"How did i get here Theodore?” Sofia squared him in his eyes and he ran his hands through his thick, moist hair. “Can we just sit and talk like reasonable adults?” He scoffed underneath his breath but all she did was brush into his shoulders and reached around for whatever belonged to her.“I should go” Sofia was agitated, as if staring at the half nude bod of her husband’s brother wasn’t bad enough, her mind also reminisced about the taste of his lips. This was over and it was never happening again—they both made that abundantly clear the last time they spoke.And they agreed to actively avoid each other, never to speak again. As she reached for her things, she decided to keep to that promise. “Can we just talk, Sofia?” He reached to hold her but she slipped out of his grasp.“You know what nevermind” Out of breath, she heaved from her lips and her hair was a disaster on top of her head. Bags were livid beneath her eyes and her skin was a washed crimson color. She could’ve just had a
“Something’s happened, Annie.”Sofia was out of breath as she charged through the guest room doors to see Annie was still around. The latter turned back to her in surprise before bending over to wipe her face with a towel. “Why are you even still around—you know what nevermind” Sofia shook her head.“It’s about Francesca” She added and Annie couldn’t resist the urge to roll her eyes to the back. “Please not again” She scoffed beneath her breath before they both made their way into the bedroom. “I’m not kidding, Annie. She knows about Theodore and I” Sofia continued and those words were more than enough to halt An in her steps.There was a look of horror in her eyes when she turned back. “What?”“It’s a long story but i met her this morning in the alleyway and she looked me dead in the eyes and told me she knew something that could absolutely wreck me. Before you ask, she wasn’t bluffing” I lowered my voice the second i heard footsteps behind the door and Annie drew close.“What?”“I—i
“Hello Diablo!” Francesca’s voice whispered as she pushed open the door. She appeared to be on a phone call and even if Annie and Sofia couldn’t see her, they made do with the sound of her approaching footsteps. The moment the handle of the door moved, Annie had swiftly roped Sofia underneath the table and now they were backed into the corner, trying their best not to make any sound. Annie had her hands across her lips and Sofia’s chin was tucked into her knees. They both looked at each other with a frantic expression knowing Francesca could never see them.Otherwise they’ll be doomed.The sound of her voice was off like she was nervous which was a new look on Francesca and she was low and very careful not to be heard. “I said i’ll get your money to you!” She gritted through her teeth next. “Just give time—give me tomorrow. I’ll have total control and fifty thousand dollars would mean nothing” She was agitated, pacing around the room which only meant Sofia and Annie had to be extra
"I've never seen you this excited for a Baron party."Annie entered from the door into the room and Sofia darted a look through the mirror back at her. She was dressed in a sheer burgundy gown that Oscar had bought for her back in Italy. If there was anything that the Barons were known for, it was how to throw a party.And tonight was officially the night that Aaron would take over the company. He would publicly announced as CEO and all the shares and stakes would be in his name. It was the moment everyone was waiting for and a time that could never be short of drama.Sofia hadn’t seen Oscar that night neither had she seen Theo but at least Annie checked in from time to time, especially with the information they both had that could very much change everything. “You look fantastic” She complimented, taking a seat by the edge of the bed and Sofia had a nervous expression across her face as she turned around. It was obvious the confidence was all a veneer for Annie herself who was dress
"Frances—" Sofia was halted by her hands in her face and Theo walked out of the room, leaving the two women alone. Francesca inched close enough that her lips grazed the lobes on Sofia's ears. "Don't try me tonight" She warned. "Stay out of my motherfucking business or you'll get hurt, Sofia""You try and be smart but you'll only wound yourself most" Francesca threatened before pulling away. Her jewelry glinted in the lights and Sofia followed them until both their eyes were locked in squarely and there was an evil grimace across her lips.Francesca cat-walked out of the room and was met with the flashing lights of the press, waiting on her. She was about to be crowned queen of the Baron empire and as outrageous as it sounded, this was more of her night than it was Aaron's. Sofia clutched her chest as the echoes of her vicious words flooded back to her.She needed to see Annie that moment.And although she had already made it abundantly clear that morning, there was absolutely no way
"It's been a really long time brother." He grinned.Dimitri’s raucous voice might have been overshadowed by the chaos which ensued in the halls but it was still as clear as day to Oscar. He arched his brows, unconsciously folding in his fists out of anger. He remembered denting Dimitri’s nose a while back and thought he’d at least spend some more time in intensive care.But somehow, here he was.And besides the few scars across his face, he was fairing even better than Oscar. “You won’t want to beat me in public” He gritted through his teeth, pushing into Oscar’s chest as he leaped forward. Both their eyes navigated the score of cameras and reporters at each post and corner of the room and then Oscar looked back to the gnarly smile across his lips.“They’re cameras everywhere.” Dimitri rubbed his hands together.“There’s no way you would be getting away with it this time if you hurt me” He brushed into his shoulders. “By the way—“ During his brief pause, Oscar threw another look at hi
“Oscar”“Can we sit down and talk?” Ronald’s voice halted his son in his tracks and Oscar couldn’t help but dart a worrisome look to his mother. He could sense the brewing tension in the air that could be cut by a knife.And everywhere fell silent as Cynthia picked her bags to leave.So silent that even as she closed the door, one could hear the soft noises that came from her sobs. Oscar’s heart jackhammered in the uncertainty of what his father had to say and it took a moment for him to calm. “I’m really sorry for tonight” Oscar muttered because even though they hadn’t been on the best of terms, he still knew how much this meant to Ronald and how much he wanted this. So putting aside everything, he still apologized and that brought a faint smile across his father’s lips, cementing the decision he was about to make that night.“I made a mistake” Ronald took a seat right to him.“It was doomed from the moment i realized i had to give everything to Aaron when it should have been you” H
One Week Later.The row of chairs were silent and the winds rustled the leaves of the flowers along the aisle. There were a few people, most of whom were the closest family to the Baron and then a handful of reporters. Everywhere was silent and the atmosphere was as thick with tension and grief.There was a coffin meters away from the front chairs where Cynthia alongside Oscar was sat. He was in a glistening black tuxedo which matched his mother’s dress. He was doing a better job at holding back his tears than she was. Cynthia was a wreck, having her head buried into her handful of tissue paper. The silence was deafening through her ears and she especially would have breathed a sigh of relief as the emcee finally mounted the stage.He grappled the microphone and cleared his throat.“I would like to welcome you to this celebration of the life of Mr Ronald Baron” This was the moment—this was the moment Oscar dreaded his whole life but somehow, here he was. He was in it.No amount of hop