~Astrid~I moved around the room as the guests chatted and the engagement party went on. Organizing this engagement party for one of the biggest names in the tech industry was my proudest achievement this year. The lights were dimmed just right, casting a warm glow over the elegant centerpieces and spotless glassware. Each table had delicate arrangements of ivory roses, just as the bride had requested in her very specific notes. It was flawless.After working as an event planner for the last two years, I knew this party could finally put my name on the map. I’d been on the grind, taking small gigs, dealing with difficult clients, and working late nights just to prove myself. And now, here I was, overseeing an engagement party that every guest seemed to be talking about. The compliments from the guests filled me with pride—this was exactly the kind of buzz I needed. I glanced around, making sure everything was in place. Everything looked perfect.“Ash,” a voice snapped me out of my t
~Astrid~"Why are you here?" Adrian asked, his tone flat, and I stared at him for a long moment, feeling a flicker of something dark and bitter before I caught myself. I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to keep it together.I should have known he was Mr. Voss. How could I have missed that? It seemed so obvious now, looking at him—every detail exactly as I remembered, but somehow worse. Standing there with that same face that had once felt like home to me. Stupidly handsome, still. Cruel in the way that beauty could be cruel.It had been, what, five years? A pang tightened in my chest. Five years since he broke me. He was getting married, while I was still here, quietly picking up the pieces of my shattered heart."Considering I’m the event planner, that question seems a bit ridiculous, don’t you think?" I replied, keeping my voice light and professional. I felt oddly proud of myself for staying so composed, for keeping the bitterness and hurt buried beneath the surface.He didn’t
AdrianI stared at her retreating back as she shut the door behind her.“Fuck!” I kicked the empty can next to my foot. The day was already ruined.I had been the one who specifically asked Martha to book her as the event planner for the party. I wanted to see her again, to prove to her—and maybe to myself—that I’d moved on.But seeing her again, looking just as beautiful as she had five years ago, with her blue eyes still as mesmerizing and her lips still as tempting… it hit me like a brick. I hadn’t moved on. Not even close.It took every ounce of self-control not to push her against the wall and kiss her senseless. But I couldn’t. Not after what she had done. Not after what I’d seen with my own eyes.And now Nova had bailed on me, knowing full well her dad’s company was on the line.I had helped Xavier a few years ago, never planning to call in the favor. But Aaron, God help him, had twisted my hand.Aaron, with his perfect fiancée and his annoying insistence that all of us needed
Astrid I returned to the party, my muscles coiled with tension. It’s not every day you meet an ex who was once your entire world.“What did he say?” my assistant asked. I shrugged, gripping the hem of my dress a little too tightly.“We’re sending the guests away. I’ll make a quick announcement, and then you’ll handle the rest,” I muttered, already moving toward the front of the room.“What? What about the bride?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion. I glanced at her over my shoulder, my expression dry and enough to pass a message.“Just do as you’re told, Nora.” My voice was clipped, and she stopped in her tracks, watching as I climbed onto the podium—the very spot where the groom should have introduced his bride.“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” I began, gripping the microphone as every head turned toward me. Murmurs and whispers rippled through the crowd, I could taste their curiosities in my mouth. Bitter and sour. “Thank you all for gracing this occasion. I trust you’
AstridI stared at myself in the floor-length mirror, admiring the white dress I’d bought at the last minute.The dress was beautiful, ending at my knees with a silver lining at the neckline and delicate pearls hanging from it.It felt ironic how a dress so pretty could be for an occasion so… fake. I wasn’t just the event planner anymore. Now, I was the bride.I had pinned my hair into a bun and done my makeup myself. This wasn’t a grand affair. Adrian had decided we’d go to a small chapel to get married, and I couldn’t have been happier.If I was lucky, I’d walk away from this sham of a marriage with a clean slate and someday marry someone who deserved me.I turned away, grabbed the bouquet, and slipped my shoes on. Adrian would arrive any second.Two days ago, at the engagement party, we had exchanged contact information.I opened the door just in time to see an SUV pull up. The chauffeur, who I assumed worked for Adrian, rolled the window down and nodded at me. I quickly crossed th
Astrid“Get her things from her home,” Adrian said to the chauffeur once we'd arrived at his house. It was obvious Adrian was doing quite well, a huge contrast to the man I’d known five years ago.His house was massive, the kind that felt too big for one person. Knowing Adrian, though, he probably lived alone.“Should I be surprised you know where I live?” I asked, crossing my arms. My tone was dry, but I was genuinely curious. His brown eyes narrowed on me.“No, you shouldn't,” he replied curtly, turning away and heading up the wide front steps. The driver pulled out of the garage, leaving me alone to follow.I took in the sight of the house as I trailed after him. Well, if I’d be staying here for a couple of months, I might as well start familiarizing myself with the place.Adrian walked ahead, his strides confident and unhurried. My gaze drifted to his frame. His shoulders were broader than I remembered, his legs stronger. And his biceps? Hard to say, considering he was always in a
