LOGINCLAY’S POVI took one quick look at Jodie, and it confirmed my fear. She handed me the thumb drive with trembling hand and I excused myself without another word. Anyta gave me a quick look of concern but she didn’t stop me as I walked out. I was grateful for that small gesture, because I needed to do this alone. I slipped into her small study at the back of the house, closed the door and sat down at the desk. The laptop screen glowed in the dark room. My hands felt heavy as I plugged the drive in.The files loaded one after the other. At first it was what I expected—bank records, emails, timestamps all tied Victor directly to the leaks and the press play. These were top solid stuffs, and I felt grateful to Jodie.I saw a black folder, sitting on its own. Curiosity got the best of me, and I tapped on it. The intials “M.G” stared back at me, as I did a double take.M.G. My mother. Maria Grayson. I huffed in disbelief as I contemplated if I wanted to know what was in the file.I finally
ANYTA’S POVClay stepped back into the hallway, after I switched off Teddy’s bulbs. “Philip says Jodie has something she needs to deliver personally. She doesn’t trust sending it any other way. Would you be comfortable with us using your dining room to work through this tonight?”I didn’t hesitate at all. “Yes. Whatever you need at all. Let’s do it.”Clay nodded gratefully, already pulling out his phone. He made the calls quickly, first to his legal team, then Philip and Jodie. Within thirty minutes my quiet dining room turned into a war room. Their laptops were opened on the long table. The papers spread out, and I silently prayed that no coffee tipped off and spilled over them. I moved silently between them, refilling the cups and clearing space, turning my home into the center of a battle.I kept looking at Jodie, not fully trusting her, but not saying any of it to Clay. I quietly carried out my duties, moving between the kitchen and the dining. I didn’t expect them to be that nois
CLAY’S POVI stood in the hallway, my phone pressed to my ear, the soft glow from Teddy’s nightlight spilling out behind me. Philip’s voice was clipped and urgent on the other end.“Boss, it’s bad. Victor went straight to the major network this time. He’s sitting down for a full interview first thing in the morning, and he’s hell bent on dropping everything about Owen Grayson. He’s got financial data from that accountant we thought we had locked down. He’s claiming that you’ve been running a decades-long fraudulent shadow operation through Grey. It’s a scorched-earth play, but he’s painting you as the villain who inherited your daddy’s dirty empire and made it worse.”I pinched the bridge of my nose, leaning against the wall. “How much time do we have left?”“Until morning at least. They’re promoting it heavily. If we don’t respond before it airs, the story lands and everything we’ve built scatters. He’s timed it perfectly.” He said with a huff.“Prepare the counter-narrative,” I said
CLAY’S POVWe went upstairs together without saying much. Teddy’s nightlight cast a soft blue glow across the room. The little boy was sitting up in his bed, rubbing his eyes, his hair sticking up in every direction. Anyta moved first, sitting on the edge of the mattress and pulling him gently into her arms.“Hey, baby,” she whispered. “Bad dream?”Teddy nodded against her shoulder. “There was a monster at the gate.” He said, pointing at a spot in the wall.I stayed by the door for a second watching them both, then walked over and sat on the other side of the small bed. The frame creaked a little under my weight. Anyta tucked the blanket around Teddy’s legs while I adjusted the pillow behind him.“You’re safe, little man,” I told him quietly. “No monsters get past us. I promise.”Teddy looked at me with those big trusting eyes. Without a word, he reached out and grabbed my hand with both of his small warm fingers. He held on tight, before he sighed and closed his eyes. Within seconds
CLAY’S POVI walked in and closed the door behind me with a soft click that echoed in the quiet house. The city hummed low outside the windows, a distant backdrop of lights and life that felt miles away. Anyta stood in the hallway, waiting in the glow of the single lamp in the living room corner. I knew Teddy was upstairs probably with Alice.She didn’t mention the video even if I knew that it hurt her. What mattered now was the truth we’d been circling for far too long.“Come sit,” I said gently and made space for her.We settled on the living room floor, our backs against the couch. I rubbed my palms over my jeans, gathering courage.“I need to say this the right way,” I began, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest.Anyta looked at me, her soft eyes patient and searching in the dim light.“What I’m about to say didn’t start recently,” I told her. “It was years ago, during high school, down back to when you were still married to Everett. I hated myself for feeling it then,
ANYTA’S POVI stayed at the café table longer than I should have, and I kept staring at the video on my phone. It was clearly the security footage from outside my house.I tried not to read, but my curiosity got the best of me. I opened my socials, and the comments were already vicious.“Gold digger.”“Bad mother.”“Using her son for money while sleeping with some thug.”I felt sick in my stomach, and bile rose up to my mouth. I couldn’t break down in a public cafe. No!My phone started ringing immediately, Laura’s name flashed on the screen.I answered. “Laura.”“Anyta, I’ve seen the video,” she said, already in full crisis mode. “It’s spreading very fast. I’m pulling together a statement already. We need to get ahead of this. Are you home?”“No, I’m at a public café,” I replied, voice shaky. “People are staring at me.”“Stay calm and don’t omment or agree on anything. I’m drafting something neutral, and I’m solely on focusing on privacy and false narratives. Send me any details you
CLAY'S POVThe morning air was a cooling, almost minty sensation on my warm face as I jogged through the tracks.The dog was internal today, because the sky was bright and blue, with a slight peek of a golden ray through the fluffy-looking clouds.Anyta.She was always on my mind, even at the most
ANYTA'S POV The bass in the club was alive. Like a physical entity, thumping against my ribs and vibrating through the soles of my feet until I felt like I was constantly being pumped full of adrenaline and buzz.The club itself was a sea of gyrating bodies, expensive perfume, and the sharp, antis
ANYTA'S POV“...I don't think you understand, Mr. Emilio,” I said, lowering my voice in an attempt to tamp down my premature victory cheer.“This isn't just something I woke up last night and decided I wanted, it's quite special to me,” I sighed, refraining from going into details on just how speci
CLAY'S POVAnyta let out a small as I shoved her down to the bed gently and covered her with my body.“You know I'm still offended you'd ever think I wasn't attracted to you.”She slipped her arms around my neck and gasped softly as I dipped my head and grazed my teeth over one taut nipple.“We alr







