A Deserved SlapEmerald's eyes widened in shock as the pieces fell into place. "Nina? What does she have to do with this? Don’t tell me, you have been acting out because you feel sorry for Nina. Is this what she told you to do?" Emerald felt like laughing. Was this girl a child?"Don't play dumb with me!" Jasmine spat, her hand raised as if to strike Emerald. "You tried to ruin your cousin’s life, and now you're doing the same thing. You can dream. You are leaving this crew whether you like it or not!"“Is that so?” Emerald said and turned to leave. Seeing that she was leaving again, Jasmine walked over and grabbed her back. The crew were already on alert at this point.“Don’t walk away when I am talking to you!” Jasmine basically screamed.“You need to calm down,” Emerald said, but her words only made Jasmine’s anger shoot to her head.She raised her hand to throw a slap.Emerald caught her hand easily and reciprocated. No one had any time to react when Emerald’s hand connected wit
Grandma to the rescueThe next day, she went in for work. Unlike her guess, the office was fine. Most were actually glad that Jasmine got her karma and most thought it would be bad if she got fired over this. But all over, things were fine. It was a bustling morning in the grand lobby of the Houston Corporation's headquarters. The Houston cooperation building was a bit different in design than the Reeves family building, but the towering glass walls and sleek, modern furnishings really spoke of power. As employees and staff alike hurried through, one could hear their footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors.In the middle of the corporate chaos, Amanda walked into the building. Her judgmental eyes scanned the building. Amanda's old face looked indifferent as she approached the reception desk, her movements were oddly graceful despite her advanced age.The young receptionist looked up from her computer and took in Amanda’s demeanor. She had worked in the industry enough to
ExposedEmerald suddenly realized why Amanda had come. It seems she had seen what was going on online.“I heard someone is giving you trouble. Just deal with them as you like. No one can do anything to you,” Amanda said and Emerald’s heart softened. She had a grandmother of her own, but it seems this was the first time she had actually felt what it was like to have a grandmother.“Of course. If I get bullied, I will tell you,” Emerald said.Amanda chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Good. You are a semi boss here too. I want to see what the Houston family will dare do to you. Now, you'd best be getting back to work. I'll let you get on with your day."Emerald nodded, with a smile. " Thank you Grandma."Amanda reached out and gave Emerald's hand a gentle squeeze. "Now, off you go. I'll be sure to check in on you again soon."With one final embrace, Emerald reluctantly turned and headed back towards the building, her steps a little lighter, her heart a little fuller. As she w
Once a cheaterNina felt nervous as she drove to Andrew's place. Mixed emotions filled her; annoyance coupled with anticipation. The shocking revelation online troubled her.She could tell that one needed a great amount of power to make all those online news disappear and even sensor platforms from talking about it. Who was it?Could it be that Emerald really married someone better? The thought burned at her.This ignited her to resolve and to persevere. Emerald was busy living well while she was facing bankruptcy? She refused to go back to the way things were.The car arrived at the Woods family house and she stepped out.The familiar sight greeted her eyes. She took a deep breath. Smoothing her blouse, she mentally prepared her speech. She already made up her mind on how she was going to approach this.She walked to the front door and pressed the doorbell. It echoed within.The door flung wide, and a butler looked at her with a complicated expression. “Is Andrew in?” she asked and
A Child’s Promise.“Run, run Emerald” they taunted her, as their voices drew close, Emerald's heart pounded in her chest, she needed to escape her cousins who were chasing her with a whip, she could not let them catch her, gods knew she couldn't survive the terrible things they did to her this time, it wasn't the first time she had suffered at their hands and because she wasn't the favorite granddaughter of the Monquress, her grandmother let it happen.Her breathing was ragged, as she ran further into the forest, she could feel herself becoming weaker with each step she took, a shout of panic escaped her lips as she hit her right toe on a stone and she plummeted to the ground with a loud thud from the corners of her eyes she spotted her eldest cousin with a wicked smirk on his face, trembling she looked for an escape route, but there was none as three other of her cousins had encircled her, she couldn't fight them off she was just a little girl and small gaunt fist couldn't do much da
Finding Her HusbandEmerald, buzzing with a mix of excitement and trepidation, couldn’t wait to share the day’s events with her best friend, Emily. Emily was an investigative journalist who had been her friend since middle school, they had been inseparable ever since despite the fact that they were opposites of each other. She dialed Emily’s number, her fingers tapping anxiously on her bag while waiting at the bus stop.“Emily, I am dead, come and collect my corpse.” Emerald blurted out as soon as Emily answered.“It is not a good time to die, the economy has not been good on coffin prices,” Emily answered.“Can’t you at least worry if the mortuary is too cold for your friend’s body first?” Emerald asked.“Okay, spill the tea, Em, who killed you?”“Mark Hartley and my big mouth joined hands and plotted this murder,” Emerald cried.“ Is this about the big project?” Emily’s voice crackled with curiosity on the other end of the line.“Partly, Mark assumes I’m married and wants my husband
Lies Meet AudacityA few days passed since Emerald had heard from her Grandmother. She had never thought her life would clash with her lies before. She had always thought Matthew reeves was such a faraway person. Apart from dealing with Mark Hartley, she did not need to interact with his world. As such, she is never worried that she will crash into someone and have to defend her lies. After all, if it was so easy for the two worlds to clash, she would have found out about being Mrs. Reeves long ago. But a single leak can sink a boat.The Skyline Hotel, an epitome of elegance and grandeur, stood tall against the cityscape. As Emerald exited a meeting, the bustling energy of the city faded into a refined ambiance washed into the hotel lobby. The plush carpets under the foot and the muted chatter of those in the lobby were quite the sight for night time.Emerald focused on her thoughts barely noticing the familiar figure awaiting her near the lobby entrance. Mark Hartley, stood there wit
Meeting Her Husband.Saturday night came early; Emily and Emerald had decided to attend the IM Group annual charity ball. It was an important day, not only for IM Group, but for Emerald as well. She was going to meet her so-called husband tonight. After leaving the hotel last time, she was getting impatient. They decided that this event would be the best place, as they were sure he would be here.Emily and Emerald, standing at the entrance, exchanged a glance laden with uncertainty. The weight of the fabricated narrative surrounding Emerald’s supposed marriage to Matthew Reeves hung in the air, It was both their reason for coming and their ticket inside.“Look at this, I said you would marry well. Look how proud you are making this mother,” Emily mused,her eyes scanning the well-dressed crowd entering the venue.Emerald, laughed nodding in agreement. “I found this son in law just for you mother, The villagers would never be able to mock you again,”“Now, seriously, don't lose your coo