STACEYI swirled the amber liquid in my glass, watching the golden city lights twinkle through the penthouse window. The whisky burned its way down my throat, but the satisfaction of my recent acquisition burned hotter. I had worked too hard to let anyone get in my way, not Shawna, not anyone.As I tilted the glass for another sip, a muffled voice dragged me back to reality.“Stacey, please… let me go. You’ve already taken my company. What more do you want from me?”I smirked, turning slowly to face him. The man tied to the chair looked pathetic, his once-impeccable suit now crumpled and stained. Sweat beaded on his pale forehead, and his eyes flitted around the room like a mouse trapped in a cage.I took a deliberate step toward him, savoring the way he flinched. “What more do I want?” I repeated, my voice dripping with mockery. “Darling, do you think this is about your sad little company? You insult me.”His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “I… I don’t understand. I gave you ever
CARAThe whisky burned going down, but the conversation with Stacey burned even more. I leaned back in the plush chair, swirling my glass, and smirked at my sister. Stacey always had this cool, calculating vibe that made me feel both impressed and a little uneasy.“So, what’s the next move?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I leaned back in my chair, cradling the glass of whisky in my hand. “You’ve got Shawna wrapped around your finger. Spill it—what’s the plan?”Stacey leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, her lips curling into that sly smile of hers. The kind that made you nervous even when you were on her side. “It’s enough that they don’t know we’re sisters,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “That alone gives us the element of surprise.”I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve got a point. Can you imagine their faces if they found out? Shawna would lose her mind.” I sipped my drink, still chuckling. “She thinks she’s so clever. Little does she know, she’s playing right into
STACEYThe mall wasn’t exactly my sanctuary, but when stress weighed me down, retail therapy worked wonders. And today, Kyle and his evasive nonsense had pushed me to my limit. I needed to clear my head, and browsing the high-end stores seemed like the perfect distraction.I was strolling past the luxury children’s section when I spotted her. Shawna. Of all the people to run into when I was already in a bad mood. She was with her kids, the three of them giggling and holding up clothes as though they had all the time and money in the world. The sight of her gratingly smug face turned my irritation into full-blown annoyance.“Shawna,” I called out, stepping into their line of sight. My heels clicked against the polished floor with precision, each sound echoing through the luxurious mall.Her head snapped up, and the moment she saw me, her smile disappeared faster than I’d expected. “Stacey,” she replied, her voice clipped and her forced smile barely masking her irritation.“What a surpr
SHAWNACara placed the document neatly on my desk, her calm and collected energy somehow grounding me in the middle of this hectic morning. “This is everything you need to finalize the deal with Kyle,” she said smoothly, her tone steady like always.I nodded, letting out a long breath. “Thanks, Cara. Let me go through it, and I’ll let you know if I need anything.”She gave a quick nod and turned to leave, her efficiency unmatched. But before she could even reach the door, it burst open so suddenly it made both of us jump.Kyle strode in, his presence loud and overbearing as always. He flashed one of those fake, overconfident grins, aimed right at Cara like he was some kind of superstar.“Cara,” he greeted her, his voice dripping with that faux charm he thought was so irresistible.Cara, to her credit, didn’t flinch. She looked at him with her usual unreadable expression, her professional mask firmly in place. “Mr. Kyle,” she said curtly, offering a polite nod before gliding out of the
SHAWNAKyle’s words lingered like smoke in the air, curling into every corner of my thoughts. “A mole?” I repeated, disbelief clinging to my voice. “You’re serious?”Kyle nodded, his face dark and serious. “Think about it, Shawna. How else could Stacey have known? Someone’s feeding her information. Someone close to you.”I rubbed my temples, the idea sending a sharp pang of unease through me. “This is ridiculous. We’ve been careful.”“Careful?” Kyle snorted, pushing off the wall to pace the room. “Stacey didn’t just magically know about the deal. It didn’t come from thin air.”I stared at him, my mind racing. “Okay, fine. Let’s say you’re right. Who? Who do you think it is?”Kyle stopped pacing and faced me, his arms crossed and his gaze hard. “Let’s start with the basics. Who knew about our deal?”I frowned, counting on my fingers. “You, me, Cara, Damien, and Eugene. That’s it.”Kyle’s jaw worked as he processed the names. “Eugene’s out. She wouldn’t sell herself out. That leaves Car
SHAWNAI stood in the middle of the room, rubbing my temples as the tension built like a storm ready to burst. “I can’t do this anymore,” I said, my voice louder than I intended. “Eugene, you need to leave. Take your mother and go somewhere safe, but you can’t stay here.”Eugene’s arms were crossed, her jaw set in that stubborn way I knew all too well. Her mother stood just behind her, the same defiance etched into her face.“We’re not going anywhere,” Eugene said flatly. “Stacey’s bluffing. She won’t do anything.”I stared at Eugene, my patience fraying at the edges. “This isn’t up for debate,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “You can’t just stick around and hope for the best. Stacey doesn’t make empty threats.”Eugene shrugged, her arms still crossed as if to physically block out my reasoning. “She’s all talk. I’ve dealt with her type before.”“That’s exactly the problem!” I shot back, my voice rising. “You think you’ve got her figured out, but she’s already crossed lines th
