The car ride back was suffocating.The low hum of the engine, the occasional flicker of streetlights casting eerie shadows through the tinted windows, the rhythmic tapping of Kurtis’s fingers against his tablet—it all built an unbearable weight inside me. The hospital doors had barely shut behind us, yet my mind was still trapped in that sterile white hallway, replaying the scene over and over like a broken film reel.Antony’s expression—shocked, confused, then cold. His jaw tightened, his gaze darting between me and Kurtis, piecing together a picture I wasn’t even sure how to explain.I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t. But I did.And the way Kurtis had dismissed him, like a minor inconvenience, like a fly buzzing too close to his ear, made my stomach twist. It wasn’t just his words; it was the sheer lack of emotion, the detached finality in his tone, as if Antony—someone who had stood by his side for years—was nothing more than an afterthought.I shot a glance at Kurtis. He sat beside me
I barely got any sleep. The bed was enormous, the sheets soft, but everything still felt foreign—the scent of a new fragrance lingering in the air, the quiet vastness of the house pressing down on me. It was surprisingly huge, yet only had six rooms.The ground floor was nothing short of luxury—an expansive living room, a sleek dining area, and a modern kitchen. But according to Fedrick, apart from the housekeepers who only came during the day and the gatekeepers, no one else lived there. Just Kurtis and him. And even then, Kurtis was hardly around, only staying over when early-morning schedules demanded it.Even Antony and some of Kurtis’ closest friends rarely hung out here. Privacy, for him, wasn’t just a preference—it was an obsession.The first floor housed his study, a personal library, and a sketch room—off-limits to everyone, including Fedrick. The second floor had three rooms. Mine was the first you reached, another stood empty, and Kurtis’ was at the farthest end. The third
(June, 17…One Month Before The Contract Marriage )It was already past ten when I walked in. The grand gate opened as I handed over my invitation card, the golden emblem catching the dim light. This wasn’t just any event—it was the event, exclusive to only the VVIPs from every major business sector. The kind of gathering where fortunes were made or ruined over a single conversation.A valet rushed over as I stepped out of my car, and I tossed him my key without a second glance. The grand home of Mr. Abdalla loomed ahead, magnificent and intimidating. You could say Bianco is the most influential jewelry company, but Abdalla’s Company? He controlled the appraisal of jewelry, the launch of exclusive collections, and the global marketing of high-end pieces. His company was the backbone of the industry, providing top-tier models and connections that stretched across continents. It was no surprise he ranked among the top ten richest billionaires in Kenya.Stepping inside, I took a slow, mea
The room was thick with tension, the air heavy as if every molecule had absorbed the weight of the moment. Kurtis’s arms remained firmly wrapped around me, his grip a silent command, while Antony stood a few feet away, still as a statue, his stare sharp and unreadable.I wasn’t sure if he was in shock, disbelief, or something darker. But one thing was clear—this wasn’t a normal conversation.And me? I felt like I was caught in a storm I never saw coming. My thoughts were tangled, my heart pounding against my ribs, a painful reminder that I had just signed myself into something—something much deeper and much more dangerous than I had initially assumed.I sucked in a sharp breath, but even that felt like a struggle, as though the very oxygen in the room had turned against me, suffocating me with each passing second."You should head back," Kurtis finally spoke, his voice calm yet firm, the kind of tone that left no room for argument.I blinked, still trying to find my footing in this me
When I arrived around five, the sight that greeted me was nothing short of chaotic. A large moving truck was parked in the driveway, workers unloading boxes and crates while a team of decorators scurried back and forth. Several photo booths had been set up on the front lawn, their pristine white backdrops fluttering lightly in the evening breeze. The whole scene felt surreal, as if I had just walked onto the set of a high-budget wedding shoot—except it was supposed to be my life.I scanned the crowd and spotted Kurtis standing a few feet away, deeply engrossed in conversation with a group of men in black suits. His expression was unreadable, his posture relaxed yet firm, the very image of a man in control. His gaze flicked toward me for the briefest second before returning to the discussion. Something about his demeanor made me uneasy.Before I could dwell on it, a familiar voice called my name.“What’s going on?” I asked as I approached Fedrick, my voice laced with confusion.“What d
The warmth of his lips still lingered on mine, a teasing memory that refused to fade. My cheeks were still flushed, and despite the cool splash of water on my face, the heat beneath my skin remained. Damn. That was nothing like kissing Daniel. No comparison. Kurtis Otias was in a league of his own.It was already past nine, and the photoshoot had stretched longer than expected. We were given a change of outfits—matching grey sweatshirts and pants adorned with tiny love emojis. Cute. I ran a hand through my hair and glanced at myself in the mirror. My lips still tingled, betraying my thoughts. Shaking off the daze, I walked back into the living room.And there he was.Seated on the plush sofa, legs crossed in a casual yet elegant manner, flipping through the pages of a novel. A pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, adding an almost devastating allure to his already striking features. My breath hitched. What is it with handsome men wearing glasses? The emotionless expressio
