Gabriel''s POV

    Lunch with Randolph was thest thing I wanted after everything that had gone down at home.

    We weren''t friends. We talked when necessary during meetings, contracts, deals. That was the extent of it. But after the recent signing, he insisted we celebrate. imed he had a spot. Some overpriced restaurant uptown. I hadn''t even bothered to check the name.

    He was already seated when I arrived, grinning like we were old college buddies. Clearly riding high on the deal.

    "Gabriel," he said, lifting his ss. "Look at us-partners in crime. Congrattions again on sealing the deal."

    I gave a short nod and took my seat. "Suppose we have you to thank for the final push."

    He chuckled. "You''re too modest. It''s a win on both ends."

    He kept talking—rollout ns, future partnerships, maybe a European expansion.

    I tried to follow.

    But my head wasn''t here.

    It was with her.

    iressa.

    I let her take control. Let her lead. A liberty I hadn''t given any woman in years.

    But my sweet ire did it so gracefully, so confidently-it didn''t feel like losing anything at all.

    And it felt good to surrender, for once, to the force spinning my world in every direction.

    Fuck...

    The memory of her-her mouth around my cock, the way she wrapped her tongue so greedily, so delicately, made me shift in my seat.

    That sound she made while she moved over me... the low, needy moan that slipped from her throat.

    Damn. It was all I could think about.

    The teasing look in her eyes as she tortured me with soft, lingering licks-only to swallow me whole again like she knew exactly how to destroy me. It was unlike anything I''d ever experienced.

    And now? It felt like I couldn''t function properly without her.

    No matter how hard I tried to focus on Randolph, my mind kept shing back- how I came apart for her. How I shouted how much I loved her like a man possessed.

    Because I was possessed.

    She owned every part of me now-every nerve, every beat of my fucked-up heart.

    There was no escaping her. No outrunning this thing between us.

    No denying it anymore.

    I was all in.

    I clenched my jaw and looked away from my wine ss.

    This morning, when I tried to talk to her aboutst night, I would''ve poured my damn heart out-if she''d let me.

    But she yed dumb. Looked me dead in the eyes and lied through her perfect fucking teeth.

    It drove me insane. Worse-it lit that same burning desire to remind her body exactly what it felt like to be mine.

    "Gabriel."

    I blinked. Randolph had said my name. Twice, maybe more.

    "Hmm?"

    He smirked, settling deeper into his seat. "I was just saying... you seem distracted today."

    I reached for the untouched scotch in front of me and forced a thin smile. "Not at all. Just thinking."

    He chuckled knowingly. "You don''t strike me as the type to get thrown off bnce easily. But here you are clearly somewhere else."

    I kept my tone even. "You know how it is. CEOs juggle a lot-timelines,unches, meetings."

    "Of course," Randolph said, swirling his drink. "I wasn''t criticizing. Just observing. You''re not the only one juggling, Gabriel. And we both know the game never stops."

    My smile tightened. "What matters is that we have it all under control."

    He raised an eyebrow. "Spoken like a man trying to convince himself."

    I gave a sly smile and took a slow sip of my drink.

    Thest thing I needed was Randolph poking around in my personal life. This meeting had dragged on long enough. I needed toe up with a reason to leave

    -soon.

    He kept studying me, then shed a wide grin like he''d just thought of something clever.

    "Maybe you need a break," he said casually. "Step away from the chaos for a bit."

    "I''ll rest when there''s less at stake."

    "Bullshit," he countered, chuckling. "You and I both know the stakes only get higher in this business. That''s why we have to force ourselves to slow down. Enjoy the little things."

    Fair enough.

    "You''ve got a point," I said, setting my ss down. "But my next vacation''s not until the end of the year."

    "That''s too far.” He leaned back in his seat, swirling his drink. “You know, my fiftieth ising up next weekend."

    I looked up. "Is it?"

    "You heard right." He grinned. "Half a century on this. I figured it deserves some recognition. Nothing over the top, of course."

    I gave him a look. "With you? I doubt that."

    Heughed. "This time''s different. Just one of my exotic hotels. Three days, starting Friday. Good food, live music, a few industry friends. I want you there."

    I leaned back. “I''d love to, Randolph. But with everything going on-meetings,

    briefings I''ll need to check my schedule before I confirm."

    He leaned in slightly, voice light but pointed. "Come on, Gabriel. I just signed a multi-million-dor deal with yourpany. The least you can do is show up to my

    party."

    I gave him a wry smile. "I''ll do my possible best."

    "That''s corporate for ''I''m noting," he teased. "Tell you what-bring your team. All of them. We''re about tounch anyway, and this gives us a chance to talk casually. Let loose. Connect without the suits."

