I turned the corner and nearly bumped into Nate, who was rushing out of my boss's room. When she looked up and saw me, I could have sworn I saw a flash of guilt in her eyes. What was she doing in Daniel's room? I pushed the thought from my mind, and made my way to the door. I needed to focus on meeting Daniel. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door."Come in," a gruff voice called out from the other side. I opened the door and walked in, trying to keep my expression neutral."Goodevening sir." I greeted him."Evening Khloe. I wanted us to go out this night, but there is a job that needs to be done first." He responded, shoving a stack of papers across the desk towards my direction, and laying them on my opened arms. I stood there confused as hell, as I held on to the papers. "You will be working on a contract between my father's company, and that of the wellingtons'. We will be buying shares from them." He said. Just as he was about to dismiss me, he suddenly remembered somethi
I worked all through the night on the contract, my eyes burning from staring at the screen. When I finally dragged myself to bed, my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light. But what seemed like only moments later, I was jolted awake by the ringtone of the phone Daniel had given me."Good morning," I mumbled into the phone, my voice still heavy with sleep. I had no idea who was calling, but I assumed it was Daniel, but instead, it was some lady who had an appointment with my boss the night before but he didn't show up."Okay ma'am. I will relay your message to him." I hung up the phone, frustrated at having been woken up for something so irrelevant. My head felt like it was made of lead, and I had to prop it up with my hand. I lay back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Back home, I would have started counting the ceiling tiles, but there were none here, just two big, blank squares. My mind immediately drifted to the little intimate moment I had with Carl. I'd wanted to l
"Where is the document?" He demanded. His voice harsh, almost making my ear bleed."It's in my system," I responded. "I want to print it out.""But, I specifically asked you to have everything done yesterday," Daniel snapped. "Do you think I have all the time in the world?"I bit my tongue to keep myself from snapping back. Did he really think I could wave a magic wand and have the contract appear out of thin air? I had to go through all the samples he'd given me, which amounted to over 100 pages of text, before even starting to write the contract."Print it out, and get it to my room before 7:00 a.m.," he coldly said. "And yes, bring me a cup of coffee. Black, no sugar." And with that, Daniel hung up before I could even respond.I exhaled, releasing the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I grabbed the stack of paper from the printer, trying to remind myself to stay calm. I only had a little over an hour to get everything ready and delivered to his room. I pushed aside my frus
When I walked into Carl's room, I found him standing over his desk, his brow furrowed as he rummaged through a pile of documents and typed furiously on his computer, obviously searching for something. Darkness clouded his eyes, and they looked tired. His mouth was set in a hard line. I knew he was under a lot of stress. This was obviously the point he needed no distraction, and I should probably back off, but for a very strange reason, I was not scared of him. I wanted to hug him so tight, and tell him to let it all out my shoulder.The thoughts quickly escaped my mind, when I heard his voice. "Khloe, I don't have time for this. What did you say you wanted to talk about?" I'd totally forgotten I had already told him there was something important I needed to talk to him about."I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" I asked, feeling a little sheepish. "I could come back later if you need to finish what you're doing." He suddenly turned towards my direction."It is the wrong time, but you are
"Where have you been, Carl?" Mr. Williams frowned at his son, who had just walked into the meeting room several minutes late. "You're never late for these kinds of meetings." Daniel, Carl's younger brother, sat across from their father with a mischievous smile on his face. He crossed his legs and made faces at Carl, clearly enjoying the situation."I'm sorry sir." Carl apologized, as he took the seat next to his brother. He had been in his room, searching through all his documents, and scanning through the files in his system, but couldn't find the document. The only person that had the spare keys to his room, is Nate, and she wouldn't dare betray him, so there was absolutely no need suspecting her. Khloe had visited his room while he was working, but the document was incomplete then, and didn't go missing after she left. So, who could have possibly taken the document, and cleared his system of any existing file. His suspicions were on his brother, who sat next to him looki
Carl returned to his room, his mind racing as he paced back and forth, trying to make sense of the events that had unfolded just hours before. "How could the document he had painstakingly worked on for hours vanish without a trace?" he pondered. His suspicions were turned towards Nate, the only person who could have possibly made it disappear. He quickly grabbed his phone and called Nate, who arrived 15 minutes late, something she wouldn't have done, except if something important came up, which held her.Why are you only showing up now?" Carl asked, his piercing gaze boring into her eyes as if seeking a hidden truth. Nate's apologetic words tumbled out hastily, "I'm so sorry." Her head remained bowed, her eyes darting away from Carl's intense stare, fearful he might uncover the secrets she concealed. "Look at me, Nate," Carl's commanding tone sent a shiver down her spine, his voice echoing through her mind. Her knees wobbled, threatening to buckle, but she mustered the strength to ste
