As they tidied up the apartment after the party, Sheila glanced at Amaliah with a knowing smile. "So, am I allowed to assume you've finally decided to give Caesar Masterson a chance to woo you?" she asked.Caesar had left just five minutes earlier after Sheila playfully pushed him out the door. It was late, and he’d mentioned having a breakfast meeting with his father's friends the next morning. Though he’d wanted to stay and help clean up, Sheila insisted he go, even threatening to ban him from any future birthday parties if he didn’t. He finally relented, giving each of them a hug. Before he left, he reminded Amaliah of her promise to let him accompany her to her next hospital appointment.Amaliah chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. "Woo me? What are you talking about?"Sheila huffed. "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I watched you two all night. You were practically glued to each other, talking and laughing. I think I saw you laugh more tonight than you have all year
Amaliah stood at the lectern, double-checking her slides on her laptop one last time before starting her presentation. Nerves churned inside her, but she trusted herself enough not to let them get the best of her. Caesar had even reassured her, confident she'd do well, and she was determined not to let him down.Her heart pounded as the double doors to the conference room opened, and the board members filed in with expressions that gave nothing away. These were the same people who had watched her stumble through her previous presentation’s opening minutes, and she could almost feel their silent doubts, wondering if today would be a repeat—and if Caesar might consider giving her presentation to someone else.But she had other plans. That wasn’t going to happen; she was set on making sure everyone left this room impressed. Caesar and Francine entered last, and as the doors closed behind them, she watched them take their seats before she took a steadying breath and dimmed the lights with
Amaliah set her iced tea down, her gaze fixed on Caesar. “Was it because of you that Ms. Rodriguez called Mark to her office?” she asked.“No,” Caesar replied firmly. “She heard the rumors and assured me she’d handle it herself. I had nothing to do with it.”Amaliah tilted her head thoughtfully. “He seemed very upset when he came back. I wonder what she said to him.” she mused.“Whatever it was, it should stop him from spreading more lies about you,” Caesar said with a reassuring tone. “But honestly, out of a thousand employees in the company, why did he choose to target you?”Amaliah shrugged, muttering under her breath, “He thinks I’m a snob. He doesn’t like that I won’t answer his million questions about my personal life.” “He should spend less time gossiping and more time focusing on his work,” Caesar said sharply, only to pause as his phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. He ignored it at first, unwilling to let anything interrupt the moment with Amaliah. But when the buzzing pe
"Why have you been ignoring my calls, Caesar?" Anastasia demanded, frustration evident in her tone. "You never used to do that.""Past tense. I do it now," Caesar shot back coldly. His voice was sharp, laced with finality. "And before you ask why—it's because you mean nothing to me anymore.""That's not true!" she retorted, her voice rising. "I'm your fiancée." Lifting her hand, she showed him the ring glinting on her finger. "Remember this? You put it on my finger on national television. The whole world knows we're engaged."Caesar raked his fingers through his hair, his jaw tightening as he struggled to hold back the anger bubbling inside him. His gaze flicked to Sarah, who sat at her desk, feigning disinterest as she worked on her computer. Taking Anastasia into his office to continue this conversation was an option, but he knew better. She’d likely attempt to manipulate him again."Sarah," he said, his voice strained but controlled, "can you give us some privacy? If you have work
Willowridge Manor stood as a testament to timeless elegance, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Fairfield’s idyllic countryside. Spanning two acres of lush, meticulously maintained land, the estate exuded a quiet grandeur that was impossible to ignore.A long cobblestone driveway, lined with ancient willow trees, led to the stately manor. The house itself was a masterpiece of colonial architecture, its whitewashed facade accented with ivy creeping up its stone columns. Large bay windows reflected the golden rays of the sun, while a pair of wrought-iron lanterns flanked the grand oak door, offering a warm, inviting glow at night.The gardens surrounding the manor were a botanical paradise. Vibrant roses in every hue imaginable spilled over trellises, their fragrance carried on the gentle breeze. Lavender bushes bordered the winding stone pathways, which meandered through clusters of hydrangeas and peonies. In the center of the garden stood a marble fountain, its cascading water a so
Caesar pulled into an empty spot in the hospital's underground parking lot and switched off the ignition. Reaching into the back seat, he grabbed a small bag and retrieved a baseball cap from inside. He knew Amaliah would likely laugh at his attempt to disguise himself, but this was for her safety as much as his.As a well-known figure, he despised being in the spotlight, and a visit to the hospital would spark headlines within the hour. If anyone spotted him and Amaliah leaving together, the situation would escalate even further.Sliding the cap onto his head and adjusting a nose mask over his face, Caesar stepped out of the car, shut the door, and locked it before heading toward the sliding doors that led to the elevator. He pressed the call button, and once the elevator arrived, he stepped inside and selected the fifth floor, where Amaliah had texted she would be.A smile tugged at his lips as he thought about her message asking if he was sure about coming to her appointment. He ha
