All Chapters of RUIN ME TENDER : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

ISLAThe first thing I noticed was the smell.It wasn’t the cozy, familiar scent of the logs crackling in the grand fireplace downstairs. This was different. Sharp, ugly, and chemical, it clawed its way under my bedroom door and stole the sweet, sleepy air from my room. I sat up in bed, my heart doing a little tap-dance against my ribs. My white canopy suddenly felt like a flimsy tent.A shout echoed from somewhere deep in the house. Then another. My stomach twisted into a cold knot.I slipped out of bed, my bare feet silent on the thick Persian rug. My favorite, the one with the deep red and gold patterns that Mathieu said looked like dragon scales. I crept to the door and pressed my ear against the cool, painted wood.The sounds were clearer now. Not the usual muffled hum of the house settling. These were frantic. A crash. The pounding of footsteps on the marble staircase. And beneath it all, a low, hungry roar I’d never heard before.I turned the brass handle slowly, pulling the doo

People. Desperate, power-hungry creatures. Always watching, always waiting for their chance to crawl their way up—grasping at anything that smells like an opportunity. It's laughable, really, the way their eyes widen in barely concealed hunger when they spot someone useful. Someone who could hand them power on a silver platter.Fucking leeches.Women are no different. With their sultry gazes, calculated touches, and honeyed words, they play their roles well—too well. Some make it a game, twirling their fingers through their hair as they whisper flirtations that mean nothing, trying to act delicate. Feminine. Damsels in distress. It's nauseating.A manicured hand brushes against my arm."Ciaran."The voice is smooth, polished. A woman in red lipstick—a deep, rich shade that matches the dress clinging to her like a second skin. She looks at me like she knows me, like she's confident I'll humor her for at least a moment.I don't.I don't fucking know her, and I don't care to. Just anothe

It's everywhere.The tabloids, the magazines, the news—every goddamn place I look.With an annoyed sigh, I toss the newspaper onto the glass table in front of me, the pages fluttering in the soft morning breeze. My fingers reach up, pushing my sunglasses into my hair as I lean back against the lounge chair. The sun is warm, bright but not too bright for my liking. I should be enjoying this moment. But, of course, peace is a luxury I rarely afford.A shadow shifts near the terrace entrance. The servant. She waits, poised at a respectful distance, hands clasped in front of her."Bring me a glass of lemonade," I say, my voice laced with tired indifference.She nods. "Sí, Miss Moreau. I will bring it in five minutes." And then she disappears back inside the house, leaving me to my thoughts.Eight hours. That's all it's been since the gala, yet the news has spread like wildfire. As if people had nothing better to talk about than the mere fact that I—Isla Moreau—stood mere inches apart from

The moment Arthur Orlando poses the question—who among us will lead this change, and at what cost?—the discussion ignites like a match to gasoline.Gerald Henderson, the CEO of Henderson Co., clears his throat and begins. "The key to global market expansion lies in aggressive acquisitions and leveraging existing corporate influence. There are two essential strategies we must prioritize: first, securing partnerships with rising economies before our competitors do, and second, implementing controlled mergers to absorb smaller yet promising enterprises."Before he can elaborate further, a smooth voice interjects."That's an outdated mindset, Gerald," Nathan Sterling, owner of Sterling Global Holdings, counters with a measured smirk. "You talk about absorption, but what you fail to acknowledge is that dominance isn't about buying power alone. It's about influence. The real key to global expansion isn't just acquiring businesses—it's controlling the environment they operate in. Government

"Power is about control, Valente, not destruction."My voice is clear, steady, sharp. I don't look away from him, don't give him the satisfaction of thinking he's the only one in this room who understands power.Ciaran's expression shifts. The smirk fades. His brows knit slightly, as if my words actually require thought. As if he didn't expect me to counter him.I take it further. "You believe eliminating competition is the key to dominance. But what you're forgetting is that in business, chaos is not control—it's desperation."I see the slight flex of his jaw. I tilt my chin, my voice unwavering. "A true leader doesn't need to eliminate threats to stay on top. They mold the battlefield to their advantage. Turn adversaries into assets. That's power." Ciaran Valente's gaze is piercing and it irritates me to the very core. He raises a brow. "And what happens when your so-called assets turn against you, Moreau?" His voice is low and taunting. "When they sink their teeth into the hand t