MasukCLAYâS POVâ... I'm still looking into the target, Jon.â I pressed a hand to my forehead, âthere's no need to worry, I'll find out what you need.âThe call had been going on for almost twenty minutes and I was getting tired of reassuring the other man that our contract was fool-proof.His sudden lack of confidence in me was not helping the fact that I was already frustrated with the lack of major progress in the whole project anyways.âHave I ever disappointed you before?â I queried, forcing my voice to remain calm.âNo,â Jon replied. âI'm just making sure thatâŚââI appreciate your efforts to make sure everything's going well,â I cut in. âButâŚâI paused when my secretaryâs voice slipped into my ear through the intercom.âMr. Banner?â she said carefully, âthereâs a⌠Mr. Ashbourne here to see you.âI leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking softly beneath me, and loosened my tie with one finger.âJon, can I call you back?âI ended the call before he could respond.âSend him in,â I
EVERETT'S POVâWhat theâŚâMy hand stilled mid towel-drying my hair and I blew out an irritated breath as I adjusted the towel around my waist.âDo you ever knock?â I snapped, the edge of my irritation cutting through. âStop making a habit of walking into my room like you own it.âSienna tilted her head, a smirk teasing her lips. âMaybe you should start locking your door then.ââAnd will that honestly stop you from invading my privacy?â I arched a brow as I fling the towel in my hand away. âYouâre addicted to me. It makes you act foolish, desperate.âShe scoffed, rolling her eyes in that way that proved Iâd definitely hit a mark.âYou talk a big game for a man who can hardly resist me either. Making all this noise and still sleeping with me afterwards doesn't really count, sorry.âA smile tugged at my lips. Who was going to tell her that taking her roughly in my office, or in the kitchen, had nothing to do with how irresistible she was. And everything to do withu need to get back at L
ANYTA'S POVâOh my God, what happened?â The question came out as a worried whisper.âI went to see my mom,â he murmured, his face buried in my hair.My heart lurched painfully. Clay's mother was mentally ill, and had been in and out of the institution since he was twelve.The last time she was put in there, he was twenty. And he'd signed the papers, ignoring her protests and pleas to not be locked away.He told me she kept trying to convince him that she was okay, that she was sane now.And that he'd have believed her if only he hadn't woken up in the middle of the night to a sharp pain in his chest as she slowly carved on him.âWait,â I made to get up but strong arms wrapped around my waist, making me feel like I was floating.âPlease, just stay with me for a minute.âI nodded as I sighed softly, allowing the warmth of his embrace to seep into me. My hands pressed against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, steady and strong.âShe bit me,â he said quietly, his voice devoid of any of th
ANYTA'S POVPerhaps I should've let Alice stay.Instead, I'd told the nanny to take the whole day off, since it was also my day off.I was in the middle of making dinner, trying to get Teddy to eat his fruits while keeping an eye on the macaroni on the stove.The toddler was determined to grab everything within reach. I turned just in time to see him nudge his plate towards the edge of the kitchen island.âOkay, you're done,â I murmured, wiping his face even as he struggled to get away.I carried him to the living room and turned on the television to his favourite station.âPeggy Sue,â I huffed a bit irritably.She came running enthusiastically, and a smile tugged at my lips as I leaned down and gently rubbed her back.âKeep and eye on Teddy for me, will you?âI took her little yelp as a âyes.âReturning to the kitchen, I finished the dishes and cleaned Teddy's eating spot, then checked my attempt at making cinnamon rolls, in the oven, before proceeding to fix a salad recipe I found o
ANYTA'S POVI looked up from my phone, placing the gadget face down as I saw someone saunter through the glass doors, her shoulders held high.She clutched a Birkin in her left hand, and with the right one, she pushed her designer glasses up to her head.For some reason, I straightened as her heels continued clicking on the tiled floor as she made her towards me.âGood morning,â I beamed politely, âwelcome to Airo.âThe lady peered down her nose at me, without responding. Then she arched an eyebrow as she regarded me like I was an inconvenience.My cheeks hurt while I debated whether to drop my smile or not, but I still held her gaze expectantly.I took the time to study her closely, and immediately decided her hair was her best asset. It was luscious, long and straight and golden.Shifting slightly under the continued silence between us, I dropped my smile and sighed as I decided to try again.The morning had started like any other at the agency since I started working there two week
EVERETTâS POVI was fuming. Steam-pouring-out-of-my-ears, stomach-aching, chest-heaving, fuming!It was definitely not the sharp, fleeting kind that burned out as quickly as it flared. This one was deep, seeping into every crevice of my being like acid corrosion.It was the kind that made my jaw ache from clenching and my hands curl into fists without conscious thought.I stormed out of the side room minutes after Anyta followed the man out, pulse roaring in my ears.Iâd lost control with her, again. The second time.What is fucking wrong with me?!There was really nothing special about her, besides the obvious fact that her body had changed, in a way that I appreciated far more than I wanted to.But there were so many other women like that, so many who would fall on my feet at the flick of a wrist.Perhaps that was it. The fact the she was refusing to fall at my feet was frustrating and magnetic.I should've treated her better when she was mine.That was the truth I didnât want to a







