INICIAR SESIÓNLia's POV"When could you start?" Jessica asked. "The position is available immediately, but we understand if you need time—""Monday," I said without hesitation. "I can start Monday.""Perfect!" Jessica said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "I'll send over the complete offer packet and onboarding documents. Welcome to Meridian Global, Ms. Russell. We're thrilled to have you.""Thank you," I managed, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much."I hung up and sat there in the back of the taxi, staring at my phone in disbelief.I had a new job. A better job. With a salary that would change my life, benefits that were generous beyond anything I'd experienced, and opportunities for growth I'd never dreamed of.All because of Victor. Or Dante. Or both of them.They'd taken care of me. Even from across an ocean. Even though I'd left without saying goodbye. Even though everything between us was complicated and undefined.They'd protected me.I tried calling Dante immediately, m
Lia's POV"When could you start?" Jessica asked. "The position is available immediately, but we understand if you need time—""Monday," I said without hesitation. "I can start Monday.""Perfect!" Jessica said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "I'll send over the complete offer packet and onboarding documents. Welcome to Meridian Global, Ms. Russell. We're thrilled to have you.""Thank you," I managed, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much."I hung up and sat there in the back of the taxi, staring at my phone in disbelief.I had a new job. A better job. With a salary that would change my life, benefits that were generous beyond anything I'd experienced, and opportunities for growth I'd never dreamed of.All because of Victor. Or Dante. Or both of them.They'd taken care of me. Even from across an ocean. Even though I'd left without saying goodbye. Even though everything between us was complicated and undefined.They'd protected me.I tried calling Dante immediately, m
Lia's POVI stood on the sidewalk outside my former office building, holding my cardboard box of belongings.The morning rush was in full swing around me—people hurrying to work, taxis honking, the familiar cacophony of New York City going about its business completely indifferent to the fact that my life had just imploded.I needed to get home. Needed to process everything. Needed to clean up my face and figure out my next steps.I raised my hand and hailed a taxi—a yellow cab pulled over immediately, the driver giving me a curious look through his rearview mirror as I climbed in with my box."Brooklyn," I said, giving him my address. "Thanks."The driver nodded and pulled into traffic.I settled back against the worn seat, cradling my box on my lap, and let my head fall back against the headrest.What a morning.Fired. Confronted Rob. Told him the truth about his father and brother. Got slapped. Watched him get dragged away by security screaming threats.It felt surreal. Like someth
Lia's POV"You're a coward," I said clearly, loudly enough that several people in the hallway turned to look. "A pathetic, vindictive coward who can't handle rejection like an adult."Rob's smirk faltered slightly. "Watch yourself, Lia—""No," I interrupted, my voice growing stronger. "You watch yourself. You got me fired because your ego couldn't handle being dumped. Because you can't accept that I chose to walk away from you. That I decided you weren't worth my time or energy or affection anymore."Rob's face was starting to flush red. "You should be thanking me for the year I wasted on you—""Thanking you?" I laughed—actually laughed—sharp and bitter. "For what? For treating me like an inconvenience? For making me feel worthless? For cheating on me repeatedly and expecting me to just accept it?"People were definitely watching now. I could see employees pausing in doorways, phones being subtly raised to record.Let them watch. Let them record. I didn't care anymore.I moved even cl
Lia's POVThe security guard who usually greeted me with a friendly nod looked uncomfortable when he saw me. Almost... pitying."Morning, Marcus," I said, swiping my badge."Morning, Lia," he said quietly, not quite meeting my eyes. "You, uh... you might want to go straight to HR."My stomach dropped."HR? Why?"Marcus shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know the details. They just said to send you straight up when you arrived."This couldn't be good.I rode the elevator up to the fifth floor where HR was located, my mind racing through possibilities.Had I done something wrong? Missed an important deadline while I was away? But I'd cleared my vacation time in advance, made sure all my projects were covered...I walked into the HR department and immediately saw my desk items—my coffee mug, my small succulent plant, my framed photo of my parents, my favorite pens—all packed into a cardboard box sitting on the reception desk.My heart sank like a stone.No.Linda from HR emerged from her of
Lia's POVVictor with his silver-touched hair and piercing blue eyes and absolute confidence. The way he'd looked at me like I was something precious. The way his voice had dropped when he praised me, called me his good girl, made me feel seen.Dante with his dark intensity and artistic soul and passionate touch. The way he'd claimed me, touched me like he couldn't get enough, made me feel wanted rather than tolerated.Both of them had awakened something in me—some understanding of my own worth, my own right to demand better, my own capacity for pleasure and desire.And tonight, I'd broken up with a man who'd made me feel worthless for an entire year.Who'd taken my affection for granted, treated my desire for intimacy as annoying, flirted with other women right in front of me, and made me feel like I should be grateful he was with me at all.I'd reclaimed my space and my autonomy.Had literally thrown his belongings in the trash because keeping them felt like keeping poison in my hom
Lia’s POVBecause I wanted this more than I'd wanted anything in longer than I could remember.Because standing here in this glowing pool with Dante's hand on my skin and his body so close to mine felt more real and more right than anything I'd felt in the entire year I'd spent with Rob."I—" I sta
Lia’s POVI lay in bed for over an hour, tossing and turning, my mind racing and my body restless. The room felt too hot despite the open window. The sheets felt too rough against my skin. Everything felt wrong.Finally, I gave up.I pulled on shorts and a t-shirt and left my room, padding quietly
Lia’s POVRob had never shown this kind of respect to anyone, let alone people he considered beneath him socially. Rob would have sent someone else to deal with this, or shown up and made grand pronouncements without actually listening to what anyone needed.But Dante was different. Everything abou
Lia’s POVHis voice was quiet but direct, cutting straight through the silence.I turned to look at him. His eyes were on the road, his hands steady on the wheel, his expression calm and unreadable."What?" I said, though I'd heard him perfectly."Why are you with a man who can't respect you?" Dant







