ANMELDEN*POV Derby* The delivery courier had not bothered to hide the sender, nor had he attempted to slide the box discreetly across the floor. He had simply marched the massive, heavy-bottomed floral arrangement straight past the main security turnstiles on Eighty-Eight, carrying a towering cascade of deep crimson roses that smelled aggressively of expensive greenhouse hothouses. By ten in the morning, the arrangement was sitting dead-center on top of my filing cabinet, its dark, velvety petals practically broadcasting an invitation for every senior analyst, tax compliance officer, and gossip-hungry paralegal to stop by my cubicle. I stared at the blossoms, my hand freezing over the mouse of my desktop terminal as a collective murmur rippled through the open-plan office. Across the aisle, the senior compliance manager pretended to check a spreadsheet while angling his head for a better look. Two rows down, a junior associate dropped a stack of binder clips just so she could lean over an
*POV Derby** The bell above the heavy glass door of the boutique conservatory cafe didn't chime; it gave a soft, muted click as the door swung closed behind us. The morning sun filtered through the tall greenhouse windows, casting intricate patterns of light across polished brass tables, expensive orchids, and pale green velvet armchairs. It was the kind of place where people didn't raise their voices, where business transactions worth millions were sealed over lightly sweetened chamomile tea, and where everyone seemed to know your social standing before you even sat down. Tamara Hayden sat at a corner table overlooking the courtyard garden. She wore an ivory cashmere wrap over a tailored linen dress, her blond hair falling in loose, perfectly effortless waves over her shoulders. When I walked up, she didn't stand, but she raised one perfectly arched brow and offered a welcoming gesture toward the empty seat opposite her. "Miss Wilde. Thank you for making time," Tamara said, her
*POV Derby* The heavy linen curtains of the private executive suite filtered the pale, gray light of dawn, casting long, silent shadows across the polished hardwood floor. Jordan was already awake. He sat motionless on the edge of the plush velvet sofa, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, his dark evening shirt unbuttoned at the collar with the silk bow tie completely discarded on the carpet. Across the length of the sofa, wrapped tightly in a wool throw blanket, Derby was still fast asleep. Her breathing was deep, slow, and even—the exhausted sleep of someone whose mind and body had run a marathon through fire and ice before finally collapsing. Jordan didn't move to wake her. He rested his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes tracing the soft line of her profile, the faint shadow beneath her eyelashes, and the way her hand was curled loosely against the hem of the blanket. It was the same quiet observation from three years ago in Mayfair, yet everything had changed. Back then, th
*POV Derby* The master of ceremonies lowered his microphone slightly, his smile stretching into an expression of theatrical delight as he addressed the assembly. "On behalf of the Vasquez and Hayden families," the MC's voice echoed smoothly across the crystal-chandeliered ballroom, "we are honored to formally announce the upcoming wedding of Jordan Vasquez and Tamara Hayden, uniting two pillars of international commerce this coming winter." A sudden, sharp shockwave rippled through the room. Applause erupted like thunder, a wall of sound and glittering champagne flutes celebrating an alliance sealed in corporate blood and social dominance. I didn't wait for the applause to peak. I turned on my heel, slipping away from the towering floral arrangement and walking swiftly toward the side service exit. My breath came short and shallow, the heavy silk of my dress feeling suddenly like a cage. I pushed open the heavy glass fire door, stepping out into the cool, shadowed perimeter of th
*POV Derby* The crystal chandelier above the grand ballroom of the Greenwich estate cast a blinding, diamond-sharp refraction across three hundred pairs of designer shoes, glittering silverware, and champagne flutes held by Manhattan’s most ruthless financial elites. The air was thick with the scent of expensive French perfume, roasted truffles, and the quiet, predatory hum of corporate diplomacy. Everywhere I looked, smiles were practiced, handshakes were calculated, and every single conversation was weighed against tomorrow morning's stock opening. I stood near the far marble pillar, half-hidden behind a towering floral arrangement of white hydrangeas, holding a flute of sparkling water I hadn't touched. My fingers were wrapped so tightly around the crystal stem that my knuckles had turned pure white. On the elevated mahogany stage at the center of the room, the master of ceremonies adjusted his microphone, his voice booming smoothly through the surround speakers. "Ladies and
*POV Derby* The crystal chandeliers of the Greenwich ballroom threw a brilliant, amber light over rows of polished mahogany tables, expensive silverware, and hundreds of guests dressed in high-end evening wear. I stood near the edge of the east gallery, holding a flute of sparkling water that I had barely touched. My dark velvet dress felt heavier than it had when I zipped it up in front of my apartment mirror, the weight of the room pressing against my shoulders with every breath. Everywhere I looked, figures in tailored tuxedos and designer gowns were mingling under the gaze of portraits depicting generations of Vasquez patriarchs. "I have to admit, Derby, I didn't think you’d actually show up tonight." The voice was smooth, melodic, and entirely devoid of heat. I turned my head. Tamara Hayden was standing two feet away, holding a glass of champagne with casual elegance. Her silver-and-white silk gown caught the amber light of the chandeliers, making her look less like a corpor
-POV Derby I spent most of Thursday morning pretending my life hadn’t become significantly more complicated over the course of a single night. By the time I slipped into a seat near the back of the conference room, my presentation was already open on my laptop. The slides waited patiently on the s
-POV Derby By Monday I’d almost convinced myself it was over. Not in some dramatic way. Just… closed. Like shutting a tab you left open too long and deciding not to open it again. I made coffee that tasted like nothing. Went to work. Answered emails acting like the weekend had never happened,
-POV Derby The first thing that brought me back to reality wasn’t the blinding sunlight cutting through the heavy velvet drapes. It was the sheer, suffocating quiet of the room. I blinked my eyes open, my brain taking a messy five seconds to remember exactly where I was. Penthouse suite. The Four
-POV Derby Somewhere between freezing under Jordan Vasquez’s heavy gaze in the conference room and stepping into the private executive elevator, my brain completely short-circuited. I’d already decided to go upstairs. The rest was me desperately acting like this was still up for debate. The ride t







