It had been days since Erin's death was announced, and it seemed like nothing had happened. Zoe had returned to work after a two-day break that was taken under a health rest, and the only person that seemed to know was Zara. Ever since she had gotten the news, she had not been the same person that she was. The pain in her heart grew each day like a relentless tide that pulled her into despair."I am sorry for your loss, Ms Zoe. I really am," Zara said to her apologetically when she appeared at the office earlier than she had expected her to. Maybe those words made her sadder, or they gave her hope that someone cared. Zoe could not even figure it out. She just nodded thankfully and made her way into her office, solemnly and languidly. Gary helped to make arrangements for the burial at a private property, and she was the only one that attended the burial to pay her last respect. Though she was informed by him that Francis Sinclair asked her to take a week's break, she didn't take the
You are still around?" Zoe asked in surprise, as she saw her secretary enter into the office after knocking, when she noticed that she was up. "Yes," Zara answered with a modest smile, while observing Zoe's face closely to check for any lingering signs of fatigue. She was relieved to see that her appearance seemed better than hours ago. "But you are supposed to have clocked out about two hours ago," Zoe mentioned as her eyes darted to the wall clock again to be sure that she had seen the time properly the moment she had just woken up. "Yes. I wanted to make sure you were awake before I left," she answered, offering a polite smile. "Oh my! Oh my! I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Zoe apologized instantly. She couldn't understand the magnitude of this lady's care for her. 'Was it purely out of duty? Or was something else attached?' Zoe wondered in her heart. "No problem at all. It is my job," Zara added instantly, feeling burdened that Zoe was being so well-mannered and warm, u
"Did you guys hear that Zoe's grandmother is dead?" Audrey broke the silence at the dining table during breakfast. "Who cares that the sickly woman is finally gone anyway?" Ivy replied to her with heavy sarcasm, wondering why Audrey was suddenly choosing to talk about Zoe. For many days, they had not talked about anything particular at the dining table, except having the most chaotic arguments Ivy and Isla usually had. Everyone had pretty much gone back to their lives, even if it had not remained the same as the past. "It is a pity how unfortunate she is. She has no one by her side, and has always been so unlucky. Only her attended the burial. Even her supposed grandfather didn't," Audrey told them again, not minding if they were not interested in replying to her. She had been so interested in everything about Zoe and had been watching the way she acted, so that the crazy wheel of misfortune would not end up stopping at her name again. "Are you stalking her enough to know such a
Zoe had it the same at the office the next day, except with a little change that her afternoon had brought more peace than she ever thought she would find while working. Her secretary, Zara, seemed to have a new joke to tell her which was more fun than the previous ones, and she wanted her to try a new vegetable drink that she learned online too. Though there was barely enough time to make all that happen because of Zoe's busy schedule, she was grateful that someone truly made an effort to make her happy. Towards evening, Zoe soon realized that she would be encumbered with her job at the office till late hours, and called Martin to apologize for her plan to cancel their plans to meet. However, he told her that she could finish whenever she liked and that he would wait for her. Pressured to meet as soon as possible and not waste so much of his time, she had to give up the plan to work through the night and go on with the dinner date. 'It was probably the first time someone had invi
"You should find what makes you happy, Zoe. You deserve that as someone carrying a lot of responsibilities with her," Martin finally said softly, hoping that his words would get to her. "Why are you nice to me, Martin? It is obvious from our meetings that I am a boring person, and I don't have much to offer. Well, except my money," Zoe responded. "That is not all to you, you know. You have your own charms, and I want to be your friend. I'm pretty much a boring man myself too." "I don't think you are," she defended. "Yes, I am. But I am outspoken whenever I am around people I like being with," Martin replied, with his eyes fixated on her. "So, you like being around me?" Zoe speculated with a little doubt in her voice, as cold shivers ran down her spine. The dress she had on was designed with a small sleeve, and cold seemed to be crawling up on her skin and shooting tiny swells. "Are you cold?" Martin asked, observing that she was struggling not to fold her arms around her body. "
"Grandfather! How could you ask me to do something like that?!" Zoe demanded viciously from the rigid man that was standing before her, almost choking on her words. Francis' words, which sounded like a cruel joke, hit her like a ton of bricks, and sent shockwaves of pain and disbelief through her entire being. She could not believe what he had just said. She couldn't comprehend the absurdity. "Are you being serious now, or are you just trying to pull my strings?" She asked him, her voice quivering with a mix of pain and disbelief as she gazed at the resolute expression of her grandfather. "It is best for you, and you know it. Swallow your pride and get back with him for great good, since it seems like he wants the same too. You wanted to attain unprecedented power, right? Then you sometimes have to hold hands with your enemies for a greater achievement. That is a compromise. That is how the business world works!" Francis spoke briskly with an impassive impression visibly etched
