NATHAN’S POVI wasn’t planning to see Sienna that day.She’d called earlier in the morning asking if I still had the spare keys to my old apartment. Apparently, a few of her belongings were still tucked away in the hallway closet—left behind from the chapter of our lives I preferred to leave unread. I told her I’d be at the restaurant all day and she could swing by to pick the key up there.The Yard was already buzzing with energy when she arrived, her signature scent trailing in ahead of her. She had always been composed—polished like fine silver—but today there was something lighter in her steps. Maybe it was the sun or the scent of rosemary in the air, but even I couldn’t deny how easily she still blended into places like this.“Still my favorite spot,” she smiled as she slid into a booth near the corner.I nodded, handing her the key across the counter. “Figured you’d show up before lunch. Still remember your usual?”Sienna glanced at the chalkboard menu and laughed softly. “You h
VICTOR'S POVIt was strange how easy it became to talk to Sienna after that night at Nathan’s restaurant.What started with a simple exchange of numbers turned into casual chats every other day.Nothing serious at first — just random conversations about life, work, memories from our different paths.But tonight, something shifted.We found ourselves sitting outside a small coffee shop, two cups of coffee warming our hands while the cool evening breeze brushed past us.Sienna was watching the busy street, a faint smile on her lips, looking like she was somewhere else entirely.I took a sip of my coffee, then said, “You know, I noticed something the other day.”She turned to me, one brow raised, curious. “Oh yeah? What's that?”“The way you look at Nathan,” I said, keeping my voice casual but steady. “It’s... different.”For a second, she froze — just a small flicker across her face before she hid it with a laugh.But I caught it.I saw through the smile she tried to wear like armor.“Y
SIENNA’S POVI should have known Victor had something else up his sleeve.We had barely gotten through planning our fake dating act when he called me late that night, his voice low but urgent.“There’s a gala tomorrow night,” he said. “Nathan’s going to be there.”I stiffened where I sat, curling my fingers around the throw blanket.Nathan.It was always Nathan.Always the name that made my chest hurt and my heart speed up.“I’m not invited,” I said before I could stop myself.I heard the words come out, too sharp, too defensive.Victor chuckled, soft and patient.“You are now.”I frowned. “Vic—”“Sienna,” he cut me off gently, “I was invited. And now I’m inviting you.”I hesitated, the words twisting inside me.Nathan had mentioned the gala once.Casually.Almost like it didn’t matter.And he hadn’t invited me.What was I supposed to think?Victor must have heard the hesitation in my silence.“He’s an idiot if he thinks you don’t belong there,” he said quietly. “Come with me. Let’s s
SIENNA’S POVSince the night Victor and I showed up at the gala together, something between Nathan and me has shifted.I could feel it from across the room — the way his eyes burned into my skin every time I laughed a little too loudly or leaned a little too close to Victor.At first, I tried to ignore it.I focused on smiling, waving politely, mingling with strangers who now seemed suddenly interested because I had Victor beside me.It wasn’t just me imagining things.I heard whispers — little comments like,"Who's that with Victor?""They look perfect together."Victor leaned closer once and whispered in my ear, “It’s working. He can’t take his eyes off you.”I almost laughed out loud, but I caught myself.Instead, I just nodded slightly and took a sip from my glass, pretending to be completely at ease.Truth was, my heart was racing.Every time I caught Nathan’s gaze, it felt like I was being pulled back into memories I’d buried deep — the laughs we shared, the quiet talks late at
NATHAN'S POVEver since that night Sienna and Victor showed up together at the gala, something inside me had been off-balance.I tried to pretend it didn’t bother me — told myself it was nothing. They are after all.Just friends.But something about the way Victor looked at her… and the way Sienna smiled when he said something to her… it didn’t sit right with me.Not because I didn’t trust Sienna. I did.It was Victor I didn’t trust.I didn’t know anything about him beyond the polished version he showed to the world. Beyond business, beyond casual charm — what kind of man was he really?And more importantly, was he the right person for Sienna after everything she had been through?I sat behind the counter in my restaurant that afternoon, pretending to go over the invoices, but my mind wasn’t in it.The pen I was holding tapped a restless rhythm against the table.Was it jealousy?Maybe a little.But it was more than thatcared about Sienna — deeply.I wanted the best for her, someone
ISLA’S POVSince the night Victor and Sienna showed up at the gala together, something inside me has felt... different.At first, I tried to brush it off — told myself it was nothing. Just two friends. Two adults enjoying a night out. But the way they looked together, the way people whispered about them, it stuck with me longer than I wanted to admit.I sat in my office staring at my screen, unable to focus on anything except the way Sienna laughed beside Victor, how easy it all seemed. How natural.A part of me knew I had no right to feel this way.But another part — a deeper, more stubborn part — couldn’t stop the twinge of something that felt a lot like jealousy.Nathan had mentioned, almost casually, that they met at his restaurant.That made it worse somehow.Like fate had given them a perfect introduction... I sighed and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.I hated feeling like this.I hated feeling weak.But the truth was... it hurt.It hurt seeing Victor with someone
