Chapter 68Andre's POV:I dropped Vanessa off without saying much. I didn’t trust my voice—what if it gave away how terrible I felt after she rejected me?More than anything, my ego was bruised. My hands were still gripping the steering wheel long after she stepped out. There was something about the way she walked away—a kind of finality in her steps that made my chest feel like it was caving in. I couldn't decide whether to sit there like a heartbroken teen or actually do something to win her back.The voice in my head kept calling me a fool for letting my guard down, so low that I had to fall for her of all people. But the one in my chest—louder, more desperate—wanted to push through, go all in until she accepted my feelings.The pool house was buzzing with music and laughter when I arrived. My boys were already there, lounging on the sleek leather couches with bottles of expensive liquor in their hands. Ethan gave me a nod, and I returned it wordlessly before heading straight to th
Chapter 69Vanessa's POVAfter my day off, I returned to work. I tried to keep busy, and buried myself in files and schedules and pointless emails. Anything to stop myself from thinking about his proposal, his voice when he asked me to be his, the look on his face when I said no. I hadn’t slept properly since. And yet, here I was, pretending everything was normal.He didn’t mention it. Not once. He acted like it never happened. But something had changed.Mr. Garcia started assigning me to every meeting, even the ones that didn’t need my presence. I had to sit beside him in the boardroom, beside him on client calls, beside him during lunch briefings. It was like he couldn’t breathe unless I was within arm’s reach. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. Then I noticed the looks. The tension. The way he’d glare if I so much as chuckled at someone else’s joke.Especially Matt Davenport’s. His disapproval of Matt was turning into something personal.Matt was ecstatic when he saw me by
Chapter 70Vanessa's POV:Grace was sitting at her desk, typing away like the world wasn’t tilting. She looked up the moment I approached."Hi Grace, Mr. Garcia asked me to give this to you,” I said, handing her the note.She glanced at it and gave a short nod. "Ah, yes. He mentioned it. One sec."She stood up and disappeared into the file room, returning moments later with a thick stack of folders that looked like they were meant for an entire department. I barely managed to balance them in my arms."Does he plan on working on them today? It's already late," she said with a small shrug."You know how he can be. I'll leave now," I replied."Good luck."I forced a smile. "Thanks. I’ll need it."I turned to leave, but I didn’t even take three steps before I bumped into someone—hard."Whoa!"The files exploded from my hands like confetti, scattering across the floor in every direction."Oh no!" I gasped, dropping to my knees instantly."I am so sorry! Let me help—" the voice said quickly
Chapter 71Vanessa’s POV:Monday morning.The hallway echoed with my laughter—Matt had just said something stupid, something about coffee beans having feelings when you grind them too early in the morning, and them revenging by upsetting your stomach. I didn't know when I burst out in laughter. I made a small scenery in my head of how the coffee would probably hunt Mr. Garcia if that were true.And for a moment, I forgot about the office tension. About the constant pressure I was getting from him, and about the countdown he gave me.My relief was short-lived before I heard it.The sound of sharp shoes clicking the tiles.Measured. Heavy.I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was. My laugh froze midway, caught somewhere between my chest and throat. My lips were still parted in a smile when I turned and found Mr. Garcia standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed.And dear God, he looked furious.“Williams,” he called, tone clipped and cold.I blinked. “Yes, sir
Chapter 72Vanessa's POV:The first thing I saw that morning wasn’t the sunlight or the alarm clock blinking 6:45 a.m. No. The first thing I saw was my phone—lit up with dozens of notifications, buzzing nonstop like it was about to explode.My heart skipped a beat. Somehow, the social media algorithm had picked up that I was somehow related to DGG, because my feed was flooded with news about the company.Frowning, still groggy, I tapped the first post made by a gossip blog. The headline screamed at me in bold black:> DGG CEO, Andre Garcia Caught in Secret Kiss with Mystery Woman at Paris Gala!The next post was the bombshell.A photo—grainy, shadowed—of Mr. Garcia and me, kissing.The angle was terrible, like someone had snapped it from behind a curtain. The lighting was low, the photo half-blurry. But Mr. Garcia’s face was unmistakably clear, while mine was buried in his.Still, I knew. I knew in the way my heart clenched and my lungs froze. My back, the curve of my neck, my dress—G
