Up close, she was breathtaking in a way that caught him completely off guard. Her caramel-toned skin seemed to glow, its warm undertones hinting at her roots, and her sharp jawline added a refined edge to her beauty. Her full lips, unadorned but naturally inviting, were set in a faint pout, as though she was lost in thought.Her dark eyes were deep and almond-shaped, framed by thick lashes that gave them an almost hypnotic quality. They had a richness to them, a kind of smoldering intensity that made Gabriel feel like they could see straight through him.The way her hair framed her heart-shaped face made every feature more striking, from the proud curve of her nose to the delicate arch of her brows.She wasn’t just beautiful; she was arresting. Every angle, every detail seemed carefully crafted to demand his attention. She had a quiet elegance about her that felt natural, not rehearsed, and it only made him more curious.He suddenly realized he’d been staring too long.Gabriel barely
Gabriel sat by the large windows in his penthouse, staring out at the city lights without really seeing them. He’d bought the place as a home base for his trips to Mexico, a convenient spot for work as his company expanded into Latin America. His phone sat on the table beside a half-empty glass of wine, untouched for the last hour.He paced the length of the room, one hand in his pocket while the other ran absently through his hair. Restless energy coursed through him, unusual for someone so composed. He glanced at his phone for the third time in the last five minutes, the screen lighting up to show nothing but the time. No messages. No calls.Antonia had only taken his number, promising to call when she felt ready. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, the waiting was driving him crazy.The hours since the gala felt like a blur. He hadn’t been able to shake the memory of her. The way her voice carried a subtle warmth, the elegance in how she carried herself. She wasn’t
Gabriel woke up earlier than usual and his thoughts were entirely consumed by Antonia. She was on his mind more than he cared to admit. It was foolish, he told himself, to be this excited about someone he’d only just met. And yet, he couldn’t help it.The way they’d connected, effortlessly, as though they had known each other much longer than a few hours. He wanted to see her again. Needed to.He had already made plans, of course. It was in his nature to go all out for something he cared about, and he cared about impressing her. He didn’t want to take her to some stuffy restaurant or an overhyped bar. No, he wanted her to remember this day. Something that felt special.He could have asked Jonathan to handle everything for him, but it would be exciting to do it himself. There was something personal about taking control of the plans. That way, he’d feel more connected to it. He wanted to be part of the process, to have the satisfaction of knowing that every little piece had his touch on
Antonia’s eyes fluttered open, her body still warm and heavy from the night before. Her bare back rested against his chest. His arm rested possessively around her waist, holding her close, as though even in sleep, he didn’t want to let her go. The faint scent of cologne and the lingering warmth of their naked bodies told the story of passion that had unfolded just hours earlier. His breath was soft and steady against her neck, and for a moment, she simply lay there, relishing the quiet intimacy of the moment.Antonia turned her head slightly, careful not to wake him, and let her gaze linger on his face. His features were relaxed, almost boyish in his sleep, and it made her smile. For all his intensity the night before, he looked peaceful now, as though the weight of the world had been lifted.She shifted a little, careful not to disturb him too much, but his arm tightened around her waist instinctively. His lips brushed her shoulder, and a low murmur escaped him."Morning already?" h
Gabriel sat behind his large, polished desk, flicking through business proposals with the occasional furrow of his brow. Jonathan, seated across from him, shuffled through papers, checking the details of an upcoming meeting. The steady hum of the office felt normal, but there was an odd energy in the air today.Every now and then, Gabriel would glance up from the documents, a small smile tugging at his lips. It wasn’t much, a brief curve of his mouth, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. But it was enough for Jonathan to notice. Gabriel wasn’t usually so distracted. Not when he was buried in work.Jonathan raised an eyebrow. He’d worked with Gabriel long enough to know that something was different. The man wasn’t easily moved by much, and yet, here he was, smiling to himself like a teenager in love. Jonathan shifted in his seat, trying to make sense of it. He knew Gabriel had been seeing Antonia for a couple of months now, but was this really the cause of his strange mood?He didn’t as
One Year LaterIn the span of a year, Gabriel’s world had become a love story written for Antonia. The once self-assured, business-savvy billionaire was now a man who revolved around her, every decision tinged with her presence. Antonia had seamlessly become a part of his life—his family adored her, his friends admired her charm, and his staff spoke of her kindness.Over the months, Gabriel had put her name on properties, an apartment in Miami, another in Mexico, and shares in one of his smaller businesses. She had gained access to his accounts under the guise of helping him organize his life, funding personal projects, and even donating to causes close to her heart. To Gabriel, she was a partner in every sense. He was utterly convinced that she was the woman he would marry.Despite their growing closeness, there was one person who still doubted Antonia, which was Jonathan. Gabriel’s closest confidant and right-hand man had spent the past year quietly observing her. Every time he voic
