LOGINhiiii it’s me… thank you everyone for reading till this point… appreciate your support, gems, reviews and comments. Shout to angela and shiyanne; thank you for the gifts :)
Victoria had no choice. With a gun pressed against her spine and another pointed at her four year old son, she walked down the secluded pine path toward the eastern park exit. A silver, unmarked van with dark tinted windows was parked along the curb in a no-parking zone, its engine idling quietly. The side sliding door was already pushed wide open. The guard holding Toby stepped into the van first, pulling the crying boy inside. "Toby!" Victoria cried out softly, rushing in right behind him. Victor stepped into the vehicle last, grabbing the handle and sliding the heavy door shut with a sharp, heavy CLACK. Inside the van, it was completely dark except for the dim streetlights passing overhead through the tinted windows. The driver immediately slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and the van surged forward, tires screeching as it turned down a quiet side street and vanished into the city traffic. Victor sat on the bench seat opposite Victoria, resting his hands on his knees. He lo
The morning air at the waterfront park was crisp and clean, blowing soft ripples across the surface of the blue water. Seagulls circled overhead, calling out into the clear sky, while families walked along the paved stone paths. Victoria sat on a bench near the playground, holding a warm paper cup of tea in both hands. She was wearing a simple coat and dark jeans, her hair pulled back into a casual ponytail. For the first time in weeks, the heavy knot of fear in her chest had loosened just a little bit.A few yards away, Toby was running across the grass, laughing loudly as he chased a small grey pigeon. His tiny sneakers kicked up bits of green lawn as he darted back and forth, completely unaware of the dangerous storm swirling around his family. "Look, Mommy! I almost caught it!" Toby shouted, turning back to wave at her with a massive grin on his face. Victoria couldn't help but smile, setting her tea cup down on the bench. "You were very close, Toby! But I think the bird is a
Five minutes later, Julian and Elena walked down the quiet, carpeted hallway of the twentieth floor. This floor was reserved strictly for board members and executive guests. It was lined with dark wood paneling, quiet glass offices, and soft gold lighting.They reached the doors of the private board lounge. He turned the metal handle and pushed the door open.Inside, the room was dimly lit. A large leather sofa sat near a floor to ceiling glass window overlooking the city street below. On the coffee table rested a crystal glass half filled with scotch and a gold pen.Sitting on the sofa, holding his head in his hands, was Nathan. He was a man in his late sixties, with thin grey hair, a thick mustache, and an expensive navy blue suit. He looked old, frail, and terribly tired.When the door opened, he jumped slightly, looking up with wide, nervous eyes. When he saw Julian and Elena standing in the doorway, all the color drained instantly from his face."Julian..." Nathan stammered, his
The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the glass skyscrapers of the city.Julian stood in front of the television screen mounted on his office wall, holding a stone-cold cup of coffee. His eyes were fixed on the ticker tape scrolling along the bottom of the news station.BREAKING NEWS: VANE ENTERPRISES ACCUSED OF MASSIVE FINANCIAL FRAUD. LEAKED DOCUMENTS SHOW OVER $300 MILLION IN HIDDEN DEBT."It's everywhere," Marcus said, stepping into the room with his phone pressed against his ear. He looked like he hadn't slept in three days. "The Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the local morning news... whoever leaked these files sent them to every major news outlet simultaneously at four in the morning."Julian didn't say a word. He took a slow sip of his cold coffee and stared at the screen. Below the main headline, the stock ticker showed Vane Enterprises' stock price dropping like a heavy stone into deep water. Down twelve percent before the market had even officially open
Down near the marina, far away from the bright lights of the city center, sat an old, grey warehouse. To anyone passing by on the street, it looked like an abandoned storage building for old boat parts and rust-covered shipping containers.Inside the back of the warehouse, however, was a small, hidden apartment. It had no windows, plain concrete walls, and a single metal door secured with a heavy deadbolt.Victor Montenegro sat at a wooden table in the middle of the room. A single laptop was open in front of him, casting a cold, blue glow across his sharp face. He was wearing a dark jacket, and his hair was slightly messy, but his eyes were completely calm and calculating.A heavy glass of whiskey sat next to his laptop, untouched.The heavy metal door unlocked with a sharp click, and Paul stepped into the room. He looked nervous, his eyes darting around the room before he pulled a chair out and sat down opposite Victor."I just came back from the docks," Paul said, dropping his voice
The morning sun shone bright over the Vane family estate. The dark clouds from the night before were completely gone, leaving behind a clear blue sky.Inside the main dining room, Julian sat at the head of the long table with his laptop open in front of him. He was wearing a sharp grey suit, sipping black coffee as his fingers flew across the keyboard. Elena sat across from him, reviewing legal documents on her tablet.Neither of them had mentioned the fact that they had shared a bed the night before. They had woken up early, slipped into their professional routines, and focused entirely on the crisis at hand.The heavy double doors of the dining room opened, and Frank walked in, followed closely by Victoria.Victoria looked much better than she had at the docks. She was wearing a simple blue sweater and black pants. Though she had dark circles under her eyes, her face lit up the moment she saw her son running into the hallway with Leo."Mommy!" Toby shouted, charging down the hall as
Julian Vane stepped out. He wasn't in a hundred thousand dollar suit surprisingly. He wore a simple black sweater that hugged his broad shoulders and dark jeans. He looked less like a CEO and more like a predator out for a stroll. But as he looked at me standing there in the middle of the parking
ELENA’s POV The morning after the gala, the sun felt too bright. It felt like it was poking through the heavy curtains of our bedroom. My head still throbbed. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Julian Vane’s face. I saw the way he looked at me, like he owned the air I was breathing.I rolled over
The museum was filled with the sound of a hundred violins, but to me, it sounded like a funeral.Every step I took in my high heels felt like I was walking on fire. My stomach was in knots, not just from the nerves, but from the fear I felt. In my mind, I felt like I was already showing. I felt li
The drive home was the quietest thirty minutes of my life. The night still didn’t feel real. Every time I shifted in the driver’s seat, I could still remember the touch of his hands on my waist. Five thousand dollars. I thought to myself. I paid five thousand dollars to feel alive again. I