Chapter 73Andre’s POV:I stood outside the door, my hand clenched so tightly that my knuckles hurt.Her voice came through, sharper than any slap I’d ever gotten.“I don’t love him, Matt.”“He did propose, but I rejected him.”It felt like being punched in the stomach. Slow, deep, painful. I didn’t move. I didn’t barge in. I just stood there.I used to think the worst thing that could happen was her saying no to me.But no—this was worse.Hearing her say it out loud to someone else. So final. Like she’d practiced this a hundred times.No love. Not even close.I had opened myself up completely to her. Given her the vulnerable parts of me no one else had seen.I didn’t hide anything. Not the dark parts. Not the guilt. Not the obsession. I even let her see the parts of myself I hated—because I thought she might still choose me. I believed that if I loved her hard enough, fiercely enough, she’d change her mind.But she didn’t.And now I stood here like an idiot, listening to her pour her
Chapter 74Vanessa's POV:I twisted the doorknob slowly and entered. I didn’t hope for anything, especially not Claire standing in front of the door, waiting for me with arms crossed and brows knitted in a frown.The glare she shot at me could slice concrete. She was scrolling through her phone, and the moment our eyes met, I knew.She had seen it.The headlines. The photographs. The story that twisted everything out of proportion—making me look like some sugar baby caught in the arms of her billionaire boss."Vanessa," she said coldly, before pulling me with her to the room.“What. The hell. Happened?”I didn’t answer.Instead, my lips quivered, and I took two shaky steps toward her before I just… crumbled.Right there. My knees hit the ground like they’d given up holding my weight. Silent sobs tore out of my chest as I hugged myself.Claire rushed to me immediately. “Vanessa? Hey! What’s going on? Talk to me!”But I couldn’t. I couldn’t even breathe. The tears were stuck halfway bet
Chapter 75Vanessa’s POV:I barely slept a wink throughout the night, just hugged the doll silently and remained lost in my thoughts.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes—tormenting flashes of the blog post, the comments, Angela’s cruel smile, and then Mr. Garcia's arms wrapped around me like a shield I didn’t ask for, telling me he's got this all sorted out. My body was on the bed, beside Claire, but my heart was somewhere else. Stuck. Suspended in this messy limbo of shame and confusion and something dangerously close to love.I was still curled up on the bed when I heard Claire's voice; she was up."Have some more rest, V. I'll make breakfast for you and your mom before leaving. Just make sure you eat it while it's hot." I heard her but remained quiet. She sighed and then left.By 7:30, the soft buzz of my phone. I reached over with a hand that felt ten pounds heavier than usual.Mr. Garcia: “I’m waiting outside. Come out when you’re ready.”I blinked at the screen for a mome
Chapter 90Andre's POV:Vanessa.She was trembling. Crying.She stood between me and the man I wanted to kill.I stepped back, breathing hard, fists soaked in blood. My heart pounded, but not from rage anymore—from the realization of what I almost did.I ran the bloody hand over my hair in frustration.Vanessa leaned beside Matt. His face was a mess; he was barely moving. She tried to help him, her hands shaking."Vanessa," I warned in a low tone.She had to get up from there. Matt is a loser; he doesn't deserve her kindness.She looked up at me furiously and snapped,"Do you want to kill him?!""Let's go," I growled. I pulled her up, dragging her with me while she struggled to separate herself from me, out to the corridor."Why did you fight with him?!" she yelled at me and shoved me away with all her might."He threw the first punch," I said. "I was just getting our order—you can ask the waitress.""And you think that justifies what you did? Sir, he was bleeding, and you barely have
Chapter 89Andre’s POV:The office buzzed like a hive of wasps, filled with whispers, stolen glances, and gasps that didn’t quite reach the surface. I could hear them murmuring her name—Vanessa. Every corner I turned, I caught someone looking at her with heavy eyes, and I couldn’t care less. Let them talk. Let them stare. It was all the could do. She belonged to me.I watched her from behind the glass wall of my office, her head bent low, her fingers nervously tapping her keyboard. She looked too fragile to handle their poison, but I knew better. Vanessa had strength in her, a quiet, burning kind that people often underestimate. Still, the vultures around her didn’t deserve her.I sent her a bouquet of rose flowers through Stanley—red, white, and yellow, with a note tucked inside which read, . I wanted everyone to know she wasn’t just any girl. She was mine.I watched her face on the monitor as she opened the card. The flush that painted her cheeks, the tiny smile that tugged at her l
Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 87Vanessa POV:Claire squeezed my hand. “I’m just watching out for you, babe. I love you. Be careful, okay?”I nodded, feeling both touched and scared at the same time.Her eyes searched mine, not just scolding but truly concerned. "I've seen how much you've struggled to get where you are. I don't want anything—or anyone—taking that away from you."We sat there in silence for a while, and my mind kept spinning.Had I been stupid?Was I reading too much into what happened with Andre?He had made me feel like I was the only girl in the world... but what if that was just how he was? I’d seen him flattering others—he was pretty good at that.A part of me wanted to trust him. The other part... the louder part... was terrified. My mind was beginning to eat me up."You don't think..." I started, then hesitated. "You don't think he could feel the same way I do?"Claire's expression softened. "Maybe he does. I hope he does. But hope isn't a strategy to break you further, Vanessa. Espe
Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 87Vanessa POV:Claire squeezed my hand. “I’m just watching out for you, babe. I love you. Be careful, okay?”I nodded, feeling both touched and scared at the same time.Her eyes searched mine, not just scolding but truly concerned. "I've seen how much you've struggled to get where you are. I don't want anything—or anyone—taking that away from you."We sat there in silence for a while, and my mind kept spinning.Had I been stupid?Was I reading too much into what happened with Andre?He had made me feel like I was the only girl in the world... but what if that was just how he was? I’d seen him flattering others—he was pretty good at that.A part of me wanted to trust him. The other part... the louder part... was terrified. My mind was beginning to eat me up."You don't think..." I started, then hesitated. "You don't think he could feel the same way I do?"Claire's expression softened. "Maybe he does. I hope he does. But hope isn't a strategy to break you further, Vanessa. Espe
Chapter 84Vanessa’s POV:“I want you to feel safe here. Like you belong. Because you do.”I leaned into his touch.When he kissed me again, it was slow—reverent.But then I pushed him away and darted out of the lavender room, heart hammering as I rushed toward the next.Behind me, his footsteps echoed—measured, calm. Too calm.He was hunting me.I spun around just as he filled the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, a smirk tugging at his lips.“Running again?” His voice was pure velvet. Dangerous.I swallowed, stepping back toward the bed. “Maybe. I just didn’t want to make it too easy for you.”He prowled forward, slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with his prey. His eyes darkened, a storm gathering in their depths.“You think you can outrun me in my own house?”I grinned, backing up until the bed pressed against the backs of my knees. “I can try.”He arched a brow, completely unhurried. “Go ahead then. I’ll even give you a head start.”My heart skipped wildly. "Yo
Chapter 83Vanessa’s POVI stood in front of the towering building, staring up at the glass spire that sliced into the clouds. My heart pounded, butterflies erupting wildly in my stomach. This was Mr. Garcia’s new place—a penthouse. Not the last one. A brand-new space.Fingers trembling, I clutched the straps of my bag and pressed the elevator button. Each passing floor made my pulse louder. By the time it dinged at the top, I was practically shaking. The doors slid open.And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Dressed in a navy sweater that hugged his frame and tailored black slacks, he looked like a storm—controlled, refined, quietly dangerous. His eyes met mine—warm, unreadable. His jaw tightened, like he, too, was fighting something inside him. A war maybe. One that mirrored mine.“Hey,” he said, voice low and deep.“Hi,” I breathed.He stepped aside to let me in. The moment I crossed the threshold, soft lighting caught the polished floors, and my breath caught. Glass walls wrapped the pent
Chapter 82Vanessa's POV:The room feels colder than I expected, the air sterile, sharp with that lingering smell of antiseptic. I could barely focus on the white walls as I sat there next to Andre, my hands trembling in my lap. I’m trying to keep it together—really, I am—but everything feels like it’s spinning too fast for me to keep up.My mother’s in the private ward, and I should be thinking about her—about her getting better since she's finally getting good treatment, but my mind is a jumbled mess of confusion, fear, and the stifling panic that has been slowly creeping in since the doctor’s call.I looked at Mr. Garcia beside me, his presence so much larger than mine. His silence is comforting. I lean into the side of the chair, trying not to show how much my curiosity was killing me.“Ms. Williams,” the doctor finally spoke, his voice calm, but somehow it feels like his words carry a weight too heavy to ignore. I focus on his face, trying to read the expression, possibly know if