~Astrid~“Okay. I saw the news, and it’s ridiculous,” Freya chuckled awkwardly as I dried my hair. I already knew what she was about to say but kept quiet, letting her speak.“Your doppelganger got announced as Adrian’s fiancée. It’s sickening that he’s actually getting married to someone who looks like you. Screw that, I think they’re already married,” she continued as I dressed quickly, my thoughts racing.“Are you listening to me, Ash?” she asked, her voice curious. I nodded, knowing fully well she couldn’t see me.“I can hear you,” I said, glancing around my room. I’d spent most of the night arranging everything while waiting for my things to arrive, so everything was already in place.“I knew he never got over you. I always knew it,” Freya giggled, oblivious to the tension building inside me. I let out a steady breath. It was now or never.“I’m his wife, Fre. I got married to Adrian,” I said, my voice calm but firm. She chuckled at first, thinking it was some kind of joke. Then s
~Adrian~ Aaron watched as his fiancè led Astrid away before turning his attention to me.“You're married, funny,” he said dryly, shoving his hands into his pockets.“Doesn't seem funny to me,” I took a step closer to him. “Don't speak to her like that again...ever,”Aaron didn't look even bothered, he just stared at me like I was some kind of annoying pest.“Considering the fact that you never spoke about a woman in the years since I've known you and then, you get yourself a random lady as your wife because you're about losing your job,” he said and I felt slightly irritated, because he knew nothing about me absolutely nothing.“You know nothing, okay? So don't judge,” he remained silent, just watching me. I stared back just as both women returned.Astrid returned to my side, holding my arm. I tensed almost immediately but forced myself to relax knowing fully well Aaron could pick on it. Aaron’s gaze flickered to Astrid, like he was trying to piece something together. Joan smiled w
♤Adrian♤A knock came on the door and I looked up from the files I was buried in. After the meeting, I decided to stay back for some hours and sort out a few things that needed my attention."Come in," I muttered, and the knob turned. Axel walked in. I sat up a little straighter.He had a tablet in his hands, and my eyes fell on them almost immediately.I flipped through the pages of the files, trying to act casual as though I wasn’t fucking curious—I was. Curious as hell about what he’d come here for and what he had to say."So, about what you asked me to look into this morning," he started, and I gave a curt nod, raising a brow."Yeah?""She was pretty easy to look into. Background and everything," he said, drawing out the seat in front of my desk and settling in like he owned the space."What did you find?" I asked, glancing at my wristwatch. A couple of minutes past 1."From recent records, turns out she's married," he said. I raised my eyes to meet his. He gave me a knowing look.
♡Astrid♡Once Adrian left the house, I went back into my room, freshened up, and left. I had a meeting with Jason, the head of Aaron’s rival company.We’d met at the gala, and he was the only one who could help me get even with Adrian. All I had was a month and a half.Sleeping with Adrian would just be the icing on the cake. I didn’t want anything to do with him afterward—I was sure of it.My phone rang as I stepped outside. I reached for it inside my bag and stared down at the caller. It was Nora."Yeah?" I said as I picked up. There was a brief pause on the other end."Ash, you're needed at the office," she said quietly, and I stopped walking. From her voice, I could tell something was wrong.I hadn’t been around the office much lately, especially with the news going around—which, yeah, was true, but they didn’t know that. Nora had been handling things well.If she was calling me in, it meant something had happened—something she couldn’t handle. And if Nora couldn’t handle it, it w
♤Adrian♤"You got him?" I asked, tucking the phone between my shoulder and neck while buttoning my shirt."He gave a fake signal. He was never really going to Washington," Axel said.I froze, my hand still on the last button.What?"How the fuck did he pull that off?" I muttered, irritation flaring. Derrick playing me was the last thing I needed right now.I had enough to deal with. My wife, for one. We’d crossed a line last night—one we couldn’t uncross.And now, she was my next puzzle. Something wasn’t right. After our breakup, something happened. I didn’t know what, and it was eating at me.There’s a scar under her wrist. What put it there? What did Maya mean when she said Astrid almost died? Why did Astrid shut down when I asked about the past?No one was going to hand me the answers. I’d have to dig them out myself. And this time, I would.A sound. I looked up. Astrid stood at the top of the staircase, head tilted slightly.Our eyes locked. I straightened, pulling the phone from