SHAWNAEugene paced the room, her steps erratic, like she was teetering on the edge of an explosion. Her movements mirrored the chaos that seemed to be brewing in her mind. Her mother, rooted by the door with her arms firmly crossed, didn’t move a muscle. She was like a mirror image of Eugene, the same fiery determination written all over her face.“That’s it. We’re leaving,” Eugene declared, her voice sharp and cutting through the room like a blade. She didn’t even flinch as she said it. “And you’re not calling the cops about it, Shawna.”I blinked, stunned by her nerve. My anger flared, bubbling up from deep inside me. I felt the heat rising in my chest, threatening to spill over. “Excuse me?” I said, my voice rising. “You don’t get to dictate what I do. Not after everything you’ve done.”Eugene stopped pacing and turned to face me, her jaw set in defiance. “I’m not sticking around for Stacey to come after me again. I’m done with this place, Shawna.”I crossed my arms, trying to ste
DAMIENI stared at the glowing screen of my phone, Stacey’s name flashing like a warning sign. It wasn’t just a call—it was a video call. My thumb hovered over the screen. Pick up, or don’t pick up? The thought of her smirking face staring at me through the camera made my stomach churn. I pressed the red button to hang up and immediately switched to an audio call, hoping to avoid whatever chaos she had in store.“Hello?” I answered, keeping my tone neutral, like I hadn’t just dodged her video call.“Damien!” Stacey’s voice came through, sugary sweet but laced with mischief. “What’s with the audio? You’re avoiding me already?”I cleared my throat. “Nah, I’m, uh… in the shower.” I lied through my teeth, hoping it would be enough to make her back off.Stacey snorted, her laughter filling my ear. “Oh, come on, Damien. Since when did modesty become your thing? We’ve seen each other naked before, haven’t we?”My jaw tightened, and I felt Shawna’s eyes on me. I glanced over, and sure enough,
BILLYI watched the door close behind Phoebe as she walked out of the room. My eyes followed her, but she didn’t even glance back. She just left.Jasper was standing beside me, arms folded, a puzzled look on his face. We both turned slowly to look at Winnie, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hands were clasped together, and she looked like she was trying not to say too much.“What’s going on?” I asked, breaking the silence first. “She just left us standing here.”“Yeah,” Jasper added. “She looked upset. And Ramon walked out earlier, looking like someone kicked his soul out. What’s happening?”Winnie looked up at us and sighed. “It’s… complicated.”Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how?”She stood up slowly, smoothing her shirt. “It’s something you should really hear from Phoebe.”“But she’s not exactly giving out answers right now, is she?” I said. “We’re her brothers. We have a right to know what’s happening with her.”“I agree,” Jasper added, nodding. “Did she r
PHOEBEThat morning, I woke up to the quiet hum of birds outside the window. For once, I didn’t have to rush to work or pretend everything was fine. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying not to think too much.The soft floral curtains swayed gently with the breeze, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. But that peace didn’t reach inside me. I felt like I was just floating, present in body, but far from okay. My eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, and my chest ached from holding in tears all night. Still, I stayed there, wrapped in Winnie’s guest blanket, letting the silence stretch as long as it could.Winnie had helped sneak me into her house late last night, and I was grateful."Are you going to tell your parents you’re here?" she asked softly that morning as she came into the room with a cup of warm tea.I sat up slowly, blinking away the crust from my eyes. "There’s no need. They’ll just ask questions I’m not ready to answer."She nodded and handed me the cup. The mug
RAMONI stood there for a long time, watching Phoebe walk away. Her words echoed in my head like a sharp slap: “I never want to see you again.” I wanted to chase after her, to make her listen, to explain everything. But I couldn’t. Not when I didn’t even have the answers she needed.Not when everything in my life was already broken beyond repair.Maybe she was right to leave. Maybe this was the best thing for her. That’s what I kept telling myself as I dragged myself back to my uncle’s house. It was late, and the street was too quiet, like even the night wanted nothing to do with me.When I stepped inside, Uncle Richard looked up from the couch. He was lounging like a king in his robe, glass of whiskey in hand, the flickering TV light painting shadows across his aging face. He looked too calm for someone who had just helped me destroy the only thing that ever made sense in my life.“Well, look who’s back,” he said, a slow smile curling at the corners of his lips. “I take it she finall
