ALEXANDER“You have a meeting in Singapore tomorrow at three with the CEO of Yali Enterprises,” Johnson rattled off as we strode through the parking lot.The pulsing neon lights of Tropicana tonight were a welcome sight after the endless meetings I had today in Paris. At least we'd sealed that deal, hence, another empire added to my collection. When I went in, I found that my boys were already holding court at our usual spot. The circle looked like a collection of men who collectively controlled enough wealth to buy a small country.“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Connor drawled with an insufferable smirk dancing on his face.I slid into my seat. “Just expanding the empire, gentlemen. Paris has fallen.”David arched an eyebrow as the waiter materialized with our usual—champagne on ice.“I take it the French surrendered gracefully?”“Don't they always?” The deal was a risky one alright, but then again, I built my fortune on calculated gambles.“To Alexander,”
AVAThis night was the worst night ever. I was fuming. I needed space. I needed to clear my head. This house was a major reason why I felt suffocated. Everything in this place reminded me about him. It reminded me of the life we could’ve lived together. Blake staggered in front of me, reeking heavily of alcohol. I tried to move around and he blocked my way.“Blake, get out of my way. Don’t make me mad.” I said through gritted teeth.The scene from the bar still assaulted my mind. It made me boil with anger . How could he? How could he try to hit me?“You know you’re pretty, Ava? Come, let’s have fun tonight. I promise it’ll be amazing.” he said, reaching his arms out to hug me.I slapped one arm away. “What do you think you’re doing, Blake?”He frowned in confusion. Years ago, I’d have thought it was cute, but his very existence made me disgusted.“What? Let’s have some fun. Come on, don’t be a party pooper,” he said, reaching out again.“Blake!” I screamed.I wanted to slap that enti
I moved out of that darned house within the next hour to a short let apartment rented earlier in the year. At least, I wasn't foolish enough to put all my eggs in one basket. Ever since I found out about Chloe, I’ve been really suspicious of a lot of things. So, I rented a house with the little money I'd saved. For now, it would give me the space I needed and an opportunity to restrategize. I had to work my way back to the top where I belonged.The universe finally decided to throw me a bone this morning. When Isabella texted about afternoon tea, I found myself actually looking forward to it. Maybe because I saw something of myself in her—another woman who'd gambled on love. The difference was, her bet had paid off, and mine didn’t.I got to the mansion, which was a place I used to call home before I handed everything to Blake on a silver platter.Isabella told me she was going to meet me outside. She wanted to take me somewhere. Her dark blue SUV purred up the driveway, windows rolli
I started to piece things together in my head.Did Alexander have another one-night stand or was this some kind of joke? I studied Sara. Something about her had seemed familiar at first. Like a person from a long-lost memory.I knew Alexander’s been looking for me since that day. He even had my bracelet. So, how come this woman was posing at me?When the assistant mentioned Michigan University, something clicked in my mind. Sike memories from the past began to resurface.I observed the woman again.When it hit me as to where I knew her from, I I sucked in a breath.No way.It was the Sara Lockhart. And truly, she attended Michigan university. I knew that because I had attended the same university. She was a former course mate and my rival. Every movement of hers was calculated, from the way she tilted her head to catch the light to how she positioned herself near Alexander. Eight years had passed, but her tactics never changed, only her target has upgraded from campus politics to bill
AVAMonday morning found me striding through the office doors with steel in my spine. Last week's chaos had left its mark alright, but I wasn't about to let Blake or Sara's games derail me. Not anymore.Lily materialized in front of me like a worried ghost as Soon as I walked in.“Are you holding up okay?” She pulled me into a hug that smelled of vanilla and anxiety.“I'm fine,” I assured her, returning the embrace.Sweet, perceptive Lily. She’s always reading between the lines. I returned the hug warmly, hoping she could see I was alright. Knowing Lily, she was very good at worrying about the minutest things. I’d decided not to tell her about Blake yet, and I’d refused any visits from her. I didn’t need sympathy, I needed to think. I would tell her everything in due time. Some wounds just needed time to scab over.“You're lying,” she said flatly. “Your face does this thing when you lie… like you're trying too hard to look okay.”Jeez! This woman and I have only met for a few days, ye
I pulled up in front of Lily’s apartment in my equestrian outfit. I was very deliberate in my choice of clothing. Cedric. The man had two great loves according to my research: horses and beautiful women. Lucky for me, I could deliver both.The doorbell had barely finished chiming when Lily yanked it open, her eyes going comically wide.“Holy shi—““This good?” I smirked, doing a little twirl.“Oh my!” She squealed, slapping her palm over her mouth.I grinned.“You look... fabulous! Classy! You look like a high-class elite who just touched down from the Maldives and needs a thrilling rush to excite her.”“Okayyyy. That’s a very vivid description. I’m just going to say thanks. Can I come in?”“Of course, of course,” she said, letting me in.I saw my reflection in her entryway mirror, allowing myself a moment of satisfaction. The riding jacket was tailored to a masterpiece in deep pink and navy, nipped in at the waist to create the kind of silhouette that made men forget how to speak.A
