DAMIAN'S POVI sat behind my desk, watching the city skyline stretch endlessly before me. The glass of whiskey in my hand remained untouched, the amber liquid catching the light. My mind, however, was far from the serene view.Isla had accepted my offer.I leaned back, tapping my fingers against the armrest of my chair. She wasn’t the type to make impulsive decisions. Which meant this was calculated. The question was—what was her angle?Victor had made his stance clear—he wasn’t backing down. I had anticipated him to put up a fight, but I didn’t expect Isla to step away from his side so easily. Unless, of course, something had happened between them. Something that pushed her straight into my hands.A slow smirk tugged at my lips. Whatever it was, I intended to find out.A soft knock came at the door before Samson stepped in. "She’s here."I downed the rest of my whiskey and stood, smoothing the sleeves of my suit. "Let’s not keep her waiting, then."Samson led the way to the executive
ISLA’S POVWalking into Titan Holdings felt surreal. The polished marble floors gleamed under the bright lights, and the scent of expensive cologne lingered in the air. It was a world of power and precision, where people in tailored suits moved with purpose, their gazes sharp, their expressions unreadable.I kept my posture straight, chin lifted, eyes scanning everything as subtly as possible. This wasn’t just another job.I was here for a reason.Despite my confidence, a part of me couldn’t shake the unease in my gut. The feeling of being watched.It wasn’t blatant, nothing obvious, but I knew I wasn’t imagining it. There were moments when I caught a shadow moving just beyond my line of sight, or a presence lingering too long in the hallway near my office. It could have been paranoia, but I doubted it.Damian wasn’t stupid. He knew people. He read them.And right now, I was the biggest mystery in his world.The first few days were an adjustment. Damian had placed me in the design d
ISLA’S POV The first few days at Titan Holdings had been exhausting, not just because of the workload but because I had to constantly watch my every move. I had to be Isla—the talented designer, the ambitious woman looking for a fresh start—not Isla, the woman secretly plotting to bring down the very company that had hired her. And it wasn’t easy. Damian was testing me. Victor, Daniel, and I had expected this. Damian wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t just believe that I had joined his company because he had offered me a better job. He would suspect there was more to my presence, and that meant I had to be careful. Every word, every action had to seem natural. Still, I wasn’t here just to play it safe. I had a job to do. I had already made an impact—one of my designs had attracted a million-dollar contract, putting me in the spotlight. The executives had praised me, and even Damian had acknowledged my work. But none of that mattered. I was here for one reason—to take him down.
VICTOR’S POVDamian’s house was bigger than I expected, but it wasn’t the fortress I had assumed it would be. I had imagined layers of security—armed guards patrolling every corner, motion detectors, hidden cameras in every inch of the place. But as we crept toward the house, staying in the shadows, I realized it was just like any other high-end home.There were cameras, of course, but nothing we couldn’t handle. The back entrance had a security panel, but Daniel worked fast, bypassing it in under a minute. The doors unlocked with a soft click, and we slipped inside, silent as ghosts.The interior was sleek and modern—dark wood, marble floors, and dim lighting that cast shadows across the expensive furniture. The house smelled of leather and faint cigar smoke, and for a second, I could almost hear Damian’s voice echoing in the space, giving orders like a king in his castle.We moved carefully, our footsteps barely making a sound. I led the way, knowing exactly where we were headed. Th
DAMIAN'S POV The event was a grand display of wealth and power—just the way I liked it. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room filled with New York’s most influential businessmen, politicians, and socialites. Waiters dressed in black moved smoothly through the crowd, offering glasses of champagne on silver trays.I walked through the hall with my usual composed confidence, acknowledging familiar faces with nods and brief smiles. It was the same routine—handshakes, fake smiles, subtle power plays woven into casual conversation. These events were a necessary evil, a way to keep my business untouchable in the eyes of the public.But tonight was different.Because tonight, Isla was with me.She stood beside me, poised and elegant in a Red dress that hugged her figure in just the right way—not too revealing, but enough to draw attention. And attention she got. Men stole glances at her as we walked, their eyes lingering a little too long. It amused me.
VICTOR’S POVI had won the battle.But at what cost?As I stood there, watching the video Damian had sent, a crushing weight settled on my chest. The pain was unbearable, like a blade slicing through my soul. My hands trembled, my breath came in ragged gasps, and my vision blurred with unshed tears.My grandfather was dead.Emma had lost her baby.The very people I had fought to protect had suffered because of me.I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was fighting for justice, for the truth. But now, standing in the wreckage of my choices, it felt like I had lost everything.A hollow laugh escaped my lips, but there was no humor in it. Just pain. Deep, consuming pain.I clenched my fists, my entire body shaking with rage. “I’m going to kill him,” I growled.Daniel, who had been standing beside me, grabbed my arm. “Victor, don’t.”I turned to him, my eyes burning with fury. “After everything he’s done, you expect me to just stand here and do nothing?”Daniel’s grip tight
VICTOR'S POV The hospital felt like a prison. No, worse—it felt like a graveyard. I sat in the cold, sterile hallway, my hands gripping the edges of my chair as if letting go would send me spiraling into nothingness. The weight of everything crushed my chest. I had won the battle, but I had lost the war. My grandfather was gone. Emma had lost our baby. What kind of victory was this? I felt hollow, a walking corpse moving through the motions of arranging my grandfather’s body with the hospital staff. The doctor stood in front of me, speaking in a calm, professional tone, but his words barely registered. “We’ll need to finalize the paperwork for the body transfer, your grandfather the doctor said, his voice measured and sympathetic. I swallowed hard. “And then?” My voice was hoarse, barely recognizable even to myself. “We’ll arrange for the morgue to hold him until the funeral home takes over. Do you have any preferences for the arrangements?” Preferences? What kind o
VICTOR’S POVThe moment the arrest warrant for Damian Lannister was issued, law enforcement officers were dispatched to his residence. However, when they arrived, he was nowhere to be found."Suspect is not at the residence. No sign of forced entry or rushed departure. Repeat, the suspect is not at home," a police officer’s voice crackled through Daniel’s radio.I was with Daniel when the report came in, and the moment we heard those words, we exchanged a knowing look. We didn’t need to say it aloud—we both understood exactly what this meant.Damian was trying to flee.“Damn it,” Daniel muttered under his breath. “He’s not going to face justice willingly.”My fists clenched as my mind raced through the possibilities. He had the money, the power, and the connections to disappear without a trace. If he got away now, we might never catch him.We needed to act. Fast.“We have to think like him,” I said urgently. “Where would he go? What’s his exit strategy?”Isla, who had been standing be
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