The CEO . . As I walked into Tinkle Jewel Company, clutching the jewelry box in my hands, my presence commanded immediate attention, drawing eyes—especially those of women—with every stride. Ignoring their flirtatious stares, each one begging for attention, I was intent on cracking the mystery of the bracelets. My mind was consumed with two questions: was the other bracelet a convincing fake? And if not, who had purchased one exactly like Ariel’s and why? Each possibility sent a chill down my spine. One of the female employees unbuttoned her blouse to reveal her cleavage, letting her hair fall over her shoulders before trailing behind me. “Good morning, Mr. Wesley,” she greeted, a broad smile playing on her heavily painted red lips. “How can we assist you today?” I turned to her and stared blankly, trying to recall her name. I had seen her many times, and she had introduced herself repeatedly. It's hard to remember her name with that heavy red lipstick on her lips constant
The toy...Quickly, I straightened my posture, regaining composure. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”Damon couldn’t have told her, and aside from Damon and Jessie, no one knew about the contract. She giggled, leaning her back against the car. "You'll have to do better if you're going to feign ignorance," she stated. "Just to show you how much I know, you're also running around with another man. What's his name again?" She waved her index finger in the air, struggling to recall. "Logan, isn't it? The bartender, yeah."A chill I had never experienced before traversed down my spine, and goosebumps emerged on my skin. How the hell did she find out about this?“I do like the idea that you have fallen out of love with Damon, but the contract is binding you.” She opened the car, brought a large brown envelope, and handed it to me. “I came here with a proposal.”I flinched at her words—falling out of love with Damon like that was even possible.My chest hitched as I opened it.
The toy...I paced around my sitting room, fidgeting with my fingers. The more I glanced at the clock, the slower time seemed to move. Despite all the lights being on, darkness still loomed, weaving a sense of fear through my nerves. I wasn’t comfortable in this house, but I didn’t want to handle this at Jessie’s place, nor did I want to involve her in it. Jessie was great at solving logical problems, but when it came to matters of the heart, she was as clueless as I was.When the doorbell rang, I jerked. He must be here. I darted towards the door. Opening it, he stood there with a box of chocolates in his hands.“It’s not your favorite, but I didn’t want to come empty-handed,” Logan said, flashing a smile. “So, what did you want to talk about?” he asked as he walked into the apartment, settling onto the sofa.I stood there like a maid, my palms cupping each other and my gaze fixed on the floor.Noticing my uneasiness, he approached and lifted my chin, our eyes meeting for a fleeti
The toy . . I stood outside Adonis Track, a famous venue for horse racing known for its luxury. Mr. Brian had arranged for us to meet here, though I had no idea why. A glance at my watch told me it was noon. I was supposed to meet up with Lucy by now, but I had to postpone it until 4. Four more hours of torment were eating away at any semblance of peace I could have mustered. “Ms. Smith,” Mr. Brian called out, waving his hand while his phone remained glued to his ear. “Good morning,” I greeted, trailing behind him as he led me into the track. The venue was alive with the hum of excited spectators and the earthy scent of fresh-cut grass. The grandstand bustled with activity as people placed their bets while waiters moved about serving drinks. After scanning the area, I still couldn’t understand why I was here. He hadn’t given me a reason, and I just hoped this wasn’t leading to him asking me out, especially after that evening. “The place has a certain charm, doesn’t it?”
The CEO..‘I’m deeply sorry.’I read the message again, spinning in my office chair, trying to discern its meaning, but nothing came up, no matter how hard I tried.I could ask, but I wasn’t ready to look for answers I might not want to find. With a sigh, I dropped my phone. Thoughts gnawed at me.Trying to find out who bought the other bracelet was like looking for a drop of water in the ocean. The auction was tonight, and I wasn’t able to get anything out of Lucy, and for Mr. Brian, I had no clue about his financial standing. Everything needs to go smoothly, or my chance of convincing my father will plunge to less than ten percent.I was drowning in my thoughts and hadn’t noticed Zach's presence.“What are you thinking about?” Zach’s voice pulled me out of my head.“A lot. I wasn’t able to get anything out of Lucy,” I stated.“Because you are not playing your card well. She doesn’t feel loved.”A frown etched across my face as I ignored him. I was doing my best. Lucy was just too
The CEO..The maid greeted me as I entered. "Your father is in the dining room.""Damon. Damon still there?" Zach muttered. “Lucy is—.” His voice came through the earpiece."Yeah, I know. I can hear the auction," I replied.The speaker was loud enough; I could hear it in the background."She's holding her stakes."I sighed. "Alright. I'm about to meet the devil; remember the word, right?""Yes, father," he giggled. "That sounds strange. It's like I just called you my father. Or like a sinner confessing to a priest."I smiled a little. tucking my phone in my trouser’s pocket.The air grew thinner as I approached the dining area, each step increasing the churning in my stomach. I still didn’t know why I was here.Bitterness flooded my mouth as I saw him, seated and dining on a rare steak, slicing it with a knife, its juices smearing the plate."Sit," he ordered, putting a slice in his mouth.As I settled down, the maid placed a plate of rare steak before me."I prefer it cooked," I in
Lucy. . . “Mr. Isaac Zealot,” I muttered, striding out of the auction venue and heading towards the underground parking lot. Tina, my P.A., trailed behind, struggling to keep up. “Yes, Ma’am. He’s the owner of ZeeTech.” “ZeeTech?” I stopped abruptly, causing her to bump into me. I cringed at her clumsiness. Even with her glasses, she blundered around as if she were blind. “Sorry, Ma’am.” She adjusted her glasses nervously. “I’ve never heard of the company,” I replied, ignoring her inept apology. She’d likely do it again. “It’s a foreign company, but it's opening a branch here,” Tina stated. “A foreign company.” I halted again, and she collided with me once more. I turned to her, exasperated. “You don’t have to walk directly behind me.” Reaching my car, I let out a sharp, throat-wrenching shriek. Rage spiked through me. How could I have lost to a complete nobody? I never expected anyone to walk in with two hundred fifty million. I’d tried to speak with him after th
The toy. . . I stared at myself in the mirror, tilting from side to side to inspect every angle. I turned to Jessie, who was engrossed in one of her self-help books. After spending weeks at Jessie’s place, her room didn’t seem so depressing anymore. “What do you think?” I asked, smoothing the fabric of my dress. “Don’t you think it’s too short?” I turned back to the mirror, eyeing the hem. “It’s night and you’re driving; it’s not too short,” Jessie replied quickly, her focus already shifting back to her book. “Do you think I look beautiful in it?” “Ari, you look beautiful in anything,” she replied, her words dragging out lazily. Suddenly, she sat up straight, as if struck by lightning. “You’re going to see Logan, right?” “Yeah,” I said, applying a coat of lip gloss. A mischievous smile pulled at the corners of her lips. “When did you become so meticulous about what to wear when seeing Logan? You only did that for Damon.” She walked over and stood in front of me. “Do you like L