When I arrived at the executive floor, Samantha jumped from her desk and rushed me to the bathroom."Oh, tell me, tell me! How was it?""It was really good, Sam, really good. But I'll tell you all about it at girls' night, so I only have to tell the story once.""You're going to kill us with suspense until tonight!" Samantha pouted. "But I should warn you, Alexander knows you went to lunch with Levy.""How does he know?""Dennis told him.""And?...""I overheard him telling Patrick that it's better if you move on, he doesn't want you to suffer and Levy is a decent guy. But Cat, he's devastated.""I know, Sam, but I can't let myself sink. I have a son who needs me. Levy is a great person and we agreed to be friends, he knows my situation and my feelings. Soon Alexander will be married and I won't be the other woman.""You're right. Let's get back to work."When I sat at my desk, I checked my phone and had lots of messages from the girls, all wanting to know how my lunch with Levy went,
Alexander’s POVWhen I found out that Catherine had gone to lunch with Levy, I wanted to chase after them, punch him in the face, and take Catherine with me. But I couldn't do that. Levy had been very honest with me the day we met at Patrick's house. He had told me he would keep his distance, but if things didn't work out between Catherine and me, he wouldn't miss the chance to try to win her over. And he hadn't wasted any time.So, just like how the girls met every Tuesday for their "book club," my friends and I also got together to talk, drink, and play games. We had agreed to go to the Social Club because Patrick thought a livelier environment would lift my spirits.When I arrived, I went straight to the casino to meet the guys. We started a poker game, and it cheered me up a bit. I was smiling, chatting with my friends, and drinking a soda - keeping my promise not to drink alcohol intact after the mess at Mari's party.I felt a sickeningly sweet perfume invade my nostrils, and then
Alexander’s POVThe next day, I had barely sat down at my desk to start the day when my phone rang. I answered and heard Samantha on the other end:"The demon wants to talk to you."I already knew who it was, and there was no way around it—I had to take the call. Samantha transferred the line, and I heard Johnson's whining voice trying to lecture me."How dare you, young man, treat my daughter like that? She came home sick, nervous, and depressed because you mistreated her in front of everyone. Alexander, you're going to get married—you need to give my daughter the place she deserves.""What place, Johnson? The place of a whore who takes advantage of a drunk guy to get pregnant and blackmail him? Because that's exactly her place." I was already boiling with anger."Don't talk about my daughter like that!" Johnson shouted."Are you forgetting that I'm your boss?""Alexander, you need to talk to my daughter. You're getting married, and there are many details to work out. So you'd better
Johnson’s POVOn my way to the office, I kept thinking about that ridiculous lunch yesterday. I wanted to kill that jerk Alexander. The things he's been saying and doing to me and my daughter only increased my hatred for that spoiled brat. But I couldn't get rid of him - I needed him to marry my daughter and ensured she bears an heir with his surname. The Miller name opened many doors and will guarantee that everything that fool has would belong to my daughter and grandson, and consequently, to me.The worst part was that he managed to postpone the wedding by three months. Postponing the wedding only delayed my plans, but my daughter had to throw a fit over a damn party. However, in the end, it was better that this wedding is big and pompous, featured in all the newspapers, just as little Anna wants. This way, there would be no doubt that my daughter would be the wife and mother of a legitimate Miller.But there was still one thing - I wanted that house, his parents' house. A beautiful
Alexander’s POVJohnson was really wearing me out. Now he was throwing a fit about the floor, but he would stay right where he was. I couldn't stand this pain in the neck anymore. The audit needed to go deeper and was combing through years of business activity. Alan said this might take a while. Meanwhile, I had to put up with this idiot.I've been locked in my office all day because of the New York clients. The contract was going very well and they're thinking about expanding their business with us, but they've asked for a lot of information that Rick and I were organizing. I'd probably have to travel, but maybe getting away for a bit wouldn't be bad."I come back from a trip after a month away, and I don't get confetti and balloons? What kind of friends are you?" Mari walked in joking. "Wow! But this office looks beautiful!""Mari! I'm so glad you're here. I've missed you so much!" I got up to meet the woman who was like a mother to me."Oh, dear, I've missed you too. How are you?""