The fire in her eyes was untamed, raw—like a storm barely held back by the fragile restraint of her skin. Impressive, to say the least. A slow smirk curled on my lips, amusement flickering through me despite the absurdity of her words."I want to join the Board of Executives!" she declared, her voice cutting through the room like a blade of ice.I exhaled sharply, staring at her—hard. Maybe I was hoping she was joking, that she’d laugh and brush it off as a fleeting thought. But no. Damn. She meant it.As Fedrick moved about, directing the guests toward dinner, I kept my gaze locked on her, studying every flicker of resolve, every stubborn breath she took."Listen," I said, my tone low, measured, but laced with something dark. "Do you think joining the Executive Board will be enough to get your revenge?"Her brows pinched slightly, but she didn’t falter. "What do you mean? From the beginning, that was what—""You still don’t get it," I cut in, stepping forward. Before she could pull a
“Huh! The outlook looks better!” Denis exclaims, her eyes scanning the sketch with approval.But I barely hear her. My focus is locked onto Serena and Daniel. The way they lean into each other, whispering, giggling—so obnoxious, so infuriating. Every little chuckle grates against my nerves, like nails screeching down a chalkboard. They don’t even try to be subtle. It’s disgusting.“Right, what do you think about the boss’ suggestion?” Daina’s voice cuts through my thoughts. She’s standing beside Denis, and as always, Victor trails behind her like a silent shadow. The two of them have been helpful with material suggestions, but right now, my patience is thin.“Yeah, it’s sick,” Victor finally speaks, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Five thousand for a design that would impress him? That’s insane.”“So you in, then?” Denis teases with a sly chuckle.“Fuck right,” Victor mutters, shaking his head in disbelief.It’s only been four hours since the announcement, yet the news has alrea
Although she insisted she could handle it, I couldn’t help but prepare for the worst. I needed to be ready—just in case.My stomach twisted as I stared down at the documents in front of me. Medical records, dates, and confirmation lines.“She’s pregnant?” I scoffed, letting out a dry, humorless chuckle, though the annoyance in my voice betrayed the anger simmering beneath the surface.“Yeah,” Fedrick replied flatly, standing to the side with his hands tucked behind his back. “Four months along, confirmed.”I gritted my teeth. “What a bastard…”“What should we do, boss?” Fedrick asked, his tone low and cautious.I let out a long breath, fingers tapping against the mahogany desk. “I wanted to step in, but she asked me not to. So we’ll keep our distance... for now.”I spun my chair around, gazing out the window at the rain streaking down the glass.“Gavin’s the one representing Bianco this time,” I added, voice steely. “I want you to keep both eyes on him. He plays dirty, always has. If
KURTISI was heading out for a meeting with some shareholders. The game was about to start, all thanks to Mr. Abdalla’s push. It should’ve been a good day.But fate always had its way of pulling the rug.The moment we stepped out of the house, the sky cracked open and rain began to pour, thick and unrelenting.Just as I was sliding into the backseat, Fedrick’s voice cut through the hum of the downpour.“Sir… isn’t that Miss Evelyn?”I looked up sharply, eyes narrowing at the figure stepping out of a cab just beyond the gate. My breath caught.It was her.Standing alone in the pouring rain—no coat, no umbrella, not even a shawl. Just the same dress she wore earlier that morning. Her hair clung to her cheeks, makeup ruined, her body trembling beneath the weight of the storm.“What the hell…?” I muttered, already flinging the car door open.Without thinking, I tore off my coat and rushed toward her, ignoring the rain as I wrapped it around her frail, soaked frame. Her lips parted, eyes w
You know, at this point, something like this shouldn’t shake me.But it does.Not because I’m seeing it again. God knows this scene is becoming a rerun at this point.What kills me—what burns right through my chest—is that he was the one who texted me. Urgently. Like something life-changing couldn’t wait another second. And then he brings her? And has the nerve to let me walk right into this mess like it’s some twisted open invitation?“Evelyn… I… it’s not what you think,” Dan stammers, keys slipping between his trembling fingers like guilt he can’t quite hold onto.I mean, seriously?His tie’s half-looped like he yanked it loose in a rush, three buttons undone, shirt disheveled like it had been clawed open. His coat’s just lying there on the floor, like it gave up trying to hold any dignity for him.I feel my throat tightening, the betrayal pressing hard against my ribs.“What’s the meaning of this?” I ask, breathless, my voice cracked between fury and disbelief. “If you’re going to
