Charles’ POVThere was something about silence that made me itch. Not the kind of silence you get in a peaceful night or a lover’s embrace..No, The silence that hung in my penthouse office was the kind before a storm, heavy, pregnant with betrayal.I poured a glass of brandy, staring down at the city skyline. The Stanford estate glittered in the distance like a kingdom that should’ve been mine. No,I corrected myself, It still would be....was just running out of time to take it.“Sir, you’ve received a response,” my assistant, Marcie, said as she stepped in, heels tapping on marble like a countdown clock.I turned. “From who?”“Niina Stanford. Or someone in her circle. The message was indirect, but they’re watching.”Good, Let them watch.“Get me the numbers on Grayson Holdings. I want a report on their real estate shifts, quiet partners, anything Leena might be touching.”Marcie hesitated.. “Sir… this may not be the smartest move, you’ve already lost her legally, And the Stanfords...
Leena’s POVThe sun was shining over the garden terrace of the Stanford estate, painting everything gold. I stood in silence, wrapped in the satin robe Ethan had left on the edge of the bed this morning, still carrying the scent of him, cedarwood, spice, and something uniquely his.Last night’s memories played on a loop..His touch, his voice whispering promises into my neck, his lips trailing over my skin like I was a fragile glass which he didn’t want to shatter...For the first time in a long time, I hadn’t dreamt of running.I’d dreamt of staying.“Penny for your thoughts?” Ethan’s voice pulled me from the trance. I turned to see him leaning against the French doors, shirt unbuttoned at the top, tie loose, looking like he owned the world and somehow still wanted me more than all of it.“I was thinking how different everything feels here,” I said softly. “This place… you… us.”He stepped closer, hands in his pockets. “Different how?”“I don’t know, like I can finally breathe.”He re
MRS STANFORD POVThe smell of chamomile still lingered in the air as I stirred my tea for the third time without sipping. My eyes, however, remained locked on the grand staircase , every creak of the wood sent my heart leaping. No one had come down yet...Not Leena Nor Ethan.But I could feel it in my bones that something was wrong between them.They were supposed to be the golden couple. When they returned from the island two years ago, married in secret and glowing with affection, I had held Leena’s hands in mine and said, “He will protect you and he'll chose you above all."But now, silence hung in the house like a storm cloud which I didn't know why..As I looked towards the wide glass doors that opened to the garden, From there, I could see Ethan , stone-faced and seated alone on the garden bench beneath the cherry blossom tree. His back was straight with his shoulders tense..He hadn’t moved for nearly an hour.Where was Leena?A soft patter of feet pulled my attention. I turned j
POV - th managing directorThe mahogany door leading to the executive floor clicked closed behind me. Quiet filled the space, broken only by the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the polished squeak of my brogues on the marble floor. Grayson Holdings remained awake. It observed, assessed, and acted without expending energy unnecessarily, yet always poised to attack. And I had also learned to walk in the same manner. I stopped by the window that stretched from floor to ceiling, looking out over Midtown. Below me, the city throbbed as if it were alive. I once believed that success would have the flavor of champagne. It did not. It had the flavor of habit. Up until her. Leena Stanford. The name ignited a fire within me, the very thing I wasn’t meant to desire, wasn’t meant to experience. As the only woman in this company beyond reproach by any standard, she was Ethan Grayson’s wife and Mr. Stanford’s daughter, the calm strategist whose smile could diffuse the tension of half the
Zack's POVThe ballroom was thrilled with hushed conversations, the tap of shoes on the gleaming floor, and the joyful chatter of the attendees. My heart hammered against my ribs. As Leena was in the midst of a discussion with Kara and Lily, her composed facade concealing the storm within. Tonight, she wasn't merely fulfilling her wifely duties; she was being strategic. And so was I.I was ready to go up to her when I noticed a gentle push at my elbow. I glanced around, spotting a tall, elegantly dressed man with keen, analytical eyes and flawless posture. His suit, as dark as the night, stood out vividly against the sparkling lights of the ballroom. I identified him right away. "Mr. Davis," I remarked, nodding courteously. "What has brought you here this evening?" The Managing Director of Grayson Holdings, Mr. Davis was a silent player in the background of the game I was involved in, a shadow whose influence extended far beyond the corporate world. He didn’t attend events like this
LEENA'S POVThe gentle buzz of the city resonated through the penthouse while I faced the mirror, my fingers shaking as I fixed the strap of my dress. The rich green fabric hugged my figure, yet it was the burden of the secret I bore that felt most oppressive. The image looking back at me wasn’t the self-assured, self-reliant woman I once was, but rather someone trapped in a situation from which she couldn’t break free. Zack’s engagement proposal had truly been a display of dominance. He viewed me as a chance, a valuable addition to his family's empire, and now, I was merely an instrument he had employed to strengthen his standing. It wasn't solely that, however. What began as a simple game of convenience had evolved into something far more complex. An agreement in writing, yet something more profound had started to develop between us. Still, he remained unaware of the truth regarding the baby. The idea of informing him, of revealing that the baby developing within me could potentia