**************************Claire's POV**********************"You owe me one" I tossed my heels by the side, they've accomplished their mission for the day." Huh?" Confusion was written all over his face." I just did what you couldn't do" I gestured to the door then back at him." Sadie?" "Yes, silly" I exhaled heavily." You know I would've still done it without your help." He said bluntly." Mmmm," I shook my head in disagreement." You wouldn't have" I refused to agree with him."I was just trying not to get on my mother's bad side; it won't be a good start for you", his voice smooth as silk." Oh really?""Yes, really", he responded"But, you still owe me," I said"I've never met someone whose presence has so much effect on a room," he smiled genuinely, gesturing to the door."You made her leave," he said proudly."Well, I've got the skill you know " I chuckled trying to hide the blush on my cheeks.He threw his head in the air as he laughed, holding his stomach." Now, what's
********************Claire's POV****************************My stomach gave out a loud growl, betraying the hunger I'd been trying to ignore all day.The air smelled faintly of rich herbs and something I hadn't tasted before. Amelia's food.This was the first time I'd be trying her cooking, and the anticipation was almost unbearable.My eyes darted towards the dish in front. In front of me_roasted chicken, golden and tender, the scent so inviting it almost felt like a tease.Mack looked up from his plate, his eyes flickering over me, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips."I know you're famished, you should dig in"My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the fork."I hope it's worth your hype""Worth more than the hype, darling", he said, his voice smooth, almost teasing."She's got a knack for turning a simple meal into something unforgettable" He speared a piece of chicken with practised ease, taking his time.I glanced down at the plate again. The fragrance of rosem
*********************Mack's POV ***************************"What about the company?" My Expression was dark with anger and fury.Kelvin hesitated for a moment, clearly struggling with the weight of what he was about to say."It's about the investors sir. They've pulled out, half of them have already pulled their shares, and the other half are threatening to do so, it's a complete disaster.""What the hell do you mean? Why would they pull out now?" My expression already darkened.Kelvin shook his head, gazing down at the floor, as if unwilling to meet my gaze." It's Liam sir.... he's been sabotaging the company behind your back."The words hit me like a punch to my gut. I quickly stood up which made my chair tip over. I couldn't care less about the chair."What?" I spat. My voice was low and menacing."Yes," Kelvin confirmed."He's been giving out inside information to our competitors. He's been undermining the business for months now, and it's starting to unravel. The investors foun
************************Mack's POV ************************As she made her way towards me across the parking lot, each step appeared purposeful yet effortlessly graceful like a dancer gliding across a stage.Her heels clicked softly on the pavement, her footsteps in sync with the beat of my heart. She was dressed with quite an elegance, her tailored dress highlighting the delicate curves of her dress. The soft fabric fluttered in the breeze a gentle stride in contrast to her confidence.Her brown hair was neatly pinned at the base of her neck, caught the light, framing her face with a warmth that mirrored the glow in her blue eyes. It was her first day as a worker in my company; there was something about the way she carried herself: a mixture of fear, excitement and purpose. That made everything new.As she drew closer, her smile blossomed, bright enough to cut through the morning sun, and in that moment I couldn't help but feel the gravity of how everything was about to change, inc
******************Claire's POV ******************************"Good day, Ma'am, kindly follow me" she smiled, her dentition perfect and linearly arranged.I glanced at Mack, confused; he nodded in agreement."I will be with you shortly." He whispered as he continued the meeting with another set of investors.I followed the lady; she was in her late twenties if I bit wrong, her blouse perfectly ironed, clung to her body like it was made just for her. Her skirt swirled with her steps as she led to through Mack's office. The office was a palatial retreat, the interior design sleek and sophisticated, featuring rich wood tones, luxurious fabrics and modern artwork. The office was roomy, with plenty of natural light and a stunning city view from the floor-to-ceiling window. The air was thick with the scent of leather and freshly brewed coffee, and the soft hum of the Expresso machine provided soothing background noise. A rare collection of books lined on one side of the wall, revealing Mac
*****************************Claire's POV****************** The heavy door to my hotel room swung open with a small creak; I stepped inside, and the air smelled of the familiar scent of wood polish and fine linen. My heart beat in rhythm with my footsteps as I walked toward the bedside where I left my pendant _my father's pendant. It has been years since my father left, and the anger I felt towards him kept growing as the years passed, but here I was, retrieving a piece of him that felt like the last remaining thread connecting me to a time before I was swallowed by a storm of emotions. The pendant was small, emerald, shaped like a vine wrapping around a