Kian lay on the bed, his body finally at rest after the storm that overtook his senses. The dim light of the room painted soft shadows over his features, which had calmed since Lena had carried him up the stairs with concern cloaked around her like armor. Now, he looked up at her with a slight smile."I don’t mind a kiss from my boss," he said softly, his voice teasing but sincere. "Especially one I’ve fallen for—her work ethic, her fire, her impossible beauty, and her surprisingly human heart."Lena blinked, startled by the words, not expecting such raw honesty from a man who only moments ago had seemed completely undone. Her hand was still near his cheek from the kiss she had stolen, and she instinctively pulled it back. He wasn’t done."Although," Kian added with a slight grin, "if I’m being totally honest, I could do without the wine bottles and ashtrays."Lena narrowed her eyes, a mix of embarrassment and amusement flashing in them."Is that a light shame, Davenport?" she quipped
The sun peeked through the window slats, casting lines of golden warmth across the room. I turned over lazily, still groggy from the events of the day before. But what really kept me grounded in that moment wasn’t exhaustion or sleep. It was her. Lena was curled beside me, her dark lashes resting softly against her cheek. She looked peaceful. Effortlessly beautiful. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to disturb the silence that seemed sacred between us. It was one of those quiet afternoons where the light outside had dimmed to a soft gray, filtering through the worn-out curtains in my room. I had been lying down for most of the day, my head foggy with fragmented memories and a strange heaviness in my chest. Lena sat with me, legs tucked beneath her, shuffling a deck of cards absentmindedly. The gentle sound of the cards flicking against each other grounded me in the moment more than I realized. "You're not getting away with sleeping through the whole day," she said, her tone play
KIAN'S POV The movie flickered on the screen, casting soft golden light across Lena’s living room. The warm orange hue danced across her cheekbones, bringing a glow to her relaxed face as she curled up beside me on the couch. She had insisted we watch an old romantic drama she'd loved since college, something with violins and tragic love letters and slow, aching kisses.I didn’t care much for the plot. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.Lena had changed into something softer after dinner—an oversized navy sweater that hung low on one shoulder, revealing the delicate slope of her collarbone, and pajama shorts that barely brushed her thighs. Her hair was tied into a loose bun, and every now and then, a strand would escape and fall across her face. I’d brush it away gently, using the moment as an excuse to touch her.She rested her head against my chest, a bowl of popcorn half-forgotten between us. I could feel her breathing slow as the movie progressed, her body melting deeper into mine.
KIAN'S POV The quiet hum of the television faded into the background as Lena lay nestled against me, her breathing soft and rhythmic. Her hair tickled the underside of my chin, and I found my fingers tracing through the strands with a kind of reverence I didn’t fully understand. There was something about the way she fit against me, like a perfectly solved puzzle piece, that made the entire world feel still. Safe.I wanted to stay like that longer. Forever, maybe. But reality is always lurking."You should probably head back soon," I said gently, my voice low enough not to startle her. "Your employees might start to ask where you went."She stirred, eyes fluttering open like a slow sunrise. "Hmm?"I smiled, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. "You disappeared for a while. If anyone catches on, there might be rumors."Lena groaned lightly and sat up, stretching her arms over her head. I tried not to stare, but failed miserably. "Let them talk," she murmured, rubbing sleep from
LENA'S POV I stepped out into the night, the memory of our kiss still clinging to my lips like a half-remembered song. The cool breeze carried his scent, or maybe it was my imagination desperately trying to hold on. Kian hadn’t remembered me—not truly—but for a brief, breathless moment, it hadn’t mattered. In that kiss, there had been something raw, something real. Maybe it had awakened a sliver of what we used to be. Or maybe I was just fooling myself again. But I had to believe. I chose to believe. The streets of the city glittered with light as I made my way to the small rooftop bar where Clara waited. My heart felt like it was limping, tired and bruised, but still hopeful. Always hopeful. “There she is,” Clara beamed the moment she saw me. She was already halfway through her first glass of wine, her golden-brown curls catching the amber lighting like strands of honey. “Took you long enough, drama queen.” “I had drama to attend to,” I said with a soft laugh, pulling her i
LENA'S POV The ride home was a blur of city lights and soft music on low volume. The kind that filled the silence without asking for attention. I leaned my head against the window, Clara’s words echoing in my mind, warm and sweet like the last sip of wine still lingering on my tongue. I wasn’t drunk, not entirely. Just… light. A little fuzzy around the edges.Ah fuck. I'm drunk again. mum won't like this.As the cab pulled into the driveway, I noticed the lights in the parlor were still on. My stomach sank.“Mum,” I murmured, already knowing what I’d walk into.I brushed my head lightly to the side, before struggling to stand up from my seat.I paid the driver and stepped out, the night air sobering me slightly. The front door creaked open under my touch, and there she was—my mother—seated rigidly on the couch in her usual silk nightgown, a mug of untouched chamomile tea in her hand, and that trademark disapproving frown locked in place.“You’re late,” she said, not even looking up f
