LOGIN~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE~ I see the look before a single sound is made. Ivy’s face is twisted into a mischievous grin that irritates me instantly. Valentina mirrors her perfectly with a look of cold delight wrapped in elegance. Whatever they are planning, I know I'm not going to like it. The joy still racing through me from seconds ago begins to drain, replaced by a slow unease curling in my stomach. I roll my eyes, trying to brush it off. Of course they couldn’t let one morning belong to me. Ivy carefully unfolds the paper in her hand, smoothing it out like she’s about to present an award, then extends it toward me. I don’t take it. Instead, I cross my arms over my chest and look at her with deliberate boredom. “Are you going to tell me what is written on that paper,” I ask, “or should we all keep standing here while you rehearse your dramatic entrance?” Cassie lets out a short laugh and steps forward. “I’ll read it,” she says. “Clearly she needs he
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO~ Cassie refuses to answer another question, practically dragging me out of bed and rushing me downstairs before I’m fully awake. We head to the main floor, and the moment I step through the doorway, I know something is happening. The front entrance is open. Voices drift in from outside. Snow runs toward me the moment she sees me. I scoop her up as she purrs in my arms, kissing her on the head before setting her down. She follows close behind as I reach for the door; she’s just like me, curious to see what surprise is waiting outside. Standing near the entrance is Ivy, holding a folded paper in one hand and wearing a smile too obvious to trust. Beside her is Valentina, stiff with anger, staring toward the driveway like she’s witnessing a personal insult. I follow their line of sight and stop breathing for a second. Hardin stands outside, smiling. Actually smiling, with a massive bouquet of red roses in his arms. Beside him sits a glea
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE~ .. AMELIA.. He spins me around roughly, pressing my chest against the cool metal pole. I grip it tight, ass pushed back toward him. The thick head of his cock nudges my soaked entrance, then he pulls my G-string aside and slides in slowly, stretching me open. A moan of raw relief tears from my throat, but he pulls out almost immediately, leaving me empty and desperate. His fingers find my swollen clit, rubbing tight circles until I’m grinding back against him like a whore in heat. He smacks my ass hard. The sharp sting blooms across my skin. “You’re so damn impatient to take it, hmm?” I whimper. He slides back in, slower this time, inch by torturous inch, then pulls out again, teasing my dripping pussy until I’m shaking. “Please… please, Hardin. I want you so bad.” Instead of giving me what I crave, he rubs my clit faster, harder, until desperate, needy moans spill from my lips and tears prick the corners of my eyes. Fina
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY~ AMELIA’S POV "I could let you off this time, though, because of your injury," he says, voice thick with concern, eyes searching mine. I silence him with a single finger pressed to his lips. "Well, let’s drink first." Hardin speaks low into his earpiece. Moments later, Andrew enters silently with fresh glasses, followed by a woman who quickly clears the spilled mess and polishes the pole until it gleams under the low lights. The moment they leave and the door clicks shut, we’re alone again. He keeps pouring. Glass after glass. The alcohol burns sweetly down my throat, spreading liquid fire through my veins until my body feels loose, warm, and deliciously out of control, yet I’m still steady enough to hold myself together. The heat between us thickens with every sip. I rise to my feet. A soft song drifts through hidden speakers as the room seems to read my intention. The lights dim and bleed into a deep, seductive red, wrapping t
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN~ AMELIA Hardin catches me from behind before I can take another step. His arm locks firmly around my waist, dragging me back against the hard line of his chest before I can reach anyone else or cause more damage. “You both leave. Now.” His voice cuts through the room with absolute authority. The two ladies rush to gather their robes, all confidence gone. The one I struck lets out a sharp groan, clutching the side of her head as she hurries after the other. The moment the door closes behind them, I struggle again. “Leave me alone,” I snap, trying to pry his arm away. But Hardin only tightens his hold. “Calm down, Amelia.” His voice is lower now, rougher. He lowers his head to the side of my neck, his breath warm against my skin as if he is trying to steady both me and the chaos he created. “This is what you wanted?” I fire back, chest rising and falling quickly. “To push me until I did something crazy?” My pulse pounds
~CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN~ AMELIA I walk toward them with steady composure, every step intentional, every movement controlled. The room shifts with my presence, I can feel it in the way their attention locks onto me, the way conversation dies without being told to. By the time I reach them, both men are already on their feet. Power recognizes presence. Their eyes move over me, not crudely, but appreciatively—measuring, intrigued. Their tailored suits, the subtle gleam of expensive watches, the confidence in their posture, it all speaks of wealth, influence, men who are used to closing deals. Yet, they stand up for me. They stretch out their hands like I’m a queen. Well, I am. "Good evening, Mrs. Massimo." One of them takes my hand, his grip lingering a second too long. I return the greeting with equal poise, my expression calm, unreadable, but he doesn’t let go. Not immediately. His thumb brushes slightly against my skin, like he’s testing a boundary he assu
CHAPTER THIRTEEN I step out of the bathroom, steam curling behind me as I wrap the towel tighter around my body. My skin is warm, my pulse refusing to settle, that restless need still coiled deep inside me.I walk to my drawer, hesitating for only a second before pulling it open.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN I head upstairs to change into my gym wear, tying my hair into a high ponytail. Before I leave, I tell Sofia, “Make yourself comfortable. I won’t be long.”She nods enthusiastically, already buried in emails and analytics.I grab my keys and drive to the gym.Th
CHAPTER NINEI can barely breathe.My voice is a whisper. “Two weeks is too soon.”“It’s perfect,” he replies. “Long enough for you to calm down… short enough to remind you this isn’t a negotiation.”He reaches out, smoothing a strand of hair behind my ear—a gesture so intimate it makes m
CHAPTER TEN I shut my phone off and slide it into my bag. I can’t deal with any of this for now. By the time the taxi pulls up in front of my house, exhaustion clings to me like a second skin. The driver steps out and unloads my luggage, but before I can even thank him, Snow runs up to me. My s