♡Astrid♡His fingers slid into my hair, tugging hard at the roots. My lips parted in a silent moan, a rush of pain and pleasure rushing through me.Let's not even talk about the warmth pooling low in my belly.His eyes met mine, and he raised a brow."Sure you want to do this?" he asked, and I narrowed my eyes."Backing out already?" I shot back, watching the way his lips curved into a smile — a little sadistic, a little knowing.He said nothing else before walking out of my room. I didn’t stop him. I knew exactly where we were going.Even though a part of me hesitated, the rest of me didn’t care. Not anymore."You're wet for me, huh?" he asked, voice hoarse as he pushed the door to his bedroom open and kicked it shut behind us."Wanna find out yourself?" I teased, and he tossed me onto the bed. I propped up on my elbows, heart hammering, trying to guess his next move.But Adrian wasn’t the kind of man you could ever figure out.He grabbed my ankles and yanked me to the edge of the be
♡Astrid♡We hadn’t spoken to each other for days. Well, technically, I hadn’t spoken to Adrian and did my best to avoid him.I either stayed in my room all day or left the house more than necessary, even if I had nowhere to go. I’d either take a walk or go to my office.Anything that kept me out of his space. Which explained why I was still locked in my room by past eight in the evening, sleeping.I didn’t get a lot of sleep at night and I couldn’t go to Adrian’s room either, so I just tried fighting the demons myself.And honestly, it hadn’t been very successful.It was a call from Freya that woke me up.Her school had gone on a trip to California — for God knows what — and coincidentally, Mum’s brother stayed over there. Freya had just, well... decided she wasn’t gonna come back.I was fine with it, as long as she was safe and far away from that monster, who we still hadn’t found.“Hey,” I muttered once the call connected, my voice a little groggy as I rubbed my eyes.There was a li
♡Astrid♡I slid my fingers into his hair, and just like that, he kissed me back. His arm tightened around my waist, shaky and desperate, pulling me closer.And, well—it didn’t feel fake. Not even with a pair of eyes on us.His tongue brushed mine, and I pressed a hand to his chest to stop him before things went too far.Because if we didn’t, this wouldn’t end well. We might as well start acting out a porn scene.He must’ve caught the signal because his hand swept along my back before he pulled away. I gave a tight smile and looked off to the side.“I’m surprised you’re back this early,” I muttered, finally meeting his eyes again. They looked like a lighter shade of brown—my favorite kind.That color made him look easygoing, warm, and even funny. But when his eyes went cold, he turned into someone else completely. Detached. Unreachable.“Yeah?” he murmured, running his fingers through my hair. God, that felt so calming. His gaze flicked past me, and I knew—he’d seen her.He raised a br
♤Unknown♤Turning the knob, I walked into the study where Nox was waiting for me.The thick scent of cigarette smoke hit me, and I wrinkled my nose."How many times do I have to tell you not to fucking smoke in my house?" I snapped, shutting the door behind me. He just bared his teeth, plucked the cigarette from his lips, and crushed it into the ashtray.I walked over and sat down across from him. He crossed his legs and leaned back in his seat, moving with an ease that didn’t match his bulk.He was a massive man—dangerous because of it—and that's exactly why I kept him close."It's been a long time, Gary. So why am I here? You don’t just call for nothing," he muttered. I pressed my lips together and leaned forward, grabbing a photo from under one of the files.I pushed it across the table. His eyes stayed on mine for a second before he looked down.His brows pulled together as he stared at the image."She's still alive," I said. He looked up, his gaze meeting mine."It’s been five ye
♤Adrian♤I called Axel the moment I drove out of the compound."Where is he?" I asked as soon as he picked up. There was a pause."My sources say he left the house last night and hasn’t been back. No sign of travel or anything," he said. My jaw tightened."And?""He didn’t look like he was running. Nothing suspicious," Axel added. My brain scrambled trying to piece one and two together. “There’s a good chance he either played us… or he was taken,” Axel muttered. I pressed my lips together.Derrick was smart—but not smart enough to know I had men watching him, close enough to track his every move.So maybe he was abducted. But by who? And why?"How’s the search?" I asked."We’re doing what we can. Nothing solid yet. Tracking his last movements. I’ll update you if anything turns up," he said, sounding frustrated."Even if it’s just a guess, tell me right away," I said and ended the call.I turned the wheel, changing course. I wasn’t heading to the office anymore.I drove to Maya’s.It
♡Astrid♡Hands. Fingers. They were everywhere all over my body, grabbing me roughly.I tried to fight it, but it was stronger than me. Screaming didn't help either, and it felt like I was drowning.And then it felt like the life was being snuffed out of me. I woke up with a gasp, drenched in sweat. I leaned forward and switched on the bed light.Light flooded the room, but it did nothing to help me relax. I was in my room, all alone, and God, it was a little frightening.Moments like this made me wish Freya was still here and hadn't gone on that school trip. But who was I to stop her? She needed to clear her head too, and that trip was a great distraction while I sorted things out.Sliding out of bed, I grabbed my phone and walked barefoot towards the door. I needed a glass of water—it’d calm me down.Once I was outside my room, I knew I didn't need water. I glanced at Adrian's door.Should I go there? Wouldn't it be weird? Yeah, he'd told me two days ago to come in whenever I wante