Chapter 1
Royal Niger Company
As my worker, you have no right to come and speak to me directly without first speaking to my manager, then my right-hand man.
As you work here, any leak from this company will have consequences, and everyone involved will suffer them.
Any new idea you feel will promote the company should be given to Kevin. He is second in command and will determine your position in the company.
You are dismissed.
Golden and Blue Jewel
"You have a board meeting at 10 a.m.," Susan, my secretary, says.
"Is that the only meeting today?" I ask.
"No, sorry ma'am. You have a press conference about the jewels by 1 p.m., and Mr. Steven will be here by 3 p.m."
"Next time I ask you for something, be quick about it," I say. "I don't tolerate sluggishness or slow people. You have one last chance, or you're fired."
I turn to the files Peter, my manager, just brought in. I study the two pictures carefully before asking, "Peter, who brought this in or rather, who sent it?"
"It was a new client," he replies. "He said he's coming later, but he dropped this note."
I read it silently.
Hey,
I hope you didn't miss me too much while I was gone.
Well, I'm back, and you'll be receiving a grand surprise. P.S. All the way from Asia.
"Is that all?" I ask.
"Yes."
"You may leave now."
I try to think of who it could be. I never really dated anyone to begin with, so
Time flies, and soon it's time for my board meeting. I quickly adjust my hair, dab a little powder on my face, and head upstairs to the boardroom. Everyone is already seated, waiting for me.
"Sorry for the delay, ladies and gentlemen. Shall we begin?"
Chapter 2
**********
The Letter
I am exhausted. The day isn't even over yet, but I already feel drained. My phone rings it's Michelle.
"Hey, babe."
"Hi."
"Are you busy right now?"
"Yes," I reply distractedly.
"You're still coming with me to see the wedding planner, right?"
"Yeah, by five."
"No. Four thirty."
"I'll pick you up from the office," Michelle says.
"Alright."
In the meantime, I make a few calls regarding our mineral resource issues. Shortly after, Susan calls to inform me that Mr. Steven is here.
"Let him in."
As usual, he announces his presence with expensive clothes and an arrogant smile.
"Miss Cora."
"Steven."
"To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"
"I'd like to invite you to dinner to discuss a business proposal."
"I'm sorry, but can we reschedule? The timing isn't right."
"That's fine."
"Thank you for understanding. I'll have Peter reach out to you."
"Alright. Have a great day."
He leaves, and I release a quiet sigh of relief. I try to focus on work when a notification pops up on my phone the hotel project. I suddenly remember I left it unfinished. I'll need to travel to Jamaica to complete it, but I also need another company to invest.
As I work, the lights go out.
I head downstairs to Susan. "Call the electricians."
"In the meantime, should we use the backup?"
"Yes."
The power returns within five minutes. As I step back into my office, I freeze.
He's standing there. Memories rush back our past, how I opened my heart to him, how loving him was the biggest mistake of my life.
I remember a quote I once read in a book:
Love is just a dirty trick played on us to continue our generation.
I decided long ago to make it my favorite quote.
Malcolm
"What are you doing here?" I ask sharply.
"That's not a nice way to treat your guest, is it?"
"You have five seconds to tell me why you're here before I call security or deal with you myself."
"Wow. I love the enthusiasm."
"I have dinner by eight, and I need to get ready, so say what you came for."
He walks closer, his gaze locking onto mine. We stare at each other until I break away.
"What are you here for, Malcolm?"
"You've grown stronger. More confident. I'm here with a business proposal."
"What makes you think I'd want to do business with you?"
"I'll help you complete your hotel and provide the minerals you need. In return, I get fifty percent."
"Never. You're one of the richest men on earth. Why come to me?"
"There's just something about you that draws me in."
"If you don't leave now, I'll call security."
He leans close, his voice low. "You'll come back to me."
He drops his card on my desk and walks out.
Relationships
Later, Michelle and Hermione burst into my office.
"Hey, girl," Michelle says cheerfully.
"You can leave now, Peter."
"Are you ready?" Hermione asks.
"Yes. Let me grab my bag."
After a few minutes, we leave. Michelle is unusually quiet.
"Michelle, we're leaving," I call out.
"I'm coming."
We head downstairs, and I tell Peter to hand my car keys to David. The drive takes twenty minutes.
At the wedding planner's office, Mrs. Allison greets Michelle warmly. Introductions are made, and after much discussion, Michelle finally chooses a venue.
She drops me off at home afterward. I take a bath and try to rest when Daniel calls to say he's coming over.
