FAZER LOGINAnna / Olivia’s POVI opened my father's full profile.JOHNATHAN BENNETTPosition: Vanderbilt Household DriverClassification: External AssetStatus: CompensatedAssociated File: CLARISE VANDERBILTOne word stood out.Asset.I read it again, trying to make it fit with what I already knew about my father. He had worked for the Vanderbilts. He had driven their cars, entered their home every day, and eventually started sleeping with Harry Vanderbilt's wife.None of that made him an asset.Beside me, Dickson leaned closer to read the profile. “Compensated.”“I see it.”Whatever my father had done for Harry, he had been paid for it.Dickson's hand remained beside the keyboard, leaving the search to me. I stared at my father's name for another second before scrolling down.“Let's see what he was paid for.”I opened the transaction history.The first payments dated back to when my father was still working as the Vanderbilt household driver. They had been routed through secondary accounts in
Anna / Olivia’s POVI woke to the sound of movement and found Dickson already dressed, standing near the mirror as he fastened his cuffs. He glanced at me when I sat up, but neither of us mentioned what had happened yesterday. Not the kiss.Not the question he had asked afterward, or the fact that I had been unable to answer it.We talked as we got ready, and somehow that made everything worse. Dickson behaved as though kissing me had become a perfectly normal thing to do, and apparently, so did I.I was fastening my jacket when I noticed his tie sitting slightly off-center. Without thinking, I walked over and reached for it.“Hold still.”Dickson obeyed, watching me as I loosened the knot slightly and straightened it. It wasn't until my fingers were already smoothing the tie against his shirt that I became aware of how close I was standing to him.There was no one here to convince. No family watching us, no cameras, no reason for me to play the attentive wife.My hands paused briefl
Anna / Olivia’s POVDickson returned from the study, and one look at him told me enough.Harry had not given him the Ledger.He closed the door behind him and told me what Harry wanted. When he reached the part about Williams, his voice hardened.“He called what happened to that girl a petty crime. Said no one would remember her now.”I stared at him.“He actually said that?”“Yes.”Disgust twisted through me. To Harry, what Williams had done to another woman mattered only because Dickson had nearly brought the police to their door.Dickson went on.“There’s a test. One of our subsidiaries is holding money Harry wants moved without attracting scrutiny. He wants me to disguise the transfer as a consulting or acquisition payment and send it through another company.”“With your authorization attached.”“Yes. Once the money moves, there will be proof that I knowingly approved the transaction. That becomes my insurance.”I understood what Harry was doing.“The transfer has to be real.”“Ye
Dickson’s POVI woke before she did.Anna was still against my chest, her breathing slow and even, one hand resting against me. My arm remained around her exactly where she had allowed it the night before.She had not forgiven me. I knew better than to mistake what happened between us for that. Trust was still something I had very little claim to. But last night, when I tried to pull away, she had stopped me. She had put my hand back against her and asked me to stay.Anna stirred before I could think any further. Her eyes opened slowly, and it took only a second before she became aware of where she was. Her head was still against my chest. My arm was still around her. A faint flush warmed her cheeks.“Morning,” I greeted.She looked at me, then down at the arm still around her.“You’re still here.”“You told me not to move.”Her lips twitched. “I did.”I finally moved my arm and sat up, reaching for the shirt I had discarded the night before.“We should get ready. My father expects m
Anna / Olivia’s POVHe turned his head to look at me.“I am.”My eyes dropped to his legs, which stretched well past the armrest. “Your feet don't even fit.”Dickson glanced down at them before looking back at me. “I've noticed.”I almost smiled.He didn't argue for the bed or suggest we share it. Instead, he pulled the blanket higher and made himself as comfortable as the cramped sofa allowed.I looked at the king-sized bed, then at him.“Fine.”I pulled back the covers and climbed into bed before switching off the bedside lamp.Across from me, Dickson adjusted the pillow beneath his head and closed his eyes. I did the same, leaving him exactly where he'd chosen to be.Sleep usually came easily to me. Most nights, I was out within minutes of my head touching the pillow.Tonight, I stayed awake.The sofa rustled.A few minutes later, it happened again. Dickson didn't complain, but every so often, I heard the cushions move as he tried another position.I opened my eyes.Moonlight gave
Anna / Olivia’s POVWilliams took a slow sip of his whiskey and glanced toward the board members gathered around Dickson near the fireplace.“Quite the celebration they've built around him.”I followed his gaze. Dickson stood at the center of the group, surrounded by board members still talking about tomorrow's succession.Then I looked back at Williams. “You said there was something I should know.”“There is.” He turned his glass between his fingers. “You're going to regret marrying my brother.”That wasn't what I'd expected. “That's quite a thing to say about your own brother.”“I'm not insulting him.”“It certainly sounds like it.”Williams gave a quiet laugh. “I'm warning you.”“About Dickson?”“About what happens to him after tomorrow.”My eyes returned to Dickson. “He's becoming chairman, not undergoing a personality transplant.”“You really believe that chair won't change him?”“Dickson isn't Harry.”Williams smiled. “Not yet.”I studied him. “You think becoming chairman will t







