The room went silent the moment Teacher’s eyes settled on Celeste. He studied her with unsettling calm, like a predator who’d finally cornered wounded prey. Then he smirked. “Not so bad,” he said finally. “Not as bad as my boys described.”Celeste froze. “Your boys?”Teacher tilted his head, amused by her confusion. “Yes, Celeste. My boys. You didn’t actually think they were yours, did you?”Her face hardened. “They swore loyalty to me.”“They swore loyalty to power,” Teacher replied. His voice was silk, but his eyes gleamed sharp. “You had power once. Not anymore. Without me, you wouldn’t have lived past that warehouse. You’d be rotting in the ground beside Chris. Instead, I made sure your name disappeared. I covered your tracks. While you were being flown from one country to another, I made sure no one traced a single trail back to you. So, yes, Celeste, your boys, your safety, your survival...you owe all that to me.”Celeste’s jaw tightened. “I don’t owe you anything. I paid my d

Xavier’s study was quiet except for the sound of the clock ticking on the far wall. Amber stepped in, her heels clicking lightly against the marble floor. She looked around, noting the glass of whiskey half-finished on the table, the papers scattered, the way Xavier leaned against the desk like he’d been waiting for hours. “Amber,” he said, his voice low but warm. “Xavier,” she replied softly, adjusting her jacket as she walked closer. “You sounded urgent when you called. What’s going on?”He studied her face, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “First, tell me. How have you been? How’s London?”Amber exhaled, easing into the chair opposite him. “London is… good. Busy and different from how I left.” She smirked faintly. “I’m still getting used to being the one in charge. Having power, people listening to me, and Obeying me.” She paused, her expression softening. “But I’ll confess, it’s intoxicating.”Xavier chuckled. “I can imagine. Power is a drug, once you taste it, you can’t sto

Antonio’s study reeked of cigar smoke. The dim lights cast sharp shadows across his face as he stood by the desk, fists pressed against the polished desk. Irene sat at the edge of a chair, legs crossed, arms folded tightly against her chest. Three of her hired men stood near the door, heads bowed, avoiding Antonio’s eyes.Antonio’s voice rang across the quiet room before anyone could talk.“You’ve been with me how long, Irene? How long?” He slammed his palm on the desk, making one of the men flinch. “And yet you still haven’t learned! When I plan an attack, I don’t fail. I don’t! So tell me, why would you dare move without me?”Irene shifted uncomfortably, scared of the change in Antonio’s voice but she still held her chin high as she answered him. “Don’t twist this on me, Antonio. It wasn’t my fault, it was those useless men.” She threw a sharp look toward the men. “They were supposed to corner her and get her without mistakes.”One of the men bristled. “With all due respect, ma'am,

Amber stirred, her head resting against the firm pillow, her body still warm from the night before. For the first time in weeks, her chest wasn’t heavy with fear or regret.Xavier was still asleep beside her, arm flung carelessly over his chest, his breathing steady. His face looked calmer than she had ever seen it. There was no scowl, no storm in his eyes. Just peace.Amber whispered, almost to herself, “So this is what trouble mixed with peace feels like.”Xavier’s eyes opened slowly. He caught her staring. “Enjoying the view?”Amber smirked. “Oh please! Don’t flatter yourself.”He reached over, brushed his fingers across her hair. “You can't even deny it..." He stared into her eyes as worry suddenly flooded his heart. "Hey, no regrets?”She shook her head. “None. Don’t make it awkward, Xavier. Remember that was what we agreed.”He leaned closer, his voice low. “Good. Because I wasn’t planning on awkward, I was planning on more.”Amber laughed softly. “Now you're being greedy.”“Thi

Xavier sat across from the Prime Minister, his posture sharp, and eyes unreadable. The air between them was stiff and dangerous.The Prime Minister leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “So, Mr. Xavier Lancelot, that settles our agreement on the port contracts.”Xavier gave a curt nod. “Yes. We also make profits on both ends, that's efficient and clean. Just the way I like it.”“Good. Very good.” The Prime Minister’s lips curved faintly. “You’ve always been a man of precision. That’s why I respected you when we first met. And I must say, Xavier, you’ve grown sharper with time. You remind me of myself when I was younger.”Xavier offered a polite smile. “That’s generous of you, sir. I only try to keep the business intact.”“Business,” the Prime Minister repeated slowly, drumming his fingers on the table. “Yes… but family is the true foundation. Don’t you agree? You know, I once thought we would become family.”Xavier adjusted his cufflinks, already knowing where the conversation