LOGINJason eased the Porsche to a stop beneath the covered executive entrance, slamming on the brakes harder than necessary. He hadn't even fully stopped before the scene outside registered.There were journalists behind the security barriers. Financial correspondents. Local TV crews. Microphones. Reporters calling his name and photographers firing off shots.The sight of them deepened the scowl on his face. Before he'd even killed the engine, one of the valet attendants was already approaching, two security officers behind him. They created a buffer between the car and the press.“Morning, Mr. Knight."Jason tossed the keys to the valet, not bothering with his usual response. “Garage.”“Yes, sir.” The attendant slipped behind the wheel as Jason stepped out.A security officer immediately positioned himself between Jason and the press while the other held the line. Ethan walked out from the lobby then, a frown etched onto his face."There's a tiny problem, boss," Ethan said the moment he g
Why was everyone staring at her?It all felt like a chilling repeat of the past few weeks. Reporting to work and feeling like a specimen on a slide, held in place by stage clips and prodded from all angles. Except there was something different this time.The lights weren't as harsh."The lady of the hour," Abigail beamed the second she got to the station. Anna's brows pulled tighter."What's going on, Abby?"Abigail leaned in, her voice lowering. "Does Knight Innovations have an internship program? Because sign me up.""What?""Anna! You're here."Anna turned toward the voice to find Sierra, charts in hand."What's going on, Sierra?"Sierra leaned in and whispered. "Your brother-in-law is here."Anna froze. But, Sierra wasn't done."I think he's in the director's office. Apparently, people have been suspicious of your relationship since he insisted on being treated by you.”"Our relationship?" Anna managed to choke out.Sierra nodded. "The rumor going around is that he's here to deman
Anna blinked, then pulled her lip between her teeth, realizing what she'd let out in the vulnerability of the moment.“Nothing. I didn't mention he said anything?”Leah didn't look fazed. “Anna.”“He really didn't—”“Don't ‘he didn't’ me, girl. Your ass just stood there and told me you're afraid he wants the baby and not you. So imma ask again." Leah's voice hardened, “What did Jason Knight say to you?”"He wants access to the baby."Leah scoffed like that was the most outrageous thing she'd ever heard. "There ain't even no baby yet. What—he wants to sing lullabies while rubbing your stomach?"Before Anna could stop herself, a mental image formed in her head—her, with a baby bump, lying on the swing seat on the second balcony of Jason's Villa, her legs on his lap as he rubbed her stomach and sang a lullaby. Leah snapped her fingers in front of her and Anna jerked back, blinking back into focus.She sighed the moment she saw the look on Leah's face. "It doesn't matter what he wants any
'I had a miscarriage.'The words hung between them. Anna sat frozen in place.For one strange second, everything in the room looked exactly the same—the rumpled sheets, the lamp throwing its soft light across the room—but nothing felt the same anymore.Anna's fingers tightened around the sheets.A miscarriage.Leah had said it so quietly, as though saying it softly could make it hurt less.Anna swallowed. Her mind was already reaching for questions. How far along? When? What happened? Had she needed a procedure? Had there been complications? Had the doctor said she couldn't carry another baby?The doctor in her wanted answers. The woman sitting beside her wanted to pull Leah into her arms and ask why she'd carried something this enormous alone.For once, Anna didn't know which one Leah needed.“Leah…” Her voice cracked on the name.Leah looked down at her hands. "I-I didn't know how to tell you. Or Gideon. Or anyone else for that matter. That was why I left immediately after Elena and
Anna sighed contentedly as she stepped out from the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her head. Cold air from the air-conditioning brushed against her skin through the open robe.She stifled a yawn, stopping as she noticed the tray of food on the bedside table. Her eyes darted to the door immediately as if the person who'd brought it would still be thereShe walked cautiously over to it and touched it. It was hot.Maybe the staff had brought it in while she was bathing?Voices drifted in through the windows she'd pushed open earlier, carrying with them the quiet sounds of the grounds. She padded over, pushed the curtain aside. Jason stood near the outdoor kitchen with Cole, speaking to one of the staff. Her fingers tightened around the curtain.What were they doing out there?Another staff member walked out, joining them at the the kitchen. She stopped close to Jason and said something. Jason's head tilted, listening. Then the woman glanced toward the house.Jason's gaze lifted w
Jason hadn't denied it.She'd told him he hated her and he hadn't denied it. He'd simply shrugged. Yet he wanted her to move in with him?Was that his new way of torturing her?Because I know what it's like to grow up wondering whether your father wanted you. I won't do that to my child.He wasn't doing this because he suddenly wanted her. At least that's what she told herself. He was doing it because he refused to become his father. She hated that her heart had skipped at his determination to do better than his father. She respected it. Maybe more than she wanted to admit.She understood him, and she hated that she did. Because understanding Jason Knight made it harder to forget him. And she'd finally been doing a decent job of convincing herself she could.But where did that leave her?Did he want the mother of his child or just his child? Did he want a family—or was he simply terrified of repeating his father's mistake?Anna pushed open the glass door and came to an abrupt stop at
The room was graveyard quiet, all eyes trained on them. Anna could feel the prickling gazes down her back but paid them no heed, her eyes fixed on Jason's back. Cole shook his head. “This is not the time nor the place, Anna. You should…” Jason turned around then, and everything faded into the bac
Anna's gaze snapped to the blonde woman, her brows furrowing. Darling? Did they know each other? Her eyes returned to Jason to find him still looking at her. Her lips twitched and she took a step forward; the woman had to be a colleague or one of those women who flirted with powerful men, hopin
Jason and Cole didn’t make it back until Jason was being called to the stage. Whatever had happened between them had drawn a visible line—Cole was rigid, unreadable, his easy smile gone; Jason tightly controlled in a way Anna had never seen before.Anna watched as he walked up to the podium with th
The car's engine was long cold, time stretching since Jason had parked in front of Anna's apartment building. His leg bounced beneath the steering wheel, sharp and unforgiving, as if punishing him for still being there. He told himself to stop but it didn't. If anything, his heel thudded faster on