Gabriel sat in the living room of his family’s estate, a glass of whiskey untouched in his hand. The cozy warmth of the crackling fireplace couldn’t ease the chill he felt in his chest. Around him, the family gathered in tense silence.Jonathan stood a few feet away, a folder clutched tightly in his hands. He’d waited for this moment with a sinking heart, dreading the impact this revelation would have. He had already shared the truth with the family; now, it was time to tell Gabriel.“What’s going on?” Gabriel asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed his growing unease. “Why does everyone look like someone just died?”Grandma’s lips trembled, and she looked to Jonathan, nodding for him to continue. Jonathan stepped forward, placing the folder on the coffee table in front of Gabriel.“I need you to look at this,” Jonathan said, his tone serious but careful. “It’s about Antonia.”Gabriel frowned, his heart immediately on edge. “Antonia? What about her?” He
Jonathan was about to respond, but his gaze shifted, his eyes narrowing. He suddenly tapped me on the shoulder, his voice low. “You might want to look up.”I followed his gaze, my heart sinking in my chest when I saw her. Standing in the doorway, looking as out of place as ever, but just as unforgettable.Antonia? What could she be doing here?It felt like the ground beneath me shifted. For a second, I thought I was imagining it—a trick of my overworked, exhausted mind. But no. There she was, standing under the soft glow of the garden lights, her figure as striking and unforgettable as ever.My chest tightened, my breath catching in my throat. I froze, my hands gripping the railing so tightly that the cold stone bit into my palms.How?The question tore through my mind like a whirlwind. How was she here? How did she escape prison? What was she doing at my wedding, of all places?A storm of emotions hit me all at once. Anger. Betrayal. Confusion. The betrayal I thought I had buried cla
Aria’s POVIt had been three weeks since the rooftop.Three weeks since my voice cracked while I told the only man I’d ever loved that I wanted nothing to do with him again. Three weeks since I’d broken down in front of him, let every word I’d bottled up pour out of me like acid, burning both of us in the process.Three weeks since I finally admitted that I loved him, and that his love destroyed me.Some days, I wondered how I got through it.Other days, I didn’t wonder. I knew. I’d taught myself not to feel.I kept repeating the same words to myself like a mantra: He said he used you to pass time. He made a fool out of you. He broke you, and then he moved on like it was nothing.The more I thought about it, the more real it became. And that was the only way I could keep going.Some nights, I lay awake and wondered how I didn’t crumble the moment I walked away. I should have. I wanted to. But something inside me, maybe the last piece of pride I had left, kept me upright.I told my bro
ARIA’S POVI needed air. Space. Sanity. Something.The second I stormed out of that office, I didn’t stop walking. I just kept going. Past the hallway, past the fake smiles and curious stares, until I hit the rooftop door and shoved it open.Cold wind rushed against my skin like it knew I was seconds from losing it. I walked to the edge, gripped the metal railing, and let out a breath that trembled against the fury in my chest.What the hell was he doing here?Of all the damn places on earth. Colorado. My job. My world.And now he was standing there like a ghost that refused to stay buried.I heard footsteps behind me, and my stomach sank.“Ari…”Of course.I didn’t turn. “Don’t come near me.”“I just want to talk.”I turned then, slow, sharp. “You’ve done enough talking, Gabriel. You did all your talking with that divorce paper.”He flinched, just slightly, but I didn’t stop.“You made me leave, without a word. No explanation. Nothing. And now what? You show up here, what? You buy th
Aria’s POVSofia leaned in, her voice just above a whisper. “I mean… I can’t speak on that. But apparently, the new CEO is holding private meetings with all the department heads today before he meets everyone officially. There’s no official memo or calendar update, but people are talking.”I blinked, a sudden unease crawling up my spine. “Talking how?”She tapped her phone. “From what I heard, he’s already met with Marketing and Sales. PR is in there now. Editorial is next.”“What?” I froze.Editorial. That’s my department.How am I just hearing about this now? Why didn’t I get any sort of information?I forced a smile, mumbled a quick thank-you, and nodded before heading to my desk. My chest was heavy with nerves. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to start from scratch again. I’d just begun to find my rhythm here. It finally felt like I was getting a foothold—finally stepping into the future I’d envisioned for myself. Event planning wasn’t just a job to me; it was my second chance. A wa
