All Chapters of The Contracted Alliance; Accidental Marriage : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Zack’s POVThe city buzzed with anticipation as Grayson Holdings unveiled its latest venture—a partnership that would cement its legacy in clean energy. But Zack Stanford’s mind wasn’t on the gleaming buildings or the influx of investment figures pouring in. It was on the soft knock he’d heard on Aleena’s office door earlier that morning and the whispered words that had followed. Words that made his pulse trip over itself.“She asked for you,” the assistant had said, almost apologetically. “Only you.”He had seen her—Aleena, graceful as ever—standing by the wide windows that overlooked the city, her silhouette painted in sunrise. But she hadn’t spoken. Not yet.Now, walking through the gleaming glass corridors of the Grayson building, he couldn’t shake the memory. Nor the feelings it stirred.A lifetime ago, they were rivals. Then strangers with tension thick enough to cut. Then something much more complicated—business allies, emotional anchors, and that one night they never spoke abo

Leena’s POVThe moonlight fell like silk over the marble floor of the mansion while I stood in the middle of the ballroom, encircled by individuals wearing masks—some real, others symbolic. My heart was a rhythmic device in my chest, constant yet uneasy. Tonight was not just a celebration of a formal alliance; it was a reckoning.Grayson Holdings recently finalized a billion-dollar merger with Stanford Group and Cain International. In public, it was a business partnership that pledged strength and wealth. In secret, it was an agreement created from shattered emotions, hidden truths, and love affairs much stronger than any legal document.I altered the neckline of my velvet evening gown and scanned the audience. Ethan's voice reached me from by the bar—soft, steady, deliberate. He was captivating the leaders of Stanford Group, as anticipated. Yet, despite that authoritative smile, I noticed the sharpness in his gaze. He understood that this evening wasn’t centered on business transacti

Nina Willis POVThe click of her heels echoed across the marble floor of Grayson Holdings’ central atrium, but Nina barely registered it. She had just returned from overseeing the Paris acquisition, a whirlwind of negotiations, late-night calls, and too much champagne at fake celebrations. But now that she was home, in the thick of everything again, her pulse thrummed for different reasons.New York buzzed with its usual chaos. Her calendar was full, her inbox overflowing, and yet all she could think about was him—Zack.Nina had always played her role flawlessly. The charming strategist. The fierce negotiator. The composed managing director. But ever since that night on the rooftop, when Zack had pulled her into his arms like the world would end if he didn’t, she hadn’t been the same. His touch still lingered on her skin like fire beneath silk. It was distracting. Dangerous.Especially now, when the company needed all hands on deck.“Miss Willis,” her assistant murmured as she entered

Nina’s POV The city skyline shimmered behind the tinted glass as I stepped into the boardroom, clutching the report I barely managed to finish last night. Grayson Holdings had made an aggressive move into clean energy partnerships, and while the numbers spoke well of it, the board’s expectations were merciless.But none of that mattered when I saw him—Zack. Standing tall in his tailored charcoal suit, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, speaking lowly to Ethan near the head of the table. His hands gestured with precision. His voice calm. Commanding.I swallowed thickly and looked away, heart fluttering in a traitorous rhythm I couldn’t suppress anymore.Two weeks ago, I had kissed him in a moment of weakness—or clarity, I wasn’t sure. And instead of pretending it never happened like I thought he would, Zack had done the opposite. He lingered. He texted. He showed up.He remembered how I liked my coffee. How I hated tulips but loved daffodils. He even sent daffodils to my office yest

Leena’s POVThe knock on the conference room glass was soft, but I heard it like thunder.I was already inside, seated at the far end of the long, polished table in Grayson Holdings’ top-floor meeting suite. My fingers were wrapped around a cup of coffee that had gone cold, my untouched laptop open before me, a single blank email blinking at the center of the screen. I hadn’t written a word.It was barely past eight, but I’d been here since six.The door opened. Zack stepped in first, followed by Nina Willis. Both looked sharper than they should at this hour — him in a tailored black suit that said “I know what I’m doing,” and her in a beige wrap dress that suggested she’d already done it.“Morning,” I greeted, trying not to sound tired.Zack gave a curt nod as he pulled out the chair beside me. Nina smiled kindly and took a seat opposite.“Where’s Ethan?” Zack asked, pouring himself a glass of water.“He left early for a board breakfast with the South Korea tech partners,” I replied.