The night I waited for. It was cold. All were dressed in tuxedos, leaving the ladies in strapless dinner gowns.
I silently cursed the decorator. You want to know why? The design was too luxurious and extravagant for my liking. See me talking like it was my party. Behave Leigh!, I cautioned myself.
There were disco balls hanging and the DJ rocking different beats which I found inappropriate at the peak. Deep down, I knew it would have been Mason’s idea cause he was a party animal. From nowhere, I pitied the grumpy Logan Hunt,the big cheese of California. Perhaps he hated the decor as well.
I only predicted that because of his cold character. Maybe he liked it.Then I sited Mo and Mason, vibing to the beats the DJ made. I deeply sighed at their foolishness. Then I saw them approaching me with a drink in their hands.
“See who we have here Mo!” Mason said, still moving his body to the beats.
“Yes. You're rocking this dress baby girl.” Mo said and shot me a grin.
It was a red short strapless gown which she forced me to wear with blonde hair. I was so uncomfortable. It was way too short for me and my profession.
I retorted with a smiley face which she knew was not a good one.
“Hey, you classes should calm down,calm down.” Mason cautioned, noticing the tension between Me and Mo.
“No need to worry Mason, she'll get a piece of my mind when we get home. She's aware of that.” I said and glared at her in a threatening way.
“I'm sorry.” She said and smiled.
“I hope we're good now? Mason asked.
” Leigh, I think you should get ready for your interview section with Logan.
“Oh…” I said.
“Yeah…” Mason said in an assuring tone.
“That jerk.” I cursed within me.
“Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright. I trust you, you can do it.” Mo inspired.
“Enough of the pep talk now.” I said and rolled my eyes, fleeing from their midst into the washroom. I had cold feet already. Come on, this is my job. I am meant for it! But why the panicking?, I thought.
Perhaps it was because I was going to have a conversation with Logan. Maybe not. The fear was just there. I stared at the image in the mirror. She looked really beautiful and fearful at the same time, but I needed to control my emotions. I couldn't afford to look scared at all.
I hurriedly patted my face to ensure my makeover was intact,and rushed out. Mason and Mo were still immersed in their love chat. As much as they needed their privacy, I went over to them. I knew no one and I couldn't just stand all alone, looking awkward.
“Come one Leigh, you have to unwind a bit, you're always so work oriented” Mo said, as she handed me a drink. Maybe she was right, the stress of getting this promotion had really gotten me stressed out, I needed to unwind a bit. As I took the drink, I sighted a lady, staring at me. The stare was really cold. The kind that said a million words.The face rang a bell. I had seen it before but couldn't picture where.
“Hey Mason.” I said, looking in the lady's direction who still gazed sternly at me.
“Yes?” He replied.
“That lady over there,who is she?”
“Oh, Francesca, Logan's ex.” He said in a whisper. Oh, how bad, but why the look anyway?Just then, she headed towards me, with a drink in her hand and that look not cleared from her face.
“Hi Leigh.” She said, Oh my, she knows my name! Does that mean I know her too?
“Hi.” I greeted.
“It seems you don't remember me.”
“Do I need to?” I asked, hoping she would change her rude tone and uncountable stare.
“Hmm, she has some ego.” She said Mason immediately cleared his throat in a manner that seemed untrue.
“Hey Francesca.” He greeted, drawing her attention away from me.
“Hello Mason.”
“Have you seen Logan? He awaits you.”
“Awwn, I'm sure he misses me.” She said,
“Hopefully. You should go now.”
“Yeah…” She said and stared at me, turning to leave.
“I better leave some cheap brats. Baby calls and mama is coming!” She said and gleefully walked away in her tiny heels and slender gown.Oh, I remember! I knew it.
I knew I knew her from somewhere. Now I know. I got that glare due to the fact that I turned down her unsolicited offer. Yes, she was the one. No wonder I got that glare from her.
“Do you by any chance know her?” Mo asked.
What could I say?