I wished I could slap that stupid smile off Sara’s face. Why was she even here in the first place? I stared at her arm linked in Alexander’s. It seemed it was official. They are together now. I heaved a breath, wondering what kind of trick she would pull this time. Knowing this woman, there was always something up her sleeve.Cedric noticed I’d shifted my attention. As soon as he saw Sara, he smiled.“You didn’t tell me you were bringing your girlfriend. Is that why you came late?” Cedric asked.“Something like that,” Alexander replied. He fixed his gaze on something in the distance, somewhat ignoring us.“Hello, Cedric,” Sara said in that sickly-sweet voice of hers. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”His interest was piqued. He fully turned to face her as he handed the file over to me.A horrid feeling settled in my stomach. A part of me hoped he wasn’t forgetting our deal.“Likewise,” Cedric replied. “You’re the mystery woman, I see. Alexander had said so much ab
Every one of us was in agreement. An hour later, Mr. Rogers had been informed of the race, and he let us take the equipment we might need. He also readied the horses for the big race. I pulled on my harness, watching Sara and her minion. Lily was beside me, helping with the buckles.“Never thought my morning would end in a high-stakes horse race,” Lily said, helping me with the buckles.“That makes two of us.” My eyes tracked Sara and her shadow, watching them whisper and exchange looks that made my skin crawl. I saw the minion smile in a dark way, her eyes lighting up in excitement. Sara patted her shoulder.I couldn’t ignore it anymore. For the fact that it was my enemy who suggested the race, I needed to be on high alert.“Lily, can you do something for me?” I asked.“What?”“I have a feeling these guys are up to something. When they leave, go to the race course and monitor the surveillance footage. Follow their movements and find out what they’re up to.”“You’re right,” Lily agree
AVAI slid my sunglasses from my face, hooking them into the neckline of my blouse as I approached the reception desk.The woman behind it smiled at me.“Good morning. How may I help you?”“I'm looking for Annalise Morris. Does she still work here?”The receptionist's smile tightened slightly. “Is there a particular issue I can help you with?”“No issue. I'm a friend of hers.” I returned her smile. “You can just let her know I'm around.”As the receptionist made a call, I turned to survey the lobby.Annalise and I used to be good friends and business partners before Blake's manipulation drove a wedge between us.We worked at the company together and until Blake stepped in and suggested I stepped back to focus on my health. He also kept planting seeds of doubt about Annalise's, which escalated over months until I was convinced my best friend was undercutting me.
AVAI woke up slowly. Then there came the pleasant ache in my muscles.I opened my eyes to find Alexander watching me, his head propped on one hand, dark hair deliciously mussed from sleep and other activities.The morning stubble along his jaw gave him a rougher edge than his usual polished appearance.“Jesus,” I gasped, jerking slightly. “You scared me.”“Sorry.” He smiled but he didn't sound sorry at all.His touched my waist from under the sheets and his thumb traced idle circles on the bare skin above my hip bone.“How long have you been watching me sleep like some kind of gorgeous creep?” I asked, my voice still rough with sleep.“I don't know. Fifteen minutes, maybe.”His eyes traveled over my face with shameless appreciation. “You talk in your sleep.”“I do not,”I answered quickly.“You do. Something about dolp
AVA“What!”Three steps brought him within arm's reach of me.“You heard me,” I replied, feeling strangely detached from the chaos swirling around us.His adam's apple bobbed under the collar of his shirt. “Have you been playing me this entire time?”I laughed. “Don't act like an innocent puppy, Blake. I was only playing your game. The one you taught me when you fucked another woman behind my back for months.”Charles made a strangled sound from somewhere behind Blake.Isabella didn’t really seem surprised because I already told her happened.“You want to know the secret Sara was threatening to expose? I'll tell you myself. I slept with Alexander the night of your father's wedding.”Blake's face went instantly pale.I turned to Isabella with a pang of genuine regret even though I was satisfied to have let that out.“I'm sorry you had to hear this. But that was the same night I caught Blake making out with a married woman on the terrace. I had to leave because I couldn't take it. I got