PHOEBEMy whole body was sore. My dress was torn, my wrists burned from the ropes, and my eyes stung from crying. I was huddled in a corner of that cold, dark room, shivering as the last of the men ran out like rats. One second, they were setting up cameras, saying the most disgusting things, and the next, they were gone. Just like that.It made no sense. None of it did. Why would they leave me? What scared them off?I was too weak to stand, too confused to think straight. My head was pounding, and I could still feel whatever they had drugged me with swirling through my system. My heart was racing so fast I could barely catch my breath. My legs were pulled to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, as if I could make myself disappear if I just curled up small enough.And then I heard footsteps.Fast. Heavy. Coming closer.My eyes shot to the door.I froze.My heart shot to my throat.Were they back?Did they forget something?Were they going to finish what they started?I couldn’t
RAMONI stood in that hotel lobby staring at the manager as if he'd just announced a death. Maybe he had. Because knowing Phoebe had been taken right from under my nose felt exactly like that, like something had died inside me."She was in your care!" I shouted. "She was supposed to wait for me here!""Mr. Ramon," the manager said nervously, "we thought it was authorized…""By whom? My uncle?" I spat. "You took her because my uncle said so? Did she look like she wanted to leave? Did you even ask her that?"No answer. Just that sick, silent guilt on their faces.I didn't waste another second. I turned on my heel, stormed out of the hotel, jumped into my car, and sped straight to Richard's estate. My hands gripped the wheel so hard they ached. My mind was a storm, rage, fear, regret. I kept seeing her face in my head, her smile, the way she had trusted me. And now...She was gone.When I got to the mansion, the guards at the gate crossed their arms."Sir, Mr. Richard said not to let you
RAMONI was dead tired by the time we finished the meeting at the company. My shirt clung to my back, and my head was pounding from all the numbers and back-to-back discussions. All I wanted was to check my phone and unwind, maybe see if Phoebe had texted.I reached into my pocket. Empty.My heart skipped.I checked the table, the chair, and even under the folder I’d used. Nothing.“Where the hell is my phone?” I muttered.My uncle, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “Lose something?”“My phone. I had it before we came here.”He shrugged. “Maybe you dropped it at the house.”I didn’t like how quick he was to answer.Still, I forced a calm nod and stood up. “I’ll go check.”The ride back to his place felt like it took forever. My mind was racing. Phoebe. Had she called? Texted? What if something was wrong? My gut wouldn’t calm down.When I got to the house, I tore through every room I had been in earlier. The living room. The guest room. Even the damn kitchen. Nothing.My uncle
PHOEBEThe hotel was breathtaking, with marble floors, chandeliers sparkling like stars, a scent of roses, and money hanging in the air. My heels clicked softly as I followed the receptionist, who wore a perfectly polite smile. My coat was still wrapped tightly around me, hiding the dress Winnie helped me pick out. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves.“He’ll be with you shortly,” the receptionist said sweetly, opening a suite door for me. “Please, get comfortable. There are refreshments inside. Make yourself at home.”I gave a shy nod. “Thank you.”The door shut behind me.The suite was luxurious, with soft couches, a large table with drinks and fruit, and dim romantic lighting. I let out a small breath. “Wow…”I walked slowly to the table, brushing my fingers along the glass rim of a wine glass. Red wine. A chill ran up my spine, and I shook it off. Maybe he asked them to pour it before he arrived. Maybe this was his way of setting the mood.I pulled out my phone.
PHOEBEI slammed the front door a little harder than I meant to when I got home.Winnie looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. "Whoa. Somebody’s in a mood. What's wrong, sunshine?"I dropped my bag by the door and flopped onto the armchair with a loud sigh. "It’s Ramon," I said, pouting like a child.Winnie immediately perked up. "Ramon? Spill. What happened?!"I buried my face in my hands for a second before looking up at her. "We kissed. Like... really kissed. It was amazing. He kissed me like he needed me to breathe or something."Winnie squealed, hugging a throw pillow. "Oh my God! Finally!""Yeah, it was incredible," I mumbled, my cheeks heating up. "But right after that, he got a call. Emergency at home. He had to leave. Just like that."Winnie’s face softened. "Oh, babe...""I know he had no choice," I said quickly, fiddling with a loose thread on the armrest. "But... it sucks. I’m losing my mind over him, Winnie. I’m slowly going crazy. I want him so bad it hurts."Winn
PHOEBERamon’s eyes burned into me like I was the only thing he could see. I felt my cheeks heat up under his stare, and I shifted awkwardly on my feet.“Phoebe,” he said, his voice low and rough, “I want all of you…every part of you. I’m not afraid of being with you. I’m just... trying to restrain myself.”My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. Then I swallowed hard and said, "I want all of you, too, Ramon. I’m not scared."Something snapped between us.Ramon closed the space in a single, hungry heartbeat, grabbing me again and crashing his mouth onto mine. This kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was rough, fierce, almost desperate, like he had been starving, and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.His lips crushed against mine, demanding and urgent. I could feel the heat pouring off his body as he kissed me like he needed me more than air. His hand slid up, fingers threading into the hair at the nape of my neck, then wrapping