Novels by odi

The next morning, they woke up early, before the sun had fully risen. The apartment was quiet, still holding the warmth from the night before, but the weight of reality pressed in.Ethan’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up, eyes scanning the screen. It was an official email from Lucas, confirming the court date and time for Marcus’ lawsuit.He didn’t hesitate. “Annie, we leave now,” he said urgently.Annie rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep. “What? Already?”“Yes. Pack quickly. Flight leaves in an hour,” Ethan said, already moving toward the kitchen to grab his laptop and documents.Annie scrambled out of bed, tugging on her robe. Her stomach twisted in anticipation and worry as she hurriedly got ready. “Okay, I’m ready,” she said, trying to match his urgency. Bags were packed, important files double-checked, and calls were made to the driver. Every second mattered. The press might already be aware, and the courtroom would be unforgiving.Ethan glanced at her briefly

The next morning, Annie woke up with a smile, the kind that lingered from the night before. She rolled over to reach for Ethan, expecting a cuddle but the bed was empty.Pulling on her silky robe, she walked downstairs, to pour herself a small glass of ginger juice. She stopped mid-step when she saw Ethan, seated at the kitchen island, laptop open, looking frustrated, fingers moving quickly across the keys on his laptop.For a moment, she just watched him,“What’s happening?” she asked.Ethan didn’t look at her. “There’s more lawsuit” he responded.Annie felt a chill run through her, she stepped closer, her hand rubbing his arm. “And the press? They’ve seen it?”Ethan exhaled slowly, finally looking at her,” I’m could loose my company, I’m loosing control.” he said.They watched Marcus’ video together, the confident, calculated way he spoke, the lies dressed as truth. Annie felt the sick in her stomach.He made Ethan look like the villain, like the one hiding something like he wasn’t

Marcus leaned back in the leather chair, looking outside. Everything he had planned for years was finally coming together.His lawyer sat across from him, papers spread out in front of him. “Everything is ready,” the lawyer said. “The breach of contract claim, the documents, the shareholder statements. But you need to be careful. Ethan’s team is strong. They will fight back hard.”Marcus smiled. “Careful?” he repeated,“No. We’re going to crush him. Careful isn’t the plan.”The lawyer cleared his throat. “Sir, if this goes public, it looks like revenge. People might think you’re attacking him personally.”Marcus shook his head. “No. It’s not revenge. It’s strategy. People respect power. They remember who acts, not who waits.”He leaned forward, “Ethan thinks he can control everything every reaction, every move. But he underestimated me. And he won’t see what’s coming until it’s too late.”The lawyer frowned. “Sir, are you sure you want to go public? The moment you release this state

Before she could speak, Ethan moved.His hand slid behind her, fingers finding the clasp of her bra. Annie inhaled as if the sound itself had undone something inside her.“Ethan” she began.He didn’t stop.He leaned in, his forehead resting briefly against hers, breath warm. “You already said yes,” he murmured, “I just want to feel you mean it.”Her answer came in the way her hands rose to his shoulders, unbuttoning his shirt, pulling him closer.He kissed her slow at first, as he wrapped his hands around her neck, laying her down slowly on the counter as he went inside her. Annie moaned, her fingers threading into his hair, and the other, slid down to his back, slick with sweat.“Baby” Annie moaned. “mmmh.” “Do you like it?” he asked as he went deeper.“Etha...he pressed his mouth against hers, kissing her deeply before she could speak.Her breast pressed against, his chest, she felt every part of him.When he kissed her again, it was deeper, the kind of kiss that erased doubt. Wh

Texas greeted them quietly.No cameras, no murmurs, no sense of being watched.Just heat, and the sun scorching like they are on an islandAnnie didn’t realize how tightly she’d been holding herself together until the apartment door closed behind them.She stood there for a moment, her bag still on her shoulder, breathing in air that felt unfamiliar but peaceful.Ethan’s building is built in a way that signaled wealth without demanding attention.Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the living space, lights coming in through the large windows.The floors were polished wood, a long, low sofa faced the windows, textured and neutral, layered with soft throw pillows.The kitchen blended seamlessly, warm tone counter tops, matte black fixtures.“This is… nice,” she said.Ethan set his keys down and watched her take it in. “I wanted it to feel like home,” he said.“Not like a hiding place.”She nodded. “It feels like somewhere you could start again.”He smiled faintly. “That was the idea

They both left quite early to the airport.Ethan’s hand hovered near hers as they walked, he held her hands.He’d insisted on keeping it low-profile. No convoy.They were almost at the check-in counter when they heard a voice.“Miss Annie?”She stopped.Not because she wanted to. Because pretending not to hear would’ve been a lie they’d all see through.Ethan turned at the same time she did.Cameras rose like reflexes.One microphone. Then another. A phone shoved forward, already recording.“Is it true you’re leaving the country with Ethan Gray?”“Are you relocating because of the allegations?”“Were you aware of his relationship with Clara Vale when you got involved?”The questions came fast, another after another.Annie felt so embarrassed.Ethan stepped forward instinctively, his body angling just enough to block her from the closest lens.“She’s not answering any of that.”Annie touched his arm.Just enough.He stopped.She stepped forward instead.Cameras all adjusted to her.Sh