    He paused, then added with a smile that made my jaw tighten: "And bring the stunningdy with the peach delivery. What''s her name again...?"

    My shoulders stiffened.

    "iressa,” he said smoothly. "Smart. Confident. Striking. I remember her. Bring her along."

    The way he said her name... the way his voice dipped just enough to make it sound like more than a suggestion...

    A sh of heat surged through me. Jealousy. Fast and intense.

    I shot him a re.

    He barely seemed to notice.

    "And your son, of course. Adrian, right?" he added with a crooked grin. "The more

    faces from your side, the better. Think of it as a little bonding retreat."

    I hesitated. "Not sure that''s a great idea."

    "Trust me, it will be," he said easily, "We''re heading into the first phase of rollout. You''ll thank yourself for letting your team dpress

    before the pressure kicks in."

    He raised his ss. "To smooth transitions. And smoothpany."

    I clinked his ss out of politeness, but the scotch barely registered.

    My stomach had no room for anything but frustration-and fire.

    My hands were buried deep in my pockets as I waited for them to walk in-Nicole, Adrian, iressa.

    I''d made up my mind. We were all going to Randolph''s birthday weekend.

    It wasn''t just about celebration-it was strategy. A move I''d learned to y over time, even when the timing wasn''t ideal.

    Nicole walked in first, a wide grin stered across her face like she already knew what I was about to say.

    Adrian came in behind her, moreposed, a little guarded as usual. Then iressa entered-stunning as ever.

    Her eyes met mine for only a second before shifting away, pretending I wasn''t there.

    Still ying the avoidance game.

    It annoyed the hell out of me and I had every intention of putting an end to it.

    "I have an update," I said coolly, wasting no time. "There''s been a change of ns."

    Nicole''s brows raised. "A change?"

    I nodded. "Randolph is hosting his fiftieth birthday at his private resort. Three days. It''ll double as a celebration and an unofficial kickoff. We''re going." Nicole gasped like she was the only one I''d invited. "Wait-Randolph''s private resort? You''re serious?"

    I didn''t answer.

    Adrian gave a small nod, thoughtful. He was pleased-I could tell even if he tried to hide it.

    iressa blinked, clearly caught off guard... but also visibly impressed. Nicole pped her hands. "Oh, that''s perfect! I was just telling the team we needed something like this-something to set the tone. Great call, Mr. Storm." I narrowed my eyes. "Nicole, you''re not the lead on this project. You''ll attend, smile, observe, and follow iressa''s lead. Nothing more."

    Her mouth opened to respond, but I cut her off.

    "And that''ll be all."

    "But I thought-"

    I shot her a warning look.

    She swallowed whatever else she was about to say and backed toward the door.

    "Of course. I''ll start preparing."

    "Do that."

    Once she was gone, I faced Adrian.

    I took a slow step forward, fixing my gaze on my son. "This is yourst shot."

    Adrian blinked. "What?"

    "You heard me. If I have to worry about you, or pick up after you this

    is it. I swear to God, Adrian, I will cut you off entirely. I mean it. Nomore

    safetys, including my home."

    His eyes widened, a sh of fear breaking through the arrogance. That''s what I

    wanted. That sh of uncertainty-the beginning of a man who might finally take

    things seriously.

    "I won''t screw this up,” he replied quietly.

    "I hope you don''t," I retorted. "Now get out."

    He hesitated, looking between me and iressa. His suspicion was back, but I

    didn''t care.

    I needed him gone.

    I needed them all gone-except her.

    The door clicked shut.

    Finally.

    iressa looked fucking beautiful-standing stiffly by the window, arms crossed,

    her gaze locked on anything but me.

    Like if she didn''t look at me, she could pretend the night before hadn''t happened.

    No. Not this time.

    I reached out just enough to brush my fingers under her chin.

    She flinched, but I didn''t pull away.

    I tilted her face toward mine.

    So I said it low, right against her mouth. "Look at me."

    Her eyes still refused to meet mine.

    "iressa," I warned, my thumb brushing along her jaw. "Don''t make me make

    you."

    Finally, her gaze lifted-reluctant, trembling-but I saw it. The emotions she''d

    buried. The truth she didn''t want me to see.

    Vol

    "We''re not pretendingst night didn''t happen," I said. "No more games. No more silence. Whate this-it''s real. And we''re going to

    talk about it. Like two adults."

    Her lips parted, ready to argue-but nothing came out.

    "What I feel for you isn''t going anywhere," I murmured. "So stop pretending it

    didn''t wreck you, too."

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!