MICHEAL'S POV After all the chaos we'd just crawled out of: the betrayal, the press, the damn leak–it was finally quiet again. But in the quiet, I started seeing things clearer than ever. I thought about it long and hard, and I'd made up my mind.Ashley was the one.Not just someone I liked, not just someone I'm attracted to. She was the one I wanted beside me. Through everything. Through the storms, the silence, the triumphs, the failures…all of it.During the chaos, I looked around and realized the only person still standing with me, for me, was her.She didn't run. She didn't demand answers or accuse me when things got ugly. She just stayed strong behind me, and that meant more than any contract, more than any business deal. That was real.So tonight, I was going to make my move.I didn't want to just say thank you. I didn't want to just hold her hand and hope she knew how I felt. I wanted to show her the right way. I wanted to make it official.I called her over earlier in the d
MICHEAL'S POV The sun had barely peeked through the thick clouds when I was in my office that morning, burdened with the recent event. The leak had shaken the very core of Kingston Technology, and I knew we needed to track down the culprit first.I initiated a canary trap, a method I'd read about in espionage circles. By distributing slightly altered versions of sensitive documents to various departments, I aimed to trace the unique markers in any leaked information. It was a calculated risk, but desperation demanded bold moves.Within days, the trap sprung. A confidential report bearing a specific phrasing unique to the version sent to the marketing department surfaced in the media. My heart sank. I'd trusted these people.Confronting the head of marketing, I observed his reaction closely. His eyes darted, and a bead of sweat formed on his brow. But it wasn't him. Further investigation led me to a junior analyst, recently hired, who had accessed files beyond his clearance. Under pre
ASHLEY'S POV The ride up to the top floor on the elevator took an eternity. I stood frozen, arms wrapped tightly across my chest as the numbers flashed past, my image reflected in the chrome walls, and I looked like someone else entirely. Tensed shoulder, furrowed brows, pursed lips pulled so tight it hurt.I hated this.I resented learning about the leak from a goddamn newsflash on Austin's phone. I resented Micheal for not informing me earlier. I resented that my heart still felt for him after what he did, even when I was furious. Finally, the elevator doors slid open gently with a ding. I stepped out.The building was more subdued than usual, like the silence before a storm. Chloe rested against her desk with a weary smile, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She looked exhausted.“Miss Ashley,” she said, surprised but not unpleasantly. “You’re here to see Mr Kingston?”I nodded. “Is he in?”“Yes. He just wrapped up a meeting.”Something in her tone made me pause. I wanted t
MICHEAL'S POV The elevator doors slid open to the top floor, and the air felt thick the moment I stepped into my office. The weight of everything hit me all over again: the leak, the questions, the whispers, the headlines. Kingston Technology had survived storms before, but this one…this is different.“Good morning, Mr Kingston,” Chloe, my secretary, said as I walked past. Her voice seems softer than usual.I nodded once, tightening my grip on the tablet in my hand. I hadn't slept, not really. Maybe two hours max. The rest of the night was me replying to emails, responding to calls, just trying to fix this before things get out of hand. I will not go down like this. Never.The meeting room door was already open. Five of the investors were seated, their faces tight, their suits stiffer than usual. They're definitely not here to mess around. Jayden wasn't here yet, and I knew that wasn't a good sign. He was rarely late. Especially not when the company was under threat.“Micheal, Mr Jon
