~EVA'S POV~"What did you tell the negotiator? This was a big deal, Eva! A billion-dollar opportunity—and what did you say to him?" Chairman Huxley’s voice thundered across the room. He tossed the file he was holding onto the table and it made a disturbing sound that made me flinch."Sir, no matter what happens, our company can't stoop so low as to beg for customers," I said, my hands gripping the armchair so tightly that I thought I might rip the leather off. "We’re currently getting more deals. We don't need to sell ourselves that cheap. Don't you trust me dad? "Chairman Huxley’s eyes darkened. His brows knitted together, forming a deep line in the middle of his forehead."Isn’t that exactly why we should secure every client first?!" he barked. His frustration was palpable—and honestly, he had every right to be mad. I just cost the company a million dollars."You can’t just walk away from a deal every time something doesn’t go your way, Eva. The company is taking a hit because
~Damian's pov~"Get the documents ready. I have to visit a client," I said to my secretary before walking out of my office without waiting for a response.Sliding into my sleek black Ferrari, I found my assistant already seated in the driver's seat, adjusting his glasses meticulously before turning on the ignition."Aren't you going to take a break for a while, sir?" Adel asked as he pulled into traffic. His voice carried a rare note of genuine concern, something I barely heard from anyone else these days.Everyone else in my life was only concerned about the company, the investments, the image, the growth But Adel? He actually cared if I was breathing or not. Probably because his salary depends on that. "I can't afford a break. We have important work to do," I replied curtly, my tone leaving no room for further discussion. Through the rearview mirror, I caught the brief glare he sent my way, but he wisely said nothing more. Adel knew better than to push further.We had history,
~Eva's POV~I groaned as I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through the articles I had saved about my fiancé. Page after page, all I saw were reports about his trading company, his business achievements, and his position on the Forbes list. Damien Alexandros went to great lengths to keep his personal life private—a nearly impossible feat considering the media was obsessed with him. I figured Adel, his ever-efficient assistant, must have played a major role in shielding him from the public eye.A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I wondered,if there is any other bride in the world who knows so little about the man she’s about to marry?Probably not. Maybe I was the only bride in the world walking into marriage half-blind.From what little information I did find, Damien was ranked among the third richest man in the United States. I zoomed into one of the few pictures of him I could find. Even through the tight, white turtleneck he wore, his statuesque figure was evident. Hi
~EVA'S POV~"I only wish you good luck on your new journey. Let me see your gown, please... Does it look like the one we ordered?" Brenda asked, her voice full of excitement, making me smile softly. A lump of emotion clogged my throat, and I could only nod in response."You will be the most beautiful bride," she added, and my cheeks flushed a light pink under her warm gaze.Brenda had been at my house since morning, helping me prepare for the wedding. I was beyond grateful. Thanks to Dad’s efforts and some divine intervention I didn’t have to step outside for anything. Everything I needed was brought directly to my father’s home. The dresses arrived in garment bags for me to choose from. The shoes were hand-delivered by the boutique. Even the hairstylist came to the house to style my hair, working magic on it until it fell in soft curls down my back."I will miss Dad. I will miss you. I will miss Aunty Sarah..." My voice trembled as I spoke, and I blinked hard to force the tears
~DAMIEN'S POV~Within the hour, I found myself sending out messages to friends, business partners, even a few old acquaintances. Why not? The "chaste CEO" was finally getting married. It would definitely stir up some surprises. I smirked as my phone buzzed with replies filled with disbelief, congratulations, and nosy questions. I simply responded by sending the venue address: Sandro's Hotel, the luxury hotel I had just completed a few months ago.The big day had arrived. The day no one would ever dare to set me up on another blind date again.I drove to Mr. Huxley's mansion in my sleek new Bugatti Centodieci, the engine humming powerfully beneath me. As Adel pulled up to the grand entrance, I caught sight of her. Eva. My bride.She stepped gracefully toward the car, her long white dress sweeping across the ground like a gentle wave. Her makeup was flawless—elegant and subtle, enhancing her natural beauty rather than masking it. Exactly the way I liked it.A strange urge to
EvaI jumped a little, feeling the sudden warmth of his mouth against mine. The kiss was brief—barely a brush—but it left the invisible seal of the bond trembling on my lips. He pulled away instantly, and the realization hit me hard: my very first kiss had just happened... at my wedding.How strange. I had always wondered how I lived such a chaste and boring life. Maybe it was because I was always buried under paperwork at the office, too focused on building a future that now felt so uncertain.The grandeur of the ceremony tried to mask the tension in the air, but I saw through it. I caught his brown eyes not filled with tenderness or excitement, but with something far more complicated. His gaze drifted briefly down my body, making me freeze in place. The sound of clapping and cheers from the audience finally pulled me back to the present. I forced a smile and subtly stepped away from him, ignoring the way my heart twisted painfully inside my chest.I swallowed hard under his heat