ISLA’S POVThe morning sun flooded Titan Holdings headquarters with a golden glow, but beneath the polished marble floors and high-end furniture, there was a crackle of tension I couldn't ignore.We had just secured the biggest collaboration in years — a joint luxury collection with Maison Delacroix, one of the most prestigious European fashion houses. If this launch succeeded, it would cement Titan holdings For me, it was personal. I had fought tooth and nail to secure this deal, standing against internal competition, backhanded politics, and endless late nights.Today, we were scheduled to unveil the preliminary designs to the Maison team.Today, everything had to be perfect.But from the moment I stepped onto my floor, something felt... off.Andy, my brilliant but sometimes overly nervous assistant, sprinted toward me, her tablet clutched tightly in her hands, her face pale."Isla," she gasped. "You need to see this."I barely had time to set down my coffee before she shoved the t
ISLA’S POV When I woke up this morning, I didn’t expect to be plotting someone’s professional execution. But here we are. Lucas crossed a line — no, he leaped over it. And I wasn’t about to sit back and let him burn down everything I built. Still, I couldn’t afford to be reckless. This wasn’t just about firing someone. This was about making sure he couldn’t come back to bite us in the future — not through a lawsuit, not through gossip, and certainly not by sabotaging someone else again. So I did what I always do when the stakes are high. I dressed sharp, pulled my hair into a clean twist, and walked into the boardroom like a woman who already knew the ending of the story. Because I did. Andy was waiting for me inside, pacing nervously. She held a folder in her hands — a printout of every security log David from IT had sent me. “He’s not going to go down easy,” she whispered, handing it over. “He’s been bragging around the office all week. Acting like he has something on you.”
VICTOR'S POVI leaned back in the chair, staring out the window as the city stretched endlessly before me. My mind was cluttered, not with the chaos of the world outside but with thoughts of Sienna. The woman who had unexpectedly come into my life and made me see things from a perspective I never thought possible. She was beautiful, strong, and confident, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for her presence. But lately, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease—a feeling that things were shifting, and I needed to make sure we were both on the same page.Our relationship had been growing steadily, and we’d reached a point where we were living together. It felt like the natural next step for us. But as much as I loved her, there was something about the future that I hadn’t yet confronted. I had spent so much time building my career in the fashion industry, creating a name for myself, and handling the endless demands of clients, but I was starting to see that I couldn’t do it
NATHAN'S POVThe morning light broke through the glass windows of my restaurant, casting long shadows across the polished floors. The atmosphere was different now—calmer, more refined. I couldn’t help but stare at the space with a sense of pride. This was it—the culmination of everything I’d worked for, everything I’d fought to rebuild after the fire that nearly destroyed me. The grand opening had been a success beyond my expectations, and the momentum was building.New customers were coming in, the buzz around the restaurant was palpable, and I had a growing list of people eager to invest in the business. It was a far cry from the old days, when I could barely keep the place running. Now, I had international clients showing interest, and local influencers were raving about the food. It was almost surreal. If you had told me a year ago that I’d be in this position, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here I was, standing at the helm of a thriving restaurant, ready to take it to the next
NATHAN'S POVThere are few moments in life when everything feels exactly right—when every ounce of pain, sweat, and late nights comes together into something that makes you believe in yourself all over again. That was what my grand opening felt like.My new restaurant wasn’t just bigger. It wasn’t just more luxurious. It was me, reborn.The space gleamed with copper accents, ambient lights, and marble counters that caught the reflection of every glass raised in celebration. The open kitchen concept allowed guests to watch us in action, the aroma of seared herbs, sizzling garlic, and glazed duck drifting across the room. There were private dining rooms now, soundproofed for VIP guests, with curated wine lists and personal chefs. We even had a rooftop lounge with a skyline view that made you forget you were still in the city.I had poured my heart into every detail—from the hand-carved wooden sign that bore my name to the recipe cards we handed out like pieces of art. I hired a stronger