Amaliah’s brows furrowed in concentration as her fingers flew hastily across the keyboard. She was typing up her report for the upcoming meeting with Caesar in two days, and she needed to get it just right. The faint hum of the office AC provided a soothing background, but the pressing need to pee broke her focus. Sighing, she pushed her chair back and stood.“This better still be here when I get back,” she muttered, quickly locking the screen before hurrying to the restroom.When she returned five minutes later, her steps faltered at the sight of her computer screen—black and lifeless. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as she approached her desk. She distinctly remembered leaving it on. Panic began to rise as she pressed the power button, but nothing happened.Her fingers trembled slightly as she muttered, “Did I save before leaving? I... I don’t think I did.” She groaned softly. If the last few edits were lost, she'd have to start over from the middle of the report—a frustratin
Amaliah and Mark exchanged a tense glance.“Do you have any idea who it might be?” she asked.Nathan shook his head. “Not yet. But I’m conducting a full audit of the network and office equipment. Whoever did this left a trail, and I’ll find them.”Amaliah gave a firm nod. “Let me know if you need anything from me. I just want this handled.”“You’ll be the first to know,” Nathan assured her before striding away.As the day progressed, Amaliah struggled to concentrate on rebuilding the corrupted sections of her report, but the lingering unease wouldn’t fade. Someone in the office had tried to sabotage her work—and until Nathan uncovered the culprit, she couldn’t afford to trust anyone.~~~~~As the car rolled to a stop in front of her house, Amaliah stepped out and closed the door behind her, offering a grateful smile to Caesar’s chauffeur. She still couldn’t believe Caesar had arranged for her to be driven home after work—it was such a thoughtful gesture, especially after the exhaustin
Caesar sat at his desk, his fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood. His sharp gaze flicked to his secretary, Sarah, who stood by the door, iPad in hand."Get Nathan from IT here. Now," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.Without hesitation, Sarah nodded. "Right away, Mr. Masterson."Within ten minutes, Nathan entered, adjusting his glasses as he took in Caesar’s serious expression."You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked.Caesar gestured to the chair across from him. "Have you identified who sabotaged Amaliah’s report?"Nathan exhaled, setting a folder on the desk. "Yes. It was Mark from the digital marketing department. But he didn’t act alone. Someone from IT helped him override system restrictions." Nathan responded.Caesar’s jaw clenched. "Who?""A junior technician named Alex," Nathan replied. "We reviewed the system logs and traced unauthorized modifications back to his credentials. He and Mark worked together to alter Amaliah’s data before the deadl
Caesar paced his office restlessly, his phone gripped tightly in his hand. The moment Sarah’s email had landed in his inbox, detailing how someone had sabotaged Amaliah’s report, he had tried calling her. But she had declined his call.That single action had sent his concern into overdrive. Had she found out? Did she think he was involved? Has the stress affected her and the babies? His mind raced with worst-case scenarios, his gut twisting with unease.Determined to get answers, he had immediately contacted Nathan, the head of IT. Nathan had assured him that only a section of Amaliah’s work had been corrupted and that he was actively investigating who was responsible. But that did little to ease Caesar’s frustration.“Damn it, Amaliah. Why won’t you just answer?” he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with frustration.Before he could dwell any further, the door to his office swung open, and his sister, Sofia, strode in. The sharp click of her heels echoed against the polished
Amaliah and Mark exchanged a tense glance.“Do you have any idea who it might be?” she asked.Nathan shook his head. “Not yet. But I’m conducting a full audit of the network and office equipment. Whoever did this left a trail, and I’ll find them.”Amaliah gave a firm nod. “Let me know if you need anything from me. I just want this handled.”“You’ll be the first to know,” Nathan assured her before striding away.As the day progressed, Amaliah struggled to concentrate on rebuilding the corrupted sections of her report, but the lingering unease wouldn’t fade. Someone in the office had tried to sabotage her work—and until Nathan uncovered the culprit, she couldn’t afford to trust anyone.~~~~~As the car rolled to a stop in front of her house, Amaliah stepped out and closed the door behind her, offering a grateful smile to Caesar’s chauffeur. She still couldn’t believe Caesar had arranged for her to be driven home after work—it was such a thoughtful gesture, especially after the exhaustin