EvaI opened my eyes slowly, feeling the faint hum of the plane’s landing gear beneath me. Damien sat stiffly by the window, his face turned away, gazing out at the runway lights as if I didn’t exist. Not once did he tilt his head in my direction. When the plane finally came to a stop at the airport, he shifted his focus , not to me but to a magazine he retrieved from the seat pocket in front of him. Every little gesture I made to capture his attention — a cough, a small nudge, even a sigh was completely ignored. It was as if I were invisible to him.After disembarking, we were ushered into a sleek black Suv that waited at the curb. The drive was silent, tense, and filled with an awkwardness that gnawed at my nerves. Soon, we pulled up in front of a stunning hotel bearing the name "Tenuta Miranda" etched elegantly across the entrance. The view took my breath away. It was one of the most enchanting places I had ever seen, almost like a dream pulled from a glossy magazine page.The ext
Damien's POVAs the wedding reception reached its peak, Mr. Huxley pulled me aside with a pleased smile and handed me a thick envelope. Inside it was a ticket—our honeymoon package. My stomach tightened the moment I saw the elegant embossing of Italy on the golden card. I smiled politely, masking my discomfort, and offered a rehearsed excuse. “Thank you, sir, but I’d prefer to handle the honeymoon plans myself.” Of course, that was a lie. I hadn’t planned anything. I hadn’t even thought about what came after the vows. I never expected to go through with this marriage, let alone a honey moon. But he and my father were relentless, insisting that everything was arranged perfectly. “Don’t worry about a thing,” they said in chorus. “It’s all been taken care of. Just enjoy.” And now here we are. Trapped in the same hotel suite in Italy, with the uncomfortable tension of strangers who have been forced into a bond they didn’t choose.I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at her as she move
DAMIEN POVWe moved quickly, staying low, and taking cover behind the nearest warehouse. My heart thudded in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. Every muscle was coiled with anticipation. Eva was close. I could feel it. And I was going to make sure Marcus didn’t get away with what he had done.I signaled to Marco to take the left side, while I led the team to the right, the area where Marcus’s phone had been traced to. The building was run-down, the kind of place where people went to disappear. But this wouldn’t be where Marcus disappeared. This was where his story would end.I couldn’t let him hurt Eva.As we closed the distance, I signaled to my men to stay alert. I was just a few feet from the entrance when I heard a noise. It was a slight scuffle followed by a faint whimper. It was enough to make my blood run cold. Eva.I moved forward, silently, my hand on the grip of my gun, eyes scanning for any sign of Marcus. There was no room for error. We couldn’t risk a standoff. We had t
DAMIEN"No,’ Chairman Huxley said. ‘We found out late tonight. A call came through, and the man on the phone threatened to kill Eva if the FBI or the cops are brought in.I need your help,’ he said, appealing to me ‘I have to get my daughter back safely.I clenched my fist. Marcus just doesn't know the boundaries that are not meant to be crossed. How dare he kidnap my wife in my absence. He didn't even try to be anonymous. He fucking told her father he was Marcus. Which means he has so much guts and no fear. "Well, ‘this is unusual. Of course, I understand the situation, and if you wish to pay him in that fashion, I can arrange it. However, I never recommend paying kidnappers and, believe me, I’ve had my share of threats.’‘What would you do?’ Chairman Huxley asked."I wouldn’t call in the FBI, they’re useless,’ I said. ‘I have my own people who use the latest technology. When he phones again, we can put that into action."He’s calling tomorrow at 10 a.m.""Where?""L.A.," Chairma
Eva.Finally I got it. This was no joke.When I’d started to struggle with the short man, he’d run out of the room, slamming the door in my face and locking it so I couldn’t get out.Shit! I thought, looking around. I really am a captive.There were no windows, a stone floor, a big old heavy door, a rickety cot with a stained mattress in the corner, an old blanket and a bucket.I'm screwed.How had this happened?I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to summon all the strength I could. Don’t panic, A little voice whispered in my head. Stay calm. You will get out of this.The short man with the pop eyes had tried to force some pills into my mouth. I’d kicked him in the balls and the pills had scattered on the ground. If I’d been quicker, I might have reached the door before him, but he was fast for such an unfit-looking man. Strong and smelly, too. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.Kidnapped. It seemed like a plot from a movie. No wonder I felt so sick, they’d obviously used somethi
