41. She's Mine

ALEXANDER:Her body pressed against mine, and I couldn’t fucking move. The towel had shifted further, revealing the curve of her shoulder, the slope of her collarbone. Her lips were so close. If I leaned up a little, I could kiss her. I could taste her. I could…What the hell am I thinking? She was a servant. She worked for me. She was nothing. No one. And yet I couldn’t look away. Her eyes were wide, dark, full of something I couldn’t name. Fear, maybe. Or confusion or something else entirely. Something that made my blood run hot. My eyes dropped lower without meaning to. I couldn’t help it. A small mark appeared on her chest, just above the swell of her breast. A birthmark. I froze. It was small, barely visible. I’d seen that mark before. Harper. I’d seen it on the first night that we had both shared together and that mark was also in the exact same spot. I reached for the towel, my fingers brushing against the fabric and I began to pull. “Stop! Luisa screamed in panic, scr

42. Gone Too Soon

ALEXANDER:The numbers blurred in front of my eyes for the third time. I blinked, trying to focus on the quarterly reports spread across my desk but the words kept swimming. Revenue projections. Market analysis. Acquisition strategies. None of it mattered. None of it could compete with the image burned into my mind. Luisa on my chest. The towel that had slipped, revealing the birthmark on her chest. Although I hadn’t seen it clearly, I was sure it looked exactly like Harper’s. I shoved the papers away, leaning back in my chair. The leather creaked beneath me, the only sound in the silent study. Outside, the city glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I should have been reviewing the contracts for the merger. I should have been preparing for the board meeting tomorrow. I should have been doing anything other than obsessing over a nanny with a familiar birthmark. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way her eyes had widened when I had touched her. The way her breath

43. Locked

HARPER:I dropped my phone on the nightstand. I had spent thirty minutes of my morning catching up with Ethan and Daniel. I was just so happy that they were doing fine and lucky for me, Ethan hadn’t asked about his daddy today. Saved me the stress of trying to come up with a lie. I couldn’t keep on lying to him forever. I would tell him the truth about Alexander on his fifth year birthday. At least then he would be older. I quickly put on my uniform. I went to the mirror above my dresser and felt a twist of guilt in my stomach. “You’re really going to do this,” I whispered. I shook my head. Of course. What other choice did I have? Liam had made it clear. One week for me to get the file or he’d tell Alexander everything. Would he really do that though? I had no idea and I couldn’t gamble on it. There was nothing Alexander could do or say that would make me change my mind. It wouldn’t matter. I was getting that file for Liam and I was getting it today. I paced the small room,

44. The Red File

HARPER:The study was dark, the heavy curtain blocking out the sun. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment, trying to catch my breath. My hand fumbled along the wall until I found the light switch. The room flooded with warm light. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. And then I looked around. Bookshelves lined every wall, stacked with leather bound volumes and neat rows of files. Where am I going to start from? There was a massive oak desk at the center of the room, covered in papers and documents. There were hundreds of files. Thousands, maybe. How was I supposed to find one red file in all of this and how was I even going to know the right red file to take. Okay. Okay. Just breathe. You can do this. I started with the bookshelves. I skimmed over the files. There were some that were named financial records, legal documents, company histories and all. Well, everything was organized alphabetically… A smile curled up my lip, he had always

45. Almost Caught

HARPER:The moment I was sure Alexander and James were gone, I was already on my foot, sprinting toward the door. I cracked the door open a little, just enough to peer into the hallway. Thank God. It was empty. I couldn’t imagine otherwise. I slipped out carefully, closing the door behind me. The file was pressed against my chest like it was a precious thing… in a way, it was. Because if I didn’t deliver this file to Liam, I couldn’t imagine what would happen then. I didn’t run because running would attract attention. So, I just walked fast instead, my heart pounding in my ears. The staff quarters were in the west wing. I had to cross the main hall, pass the dining room and navigate the corridor where the maids always lingered. One wrong turn, one suspicious glance and everything would fall apart. Shit. As I stepped into the dining room, I saw Alexander. Alexander’s back was facing me and he was saying something to James. My chest tightened. I swallowed. I stepped back. What wa

46. Get A Room

HARPER:James: Same place. Same time. 10pm. Don't be late.I stared at the message, well, I thought he wouldn't send it. But the cabin again? The same isolated location where this whole nightmare had started. Part of me had hoped Liam would choose somewhere else, somewhere less creepy, somewhere that didn't feel like the opening scene of a horror movie.But of course he hadn't. Liam liked control. He liked knowing exactly where I was, exactly what I was doing. The cabin was his territory, his playground.I checked the time. 8:15pm. I had less than two hours to get ready, sneak out, and make it to the meeting.Everyone will be asleep by then. You can do this.I slipped out of bed, my feet silent on the cold floor. I'd already planned my escape route—through the servant's corridor, past the kitchen, out the side door. It was the same route I'd used before, the same path that had kept me hidden from Alexander's watchful eyes.Tonight, I dressed casually. Jeans. A simple black top. Nothin