FAZER LOGIN[SARAH]The flight from New York to Madrid was a nine-hour blur of high-altitude turbulence, endless cups of black coffee, and thick stacks of heavily redacted financial dossiers. By the time our black, armored town car finally glided to a halt in front of the sweeping, illuminated stone facade of the Hotel Ritz Madrid, the exhaustion was sitting deep and heavy in my bones.The warm, fragrant Spanish night air wrapped around us the second the chauffeur opened my door. It smelled faintly of citrus, old stone, and expensive exhaust. We were exactly twenty-four hours out from the board meeting. Twenty-four hours before Tyler dropped the guillotine on Miller’s career and assumed direct control of the European division. The stakes were astronomical, but as I stood on the cobblestone driveway and looked up at the towering, opulent hotel, the corporate espionage briefly faded into the background, completely overshadowed by the sheer, magnetic reality of the man standing beside me.Tyler look
"Yes, we," I nodded, looking between Rosa and Mae. "We leave on the private jet tomorrow night. The board meeting in Madrid is scheduled for Thursday morning. Tyler is going to blindside Miller with the audit documents in person, and we are going to assume direct control of the European expansion until a replacement is found."The kitchen fell completely silent for a long moment, save for the low hum of the massive refrigerators and the soft crackle of the wood-burning oven in the corner.Rosa picked up her mug of tea, taking a slow sip as she studied my face with an incredibly piercing, knowing gaze. A slow, deeply wicked smirk began to play at the corners of her mouth."Is it absolutely necessary for you to go?" Rosa asked, her voice dripping with sudden, playful skepticism.I frowned, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean? Of course it is. I'm a shareholder. I need to be present for the restructuring.""Uh-huh," Rosa hummed, leaning her chin on her hand. "But Tyler is
I was immediately greeted by the rich, savory aroma of roasting garlic and rosemary when I pushed the door open. Mae was standing at the massive marble island, her hands dusted with flour as she expertly kneaded a mound of fresh dough. Rosa was sitting on one of the tall velvet barstools, a steaming mug of tea cupped in her hands, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone.The moment the doors swung shut behind me, both women looked up."Well, look who it is," Rosa grinned, her dark eyes instantly lighting up with mischievous energy. She took one look at my tailored emerald suit and the lingering smirk on my face. "You look entirely too pleased with yourself for a woman who just spent the entire afternoon swimming with corporate sharks. Drink?""Wine, please. The biggest glass we own," I said, dropping my leather tote onto a vacant stool and sinking into the one beside it. I let out a long, dramatic sigh, kicking off my heels and letting my toes sink into the heated stone floor.Mae
The walk to the executive elevator felt like floating. I swiped my keycard, stepped into the glass-paneled cab, and pressed the button for the top floor. As the doors slid shut, cutting off the view of the lobby, a soft, genuine laugh finally escaped my lips. The universe had a remarkably brilliant sense of humor.The elevator shot upward, the numbers ticking past rapidly until it chimed softly at the executive penthouse level. The doors opened to a sprawling, silent floor covered in plush carpeting and surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Manhattan skyline.Tyler’s secretary, Evelyn, looked up from her desk as I approached. Her face immediately broke into a warm, relieved smile."Good morning, Sarah!" Evelyn beamed, practically glowing at the sight of me. "It is so good to see you. Mr. Rider is in his office. He’s expecting you.""Good morning, Evelyn. Thank you," I smiled back, walking past her desk and pushing open the heavy mahogany double doors of Tyler’s corner
[SARAH’S POV]I was too engrossed, mentally reviewing the talking points I needed to cover with Tyler on why my estate should supply him with the raw materials he would need to restart production. I wasn't paying attention to the staff behind the curved mahogany desk. As I adjusted the strap of my leather tote bag over my shoulder, my heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. I heard a sharp, exasperated sigh followed by the distinct sound of a stapler being slammed aggressively onto a desk."I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, Brenda. The printer is blinking red, which obviously means it is broken. No, I am not going to open the tray. My nails were done yesterday, and I am not getting toner on my cuticles. Call IT."My footsteps faltered. I stopped dead in my tracks, my brain struggling to process the auditory input. I knew that voice. I had heard that voice scream at me across country club terraces and screech through the grand halls of the Rider estate f
[Tyler's POV]I didn't offer a greeting as I walked into my fathers study. I knew what the meeting was about immediately I got the text and I wasn't surprised when I saw Chloe already seated."Tyler," my father finally spoke, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated through the floorboards. "Take a seat.""I prefer to stand, Father. I don't plan on being here very long," I replied, leaning casually against the edge of the bookshelf, my glass perfectly balanced in my hand. "I assume this urgent family summit is regarding the sudden, tragic realization that my sister is going to have to learn how to set an alarm clock?"Chloe let out a sharp, offended gasp. "Father, do you hear him? Do you hear how he speaks to me?"Byron raised a single hand, and Chloe’s mouth instantly snapped shut. He set his cigar down on the edge of an emerald ashtray and folded his hands over his desk, his heavy gaze locking onto mine."Your sister came to me in a state of severe distress this afternoon," By