gemstone, glinting softly in the muted light. I couldn't help but feel a pang of loss as my fingers brushed over it. My father's face, his laugh and the scent of his aftershave _all felt like a dream. I held the pendant for a while closing my eyes for a moment to steady myself. Then, I heard voices outside the hotel room; it did
********************Claire's POV*************************"I didn't expect to see you so soon," Mack said as he glanced up from his desk. "Thought you'd be stuck in the hotel for hours."I was, but I couldn't stand not seeing you," I said teasingly.I smiled as I entered the office, the scent of his perfume filling the space." Plus, I ran into Liz," I said as my gaze met his."You did?" He asked concerned."Yes, I did," I replied."So what's she doing in New York?" He asked "They want to relocate here", I replied."They?" He asked curious "Liz and Aliana," I said. Trying to conceal the pain I felt when I mentioned that name."Mmmm, Aliana.....""Her proximity is all I need to execute my revenge, she has no idea what awaits her here," I said. My resolve strengthened."But more than that, I think you missed me." He said with a teasing smile on his lips, but his sincerity was obvious."I did miss you," I said as I walked towards his desk.My hands brushed his but he held onto my hand
***********************Claire's POV*************************"Mack," I whispered with tension in my voice."I didn't expect it to feel this way....like we're pretending to be something we're not.""It's all part of the plan, Claire. Focus," Mack said, his lips twitching to a smile that didn't reach his eyes.I nodded as I got an eyeful of the grandeur of the Decoration_the grand ballroom glittered golden chandelier that reflected off the marble floor. The air was filled with laughter and light conversation from the guests. The elegant atmosphere, with its soft lighting and polished de, cor should have made this a celebration, but for me, it felt like an act.I glanced at Mack_ who stood beside me, the man that made me realise how a goody bag I was, and how to love myself, I couldn't help but find myself falling for him. But then, I had agreed to marry him to get my revenge on his brother under a contract marriage. To anyone else, we were simply the glamorous couple celebrating a lavis
*************************Claire's POV***********************The morning sun filtered through the gauzy curtains, casting a soft glow over the living room. I hadn't slept well, nightmares had worsened since the message from the unknown. Neither has Mack, who's trying his best to protect me. I hate the fact that he has to worry so much about me. If i ever get a hold of that son of bitch behind this, I'm so going to kill him.I sat curled up on the soft velvet couch, a steaming mug of tea cradled in my hands. The television murmured in the background, whisking me away from my train of thoughtThe volume was low, but it was the only sound audible in the quiet penthouse. Mack was still asleep and didn't intend to wake him up.I reached out for my tablet as I inspected the market analysis of the company.My phone buzzed on the coffee table, displaying a flurry of messages. I didn't take it. I continued my work on my tablet.My phone buzzed the second time; this time, the message was from L
****************************Liam's POV********************The heavy silence and tension that my father brought still lingered. His words still lingered like smoke, wrapping around my thoughts, burning slowly. I could still feel the ghost of his stare__ sharp, disappointed, final.He said he’d dig quietly. He wouldn’t protect me.But I didn’t need him to.I stood up, my spine stiff, and walked to the cabinet hidden behind the bookshelf. A flick of a concealed latch, a click, and the wood panel slid open, revealing a slim black case nestled in the dark.Inside it were the things I kept for leverage. Not safety. Not protection. Just control.And Aliana's file was at the top.I pulled it free, flipping through crisp pages and glossy prints. Photos. Screenshots. Copies of conversations. Recordings transcribed into neat blocks of text. She’d been clever. Careful. But not perfect. No one ever was.She’d met with Sadie twice—both meetings undocumented, off the record. One of them was the day
***************************Liam's POV**********************The late afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of my study, casting long streaks of gold across the floor. I lingered by the shelves, idly turning a glass paperweight in my hand, trying to steady the chaos swirling in my mind.It had been weeks since I’d heard from my father, at least, not face-to-face. But the aftermath of Morgan’s visit rippled through everything. The board's tone had subtly shifted, my assistant barely met my eyes today, and conversations always seemed to cut off the moment I walked into a room.The walls were closing in. I could sense it.And then came the knock. Slow. Intentional.I didn't get it right away. I just stared at the door, willing it to stay closed. But it creaked open anyway and there he was, __ Henry__ my father. Impeccably dressed, as always, in a tailored navy suit that did little to mask the exhaustion buried beneath his polished surface."Liam," he called out to me simply, as
******************************Claire's POV******************The company's towering glass structure shimmered under the morning sun, defiant and pristine __ like nothing had happened. Like no one had died. Like our lives hadn't been turned inside out over the last week.I walked into the company's building slowly behind Mack, my heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors, echoing in a rhythm that didn't quite match my heartbeat. It felt wrong to be here.But also..... It felt like I needed to be here.The receptionist stood almost immediately when she saw us, her eyes wide with something between surprise and sympathy.