The shrill, drawn out sound of the doorbell echoed all through the lobby as Sheila, the secretary of Ms. Fellers, moved quickly to permit in the various important members of the company. As the assistant to their new boss, Sheila experienced enormous trepidation at the prospect of yet another close encounter with the new female superior. Little did she know the upcoming first board meeting would elicit such an exceptional range of emotions and perception into the enigmatic mind of Ms. Fellers. The furnishings within the prestigious boardroom bore an unspoken and undeniable elegance, a clear reflection of the many successful years and the company has basked under the comforting umbrella of stead fast growth and profitability. An immaculately polished teak table occupied the center of the room, a shining beacon of order and structure amidst an atmosphere cloaked in uncertainty and trepidation. Surrounding the table were plush, Navy-blue seats, each one occupied by a fellow staff memb
It was a Wednesday morning, and the bright morning sun illuminated the streets of the States. Ryan, now ranking among the top three successful businessmen, was known for his precision, had made sure to spend an extra ten minutes preparing for today's work. He'd landed a contract as a new lead supplier of office material for a large trading firm and needed to make a good impression. As he meticulously straightened his tie one more time, his right lingered on the reflection in the hotel room mirror.The businessman admired himself and felt a jolt of exhilaration. Today would be a start of a new chapter in his life, a day filled with a larger budget and even loftier aspirations.Within that same hotel room, also beaming in anticipation, was his new wife, Anne. A true vision of femininity, she bore an image that offered compassion to the Greek goddess.Beneath this pleasant, serene exterior, she held inside her a powerful desire to make her mark in the world. It was this side of her pers
Earlier that same day, it was warm as the sunlight reflects brightly as it shines, adding more beauty to the streets of States. However, it did not last too long as the climate suddenly changed. Soon enough, the supposed warm weather was changed as it rained slightly, the atmosphere suddenly turning cold. On a cold, dreary Wednesday afternoon, heavy with the weight of an impending decision, Ryan sat in the conference room of his office alongside his diligent staff members. He fidgeted continuously, struggling to focus on the words bouncing around the room as his mind was besieged by the echoes of the conversation he had had with his wife, Anne, only a few hours before. Ryan and Anne had weathered many storms over the dozen years they had been together. Through tremendous hardship and joys, they had managed to remain steadfast in their love for each other. “…And, since we now share the same path in life, I believe it only fitting that we share the same name in all aspect including yo
It has been a long and arduous journey for Ryan, whose decision to share his wealth with his wife Anne had not come easy. Earlier that day at work, he had called his lawyer and informed him about his visit soon. “This is so unusual of you, Ryan.” That was the lawyer's reply on the phone. “We haven't met since the past few months, and now you want to out of the blues? What's the matter?” “Don't be too curious, you will find out about it soon" Ryan cited simple before cutting the call abruptly, breathing out slowly. They did vacate the hotel room and for the first time since Anne could remember, she was finally getting to enter Ryan's house again —not as his girlfriend, who was forbidden from anywhere around Ryan, but as his newly wedded bride. As they sat in the dimly lit living room, the amber glow of the fireplace flickering gently on their faces, Ryan felt alive with the comforting warmth of conviction for the first time in months. Within the safe cocoon of their home, a life al
In the affluent neighborhood of North Côté hill, London, the elegant of Victorian architecture stood sting and strictly majestic. Mr. Hampton's office, a well-respected lawyer in his area, was nestled in one of these splendid buildings which spoke volumes about his achievement and polished reputation. Yet, on that day, the serene and quiet atmosphere has been shattered, as Ryan's mother leapt into the room with an air of indignation, her face flushed and her eyes ablaze. She's not the usual mother Mr. Hampton got to know over the years —she looked like a different person, and she wasn't concealing the anger visible on her face either. “Mr Hampton, did you or did you not inform me every single detail of my son's decision?” She blurted out before the lawyer could stand and acknowledged her presence. For a moment, Mr. Hampton seemed to be taken aback by her sudden outburst, before he adjusts his leather bond armchair and calmly replied with an offer instead. “I see you are in no goo
With the smell of breakfast lingering in the house, Ciara was sitting lazily on the sofa going through her social media. The sun shone through the blind, casting a warm glow around the living room. Dwayne, her older brother, peered over her shoulder with an amused grin at the seemingly ended parade of pictures of cats and others that passed by the small screen.“Hey, Ciara.” Dwayne called suddenly —almost at the verge of jolting her off her seat, his voice holding a hint of mischief. “How about we go out for a treat today?”Ciara glanced up from her phone, her eyebrows were raised with surprised. “Really?” She asked, excitement creeping into her voice as she instinctively pocketed her phone.Dwayne nods his head. “Yep, I have been thinking, we haven't spent any proper time together in ages. Remember when we were kids, we used to go out on every adventure together and do almost everything together?” He cited with a daydreaming look on his face.Ciara beamed at the memory, a warm and fu
Dwayne smirked momentarily before a look of exasperation clouded his normal jovial features. As if the years had not been normally tumultuous enough, it seemed like 2020. The doctor's words rumbled around his mind, causing a twisting of sensation to grip deep within each of his stomach. Pregnant! The doctor has said that his sister, Ciara, was pregnant. Dwayne could scarcely believe his ear, feeling certain that some cruel joke was being played on him. If there is one thing he should doubt about Ciara, it was that she should find herself in a midst of an unplanned pregnancy. Throughout their childhood and the years wasted apart, he had never seen her with anything even remotely resembling a boyfriend. Consequently, news of her impending motherhood sent him a mixture of anger and disbelief bubbling to the surface, leaving Dwayne no choice than to confront her sister immediately. “Rumor had it that one needs a man to have fallen pregnant, Ciara.” He told her, sarcasm laced in his vo
It was an uncanny evening in the west London. The sky bore a peculiar shade of orange dusk as the sun begun to shone, casting a warm,, soft glow towards the windowpanes of Ciara's cozy part of the penthouse in the heart of the city. It was a bitter-sweet sight. The beauty of the sunset illuminated the edges of her apartment, reminding her of all the dreams and aspirations she had bought with her to the bustling metropolis.Ciara stood by the window, gently stroking her growing belly as her thoughts swirled around the unborn child who lay peacefully in her womb. Although she is still in her early stage of pregnancy, she knew that the news could come to all as shock. She knew how much bewildered her parents would have been, if only they were alive, especially her mother, who believed Ciara would have put her marriage to rest with a finality that was both heartbreaking and empowering.Ciara's heart ached with each thought of Ryan, a man she had married in a whirlwind romance that had le