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CIARAN

Penulis: Verena
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-02 02:13:17

Anger and disappointment. That about sums up my father's emotions toward me.

He sits across from me, behind the massive oak desk in his office, his posture rigid, his fingers curled around a crystal tumbler filled with amber liquid. His dark eyes—identical to mine—are narrowed in my direction, scrutinizing me like I'm a fucking disappointment.

I just told him the news. Valente and Moreau are partnering for the Consortium project. And now, I'm waiting for the explosion, for him to snap and tell me this isn't happening, that I've fucked up beyond repair.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he hisses, his deep voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

I don't move. I don't blink. I know better than to run my mouth when he's like this.

His fury mounts, his lips curling in disdain. "You damn well know our history with the Moreaus, and yet you went ahead and did something that'll make me lose my fucking head in shame. The Consortium name wasn't necessa
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  • RUIN ME TENDER    ISLA

    Before the silence grows heavy, Mom pipes in, her tone light and hopeful, “We should go out for dinner tonight. Somewhere nice. Celebrate you being here.”I look up, caught off guard by the sudden shift, but I smile, softening. “That’s nice.”She returns the smile, a little proud, a little wistful. Dad is already pulling out his phone. “I’ll make the reservations then. I know just the place.”Mom turns to me, her eyes gentle. “Don’t exhaust yourself so much, Isla. You’re still young. There’s time.”Her voice trails as she adds quietly, “Mathieu worked too hard too…”Her eyes drift to the floor, and something in her expression darkens, fades. A memory flashes behind her gaze like the after-image of a flame.I tense. My brother’s name always draws a shadow in the room—like a ghost still sitting in the corner, waiting for someone to acknowledge him.I can’t let her go there. Not again. If she thinks about Mathieu, she’ll fall too deep into it. And she won’t know how to climb back.So I s

  • RUIN ME TENDER    ISLA

    I check my watch—8:03 AM. Three minutes past eight, and still no sign of Ciaran Valente. I press my lips together, inhaling slowly as I adjust my sunglasses. I had been very clear in my email—sharp at eight. Apparently, the ruthless CEO of Valente Corporation has a flexible definition of punctuality. Sighing, I glance down at my phone, skimming through my emails while I wait. There’s still so much to get done. I need to finish the site assessment by eleven so I can head to my parents’ house. It’s the weekend, and they’ve been asking me to visit. I haven’t seen them in a month, so it’s only fair. Especially since I’ll be flying to Florida tomorrow for a week-long business trip. Today is my only chance. My gaze lifts from the screen to scan the historical site in front of me. The old monument, weathered and crumbling, stands as a reminder of the past. It’s located in Battery Park, Manhattan, just a twenty-minute drive from my company. The project’s blueprint involves incorpora

  • RUIN ME TENDER    CIARAN

    The dining table is covered with an obscene amount of food, like we're hosting a fucking banquet instead of just two people sitting across from each other in stifling silence. Fresh oysters on a bed of crushed ice. Lobster thermidor, its golden crust glistening under the chandelier light. Seared scallops drizzled with truffle butter. Wagyu steak, cooked to perfection, sliced thin. A bottle of Château Margaux sits between us, the deep red of the wine almost mocking in its elegance. It's all high-end, perfectly curated by Maria, but none of it makes me hungry. I pull out my chair at the far end of the table, settling in as my father sits opposite me. His blazer is draped over the chair behind him, his brooding expression set in stone, the same fucking look he always wears like it's a second skin. Maria moves around the table, serving the food. No one else is allowed to do it. She's been in charge of this house since before I could walk, and even now, she's the only person my fath

  • RUIN ME TENDER    CIARAN

    Fuck.I should've walked away the moment she ran that pretty mouth of hers.But Isla Moreau is a goddamn menace—one that knows exactly how to test me.The way she tilts her chin in defiance, her pulse fluttering beneath my fingers, drives something sharp and volatile through me. A challenge. One I'm dangerously close to accepting.Her eyes, blue and fucking daring, hold mine like she's just as willing to play this game.She has no fucking idea.I tighten my grip—just enough to feel the slight hitch in her breath. Not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her exactly who she's provoking."Do you really want to find out?" I murmur, my voice low, taunting.She doesn't back down.Of course, she doesn't.Her lips part slightly, her breathing uneven, and for a split second, I wonder what kind of sounds she'd make if I took this further. If I leaned in, if I bit that sharp little tongue of hers just to shut her up.I exhale through my nose, forcing myself to pull back before I do something st

  • RUIN ME TENDER    ISLA

    Ciaran Valente looks around my office like he's examining an artifact in a museum, his gaze sharp, assessing. His eyes move over the space, from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the minimalist shelves and the sleek, white furniture that fills the room. I sit on the pristine couch and gesture for him to do the same.He takes his seat across from me, his dark suit stretching over the white cushion in a way that looks almost out of place. Like a stain, I think, though I keep the thought to myself."Nice office," he says, voice lazy, edged with something that could pass as sarcasm.I don't bother responding.Instead, I clear my throat, placing the document for the Consortium Project on the glass table between us. The construction is set to take place in Washington, D.C., meaning we'll need to make a trip for on-site assessments. But before that, we need to align on the fundamental aspects.I rise from my seat, walking over to my desk to grab the blueprint. I feel his eyes on me the entire

  • RUIN ME TENDER    ISLA

    Today is the day.A Valente will step foot inside Moreau Enterprise.Ciaran Valente.My enemy. My nemesis. And the very thought of him inside my space makes my skin crawl.I stand by the floor-length window, arms crossed, staring out at the city skyline, but my mind is anywhere but peaceful. The man who has annoyed me, challenged me, and made me want to throw things in frustration will soon be here."You're going to bore a hole in the glass," Andy jokes, stepping inside my office.I blink, dragging my attention away from the window to find him grinning.He leans against the edge of my desk, arms crossed, his eyes filled with nothing but amusement. "It's a historical day."I frown, unimpressed. "It's just a meeting."Andy whistles, shaking his head. "Just a meeting? Boss, do you know how active everyone is today? The employees are working as if the president is visiting. Hell, even the janitors went the extra mile. The whole building is spotless."I narrow my eyes. "And?"He smirks. "A

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