"You look like you messed up badly," he says as he enters.
"It's just work."
"Sure."
We talk for a while. He tells me about his breakup with Lizzy, and I tell him about my upcoming trip.
"It might be good for you," he says. "You might finally start dating again."
"I doubt it."
The Wedding
The wedding day arrives faster than expected. Michelle looks stunning as she walks down the aisle. The vows are emotional, heartfelt, and sincere.
As the ceremony ends, I step out onto the balcony for fresh air.
"You should be careful," a voice says behind me.
"I know."
I turn to leave and find myself face to face with a tall stranger.
"I know I'm attractive," he says smugly. "You could just say it."
"You're full of yourself."
"People love confidence."
Before I can respond, Daniel interrupts, and I'm pulled away for photos.
Hermione doesn't miss a thing. "You were gone for a while."
"I'll tell you later."
Chapter 3
********
Jamaica
The flight to Jamaica is quiet. I spend most of it reviewing documents and responding to emails. By the time we land, exhaustion has settled into my bones.
The hotel project is beautiful, but unfinished. Standing on the balcony of my suite, I watch the ocean stretch endlessly ahead of me. This project is personal. It's meant to be my biggest achievement yet.
Kendall meets me the next morning.
"You look tired," he says.
"I am."
"Still refusing to rest?"
"I don't have time for that."
He shakes his head but doesn't push. Kendall has always understood when to speak and when to stay silent.
We tour the construction site, reviewing progress and setbacks. The main issue remains funding for the final phase. Without additional investors, the project will stall.
That evening, I attend a private auction hosted by one of the island's wealthiest investors. This is where connections are made and broken.
The Auction
The room is filled with elegance and power. Expensive suits, designer gowns, and quiet conversations heavy with influence.
That's when I see him.
Logan.
He's leaning against the bar, completely at ease, as though the room belongs to him. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles slowly.
"Didn't expect to see you here," he says when he approaches.
"I could say the same."
"You're chasing investors."
"And you're blocking my path," I reply calmly.
He laughs. "Straight to business. I respect that."
We're interrupted by another man tall, composed, with a sharp gaze.
"Cora," he says smoothly.
"It's been a while."
"Raphael."
Of course he would be here.
The three of us exchange polite conversation, each word layered with unspoken competition. I excuse myself before it turns suffocating.As the bidding begins, I place my focus where it belongs. Winning tonight could change everything.
The Accident
The drive back is supposed to be short. Quiet. Uneventful.
It isn't.
The car skids as rain pours down suddenly. There's shouting, the screech of tires, and then impact. Pain explodes through my body.
Voices fade in and out. Someone is calling my name, but I can't respond.
Darkness claims me.
Hospital
I wake to the sound of monitors beeping.
"Cora," a voice says urgently.
My vision clears slowly. Logan is standing beside the bed.
"What happened?" I manage to ask.
"You were in an accident. You've been unconscious for hours."
I try to move, but pain shoots through my side.
"Don't," he says gently. "You're safe."
Raphael appears moments later, his expression unreadable.
"You scared everyone," he says.
"I didn't plan it."
Despite myself, I let out a weak smile.
Kendall arrives shortly after, relief flooding his face when he sees me awake.
"You're stubborn," he says. "But you're not invincible."
I close my eyes, overwhelmed not by pain, but by the realization that I'm no longer alone in this.
Quiet Truths
Later that night, when the room is quiet, I stare at the ceiling.
I've spent years building walls. Strong ones. Necessary ones.
But something is changing.
The past is catching up. New emotions are forming. And for the first time in a long time, I'm not sure which direction my heart is pulling me toward.
Chapter 4
**********
Recovery
The hospital room smells like antiseptic and rain. Outside, the storm has cleared, leaving the island drenched in gold sunlight. I can hear birds calling, a reminder that life continues, even when mine feels paused.
Logan hasn't left my side. He reads quietly while I try to navigate the fog of painkillers. The silence isn't uncomfortable. It's heavy with possibility.
Kendall comes in, carrying a folder of documents. "I've sorted the investors' concerns," he says.
"Your project can continue. But you need to rest if you want it to succeed."
"I'm fine," I lie, testing my strength as I sit up. Pain shoots through my ribs. Logan catches me immediately.
"You're not fine," he says. His voice isn't harsh, just steady.
"I will be," I reply, refusing to show weakness.
He studies me, his gaze sharp and almost unnerving.
"You're impossible."
"Compliment or insult?" I ask, wincing.
