Semua Bab A Million Dollar Deal : Bab 11 - Bab 20

26 Bab

Bloodhounds On Espresso

CHAPTER 11Sophia Bloodhounds On Espresso The morning sun filtered through the strawberry patch.I crouched low, fingers brushing the warm, dusty leaves, plucking the biggest, juiciest reds—deep crimson, still sun-kissed, smelling sweet-tart and like summer in a single inhale.Noah was going to lose his mind over these.Kid had a strawberry obsession that bordered on clinical.A shadow fell across the row.I glanced up, and there was Tommy—blond hair flopping over his forehead, that too-wide grin he always wore like it was glued on—carrying a plastic grocery bag that looked suspiciously heavy.“Hey, Sophie,” he said, rocking on his heels.I straightened up, my lower back giving a small, protesting pop.Oh shit.“Tommy,” I said, wiping dirt onto my Levi's.“Is that a peace offering, or are you finally delivering that homemade bomb you’ve been threatening the HOA with?” He laughed—too loud, too eager.“Nah, it's a gift. From Chase. He just got back from the coast. Thought you’d like

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"I Am Officially Your Landlord"

CHAPTER 12Sophia “I Am Officially Your Landlord”“Wait,” Sharon said, her voice dropping into pure, unadulterated judgment.“You're telling me you don’t even know his middle name? We are five minutes away from a viral homicide of our credibility, and you’re missing basic biographical data?” I shifted in the plush leather chair, feeling like a student who’d shown up to a nuclear physics exam with a coloring book.“Sharon, let's manage our expectations. Until seventy-two hours ago, I was the girl who brought him organic kale and tomatoes and taught his nephew that long division isn't a form of medieval torture.To me, he was just Mr Ashford. Andrew Ashford. Full stop.”Sharon threw her hands up, nearly hitting a mid-century lamp.“Fantastic. Just brilliant. We're building a skyscraper on a foundation of sand and vibes.” Andrew, who was leaning against his desk, finally intervened.“It's a middle name, Sharon, not a state secret. I'm fairly certain the validity of our engagement won'

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A Castle Made Of Ice

CHAPTER 13: A Castle Made Of Ice Sophia Isaac carried the last of the suitcase through the wide front doors while Summer stood rooted on the flagstone path, head tilted back, staring up at the house with eyes the size of saucers.The limestone facade gleamed in the late-afternoon sun, windows flashing like they knew they were expensive.It wasn't just a house, it was a statement that the world was beneath you.Summer tugged my hand, voice small and awed. “Sophie… is this where we’re gonna live?”I looked down at her, smiling. “Yes, baby. This is home now. Do you like it?” She nodded vigorously, pigtails bouncing. “It's like a really big, pretty castle made of ice.” My chest squeezed. “Come on, castle explorer. Let's go inside.” I took her hand and led her through the double doors.Cool air washed over us, carrying the faint scent of lemon polish and fresh lilies from the massive arrangement on the console table.Summer froze, mouth open in a perfect little O as she stared up at t

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One That Tastes Like Gold

CHAPTER 14: One That Tastes Like Gold Sophia I turned slowly, water bottle still in hand, and there she was—Maria, arms crossed, eyes narrowed to slits, looking like she'd bitten into a lemon and found out it was personal.A slow smile curved my lips. The kind that says, oh, this is going to be fun.Her glare sharpened, apparently my amusement was gasoline on her fire.“You still haven't answered,” she snapped. “What department of hell did you claw your way out of this time?” I tilted my head, my smile widening. “I could ask you the same thing. You always did have a talent for showing up where you’re least wanted.” Maria raked her gaze over me—new haircut, clean jeans, blouse that actually fit—and sneered.“Look at you. Less raggy, less haggard. Almost human. Who knew a shower and a decent bra could work miracles? You've managed to scrub off the desperation. Almost.”“I'll take that as high praise.” I gave a little twirl, arms out like I was on a runway. “Do you like the new loo

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Red Room Of Pain Vibes?

CHAPTER 15: Red Room Of Pain Vibes?Sophia Andrew's bedroom wasn't just a place to sleep, it was a cathedral dedicated to the gods of luxury and quiet wealth.It literally swallowed me whole the moment I stepped inside.The space was massive, dominated by a gigantic floor-to-ceiling window that curved gently like the hull of a yacht, overlooking the infinity-edge pool below, water glowing turquoise under the security lights.The color palette was a sophisticated blend of crisp, endless whites and deep grays with tactical splashes of navy-blue on the pillows and the single navy throw draped over the armchair.But the pièce de résistance was the vaulted ceiling—a solid, seamless expanse of flawless mirrors.The bed dominated everything, king… no, emperor-size, crisp white linens stretched tight, flanked by nightstands that probably cost more than my old truck.I'd called it a night after Mary fetched Andrew for Noah. Lessons could wait till tomorrow, my brain was requesting reprieve fr

