Orrin’s POVI walked out of the boardroom with an exhale while adjusting the cuff of my jacket as Margaret followed a step behind me."Sir, you have a call scheduled with the Paris division at four, then a visit to the construction site at six. There's also a dinner invite from Senator Schumer, but I believe you already declined that," she recited with her clipboard clutched tightly in one hand as heels echoed across the floor.I lifted a hand slightly. "Cancel the rest of the day."She paused, caught mid-step. "Sir?"I stopped just outside my office doors as my eyes momentarily drew to the skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling window."Cancel everything, Margaret. The Paris call, the site visit. Move them to tomorrow. I need the rest of the day off."There was a short silence before she nodded, professional as always. "Of course. Should I inform them you’ll be unavailable due to a personal engagement?"I gave a brief nod. I had a date with my firecracker this evening. I needed to get
Aaliyah’s POV“I’m being real right now. Orrin is on my bed as I speak to you.”I froze mid-motion with my hand on the door knob.“What do you mean by which? Orrin Hayes? My ex fiancee who's allegedly married.”Then she laughed loudly."No, I’m telling you. He’s even better than before... on bed,” she said, and my heart dropped. “You know how he used to be all about control? Now it’s different. It’s... wild. I didn’t expect that. I can’t wait to get back to him.”I stood motionless, not daring to breathe.She couldn’t be talking about Orrin. She just couldn’t.The way she said it—so casually. Like she wasn’t throwing daggers at my sanity with every word.Her voice lowered, almost in a pout. “I honestly didn’t plan on attending this party, but guess what? Coincidentally, the hotel we booked was the same as the venue. How wild is that? I figured I’d drop in, maybe get a glimpse of this wife of his. But ugh, the party is boring as hell. I’d rather go back to my suite.”I heard the soun
Aaliyah’s POV“Hi, I’m Bridget—Bri, to my friends. Also, you may know me as Orrin’s ex-fiancée.”Every other thing—the music, the lights, the people around us—faded as Bridget’s words echoed in my head. Orrin’s ex-fiancée? Her crimson nails gleamed as she extended her hand. Her green eyes were still locked on mine with something that felt like a challenge. And that made me wonder. Did she think I'll claw at her at the mention of her being his ex or what? Why was she here, telling me this?Her bobbed hair framed her face perfectly and her black dress clung to curves that demanded attention. Her red lipstick was a bold slash against her flawless skin. She was stunning, the kind of woman who walked into a room and owned it, and the way she looked at me—like she’d been waiting for this moment—made me understand what this was about.Well, whatever she was aiming at was definitely working. Because I stood frozen, my champagne flute cold against my palm and my gold dress suddenly feelin
Aaliyah’s POV"This uncle of yours... where can I find him?”Lisa looked up, her brow furrowing as she wiped her hands on her jeans. There was a smudge of dust on her cheek. “God, it’s been forever. Last I heard, he’s living in Connecticut, just outside Hartford, with his new wife and stepkids. Why?” Her eyes narrowed, catching the intensity in my expression. “What’s going on, Aaliyah?”I took a deep breath as my fingers tightened on the book. “He was the detective in charge of my parents’ case. The fire, the one that… you know. I need to talk to him. I have a lot of questions. Can you help me get to him?”Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before softening into understanding. She set down the box in her hands that she’d been holding. “Wow, okay. That’s… big.” she said, already grabbing her phone. "Let me find his number. I should still have it. I’ll call and ask if he’s okay with meeting you. Then once I’m done unpacking... we can go. I’ll take you.” I
Aaliyah’s POV I hadn’t seen Lisa in months, not since she chose to stay back in London for Kaito. When she called me yesterday evening that she was back, I wanted to go meet her immediately but she insisted I stay back for Elias and come the next day instead. By the next morning, I just grabbed my bag, keys and drove to her new place.Standing at her front door, I took a moment. I needed her at this moment and with everything going on but I could feel in my gut that she’d definitely need me too so I'd have to wait first.When the door opened, her face was the first thing I saw, with her natural curls tucked into a messy bun, soft sweater clinging to her arms, eyes red-rimmed but warm.“God, I missed you,” I whispered.She didn’t say a word.She just grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. A real one. The kind that felt like coming home.“I missed you more,” she mumbled into my shoulder.I closed my eyes, letting the scent of her lavender shampoo and the steady beat of her heart bring
Aurora’s POVThe call came just past nine in the evening.I was lounging across a velvet settee. My legs lazily draped over the armrest and a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc cradled in one hand. The television droned on with a tired rerun—some crime drama I’d seen a thousand times. Irrelevant. My mind had been elsewhere all week, humming with tension. Ever since I put Pedro on the trail, my instincts had buzzed with anticipation.When my phone vibrated against the marble-topped table, I didn’t hesitate. I lunged for it before it could slip off the edge.Pedro.My pulse quickened—not with fear, but with a surge of victorious adrenaline. I lifted the phone to my ear, not wasting a second.“Talk.”Pedro’s deep voice came through, rough and low. “Confirmed. Aaliyah has a kid. A boy. He’s maybe eight months old.”My eyes narrowed with a cold satisfaction setting in.“And?”“No mention of the father anywhere. No press release. No blog leaks. But I caught a few glimpses—he’s got Hayes’ la