{Hours after Patricia arrived in her office} Ailee rushed into the office with Anna beside her. “Ma, everything is all set up,” She informed, taking the front as she paced towards Patricia’s desk. She arrived in front of the desk. “The reporters are in the press hall waiting for you.” “Okay, we should go now.” Patricia said. She was pressing her phone before they entered, so she quickly optimized it and closed the recently used apps. She put the phone down and stood on her feet. “Let’s go.” She ordered, walking out of her seat. “Ma, you haven't eaten anything yet. You didn't have breakfast and it’s already time for lunch,” Ailee expressed, worried. “Should I get you something to eat first?” Patricia nodded, grinning. “No, I am fine,” she rejected. “I will eat later.” Ailee wasn't convinced by Patricia's sour smile, so she insisted. “No, you aren't fine. Wait for me to get you something. Maybe a snack or even biscuits and juice.” She gave an alternative. Patricia nodded.
“The president is here.” Ailee announced and the audience turned their neck to set their eyes on her. Patricia let her left foot into the hall first and glanced back at Anna, pretending she was talking to her, but was showcasing her leg chain which was a product of her latest jewelry investment company, so she wanted the cameras to catch it well and clearly. She took her right foot in and stood straight with her shoulder back and her head held high before she began to take long purposeful strides with a confident gait, making eye contact with the audience to show poise with a subtle smile on her face as she walked towards the stage. “She is brave!” “This is authority!” Few online keyboard warriors instantly changed their minds and admired her immediately as the media companies went live. “Is that a smile on a cheater’s face?” “Wow!” “How dare her still smile!” “How can a whore be happy?” “She is a bad woman!” “What a shameless, unfaithful woman!” Higher viewers left hatefu
Bastian left his office reading comments. He wanted to log out, but just whenever he wanted to, his eyes would catch glimpses of other comments, which he would eagerly scroll to read until he couldn't stop himself again.He entered Patricia's office, fixing his eyes on his phone screen as he kept scrolling through comments which didn't ease to bring an excited smile to his face.He didn't raise his head to look at his front, and not knowing he had gotten close to the stairs, he hit his feet on the first stairs, causing his phone to slip out of his hand.His eyes widened, shocked, but he quickly grabbed the phone before it could touch the ground.“Oh, my!” He breathed heavily for a few seconds and couldn't close his eyes back to normal yet.“Are you okay?” Patricia’s voice arrived in his ears and he shook his head. He closed his eyes and turned to her, smiling.“I am fine.”She beamed. “Seems you are lost in thought. What are you reading that got you so carried away?”“Haven't you chec
“What are you talking about?” Anna raised a question after a long argument over the phone call. Her mind was already boiling in anger, but she cooled it to maintain a calm voice. “Anna, how is this my fault? Hun!” Chairman Hewitt questioned in a high tone, making Anna move the phone away from her ear a bit. She looked at the phone screen and withered her mouth in irritation. After allowing chairman Hewitt shouted for a moment, she found herself a space to pour out her mind. “What do you think you are doing, chairman Hewitt?” “I am not sure, but it seems they will soon find out the culprit, and I am happy to tell you I will go out of the country for a while,” chairman Hewitt proclaimed. “I can't be dragged down with this small issue. Never.” Anna snickered. His words triggered her rage, and she couldn't hold herself back from yelling. “Does this make sense to you?” “I told you her secrets. I told you everything you need to destroy her and you fail!” Immediately, as she co
“Oh, my…” Elsie let out in awe, coating her mouth with her hands to keep her voice low. Her eyebrows lifted in awe after eavesdropping Anna’s conversation with an unknown person.She moved her ear from the door and shook her head. ‘How can she do this?’ She thought to herself.She took a step backwards and rounded her hands around her waist, biting the left side of her lower lip. “What should I do?” She thought for a second, and her mind boiled in rage. She stormed to the door, wanting to barge in and challenge Anna, but she cautioned herself and stepped back.“I should inform Cohen.” She decided and quickly veered around to the stairs.She hurriedly descended the stairs. She was wearing slippery sandals, and her legs slipped, causing her left ankle to sprain.“Ouch!” She moaned. She bent a bit, wanting to touch her ankle, but she ignored the pain and rushed to the living room.She picked up her phone from the sofa and hurriedly dialed Cohen’s number, but he didn't pick his call.Sh
“Cohen, I am not sure if I heard her right, but she mentioned a chairman and my friend working at Maximo company told me Anna visited their company.” Elsie split out. “Are you saying it may be Chairman Hewitt of Maximo investment?” Elsie nodded. “Yes. I think it's him.” She pulled out, and without waiting to hear another word from her, Cohen rushed out. He stormed out of the elevator, and without minding staff members or others looking at him, he picked up his speed to the park lot. He pressed the car remote control and unlocked it before he arrived beside it. He opened the car in anger and aggressively inserted the key. The engine started, and he zoomed out of the company. “I need to find out the truth! I must help Patricia in any way I can.” He ground his teeth and pressed down on the accelerator pedal, and the car speed increased. He drove to the main road and cut off other drivers, honking the horn excessively and unnecessarily. He arrived at the traffic signal spot and ra
Cohen played the voice recorded audio repeatedly and listened to it, driving home. He listened to it for the last time and smiled, excited and impressed at the great job he did.He slowly drove into the compound and, sighting Anna’s car in the parking lot, he smiled. “It’s good you are home.” He whispered.He parked his car beside her car and put his phone in his pocket. He got down from his car and composed himself so the anger in him won't take over once he sees Anna.He entered the living room and saw Anna climbing the stairs.“Anna…” he called in a low voice, walking with a beam on his face. He stopped at the living room center, between the sofa and eyed her walked closer to him.She arrived in front of him and, seeing the cute smile she hadn't seen on his face in a while, she believed something great must have happened, so she also wore a smile.“Darling…” she called. “Why are you home early today? Hope there's no problem?”“Not at all,” he answered, beaming brighter. He bit the
{Years ago} “Calm down, Cohen…” Anna consoled, sitting beside Cohen on a bed, in a dark room with a ray of red light, turning on and off. Cohen was sitting, frozen. His eyes widened with terror, as if he was staring into the abyss of his own soul. His face is ashen, drained of all color, with a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. His mouth hung open, suspended in a silent scream, while his chest heaved with ragged gasps. “What have I just done?” He let out, staring at his trembling hand. His fingers seem to grasp for something, anything, wishing to undo the irreparable harm and his arms dangle, unable to embrace the reality of his actions. “This isn't real… it is a nightmare!” He screamed, caging his head in his hands. Anna crawled her bottom on the bed, moving closer till their skins touched each other. “Cohen, this is real. It's not a nightmare, but reality you need to face,” she let out in a low, persuading voice. She moved his head closer and laid it on her