********************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********************** Liam's gaze met mine, as we came face to face. There was a flicker of surprise in his voice masked by cold calculation. Sadie stood beside him, her smile tight, there was a coldness in her in her gaze as well. Liam and I seemed to exude the tension from the years gone by_ years we had spent together. The years I had spent with him only to be discarded like a broken toy. But that was the past, tonight was about something else. "So the rumours were true then; I didn't think you would move on so quick,", Liam said as his lips curled in a tight smile. "I'd never thought you would be the one to settle for second best _ Claire." His voice was ice-crime as he turned to Mack. "Second best?" I asked as I glanced at him. "I think you're mistaken, Liam; I've always been more than enough. You're the one who settled for her." My voice was steady as I pointed at Sadie. My eyes flickered to Sadie, who gave a tight polite smile, b
************************Liam's POV*************************The scent of cedar and the rain drifted through the half-cracked window, but I barely noticed. My study was quite__ too quiet. The kind of quiet that comes after the storm, when you're sure if it's over or just waiting to return.I stood by the fireplace, swirling a glass of bourbon I hadn't touched. The logs hissed softly, flames curling like whispers. On the table behind me, a black duffel bag waited.They were late.I checked my watch for the third time. 12:47 AM. The city below was asleep—or pretending to be. But not me. Not tonight. Not until this final piece slid into place.A soft buzz echoed from the elevator.Finally.I turned just as the elevator door opened with a muffled chime. Three men stepped out __ all dressed in black, soaked from the rain. The one in front__ Roger__tossed the bag on the table with a dull thud."Everything's intact." He said."Phone, USB. Notes. He had backups, but we scrubbed his cloud befor
********************Morgan's POV*************************The news hit like a hammer—Etian had been attacked.Rowe isn't safe if Etian had been attacked.I stood by the tall windows of my office, the early morning light bled through the blinds, castung long shadows across the floor. My knuckles were white against the mahogany desk as i gripped the edge tightly, stared blankly at the city skyline. My jaw clenched and unclenched."I should've seen this coming." I muttered under my breath.My aide delivered the report minutes ago. Detective Etian had been found near an abandoned district on the outskirts of the city, bruised, bloodies, his phone and any evidence he had gathered completely destroyed. No cameras. No witnesses. It had been deliberate ___ too clean to be random.My thoughts spun like a storm. "It wasn't an accident Abba. " The exact words Rowe said to me.Someone was trying up loose ends and if Etian had gotten that close to the truth, then we're running out of time.I did
****************************Etian's POV*********************The bruises on my ribs ached with every breath I took as I walked. I was still shaken from the ambush. My body felt like it had been seen through a war zone__ my ribs were sore, my lips split, and my shoulders ached deeply from where one of them had kicked me as I tried to crawl away. They didn't say anything. Just left me on the cold gravel like I was trash. Whoever they were, I would dig out what they wanted to be buried.And they took everything I had—my phone, the USB drive, even the photo I was analyzing, they thought they were smart.But they didn’t take what I remembered.My mind kept circling back to that image. That single frame. A woman, half-shadowed, slipped through the side entrance of Sadie’s building. Slender build. Dark hair. Long coat. Her face was turned away, but it was enough to start digging.Enough to point me back to Aliana.Rowe had picked me up that night, finding me bloodied and half-frozen in the
************************Etian's POV*************************The van growled as it rattled over broken pavement, the engine muffled by the chaos thumping in my head. My wrists were tied behind my back, my ankles bound, and a strip of thick cloth was cinched tight around my eyes, making everywhere dark as the darkness clung to me like smoke. I could hear their voices__ gruff, low, calculated __ but the words were indistinct, distant like a bad memory.They took a sharp turn which flung me into the van's metal wall. Pain bloomed across my shoulder, but I barely flinched. My ribs ached from the blows I'd received earlier, and the taste of blood still lingered on my tongue. The bastards had taken everything __ my phone, the USB, the photo, even my watch. Every piece of evidence I'd managed to secure had vanished in a whirlwind of fits and black cloth.I had no idea where we were going or where they were taking me.I gritted my teeth as I focused on the rhythm of the van's movement. Rough
