Lola couldn’t take it anymore. The client’s hand on her thigh really irked her. She felt the strong urge to go home and scrub any trace of his hand off her body. She had tried her possible best to be professional through this meeting, but the awful man had the audacity to threaten her into sleeping with him.This was why Lola felt no remorse when she got up and slapped the man across the face before leaving.Meanwhile, the client could not believe what had just happened. Though it didn’t take long before the stinging pain on his cheek made him realize that he had indeed been slapped. He then furiously yelled out threats as he watched her leave the restaurant.The client was about to reach out to Edmund to have Lola fired. After all, he was the contract agent from the company that Styleon wanted to work with. He had begun texting Edmund when a call came in. The client was left in deep shock as he saw that it was the CEO of his company who was calling him.“Hello, Sir.” The client quick
When Lola got to the office to submit the contract file the next morning, she was unnerved as she was met with smiles and pleasant greetings from her coworkers. She quickly ignored them as she had long chosen to focus on her work while ignoring any form of insults that might be directed at her.Lola got to the company manager’s office and she submitted the contract file. “Sir, the contract deal was a success.”Fisher McCall smiled at her. “I know; the company we’re working with called to make a formal confirmation on their side.” He stretched his hand in the direction of one of the two seats on the other side of his desk. “Please, take a seat.”Lola was worried when she heard this. This was not her first time bagging a minor deal with a company. Normally, once she submits the file, she’s supposed to get back to work. But now, the company manager was suddenly asking her to sit.“Sir, is there a problem with the contract file? I personally went through it before presenting it to the cli
Edmund glared at Lola. “I expect you to succeed the same way you sealed the $700 million deal this week.” He saw the glare he was getting from the other coworkers. “Guys, C’mon! I’m merely teaching my underling the importance of consistent success. She had done the impossible while being a mere sales manager. Imagine the great things she could accomplish as a sales director! I’m merely equipping her with the best gift a mentor can offer: the chance to climb higher.”Even though some of the members in the meeting didn’t believe Edmund, they really couldn’t say anything against it as the excuse he gave was quite valid.At the end of the meeting, Lola had no choice but to accept the task. She had entered the meeting room feeling excited and optimistic. Unfortunately, she was now leaving the meeting room feeling apprehensive and worried.It was now Friday, the day Alexander had ordered that the meeting would be held. All the notable members that were expected to be there were now rushing
Everyone at the meeting was quite confused as to what exactly was going on. The new shareholder had walked into the meeting with sunglasses and a mask. Even his hair was styled in a way that the frame of his face couldn’t be seen clearly.After the greeting, everyone began feeling awkward but a look from Fisher kept everyone on their best behavior. They shouldn’t gawk at the new shareholder; he might get angry. As for Lola, she was seated further back thanks to Edmund who didn’t want this new shareholder to end up being impressed with her like his coworkers had at the past meeting with the upper ranks. Despite the distance, Lola couldn’t help but feel like the masked shareholder looked quite familiar. After a while, her eyes widened as it suddenly clicked.“Alexander?! Could it really be you?!” Lola whispered this under her breath as she knew better than to disrupt the meeting. Her body shook and she squinted her eyes to get a better look. She couldn’t help but internally curse at E
Lola was on her way back to her office when her phone rang with a birthday ringtone. She quickly retrieved the phone to lower the volume as other employees around that area had been disturbed by it.Lola smiled awkwardly at them. “Sorry, just ignore it.” She checked the notification on her phone and a bright smile lit up her face. “It’s Dad’s birthday already? Woah! Time has flown by.” She walked all the way to her office before dialing her husband’s phone number.As soon as the meeting was over, Alexander had returned to his private office with Fisher right behind him. Once they were inside the office, Alexander gave the manager a few more instructions which involved overseeing the performance of each department in the company. The step towards elevating the status of Styleon Group Corporation was a big vision, and for that dream to come true, every single employee needed to put in their best. This was why Alexander had compensated them with a raise and special additions in the benef
When Lola heard these words from her husband, she stared at him with incredulity before she broke out into laughter. “You? Help me? You’re joking, right?”Alexander shook his head with a soft smile still on his face. He was aware that Lola was openly mocking him but he played the fool still. “Of course, I believe I can help you with any problem that you have at work.” He stood in front of the woman, which made them pause their walk. “Lola, I’ve been meaning to have this conversation with you for a while now. I wonder why you barely let me in on all your struggles at work. You might be surprised by how much help I can provide.”Lola covered her mouth as she let out a ‘pfft’. “How am I supposed to believe you, Alexander? You didn’t even make the cut when you applied for an office job at the company. Your performance must have been so bad that they could only offer you the post of a gatekeeper. Plus, you only got that job because you are married to me.”Alexander sighed as he gently patt