ASHLEY'S POVThe sun hadn't even come out fully yet, but it was pleasant enough outside to sit out, so we did. Jade chose this little rooftop bar downtown. So we agreed to meet there.It was me, Jade, Sophie, and Austin. My people. The only ones I could ever be completely myself around. No filters. No pressure. Just…me.“Jade, so you're telling me you seriously told your manager to chill out in the middle of a meeting?” Jade asked, raising her brows with her wine glass halfway her lips.Sophie burst out laughing beside her. “God, you're something else, Jade. Who would've thought. The most quiet among us all.”Jade shrugged.“He was stressing over one missed client like it was the end of the world. It wasn't even my fault, and he had to pass all that aggression on me. So I just…gave him a piece of my mind.”Austin sat beside me, his arms folded across his chest. “And how did that go for you?” he asked.“Surprisingly well,” Jade smirked. “He emailed me after work and apologized.”Sophie'
MICHEAL'S POV Was I asking for too much when I said I needed peace and no drama in my life? Because right now, I seem to be in a deep shit. An email was sent anonymously, stating that confidential contracts have been leaked. The email hit like a punch to the chest.I sat frozen in my office chair, the glow of my screen casting a faint blue hue across my office. My hand hovered over the mouse. Words like this don't usually get to me. Have been in the business long enough to know when something is just noise.But this? This is different.It was a leak. A major one.Confidential numbers, client information,internal documents and early-stage contracts that are not even finalized yet, all sent to the media outlet. There was no name attached to the tipoff. There was no clue of where it came from. Just a single subject Line;“Knight's Industries is a house of cards.”I leaned back slowly, my heart beating rapidly against my chest. My jaw clenched so hard I thought I would lose a tooth. I'd
MICHEAL'S POVThe second Ashley stepped into my house, she froze. Her eyes swept across the room, wide and stunned like she'd just walk into a dream.“Oh my God,” she whispered.She'd seen two of my houses before, but this one? It was different. Warmer. Sleek floors. Soft light, tall glass windows that framed the city skyline like a panting. It wasn't just luxury…it was worth living in. Intimate.“This is your place?” She breathed, turning in slow circles. “It's…. wow. It's beautiful.”I smiled, tossing my keys into the bowl near the door. “Glad you like it.”She grinned. “Like it? I'm obsessed. This is huge. How many houses do you have exactly?I made that face like I was in a deep thought, “8? 10? Aside from other properties. I really can't say, though.” Now she opened her mouth wider and I couldn't help but laugh.”Baby you need to close your mouth.” “Sorry i can't help it. But 10? Who owns that many houses?”“Me. You seem to forget I'm a billionaire. Even though I don't really
ASHLEY'S POV I was halfway through clearing my inbox when my phone buzzed.I checked and saw a text from Micheal.Micheal: Be ready by 7. Dress like you're about to fall in love.I blinked. My lips curled before I even knew they were moving.It wasn't just the words…it was the way they felt. Warm, sure, and soft in that way only Micheal can pull off. I stared at the message for a second longer, my heart skipping like it was in some sort of secret dance. Then I shoved back my chair, picked up my bag,and made my way home, my pulse racing with every step I took.**********By the time it was 7pm, I was dressed in a wine satin dress. I hadn't worn it in months, maybe because I didn't have a reason to feel that pretty until now. He was already waiting outside when I stepped out. Standing against the car, looking like something out of a dream. Dark jacket that reveals his chest a bit, black jeans that fit perfectly. He looks extremely handsome with that quiet smirk playing on his lips.An
ASHLEY'S POV It felt strange to be happy again.Like…really happy.The kind that snuggles into your heart like a ray of sun and lifts your shoulders. I hadn't ever felt this manner before. My heels tapped gently on the excessively shiny floors of the office block, and for the first time in weeks, I wasn't worried about a thing.The lobby did not change, smelled the same: freshly ground coffee, floor wax, printer paper. I was different, though. I was lighter. I was fine.I smiled as I walked past the glass walls, giving small waves to my clients. I knew they noticed. I could feel their eyes. Normally, I'd feel awkward, but today? I didn't care. Let them look. When I reached my floor, my secretary, Lisa, raised an eyebrow upon seeing me. “Ahah, well, well, well. Look who’s glowing.” she joked, spinning a pen round and round on her fingers.I placed my bag on one of the chairs in front of her. “Stop.”“No, seriously,” Lisa stood up, looking me over. “You look like you just got back fro