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Go Ahead. Ask Me

CHAPTER 16: Go Ahead. Ask MeAndrew“Go Ahead. Ask Me”Timothy Russell sat on my Italian leather sofa with the kind of practiced ease that suggested he owned the air he was breathing.His face etched with the kind of permanent, crinkly-eyed smile that made most people lower their guard. Jenna, usually the picture of professional composure, was hovering near the coffee table, her hands trembling as she poured him a glass of water. The pitcher clinked against the glass—a staccato rhythm of pure nerves that Timothy ignored with a cheerful hum.“That's fine, Jenna. Thank you,” I said, my voice smooth but carrying enough weight to snap her out of her trance.“You can get back to what you were doing. I think Mr Russell and I can manage the arduous task of hydration.”She nodded quickly, looking impossible to escape the orbit of his smile, and vanished toward the kitchen.I turned my attention back to the man who had been my father’s primary surveillance tool since I was old enough to have

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"Actually... Congrats Go Both Ways"

CHAPTER 17: “Actually… Congrats Go Both Ways”Sophia".... next up are the children."I muttered the words like a prayer as I tossed another flashcard into the pool.It floated for a second—Simon Ashford, CEO, Noah’s father, Married to Pamela—before the chlorine soaked through and it sank to the bottom. Two weeks.Fourteen days of relentless cramming that felt less like a lifestyle change and my brain was officially beginning to leak.Sharon had turned Andrew’s family tree into a military-grade dossier. I'd spent my mornings memorizing the “Manor Dwellers”, the siblings still orbiting the central jewel of Ashford Hill like moons around a very wealthy, very cold planet. Lionel the doctor, Zara, Patrick, Miles, Freya… and Julian, the ‘affair baby.’I looked heavenward. “Robert's siblings next,” I whispered, closing my eyes.“Elijah, Lawrence, Lucy and Tatiana.” I picked up another flashcard. “Here goes. Elijah married to Valerie… kids are Robyn, Karina, Dalton. Lawrence and Meredi

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“What's The Grant Drama?”

CHAPTER 18: “What's The Grant Drama?”AndrewLucien Pierson lounged in the chair across my desk like he’d never left Kansas, one ankle hooked over his knee, blond hair still carrying that faint airport tang of recycled air and duty-free cologne.My office smelled like papers and fresh espresso from the machine in the corner—I'd just poured us both a cup.“Seattle was a trip, man,” Lucien said, taking a sip of the coffee.He'd just flown back to Kansas to check on his mother, Celeste.“Rain, coffee, and more rain. I think I forgot what the sun looked like for forty-eight hours.” “So, how's Celeste doing?” I asked, leaning forward.I'd known her since Lucien and I were barely old enough to handle a soldering iron.“Is she still giving the nurses at the oncology ward a run for their money?” Lucien smiled, a genuine flicker of relief softening his sharp features.“She's a fighter, Drew. The latest rounds are working. She's already talking about gardening by spring, and celebrating with

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A Botanical Invasion And A G-Rated Mystery

CHAPTER 19: A Botanical Invasion And A G-Rated MysterySophiaI was still vibrating from the shock of the package in the foyer.Calling it a bouquet was like calling the Amazon rainforest a window box.It was a literal mountain of flora—a botanical invasion that had claimed half the entryway.Towers of cherry blossoms in pale pink and white, orchids in creamy lavender and deep violet, tulips in every shade from white to blood-red, all arranged in massive crystal vases.The fragrance was so thick it felt like I was breathing in a perfume factory that had just exploded.Mary and Esmé had appeared from the hallway, both frozen in identical wide-eyed awe.Even the usually stoic Esmé looked impressed.“Lord have mercy,” Mary whispered. “It's like spring decided to move in.” Esmé pressed a hand to her chest. “I've never seen so many flowers in one place outside a royal wedding.” “They're… staggering,” I whispered, reaching out to brush a petal. It felt like cool silk against my fingertips

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“Something Wrong, Harrison?”

CHAPTER 20: “Something Wrong, Harrison?”SophiaThe hospital smelled like a violent struggle between industrial-strength bleach and stale cafeteria coffee.It's a scent that instantly triggers a primitive ‘fight or flight’ response in my nervous system.The fluorescent lights hummed with a low-frequency buzz and the linoleum floors were polished to a mirror-like sheen that felt dangerously slippery.Andrew and I were currently fused to the plastic chairs in the waiting area, a space defined by the distant, rhythmic clack-clack of a receptionist’s keyboard and the occasional muffled announcement over the PA system.Every time the double doors swung open, my heart did a frantic little tap-dance against my ribs.Please let him be okay. Please let it be a bump. Nothing serious.Please God. I prayed silently.The prayer looped in my head like a stuck song I couldn’t turn off.Andrew sat statue-still, elbows on knees staring at the linoleum like it had personally offended him.His jaw tight

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