ForeverLeigh’s POVI had imagined giving birth in more ways than I can count—maybe a thousand times over.But not once did those daydreams come close to what really happened.It wasn’t the pain that caught me off guard.It wasn’t how time seemed to fold in on itself, rewriting the seconds into something eternal.It wasn’t even Logan holding me like his life depended on it, kissing my knuckles between contractions, and whispering in that husky, trembling voice I’ll never recover from, “You’re everything, my miracle.”And then… I heard it.A cry.Tiny, sharp, wild—yet absolutely perfect.A sound that shattered and healed me in the same moment.She was here.Our baby girl.She didn’t just arrive into the world—she owned it, like she was born to rearrange the stars and change the rules.And though I’d never
Hunt and MaverickLogan’s POVIt’s a strange thing — to be the center of attention in a room once designed to devour you, and suddenly, everything begins to bend just to please you.No more indifferent board.No more secret plots or hidden, destructive strings behind my back.I made sure to bury every implicating clause, revoke every seat designed to ruin my years of hard work, and completely rewrite the very bones of Hunt Enterprises.And right now?Everything is mine.All of it, just as I planned.And the most beautiful part of this new dawn?I’m no longer alone.Leigh stood at the top of the staircase, beautiful as always. She commanded respect in the gold satin gown she wore. That’s what true power is. She wasn’t just glowing — she was untouchable.My name may be the talk of the town, plastered all over this gala, but the truth remains: Releigh is the reason anyone is paying attention to anything we’re doing.No room for gossip.No scandal waiting to be stirred.I took a calm sip
Leigh’s POVThey always said giving birth is loud.And often, it’s messy, chaotic—A calculated storm of pain before the calm sets in.But for Kira?She delivered like a queen making her grand entrance.No drama. No panic. No emergency breakdown.Even before we arrived at the hospital, Julius was already there—whispering affirmations into her ears, anchoring her in peace, assuring her she’d never feel alone again.We showed up for her.Not exactly in the delivery room, of course—but we were ushered into the hospital lounge.Mason and Logan paced back and forth like they were the ones pushing.Mason kept checking his wristwatch every five seconds, like he had a meeting he couldn’t afford to miss. I couldn’t help but chuckle watching him.As for me? I just sat still, hands on my belly, silently praying. I wasn’t about to stress my baby—forced labor wasn’t something I was signing up for.And if anyone cared to ask, I already had a name in mind for the baby—even before she was born. A nam
Building Her Own EmpireLeigh’s POVThe thing about starting from scratch to build something tangible—especially when you once lived in denial that the thing you loved most wasn't there for you anymore, at least not the way it used to be—is that it feels like entering a new ball game entirely. Different rules. Different energy.Everything had to be perfect.The mics were wired.The lights were warm and glowing.The air? Thick—not with heat, but with expectation.RealInk had evolved. It was no longer just a dream—it had become a heartbeat. A pulse. A living, breathing vision.And Kira… oh Kira. Even though she was heavier than I was—carrying more weight, literally and figuratively—she was like the wind, swift and everywhere, making sure the launch unfolded exactly as planned.She wasn’t just ensuring things ran smoothly. Kira was the smooth. She was in every corner, handling everything, showing up more powerfully than I’d ever seen her.Pregnancy had done little to slow her down. Even
Mo’s POVThree months later....I didn’t plan to leave , especially not now. Not because I didn’t desire to behold the beauty of Eiffel Tower or devote myself to eating croissants, the so not buttery type, till the point it would feel illegal.But because, from my view leaving behind everything would mean I had moved on, that I had discarded the beautiful memories we created together. The friendship that I built with Kira and Leigh ever since we met each other. It would mean that I want to sweep everything under the carpet, to never keep a memory of us together. The betrayal was real, too real that I never knew I could still breathe. The ache that came with it. The loud way I never allowed myself to be pitied, instead, I covered up so well with silence, that everyone around me thought I wasn't hurting, that I was strong, whereas, I was dieing slowly inside.Choosing Paris would mean choosing a clean slate. And clean slates with clean start somehow scared the living hell out of me.
Logan’s POVI didn't check to know what time it was when duty called. All I knew was that it was dark, and I was still trying to catch some sleep before it would be morning, and the struggle of running the company continues.Then I heard someone whisper close to my ears. I thought I was hallucinating because the Leigh I went to bed with was still sleeping peacefully, but no, that wasn't the case, she was awake, wide eyes.“I want baked apples.”I rolled over to face her. “Huh, what?”She was truly awake. And what scared me the most was the fact that she was staring at the ceiling like she could get her answers from there.“I want baked apples,” she repeated. “And make sure to add cinnamon crumble to it, I would love that garnishing alot. But most importantly, ensure it is soft, nothing related to crunchy. It should be shiny, but not too bright. Just the exact one your mom love makin