brake lights ahead of me and trying to force my brain into compliance.“What photos? What receipts?”Aaron’s voice had played on a loop in my head all night, a heavy, rough echo that wouldn't leave me alone. The way he looked at me, the raw fury it hadn't looked like the arrogance of a man who had simply traded up for a wealthier socialite. It looked like the rage of someone who genuinely believed he had been wronged. For five long years, I had built my entire survival on the fact that he had abandoned me for fame and Vanessa Whitmore. But yesterdaymare me doupt myself. Was it possible that my impression on him all this time were wrong?I slammed my palms against the steering wheel, cutting off the thought. It didn't matter. The past was a luxury I couldn't afford to unpack. I had rent to pay, twins to feed, and a professional reputation to protect. Work came fi

{AARON POV}The door to my private office hadn’t been closed for more than ten minutes before Mason let himself in. He didn't knock. He just tossed a thick,folder onto my desk and dropped into one of the leather armchairs, crossing his legs comfortably."You're making a mistake, Aaron," Mason said, his voice entirely different from his warmth he usually showed the rookies.I didn't look up from my laptop, though I hadn't actually read a single line of the text on my screen since stepping off the ice. "I don't remember asking for your opinion, Mase.""You didn't. But I'm giving it anyway because you looked like you were about to skate through the glass boards an hour ago," Mason replied, tapping his knuckles against the folder. "That’s her HR file. Standard background check, resume, employment history. I pulled it from Marcus’s assistant before they processed her into the main corporate directory."My hand hovered over the keyboard. I didn't want to look but I also want to open it an

{AARON POV}Everything stopped for a second; I could hear my own heartbeat.She stood next to Marcus Vance.Wearing a sharp, charcoal-gray corporate suit that didn’t fit her right it was slightly too big, masking the curves I used to know by touch. Her dark hair was pinned back in a neat, professional twist, exposing the elegant line of her neck. But it was her eyes those deep, familiar brown eyes that slammed into my chest, knocking every single ounce of oxygen from my lungs.Lauretta.My left hand went entirely numb. The extra leather glove I was holding slipped from my fingers and hit the rubber floor mat with a heavy thud. I didn't care. I couldn't move. My skates felt frozen directly into the ice.For five years, I had looked for her. hallucinating her face in crowded bars, on city streets, and in the quiet, agonizing hours after a game when the adrenaline wore off and left me entirely alone. I thought I was losing my mind. I thought my brain had finally snapped from the pressur

{LAURETTA POV}My alarm went off at six o’clock in the morning, but I had already been staring at the ceiling for an hour.I wasn't anxious about the interview questions.I had spent years managing high-stakes corporate messaging, writing press releases under tight deadlines, and turning potential public relations disasters into strategic wins. I knew my worth. I knew my resume was flawless."Mommy, you look like a penguin," Raynell observed quietly from the kitchen doorway, holding her favorite stuffed bear by its ear. She blinked her beautiful blue eyes, taking in my crisp white button down shirt and tailored black trousers."A very professional penguin, sweetie," I corrected, forcing a light tone as I poured milk into two bowls of cereal. My chest felt tight making my fingers twitch. It’s just an interview,I kept repeating like a mantra in my head. It’s a massive facility. He’s a player; he stays on the ice. The management offices are separate. You won't even see him."Mom! Mom!

My chest felt tight, my breath hitching every time my eyes drifted back to the bolded name at the top of the roster.Aaron Carter.My hands were clammy as I gripped the edge of the kitchen table. Panic clawed its way up my throat."Auntie Estie!" Ryan’s ecstatic shriek shattered the heavy silence of the apartment, followed immediately by the thud of his sneakers sprinting toward the front door.The lock turned, and Esther walked in, balancing a greasy paper bag from the diner downstairs and her massive designer purse. Before she could even set the food down, Ryan was practically climbing up her leg."Auntie Estie! Look!" Ryan yelled, thrusting his arm out to show off a small, slightly crumpled piece of paper. "I drew the Chicago Blizzard logo! And today at school, Leo said Aaron Carter's slap shot was weak, so I checked him into the cubbies! It was a clean hit!"Esther let out a loud, booming laugh, tossing her keys onto the counter. "A clean hit in kindergarten? That’s my boy. Did yo