LOGINCharles’ POVThe cool air slapped me in the face when I stepped outside. Somehow, it was supposed to make me return to reality but reality stung worse than the alcohol burning my system.A small bar was tucked between two old buildings, its neon sign the only thing that indicated its presence.Morgan’s bar. When I pushed the door open, it smelled exactly the same and it made my chest tighten painfully. I slid into the booth at the far corner. It was the one I always took.The one we always took.A drink was placed in front of me by the bartender even before I asked. “You haven’t been here in a while, sir,” he said. “Yes,” I muttered. “I know.”“I see you on the TV now,” he continued, smiling proudly. “The bottle’s on the house.”I nodded.“And the lady…? The one you always come with.”I stared at the bottle, refusing to respond. “I’m sorry, sir,” he apologized, realizing it was a sensitive topic. He hurried off but didn’t take away the memories he had left open…the ones that hurt
Charles’ POVI slammed the door behind me with a force that threatened to collapse the entire building. I didn’t care if the whole damn building came down. My head was pounding and my jaws were clenched so tightly that it felt I would never be able to unclench them again. All I could hear in my head was Patra’s stutter and Bush’s anger, the sound of his shoes walking out of Baker Tech. I had been so hopeful and she had ruined everything under flimsy excuses.I stepped further into the penthouse, craving solitude. A stupid vase was in my way and I kicked it across the room. It shattered against the marble with a sound that made me want to break more things.Then another sound erupted from the room.“Charles…babe?”Nancy.The moment I saw her standing there in her perfect hair, perfect makeup, and perfect uselessness, all I felt was rage. “What?!” I snapped, irritated by her presence. I had spent a fortune buying her a car and all she did was sit at home all day. And now, I was about t
Alex’s POVThe sunlight pierced through the blinds heralding the breaking of dawn. But I didn’t move. Not yet. I was still wrapped in the remnants of last night with Rosa pressed against my skin, the softness of her skin keeping me still in bed. And now, I knew I wanted more than three years. I wanted more than the contract and in ways that paper hadn’t captured. Forever.I wanted forever with Rosa.I rolled over and stared at her glowing form under the morning light while she slept on. I traced my fingers along her hair and thought about how she deserved the world and I was going to give it to her in all the ways I could.An idea popped into my head as my eyes fell on her lips. A grand gesture. Something she would never forget, and would show her that, without a doubt, I was not joking about what I said last night. I sat up and set the plans in motion in my head. I was going to create a new contract, one that was carved from the beating of my heart, the stroke of every word, a p
Charles’ POVWilliam Bush was one of the richest trillionaires. And he was at BakerTech, impressed by how well we were doing since we took the crown from Kane. I watched as he lifted the wine glass I had poured some expensive wine into. “To Valis,” he said. “And more deals. And to Baker Tech taking the lead this quarter.”I raised my glass. “And all year long.”Everyone knew Bush had a beef with Mr. Kane and seeing him in my office only meant he was ready to join hands with me and bring Kane Tech to its crumbles. Receiving his email last night had been everything I needed at the moment. Everything was aligning. “Your presenter should be here soon, right?” he asked. I nodded, confident. “She’s good. Better than the best. I trust you’ll be pleased with her delivery…just as Valis was pleased with mine.”Just then, we heard footsteps coming towards the office, and she appeared, perfectly dressed in a black fitted gown that clung to her curves, leaving me thinking of the last time we w
Rosa’s POVThe blindfold stayed on. I didn’t know how long it had been —minutes, hours, a lifetime? The only thing I knew was, every second of his lips against my body, stretched into something endless. My world was darkness and Alex.I was on my back, my wrists gently pinned above my head with one of his hands, while the other traced lazy, maddening circles on the insides of my thigh. It was never high enough. Never where I wanted him to touch, where the ache was making me squirm. “Rosa,” he spoke against my throat. “Listen to me.”I couldn’t ignore him if I tried. Not when my entire body was tuned to the frequency of his voice. “You’re going to stay perfectly still,” he said, lips brushing my ear. “And you’re going to ask for every single thing you want. Out loud, darling. No hiding. Can you do that?”I nodded. Then I remembered he wanted me speaking. “Yes.”I felt the bed shift as he moved lower, his breath now against the lace between my thighs. I arched without control. He pr
Rosa’s POVI have never led sex before. Not once. Not in the five years I shared with Charles Baker. With him, it was always like an old song on repeat: rushed hands undressing me, careless sighs that didn’t care to appreciate me enough, and a body moving over mine like a routine he didn’t have the decency to pretend he enjoyed. Rinse. RepeatWell, at first, he enjoyed it. Until Taylor fucking Casatelli started showing him unshaved cunts. I had never thought of being in control. Until tonight. My hands were trembling as Alex devoured me silently with his eyes. I replayed what he had said that morning before he left, trying to assure myself that he wanted this way more than I did and that I was confident and sexy enough to turn him on. And tonight, I wanted to give him a memory that didn’t hurt. A memory where a woman was reaching for him without hurting him. I didn’t undress as he told me to. I walked towards him, bold and unafraid. His gaze travelled down my body slowly and his







