Isabella 47.I stared unbelievably at the picture for almost an hour before I realized that Damien had a lot of explaining to do. I had no idea when this picture was taken exactly but I remembered the day so well.The playground where mother used to take me before we moved. I was hit with an unwanted wave of nostalgia as I remembered. This simply means that Damien knew me from childhood. What I did not understand was why he was hiding it.I began to recall all the little things he casually knew about me even when we had first met. He seemed like a familiar stranger when he came up to me and we had clicked immediately. Two things were on my mind. Should I confront him about it or should I play along?I was deeply hurt that he kept this from me and It made realize just what a lie this whole marriage thing was. I guess there is no truth if everything is not real. I put the picture back in its place and headed back to the living room.All of a sudden, I did not fe
Isabella 48.I was stunned for the whole duration of ascension towards my office floor. I could not believe that I was standing beside the father of my fake fiance. I tried to stay calm and smiled through out the elevator ride. I rubbed my hands together as I tried to remain calm. The ride was painfully long and the tension was growing by the second. And for a minute I tried to wonder whether he even knew someone was with him in this elevator.Come on Isabella you can do this."How long have you been working here?" The man asked me in a friendly manner finally breaking the tension. Finally."I actually just got the job few weeks ago and it's been hectic ever since," I replied as honest as possible."You seem like you could handle it," He told me.He seems nice. But his face is grumpy. "I hope so," I answered earnestly. The elevator doors slid open and I was surprised to find the three of them waiting.I stepped out uncertain of what was going on. Dami
Damien 49."I know that you are fighting the urge to put your hands on me. I would not blame you if you did," Vito "Sicario" Moretti said to me as the elevator descended to the company ground floor. He sounded very calm saying things like thisHis voice was aggravating. His whole existence right now made me rage inwardly but I kept my calm."Cut the bullshit," I said coldly as I glared at the numbers that indicated what floor we were. His mere breathing sounds beside me made me want to erase his existence immediately. The buzzing sound of the elevator was annoying enough."That bad, huh?" He asked with a shrug."You wanted it this way, Old man," I retorted with a shrug.His eyes revealed the anger he had been trying to hide."I never meant for any of these things to happen, I always wanted the best for you and you know that," He said. They always said that, even in the movies."You want a medal?" I asked him.He simply scoffed at me.Vito, my father, left me when I was seven through n
Damien 50.This could go many ways. We could talk like gentlemen and go about our way, or we could throw hands and beat the crap out of each other. We could even do both but one thing was certain and it was that something was going to happen whether Robert liked it or not.And I can't lie, I have to be honest. The beating the crap option was looking very attractive."You look like shit," I said to him as I looked him over once again."And you look just fucking great," He replied like he was dead inside. His eyes also seemed dead, as if he has lost something dear to him."Thank you, I feel good too if you don't mind me saying," I said.He was eyeing seats as we spoke."Join me, breakfast is entirely on me," I offered.He looked at me sharply. "Save your pity," He spat. I knew that he had no money because he had squandered it. Con men never saved for the rainy days.Hmm, he still had some dignity."I can assure you that what I feel for you is not pity, it's something much worse," I told
Isabella 51.I tried to concentrate at work but it was hard. There were a lot of things on my mind and looking for Camila's replacement was not as distracting as I thought it would. I decided to go for a short lunch break.I walked into the corridor and I saw Jackson flirting with some ladies huddled together giggling as he talked. I eased pass them as I walked to the elevator. I pressed the button and waited for the elevator to arrive to my floor.The elevator dinged and I was almost grateful to be in the elevator before the doors opened up to reveal Natalia."Lunch? Let's grab it together," She said as I entered reluctantly.She saw my body language and smirked. "Oh, come on, I promise that I will not bite," She told me as the elevator descended."Fine," I muttered."Good, us ladies need to stick together," She said, curling her fingers into fists to show me how enthusiastic she was.I simply ignored and stared straight at the mirror. It reflected back at me, and I swear I almost fe
Isabella 52.Natalia gave me a ride in her pink car after the short lunch we had. I watched over the window as she hummed the melody of the piece that was currently blasting out of her radio. The radio was also pink, just to remind you.Natalia suddenly stopped humming and glanced over at me. “Can I be honest with you?” She asked and I glanced over at her. What could she possibly want to speak about now?“What sad tale do you want to recount?” I rolled my eyes.“You know I almost married Damien?” She said. I looked at her for a while and turned my attention back to the road.“Hmmm,” I murmured as I touched my chin. I didn't even know why I did that. “He told me how you desperately tried to force him into marrying you,” I corrected her.She scoffed at me and reduced the volume on the radio.“I just want you to know that Damien is mine, and if you know what is good for you. Get as far away from him because if I decide to act it won’t end up well with you!” She spat.She finally snap
