LOGINOlivia’s POV
“How dare you cheat on me”
The text resounded in my mind, leaving me eyes wide open.
Then it hit me, realization came with a flood of headache. I realized that I wasn’t in my bedroom.
Oh my God!
This room looked so exquisite…
The curtains were opened, I sat up to see my clothes and a tie on the floor.
I froze for a few minutes, before I shakily laid back down and held the duvet to myself.
What the hell?
I mentally assessed myself.
Oh my God!
I’m naked!
I turned to the other side of the bed but couldn’t find anyone on it.
Unable to believe it…I moved the duvet aside and the shock of my state made me cover myself up again.
And I felt so tender…
So tender between my legs.
Like flash…the memories of last night came crashing down on me…Drinking to stupor and meeting that strange man with a rose etched on his mask…it seems we had a little conversation of a sort and then we ended up in a hotel room.
My cheeks felt so hot as I grabbed my long hair and recalled him rising above me…sliding inside and repeatedly stroking me.
Oh…he had done it so good.
Stop it! I yelled within myself.
This wasn’t the time to think about how good he was.
I just had a one night stand with a stranger.
And how did Kane find out immediately?
Is it a set up?
My mind reeled with so many questions.
Then a sharp anger grew within me. What the f**k did he mean by that?
Kane has the guts to claim all righteousness and holy after what he did.
How dare him? After….after betraying me like he did.
I clenched my fists, closing my eyes as the memories flooded through my mind.
*Flash back*
With each step, my unease grew. Kane wasn’t picking my calls. And ever since Sally sent me photos of him and a mysterious woman, I couldn’t find peace.
As much as I wanted to contest or argue with her, I had to find out myself. And coming to the manor was the right thing to do.
I pulled off my leather jacket and tossed it to Stanley the moment I entered the building.
My jacket met his face and slowly dropped down till Stanley caught it. “Miss. Olivia..” he called, eyes wide with surprise.
From the look of things, he didn’t expect to see me.
Straight to the stairs I went, past fancy chairs and other furnitures.
“Miss. Olivia!”
He raced over to me, closing the gap and walking beside me. “Master kane isn’t home.”
I glared at him. “What do you mean? I spotted his car in town while I was passing by, don’t you lie to me.” I lied.
“But…” he stuttered, contemplating on what to say.
“Yes?” I asked, arms crossed.
When nothing came, I sighed. “Thought as much.” I turned around and walked up the stairs.
“Miss. Olivia.” Was all I heard from behind.
A few steps above, I peeked over my shoulders to see if he was following behind me. But Stanley stood where I left him, fear gnawing at him.
Something was wrong, but what could it be?
I feared the worst and made a hasty move further.
When I got to Kane’s room, I was first welcomed by the voice of my best friend moaning.
Furious, I pushed open the door. And behold, Kane was on top my best friend Cynthia.
He froze when he saw me. The shock on his face said it all.
He was cheating, and with my best friend at that.
With tears raining down my eyes, I stormed out of his room and house.
I could hear my boyfriend screaming my name as he rushed after me. But I ignored him and left.
The road seemed endless as I sat in the taxi. I clinged to the window, my mind and heart ached from Kane’s betrayal.
I needed to get my mind off it, the pain was too much. But how do I do that?
Just then I spotted a bar far ahead, it was the masked bar down at Marv street. An idea popped up in my head, quickly I called for a stop and exited the taxi.
If I wanted to distract myself from what had just happened. The best place would be in a bar no one would know me.
**
“Love huh? Nah, I’m never doing that shit again.” I muttered to myself, downing a glass of vodka.
The hot liquid burned down my throat, forcing me to bite back on the burn.
I coughed hard, looking down on the stool I sat on.
“What the fuck am I even doing here?” I winced at the bartender cleaning a glass.
Then I recalled, Kane. He’s the reason I’m here right now.
Why the hell did he do that to me? Why?
Am I no longer beautiful? Aren’t I enough for him?
The music and cheering behind me grew louder and more intense.
The side of the mask I wore itched me, slowly I placed the glass down and scratched at it.
“This is all his fault!” I declared. “Stupid, so stupid.”
I cursed under my breath, before turning to stare at the people dancing in masks behind me.
“Hello, there.” A husky but strong voice called out to me.
I turned to my side to find a muscular man beside me.
