Damien 189.I sat in my office, staring blankly at the computer screen, the cursor blinking mockingly as if taunting me with my own indecision. Camilla's words echoed in my mind, her insistent demand for me to attend the meeting with Senator Kelly ringing in my ears like a relentless drumbeat.I had never been one to trust politicians, and for good reason. In my line of work, corruption ran rampant, and those in power often wielded it like a weapon, using their influence to further their own agendas at the expense of the innocent.But Camilla was relentless in her pursuit, her persuasive arguments leaving me with little choice but to acquiesce to her demands. She had a way of twisting words, of painting a picture so compelling that it was almost impossible to resist.With a heavy sigh, I pushed back from my desk and rose to my feet, the weight of Camilla's expectations heavy on my shoulders. Despite my misgivings, I knew that I had to tread carefully, to play
Isabella 190.As Natalia's piercing gaze met mine, I felt a shiver run down my spine, the memory of her tumultuous relationship with Damien still fresh in my mind. She was a force to be reckoned with, her confidence bordering on arrogance, her beauty a weapon she wielded with deadly precision. But beneath the facade of glamour and allure, there lurked a darkness, a shadow of manipulation and deceit that made my skin crawl.I glanced over at Ava, my mother-in-law, her expression tight with barely concealed disdain as she regarded Natalia with narrowed eyes. She had never been shy about her feelings towards Damien's ex-girlfriend, always quick to voice her disapproval at the mere mention of her name.Natalia's lips curled into a smug smile, her gaze flickering between Ava and me with a hint of amusement. "I heard Damien was in town, so I thought I'd come and say hello," she replied, her tone sweet but laced with a subtle undertone of malice.I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails dig
Damien 191.I was calling it a day after the meeting with Senator Kelly. There was something sinister about the man that I could not put my finger on but I was certain that I did not trust him one bit. I closed the door to my office and headed for the elevator."Who are you?" I asked as went out of my office to see a lady sitting behind a desk meant for the secretary.The seat had been vacant ever since I took the position of CEO but I had not appointed a secretary ever since nor did I ever have the intention to."I am your new secretary," The lady replied."I did not hire a new secretary, why are you here?" I curtly retorted."Ms. Camilla Valdez, she gave me this job, I am just doing what I am told," The lady said."What's your name?" I asked."Gia," She replied.I was willing to bet that Gia here was a spy sent to keep an eye on me. And it was obvious that I could not trust Gia. It was foolish to do so.As I settled into my office chair, the weight of the day's responsibilities bear
Isabella 192."Why don't we all take a seat and behave like adults for once. And one more thing Natalia, the only reason I have not kicked your ass out is because this discussion has to do with my son," She said looking at her with contempt.We all sat at the small dining room situated between the kitchen and the living room. There was a tension filled silence as we all sat. I had so many things to get of my chest and tell Natalia but she was the guest and I was the unfortunate host."Care to tell us exactly why you are in my house? And please don't say my son's name," Ava asked as she glared at Natalia."I am here because of your son, Ava, and I will always be here because I love Damien," Natalia said adamantly.It filled me with rage the way he kept mentioning my husband's name but I kept mute."However, I am also here because of your father, Isabella," Natalia said and turned to me. I frowned and watched her with caution. Only few people knew about my dad and I."Should I even ask
DamienAs I sat in my study, the weight of the day's events pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket, my mind raced with a thousand thoughts and worries. Isabella and I had paid a visit to her father, Emilio, seeking answers about his past involvement as the Puppeteer behind Renaissance. But what should have been a straightforward conversation had quickly devolved into chaos, with Emilio's uncouth behavior casting a shadow of unease over our already tumultuous lives.I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that gnawed at me from within, a sense of foreboding that whispered of danger lurking just beyond the horizon. Enemies were emerging from the shadows, their motives murky and their intentions sinister. And as the walls closed in around us, I knew that I had to confront the looming threat head-on, to protect my family at all costs.Emilio was a man haunted by his past, his secrets a heavy burden that weighed him down like chains. And if he was not careful, that chain would
Isabella 194.I sat across from Natalia in my mother-in-law's dining room, my heart pounding with anticipation as she began to speak. There was a tension in the air, thick and palpable, as she prepared to reveal the secrets of her sordid past – a past that was inexplicably intertwined with my own."Isabella, darling," Natalia began, her voice low and measured. "There are things about your father that you need to know."My breath caught in my throat at her words, a sense of dread washing over me like a tidal wave. Emilio, my long-estranged father, was a mystery wrapped in an enigma, a man whose secrets ran deeper than I could ever have imagined."What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Natalia sighed, her gaze flickering with a mixture of sadness and regret."Your father and I... we were involved in some... unsavory activities together," she admitted, her words heavy with the weight of confession.I felt a surge of disbelief wash over me at her revelation, the piec
Damien 195.As I stepped out of Emilio's house, the weight of his words hung heavy on my shoulders like a suffocating shroud. The revelation of his true nature, as the mastermind behind the criminal activities plaguing our lives, left me reeling with a sense of dread and despair. How could I have been so blind to the darkness lurking within my wife's own father?Each step I took away from that house felt like a march towards an uncertain future, one fraught with danger and uncertainty. The image of Emilio, his cold gaze fixed upon me with a hint of malice, burned into my mind like a brand, a constant reminder of the sinister forces at play.As I climbed into my car and started the engine, the sound of its roar drowned out by the cacophony of thoughts swirling in my head. My hands gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, the familiar comfort of the leather providing little solace in the face of the chaos raging within me.I drove home in silence, the road stretching out
Damien 196.As I pulled out of the driveway, the weight of the day's events hung heavy on my shoulders. The encounter with Emilio had left me shaken, my mind swirling with questions and doubts. But I pushed aside the turmoil brewing within me, focusing instead on the task at hand – reaching my mother's house safely.Suddenly, my senses went on high alert as I noticed a car tailing me, its darkened windows obscuring the identity of its occupants. My heart raced as I considered the possibility that it could be Monroe or one of his cohorts, lying in wait to ambush me.I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my mind racing with possibilities. Should I confront them head-on, or try to lose them in the maze of streets? But before I could make a decision, the car peeled off onto a side street, disappearing from view as quickly as it had appeared.Relief washed over me as I realized that I had narrowly escaped whatever danger lurked behind the tinted windows. But the sense of unease remain