AVAHis offer wastoo good to be true and too dangerous to ignore. I“Why would you want help me with that?”He answered, “Because unlike you, I've been honest about my feelings from the beginning. And I wouldn't let a woman I love suffer at the hands of someone like Blake when I have the power to stop it.”Love. He loved me…?The word landed like a stone in still water, and it sent ripples through everything I thought I understood about us.I stared at him and there was only raw sincerity in his eyes, which scared me more than any threat could have.The truth was…I did feel something for Alexander.But I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge it or name it or trust it. Even now, standing here soaked to the skin with the taste of him still on my lips, I was afraid to admit how deep it went.“We should…” I swallowed hard, “We should find somewhere to dry off.”Alexander still kept his eyes on me for a while longer before he nodded, although made no move to lead us back toward the vil
AVAMy cheek throbbed the same rhythm with my heartbeat as I walked away from the hospital.How much more could I take? I walked into this situation willingly, eyes wide open, calculating the costs against the potential gains. I believed getting close to Blake again would help me reclaim what belonged to my family. But so much had happened so far that I didn’t even see it coming. Sara's vindictiveness and Blake's violence for example.Maybe there was another way to get my assets back that didn't require subjecting myself to Blake or Sara.The beach ahead of me was empty, save for one solitary figure standing at the edge of the water. I almost turned in another direction, but it wasn’t like Alexander owned the ocean after all.I headed towards the beach but stopped several yards away from him. The waves crashed over the water just as the cool breeze aided my stinging cheek.I didn’t look at Alexander and made sure my eyes were on the horizon where water met sky.I could see him studyin
ALEXANDER“Tell me.”“The test results are out, sir. It's been confirmed that the child she was carrying is not yours,” Matthew said over the phone.I closed my eyes briefly in relief, which was immediately followed by cold anger. Sara nearly succeeded in her plan to hold me hostage with the welfare of an innocent child.“She thought I was a fool,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Matthews.The level of calculation required to orchestrate this deception was quite impressive, if I must admit.I needed to put that woman in her place for good. No child meant no obligation, and no obligation meant Sara would finally face the consequences of her actions.Matthews's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. “There’s a second update, about Ms. Winters.”My attention sharpened instantly. “Go on.”“She’s been digging into Blake finances and financial dealings as of late. Our source at First Capital confirms she's been making discreet inquiries about specific transactions dating back eightee
SARAAlexander scooped Sara into his arms and carried her out of the door. Her face was contorted with pain and fear, her fingers clutching desperately at his shirt. And then they were gone, leaving me standing motionless in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the crimson puddle at my feet.I couldn't process what had just happened. One moment Sara had been threatening me as she laid claim to Alexander and his future. The next, she was screaming, bleeding and collapsing.“Ava?” Isabella's gentle touch on my shoulder made me flinch. “Are you alright?”I nodded mechanically, unable to form words. The kitchen was now filled with people; Blake was hovering uncertainly in the doorway, Charles was already on his phone arranging something and staff appeared with mops and towels.“Come on,” Isabella said, guided me away from the blood.I looked down and realized there were droplets of red on my shoes. I let Isabella lead me to a bathroom where she dampened a cloth and handed it to me.“What
ALEXANDERI had no choice but to bring Sara along. The moment the pregnancy was confirmed, she weaponized it with her subtle threats. She was using this child as leverage, and we both knew it. Despite wanting nothing to do with her personally, she was carrying my child. As much as I hated to admit it, anything that affected her could inadvertently affect the baby.So here we were. I didn’t expect Ava to be here.I saw her sitting with Isabella on the terrace and everything else faded to background noise. She looked beautiful in the morning light, hair loose around her shoulders, dressed simply in linen pants and a sleeveless top. For a split second before she noticed us, she was laughing at something Isabella had said. Then she saw me and the smile just faded.Sara, of course, noticed my reaction and held my arm more tightly. The tension that followed was excruciating. Ava politely distanced herself while I maintained my composure even though I hated it each time Ava averted her eyes
AVAThe seaside villa Blake booked was admittedly spectacular. It was all clean lines and panoramic windows that framed the ocean like living artwork. Not that I'd been in any mood to appreciate it since we arrived three days ago.This morning, Blake and Charles left at dawn for a deep-sea fishing expedition on Charles's yacht. Blake had kissed my forehead before leaving, whispering something about bringing back dinner and I pretended to be half-asleep as I murmured just enough acknowledgement to send him on his way.It wasn’t until the moment their boat disappeared from view that I felt like I could finally breathe.“More coffee?” Isabella's voice distracted me.She stood in the doorway to the terrace, wearing linen pants and a simple blouse that which she looked so elegant in.I gestured to the chair across from me, “Please.”She poured for us both and then settled into the cushioned chair with a contented sigh.“This is my favorite time of day here. Before the heat becomes unbearab