MasukElena took a slow, deep breath. She turned her head slightly to look at the two security guards who were standing nearby, hovering nervously. "Officers," Elena called out, her voice filled with absolute authority.The two guards immediately stepped forward, standing at attention. "Yes, Ms. Elena?" "Ms. Carnegie no longer holds any executive position in this company," Elena explained, keeping her eyes fixed on Vivienne. "She does not have an employee badge, and she has bypassed our security gates illegally. She is currently trespassing on private corporate property. Please escort her out of the building immediately."Vivienne’s jaw dropped. Her eyes looked like they might pop out of her head. "What? How dare you! Don't you dare touch me!" she screamed as the two large guards stepped up to her sides. "Please step this way, Ms. Carnegie," the first guard said, his voice firm now that he had a direct order from the new boss. He reached out and placed a hand firmly under Vivienne's elbo
Before Elena could answer Julian, the heavy double doors of the executive suite suddenly burst open with a loud slam.Elena jumped slightly in her seat, her hand flying to her chest. Julian instantly stepped in front of her, his body shielding her from the doorway. His jaw tightened as he looked toward the entrance.It was Marcus. Right now, his tie was slightly crooked, and he was breathing heavily as if he had just run a long distance."Mr. Vane, Ms. Elena," Marcus said, his voice urgent. "You need to come downstairs immediately. Vivienne Carnegie is on the ground floor. She is causing a massive scene in the main lobby."Elena stood up from the mahogany desk, her fingers leaving the worn leather of her father's journal. "Vivienne? What is she doing here? The guards shouldn't have even let her past the outer gates.""She bypassed the gates by driving her sports car right behind a delivery truck," Marcus explained, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "She is furious. She has bee
ELENA’s POV Back in the executive suite, the safe specialist, a quiet, elderly man was packing his tools back into a small canvas bag. He had spent the last twenty minutes using a specialized stethoscope against the steel door, listening to the clicks of the internal wheels.With a loud, heavy clunk, the handle of the old safe finally turned."There you go, Mr. Vane," He said, wiping his brow with a handkerchief. "Old mechanical beauty. Haven't seen one of these since the nineties. It’s completely unlocked.""Thank you. Marcus will handle your payment downstairs," Julian said, nodding toward the door.As soon as the specialist left the room, Julian walked over to the open safe. I stepped up right beside him, my breath catching in my throat. The inside of the safe was small, lined with faded green velvet. I didn’t know what I was expecting but there were no stacks of cash or glittering diamonds inside. Instead, there were three thick, leather-bound books, their covers dusty and worn
ELENA’s POV The air inside the top-floor executive suite felt heavy and still, like a room that had been locked away for a century.I stood just inside the doorway, my hands resting flat against the cool, dark wood of the double doors."Are you alright?" Julian’s voice was a low, steady rumble behind me.I turned my head slightly, looking at him. He had taken off his dark suit jacket, draping it neatly over the back of one of the leather visitor chairs. His white dress shirt was crisp, the top button undone, giving him a look that was relaxed but entirely in control. His dark eyes were fixed on me, filled with a quiet warmth that always managed to steady my racing heart."It just feels strange," I whispered, walking slowly toward the center of the massive room. My heels clicked softly against the polished marble border before being muffled by the thick, plush rug. "I spent so many years thinking I didn't belong in a place like this. Now, I’m sitting in the chair.""You belong here mo
ELENA’s POV The black SUV pulled up to the main gates of the harbor. This was the heart of the shipping company that my mother, Clara, had helped build.Through the tinted glass of the car window, I could see rows and rows of massive metal shipping containers stacked high like giant building blocks. In the distance, three enormous cargo ships were tied to the stone docks. Their great iron hulls were stained with salt and rust from the deep ocean.My heart was beating fast against my ribs. Yesterday, Susan Carnegie had been arrested for stealing millions of dollars from this very company. The news had spread like wildfire. I knew the people who worked here, the crane operators, the truck drivers, and the ship captains must be terrified about losing their jobs.Julian sat next to me on the leather seat. He reached over and placed his hand over mine. His palm was warm and steady, instantly calming the shaking in my fingers. "You look beautiful, Elena," Julian said softly. He was wearin
ELENA’s POV The golden morning light was just starting to peek through the heavy, dark glass of the windows when I woke up. I was lying in the middle of the massive bed, completely warm and content. To my left, little Leo was still fast asleep, his small mouth slightly open as he clutched his teddy bear. To my right, Julian’s side of the bed was empty, but the sheets were still warm.I stretched my arms and quietly sat up, careful not to wake my son. I wrapped myself in a soft white robe and walked out into the main living room.Julian was standing by the kitchen island, holding a white ceramic mug of black coffee. He had already showered, and his dark hair was slightly damp. He was wearing a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, looking incredibly handsome and calm. When he heard my footsteps, he looked up, and that familiar, warm smile instantly spread across his face."Good morning, Elena," he said, his deep voice smooth and quiet in the early air. He set h
Elena’s POVThe morning sun was just starting to peek through the large kitchen windows, casting a warm, golden light across the clean white counters. The house was finally peaceful. The loud reporters were gone from the front steps, and the terrible sirens had stopped. I stood by the stove, slowl
The white sedan squealed around a sharp corner and came to a sudden stop in front of a small, faded brick house. This house was miles away from the wealthy side of the city. There were no flashing cameras here, and no tall iron gates. It was a simple, middle-class neighborhood. Mark jammed the c
Mark looked around the driveway, and his chest felt completely tight. The world was spinning out of his control. Sergeant Miller was staring at him with dark, angry eyes, holding the papers that proved everything. Mrs. Irene was standing on the steps, looking at him with deep disgust. Behind the h
Elena’s POVThe heavy wooden front doors of the mansion felt like the gates of a prison as I stepped through them. The morning air hit my face, but it didn't feel fresh. It felt heavy and hot. I squeezed Leo as tight as I could against my chest. His small arms were locked around my neck, his finge