"I didn't take it, Mr. Carl," I blurted out as soon as I entered his room, after hesitating for what felt like an eternity outside his door. I had debated whether to turn the handle, ring the bell, or simply stand there until my phone rings again, summoning me to his room one more time. Finally, I mustered the courage to twist the knob to the right and push the door open. It was totally wrong of me because I should have knocked. What if he was naked? The thought of him being naked made my heart race and my veins tingle, a sudden shiver running down my spine. The room felt eerily cold, but maybe it was just my own nervousness that made it feel that way. Carl sat at the edge of the bed, his feet tapping gently on the marble tiles. My gaze traveled up from his feet to his chiseled face, which seemed perfect even in its imperfections. But then, our eyes met, and I was frozen by the icy intensity of his stare. It was as if he was ready to pounce on me like a predator, if I took an
I honestly didn't want to be part of what ever is going on presently in the Bradfords' house. It's definitely their problem, and not mine. I had mine waiting for me outside this mansion, and I needed to get to mum and aunt Kim before Mr. Daniel returns. As I approached the front entrance of the Bradford's mansion, Nate suddenly emerged from nowhere, her slender figure blocking my path like a barricade. Her piercing gaze seemed to bore into my soul, making my heart race with frustration. I felt like screaming, 'What is the meaning of this?!' but my voice remained trapped in my throat, silenced by the oppressive tension that filled the air. "I didn't do anything,' I protested, my words barely audible over the pounding of my pulse. She hasn't said anything yet, but I knew why she stood in my way. Nate's expression remained impassive, her arms crossed over her chest like a shield, her stance unyielding as a stone statue. "Where to?" she asked finally, her voice dripping with a cas
In the dimly lit garage, Carl swung open the passenger door, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I felt a rush of adrenaline as he urged me to get in, his words tumbling out in a persuasive whisper. My heart raced like a wild animal, making it hard to catch my breath. I fired questions at him, but he just smiled at me, his silence only adding to the mystery. He slid into the driver's seat, and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and we sped off into the darkness, the tires screeching in protest. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the crunch of gravel beneath the wheels, leaving a trail of dust in our wake.As we drove, I glanced at the road, my mind racing with thoughts about my boss's schedule. "I have to go out with my boss by 10 PM. Are we going to be back before then?" I asked, my voice almost lost in the breeze of the night. Carl's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You won't be back today," he responded, his voice low and hu
CARL AND MR. WILLIAMS Carl meets with his father in his room. Mr. Williams' face was etched with a deep frown as Carl explained the situation of Khloe mum's illness. "She's too sick to meet with you, unless you're willing to visit her in the hospital," Carl said, knowing full well that his father would not agree to the suggestion. One thing, he and his dad had in common was the strong aversion to hospitals, the antiseptic smell and sterile atmosphere grating on their nerves. "What exactly is wrong with her?" Mr. Williams asked, his eyes peering out from behind his glasses, his voice laced with concern."She has a heart problem, and I think a kidney problem too." Carl responded."She is your future wife's mother, why don't you just fly her to the best surgeons." His father suggested."Yes, you are right. I would be discussing this with Khloe today." Carl responded. Mr. Williams still had no idea that his son's girlfriend actually works in his house, and under his payroll. Ca
MR. WILLIAMS P.O.VI stood before the sleek, silver vault in my suave, dimly lit bedroom. The soft, golden light of the bedside lamp cast a warm glow on the simple, yet elegant document that lay before me. It was a contract, one that had bound me to a promise I made years ago. I was dressed in a comfortable, yet stylish outfit - a crisp, white linen shirt, paired with dark pants, and a pair of my favorite slides. As I gazed at the document, my mind wandered back to the happy memories of my wife. Her bright, radiant smile and infectious laughter filled my thoughts. We were once so happy, so full of life and love. But then, something changed. A secret, one that I had kept hidden for so long, began to tear us apart.I shut the vault, and made my way to the bed, collapsing onto the soft, feathered duvet. My eyes closed, and my mind drifted back to the past, to the moments that had led me to this point. The memories came flooding back, like a bittersweet tidal wave, crashing against the s
