mantha's voice was soft

e again, bestie." Her voice trembled

ha placed a reassuring hand over hers. "Besi

rdened. "What intel

ating a familiar face-her father. He was seated in a café

York," Samantha said carefull

voice. "Secure his address as soon as pos

your

le this," her tone was confident. "Sh

d. "Alright... just pro

she didn't feel. Then, with her pulse

e up, and I had to leave town. I

certainty could set in, she took out her S

a loud car hor

time t

****

nto weeks. Wee

Russia, yet Zac's presence clung to

n New York, Mia expected reli

king her food on her plate as she waited for Samantha. The warm

vering over the power button. She was eager to g

d Zac think of her now? Would he h

oss the TV screen, the anchor's voice c

nell Engaged to Top

slipped from her fingers, clatt

billionaire? Engaged? How? H

. It couldn't be." Her eyes

ours they spent texting the next day. He had let her believe he was just

d in his world? Or had he looked at her and thought may

y he never

ng on memories of him-his voice, h

s-not waiting, but m

icked her eyes, but she wouldn't al

chair, its legs scraping against the floor. She didn't c

the weight was too heavy for her to bear a

eded m

ss! Be c

jolted her

g she had tripped ove

ith honey-blonde hair, dressed in a crisp sh

e stammered. "I wasn

ndly. "You look exhausted.

he would walk by, but something about him-hi

rprise, s

ries of travel and adventures mana

ointing as Samantha's familia

ad. "It was a pleasure

re, Mr.

ishing into the crowd as she m

***

e house, Mia could no longer hold back her emotions. She gr

dly registered in her throa

s situation?" Her should

okay to hurt." She snatched the half-empty bottle. She wasn't trying

young, smart, and beautiful. You have to

d wiped her nose. But that hope didn't last long. Then h

ho do I even bla

d to protect her, only to drag her

led her every move, treat

at is he?

ope for something more. And now, he was engaged. Hap

her mission earlier, she c

's stil

dn't even know

***

ined warehouse. Her boots echoed against the

the table, his fingers dr

e a

ugh she hated that she

lope toward her

e wondered, her fingers t

the photograph, the

was

nfident smile st

ppening," she whi

ang's cold voice sl

target, and you'll be going und

r grip tightening around the photo. Xiang did

-she couldn't let

oject," Xiang continued. "You'll report weekly for th

or surveillance," Mia managed

ned. "But if you're not competent to handle this, Megan c

en waiting for her to fuck things up

decline as he leaned forward. "This time,

er instincts, screaming at her to say

n that gave second chanc

s left her lips, they

m i

dn't let her feelin

started. Because freedom was t