Three weeks later…… As the lady on the bed slowly blinked her eyes open, the world around her came into focus in a haze of confusion. The sterile white ceiling of the hospital room loomed overhead and flashed at her eyes, as the sounds of machines beeped endlessly in her ears, reminding her that she was still awake. A sense of disorientation washed over her as she tried hard to process what was going on, but a blockage continued to obscure her thoughts and memories, making it hard to figure out anything. As she tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness and weakness forced her back down onto the bed instantly. "Ms Zoe. You are awake," she heard someone say to her, as the figure approached her bedside with a kind smile and gentle eyes. With a confused glint dancing in her eyes which narrowed at the lady talking to her, and she wondered what the lady was talking about. But firstly, 'Who was she?' "Who are you, please?" She asked the nurse in confusion, trying to understand what was goin
It was still so bright on the morning of the weekend at the Meyers mansion, and things were rowdy and noisier than usual, which drew the attention of every member of the family. The workers were busy with their clinking and clanking as they set to work on the meticulous renovations that would transform the mansion, while other servants seemed to be scurrying about, carrying trunks and boxes as directed by Edward. All the boxes that were brought in were being moved to Malcolm's room as directed, making everyone in the mansion puzzled about what was going on. Especially the main members of the family that have not been informed about anything. "What is going on? Who is moving out or in?" Ivy, who was coming down from the side of her stairs, yawned tiredly as she came down to meet Audrey, looking around meticulously. "I said what is happening?" Ivy questioned again as she whispered into Audrey's ears from behind where she stood, making her jump in fear as the cold words blew into her
The small studio apartment Ivy sat in was dimly lit, because she left the lights off, with only a small table lamp to illuminate the room. The air of the surroundings was heavy and filled with the staleness of days-old dishes in the sink as well as the faint scent of spilled wine on the threadbare carpet. Every surface of the apartment bore the weight of her gloom with stacks of unopened bills, piles of dirty laundry, and empty bottles left lying on the floor which portrayed too many lonely nights. For weeks, she had lived this way. Isolated, enraged, shrouded in bitterness, and sinking in despair, ever since the incident with Isla that made her get on Malcolm's bad side, and Andre's sudden return which she never expected in her life to see coming. And even if she had been so joyful to see her brother who was back from his supposed death, after they had mourned him for years, she could not believe her mother would quickly replace her with Isla, who she had condemned just a few w
“You are around,” the gloomy and almost fading voice mumbled with a heavy heart, as soon as he heard the phone click on the receiver of his call, just a few minutes after dialing. It was at the most unexpected moment when he had tried the same line he had been trying again and again in futility for the past months, that it went through and the owner of the phone answered. It took him willpower to hide his shock. “Yes,” Zoe's voice came out placidly, devoid of any overt emotion as she answered curtly. Malcolm's eyebrows arched so high in astonishment because he had expected a sarcastic reply from her or a brutal hangup, as his brain ran out of the right words to articulate as a response to the answer she gave him. His voice crackled through the line of sullenness, laced with an uncharacteristic mix of vulnerability and hesitation as he said the most random thing that came to mind, “Your things are still in the room as you left them,” he informed her as if she didn't remember. “You
In just a few days of Zoe having her hands so busy with signing deals and contracts after the launching of ZOELVA, it was already becoming the busiest, most-talked-about destination in town.Shockingly, some of the most iconic foreign brands began to set up their flagship stores with massive storefronts and bold displays, their designs extravagant yet tasteful there, as if they had all been waiting all along. Top-tier local designers and retailers held their own space also, blending a cosmopolitan elegance with a touch of local charm. From the management to the customer service desk that began work in just two days, every employee worked with an intensity that matched the mall’s electric energy, and quickly adapted to the pace, which was astonishingly fast given how new everything was.With their unique uniforms and all of their movements conveying confidence, they smoothly guided people, answered questions, and handled endless transactions with ease. Media houses, and top magazines