LENA'S POV I slammed the door harder than I intended. The echo thundered through my room, a sharp punctuation to my anger that had already begun to unravel. I stood there, breathing heavily, my back pressed against the wood, and for the first time tonight, I felt... small.The room felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just the heat draining from my body after the outburst. I toed off my shoes and walked across the floor in silence, the hardwood creaking under my feet. My bed called to me, a haven where I could bury my thoughts, but as I collapsed into the sheets, guilt weighed heavier than any comfort the mattress could offer.Why did I yell at her?My throat tightened as the replay of our argument rushed through my mind like a storm on loop. My mother, standing there with soft eyes and shaking hands, only wanting a moment with me. And me? I’d snapped like she was the enemy.She didn’t deserve that. Not tonight.I turned on my side and curled into a tight ball, my fingers gripping
LENA'S POV The morning was slow and heavy, a quiet ache still lodged behind my eyes from barely sleeping. But work waited, and so I’d forced myself into a tailored cream blouse and navy slacks, pulled my hair into a neat low bun, and made it through two meetings before the air in my office shifted.My assistant, Ruby, knocked lightly on the door. “Miss Lena, there’s someone here to see you. Says it’s urgent.”I didn’t even look up from my laptop. “If it’s press, tell them we’re not giving a statement until next week.”“It’s… Harlin.”I froze.Of course.“Send him in,” I said, biting the inside of my cheek as I saved my draft and sat up straighter.The door opened, and Harlin walked in like he owned the place—polished, smug, and wearing that expensive cologne that always clung to him like arrogance. A tailored suit, a smirk tucked into the corner of his lips. The kind of man who thought his presence was a gift.“Lena,” he said, spreading his arms slightly, “I must admit, I expected a
LENA'S POV The scent of roses and warm lighting greeted me the moment I stepped through the restaurant doors. I paused, stunned. The place looked like something out of a dream—glass chandeliers sparkled above us, the wine glasses caught the candlelight like tiny stars, and the air held the delicate hum of a violin playing somewhere out of sight. Kian stood by the entrance, a soft smile playing on his lips, his hair brushed back neatly, dressed in a navy-blue suit that hugged his frame like it had been stitched just for him. I blinked twice. This wasn’t the man I dropped off at a wooden shack days ago. This wasn’t the man who barely remembered who he was. This man was... composed, radiant. Familiar. "You did this?" I asked, stepping closer, still in disbelief. He offered his arm. "Thought you deserved a night without stress. Besides, I’ve been saving." My heart ached at his sincerity. He wasn’t a billionaire anymore. Not officially. But he still treated me like royalty. We sat in
After the race, we drove a short distance to a small roadside ice cream stand—the kind that never changes, with hand-painted signs and sticky counters. I parked the truck under a tree, and we both got out, our legs still buzzing from the race."Two vanilla cones," I said to the kid behind the stand.Mr. Alcante took his with both hands, as if it were the prize. He sat on a nearby bench and I joined him.We ate quietly at first, the cool sweetness cutting through the dry heat of the afternoon.Then he turned to me and said, "You're like the son I never had, Kian."The words landed softly, but heavily. I looked at him, seeing past the roughness to the warmth beneath."You sure about that? Because I'm pretty high-maintenance."He chuckled, but his eyes glistened. "Still worth it."I bumped his elbow with mine. "You're not getting all emotional on me now, are you?""No," he said, wiping his eye. "Just got ice cream in my eye. Happens."We laughed. We always laughed.That’s when the men ap
KIAN'S POV The morning sun glared off the windshield of the old rust-touched truck as I turned the ignition. The engine grumbled before letting out a reluctant growl, just like Mr. Alcante every time I suggested we replace it. He sat beside me, leaning against the passenger door, sunglasses on, wearing a weathered fishing cap that had more stories than half the folks in Hudsonville."You ready for this?" I asked, glancing over as the engine finally settled into a steady rhythm.He cracked a grin. "Been ready since '74. Back when gas cost less than a loaf of bread."I chuckled and pulled onto the dirt road that led away from our cottage. The town receded behind us, slowly swallowed by the trees and long stretch of highway that coiled along the coast like a silver snake. The sea shimmered in the distance, but today wasn't about the water. Today was about breathing, and giving the man who once saved my life a reason to smile."This truck has character," I said as the window rattled with
The morning sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of Whitmore Enterprises, casting streaks of golden light across the boardroom table. Kian stood beside Lena, a file in his hand and a fire in his eyes that hadn’t dulled since they entered the office. Across the table, a legal representative from a competing firm sat with a tight-lipped expression and a stack of documents nearly as thick as the tension in the room.The legal battle had been brewing for weeks. A competitor had filed a lawsuit claiming that a recent design prototype launched under Lena’s firm bore similarities to one of their unreleased concepts. Lena had kept her cool in front of the press, but inside, she was burning."We both know this is fabricated," Kian said, his voice low but strong."You’ll need more than intuition in court, Mr. Davenport," the rep responded with a smug smile.Lena tapped her pen against the notepad in front of her. "And you’ll need more than recycled arguments and coincidence to win.