Damien 53Natalia’s little arms circled mine and I shuddered uncontrollably. I threw her a dirty look and let out a small hiss.“My father has invited you and her, wouldn’t you come with me instead of her?” She said and tore her hands away from mine when she saw that I was still poised at her like a king cobra.She clicked her tongue. “You don’t have to be so harsh,” She said.The elevator came to a stop and I threw my long legs out. The elevator was starting to get stuffy even though it was just the both of us. I almost cussed at myself when I heard footsteps behind me.She was following me.“Nathalia tell me what don’t you get about all this?” I glared at her.“I don’t understand what you see in that girl! What does she have? She is broke! Her mother is crazy and yet you are still with her!” She went into a screaming fit. Her hands were flying every which way. I hated myself for waiting for her reply and started walking away.She can go crazy all she wants I don’t care about it. Can
Isabella 54.Her brown hair fell to her back and it matched her brown suit and pan trouser. I could see the black lacy bra or singlet or whatever she had on.She matched it with black pencil heels and a black diamond Purse. Her lips were tinted a deep red and her silky hair moved in the motion of the wind. I could already tell she was Hispanic.“Ms.Grace,” Jackson finally spoke up after his jaw dropped to the floor earlier. He took out his hands to offer her a handshake and her white perfect set of teeth came to view as she offered her hands. Now that I could see her perfectly, she just looked like someone I knew.I have seen Jackson with countless women but never had I seen him react the way he just did. Was he falling for her?“Isabella,” I also shook her hands.“Please have your seat,” Jackson showed her the chair before us and we all sat at the same time. “My, I must say. Your photo card does show justice to the goddess I see before me,” Jackson said and I threw a befitting
Isabella As I lay on the floor, bound and helpless, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within me – fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for safety and freedom. But just when it felt like all hope was lost, the door burst open, and there he was – Damien, my husband, my savior.Relief flooded through me as I saw him stride into the room, his presence a beacon of strength and determination amidst the chaos. With him was Jackson, his trusted ally, who had helped orchestrate our rescue. I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards both of them as they quickly moved to untie me and Ava, their movements swift and efficient.As the ropes fell away and I rose to my feet, I couldn't suppress the overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude that washed over me. Damien enveloped me in his arms, holding me close and whispering words of reassurance and comfort as tears of relief streamed down my cheeks.Together, we made our way out of the room, leaving behind the nightmare that had thre
Damien My gaze never wavered from Vito's face as I listened to my arch nemesis. The gravity of the situation got more and more deadlier as the night wore on. The papers were still in Vito's hand as I kept the phone to my hear.My father had an inquisitive look on his face as he watched me closely. The line went dead and I put the phone back into my pocket. I collected the the contract and without breaking eye contact, slowly tore it up right in front of him.Vito's eyes widened in shock and utter disbelief. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled maniacally as he knelt on the floor trying in vain to join the piece of paper together in a futile attempt.For the first time in my life, I saw him for what he was. An empty barrel of a man, a pathetic and sorry excuse for a husband to my mother and a fucking dead beat piece of shit of a father. I felt nothing but contempt and disgust as I watched him scrambled across the whole floor."Do you know what you have done?!" He yelled at me as h
Isabella As Ava was pushed into the room, I felt a rush of relief flood through me at the sight of her, mingled with a fresh wave of fear for our uncertain future. She stumbled slightly, her eyes wide with shock and confusion, but when she saw me, her expression softened with a mixture of relief and concern."Isabella, darling, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion as she hurried to my side.I reached out to her, my hands shaking as I clutched hers tightly, drawing strength from her presence despite the terror that still gripped me. "I'm scared, Ava," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's going to happen to us."Ava's eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around me, holding me close in a comforting embrace. "We'll get through this together, sweetheart," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."But before we could say another word, the door swung open once again, and Camilla e
