Todos os capítulos de Stranded on an Island with Mr. CEO: Capítulo 61 - Capítulo 70

Ariana's POVBy Wednesday morning, I had actually started to enjoy the rhythm of my new life. There was something grounding about the repetitive click of the keys and the predictable rows of data on my screen. It was a far cry from the life-or-death stakes of the island. I was sitting at the small kitchen table, twirling a fork into a bowl of spaghetti for breakfast when my new phone buzzed.I had picked up a cheap android phone and a new SIM card a couple of days ago, giving the number to only a few trusted people. I looked at the screen and saw the name Jones. I let out a long, heavy sigh.Jones was someone from my college days. Back then, he had followed me around like a lost puppy, confessing his "undying like" for me but constantly making it clear he wasn't ready for the burden of a real commitment. I hadn't had time for games then, and I certainly didn't have time for them now.Seeing him at the beach the other night had been a shock. He had been so genuinely happy to see me ali

Nathaniel's POVThis was the third night in a row I had found myself parked in the shadows of that nondescript Astoria street. I leaned my head back against the leather headrest and closed my eyes, feeling the exhaustion deep in my bones. I was supposed to be in my home office, buried in spreadsheets and legal briefs, preparing for the shareholders' meeting next week. God only knew what my father had planned, but I knew him well enough to know it wouldn't be a fair fight.I had already spoken to Gurner. My instructions were clear: buy more shares by hook or by crook. I knew what I was doing. I was essentially giving a man like Gurner a green light to use less than honorable means to force people to sell. It was a necessary evil. I had built Coop Enterprises from the ground up with my own sweat. I couldn't let my father swoop in and take over the management of my life's work just because he had a god complex.I looked at the apartment building again. The lights in the living room went

Ariana's POVIt was Sunday night, and the apartment was unnervingly quiet. I was curled up on the sofa, mindlessly scrolling through a news app while digging into another bowl of the tropical fruit. I was down to the last two cartons now, and the mystery of where they came from still sat in the back of my mind unresolved. I had finished my data entry hours for the day, my fingers slightly stiff from the repetitive motion, and now I was just waiting.Maya had been gone for hours. She’d actually gone to church in the morning, which was a sentence I never thought I’d say. Maya Donovan and organized religion usually didn't mix, but apparently, when a handsome, wealthy gynecologist invites you to his parish, you suddenly find a reason to pews-hop. She was totally smitten by Dr. Hugh. I just sat there, chewing on a piece of sweet, creamy fruit, hoping that neither of them was playing the other. Maya deserved a win, but I knew how these high-society men could be.I was just about to get up a

Nathaniel's POVI was driving past the park, my mind a mess of shareholder data and security reports, when I saw her. That familiar silhouette, the way she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, it was Ariana. My heart gave a violent leap, a mixture of pure joy and agonizing longing."Stop the car," I barked at the driver.He pulled over immediately. From this distance, through the tinted glass, I could see her fairly well seated on the benches. It wasn't enough. I needed to see her face. I needed to know she was okay with my own eyes."Wait here," I told him. I stepped out of the SUV, keeping my head down. There was a small kiosk nearby. I grabbed a random newspaper, tossed a bill at the vendor without waiting for change, and walked toward the benches.I found a seat three rows behind her. I opened the broadsheet, hiding my face behind the headlines. Every time she shifted, every time she turned her head in my direction, I pulled the paper higher. I felt like a ridiculous teenag

Nathaniel's POVFor the first time since the rescue, everything seemed alright with the world. Seeing Ariana, touching her, and knowing that she wasn't just safe but willing to let me back in, it was the ultimate motivation. I felt like a man who had finally found the ground beneath his feet after months at sea."To the office," I told the driver. Then, I pulled out my phone and messaged Gurner.Nathaniel: Status update on the acquisition?Gurner’s reply was almost instantaneous—a single, mischievous smirking emoji. I didn't want to worry about what he meant by that response, but with Gurner, results were the only thing that mattered.When we pulled into the parking lot of Coop Enterprises, I didn't wait for the driver to open the door. I stepped out and began a brisk walk toward the glass-and-steel lobby. Normally, I breezed through the halls like a god, barely noticing the faces of the people who kept things running. Today, I found myself noting them. The receptionists, the security