LOGIN“No?”“No,” I repeated as I turned him to face me. His eyes were bright with embarrassment, and I wanted to kiss every trace away. “You're not throwing it away. I'm eating it.”His jaw dropped. “Stein, it's burnt. It's probably raw in the middle and burnt on the outside, and the rice is—”“I don't care.” I released his wrist, only to cup his face. “You made this for me.”“I ruined it for you,” he corrected, looking at me like I had somehow grown two heads, and he was only realising it. “I can't even do this one thing right. I wanted to—” He swallowed hard. “I wanted to do something for you, for once. Instead of you always doing things for me without me giving back. I wanted to give you something.”“You are,” I said, and I meant it more than I'd meant anything in my life. “Kai, look at me.”He did. He looked at me with those pretty blue eyes, which were swimming with emotion.“You've done more than you would ever imagine for me.” I placed a kiss on his forehead. “The thoughts alone are
STEINIt was working. I came at the right time, like a damned knight in shining armour, and stole the day. I knew even before his words of thanks that he would be forever indebted to me, which was why I decided to throw some crumbs his way. I'll let him believe things are about to turn out well, then drag them away. By then, he'll be too grateful to me that he wouldn't think twice about giving his all to me. He'll be willing to get on his knees when I ask him to, unquestionably. Until then, I need to pay my cards well. Which I had been doing for a week now, cleaning up the mess I caused, while acting like I was seriously helping him out. My phone dinged with a message, and I smiled. For the first time, Kai was actively contacting me. He sends messages every few hours and always calls whenever I am running late. This was the side of Kai that I didn't know about, and I freaking love it. Now that I had thought of what I wanted, I couldn't wait to return home to tell him that. It would
“Mr Stein.” Jackson recovered first. “This is a closed board meeting. I'm afraid your presence isn't—”“Required?” Stein finished, walking straight to my side. He didn't touch me, but he stood close enough to make a statement. “I disagree. As the largest individual shareholder in this company, I believe my presence is not only required but necessary.”The room went silent. I turned to stare at him. “What?”He didn't look at me. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on Mr Jackson. “Didn't Kai tell you? I purchased Mr Sherlock's shares a week ago, and the Jax portfolio yesterday morning.” A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “I'm now sitting on thirty per cent of this company. Which makes me, if my maths is correct, the second-largest shareholder.”“That…” Jackson's face turned into an alarming shade of purple. “That's—that's not possible. Those shares weren't on the market.”“Everything is on the market, Mr Jackson, for the right price.” Stein finally turned to look at me, and for just a
Thoughts of my conversation with Stein plagued me even on my way to the office. He had offered to drive me to work, but I declined. With the paparazzi out there, it would only cause another major sensation. They might even ask what he thought of his husband sleeping around after they got married. Even though the pictures had been taken down, there was no doubt that some of them would still have them on their phones. Until everything dies down completely, I wanted to avoid as much drama as I could. I wondered what he would ask from me. Would it be something I couldn't afford? What if he asks for my love?Impossible. Stein won't ask for something as childish as that. I went up to my office through the back door. Thankfully, only a few staffs knew about the underground garage that led straight to the back lift, else some paparazzi would have camped out there to wait for me. I had just sat on my chair when Edward burst into my office. “Sir —” “What's it this time?” I looked up with a
KAIWhat would I have done if I hadn't married Stein? I had thought he was only good because of his inheritance. Who would have guessed that I would get help from him when my dad refused to extend one?Just like he promised, by morning, all the photos were gone, the receipts too, wiped out like it didn't dominate the Internet for a freaking whole day. I had a restless night, thinking everything would become worse by morning, only to wake up to the best news ever. Edward had called a few hours after I finally dozed off to tell me the good news. “Stein!” I called out to him as I leapt from the bed. It wasn't that graceful since I don't have a lithe body, but I didn't care. I stepped out of my room, only to be welcomed by a very delicious aroma. Sniffing, I made my way to the kitchen. Stein was standing by the stove, with his back to me, flipping something. I walked over to him and wrapped my hands around his waist. He stiffened at the touch before he relaxed when he realised I was t
He stopped pacing and gripped the back of a chair. “I had everything tied up in that investment, Stein, everything. And now it's just… gone. The damned thing evaporated in less than an hour. Do you know how suspicious that is? How impossible?” He looked at me, and for a moment, there was something almost like hope in his eyes. Like he wanted me to explain it away, to tell him it would be okay.I said nothing. I wasn't here to give him hope. I was here to take everything away from him until he was left with nothing.“Right.” The hope died. “Of course you don't care. Why would you? The merger's halfway done, and your company is safe. Even if ours go down the drain, you guys won't follow us.”“Kai—”“Don't.” He held up a hand. “Just… don't. I don't need your pity. I don't need you to stand there looking at me like I'm some pathetic—” He broke off and pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes. “I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix this. The leaks, the stocks, Aries… it all ha
He woke up the next morning looking grumpy. He snapped at everything I did and glared whenever I so much as breathed loudly. He looked irritated.“Are you okay?” I asked when we were done with breakfast. I wasn't expecting a response from him, though. “Mind your damned business!” He snapped before
STEINI knew he would do something like this. He looked oddly happy after his dinner with that bastard Elliot. I had suspected, but seeing him enter that damned hotel had sent my blood boiling. It took every damned willpower in me not to storm into that room and drag him out by the collar of his sh
Waving at him, I walked into the familiar hotel. It was once mine until I sold it just to save my fucking father's company. Now, I have to pay an outrageous amount just to keep my penthouse. A night cost an arm and a leg. I took the private lift to my room, knowing what was waiting for me at the o
KAI“This is all, sir,” Edward said as he placed the files I asked for on my desk. “I also spoke with Mr Elliot Marshall, and he agreed to the meeting tonight. I booked a table for two at your favourite restaurant.”“Good.”I picked the first file from the pile. “And the Schmidt? Did you investigat