I was ready when I got a message from Levy saying he was waiting at the building entrance. I grabbed my purse, kissed my son goodbye, and said farewell to Lygia and Mel.When I reached the entrance, I saw Levy leaning against his car with that gorgeous smile. God, this man could be less hot. I'was crazy about Alexander, I'was dying having to give him up, but Levy was something else - he had an indecent beauty. Levy was seductive, handsome and attractive, wearing a delicious cologne. All of it resulted in a beautiful and sexy man who would leave any woman literally drooling."Hi, beautiful Catherine!" he walked towards me and gave me a kiss on the corner of my mouth, which gave me butterflies in my stomach. "Even more beautiful than last time.""I... uh... ahem..." I cleared my throat trying to stop stuttering. "Good evening, Levy!"He looked at me with a somewhat playful expression, his smile widening. He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me to the car, opened the door an
Johnson’s POV"Mom, it's impossible that you live just to ruin my plans!" Caroline shouted at her mother, who was bedridden with a cold."Sweetie, keep your voice down, my head is killing me," Helena spoke in a whisper."I don't care about your head, Mom!" Caroline shouted again and stormed out of the room, stomping her feet."Carol dear, what's got you so worked up?" Johnson, who was in the living room checking news on his phone, asked when his daughter came in and sat next to him with a sulky face."Daddy, Mom just won't help me...""What didn't your mother do this time, sweetheart?""I wanted to go see my wedding dress yesterday, but your wife got a cold and said we'll only go next week." Caroline acted as if she'd suffered a terrible injustice."Honey, don't be like that. Ask Celeste to go with you.""Daddy, but Mom won't give me the card. She's being stubborn, saying it's a mother-daughter thing.""I've already deposited the money in her account, so she has to give you the card."
Caroline’s POVPerfect! With this money daddy gave me, I could go see the doctor who'd help me with this fake pregnancy. I've already spent a fortune on the fake test and the nurse who manipulated the lab results that Alexander made me take. I knew if I made a scene, my father would give me money to calm me down - it always works that way. The good thing was that what he gave me covers what the doctor asked for the first ultrasound and left enough for me to go shopping.I saw my father had just left, so I left right after him. In the car, I called the doctor. Celeste was the one who set me up with him. That fake woman was quite useful. I knew my father's having an affair with her - I followed them and knew exactly where their little love nest is. But I haven't needed to use that information yet; Celeste did everything I wanted because my father gives her money. But if I needed to, I'd create a scandal to expose them both."Dr. Vale speaking.""Hi, Dr. Vale. How are you? This is Carolin
Samantha’s POVI was relieved to see my mother was okay. It was incredibly lucky that Enzo ran into her - one of those things that nobody can explain, where some call it luck and others divine providence. But I can definitely say this kid saved me again. After they told everything that happened at the mall and Henry confirmed that the Nicole who was with my mother was the same Nicole who was his ex-girlfriend, everything made sense.And we were heading to the police station - my mother, Enzo, Henry, and me. Honestly, I just wanted to go home, but Flavian asked us to come there, so there was no way around it."Henry, why did Flavian ask us to go to the police station?" I asked, still not accepting that I couldn't go home."Sam, you were the victim of Romulus's setup. It was a fake kidnapping, true, but clearly intended to force you to go to him. Plus, your mother's phone was stolen and used for this." Henry repeated the same thing, but I felt he was hiding something from me."I want to
Flavian’s POVI had to say, this raid on Pipote Hill was only supposed to serve three arrest warrants for homicide, but it turned into a complete mess. Three drug dealers dead and two cops wounded, all because they wouldn't let us in. It was all because of that punk Sandro who decided to set up a drug spot here. I only decided to serve these warrants personally snice one of them was Sandro's drug spot manager, and I wanted information about this Romulus guy.At least no civilians were hit. People keep talking about stray bullets, but there was no such thing - there are only bullets that find their targets, and innocent people became those targets, which really upsets me. But fortunately, this time no innocent civilians were shot. Though one of the subjects named in the warrants died - he was one of Sandro's soldiers. We arrested the other two. That was six fewer criminals on the streets."Let's move out, team!" called the military police sergeant who came to support us. "Detective, I t
Samantha’s POVI was getting increasingly nervous. As the car moved toward my destination, I felt more helpless, scared, and distressed. The taxi driver, a very kind gentleman, watched me through the rearview mirror while keeping his eyes on traffic. He drove slowly and carefully, perhaps due to his age, making sure not to cause any accident.My phone rang and I grabbed it from my purse - it was Enzo. I couldn't answer him, I just couldn't. But he persisted. He always did, and I always answered. I thought it through - if I didn't answer, it would raise suspicions. Sure, Michael must have returned to the company, but he probably thought I was in another department and wouldn't be alarmed yet. Maybe he was still looking for me inside the building. So, it was better to answer Enzo.When he told me he was with my mother, I couldn't believe it. Then he put her on the line, and I heard her voice. I couldn't hold back anymore, started crying, and explained that Romulus had called me from her
