Coco stared helplessly into Michelle’s worried eyes, tempted to tell her everything that happened within the short time she left her office, but that would be more like shooting herself in the foot. As much as it pained her, she had to do this.“Michelle, I know you care, but please don’t. I have a lot of work to do.” Coco suddenly pushed Michelle away. Shock settled in Michelle’s eyes. Coco was never aloof to her in their decades of friendship.“Coco, what has come over you?”Coco could not hold her gaze as she spoke.“Nothing. I don’t want Lake, and I don’t like you being here because of him. Please go to your office. I will see you when I’m through with this proposal.”Michelle felt something amiss. This was not her best friend. Was someone blackmailing her? Michelle was determined to find out and decided not to persist.If someone was indeed blackmailing Coco, then Michelle forcing her to spill it would only endanger her life.Getting back to her office, Lake seriously asked, “D
Earlier.Coco entered her office from Michelle's office, excited about her work and thinking of an excuse to see Lake before their agreed time. A few minutes later, someone entered.Coco stood up. “River, how did you get in? Where is Ben?” She was furious that he had managed to get past the bodyguards.River had a smirk on his face for seeing her again after a long while. To him, the few weeks felt like centuries.“Your new bodyguard? I distracted him.”Coco was furious, but this was her territory, and she had to protect it. “Get out, River. How did you get out of jail?”River felt good, as if he owned her office.“Rush is the one who filed the case so it was easy for him got me out.”Coco’s heart sank, and she sank back into her chair. River had a victorious smile on his face.“Surprised? He hates you because you shot him, and thanks to you, he either has to be bound to a wheelchair or use crutches.”Being warned not to get close to Michelle, Rush no longer tried to operate himself b
Coco found his words ridiculous, completely unmoved by them. She clearly stated, “I will never be yours.”Her response infuriated River, and he raged, “Then you go down or you come with me.”Her heart shattered. Never in her life would she want to go anywhere with River. “To where?”“Wherever no one can find you again. You like sex, and so do I. That Lake guy can never be better than me in bed.”That was his only strength, but Coco knew better at this moment. She hadn’t been intimate with Lake, but even if she had, she decided not to make a comparison or dwell on the past with River.Lake gave her the chance for a fresh start, and she was going to roll with it.“Sex is nothing, River. There is more to a man than just pleasure.”River’s brows raised, thrown off by her comeback.“I see someone has been giving you advice. Tell me, has he been intimate with you?” Jealousy bubbled in his voice, shining in his eyes.“If he has, then the deal is off, and I’m sending this viral. Has he?” His
“Because of Ezrah, he wouldn’t dare to come close to Michelle, and the fact that he already lost one leg because of you. Coco, Rush hates you because, if not for you, he would have long escaped with Michelle.”It was greatly understood that Rush was the one masterminding all this. The fact that he could not have Michelle, he was taking his revenge on Coco.For as long as Michelle would be safe, Coco did not mind being the scapegoat.“I will finish up, and we can go.”“Good, and I promise to be better, okay?” River spoke in a tone that seemed sincere, but Michelle knew that his heart was far from that.It wasn’t long after River entered the washroom when Lake barged in, but Coco managed to upset and send him away. So did she do with Michelle.As Coco was rounding up things, River came out. “It’s time for us to go.”After putting up a brave front, the reality set in that things would not be as easy as she thought. If no one was able to find her again, then she’ll lose her career, the m
“What are you talking about? How did he get in here?” Lake asked seriously, wiping her tears with the thumb of his hand, but Coco choked on more tears.Michelle came around and comforted her. Seeing her torn dress, she was enraged. “I sent him to prison, and the case was still in court,” Michelle added her voice. “Are you alright? He hit you again, didn’t he? And he wanted to force himself on you?”Pain registered in Michelle’s eyes, and she was about to call the cops when Coco spoke through tears.“He videoed our intimate moments and wants to send it viral.”Lake ground his teeth so hard, it almost cracked. No wonder Coco was behaving strangely.However, his concern at the moment was in saving her dignity. It would be unwise for him to allow something like that to trend. Lake did not even want to see the video and remembered that his hacker sent another hacker’s number to Ezrah and called his hacker, but the number did not go through, so he called Ezrah. “Can you send me the conta
“Release it.”Michelle’s fingers shivered on the keyboard, and Coco’s face drained of color. Only Lake trusted that Ezrah was up to something.Rush was shocked at the end of the line. Clearly, he did not expect such a response from him.“What?” Rush could not hide his confusion. Ezrah added more fuel to it.“What makes you think that I care for Coco? Michelle is fine, and that is all that matters to me. I’m not even the one who dealt with River.”If he showed that he cared for Coco, then Rush would use it to his advantage. Hence, he chose this style in dealing with the matter.Michelle wondered if it was right for Ezrah to handle it per Rush’s response.“Isn’t it that Lake guy? I’m releasing the video,” Rush said with determination. Ezrah spoke from his side of the line, his voice heavily loaded with a warning.“You have to know that he already saw it. Coco would still live a good life even if her image in the media is destroyed. She has a man who loves her to bits, but what about you
“Michelle?” Coco asked, but she shook her head. She did not want to be anywhere near Ezrah after embracing her newfound independence.“You guys can go. I have a few things to take care of, but you can bring me takeout.”She was working on her computer when Ezrah leaned against the edge of her desk, facing her.Knowing she was avoiding him, he was not willing to let it continue like that. He placed his hand on her keyboard, halting her movements as he spoke seriously.“For how long are you going to avoid me, Zora? If Lake and Coco get married one day, you won’t be able to avoid seeing me.”It was a sad truth Michelle had to swallow, but she also felt she was strong enough to overcome every obstacle alone.“I don’t care for you, Ezrah. I’m busy.”She wheeled her swivel chair slightly to the back to avoid any skin contact as Ezrah shook his head bitterly.“Lies. I see it in your eyes. If you claim to not love me, then why do you keep avoiding me? I won’t believe it’s because you are disgu
Knowing there was no way to avoid seeing him, Michelle spoke seriously.“Ezrah, the only thing that would make me happy is if you stay away from me forever. Don’t talk to me and don’t ever come close to me.”“You hate me that much?” Ezrah looked pained, but Michelle did not care. She was equally suffering emotionally.“You have no idea.”Ezrah had no idea how he even drove her back to her office. All he wanted was to make her happy, so if that was what she wanted, he had to respect it.Pulling over at her underground car park, Ezrah returned her earpiece to her.“Since you don’t want to see me again, I promise not to disturb your life anymore, but you have to forgive me for this.”“What?”Michelle asked, looking lost as Ezrah unbuckled his seat belt. His hand snaked around her head, and without permission, he pressed his lips against hers.Michelle was furious and out of breath, though the kiss was not deep. When Ezrah pulled away, a slap met his cheek.“I hate you,” Michelle said and