ISLA'S POVI had always known Lucas wouldn't go down without a fight. But I never expected him to fight this dirty. Every morning I walked into the office now, I braced myself for the newest headline, whisper, or suspicious glance. My name had been dragged through boardroom gossip, backchannel emails, and anonymous memos. All fingers pointed at one person: Lucas.Ever since I helped Nathan, Lucas had made it his mission to tear me down. He couldn’t touch me directly—at least not in a way that would be obvious—but his games were relentless. Strategic leaks to the media. Internal rumors that I forged financial reports. Claims that I was emotionally compromised and prioritizing personal relationships over the company’s future. It was all carefully designed to paint me as a liability.But I wasn’t about to back down.At work, I held my head high, keeping my focus razor-sharp. If Lucas wanted a war, he’d get one. Only, I wouldn’t fight him the way he expected. He’d try to rattle me, make m
NATHAN'S POV hadn’t planned on stopping by Isla’s apartment, but after another late night of overseeing the renovation of my new restaurant, something in me craved the familiarity of her presence. It had been a long few months since the fire. A long few months since everything blew up—literally and emotionally.She opened the door with a blanket over her shoulders, her eyes slightly puffy, like she hadn’t been sleeping well either. We didn’t say much at first. Sometimes silence was our safe space.The new restaurant was finally coming together.I stood in the middle of the main floor, tools still scattered, the scent of fresh paint still clinging to the air. It wasn't just a rebuild. This was something better—a new version of everything I wanted to be. A statement. A fresh start.But even as I stood there, admiring the polished countertops and the ambient lighting we tested last night, my mind wandered.Victor.Sienna.I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t. Victor was a good man, even if his
SIENNA'S POVI don’t know when exactly it happened—when Victor stopped being just the man Isla used to love and started becoming the man I couldn't stop thinking about.Maybe it was in the little moments—like our late-night phone calls, or how he’d drive across town just to bring me food when I had a long day. Maybe it was in the way he looked at me, as though I was the only thing in his world that made sense. Love didn’t hit me like a train. It came slowly, gently, until suddenly I couldn’t imagine my life without Victor in it.I still remember the way he asked me to move in with him. We were sitting on his couch, legs tangled together under a throw blanket, watching an old rom-com. I had just made a snarky comment about how unrealistic the couple in the movie was, when he turned to me, his voice calm but deliberate."What if we tried it?"I looked at him, confused. "Tried what?""Living together. You and me."My heart skipped a beat.He smiled when he saw the look on my face. "I kn
SIENNA'S POVWhen Nathan told me about the fire in his restaurant, my heart dropped. The words came out casually—like it was just another rough day—but I could feel the weight behind them. I stared at him, waiting for him to say it was a joke or maybe an exaggeration. He didn’t.“Wait—what?” I asked, almost breathless. “Your restaurant… it burned down?”He gave me a quiet nod, eyes slightly distant, as if replaying the moment in his head. “Last night. Caught me off guard.”I stood frozen in his living room, my fingers tightening around the edge of my phone. “Oh my God, Nathan. Are you okay?”“I’m fine. Just… pissed.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. “Everything was gone. Tables. Kitchen. Décor. Even the cash register melted.”I moved to sit beside him on the couch. “Do you know what caused it?”Nathan’s jaw clenched. “I’m sure it was Lucas.”The name sent a wave of anger through meeven though I don't even know who he hisNathan then told me how he had been making him and Isla liv
SIENNA’S POVI’ve always liked having things figured out. Plans. Boundaries. No room for surprises.But lately, Victor has been nothing but a surprise.He asked me out yesterday.And the strange part? I wasn’t shocked.Not because I saw it coming, but because deep down—if I’m being completely honest with myself—I’d been waiting for it. Hoping for it, maybe. Even if I didn’t want to admit it.There’s been this… spark between us. A silent pull. We dance around it every time we talk. We laugh too much, our conversations last too long, and we look at each other just a second too slowly.There were never any secret feelings. No big, buried truth. Just a growing, electric sort of chemistry I kept ignoring.Until I couldn’t.Until he asked me out.And I should’ve told him before he did. I should’ve said, Hey, this thing between us? It’s not just you. I feel it too.But I didn’t.And now he’s launched the idea of us, and I’m floating somewhere between giddy and terrified.Because I like him.
VICTOR’S POVThere were exactly three things I was good at: solving problems, handling pressure, and pretending like I wasn’t slowly falling for Sienna Collins.The last one? Not going so well lately.She had this habit of showing up in my head at random times—during meetings, workouts, even while I brushed my teeth. I’d hear something funny and instantly think, Sienna would laugh at this, or smell something that reminded me of the cinnamon scent she always carried, like she rolled in fresh bakery air every morning.It was annoying.And addictive.We hadn’t called it anything—whatever this was between us. We hadn’t kissed. We hadn’t confessed anything. But the tension? It was there. Palpable. Thick enough to stir with a spoon.So I did the only reasonable thing a grown man with mildly obsessive thoughts could do.I planned a date.A real one. With no interruptions, Just her. And me.And possibly a small romantic ambush.---I picked the spot carefully. A rooftop garden restaurant in