All Chapters of Stranded on an Island with Mr. CEO: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Third person POV He had been watching that house for days but the neighborhood was starting to itch. A couple of poke-nosers who couldn't mind their own damn business had already approached him with suspicious looks and questions. He had blown them off with a cool, practiced ease, but he wasn’t a fool. He knew the windows of opportunity were closing. Security was tightening, and he could feel the invisible eyes of whatever goons were sniffing around. It was Sunday evening, and he had been trailing the Donovan girl. She was a busybody herself, flitting from place to place, but today she had spent the better part of the afternoon with an uptight, clean-looking man. A white collar worker, by the look of his expensive shoes and the way he carried himself. They were currently at a dimly lit bar, and by the way the drinks were flowing, they were well on their way to being completely shit-faced. Arthur watched from a corner booth, his mind whirring. He needed to get her alone. He pulled a

Ariana's POV It felt like I was walking toward my own execution. My heart thumped frantically against my ribs, making me lightheaded. I kept telling myself to be brave, but with every step I took toward the shadows of that rusted street lamp, the air seemed to get thinner. He’s not going to hurt me, I tried to convince myself. Not in the middle of a street in Astoria. But I knew my father. I knew the man who had raised me, and I knew that logic didn't always apply to him when he was on a rave. The closer I got, the more my throat closed up, but I steeled my resolve. I wouldn't let him see me tremble. Not this time. I stopped several feet away at a safe distance, though it didn't feel safe enough. We stood there, the orange glow of the street light casting faint distorted shadows on the pavement between us. It was still daytime but the sun would go down soon. "Dad," I said, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. He looked at me, his eyes hooded and dark. A slow, mocking smile spread

Ariana's POVThe first thing I heard was a rhythmic beep. It was steady and annoying, pulling me back from a deep, heavy darkness. I tried to move, but my limbs felt like they were made of wet sand. Everything was too much effort. Just as I realized someone was holding my left hand—their grip tight, warm, and oddly grounding—the weight of exhaustion dragged me back under. I slipped off the edge of consciousness again before I could even twitch a finger.The second time I woke, the fog had cleared. I felt lighter, more present. I slowly blinked my eyes open and the first thing I saw was a mop of sleek, dark hair resting on the edge of my mattress.Nathaniel.He was hunched over, his head resting on his arms right next to my hip. I stared at him for a moment, my mind wandering. I used to watch movies where the hero would sit by a hospital bed for days, and I’d always think it was so impractical. Why wouldn't they just go home, get a good night's sleep in a n actual bed, and come back fr

Nathaniel's POV It was 4:00 PM, and the hospital room was bathed in the soft, orange glow of the late afternoon sun. Ariana was sleeping soundly beside me, her breathing deep and peaceful. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind going through a number of things. I was calculating every possible outcome, trying to build a fortress around the woman in my arms.Then, my phone rang.The ringtone pierced the quiet room very loudly. I muttered a curse under my breath, fumbling for the device on the nightstand. I quickly checked to make sure Ariana hadn't stirred, then untangled myself from her warmth as gently as possible. I slipped out of the bed and walked to the far corner of the room before answering.It was my father."Yes?" I said, my voice low and to the point."You have not been to the company today," his voice boomed on the other end, devoid of any fatherly concern. "I wondered where you were. Your mother tells me you are at a clinic with the intern girl.""I am," I said

Ariana’s POVHe turned the phone screen toward me. It was a text from his security team. My heart stopped. "Maya is being held at the apartment. As soon as she got out of her car, Arthur jumped her. He’s holding her at gunpoint in front of the house. My men are there, but they can’t engage without risking her life."The blood drained from my face. "Maya? Why is she always getting roped into my mess?" I felt a wave of nausea. I owed that girl everything, and now her life was on the line. "Nathaniel, what are we going to do? We can't let him hurt her.""I’ve already alerted the police," Nathaniel said, his voice dropping into that calm, authoritative tone he used when things were at their worst. "But we have to go there. We need to deescalate the situation before they arrive. Just promise me you will listen to everything I say once we arrive. Do not try to be a hero."I nodded fervently. "I promise."The drive to Astoria felt like it took hours, even though the driver was pushing the sp