The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the circular breakfast room, casting a golden glow that danced across the polished wood floor.

  Kian drummed his fingers against the clear glass table, occasionally glancing toward the kitchen entrance as he fought against the restlessness stirring in his chest.

  Chatter drifted from Lara, Sana, and Kasra, but Kian’s thoughts were elsewhere. After last night, he had been eager to see Harper again, and the minutes seemed to stretch longer than usual.

  Sana caught Kian’s distracted expression, her brow arching playfully. “Kian, why haven’t you left?”

  He leaned back, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth. “Just waiting for Harper. We’ve got a project to discuss.”

  Sana teased, “Are you sure it’s work?”

  Before he could retort, the soft click of stilettos echoed from the hallway. Harper stepped in, pausing as her gaze swept the space. When she spotted the quartet, she continued forward. “Good morning, everyone.”

  Kian straightened as if drawing energy from her presence. “Morning, Harper. Perfect timing, as always.”

  Sana rolled her eyes dramatically. “Hey, that’s my bestie! Are you tryna snatch her from me?”

  Laughter erupted as Harper wrapped her arms around Sana. “No one can snatch me from you, Sana! Your Sweets, on the other hand, seems to have nabbed you from me!”

  The playful banter eased as Kian and Harper fell into a comfortable rhythm of conversation, diving straight into the project details. Yet beneath the surface, a current of unspoken emotions pulsed between them.

  After their discussion, Kian glanced at his watch. “Ready to head to the site?”

  Harper adjusted the strap of her backpack. “Let’s do it.”

  They excused themselves and sauntered away, leaving the others behind. Sana watched them go, a sly grin curving her lips. “They seem to be getting along well.”

  Kasra shrugged. “You can’t blame him for swiping your bestie; you shot yourself in the foot playing Cupid.”

  Sana nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “He’ll be forgiven if she becomes my sister-in-law.” Then, she shifted her attention to her cell phone, checking the time. “Vera should be here any minute.”

  True to her words, Vera arrived moments later, ushered in by Hanz. Dressed in a Kate Spade Tiffany blue mini dress and nude Louboutins, she radiated confidence as she approached the trio. “Hello,” she greeted casually while surveying the space with keen interest.

  Sana’s smile was warm. “Vera, glad you could make it. This is my brother, Kasra, and my sister-in-law, Lara.”

  As introductions unfolded, Vera discreetly observed the couple, thinking, Why are all of Landry’s friends so good-looking?

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  She settled into a seat across from them, and talk shifted to the upcoming wedding. Vera began asking questions, and the mood was relaxed. “So, on my side of the family, we are of Persian descent and are Zoroastrians by faith. Lara’s side is of Irish descent, and they are Roman Catholics,” Kasra started the ball rolling.

  Vera blinked. “Kasra, I’m not familiar with your faith. So, I’ll need some time to learn about it before creating a wedding theme for you.”

  A small smile played on Sana’s lips. “No sweat, Vera, I’ll bring you up to speed on Zoroastrianism.”

  “That’s great! Thanks, Sana!” Vera chirped happily. Then, turning back to the couple, she probed, “Kasra, Lara, what are your thoughts about integrating both customs for the wedding?”

  Lara glanced at Kasra, a hint of nervousness in her demeanor. “I think it’s important that we honor both traditions,” she began before adding, “but with so many guests, it may be difficult to keep it harmonious.”

  Kasra nodded, squeezing her hand gently. “Yes, exactly. We’re expecting at least a thousand guests, maybe two—not just friends and family, but business partners, important clients, and government officials. I’m still finalizing the list. Once it’s confirmed, I’ll let you know. We need a location that can accommodate everyone while still being meaningful to us.”

  Vera, ever professional, jotted down notes as they spoke, her brow furrowing in concentration. “At least a thousand guests? That narrows down the options,” she mused.

  But Kasra added another layer of complexity to it. “Vera, not that I’m trying to complicate your job, but in our faith, the element of fire is sacred, symbolizing purity and divinity. We’d need to place fire urns throughout the venue, so it is imperative that the site can accommodate this.”

  Kasra paused, letting Vera catch up on scribbling in her notepad, then continued, “A potential location is one we own—Shiraz Heritage Vineyards. I understand it’s winter and Lara is pregnant, but given our tradition involving fire, an outdoor wedding might be just the ticket. You’ll need to consider the logistical challenges. Money is no object.”

  Vera’s eyes lit up, a thrill coursing through her. OMG! He just said the four most important words any wedding planner would love to hear!

  “What about catering? Do you have any in mind?” she asked, the wheels in her mind already spinning.

  Kasra inclined his head, relaxed. “Yes, you can liaise with my cousin on that. Sana will hook you guys up.”

  “Awesome!”

  As Vera mentally checked off her list, she pressed on with her questions. “What about your wedding gowns and suits? Do you have any designers in mind? What about the bridesmaids and groomsmen?”

  Kasra turned to Lara, his gaze softening with affection. “I’ll let Lara decide on what she likes. As for me, I have a stylist. So, we’ll collaborate with the designer that Lara chooses. As for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, let’s also see what Lara decides.”

  ……

  Later That Evening

  The scent of grilled steak and rosemary wafted through Talon Cloche’s penthouse as Wendy poured two glasses of full-bodied Bordeaux, watching him over the rim of her glass. “Long day?”

  Talon exhaled slowly, swirling his drink before taking a measured sip. “Uneasy day.”

  She arched a brow. “Because of VP Kavanagh?”

  A flicker of irritation crossed his face as he took another swig before setting the glass down. “He’s agreed to develop the platform. But in exchange, he wants me to assure safety for his people at Data Dynamics.”

  Wendy’s nails tapped lightly against her thigh. “He doesn’t want money?”

  Talon squinted. He leaned back, fingers resting at his temple. “Since he doesn’t want money, we need some other leverage. Something to keep him in line.”

  A familiar tightness coiled in her chest. “What do you have in mind?”

  Talon’s gaze darkened, his lips curving into a slow, lecherous smirk. “Let’s brainstorm in the shower.”

  Her skin crawled.

  She hid it well, tilting her head playfully as if considering it. In truth, the thought of his aging, sagging body pressing against her made her stomach churn. The wiry chest hair, the paunch he refused to acknowledge: it was all a grotesque reminder of how much she had to endure for the life she wanted.

  But she wanted it badly enough.

  She schooled her features, masking her disgust. Talon was already unbuttoning his cuffs, oblivious to the revulsion twisting in her gut.

  Moments later, steaming water thrummed against the bathroom floor, drowning out their lustful moans.

  halfway point of this story. ??

  Friday 8pm SGT (+8 GMT).

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