Enzo’s POVBeing a student was getting harder and harder. The English teacher decided to make us read a book that was almost impossible to find. I had to trek all the way across town because out of all the bookstores in the malls, only this one had it. Everyone was complaining that they couldn't buy the book because they couldn't find it. I spent two days on the phone and finally tracked it down. So I rushed to secure my copy to avoid getting a zero on the test that the teacher had already warned us about.But since I was at the mall, I might as well take a little walk around. I bought the book first - I had reserved it, but you never know if someone might accidentally sell my copy, so I went to the bookstore first. When I left, I was walking through the food court when I spotted Aunt Pearl at a café nearby. I had to say hello."What a coincidence! Aunt Pearl, how are you?" I approached and noticed she was with a younger woman who was pretty but strange-looking."Enzo, darling, what a
Samantha’s POVMy bachelorette party was the most fun event I'd ever been to, despite the snake incident. Erica and Emilia had really outdone themselves. However, it wasn't as enjoyable for Henry, who was tense and worried when he came to pick me up.At home, he told me about his suspicion that Isabella had sent the snake, and I was surprised - I hadn't thought that insufferable woman would be so brazen.We spent Sunday at home, resting and just enjoying each other's company. It was nice to have that peaceful moment with him, knowing the upcoming week would be hectic with wedding preparations, even though everything was already set.This week, I needed to get ahead with all my work since I'd be on my honeymoon with Henry the following week. Starting Thursday, I wouldn't be working as I'd be at the beach house overseeing all the wedding setup. I was so busy that during lunch, I just had a quick snack while working and turned Manu away when she came for afternoon coffee.Then my phone st
Romulus’s POVLittle Samantha must have been crazy if she thought she could ghost me like that. I've called several times and she won't answer, where could she be hiding? I needed to teach her a lesson, but this week I couldn't put my plan into action since Sandro needed me to check the accounts at his drug spot.Sandro wanted me to move to the hill, but to be honest, I preferred little Nicole's apartment, it was better located. But there's no way around it, I made a deal with him and he was the boss. He only gave me one more week to sort things out with little Samantha.I would use this week to resolve my situation with little Samantha and deal with little Nicole too. I was running out of patience with her, but it had to look like an accident, after all, she's Sandro's sister. I was going to do the job and blame the old man, but the idiot got arrested and was even trying to go back on our deal. He wanted little Samantha all to himself - that was pure greed.But little Nicole was still
Henry’s POVI arrived at the Social Club with Edward and Enzo. The guys had reserved a room there and they'd gone all out - they'd set up a room with a pool table, poker table, and arcade games, leather sofas scattered around, and a 1950s-style bar stocked with every kind of drink. This was going to be fun and relaxing."So, ready for your last bachelor party bender?" Patrick asked as soon as I arrived."I thought this day would never come." Alexander approached and handed me a glass.Only then did I notice they were all wearing the same t-shirt - a black one with a cartoon of me being dragged by a rope tied to my foot by a cartoon of Sam, with "game over" written below. These guys were acting like kindergarteners.As if the t-shirts weren't enough, they had prepared several activities, and they all involved lots of alcohol. I probably wouldn't remember my own name the next day.I was already slightly drunk when I saw Flavian answer a call and slip out of the room. When he came back, h
Samantha’s POVThe plans for the night were explained, and the girls decided to start the games. Soon we were all seated, and a bowl with folded papers was placed in front of me."Let's start with the lingerie, everyone grabs your box," Erica said, kicking things off."Okay, Sam, you'll draw a paper and read what's written. To win the gift, you have to guess who experienced the situation described in the paper. If you guess wrong, you'll have to share a situation that happened to you. When you open the present, you'll keep your eyes closed and feel around to figure out what it is. Got it?" Emilia explained the rules of the game."Oh my god! Alright, let's begin," I said and drew the first paper. "On my first time, my boyfriend and I watched some movies to learn because it was his first time too. When we tried to do a position we saw in a movie, I accidentally kicked him in the face, and he fell off the bed and broke his nose. I ended the night still a virgin and in a hospital making up
Samantha’s POVThe week had finally ended, and it had been exhausting. Romulus kept calling and threatening me, but Flavian said the wiretap was active and they were gathering lots of evidence, including proof of other crimes Romulus was committing, so he'd be arrested again soon. But it was horrible to keep getting his calls and hearing threats, not knowing what to expect.As if that wasn't enough, ever since he found out that Edward's sisters were organizing my bachelorette party, Henry had been pestering me to know what they had planned, why I'd let them organize the party, and if there would be any kind of wild rituals, as he put it. I assured him I knew nothing about it, but that he shouldn't worry. However, he kept suggesting every five minutes that we should ditch our friends and family and spend time just the two of us. He was driving me crazy with this whole thing, but I wouldn't budge - I was having my bachelorette party, and it would be fun, he'd just have to deal with it.I