Annabel’s POV Daniel’s arm crossed at the side of my shoulders as we stepped out of the sleek black SUV. The air felt promising, the river glistening under the silver moonlight. “Here,” he said softly, stretching out his hand toward me. His palm was open, steady with an unspoken invitation I couldn’t resist. I glanced up at him. He was actually planning something, something I couldn’t quite place my head on. The yacht hummed gently as it cut through the water. Even with just the moonlight, I could see it. The yacht gleamed floating above, the kind I had never seen before. Boldly written on it was Dan Stroke, just like his private jet. My gaze shifted to Daniel. “You have a private yacht too?” I asked, my mouth half-open and my eyes wide. He smiled, his hands in his pockets as he proudly looked at the yacht. “Annabel, this is the least of my property.” What the hell! How rich is this man? It seems like every day is an adventure for me to find out how wealthy he is. He turned
Daniel’s POV “Tonight will be fun, we have arranged different women for each of you,” Maxwell’s voice rang out. “It’s such a pity that Cassian will not be participating. He’s tied himself to one woman, all in the name of engagement,” Ethan said, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. Everyone laughed, glasses clicking together. But I did not laugh. Nothing was funny to me. Not when my Annie is not beside me. I had used this trip as an excuse to spend quality time with her, and now I can’t even be with her. The loud voices from the men filled the air as they continued throwing funny jokes. My eyes wandered, hoping Annabel would appear, even if it was just a glimpse of her face. And just like an answered prayer, she appeared. Standing a short distance away, the evening breeze toyed with her hair while her creamy dress floated around her ankles, swaying with the wind’s playful touch. A knitted beach hat crowned her head, completing the vision that stole the air from
Annabel’s POV I had always seen Miami on postcards, glossy and perfect, but standing here with Daniel beside me made it feel like something out of a dream. The hotel looked nothing like what I had ever seen. Even though the five-star hotel back in New York was close, you could still see the difference. The atmosphere here felt like a place people should escape to after months of hardship. The air was soothing, refreshing, and endlessly welcoming. “Single or couple‘s room?” the hotel receptionist asked. I remained still, my mind tangled in a puzzle of thoughts. Daniel, who should be in the best position to answer this, was lost in discussion with Cassian. We had bumped into Cassian a few hours after we arrived for the weekend launching of Maxwell’s hotel. I opened my mouth to answer the receptionist, but Daniel’s voice cut through from behind. “Couple.” My eyes flared. Did I just hear him say a couple? No matter how hard I try to pretend to resist Daniel, he never gives up
Annabel’s POV I got to the front of the room, my body still tensed. I could still feel Daniel’s touch under my skin. My gaze wandered around the room, everyone stealing a glance at me. And then my eyes met Daniel, who was now relaxed on his chair, tapping his pen nonstop on the table. My throat tightened, a nervous sound escaping to break the heavy air. “Well…” my voice came out shaky. I began my introduction, gathering up my confidence while I opened my file to pick out my design and present it to them. But my heart lurched in shock, my hands shaking uncontrollably as I continued to flip the papers in the file. I couldn’t find my design. Someone must have taken it. Who could it be? I raised my head and met everyone still waiting to hear me out, and then looked at Stephanie. Her grin stretched, obviously sending me a message. And that was when it occurred to me. She did it. Stephanie stole my design. A storm of rage churned within me, demanding release, m
Annabel’s POV Lucian, Stephanie, Clara, and I walked into the boardroom. From the way they all sat, I could clearly tell they had been waiting for us. They were all lost in their discussions, murmuring to each other, while Brenda stood behind Daniel, receiving instructions as she put them down in writing. We entered fully with deliberate poise, our presence demanding attention without a word, and that was when everyone looked in our direction. The investors focused on us, their silence heavy in the room. Daniel’s gaze, fixed solely on me, made my heart skip a beat. We bowed our heads and greeted them in unison before making our way to take our seats. I walked behind Stephanie as she tried to sit beside Daniel, but he stretched out his hand, signaling her to take another seat. Once she left, Daniel gestured for me to take the seat beside him. I could see the fury etched across Stephanie’s face, her eyes blazing like she could tear someone apart at any moment. I couldn’t help
Daniel’s POV Today we will be finalizing the promotional plan for the Evergreen app, and then a date will be fixed for the launching. The only thing on my mind all night was Annabel’s face. I couldn’t shake her off my mind no matter how much I tried. The more I convinced myself to back off and pretend I never had anything with her, the more my body craved her. And now, I couldn’t help but think of how to get to her and find out if she had actually carried out my orders. I sat in my office, absentmindedly spinning in my chair, when the door pushed open and Stephanie entered. Her face was flushed, makeup smudged, and her breath quickened as if she were suffocating under the weight of depression. She moved with defiance etched in her posture. From her eyes, I could tell she had a lot to say. But whatever it may be, I was definitely not interested. My voice broke the silence. “You don’t have any right to barge into my office in that manner.” She still stood, hands crossed with a