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OLIVIA

ONE YEAR LATER—VANESSA’S BEACH HOUSE

“ O kay, everyone! Listen up!” Vanessa calls out. “The books are here, and we are going to be the first people—you know, outside of the agents, publicists, editors, and whatnot—to get our hands on Olivia Ashley’s newest book, Code of Deception !”

It seemed only fitting to have a big party with all of my friends.

And it’s even better because the house looks amazing!

Like…crazy amazing. Like something out of a design magazine.

All the pictures we are going to take tonight with the book—something I promised my PR team—will look spectacular.

And considering most of the book takes place in a small coastal town, it’s the perfect setting for my private launch party.

Vanessa, Zayne, Loren, Mike, Roxie and her boyfriend Ben, me, and Ash are all staying here for the week.

But it didn’t seem right not to invite Vanessa’s parents since we’re essentially using their newly finished home for a party when they haven’t had the chance to do it yet, so they’re here for the party, but heading to the hotel in town for the evening.

We all felt bad about it, but they insisted.

We also invited Mrs. Serrano because, well…

because. She’s been such a tremendous supporter of mine, and I genuinely want her here.

She’s also staying at the hotel in town tonight.

Ash’s parents are here as well. And can I just say how much I love them?

I mean…from the moment we met, they just embraced me like the daughter they never had!

Plus, his mom is a huge fan, and she’s asked me to come and talk at multiple book club meetings.

She’s adorable and I genuinely adore her.

I think she was more excited about this book than anyone else!

But the biggest shock of it all? My family is here. Yup—my family—both parents, my brother, and his wife.

I’m still not sure how it all happened, but I guess when three more of my books went to contract for movie adaptations, something finally clicked with them.

When I told them about the news and this new book, my mother specifically asked if there was going to be some sort of launch party, and I told her.

Mainly because I didn’t think she’d want to come.

You know, since they never did before.

And yet…here they are, and I’m loving it. It was fascinating watching them interact with everyone, and even though I was nervous about introducing them to Ash, it all went better than I ever could have imagined.

Looking around, these people are important to me and the fact that they’re all here to celebrate with me is just a beautiful thing.

“Liv? Olivia!” Vanessa calls out. “Come up here and open the box! We need to see it and start this party!”

Ash is beside me and he kisses me before giving me a gentle nudge to get through the crowd.

Vanessa’s smile is one of pure giddiness and she’s practically bouncing on her toes.

She hands me the knife to open the box and it’s crazy how this feeling never gets old.

I’ve seen mockups of the cover, and I got an advanced copy that was riddled with errors and not meant to be sold, but seeing the actual live version is always exciting.

My hand shakes as I carefully cut through the cardboard and the room is practically silent as all eyes are focused on me. When I finally open the box and pull out the first copy, I study it first, my heart bursting with pride.

This book almost broke me. It took me out of my comfort zone in a thousand different ways, and yet it also helped me to grow as a writer. I’m beyond proud of the finished product and I’m ready for it to be out in the world.

So, like the opening scene of The Lion King , I hold up the book like it’s Simba, and smile at all the applause and all the cameras facing me. It’s the best book launch ever because it’s the first one that I’m not surrounded by strangers or acquaintances.

I’m home.

I’m with my people.

Beside me, Vanessa squeals happily before hugging me and taking the book from my hands in one movement.

“Who wants to hear what this fabulous book is about?” she calls out and everyone cheers. She glances at me. “Do you want to do the honors, or should I?”

“I think you’d better,” I tell her. “It always feels weird when I’m asked to do that myself.”

Clearly this pleases her because she squeals again before clearing her throat. The room goes quiet once again as she straightens. I have to hand it to her; she’s making this very dramatic.

“From global bestselling author Olivia Ashley comes a brand-new thriller! Small-town police chief Lexi Monroe is dedicated to protecting the citizens of her small coastal town. But when a childhood friend is murdered, she’s challenged in ways she never imagined.

When the case turns high profile with a sudden digital twist—encrypted messages, hidden files, and a hacker taunting the police—it forces her to turn to Evan Sebastian, a cybersecurity expert with a knack for breaking through the toughest digital walls.

Evan is used to working behind a screen, not in the line of fire, but when his skills link the case to a dark web syndicate, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless enemy.

As Lexi and Evan dig deeper, their professional partnership turns into something more—a dangerous mix of attraction and high-stakes tension.

But trust doesn’t come easy, especially when secrets from Evan’s past suggest he might know more about the case than he’s letting on.

When the killer sets his sights on Lexi, she must decide if she can put her faith in a man who thrives in shadows.

With time running out and their enemies closing in, Lexi and Evan must combine their skills—both in the real world and the digital one—to uncover the truth before they become the next targets.

Love and danger collide in Code of Deception , a romantic suspense novel filled with intrigue, betrayal, and a connection that could either save them—or destroy them both.”

The roar of applause is echoing wildly, and I’m immediately embraced by so many people all at once. I don’t even realize that I’m crying until I end up in Ash’s arms. Wordlessly, he wipes the tears away, smiling tenderly.

“Evan Sebastian, huh?” he murmurs against my ear.

I haven’t told him anything about this book. Once I started writing—which was while we were in Kansas City—he respected my process and never asked any questions.

God, I love him.

“It seemed fitting. Lexi has a lot of me in her, so it only seemed fair that my hero had a little bit of you too. After all, we’re kind of an awesome couple.”

“We’re the best,” he tells me before we face everyone and rejoin the party.

We toast with champagne and laugh and mingle and take a ton of pictures, and I’m filled with so much joy and love that it feels like I’m ready to burst.

Obviously I don’t, but I take all of this as a good sign that this book is going to be a success.

Well, the early reviews have all been raving too, but even though not a single person here has read it yet, just having them here supporting me is the best review.

If this is karma, I’ll take it.