ASTRID“Girl, you had better come downstairs right now!!”Those were the first words I heard after my phone’s ringtone ruthlessly snapped me from sleep five minutes ago.Now I’m standing outside in my robe, staring wide mouthed and even wider eyed at the organized madness that’s currently in the process of unfurling before me.Beside me, Zeya is stunned into silence as well. It is rare for the Zeya, the queen of yappers, to be rendered speechless.My mind is still fuzzy from sleep when I ask;“Zeya, is someone in the mansion …getting married that I don’t know about?”“Beats me. With that many roses, you’d think a billionaire was holding a banquet.”Zeya is not exaggerating. I watch in pure shock as an 18 wheeler lumbers up the driveway, its bed overflowing with the most beautiful species of blue roses I have ever seen.The first truck comes to a stop.Then another.Then another.By the time the fifth and last one arrives, I’ve managed to convince myself that I fell off my bed and I’m
SILVAN“You look like shit.” Hayley deadpans by way of greeting.She sinks into the chair before me and props her booted feet on my table.Jaws clenched, I arch a brow.“That table cost me more than ten thousand dollars.” I state matter-of-factly.Hayley purses her lips.“And?”“If you so much as scratch the surface, I’ll ship you to China in exchange for a new one. Deal?”Her lips twitch with a smile; “psychotic bastard.”“Where have you been, Miss Hayley?” I inquire, scrolling through my MacBook.“Out and about.”I flick a glance in her direction. “You’re being secretive again.”My suspicions are confirmed when her eyes take on a mischievous glow.“New man?”She scoffs. “Keep your nose out of my business, Mr. Rourke.”I raise both my hands in mock surrender. My best friend goes through men like a fashion model goes through clothes. Her motto? This week’s gent might not be next week’s gent. The moment they start acting up, Hayley disappears faster than a deadbeat parent.Speaking o
ASTRID“…Mommy, what are you doing?!”Zoey stomps into the room, dragging a sleepy Zara behind her.“Are you taking our toys away, mommy?” Zara mumbles.One look at their matching “Cars” cartoon pajamas and my heart melts, all my anger evaporating into thin air.“No, my love.” I respond with a smile. “I was just… trying to arrange the room. Don’t you need more space to play?”I open my arms and they fall into them. My heart tightens with emotion as I gather them against my chest and press kisses to their foreheads.“I missed you so much, mommy.” Zoey whispers. “Where were you all day? Working?”My mind drifts to the scandalous time I had at Bloomsbury Tower with the Bloomsbury Tower god. Something shifts in my chest. I shake my head to dispel the memories, horrified to realize that my lips are still tingling.“Mommy had so much work to do today. I’m so sorry, my babies. Did I wake you?”Zara shakes her head, her dark hair, so much like Silvan’s, flying all over the place.“We were wai
ASTRIDMy brain is reeling, struggling to connect the dots. Mary, on the other hand, is smiling from ear to ear.“Such a thoughtful gift. The old playroom was cleared out and all the toys were packed away. We were going to order new ones tomorrow. God bless the generous sender. Those toys cost a small fortune!”The “generous sender…”Generous. Small fortune.Shit!I grab Mary’s frail arms, my voice dripping with urgency.“Do you know who sent them?”She frowns. “No. There was no card, which was weird. The delivery guy said it was from “the boss,” whoever that is.”The boss.Bingo. Bin-fucking-go.“Thank you, Mary. Good night.”I smack a kiss on her cheek, ignoring her curious expression as I race up the stairs.I don’t stop running until I’m bursting through the playroom’s doors.My eyes take in the mountain before me and I freeze.There are toys… everywhere. I’m pretty sure all manner and colour of toys available on the damn planet are having a meeting in my children’s playroom ri
ASTRIDI stomp out of Silvan’s office in a fit of rage, but slow down as I approach the entrance doors. Cursing inwardly, I recall that I need the bastard’s fingerprint. Just when I’ve made up my mind to return to Silvan’s office and ask him to let me out, a shadow falls over my arm and I whirl, clutching my chest in shock.“Michael.” My heart deflates when I spot Silvan’s Personal Assistant.As usual, his presence has goosebumps smattering across my skin.He looks calm and serene as ever, regarding me with an expression that suggests that I’m being overly dramatic.“Miss Machiavelli.”“What are you doing here?”He raises one questioning brow. “You were about to leave, no?”I remain silent, my hackles rising as he quietly walks to the door and presses the pad of his thumb against the blinking biometric light. The door whooshes open and my eyes widen in surprise.“The boss asked me to let you out.” Michael informs me. Wait… I thought only Silvan could access the biometric locks? I
SILVANI fight so hard to hold on to my anger, but when Astrid’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears, something breaks inside of me. I’m not sure what it is, but I feel something crack.She pulls away and I’m forced to lean back, forced to look away from her lush, trembling lips before I do something stupid — like pull her into my arms and kiss her distress away. Her cheeks redden and she swipes at her wet cheeks, her eyes hardening with the stubbornness I’ve grown accustomed to. I was gutted when I heard her reason for hiding the twins. I was tempted to tell her the truth about the situation between me and Leilani, that Leilani’s child wasn’t mine, but the selfish half of me held back.Astrid took my children away without hearing from me first. She doesn’t deserve a fucking explanation. I get to my feet and stroll to my desk, my jaw ticking with annoyance. When I return with the agreement I had my lawyer draw up at the last minute, she’s still seated on the floor, but the pitiable lo