Everyone watched as every single piece of clothes on the aisle was packed up by the boutique’s staff members. Once everything was settled, all the pairs of eyes turned to Alexander.“Well, the clothes have been packed for you.” The middle-aged man raised a skeptical eyebrow at Alexander. “It’s time for you to pay.”Alexander sneered before digging into his jacket pocket only for his hand to touch a space. His smile dropped in place of a confused expression as he turned to his jeans pocket only to find that his card was missing. That was when he recalled that he had left his premium black card at home. He had been so excited to spoil Kelsey for the day that he had actually forgotten to take the one thing he needed."What's the matter, you low-life scum?!" The middle-aged woman glared hatefully at Alexander. "The staff is waiting for you to pay." There was a moment of silence as everyone waited for Alexander to say something. On getting nothing but silence from him, the middle-aged woma
Alexander wanted Theo Good to hear him as he was making the call. This retired archeologist had decided to cheat him out of the goods he had bought fair and square. He didn’t care that the classy-dressed customer wanted to pay $100,000 for it. The fact still remained that it was now rightfully his.Theo Good scoffed. “What exactly is this? Do you think you can call over your pals to come cosplay as some big shot to scare me? Fine, bring it on, young man! I’ll wait and see what show you can afford to entertain me with today. Just know that you are still going to end up in prison; I promise to make that your reality.”Alexander simply smiled at this old man. This was the reason why he wanted his wife and daughter out of the shop. The person he had called just now was Alan Butch – one of the three big bosses of the underground world in this city.There were three underground kings who ruled together, maintaining and controlling the channels that had been established to do all sorts of bu
The cryptic phone call hung in the air, a chilling premonition of the storm to come. Jenifer knew Marcus Lee was closing in, and the threat to expose her secret – the truth about the body swap – felt like a loaded gun pointed directly at her heart.The days that followed were filled with a gnawing anxiety. She found herself constantly looking over her shoulder, scrutinizing every interaction, every phone call, every email. The trust she had carefully cultivated felt fragile, threatened by the impending exposure.One evening, while working late in her office, Jenifer received an unexpected visitor: James Beckett. He stood in the doorway, his face a mask of barely controlled rage.“James,” Jenifer said, her voice tight. “What are you doing here?”“I know,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “I know everything.”Jenifer’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about?” she asked, feigning ignorance.“Don’t play coy with me, Isabella,” James snarled. “Or should I say… Jenifer Carlso
The prison walls might have confined Marcus Lee’s physical form, but they couldn’t contain his vengeful spirit. Even from behind bars, he orchestrated a campaign of economic sabotage, a scorched-earth policy aimed at crippling both the Beckett and Romano empires.The first strike hit Beckett Enterprises. A series of damaging leaks, revealing confidential product designs and strategic plans, surfaced online. The company’s stock plummeted, and competitors pounced, eager to exploit the vulnerability.“What the hell is going on?” Emily Beckett, now at the helm of her family’s company, shouted into the phone. Her voice was tight with panic. “Our stock is in freefall! We’re hemorrhaging money!”Jenifer, on the other end of the line, tried to remain calm. “We’re looking into it, Emily. It looks like a coordinated attack. Someone leaked sensitive information.”“Coordinated? Who would do this?” Emily demanded. “We’ve got enemies, sure, but nothing like this. This is… calculated. Surgical.”“We
The Romano Tower hummed with activity, but beneath the polished veneer, a silent war was brewing. James Beckett, fueled by ambition and resentment, had launched his attack.Jenifer, still struggling to navigate the complexities of corporate life, found herself increasingly drawn into the conflict. The board meetings were no longer just confusing; they were tense, filled with veiled threats and subtle power plays."Something's not right," she said to Alexander one evening, pacing in front of the panoramic windows. The city lights seemed to mock her unease.Alexander, engrossed in a stack of documents, barely looked up. "What do you mean?""The numbers," Jenifer said, gesturing vaguely. "They don't add up. There are discrepancies, inconsistencies. It's like someone's deliberately trying to sabotage the company."Alexander finally looked up, his eyes narrowed. "Sabotage? By whom?""I don't know," Jenifer admitted. "But I have a feeling it's connected to your father's death. Someone wants
