THE STOLEN BRIDE

The air in Kim's office was thick with tension, a mixture of power and desire that clashed in the dimly lit space. The city skyline twinkled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but Kim barely paid attention. His focus was on the woman standing before him, Kiki.

Dressed in a tight crimson dress that hugged her curves, Kiki leaned against his desk, a seductive smile playing on her lips. Her long, manicured fingers trailed over the polished wood as she gazed at him with hunger. "You work too hard, Kim," she purred, tilting her head slightly. "You should let someone ease your tension."

Kim exhaled sharply, shifting in his leather chair. He had known Kiki for years, she was bold, ambitious, and relentless. And he was fully aware of what she wanted.

"You’re not here to talk about my workload, are you?" His voice was calm, cold, detached, just as it always was. But Kiki wasn’t easily discouraged.

She stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder, her nails lightly grazing the expensive fabric of his suit. "Why pretend, Kim? We both know what this is. You need a woman by your side, and I’m willing to be that woman." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "If you make me yours, I can give you everything you need, even an heir."

Kim's jaw tightened. An heir. He knew what she was playing at.

"You think giving me a child will secure your place by my side?" he asked, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

Kiki smirked, her confidence unwavering. "It wouldn’t hurt, would it? Marry me, and we could be an unstoppable power couple. Your company needs a strong woman by your side. The world needs to see that Kim isn't just a ruthless CEO, he's a man who knows how to take care of his own."

Kim leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "And what makes you think I don’t already have plans for marriage?"

For the first time, Kiki faltered, but she recovered quickly. "Who, Kim? Who else is there? You don’t love anyone, and you certainly don’t believe in fairy tales." She perched herself on his desk, crossing her legs deliberately. "We could be perfect together. You just have to say yes."

Kim studied her for a long moment, his face unreadable. He could take Kiki if he wanted to. He could marry her, silence all the rumors, and build the perfect facade. But he had no intentions of making decisions based on pleasure or convenience. His mind was consumed by only one thing, revenge. And for that, he had already chosen his bride.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his gaze piercing into hers. "Kiki," he said slowly, "I don’t make decisions out of desperation. If I get married, it won’t be because someone threw themselves at me. It will be because I want it."

Her lips parted as if to protest, but he continued. "And trust me, when I do choose a wife " His expression darkened. "She won’t be standing here trying to seduce me in my office."

Kiki’s confidence wavered, but she forced a smile. "We’ll see about that, Kim." She slid off the desk, giving him one last lingering glance before strutting towards the door. "You’ll come around. And when you do, I’ll be waiting."

The door shut behind her, leaving Kim alone with his thoughts. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. Kiki was persistent, but she was merely a distraction.

He already knew who his bride would be. And it wasn’t for love.

It was for revenge.

Kiki stormed out of Kim’s office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. Her confidence had taken a hit, but she wasn’t one to accept defeat so easily. Kim thought he was untouchable, but he underestimated her ambition, and her connections.

She pulled out her phone, her fingers tightening around it as she dialed a familiar number. The line rang twice before a deep voice answered.

“Kiki?”

“Grandfather,” she breathed, stepping into her car. “We need to talk. It’s about Kim.”

A heavy silence followed before her grandfather sighed. “I warned you not to chase after that man.”

“He rejected me,” she admitted, her nails digging into her palm. “But that doesn’t mean it’s over.”

Her grandfather chuckled, the sound low and knowing. “You’re just like your mother.”

“And just like mother, I always get what I want,” she declared, her eyes gleaming with determination. “I need your help, Grandfather. If you still have influence over Kim’s company, now’s the time to use it.”

A thoughtful pause stretched between them before he finally responded. “Come to my estate tomorrow. We’ll discuss how to ensure Kim sees you as his only option.”

Kiki smirked, satisfaction washing over her. If Kim wouldn’t choose her willingly, then she’d make sure he had no choice at all.

Meanwhile, in his office, Kim sat back in his chair, unaware that a storm was brewing. A storm named Kiki, backed by the power of her grandfather.

Kim was reviewing a contract when his assistant, Joel, knocked lightly before stepping inside. He looked tense, gripping a tablet tightly.

“Sir, you need to see this.”

Kim raised an eyebrow, setting his pen down. “What is it?”

Joel hesitated for a moment before turning the tablet around. On the screen was a live feed from a high-end restaurant in the city, one Kim knew all too well. The image zoomed in on a familiar face.

Nana.

She was seated at a candlelit table, dressed in an elegant ivory gown, her laughter light and carefree. But Kim’s eyes darkened when he saw the man sitting across from her, Fred.

Kim’s grip on his pen tightened as he watched Fred reach across the table, taking Nana’s hand in his. A small velvet box rested on the table between them.

A proposal.

Kim shot up from his chair, his expression thunderous. “Where is this happening?”

Joel swallowed hard. “Alba Hotel, downtown.”

Kim grabbed his coat, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.

“No one proposes to my wife.”

The restaurant was buzzing with soft chatter and the clinking of fine china when the doors burst open. Heads turned as Kim strode in, his expression dark and unreadable, his presence exuding raw authority.

Nana barely had time to react before a firm hand gripped her wrist and yanked her to her feet. A gasp escaped her lips as she found herself pressed against Kim’s solid chest, his scent overwhelming her senses.

“What, Kim?” she stammered, struggling against his hold. “What are you doing?”

Fred shot up, confusion flashing in his eyes. “Kim, what’s the meaning of this?”

Kim’s cold gaze flicked to Fred, his grip on Nana tightening. “Stay out of this,” he warned. “She’s coming with me.”

“Excuse me?” Nana’s voice rose in disbelief, trying to pull away. “You’re being ridiculous! Let go!”

Kim didn’t listen. With effortless strength, he dragged her toward the exit, his pace swift and unyielding. Nana stumbled, but he didn’t slow down.

Fred moved to intervene, but Kim’s deadly glare froze him in place. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” Kim said lowly before shoving the restaurant doors open and stepping into the night with Nana in tow.

Nana’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. Why was he doing this? What did he mean by calling her his wife? And why did she feel her skin burn under his touch?

Fred snapped out of his stupor, his pulse hammering in his ears. Without thinking, he dashed toward the exit, shoving past startled guests.

“Fred, wait!” One of his friends tried to grab his arm, but he yanked free.

The cold night air hit him as he burst onto the sidewalk. His eyes darted around frantically. There it was, a sleek black car sped down the street, with Nana inside.

Fred ran to his own car, fumbling with the keys. He wasn’t about to let Kim steal Nana away like this.

The sound of tires screeching against the asphalt echoed through the night as Kim’s car came to an abrupt stop outside his secluded villa. He stepped out, his grip still firm around Nana’s wrist as she struggled against him, her heart pounding with fear and rage.

“Let me go, Kim! You have no right to do this!” Nana spat, trying to yank her hand away.

Kim turned to face her, his dark eyes filled with an unyielding determination. “I have every right, Nana,” he stated coldly. “From this moment on, you belong to me. You will not marry Fred, or any other man for that matter.”

Nana’s chest rose and fell rapidly, anger boiling in her veins. “You’re insane! You can’t just decide my future for me. I love Fred, and he was about to propose!”

Kim’s jaw tightened. “Then it’s a good thing I stopped it.”

Tears burned in Nana’s eyes as she glared at him. “Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to deserve this kind of cruelty from you?”

Kim stepped closer,