LOGINSteven’s POV
The television was at the far end of my office, but I could still see everything clearly.
I sat behind my desk, elbows resting on the polished wood, my eyes fixed on the screen mounted against the wall. The camera followed the racers on the track, bright colors flashing as bodies moved with relentless speed. Kayla’s team had already finished the initial relay, and with what the commentators’ said, I could tell the tone had shifted. It looked like t
Kayla’s POVMorning sunlight filtered through the tall curtains before I even opened my eyes.For a moment I didn’t move. The sheets smelled different. Not like my home. Colder, fresher, faintly masculine.Then the memory returned. Steven’s mansion.Last night’s argument about his father, The drive back where he stayed quiet longer than usual.And somehow, in the middle of that tension, we still ended up falling asleep tangled together.I reached my hand across the bed and it was empty.My eyes opened immediately.The space beside me was cold already, meaning he had been awake for a while.I pushed myself up and stretched, glancing around the unfamiliar but slowly familiarizing room. The morning felt calm. Almost suspiciously calm after the emotional mess of yesterday.I slipped out of bed and grabbed the robe resting on the chair.“Steven?” I called softly while opening
Kayla’s POVI adjusted the lace of my corset for the third time and leaned closer to the mirror.The woman staring back at me looked… different.Not the sharp, guarded CEO people were used to. Not the exhausted woman buried under investigations, scandals and association politics. Tonight I looked soft. Almost glowing.The deep wine evening gown hugged my waist perfectly before falling smoothly to the floor. My hair rested over one shoulder and my makeup was subtle but warm.I turned sideways, studying myself again.“One month,” I murmured.It’s been one full month since Steven and I officially started dating. It still felt unreal sometimes. I don’t know how time managed to run so fast.My phone, resting on the vanity, lit up. Revealing Steven’s name.I picked up almost immediately.His face appeared on the screen. He was already dressed in a dark suit, seated in my living
Kayla’s POVThe silence inside the car felt heavier than the traffic outside.Steven drove without speaking, his fingers steady on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road ahead. The city lights reflected faintly against the windshield as Manhattan moved around us in its usual restless rhythm. Normally, I would have admired the skyline or made a sarcastic comment about New York never sleeping.But right now, I could barely breathe properly.An unauthorized meeting.The words kept replaying in my head.They chose me. They voted me in as their leader. They stood in front of cameras and praised my vision, my strength, my commitment.And now they were meeting without me.“Kayla,” Steven said calmly, breaking the silence. “You don’t know the full story yet.”“I know enough,” I replied sharply, staring out the window. “They are holding a meeting without informing me
Kayla’s POVI woke up slowly, wrapped in warmth.For a few seconds, I did not remember where I was. My body felt relaxed, pleasantly sore in places that made heat creep into my cheeks. The scent of his cologne lingered on the pillow beneath my face, and a lazy smile curved my lips before I even opened my eyes.Then I heard his voice, low and careful.“…I said I’ll handle it. Just don’t—”The mattress shifted slightly as he noticed movement from me. I opened my eyes just in time to see him pull the phone away from his ear and end the call.He placed it face down on the bedside table.“Morning,” he said casually.I pushed myself up on my elbows and studied him. His expression was relaxed, but it felt too relaxed. More like he was hiding something.“Who were you talking to?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.“No one important, Kayla.&rdq
Kayla’s POVThe night air felt different as though it knew how happy I was feeling being with Steven.Just when I thought the evening would end peacefully, he stopped himself from opening the car door again and looked at me in a way that made my pulse skip.“Kayla,” he said quietly, “did you really end things with Ashton… or are you going to wake up tomorrow and regret it?”I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”“I’m serious.” His jaw tightened. “I need to know I’m not standing here with someone who still has unfinished feelings somewhere else.”A scoff escaped me before I could stop it. “You think I’d be here with you if I had regrets?”He didn’t answer immediately, and that annoyed me more than his question.“You know what?” I folded my arms. “Since we’re asking questions, why don’t we talk about
Kayla’s POVThe drive away from the mall felt different from the one that brought us there. The earlier tension had settled into something quieter, heavier. Steven drove with controlled focus, but I could tell his mind was still replaying the confrontation with Ashton. His jaw flexed occasionally, and his grip on the steering wheel remained firmer than usual.“You shouldn’t have hit him,” I said gently, breaking the silence.He didn’t look at me immediately. “He disrespected you.”“I’ve handled worse.”“That doesn’t mean you should have to.”There was no arrogance in his tone. No possessiveness meant to impress. Just conviction. It softened me more than the punch itself.After a moment, he spoke again. “We’re not going back to your apartment.”I turned to him. “What?”“I want you somewhere peaceful before din
Kayla POVThe steak had gone cold two hours ago. The candles I lit with excitement now burned low and uneven, wax dripping down like tears onto the white tablecloth. The wine sat untouched beside two crystal glasses, and the roses I spent thirty minutes arranging this morning were already beginnin
Kayla’s POVFour years later.Sometimes, I wonder if the woman I used to be would even recognize me now.Back then, I was soft… always waiting, hoping, forgiving. Now, I’m steel beneath silk. Still kind, but never naive.The world broke me once. I rebuilt myself with the pieces.The morning sunligh
Kayla’s POVI didn’t sleep that night.No matter how tightly I shut my eyes, the sound of Vivian’s body hitting the floor kept echoing in my head — over and over again.The house was silent now, but that silence wasn’t peace. It was a punishment.Adrian hadn’t come home after the incident. He had r
Kayla’s POVThe sound of rain is the first thing I hear when I open my eyes.It’s morning, but the world outside looks gray. The curtains are drawn halfway, letting in a sliver of light that falls across the table, the plates from last night still untouched, the wine glass half empty, the necklace