Isla bolted out of her room almost at the speed of light as soon as her eyes caught the most shocking news of her life while surfing the internet, and getting prepared to leave the house. Her face instantly flashed with an overwhelming shock and a mix of disbelief after she had checked more than ten media outlets to confirm the news, and scrolled endlessly while watching videos from the launching event from the previous night. Her lungs dropped to her heart and her stomach sank with fury and a profound shock that stole her entire breath away, as she charged down the hallway of her room toward her mother’s room while holding her phone tightly in the grasp of her hand as if she was going to crush it. Her thoughts tumbled over each other, each one more impossible than the last, as she tried to process the news that had shattered her world and left her almost insane with hatred. As soon as Isla abruptly parted the grand doors to her mother's room open and left them swinging with a ter
“I am sorry to inform you, but the blood test results of persons A and B did not match. They are not biologically related.” Zoe stepped into her house after the launching party had ended, and somehow the excitement she had in her all night after her grand launch became the talk of the town, died instantly. As she stepped inside her new home, an unexplainable heaviness washed over her.Her phone vibrated just as she sauntered in and slouched upon her favorite chair in her living room, and as she glanced at the screen and picked up, she heard the most confusing words she couldn't even grasp almost immediately. “What did you say?” she pressed the phone closer to her ear to be sure she heard right, her eyes twitching uncontrollably. For a moment, she didn’t breathe.“I am sorry to announce to you that the two people in the results that have been forwarded to your email are not biologically related. Therefore, the bone marrow transplant cannot proceed.” A few weeks ago, when Zoe finally
The golden air at the moment, which held an air ambiance that opened the world of grand luxury and sophistication, filled the nooks and crannies of the new mall where its launching event was being held, whose name had just been announced a few hours ago. ZOELVATop elites began to saunter into ZOELVA mall, where every inch was polished with fine marble, and was designed with mind-blowing architectural expertise that exuded grandeur, designed to leave them thoroughly marveling and awed by the sight that stole breath from their lips. The glass walls had clear panes that were interspersed with opalescent beams that captured and reflected light in all directions, and giant tiers of diamond chandeliers hung in the main atrium, each crystal strand swaying subtly with a familiar melody, while casting the most artistic light pattern on the marble floor below. The huge ballroom for the event was alive with whispers, laughter, and small talk from the elites that were in attendance, ranging fr
It was impossible to miss. The newest, grandest mall which stood in gleaming glass and steel splendor of great luxury and opulence, with its gigantic structure, stretched so wide, and covered an almost unimaginable number of square meters. The intricate details in its architecture whispered of wealth and exclusivity, and every floor was rumored to be filled with unique boutiques, lavish dining experiences, an indoor oasis lined with lush greenery and trickling water fountains, an entertainment area with a cinema of virtual reality lounges, and a rooftop garden overlooking the city below. The construction of the mall had been shrouded in secrecy for months after the redevelopment of the area was instantly announced, and now its opening and launching event was the talk of the town, flooding every news outlet and social media platform. Everywhere, people wondered what conglomerate owned the huge work of art. #Mall of century #Biggest in the city #Magnificent Mall #Top entrepreneu
The grand front door of the Meyer swung open with force and rattled against the wall as Isla stormed into the grand lobby, and then the stairway, her heels striking the marble floors with a force that echoed through the long hallway, revealing the intensity of her anger. Her face was scrunched up in anger and despair, and her voice was loud and quivering with frustration, as it dissipated into the air before anyone had even noticed her arrival, knowing she would definitely find them there. “She is back!” she cried out in frustration, as her fists clenched her sides, and her body quivered with anger, as she strode into the living room where her mother and brother sat, “Zoe is back, mother!” Ever since Andre returned home and the family ended up dividing, the only person who was not shocked by the announcement or new arrangement was Isla. It was as if she had known what had been going on behind the scenes before the plan finally became public, and couldn't help being bothered like
Sitting in the comfort of his office, which was nothing short of sophistication and opulence, a gorgeous man, calm and composed, his suit impeccable, his perfectly waxed hair neatly in place, had just ended a conference call with the company headquarters in China. His mind was still basking in the serenity of the silence around him while refreshing his email with the hope that he had gotten a reply, when the grand door to his office suddenly flew open without a knock, as a fuming man stormed in, barely able to contain his fury.“What the hell, Malcolm?!” he snapped, voice filled with anger as he crossed the room, his face twisted with fury, and his fists clenched at his sides, “Why did you reject my proposal? Again?" His voice was a low growl, though it trembled with a barely contained rage.Without sparing him a glance, Malcolm remained calm as he switched off his computer, and he settled back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other with practiced ease. When he finally looked