Damien As I waited anxiously for Camilla's instructions, every second felt like an eternity. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one more frantic than the last. Where was she keeping Isabella and Ava? What did she want from me? And most importantly, how could I save them from whatever danger they were in?The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow, the silence of the room weighing heavily on my shoulders. I felt a surge of frustration building within me, the urge to take action and do something, anything, to rescue my wife and mother from the clutches of their captors.Finally, the sound of my phone buzzing broke the silence, and I quickly grabbed it, my heart pounding in my chest. It was Camilla, her name flashing on the screen, and I answered it without hesitation."Damien," her voice came through the line, smooth and composed as ever. "I trust you've had some time to think about our situation."I clenched my jaw, my grip on the phone tightening with barely contained anger. "W
Isabella As consciousness slowly seeped back into my mind, I found myself engulfed in darkness. Panic surged through me as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings, the weight of my own fear pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.My heart thundered in my chest as I became aware of the rough bindings cutting into my wrists and ankles, the coarse fibers digging painfully into my skin. Panic tightened its grip around my throat as I realized the full extent of my helplessness, the stark reality of my captivity crashing down on me with brutal force.Frantic thoughts raced through my mind as I struggled against my restraints, the panic threatening to consume me whole. Where was I? How had I ended up here? And most importantly, where was Ava?A wave of despair washed over me as I realized that I was completely at the mercy of my captors, whoever they were. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I imagined the worst, my mind conjuring up horrifying scenarios of what fate awa
Damien As I strode through the familiar corridors of the office building, my mind raced with thoughts and plans. Natalia's brazen attempts to undermine me only fueled my determination. I had come too far to let her or anyone else stand in my way.But it wasn't just about me anymore. My family – Isabella, Ava, our unborn child – they were my driving force. I would do whatever it took to protect them, to ensure their safety and security. And that meant taking down anyone who dared to threaten what was mine.And now, as I sat there, surrounded by the trappings of power, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. I wouldn't rest until the Founder's Association was dismantled until my family was safe until Renaissance was secure.With a steely resolve, I reached for my phone and began to formulate my next move. There was no turning back now. The game was on, and I intended to win. Immersed in the intricate details of my plan, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me out of my focused s
Isabella Chopping vegetables for the lasagna, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Cooking had always been a soothing activity for me, a way to channel my thoughts and focus on something tangible amidst the chaos of life.Ava, my ever-supportive mother-in-law, stood beside me, offering gentle guidance as we prepared dinner for Damien. "Now, Isabella, remember to slice the vegetables thinly for the lasagna layers," she instructed, her voice warm and reassuring.I nodded, taking her advice to heart as I carefully wielded the knife. "Like this?" I asked, holding up a perfectly sliced zucchini for her inspection.Ava smiled approvingly. "Just like that, dear. You're a natural," she praised, her encouragement filling me with a sense of pride.As we worked side by side, Ava shared her secrets for creating the perfect steak marinade, imparting her culinary wisdom with the patience of a seasoned chef. "The key is to let the meat marinate for at least an hour," she expla
Damien I was watchful during the conference meeting. I took my time to really look at the board members sitting at the table to see if I could see a member of the Founder's Association but none were seated at this conference. Even Rose St Dumas was not present. Maybe she was preparing her cronies of corrupt businessmen and women for the final show down.Camilla Valdez was also not present but Natalia was. I could not tell what was going on in her head as she gazed at me. If her mother was one of them, did that not make her automatically part of tht fold? Was I over reaching? If the plan with the detective worked, it meant that a lot of people will inevitably get hurt. "What is the profit margin for today?" I asked as I got down to business. "Eight percent since last year," Natalia said in a professional manner. "That's lower than last two years," I said with a frown. "That was due to the Al Vegas controversy," One of the board members said. "You mean the embezzlement," I replied
Damien Returning to the office after the recent turmoil felt like stepping into a minefield, each step fraught with the risk of detonating hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. As I walked through the familiar halls of Renaissance, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me like a vice, a constant reminder of the precarious balancing act I was now forced to perform.Every interaction, every word spoken, had to be carefully calculated and measured, lest I inadvertently reveal the truth lurking beneath the facade of normalcy I presented to the world. I couldn't afford to let slip even the slightest hint of my alliance with Michael, for fear of the consequences it could bring crashing down upon us both.My colleagues greeted me with smiles and nods as I made my way to my office, their cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. Behind their friendly facades, I couldn't help but wonder who among them could be trusted, and who might be secretly wo