Malachi’s gaze is hot and heavy on my skin. His attention is rapt, and the look on his face is stone-cold as he watches me.“What do you think you’re doing, Antonia?”Malachi’s voice is husky and dark, so I know he likes what he sees. It’s more than me knowing it even. I can feel it.Malachi’s attention has always had a tangible presence to it. That’s why I always know when he’s around, because he’s probably cast a disdainful glance my way earlier. Even his employees feel it whenever it lands on any one of them. So by the weight of his gaze on me, I can tell that Malachi Finn is wound up very tight right now.He’s not going to jump on me and ravish me in a fit of lustful passion. He still has his pride.But the body wants what the body wants, and the thought that enters my head is downright naughty. I even feel like laughing at it. I do.A small chuckle finds its way from me, but it’s from half nervousness as much as from the giddy unbelief coursing through me. I ask Malachi a question

There’s a smug grin on his face when he sees the acceptance on my face. That grin tells me I won't like much of what he’s going to say, and it tells me he knows he’s won, because he’s giving me terms on how to live my life.He doesn’t know that I'm not the Antonia whose life he gets to dictate anymore, but I also know this is the only chance I'll get to be free of his meddling for a while. An agreement is better than disagreement and strife.With the hospital’s consent, he can keep me here for as long as he wants, and I don't want my father or Tieran meddling in this. It could leave a trail. This isn’t how I want my true identity to be found out.I’ve already told Malachi there’s no other man.He’s keeping me here mainly because he believes there’s some other man I've been selling myself out to for favors. That’s the only possible explanation he can think of for my behavior, and as much as it hurts my pride to realize that a man I loved for three years wouldn’t hesitate to think somet

~Malachi’s pov.~“Mr Finn.”I raise my eyes to the door of my office and i find my assistant standing there. Liam has a tired look in his eyes. I should release him. He’s done his fair share of work today, but we spent time at the hospital and the work allotted for that time went undone. Someone has to do it, and i won’t be doing it alone. He’ll stay back and I’ll pay him overtime.“Yes, Liam.”I return my gaze to my monitor. The feed of the hospital cameras is no longer on display. I might like to indulge, but not so much that i deny the existence of the things i need to do. Liam interrupts my train of thoughts again, “The hospital has called. Mrs Antonia is on the line.”My finger pauses over the keyboard.I look up and Liam is looking back with a blank look in his eyes. He’s tired, and so he’ll act like he has no energy left until he’s let home to do whatever it is he does. No one else was in that room with me, so no one else saw the side of Antonia i did.She’s changed.The real

~Bridget's pov.~It’s becoming very hard not to hate all the men of the Finn family. Malachi’s father was okay, but the younger generation seem to have serious issues.I trip on the darned heels I'm wearing and swear as I almost take a direct dive into the cold hard ground. I don’t even care if I fall. I need his help and he’s walking the fuck away from me.“Tieran, wait! I can help!”My wobbling steps are nothing in comparison to the distance his long legs cover in powerful strides. The sound of an elevator door coming open floats into my ears, and then they close and I know I have missed my chance.He’s gone, and after I had to lie in wait at his main office just to discover this place, I'm not happy about it, “Coward!”I call the name out loudly and with venom. I don’t care if he’s going to hear me. He should. Maybe then he’d grow a pair of balls and come back so we can do something about his nephew who’s keeping my best friend hostage!I turn back to look at the receptionist sta

The grounds of my father’s mansion are as stunning as when I first saw it, except this time, something much more valuable than this mansion is sitting in his wheelchair outside the large oak double doors.Ian’s voice confirms my suspicion, “He’s really worried about you.”I nod in agreement with that comment. I can see that. I can see it in the blank look in his eyes and the tired creases on my father’s forehead.He’s waiting for me, and it hurts my heart as much as it warms. I'm seeing him here. Because I've had to put him through this. I get down from the car when Ian parks and I walk over to him. My father rises when I come into arm’s reach and he pulls me into a hug.A deep feeling of remorse rises up in me when I notice how tight he holds me. Tears sting my eyes and my voice comes out scratchy when I speak, “I’m so sorry, Dad. I’m sorry for making you worry. I never intended to. I’m so sorry.”My father only keeps his hug with me tight and I can hear how fast his heart is raci