All Chapters of Circle of Love: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Alina POVI woke up to my alarm blaring at 6:30 AM, feeling like I'd barely slept at all. My body ached, my head throbbed, and the events of the past few days felt like a strange dream I couldn't quite shake off. But it wasn't a dream. The black business card sitting on my dresser was proof of that.I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for work, my stomach twisting with dread. Mrs. Chen was going to kill me. The banner mistake wasn't just embarrassing, it was costly. I'd misspelled the client's company name. How could I have been so careless?Because you were too busy thinking about a certain man with golden eyes, a voice in my head whispered.I shook my head and finished getting dressed. I pulled on a simple white blouse and black pants, tied my hair back in a ponytail, and grabbed my purse. The black card was still inside, tucked into the inner pocket. I'd looked at it at least twenty times since yesterday, running my fingers over the embossed lettering. Damian Blackwood. CEO.

CHAPTER 14(ALINA POV)I sat at the long conference table, my laptop open in front of me, but the words on the screen were a blur. The pressure of the upcoming pitch only added to the anxiety gnawing at me since the blackmail began. The threat from the anonymous messenger loomed over me like a storm cloud, growing darker with each passing day. I hadn’t slept properly in weeks; every time I closed my eyes, I saw the humiliating images that could ruin my life.I should be focusing on the pitch, on doing everything I could to help Damien and the company secure this contract. But every time I tried to concentrate, fear crept back in, whispering insidiously in my ear.A sudden movement in the doorway startled me, and I looked up to see my boss, Damien standing there, his expression unreadable.“Alina,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “We need to talk.”My heart skipped a beat, and I straightened in my seat, trying to mask the exhaustion that must be written all over my face. “Oh, of

Chapter 16ALINA POVI woke up to my alarm blaring at 6:30 AM, feeling like I'd barely slept at all. My body ached, my head throbbed, and the events of the past few days felt like a strange dream I couldn't quite shake off. But it wasn't a dream. The black business card sitting on my dresser was proof of that.I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for work, my stomach twisting with dread. Mrs. Chen was going to kill me. The banner mistake wasn't just embarrassing, it was costly. I'd misspelled the client's company name. How could I have been so careless?Because you were too busy thinking about a certain man with golden eyes, a voice in my head whispered.I shook my head and finished getting dressed. I pulled on a simple white blouse and black pants, tied my hair back in a ponytail, and grabbed my purse. The black card was still inside, tucked into the inner pocket. I'd looked at it at least twenty times since yesterday, running my fingers over the embossed lettering. Damian Black

Chapter 18How It All BeganAUDREYAlina's hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold the phone. I watched her stare at the screen, at that threatening message and the photo of us together, and I saw the exact moment fear turned to panic in her eyes."What the hell is going on?" she whispered again, her voice cracking.I took the phone from her trembling hands and examined the message more closely. The photo was too clear, too professional. Whoever took this had been sitting close to us at the restaurant. They'd been watching us the entire time, and I hadn't noticed. That realization burned like acid in my gut."Delete it," I said firmly, handing the phone back to her. "Now.""What? But this is evidence of...""Delete it, Alina. Now."She stared at me for a moment, confusion and fear warring on her face, then she pressed the delete button. The message disappeared, but we both knew the damage was already done. Someone had that photo. Someone knew about us.I ran a hand through m

Chapter 20Audrey POV“See you next week, gum gum,” Dad says, kissing my forehead. I can tell how much sadness he carries inside, even though he tries to hide it by staying happy for my sake.Mom is still staying at her brother’s penthouse with Ben, my five year old brother, even though it’s been two weeks since I got dad out of prison on bail.Our lawyer was able to help us negotiate his bail terms but we still had to pay the million dollar or else he will be back there in no time.With the debt still over our heads, Dad’s assets and accounts are still frozen and he is under a strict business ban, so I am kind of the breadwinner of the family now, with mom refusing to return home and assist.She is too accustomed to the life of luxury and doesn’t want to give it up, even when it involves her family, but I’m not surprised, that’s mom. The same woman who gave up taking care of her young daughter for her modelling career.“Don’t think too much and develop hypertension Papa Bear, remembe