A year later.Brenda's pov"From the moment we met, I liked you. I think about you all the time and I even dreamt about you at night. I know this might seem sudden but I don't think I can wait any longer"I smiled. Watching Micheal from across the table in the fancy exquisite restaurant. He knelt on one knee and brought a ring box out of his jacket pocket, the velvet catching the soft candlelight between us. My breath hitched as he opened it to reveal a delicate diamond solitaire, shimmering like a secret under the stars."Will you marry me?" he asked, with a low earnest voice , his eyes locked on mine like I was the only person in his world.For a heartbeat, the whole restaurant seemed to fade away the clink of glasses, the low hum of conversation, even the soft classical music floating through the air. All I could see was him, his trembling hand, and the hope in his eyes.Tears welled up before I could stop them. Not because I was surprised—but because I had waited so long to hear
Eva I woke up two weeks later “Eva, come home right now.”The urgency in my father’s voice froze me in place. I dropped my phone and rushed out, not even bothering to change out of Damien's pajamas. Yes his own because they are bigger and thicker and the weather is just damn too cold. Within seconds, I was behind the wheel of my Land Rover, tearing down the road, my heart pounding with worry.This wasn’t like Chairman Huxley. My father never called like that—never sounded that rattled. A thousand thoughts flooded my mind, each worse than the last. Was he sick again? Had something happened? I imagined him on the bed whimpering about how he loves me and that I should take care of myself. Oh God! I dreaded that thought. I must agree that the worst part of having parents is watching them grow old I parked haphazardly in front of the house, not caring that the tires weren’t straight or that I’d blocked part of the driveway. Kicking the door open, I ran up the stairs, two s
EvaThis isn’t what I was expecting at all. Ever since I got back, I’ve been starving myself. Not on purpose, okay, maybe a little out of pride. I've texted Damien for his address so I can easily order something to eat but he won't reply and I wasn't going to call him Gosh I literally haven’t eaten a single thing today and I slept off only to wake up by past 11pm. my stomach is punishing me for my negligence. The growling is so loud it could probably summon the dead. I tried to sleep, I really did, but the hunger pangs were too painful to ignore.It was too late to order anything. No restaurants will be open for delivery. So I was left with the one option I always end up taking a midnight snack.I tiptoed to the kitchen like a thief, praying not to wake anyone. The first time I tried this at home, Chairman Huxley nearly turned my head into a pancake with a frying pan. He thought I was a burglar. I still don’t understand why he chose a frying pan of all things. What if
Eva’s POV“What am I doing? Seriously?” I asked, trying not to let the irritation in my voice rise too much. His cold tone had sparked an ache I couldn’t quite describe. I only wanted to celebrate with him, to share in his moment and maybe, just for a second, pretend there was something real between us.But apparently, even pretending was asking too much.The audience hadn’t picked up on the tension between us yet. We were both still smiling like a picture-perfect couple. All fake. All for show.“You should stop acting up, Eva,” Damien muttered under his breath, though his smile remained intact, perfectly sculpted for the cameras that wouldn’t stop clicking. "Or else I will do this" He pulled me closer, his arm tightening around my waist as if this moment actually meant something. His lips cut mine I was so flustered by the sudden kiss . What was he doing. This is going overboard To the watching world, we were the romantic headline of the week: Office Romance Goals—The Alexa
Eva's POV"Get up."The deep voice cut through my sleep. Blinking my eyes open, I saw Damien standing in front of me. My surroundings felt unfamiliar—this wasn’t the plush hotel suite we’d stayed in the night before."Where…?" I began to ask, startled and confused. I felt embarrassed to be so disoriented.“We’re back in the States. Now get up. The car is already waiting,” Damien said, his tone sharp and devoid of warmth.Back in the States? My mind raced. I didn’t remember boarding a plane, let alone arriving here. The last thing I recalled was collapsing into bed, exhausted from the gala night. We were supposed to stay for two weeks, not just one. So why the sudden change?I covered my face with my hands, trying to wake up fully—and to hide the panic rising inside me. Something didn’t feel right.“Come on! I have things to do,” Damien snapped, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the exit. I stumbled down the stairs, still groggy and struggling to keep up with his long strides.W
Eva’s POVThe suite was quiet . The kind of silence that presses against your ears, heavy and watchful. I stared at the three dresses laid out on the bed, each more extravagant than the last. velvet. Midnight blue silk. Gold sequins.All picked by Damien not me. Apparently, even my wardrobe was part of the arrangement.I chose the midnight blue one. It was elegant but simple, the kind of gown that didn’t scream for attention, but still turned heads. As I stepped into the walk-in closet and zipped it up, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.My makeup was flawless. My hair swept into soft waves. I looked… expensive. But I didn’t feel that way.Not when my heart was still sore from this morning. Not when I still heard Damien’s voice in my head like a cruel echo. “After the divorce, I doubt I’ll even remember your face.”I grabbed the silver heels from the box on the wardrobe and slipped them on just as the door creaked open.Damien stepped in.He wore a black tux, with a dark bo