"Both," he smirks.
Old Shadows
Raphael visits later, bringing a calm intensity. Unlike Logan, whose energy is magnetic and unpredictable, Raphael carries quiet authority.
"I heard about the accident," he says, pulling a chair close to the bed.
"You were reckless."
"And you're judging me," I counter, smiling despite the ache.
"I care," he says simply. "Whether you like it or not."
His words linger. He always seems to see parts of me I don't show anyone, and it unnerves me more than I expected.
Nightfall
Night comes fast in Jamaica, and with it, the rhythm of waves against the shore. I lie in bed, Logan's hand still resting lightly on mine. His warmth is steady, grounding, yet there's an unspoken tension that keeps my pulse racing.
"I should go," he murmurs.
"Stay," I say instinctively.
"I can't," he replies, voice low.
"Not yet."
The words hang between us. There's more than concern here. Desire, perhaps, but also restraint. And I can't tell if that restraint is protecting me or protecting him.
Quiet Confessions
I close my eyes, thinking about everything that's happened. The auction, the accident, the uninvited emotional storms these men bring into my carefully ordered life.
I know one thing with certainty. My walls are cracking.
I don't know which man is standing on the other side of them, or if I'll let them in. But for the first time in years, I'm not afraid to find out. And maybe, just maybe, that's what scares me the most.
Chapter 5
**********
Morning Decisions
The sun rises like molten gold over the bay. I lie in bed longer than usual, thinking. The hospital visit yesterday was supposed to be just about recovery, but the truths spoken in that quiet room keep replaying in my head. Logan's gaze. Raphael's quiet insistence. The way they both stir something inside me I've spent years guarding.
Kendall knocks and enters with a stack of papers. "Cora, we need to finalize the funding agreements today. Investors are getting restless."
I rub my temples. "I'm not fully up for it yet."
"Then delegate. Don't let this project die because you were reckless."
He's right. The hotel isn't just a business it's a piece of me. And I've promised myself I won't let anyone, not even fate, derail it.
The Storm Returns
By mid-afternoon, I'm in the office with Logan and Raphael. They're both here for different reasons, yet somehow the room feels charged with tension that has nothing to do with paperwork.
Logan leans over the table, studying a blueprint. "If we adjust the design here, we could save on construction costs without compromising the view."
Raphael frowns. "But that could affect structural integrity. We don't cut corners."
I sit back, caught between them, trying to measure the invisible lines of their personalities as carefully as the hotel plan.
Logan is bold, willing to bend rules. Raphael is steady, unwavering, principled. Both are right in their own ways.
I suddenly realize this is the first time I've felt… torn. Between desire and caution, instinct and reason. Between two men who care, and two visions that could shape everything.
Tension and Touch
A stack of contracts slips from my hands, and Logan catches it before it hits the floor. His fingers brush mine, a fleeting, electric touch that makes my chest tighten.
"You're going to be okay, right?" he asks softly. There's no edge to the question, only concern.
I meet his gaze and nod, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "I will be."
Raphael clears his throat behind us. "Focus," he says, but there's a subtle softness in his voice. His hand brushes the edge of the table near mine. The closeness is deliberate, yet controlled, a contrast to Logan's untamed energy.
I feel my defenses cracking, not just from the touch, but from the weight of their attention.
Evening Confessions
Later, I walk along the beach alone, the cool sand grounding me. The moon reflects on the water, and I can't stop thinking about them how different, yet equally vital, they are.
Logan's shadow falls across my path.
"Mind if I join you?" he asks.
"Not at all," I say.
He falls into step beside me. Silence stretches, not uncomfortable, but heavy with things unspoken.
"You're not alone in this," he murmurs finally.
"Whatever happens with the project, or with… us."
I glance at him. His honesty cuts through the fog of doubt I've been swimming in.
"I don't know what the future holds," I admit.
"Neither do I," he says.
"But I want to figure it out with you."
For a moment, the world narrows to just us the waves, the moonlight, the unspoken promise hanging in the night air.
A Choice Looms
Back at the villa, Raphael waits, watching me with a look I can't decipher.
"Talk to me," he says, voice quiet but commanding.
I want to. I want to tell him everything. About the fear, the excitement, the way Logan makes my heart race and the way Raphael makes it feel safe. But the words stick.
"I need time," I say finally. "Time to think, to recover, to decide."
Raphael nods, though disappointment flickers in his eyes.
"Then I'll wait," he says. "But don't forget we both care. And sometimes, waiting isn't the same as letting go."