The rain had stopped by the time Harlin pulled up in front of the Clementine estate. The sprawling mansion sat beneath the gray clouds like a lion at rest—imposing even in its silence. He stepped out of his car, adjusted the collar of his coat, and made his way past the iron gate that groaned open with the memory of old secrets.Mr. Clementine was waiting.He always was.The old man sat by the fireplace in the study, a glass of untouched scotch in his hand, the flames casting flickering shadows across the lines of his aged face. His cane rested against the leather armchair, but his posture was sharp, alert. He looked up as Harlin entered, his blue eyes unreadable."I assume this isn't a courtesy call," Clementine said.Harlin remained standing. "It's about Kian Davenport."The old man's eyes narrowed. He said nothing."He’s alive. Walking around like he didn’t vanish five years ago. Getting close to Lena again. Too close."Clementine raised the glass to his lips but didn’t drink. "You
Harlin's POV The warehouse was dimly lit, the kind of place where shadows made promises and secrets were born in the silence between breaths. Harlin stood at the center, surrounded by six men in dark jackets, each of them brimming with energy, barely able to keep still. A single bulb swung above their heads, casting long, wavering silhouettes on the cracked cement floor.Maps, photos, and documents were spread out on a rusted metal table. At the center of it all—Kian's face. A clean shot from the last gala, sharp suit, unaware eyes. Harlin’s lips curled as he stared at it."He's too comfortable," Harlin muttered, tapping the photo with a gloved finger. "Back in the spotlight, surrounded by people who think he’s harmless. He’s not. He’s the problem."One of the goons, a burly guy named Torque, stepped forward. "We’re ready. Just give the word, and we’ll clean it up. Silent and clean. No trails."The others nodded, pumped with adrenaline, knuckles cracked, minds already running through
KIAN'S POV The next morning, I woke with a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in a long time. The previous night’s conversation with Mr. Alcante still echoed in my head, but it no longer weighed me down. It gave me purpose. A reason to act. He was still sleeping when I left the house. I scribbled a note, placed it on the kitchen counter, and tucked the blanket around him one last time before stepping out into the crisp morning air. The coastal breeze was stronger than usual, whipping through my shirt as I climbed into the truck. The roads were quiet this early, the world still shaking off the last traces of night. When I pulled into the small-town pharmacy, the bell above the door jingled as I walked in. The shelves were lined with everything from painkillers to vitamins, old carpet underfoot muffling my steps. And there she was. Behind the counter, the same woman who had helped me a few weeks ago when Mr. Alcante was in a bad medical state. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, gla
KIAN'S POV The air was thick with the scent of salt and worn wood. Dusk had wrapped the coastline in a shade of burnt gold, the last fingers of sunlight trailing across the edge of the porch. Mr. Alcante sat where he always did around this hour—a chair that looked like it had been built before I was born, his back hunched slightly, a half-carved piece of driftwood in his hand. I stood in the doorway, watching him. For weeks, maybe months now, questions had twisted inside me like old ropes, frayed and knotted. But tonight, they felt like they might finally come undone. "Can I sit?" I asked. He didn’t look up, just nodded toward the empty chair beside him. I crossed the wooden floor slowly, the boards creaking beneath my steps. When I sat, I could feel the silence between us pressing in. It wasn’t uncomfortable—it was just heavy. "Where did you find me, Mr. Alcante?" He paused, the small knife in his hand freezing mid-whittle. "You know where," he said without looking at me. "I
LENA'S POVThe tension in my chest didn’t fade after Kian walked off with Tara for their little discussion. If anything, it deepened, settling in the pit of my stomach like a stone I couldn’t digest. I returned to my office and dropped into my chair, mentally composing a hundred different messages I wouldn’t send.Then, without knocking, Clara entered.She was carrying two coffees and wearing that amused expression that said she was about to ruin me with honesty and caffeine."I saw your face from the elevators," she said, placing one of the cups in front of me and sliding into the chair across the desk. "Something’s up. And if I had to guess, it’s tall, charming, and temporarily memory-wiped."I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Tara.""The one with the kid and the silky voice?""That’s her."Clara took a slow sip. "What did she do?""Nothing technically," I muttered. "Kian bumped into her last week. Helped her son cross the road. Today, she’s talking about real estate partnerships and wa