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HIDDEN MOTIVES

Author: M. J ONYX
last update Last Updated: 2025-09-12 04:56:01

NOVASPIRE TECH GROUP

Leandro was reviewing quarterly projections when his office door flew open without warning. He looked up to see Riley Martinez storm in, her usually composed demeanor replaced by something that looked dangerously close to fury.

“We need to talk,” she said, closing the door behind her with enough force to make the frame rattle.

“Good afternoon to you too, Riley. Is everything alright?”

“Don’t.” She moved to stand directly in front of his desk, her hands planted on her hips. “Don’t give me that casual, innocent act. I know what you did yesterday.”

Leandro leaned back in his chair, studying her face. Riley had been a good friend from the force, had seen him at his worst during the breakup with Ava, had been the one to keep NovaSpire running when he had been too destroyed to function. He had never seen her this angry.

“What exactly do you think I did?”

“You had lunch with Ava.”

“Yes, I did. Is that a crime now?”

“It is when you’re playing games with a woman who’s i
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  • MINE TO CLAIM    MOVING FORWARD

    “These quarterly reports need your signature before they go to the board.” Mason Patel stood in the doorway of Riley Martinez’s office, holding a stack of documents that represented months of work keeping NovaSpire Tech operational while its CEO worked through personal demons on the southern coast. His usually crisp appearance showed signs of the extended hours he had been putting in, covering responsibilities that should have belonged to someone making triple his salary. “Set them on the desk. I will get through them this afternoon.” Riley didn’t look up from the computer screen where she was reviewing security protocols for their newest client, a healthcare company that needed their data protection systems updated. The work was routine, methodical, and blessedly free of the emotional complications that had dominated her life for the past few months. Mason approached her desk but didn’t immediately leave the documents. Instead, he lingered in the way that suggested he had

  • MINE TO CLAIM    AFTER THE LONG DAY

    “You look like someone who just ran a marathon in heels.” David Chen looked up from his laptop as Rebecca walked through the front door of their modest two-bedroom apartment, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion and her carefully styled hair falling loose from its morning arrangement. She dropped her purse by the door and kicked off her shoes with the weary gratitude of someone whose feet had carried her through more than just a physical journey.“Feel like it too.” She collapsed onto their worn but comfortable sofa, the same one they had bought as newlyweds five years ago when optimism about their future had outweighed concerns about furniture quality. “How was your day?” “Boring spreadsheets and client calls. Nothing that compares to whatever you have been dealing with.” David closed his laptop and moved to sit beside her. “The Henderson portfolio review went smoothly, and I managed to talk the Williamson family out of making some spectacularly bad investment decisions.”“Sou

  • MINE TO CLAIM    A DAY IN THE SUN

    “You’re not wearing that.” Camilia stood in the doorway of Ava’s bedroom, her hands on her hips and her expression carrying the determination of someone who had made an executive decision. She wore a bright yellow sundress and sandals, her hair pulled back in a casual ponytail that made her look younger than her twenty-eight years.Ava looked down at her oversized sweatshirt and leggings. “What’s wrong with this?”“Everything. It’s Saturday, it’s beautiful outside, and we’re going to have fun whether you like it or not.”“I don’t really feel like going out.” “Which is exactly why you need to go out.” Rebecca appeared behind Camilia, carrying a shopping bag from one of the upscale maternity stores downtown. “I brought reinforcements.” She pulled out a soft blue maternity dress with a flowing skirt and comfortable neckline. “This will look beautiful on you, it’s perfect for your stage of pregnancy, and it’s designed for a day of walking around without getting uncomfortable.”“Where

  • MINE TO CLAIM    THE DREAMS THAT FEELS LIKE MEMORY

    “What do you think about sage green for the walls?” Dario’s voice carried the same warmth it always had, though something about the light in the nursery seemed softer than usual, dreamlike in its perfection. He stood beside the crib they had been assembling, his sleeves rolled up and a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.Ava looked up from the fabric samples spread across the changing table, her hand resting on the gentle curve of her belly. “I thought you wanted neutral colors. Something that would work for either a boy or a girl.”“I changed my mind. This baby deserves something beautiful, something that says we were excited about their arrival.”“Were? Are. We are excited.”“Of course. Are.” His smile widened as he moved closer, his hands covering hers on their growing child. “Feel that? The baby likes the idea of sage green walls.” The flutter beneath their joined hands felt so real that Ava could have sworn she felt the warmth of his palms, the familiar calluses

  • MINE TO CLAIM    FATHER AND DAUGHTER

    “You’re glowing.”Owen’s voice was stronger than it had been a week ago, though he still looked fragile propped up against the hospital pillows. His bruises had faded from purple-black to yellow-green, and the breathing tube marks on his throat were healing into thin pink lines.Ava settled into the chair beside his bed, her hand automatically moving to rest on her growing belly. At twelve weeks, the pregnancy was becoming more obvious, creating a gentle curve that couldn’t be hidden even under loose clothing.“Rebecca says that’s normal. Something about increased blood flow and hormones.”“Your mother had the same glow when she was carrying you and Camilia. She used to complain that strangers kept commenting on how radiant she looked when she felt like she was dying from morning sickness.”“I’m past the worst of the morning sickness. Now I just get tired at weird times and crave foods that make no sense together.”Owen reached for her hand, his grip still weak but steady. “Tell m

  • MINE TO CLAIM    THE FINAL JUDGEMENT

    “You look terrible.” Carissa’s voice cut through the sterile air of the prison visiting room as she took in her mother’s appearance. Cecile Santos sat across from her in an orange jumpsuit, her once-perfect hair now streaked with gray and pulled back in a ponytail. The fluorescent lighting cast harsh shadows under her eyes, making her look older than her fifty-eight years.“Prison isn’t a spa, darling. Though I’m sure you knew that when you decided not to arrange bail.”“Bail was denied. Multiple murder charges tend to have that effect.”Cecile leaned back in her plastic chair, studying her daughter’s face with the calculating expression that had once intimidated board rooms and rival families alike. “You’ve recovered nicely from the gunshot wounds. The doctors said you might not walk properly again.”“The doctors were wrong about a lot of things.”“Including their assessment that you had learned your lesson about family loyalty?”Carissa felt something cold settle in her chest.

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