The board meeting had been a blur of jargon and power plays, leaving Jenifer feeling more lost than ever. Back in the penthouse, the city lights twinkled, mocking her confusion. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong with Charles Romano’s death. The official story – a sudden heart attack – felt too neat, too convenient.“You’re quiet,” Alexander said, entering the living room. He carried a glass of amber liquid, the same one he always seemed to have in his hand after a long day.“Just… processing,” Jenifer replied, staring out the window. “That board meeting was like another language.”“You’ll learn,” Alexander said, taking a sip of his drink. “Or you can just look pretty and nod. Works either way.”Jenifer shot him a look. “I’d rather learn. But I’m also trying to figure out what happened to your father.”Alexander’s expression darkened. “The police are handling it.”“Are they?” Jenifer turned to face him. “Or are they just accepting the easy answer? A sudden
The penthouse suite at the Romano Tower was less a home and more a gilded cage. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking panorama of New York City, but Jenifer, trapped within Isabella’s body, felt more like a display piece than a resident.She stood awkwardly amidst the minimalist décor, a stark contrast to the cozy, cluttered apartment she'd once shared with Kain. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of the city below.Alexander entered, loosening his tie. “You seem… lost.”Jenifer bristled. “Lost? I’m standing in the middle of a room the size of my old apartment. How could I be lost?”He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. “A figure of speech, Isabella. Are you settling in?”“Settling in? I have a walk-in closet bigger than my first job. What do you think?” She crossed her arms, the silk of her borrowed dress feeling foreign against her skin.“I take it that’s a no.” Alexander walked towards the bar, pouring himself a drink. "Y
THIRD PERSON'S P.O.V.The limousine rolled through the streets of North Central New York, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Sterling and James are on their way to the "la fonte" hotel. This was the location where Sterling and James were told to meet Ferdinand the assassin. Sterling had contacted Ross Robert, one of the best contractors in the underworld, to help him get in contact with Ferdinand.The plan was simple; they would hire Ferdinand Giucerro, aka kill shot, to carry out the assassination of Vincenzo at the most public event the Romano family holds, the October 10th ball. Sterling aims to end Vincenzo publicly, therefore eliminating any possible trace of his death to either him or James. Since they will both be present at the ball as well.Sterling settled back into the plush leather seat of the limousine, his expression pensive as James shifted beside him. "So, partner," James began, his brow furrowed in thought, "you mentioned this 'Kill Shot' guy – t
"Veronica responded cautiously, indicating a possibility." Both individuals must participate in the ritual by being present, holding the necklace's two halves, and reciting a particular incantation. "Do you have the incantation?" Jennifer asked eagerly.Veronica nodded, pointing to the diary. "It's written here," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "But there's a warning. The ritual is powerful, and if performed incorrectly, it could have... unforeseen consequences.""What kind of consequences?" Jennifer asked, a shiver running down her spine."The diary doesn't specify," Veronica admitted, her voice grim. "But it emphasizes the importance of precision and understanding the full implications of the ritual.""We need to find Isabella," Jennifer said, her voice determined. "We need to try this.""I agree," Veronica said, her eyes filled with resolve. "But we need to be careful, Jennifer. We don't know what we're dealing with. This magic...
Final Act: Present Day The gala gleamed with luxury. Chandeliers emit a warm golden glow throughout the room, reflecting off the crystal goblets and shiny marble floors. It was a festivity of victory, not only for Ashlyn Bennett but for a legacy revived. The tables were filled with the elite of the business world. Conversations hummed with curiosity, admiration, and whispers of awe over the events of the International Business Summit. The Ashlyn Bennett Foundation’s launch was the talk of the night, and at the center of it all stood Ashlyn herself, poised but undeniably powerful.Richard Knight rested against the bar's edge, swirling his drink. His gaze remained fixed on Ashlyn, who was engaged in a conversation with a distinguished man dressed in a pinstriped suit. “She’s something, isn’t she?” Steven White remarked, sidling up beside him. His voice carried a mix of pride and regret. Richard smirked. “Something? She’s everything. Hard to believe she pulled all of this off in one l
Veronica sat opposite Isabella, a serious expression on her face. "So," she began, her voice low. "Tell me everything."Isabella hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing the outline of the Gemini Heart pendant resting against her chest. "It's... complicated," she began, her voice hesitant."I've dealt with complicated things before," Veronica replied, her eyes steady. "Try me."Isabella took a deep breath. "My name isn't Isabella," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's Jennifer. Jennifer Clarke."Veronica raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Jennifer?" she echoed. "But... you look exactly like Isabella.""That's because... we switched bodies," Jennifer explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Our souls... they swapped."Veronica stared at her, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity in her eyes. "Switched bodies?" she repeated. "How is that even possible?""It's the necklace," Jennifer said, touching the Gemini Heart. "It happened wh