Pustaka
Cari
Beranda / Werewolf / Desiree mixed genre collection / Chapter 10: The Beginning

Share

Chapter 10: The Beginning

Penulis: Vivian O
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-10 07:15:28

Loire's pov

Six months later, I sat in the same corner booth where Silver proposed seven years ago. The wood table still had scratches. Different initials carved into it now.

Silver slid into the seat across from me. "You're early."

"So are you."

He ordered whiskey. I already had wine. The bartender brought his drink and left us alone.

"How's the company?" He took a sip.

"Good. Stock's up. Investors are happy. Gabriele's back as COO." I turned my glass. "Yours?"

"Same. Board's pleased. New security measures in place. No more breaches." He set his glass down. "Michael says Elena's in therapy. Somewhere in Oregon. New name. New life."

"Good for her."

We sat in silence. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.

"So." Silver leaned back. "Six months of dinners. Phone calls. Working together on the merger."

"The real merger this time. Fifty-fifty like you wanted."

"Like we both wanted." He smiled. "Apex-Tony Technologies. Has a ring to it."

"It does." I finished my wine. "So why did you ask me here
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Bab Terkunci
Bab sebelumnya Bab selanjutnya

Bab terbaru

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    Chapter 2: First Practice

    Sophia's pov Diana left after ten minutes with some excuse about an appointment. The way she looked at Vincent before she walked out made my stomach tight. Like she owned him.Vincent sat at the piano running through scales."When did you stop singing?""Eleven months ago.""The same time you stopped coming to church." It wasn't a question. He already knew."Yes.""Do you want to talk about why?""No.""Okay. We don't have to talk. We can just sing."He started playing a hymn I knew from childhood. His voice came in first, showing me where to enter. I opened my mouth but nothing came out."It's okay. First time back is hard.""How do you know?""Because I had a first time back too. Two years ago. I couldn't sing for almost a year.""Why not?""I lost someone. Someone important. Singing reminded me of them. So I stopped.""What changed?""I realized not singing hurt more than singing did. The pain was there either way. At least with music I felt something other than empty."His words

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    CHRISTIAN ( TABOO ROMANCE) Sanctified Love Chapter 1: The New Director

    Sophia's pov I haven't step foot in Grace Community Church for eleven months. Not since the funeral. Not since I buried my husband Marcus and our stillborn daughter on the same gray October afternoon.Today was Sunday. The bulletin said they hired a new choir director. Pastor Williams thought live music might bring back the congregation that had dwindled during the pandemic. I came because my sister Isabella wouldn't stop calling until I did.The sanctuary felt smaller than I remembered. Wooden pews that needed refinishing. Stained glass windows that let in too much light. Twenty people scattered across seats meant for two hundred.Isabella grabbed my arm when I walked in. "You came. I'm so glad you came.""Don't make a big deal out of it.""I won't." She pulled me to a pew near the front. "But I am glad."The organist started playing. People stood. I stood because everyone else did but my mouth stayed closed during the hymn. The words felt wrong in my throat. Empty.Then the choir d

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    Chapter 10: New Beginnings

    Maya's pov Six months later, I stood in Sophie's rebuilt barn. New wood. Fresh paint. Twenty hives arranged in neat rows outside."Hand me that frame." Sophie was up on a ladder installing shelves.I passed it to her. She hammered it into place."That's the last one." She climbed down. "We're officially done with construction.""Took long enough.""Six months isn't bad for a complete rebuild." She looked around. "It's smaller than before, but it works."The house was more compact too. One bedroom instead of two. Kitchen and living room combined. But it was ours. We'd built it together.My phone rang. Mom."Maya, just checking if you're still coming to dinner.""Yeah. Seven, right?""Right. And bring Sophie. I made her favorite.""Will do."Sophie smiled when I told her. "Your mom's been feeding me every Sunday for half a year. I'm getting spoiled.""She likes having someone to cook for." I pulled her closer. "Plus she loves you.""I love her too." She kissed me. "You ready for today?

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    Chapter 9: The Fire

    Maya's pov Sophie stayed at the evacuation center while I went back with Franco. The fire had grown. Red flames against dark smoke. Heat you could feel from a mile away.“We’re creating a firebreak here.” Franco pointed to a line on the map. “If we can stop it before this road, we save the town.”“And the Barrett farm?”“Already gone. Fire jumped the creek an hour ago.”My chest hurt. Sophie hives. Her barn. Everything.“Maya, focus.” Franco handed me gear. “We need you here. Not thinking about her farm.”He was right. I had a job to do.We worked for six hours. Digging trenches. Cutting trees. Creating barriers. The fire kept coming. Hot and fast and hungry.By evening we had it contained. One side anyway. The other side was still burning toward the hills.“That’s all we can do tonight.” Franco radioed for rotation. “Fresh crew’s coming in. We’re heading back.”At the evacuation center, Sophie sat with my mom. Her face was blank. Staring at nothing.“Sophie.” I sat beside her.“Is

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    Chapter 8: The Market

    Maya's pov Four weeks passed. Amber stayed in jail. Kevin pleaded guilty. Life got quieter.Sophie's first farmer's market was on Saturday. I helped her load jars into her truck at five am. Fifty pounds of honey in mason jars with labels Emma designed. Simple. Clean. Barrett Honey with a bee drawing."You nervous?" I carried the last box to the truck."Terrified." Sophie checked her list for the third time. "What if nobody buys anything?""They'll buy.""You don't know that.""I know your honey's good. That's enough."My mom met us at the market. She'd already set up Sophie's table. White tablecloth. Jars arranged in rows. Price signs."This looks great Mrs. Chen. Lisa." Sophie started unpacking more jars."You're going to do wonderful." Mom squeezed her shoulder. "People are going to love it."The market opened at seven. By seven fifteen Sophie had sold six jars. By eight, twenty. By nine, she was down to her last ten."I need to make more." Sophie counted money. "Way more.""That's

  • Desiree mixed genre collection    Chapter 7: Moving Forward

    Maya's pov I woke up in Sophie's bed. Sunlight came through the window. She was still asleep beside me. Her hair was messy. Face relaxed. Beautiful.My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Franco."Maya. You working today?""Yeah. I'm supposed to be there at eight.""Take the day. You've earned it after everything this week." Franco paused. "How's Sophie?""She's okay. Better now that Amber and Kevin are in custody.""Good. See you tomorrow."I hung up. Sophie's eyes were open now."Morning." She smiled."Morning.""Did you sleep okay?""Yeah. You?""Best I've slept in weeks." Sophie stretched. "What time is it?""Seven thirty. Franco gave me the day off.""So you can stay?""If you want me to.""I want you to." Sophie sat up. "Come on. I'll make breakfast. Then I need to check the hives."We ate eggs and toast. Sophie talked about her plans for the farmer's market next month. She needed labels for her honey jars. Needed to set prices. Needed to figure out display tables."Emma's helping

Bab Lainnya

Anda juga akan menyukai

Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status