Aria's POVWe’d been sitting here for a while now, settled into our booth, chatting like it was just any other evening. Dylan was easy to talk to, surprisingly so. Maybe I’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t exactly my type, but he wasn’t a bad guy. Actually, he had a way of making me laugh without trying too hard. Maybe that was a nice change.I couldn’t help but smile as he raised an eyebrow at the wine list. “How do you choose between something like this and something more... adventurous?” He gave me a teasing look, like he knew what I was thinking.“Well, you have to be in the mood for it,” I replied, leaning back in the booth, still looking at my menu. “But sometimes, it’s about taking a risk. You know?”He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “Taking risks, huh? Yeah, I can get behind that. I’ve had my share of those.” He shrugged casually, almost nonchalantly. “Started my own company with almost no money. Almost lost it all, but it worked out. Sometimes you just have to take the le
Gabriel’s POV“Make sure they have the revised proposal by tomorrow morning,” I said, my voice firm as I scanned the papers in front of me, focusing on the numbers that would determine the next phase.Jonathan didn’t need reminding. He was already typing on his laptop, his eyes fixed on the screen, furiously going through the details. “Already on it. They’ll have it. Anything else before we call it a day?”I leaned back, dragging a hand through my hair, and checked my pocket watch. Her pretty face stared back at me through the glass, and it took me a moment to remember why I’d pulled it out in the first place, but my gaze quickly shifted to the time: past 8 p.m. I’d been at this for hours, but the job wasn’t done yet. There was no ‘normal’ workday when you were closing deals that would change the face of a city.I hadn’t wanted to be in DC. To be honest, I hadn’t wanted to be anywhere but in the comfort of familiar things, and by familiar things, I mean being in Colorado right now. Bu
Aria’s POV"Ugh, I swear," Jenna groaned, tugging her hair into a messy bun on screen. "If one more designer tries to sell me a ‘reinvention of classic minimalism’ that’s just a white shirt with a pocket, I’m quitting.""You’ve said that three times this year," Liv teased, propped up against a stack of pillows in what looked like a dreamy Airbnb. “Also, that white shirt is probably $700.”"Don’t remind me," Jenna rolled her eyes. “God forbid minimalism be affordable.”Nicole gave a small laugh as she scrolled through something on her iPad. “Meanwhile, I had to convince a luxury skincare brand today that launching a ‘gritty street-style’ campaign with models in couture was not... the vibe.”Liv made a face. "What does that even mean?"“Exactly,” Nicole said. “I think they just throw buzzwords into a blender and hope for the best.”I smiled quietly, watching them talk. I didn’t say much at first; I just listened. It had been a while since we were all on a call like this together, and so
Gabriel’s POV “You’ve got some nerve, Gabriel, coming all the way to Mexico to call for a truce. Do you really think you can reason with a man like me?” Diego’s voice dripped with venom, each word hanging in the air like a challenge. His eyes were cold, unblinking as they locked onto mine. I met his gaze with the same intensity, my voice calm and controlled. “I’m not here to fight, Diego. I’m here to talk. Nothing more, nothing less.” Diego’s sneer deepened, but I held my ground, my mind already retracing the events of the past two weeks. The eye-opening conversation I’d had with my father. The family dynamics. Diego’s past. My father had spoken of the years of bitterness Diego carried, the resentment born from how my grandfather had abandoned him and the death of his mother, a death he believed we were responsible for. But that conversation had been only the beginning. A week later, Andrew had dropped the real bombshell: documents that could bring Diego down. These weren’t
Gabriel's POVI didn’t say a word as the jet took off. The conversation with my father sat heavily in my mind, but I forced it aside. For now.I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. The cabin lights were dim, casting a muted glow over the polished wood and leather. The hum of the engines was steady, almost soothing.Then, almost instinctively, I reached into my pocket.The familiar weight of the pocket watch pressed against my palm, cool and solid. I flicked it open with my thumb. The soft click echoed louder than it should have in the silence.And there she was, her pretty face staring back at me. My Ari, my angel. The picture was taken in our bedroom, a moment I’d stolen when she had no idea. She was in her natural state, completely unaware of the camera in my hand. Her hair was a little wild from sleep, and her eyes had that soft, distant look that made her so damn beautiful. It was a simple shot, but I loved it, because it was her, in the most authentic and unguarded way. I ha
Gabriel's POVThe silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The air in my father's living room felt heavier than before, like the walls had closed in around us.I forced myself to breathe. To stay still. To absorb what I had just heard.Diego was family.I sat down, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up. “Explain,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.Andrew didn’t speak immediately. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, poured himself another glass, and stared into the amber liquid like it held the past itself. “You think you know the Deveraux family,” he said. “But you don’t. Not really.”I said nothing.He let out a slow breath. “This goes back to Richard,” he began. “My father. Your grandfather.”I knew that name well. The man who built the Deveraux empire. The man everyone claimed was ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.Andrew continued, “Richard had an affair while on a business trip to Mexico. A woman, who wasn’t just some mist