Amaliah’s brows furrowed in concentration as her fingers flew hastily across the keyboard. She was typing up her report for the upcoming meeting with Caesar in two days, and she needed to get it just right. The faint hum of the office AC provided a soothing background, but the pressing need to pee broke her focus. Sighing, she pushed her chair back and stood.“This better still be here when I get back,” she muttered, quickly locking the screen before hurrying to the restroom.When she returned five minutes later, her steps faltered at the sight of her computer screen—black and lifeless. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as she approached her desk. She distinctly remembered leaving it on. Panic began to rise as she pressed the power button, but nothing happened.Her fingers trembled slightly as she muttered, “Did I save before leaving? I... I don’t think I did.” She groaned softly. If the last few edits were lost, she'd have to start over from the middle of the report—a frustratin
Caesar pulled into an empty spot in the hospital's underground parking lot and switched off the ignition. Reaching into the back seat, he grabbed a small bag and retrieved a baseball cap from inside. He knew Amaliah would likely laugh at his attempt to disguise himself, but this was for her safety as much as his.As a well-known figure, he despised being in the spotlight, and a visit to the hospital would spark headlines within the hour. If anyone spotted him and Amaliah leaving together, the situation would escalate even further.Sliding the cap onto his head and adjusting a nose mask over his face, Caesar stepped out of the car, shut the door, and locked it before heading toward the sliding doors that led to the elevator. He pressed the call button, and once the elevator arrived, he stepped inside and selected the fifth floor, where Amaliah had texted she would be.A smile tugged at his lips as he thought about her message asking if he was sure about coming to her appointment. He ha
Willowridge Manor stood as a testament to timeless elegance, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Fairfield’s idyllic countryside. Spanning two acres of lush, meticulously maintained land, the estate exuded a quiet grandeur that was impossible to ignore.A long cobblestone driveway, lined with ancient willow trees, led to the stately manor. The house itself was a masterpiece of colonial architecture, its whitewashed facade accented with ivy creeping up its stone columns. Large bay windows reflected the golden rays of the sun, while a pair of wrought-iron lanterns flanked the grand oak door, offering a warm, inviting glow at night.The gardens surrounding the manor were a botanical paradise. Vibrant roses in every hue imaginable spilled over trellises, their fragrance carried on the gentle breeze. Lavender bushes bordered the winding stone pathways, which meandered through clusters of hydrangeas and peonies. In the center of the garden stood a marble fountain, its cascading water a so
"Why have you been ignoring my calls, Caesar?" Anastasia demanded, frustration evident in her tone. "You never used to do that.""Past tense. I do it now," Caesar shot back coldly. His voice was sharp, laced with finality. "And before you ask why—it's because you mean nothing to me anymore.""That's not true!" she retorted, her voice rising. "I'm your fiancée." Lifting her hand, she showed him the ring glinting on her finger. "Remember this? You put it on my finger on national television. The whole world knows we're engaged."Caesar raked his fingers through his hair, his jaw tightening as he struggled to hold back the anger bubbling inside him. His gaze flicked to Sarah, who sat at her desk, feigning disinterest as she worked on her computer. Taking Anastasia into his office to continue this conversation was an option, but he knew better. She’d likely attempt to manipulate him again."Sarah," he said, his voice strained but controlled, "can you give us some privacy? If you have work
Amaliah set her iced tea down, her gaze fixed on Caesar. “Was it because of you that Ms. Rodriguez called Mark to her office?” she asked.“No,” Caesar replied firmly. “She heard the rumors and assured me she’d handle it herself. I had nothing to do with it.”Amaliah tilted her head thoughtfully. “He seemed very upset when he came back. I wonder what she said to him.” she mused.“Whatever it was, it should stop him from spreading more lies about you,” Caesar said with a reassuring tone. “But honestly, out of a thousand employees in the company, why did he choose to target you?”Amaliah shrugged, muttering under her breath, “He thinks I’m a snob. He doesn’t like that I won’t answer his million questions about my personal life.” “He should spend less time gossiping and more time focusing on his work,” Caesar said sharply, only to pause as his phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. He ignored it at first, unwilling to let anything interrupt the moment with Amaliah. But when the buzzing pe
Amaliah stood at the lectern, double-checking her slides on her laptop one last time before starting her presentation. Nerves churned inside her, but she trusted herself enough not to let them get the best of her. Caesar had even reassured her, confident she'd do well, and she was determined not to let him down.Her heart pounded as the double doors to the conference room opened, and the board members filed in with expressions that gave nothing away. These were the same people who had watched her stumble through her previous presentation’s opening minutes, and she could almost feel their silent doubts, wondering if today would be a repeat—and if Caesar might consider giving her presentation to someone else.But she had other plans. That wasn’t going to happen; she was set on making sure everyone left this room impressed. Caesar and Francine entered last, and as the doors closed behind them, she watched them take their seats before she took a steadying breath and dimmed the lights with