“Next Saturday, I want to take you out for lunch. Just the two of us,” Victoria whispered as Fedrick parked the car.I glanced at her with a teasing smile. “Well, if you’re buying, then why not?”We both chuckled softly.“Then it’s a date.”After a few parting goodbyes, we climbed into the car. The air inside felt thick—charged with tension, emotions, or maybe it was just my stupid heart acting up again. It couldn’t handle being around him without doing backflips in my chest.So, I did what any sane person would do when someone’s presence starts messing with your thoughts—I avoided looking at him altogether. I cracked the window open just a little and let the wind graze my face, focusing on anything outside that wasn’t him.As usual, he was completely absorbed in his laptop, typing away like the world around him didn’t exist.“What did you talk about with Victoria?” he asked, smooth as silk.“Nothing. Just girl talk,” I replied lightly, hoping he’d drop it.Silence followed. But it wa
Her breath was soft—gentle, almost rhythmic. By now, she was deep asleep. Completely gone.And yet I… I couldn’t take my eyes off her.The taste of her lips still lingered—faint but maddeningly present. They were slightly swollen, kissed raw by me, and my tongue kept chasing the memory like it wasn’t ready to let go.I’ve kissed a lot of women.Some were tactics—tools in the mess of scandals I used to orchestrate. Others were fleeting distractions, faces I barely remember now. But her?Evelyn was different.Every time I kissed her, something inside me shifted. My chest tightened, my pulse raced like I’d never done it before. There was this strange, almost helpless ache in me—like I could kiss her for hours and still want more.And now, lying beside her… watching her sleep?God.How the hell can someone be so damn beautiful doing nothing but breathing?Her lips were parted, ever so slightly, letting out the softest little sighs—almost a whisper. The kind of breath that brushed again
The mood in the dining room was nothing short of suffocating as we served them, the tension hanging thick like unspoken truths in the air. Victoria—God, that woman could talk. A chatterbox dressed in pearls and sharp smiles. Yet, oddly enough, it wasn’t unbearable. If anything, it was...refreshing.Back when I lived with Grace and Genny, our conversations rarely ever wandered past rating men like fruit at a market, dissecting rumors, or planning the next night out. Emotional depth? Unheard of. But this—this back-and-forth with Victoria, layered with teasing and half-truths and guarded warmth—might just be the longest, most grounded conversation I’d had with another woman in years. And as odd as it sounds, I didn’t hate it.Victoria set the steaming pot of stewed pork at the center of the table. “What’s with the mood?” she asked, her voice slicing through the silence as she adjusted the sleeves of her velvet blouse.The maid beside her moved quietly, expertly laying down the final pie
It was drizzling when we arrived in Loresho—soft, persistent drops tapping against the windshield like a steady whisper of warning. The clouds above were a pale, bruised gray, smearing across the sky like an old memory. Mist swirled low over the road, clinging to the lush hedges lining the estate as the car glided smoothly into the heart of the private, high-end enclave—Loresho Block 1027.Inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with silence and something unspoken. The faint hum of the engine was barely audible beneath the soft RnB jazz playing low on the radio. The smooth saxophone curled into the air like a lullaby, wrapping the space in an oddly calming warmth—calm before the storm.I was tense, my fingers occasionally tapping the door armrest as I stared ahead. My mind raced with a thousand outcomes. Just one mistake… and we’d both go down. Abdalla wasn’t stupid. Suspicious, maybe. Controlling, definitely. And a marriage that sprouted overnight? That wouldn’t fly under his radar
“Huh! The outlook looks better!” Denis exclaims, her eyes scanning the sketch with approval.But I barely hear her. My focus is locked onto Serena and Daniel. The way they lean into each other, whispering, giggling—so obnoxious, so infuriating. Every little chuckle grates against my nerves, like nails screeching down a chalkboard. They don’t even try to be subtle. It’s disgusting.“Right, what do you think about the boss’ suggestion?” Daina’s voice cuts through my thoughts. She’s standing beside Denis, and as always, Victor trails behind her like a silent shadow. The two of them have been helpful with material suggestions, but right now, my patience is thin.“Yeah, it’s sick,” Victor finally speaks, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Five thousand for a design that would impress him? That’s insane.”“So you in, then?” Denis teases with a sly chuckle.“Fuck right,” Victor mutters, shaking his head in disbelief.It’s only been four hours since the announcement, yet the news has alrea
The fire in her eyes was untamed, raw—like a storm barely held back by the fragile restraint of her skin. Impressive, to say the least. A slow smirk curled on my lips, amusement flickering through me despite the absurdity of her words."I want to join the Board of Executives!" she declared, her voice cutting through the room like a blade of ice.I exhaled sharply, staring at her—hard. Maybe I was hoping she was joking, that she’d laugh and brush it off as a fleeting thought. But no. Damn. She meant it.As Fedrick moved about, directing the guests toward dinner, I kept my gaze locked on her, studying every flicker of resolve, every stubborn breath she took."Listen," I said, my tone low, measured, but laced with something dark. "Do you think joining the Executive Board will be enough to get your revenge?"Her brows pinched slightly, but she didn’t falter. "What do you mean? From the beginning, that was what—""You still don’t get it," I cut in, stepping forward. Before she could pull a