Violet thought Rowan Ashcroft was just her ruthless billionaire boss—the kind of man who notices results, not people. Then his attention shifts, and suddenly she’s at the center of an obsession she never saw coming. As her life falls apart, Rowan offers protection no one else can. The problem? Men like Rowan don’t protect what they love. They possess it.
It’s a dress. Black. Clean lines. Nothing flashy, but the fabric is heavy, expensive. I glance at the tag and nearly choke. “Camille-“ “No,” she cuts in. “Don’t look at the numbers. Look at the clothes.” I follow her to the fitting room on autopilot, arms already full. Dresses. Blazers. Trousers that look like they…
I zip the bag and set it aside. “I knew.” She blinks. “You did?” “The way he watches you,” I say simply. “You don’t look at people like that unless you care.” Camille’s expression softens, something vulnerable flickering across her face. “Huh.” I glance at her then. “Are you happy?” She nods. “Yeah. I am.”…
The door closes. Silence settles. Avery shifts in her chair, then looks at me, forcing a brittle laugh. “So… when is my replacement due?” I don’t answer right away. I let the question sit there and rot. “She already arrived,” I say finally. Avery blinks. Looks around the office. The desk. The door. Then it…
“Do you think I should tell my mother?” Camille doesn’t answer right away. She keeps her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. I can almost see her weighing it-choosing truth over comfort, even when comfort would be easier. Finally, she says, “No.” I turn toward her. “No?” She glances at me briefly,…
1 clutch the receipt tighter, suddenly aware of how exposed we are. How quickly this went from grief to something else entirely. “This wasn’t supposed to be complicated,” I murmur. “They just… give you the box. You cry. You leave.” Camille shakes her head. “Nothing about this is normal.” The fluorescent lights hum louder now,…
Violet We end up back at the station. Again. The same building. The same smell of old coffee and disinfectant. The same hum of fluorescent lights that makes everything feel unreal, like this is all happening one step removed from my body. The difference this time is that I’m not alone. Devin walks at my…
So I call security and have them removed, only for the mailroom to appear ten seconds later with a stack of envelopes and a handheld scanner. May “Sir, I need your signature.” My what? “I’ve never signed off on mail in my life,” I snap. He blinks. “Well… Violet usually- Of course she does. I…
I exhale through my nose. “That obvious?” “To people who pay attention.” I reach for the folder on my desk-the one I’ve been refining for days now-and slide it across to him. “Her name is Violet Pierce,” I say. “Her brother, Drew Pierce, went missing just over six weeks ago. She reported him missing after…
Her grip tightens suddenly. Too tight. “He told me not to worry,” she continues, voice rising. “Said Drew was busy. Said he’d come by soon.” I swallow hard. “Did he?” Her face twists. “You think I don’t know what’s happening?” she snaps. “You think I’m stupid?” “No-Mom, that’s not-“ “You always think you know better!”…
I lift my head slowly. “And?” Camille winces. “And I told him.” There it is. The tight, cold feeling in my chest blooms-but it doesn’t explode like I expect it to. It just… sits there. I stare at the condensation running down my glass. Then I sigh. “I don’t care,” I say finally. Camille blinks.…