The stranger leaned an arm on the counter, a black button-up shirt hugging his skin, with the top two buttons undone. His sleeves shoved to his forearms. Dark hair falling into the side of his mask as his eyes stared into me.
His cologne spread all around us.
Ignoring him, I turned to the bartender. “More alcohol please!”
The stranger chuckles, leaning closer to me.
“Excuse me?” I glared at him.
“Sorry,” he said, jolting to a stop just a few inch from me. “I didn’t mean to startle you, saw you alone and drinking.”
“So?” I said, taking another sip from my glass.
“Nothing, actually. I’d like to join in. Could you have a few drinks with me?”
Laughter spews from my mouth. “I’m already drinking, take a glass, I don’t mind.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
I stared at him as he gestured for a glass, the bartender obliged and he downed it in one go.
My eyes stood wide.
He turns to me, an ‘you didn’t see that coming, did you?’ Smile spread across his face.
“More!” I said to the bartender.
He obliged.
“A contest?” The masked man suggested.
A devilish grin spread across my lips. I should stop, I’m biting more than I could chew. I wasn’t much of a drinker.
But would that stop me? Nope. The alcohol was already playing it’s part. Pushing me to heights I’d rather not have on a normal night.
“You think you can take me on?”
He smirks, and orders for more alcohol.
“Let’s see if you’re as strong as your tongue suggests.”
I chuckled. “Oh my tongue is strong alright.” I said, sizing him head to toe. “Stronger than you’d be.”
“Oh! Well, let’s see.”
He sets our glasses together and pours a drink into each.
I took him on, hoping to win the challenge.
As bottles went down, I became tipsy and over the edge. But so was the masked man beside me.
He leans closer to me, stopping at ears breath. “Mind if I ruin your night?” His voice is low, smoke rough, the kind that settles right under your skin.
I tilt my head, letting my hair spill over one shoulder. “Depends. How good you’re at ruining things?”
He chuckles, gaining my eyes on him. “I’ve had practice.”
His words came dangerously tempting to me, in a hot sensational way that makes my pulse trip.
I could feel the heat between my legs and the stiffening of my nipples.
Was I being sensible right now? Doesn’t matter. The alcohol’s already doing the talking for both of us.
“Practicing? Is that your best line?” I asked, gesturing my lips for a kiss as I mimicked him.
“It works.”
“Oh really?” I asked, a glint in my eyes.
“Yes, yes. I see it working already.”
“See? You’ve been watching me all night, is that it?” I accused with a smile.
“You’ve been watchable.” His voice comes out huskier than he means it to. It’s not his fault, I blame the whiskey.
I laughed, quiet this time, so that only he could hear me. “Fair.”
He moves his stool closer, his knee bumps mine under the bar. Neither of us moves away.
I don’t know his name. He hasn’t asked for mine. The anonymity is enchanting.
Then I felt his hand on my thigh. I don’t protest or resist, instead I only smile at him.
“You live close?” he asks. Hands moving up my thigh slowly.
“Not close enough.” I let my eyes drop to his mouth for half a second. Long enough. “You?”
“Closer than you think.” His hand stops, then changes direction to my pelvic region.
I finish what’s left in my glass in one go. The burn feels clarifying.
“Hmm.”
“Wanna find out?” He asked right away.
“Sure, but it’s too late. An hotel would be better.”
He smiles like a wolf, then pays for the drinks.
I tried to stand to my feet but the haze hit me, almost toppling me over. The stranger catches me by the waist.
Slowly we moved out the bar, and head for the nearest hotel.
*Present*
And that was how I got here. Tears streamed nonstop from my eyes. I had just slept with a stranger.
Guilt ate through me. I sank my head into my knees and cried on.