DANIEL'S P.O.V I realized that caution was crucial in my quest to outdo my brother, as Carl seemed to be gaining the upper hand. I needed to tread carefully to avoid raising suspicions and refrain from confrontations with my brother, opting instead for a more subtle approach. I reached for my phone and sent a discreet message to Nate, requesting a meeting outside the house at 12 P.M. She vehemently agreed to the meeting without telling me how her boss might need her to be around. Nate's sudden cooperation with me was equally unsettling but then, I wasn't going to win this fight without her. As I sat at RESTON Restaurant, my eyes fixed on my watch, mesmerized by the ticking seconds and minutes creeping towards our appointed hour. Time seemed to slow, and I felt like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And then, without warning, Nate appeared before me, her presence announced only by the soft creak of the chair as she sat down. Her sudden arrival caught me off guard,
KHLOE'S P.O.VI knew sneaking out of the mansion without my boss's permission was a grave mistake, but my mother's dire condition had left me no choice. I had to see her, and Carl had equally given me the courage to do so. I didn't even get a chance to speak with her, since she was asleep through out my stay in the hospital. But then, Carl's unexpected kindness had been a balm to my soul. He'd not only driven me to the hospital, but also taken Aunt Kim out, giving her a little opportunity to breathe in fresh air. Her smile when they returned was so beautiful, and I felt a pang of gratitude towards Carl that sent shivers down my spine. The flutter in my chest, the longing to be near him, it all came flooding back.Yet, my thoughts soon snapped back to my boss, who I knew would obviously still be pissed at me. I needed to face him now, to apologize and beg for mercy. My heart raced at the uncertainty of meeting him this morning - would I get fired, or perhaps receive more slaps on my f
As I sat on the ground, with my hand on my face, the headlights of Carl's car illuminated the dark driveway. He leapt out of the vehicle, his long strides devouring the distance between us. His face was a picture of fury, his eyes blazing like embers. "Don't tell me Daniel did this to you!!" he thundered, his voice like a crack of lightning that shook the air. "Where is Daniel?!!!!"I gestured weakly towards the club's back door, and Carl seemed to expand with rage, his chest heaving like a bellows. He looked like a knight ready to charge into battle, but I stopped him with a frail hand, my voice barely above a whisper, as I groaned in pain, "Please, Carl, just take me home."The anger in his eyes still simmered, like he was about to bring the whole world down. But as our gazes met, the anger eventually gave way to a softness I'd never seen before. He scooped me up from the ground with a tender strength, like I weighed nothing. He settled me into the back seat. Then, he rounded the ca
"Meet me at Roosevelt Club," Daniel's voice thundered through the phone, his tone devoid of warmth. The silence that followed was deafening, leaving me with a sense of agitation that made my heart race.Carl's eyes, filled with concern, locked onto mine. "What did he say?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle. I relayed Daniel's curt message, and Carl's eyebrows furrowed in inquiry. "Why do you think he wants to meet you there?" he asked with curiosity written all over his face.I shrugged, my shoulders trembling slightly. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Carl's eyes seemed to bore into my soul. "I'll go with you," he offered, his voice firm and resolute. His eyes, filled with a deep empathy, seemed to say, 'I'm here for you, no matter what.' I felt a lump form in my throat, touched by his unwavering support."Thanks, Carl," I replied, my voice cracking slightly. "But I think you should head back home. I need to face Daniel alone." My words were laced with
I felt someone's warm touch on my shoulder blade, and I turned to see Aunt Kim's radiant smile and a shopping bag clutched in her hand. The brief break from the hospital's antiseptic aura had worked wonders on her countenance, replacing her earlier tears with a vibrant glow. As she held out the bag, her eyes sparkled with kindness. "We got your favorite ice cream, sweetie!" The cold, creamy treat was a welcome balm for my frazzled nerves. I mouthed a silent "thank you" as I savored the sweet delight.My gaze wandered, searching for Carl, and Aunt Kim nodded toward the parking lot. "He is in the car, waiting for you. I think you should leave now." She planted a kiss on my forehead. As I turned back to my mother's still form, my mind snapped back to the present, and reality hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes locked onto her motionless figure, and my heart ached with worry. A quick glance at my phone revealed the time - 6:30 pm - and a string of missed calls from Daniel, each one a rem
The drive to the hospital was a grueling ordeal, a far cry from a smooth and peaceful journey. We found ourselves stuck in a seemingly endless traffic jam, with cars honking incessantly as frustrated drivers tried to navigate through the chaos. The cacophony of horns and revving engines was a stark contrast to the sense of urgency that drove us forward.As we inched along the congested road, I repeatedly tried calling Aunt Kim's number, only to be greeted by her voicemail each time. Fortunately, I had managed to get the name of the hospital during our last conversation, if not, we would have been completely stranded. The tension was obvious, the air thick with unease, as we navigated the chaotic roads. Despite the cool air blowing from the vents, I felt a trickle of sweat trace down my spine, my heart racing with every honk and swerve. Suddenly, a reckless driver veered into our lane, threatening to collide with Carl's car. My breath caught in my throat as Carl expertly swer