LOGIN“Who,” Kael Blackwood asked coolly, his voice slicing through the silence of the car like a blade drawn from velvet, “gave you the permission to parade around with my financial director?”My eyes widened.For a second, I genuinely thought I had heard him wrong.“What?”The word escaped before I could stop it.But Kael did not even look at me.His gaze remained fixed ahead, sharp and unreadable, as though he had merely stated a fact rather than uttered something utterly absurd.“Drive.”The command came cold.Immediate.The driver obeyed instantly.The car rolled forward smoothly, but my thoughts did anything but.Parade around?With Jared?My brows knotted together as I turned toward him in disbelief.Was he serious?I opened my mouth to argue—to ask what exactly he meant by that outrageous accusation—but before I could utter another syllable, the car slowed again.And then stopped.I blinked.Already?Through the tinted windows I could now see the grand entrance of the venue glowing
The car slowed.Then stopped.Abruptly.The slight jerk pulled me out of my thoughts as my brows furrowed, my fingers instinctively tightening around the edge of my folder.“What happened?” I asked, turning slightly toward Jared.He didn’t answer immediately.Instead, his gaze remained fixed ahead, his jaw tightening just a fraction before he nodded forward.“Look.”I followed his line of sight.And there it was.A sleek black car—impossible to miss.Parked a little ahead of the venue.Even from a distance, it carried a presence that was… unmistakable.My stomach dipped.Of course.Before I could process it further, another car door slammed open from the vehicle ahead, and a man stepped out quickly—recognisable almost instantly.The CFO.He moved with urgency, his polished shoes clicking against the pavement as he approached our car.Jared lowered the window before I could.“Ms Hale,” the CFO said, slightly breathless but composed enough to maintain professionalism. “Alpha has request
Author’s POVThey stepped out of the building together, the quiet, curated elegance of the space fading into the more functional hum of the building below. The shift was subtle, but real—the kind that reminded everyone that what existed upstairs was reserved, controlled, and not easily accessed.Nike walked ahead, relaxed as always, while Jayden moved beside him, his presence calm but watchful. A step behind them, Liora followed, her posture straight, hands loosely held in front of her, every inch the composed professional she had trained herself to be.And then—Kael.He stood a little ahead, already engaged in conversation with the CFO, a file in his hand, his tone low and precise. He didn’t need to raise his voice. Authority sat naturally on him, woven into every word, every pause.Behind him stood Jared.The moment Jared’s eyes landed on Liora, he froze.For a heartbeat, he simply stared.Then he pushed himself forward, leaving his place behind Kael without hesitation, walking str
The minute my vision fell on her silhouette, something in me stilled—and then unraveled.Desire didn’t build. It struck. Sharp. Immediate. Unforgiving.My eyes followed without permission.Every curve. Every subtle shimmer of that fabric against her skin. The way the dress clung to her like it had been made for her and no one else.I couldn’t look away.Didn’t want to.And worse—I didn’t try.That dress…My jaw tightened.That fabric was a lucky bastard.Touching her like it belonged there. Tracing lines I had no right to even think about. Settling against her skin in ways that made something dark and possessive rise in my chest.A slow breath left me, controlled, but not calm.She was a vision.No—she was a problem.And all I could think about was tearing that perfection apart just to see what lay beneath it. No barriers. No restraint.No.I shut it down instantly.You cannot afford that.Not with her.Not ever.“Huh… weak.”Kilian’s voice echoed in my head, amused, sharp, entirely t
The car slowed.I looked up instinctively.We had stopped.I blinked as I looked out the window.In front of us stood a towering glass-fronted building, its name displayed in clean, bold lettering.BW.A Blackwood (BW) flagship.My brows lifted slightly.Of course.I had heard about it. Everyone had. A luxury fashion label under the Blackwood Group—favored by celebrities, influencers, the elite crowd. The kind of place where a single piece could cost more than a year’s salary for most people.And now—I was here.The door opened.I stepped out quickly, adjusting my posture without thinking.By the time I turned—Kael was already out, the files neatly folded in his hand.Effortless.Composed.Like nothing about the last hour had happened.I fell into step behind him.Instinctively.Maintaining distance.Maintaining form.A group of managers rushed forward to receive him, their movements quick, respectful, almost… rehearsed.“Sir.”“Good evening, sir.”He acknowledged them with the slig
Kael stepped out of the building without a word, and I followed, matching his pace almost instinctively. The evening air felt different after everything that had just happened—quieter, heavier, like the world hadn’t quite caught up yet.The car waiting outside caught my attention immediately.A Mercedes-Benz S-Class.Even standing still, it carried a presence. Sleek black finish, polished to perfection, the kind of car you don’t just own—you arrive in. My steps slowed for half a second, just enough for me to take it in.I had always loved cars like this.Not in a loud, showy way—but as a goal. A quiet promise to myself. One day, I’d build something of my own, something big enough that I wouldn’t just admire from the outside.One day, I’d drive one.Kael opened the door and slid in without breaking stride, like it was nothing, like this was just another part of his routine.I snapped out of my thoughts and walked to the other side, reaching for the front passenger door.“Come back.”Hi
Liora slowly guided Tessa down the wide staircase of the hotel lobby. The music from the banquet hall above had softened into a distant hum, but the tension of the night still clung to them like heavy air after a storm.Tessa’s steps were slow.Her shoulders were slumped, and her eyes were still sw
The night air was cool. Jayden stepped out onto the vast terrace, the moon hanging high above the city. Silver light washed over the marble floor and the quiet garden below. He walked straight to the railing. His hands gripped the cold stone edge as he leaned forward, trying to steady the storm
The night had grown deep by the time **Liora** returned to the pack house.The large stone corridors were dimly lit, soft yellow lamps casting long shadows across the polished floors. Most of the household had already finished dinner.She pushed the heavy front door open carefully, trying not to ma
The crowd outside the auditorium slowly began to disperse.Students still congratulated Liora as they walked past her, but the excitement of the competition was fading into the regular buzz of campus life.Liora stepped down the stone stairs of the university building quietly.The evening sun had b