OLIVIA’S POVThe Salander Group’s headquarters had a way of making one feel small on purpose.I stood on the pavement outside it, craning my neck up at the glass and steel facade that caught the early morning light. Forty-two floors of corporate power, legacy, and old money. I looked down at myself.Black wrap dress, low heels, hair pulled back, one hand gripping the strap of my bag, the other pressed flat against the swell of my bump like a reflex.“You’ve delivered babies in a blackout,” I muttered to myself. “You can walk into a building. You’re that bitch..and would forever be that bitch.”I walked into the building.The lobby was all marble and a cathedral was dedicated to the religion of wealth. The woman at the reception desk looked up at me with the look of neutrality. “Olivia Benson,” I said, keeping my chin level. “I have a meeting with Mr. Virgil.”She checked her screen, nodded once, and handed me a visitor’s pass with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.Virgil was waiti
KANE’S POVThe vial was smaller than I expected.I turned it between my fingers, the thin glass catching the dim light of my bedroom as I sat on the edge of the bed. It looked almost harmless. “Good” I smiled in relief. My phone buzzed against the nightstand.It’s confirmed. He’ll flip. Cynthia’s text came in while Jonah called me an hour ago. He’s in.“Damn right, he is” I exhaled slowly, setting the vial down on the duvet beside me. I stared at it.One problem solved now, remains the other.The board meeting was locked in for next Friday. Seven days for Lucious to wake up fully, regain his strength, sign whatever documents Virgil had been hovering over him with, and blow my entire plan to pieces with one signature.Seven days was too long.I picked up the vial again.Cynthia had explained it simply, it won’t kill him, she’d said, filing her nails as she spoke. It’ll just… slow him down. Keep him foggy. He’ll be alive, Kane…technically.I pressed my thumb against the cool glass.T
MICHAEL REEVES’S POVI made three calls after they left.The first was to my lawyer. Short, procedural, the kind of call that was less conversation and more confirmation — a series of contingencies I’d put in place years ago that needed to know they were still relevant. They were. I kept it under four minutes.The second was to a woman named Patricia who worked a floor below the federal prosecutor’s current office and owed me a favor that had been quietly accumulating interest since 2019. I didn’t ask for much. Just a temperature reading. Just enough to know whether the timeline I’d given Kane and Lucious was still accurate.It was. Possibly tighter than six weeks now.I kept that to myself for the moment.The third call I sat with for a long time before making.Ellis was still in the townhouse when I came back downstairs.He was at the table with the remnants of the evening’s water glasses and his perpetually open laptop, doing the quiet, thorough work that made him indispensable in
OLIVIA’S POVI knew something had shifted the moment Kane walked in.I’d never met him before — not properly. I’d seen photos, heard the name spoken in a dozen different tones depending on who was doing the speaking and what the conversation was about. Lucious said it carefully, like handling something that could cut. Other people said it with a kind of cautious reverence, the way you talk about weather patterns that have a history of turning.In person he was — not what I’d expected.Taller, for one. Same bone structure as his father, same quality of stillness, but where Lucious had refined his into something smooth and almost architectural, Kane’s was rougher. More recently acquired. Like a man who’d taught himself to be still because he’d learned the hard way what happened when he wasn’t.He’d barely glanced at me when he came through. Cordial, distracted, already somewhere else in his head. That was fine. I hadn’t needed the attention.What I’d needed was to read the room.So I di
KANE’S POVI didn’t sleep.I lay on top of the covers fully dressed until about 2 AM, staring at the ceiling with the laptop open beside me, rereading Cynthia’s document like the words might rearrange themselves into something less catastrophic if I looked long enough.They didn’t.Lucious Grant. Twelve years ago. A buried case, a resigned prosecutor, and a clean paper trail that had stayed clean for over a decade because my father was exceptionally good at the things he was good at.I kept waiting to feel something clean about it. Righteous anger, maybe — the kind that clarifies and points you in a direction. Or even satisfaction, the cold kind, the I knew it kind that I’d been stockpiling fuel for most of my adult life.Instead what I felt was tired.Deeply, structurally tired in a way that had nothing to do with the hour.I sat up at 2 AM, put the laptop on the nightstand, and just sat on the edge of the bed with my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands.He looked tired. That
KANE’S POVI didn’t say much on the ride back.Neither did my father.The city moved past the windows in streaks of light and we sat in the back of his car with about twelve inches of leather seat between us and about fifteen years of everything else. The driver had the partition up. Good man.I kept the folder on my knee with my hand flat on top of it like it might try to leave.Six weeks.I turned the number over in my head, examining it from different angles the way you probe a sore tooth with your tongue. Six weeks to sit still and play a role in someone else’s game while my own pieces collected dust on the board. Six weeks of watching Jonah Levine breathe the same air as me and knowing what I knew about him and doing absolutely nothing with it.The thought made my skin crawl.But the alternative — Reeves had been clear enough about the alternative without ever actually spelling it out, which told me he was good at his job in the specific way that the best people always are. He ha