**********************Claire's POV**************************The drive back to our main house was far quieter than it had any right to be. The city's light blurred past us, a collection of neon lights and faded shadows, as if it were trying to forget the chaos of the e last few hours. I sat in the passenger seat, my mind still churning over the cryptic message and the cold dread that had followed it.Mack's eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his jaw clenched tight. He didn't even glance at me nor did he speak, but his presence was a constant force beside me. It was a comfort in a way that it was just us, but it also felt like he was carrying something heavy__ something he wasn't ready to share.When we reached the main house, the feeling of danger intensified in the air. The property was large and _ expansive; even__ but tonight, it looked more like a fortress than a home. The light was dim, casting long shadows over the carefully manicured grounds. Security cameras were visible at e
*****************************Claire's POV*******************The air in the warehouse grew colder as the minutes dragged by.I tugged my sleeves down over my wrists as I leaned back against Mack's truck, watching the alley stretch into endless shadows. The tech guy was late, and something about it doesn't sit right in my gut.Mack stood nearby, his arms crossed, eyes sharp and restless. He hadn't said much since we parked, he kept scanning the street like he expected trouble to come walking out of the darkness.I shifted, as I pulled my phone put my phone to check the time__ and saw a new message blinking at me from an unknown number.My heart gave a quick, stuttering thud as i clicked it open.**You think it’s that easy?**That was it. Just that. No name. No threat spelled out. But it hit me harder than if they had screamed it in my face.I stared at the screen for a second longer than I should have.”Claire?" Mack's voice was low, rough with warning. He stepped closer, already picki
*************************Etian's POV************************The city never really slept. It just toned itself down at night, humming low like it was trying to act innocent. I wasn’t buying it. I knew exactly what was hidden underneath.Pulling my jacket tighter, I headed up the broken sidewalk toward an old rundown building off 7th Avenue — the kind of place that reeked of mildew and bad choices.But it was where my contact said the package would be.Inside, a single overhead bulb flickered and buzzed like it was on its last legs.The guy behind the counter didn’t even bother glancing up from his beat-up laptop."Name?" the guy asked, his voice dull and bored."Etian," I said.Without lifting his eyes, he slid a small manila envelope across the counter.Cash passed between us — fast, no fuss.I didn’t hang around.Out in the alley, I ripped the envelope open with stiff, impatient fingers.Inside: a lone USB drive, a few blurry copies of what looked like security access logs... and on
********************Liam's POV****************************The warehouse smelled like old metal and secrets.I stood at the centre of it all, my hands tucked inside my pockets, watching the glow of a dozen monitors flickering against the dark wall. Each screen showed a different feed: traffic cams, security systems, building blueprints, and access logs. Information flowed around me, a current I controlled with a surgeon's precision.In a corner, hunched over keyboards and monitors, three of my best techs worked in near silence, the rapid tapping of keys the only sound besides the occasional hum of cooling fans. They were young — barely out of college — but hungry for money and direction. I gave them both.I walked past them slowly, scanning the lines of code being written and the files being manipulated. They were almost done. Another hour, maybe two, and the narrative i needed would be perfect.Evidence was a funny thing. It didn’t have to be true — it only had to be convincing.I s
*****************************Mack''s POV*******************The morning sunlight slanted through the apartment’s windows, casting pale stripes across the floorboards. Dust floated in the air, catching the light like the place had been holding its breath all night long.Claire sat curled up on the worn couch, my hoodie swallowing her frame. Her hair was messy, her face bare of any makeup, and still — even like this — there was something quietly fierce about her. A fighter’s stubbornness simmered just under the surface.I leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping from a chipped mug. My eyes never really left Claire's, even when I told myself they should. Watching Claire had become a habit, the kind I didn’t even notice forming until it was too late to stop."You don't have to hover," Claire said, breaking the silence without looking at me. Her voice carried a dry, teasing lilt."I'm not hovering," I lied easily, shifting my weight and crossing my arms. "I'm strategically supervising,