“Mrs. Claire, Mr. Mack,” she greeted as she flashed her perfect dentition in a warm smile.“It’s good to see you both again,” she spurted out.Mack gave her a nod and a warm smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks, Ellen. Good to be back,” he said.We walked past her into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, I let out a breath I didn’t realise
************************Claire's POV************************The room spun around me; that message __ just one line__ was enough to unravel the last thread of composure I had.**Someone's behind Sadie's death… and the person is closer than you think.**I stared down at my phone's screen, hoping the message might change if I looked long enough. But the words stuck themselves into my brain like a blood tick, repeating again and again like a cursed chant. My hands trembled as I slowly handed kelvin back the phone.His jaw tightened as his expression was dreary."I don't know who sent it. It's an unknown number but I've already forwarded it to Mack." He rasped.I nodded."Thanks," I said. Though my throat had gone dry.He stayed with me for a moment as if he noticed I didn't want to be alone. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then he just turned and left. The door shut with a muted click behind him.I was alone again.I paced around the room like I was a soldier trying to pay
******************************Etian's POV*******************The rain started around the time we hit the intersection out of Aliana’s neighbourhood. Heavy, angry drops pounded against the windshield, smearing the lights of the city into long, distorted streaks. Rowe drove in silence, one hand gripping the wheel tighter than necessary, the other drumming a quiet rhythm against his thigh.I watched the wipers move in a sluggish arc, my mind stuck on Aliana’s face. That first flicker of shock. The way her hand hovered over the folder was like it might burn her. She tried too hard to stay composed—and it only made me trust her less."She's hiding something." I finally said. Breaking the silence.Rowe didn't respond right away. His jaw tightened as he glanced at my direction. “You think she killed Sadie?” he breathed. His voice was low and calm.I couldn't respond. Not yet. My mind was tangled with thoughts already ten miles ahead, racing through every inconsistency we'd gathered."She li
***********************Aliana's POV*************************The door creaked shut behind them, the echo threading through the quiet like a final verdict. I stood still in the kitchen, my fingers clenched around the edge of the counter, my pulse a thunderous rhythm in my ears. The folder they'd brought still lay on the marble island, its presence louder than an argument.Detective Etian __ sort of. Not sure if it was official or not. But enough to knock the breath from my lungs.Rowe__ didn't recognize him at first but the eyes gave him away__same as Sadie's, piercing through me like he's seeing everything in my head.I gave out a heavy breath, as I tried to keep my hands from shaking. I wasn't afraid of them__ at least not exactly. But I was afraid of what they brought along with them. That file. That is fake evidence. Fabricated, yes. But convincing. Too convincing. Whoever did this didn't just want to frame me__ they wanted me buried.I picked up the folder again and flipped it op
************************Etian's POV***********************By the time we pulled into the quiet, upper district neighbourhood__ one of those gated areas that whispered wealth instead of shouting it, the rain had let up. Rowe drove, his hands tight on the wheel, eyes fixed on the winding road ahead. We sat little. There wasn't much left to say.Then, came Aliana's house. A sleek two_story with minimalist lines and pale stone walls, tucked behind manicured hedges and a row of white_blossomed pear trees. It wasn't ostentatious like I'd expected _not the sprawling estate of someone with generational mon, ey__, but it had class. Discretion. Like her.Soft light glowed from narrow vertical windows at the front of the house, casting a calm, welcoming hue. A single matte-black hybrid sedan rested in the driveway—spotless and well-maintained. I instantly noticed the security setup: motion detectors, a front-facing camera, and a digital keypad by the door.“She lives alone?” I asked quietly as
************************Morgan's POV********************* The sun cast a golden hue over the manicured lawn of Henry's estate. The familiar crunch of gravel under my shoes stirred memories of the countless visits, shared cigars, and debates that stretched into the night. It had been years since I'd last walked this path, but here I am this late afternoon because of the weight of the recent events___ which made the distance between us feel even longer. Henry greeted me at the door in a quick hug, his once jet-black hair now peppered with grey, but his posture remained as upright as ever. "Morgan," he said, extending a firm hand. "It's been too long." His lips curved into a smile. "Far too long," I replied, gripping his hand with equal strength. He led me into his study, a room that had always been a sanctuary of sorts. Shelves lined with books, artefacts from our travels, and the ever-present decanter of aged whiskey. He poured us both a glass, and we settled into the leather