Zoe's body froze to a spot as she raked through her brain for what she could do, and the only thing that came to mind wasn't worth the pain. However, she found herself rolling fiercely away from his body, and towards the floor, pretending to have mistakenly dropped off the bed. “Ah!” Her loud wimp scolded her and reminded her of how foolish a decision she had made just to escape from such a stifling atmosphere, and Malcolm woke up just at the moment, his eyes jolting open to reality. “Are you okay?” Concern and worry hovered around his voice as he rose from his sleeping position to check up on, but the way in which she jumped up from the floor and flashed a smile at him startled him a bit, which made him wonder if everything was fine with her. “Hi, Good morning,” she didn't wait for him to reply, before she strode away from his sight in mortification, while nursing her pain as she entered the bathroom. ‘Shit!’ she yelled inwardly as she stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom
Did you bring your drugs along?” Malcolm walked out of the bathroom, suddenly remembering during his shower time that he had not seen her use her drugs since he came back and since they traveled. “No,” Zoe muttered, as she sat in front of the dresser which she had been glued to for minutes, straightening her hair over and over again. “Are you feeling better now? Should we go purchase new ones for you?” he suggested, not wanting to ask her why she had not been taking them as expected. She could get mad if he tried to be possessive about it, and he was not willing to bargain the peaceful atmosphere between them for anger. “I have always been fine, you know. But u do use them,” she turned to look at him, as her lips pulled into a thin line.“Have you been remembering anything or having glimpses of your memories these days?” Malcolm inquired slowly and gently, like he didn't mean to ask so directly as he walked out of the dressing room, already fully dressed. “Are you hoping I don't r
“I don't know what you would like, so I got you this,” Zoe turned to Ivy as she passed her own package to her, whose face was frozen in a mask of astonishment, with confusion dancing in her eyes. She didn't understand what was going on. She suddenly walked into the dining room the next morning in an unexpected manner, with extremely expensive gifts with her, as she placed each package in front of each person that she had gotten it for. For Irina, it was a limited edition diamond necklace she knew she had been struggling to get, and for Isla, she purchased a limited edition luxurious bag from the brand she figured was her favorite. For Ivy, it was a limited edition tweed dress, and for Audrey, it was a stunning, expensive auctioned heel that was worth more than the prices of the others. However, she had all of them with their mouths agape, with a silent gasp escaping their lips like a whisper of surprise.“You got us gifts,” Ivy's eyes furrowed with disdain even if she was so elat
Martin sat across from Zoe at the opulent restaurant they agreed to meet, his eyes filled with so much concern and worry about her, as he tried to carefully teeter around asking her too many questions. He was quite surprised when he had received her call to meet him, when it was a fact that they had spoken the day before, even if it was just for a few minutes. He had been waiting for her call all day. “How are you doing, Zoe?” he began, his voice soft and gentle, as his delicate eyes rested on her, observing the slightest change in her demeanor. He was bothered that she was trying to be strong even when she would have been disheartened if she saw the news about something she was trying to hide from the world. However, he was quite relieved that the sudden announcement of ANCLAIR and MEL-CO was all everyone could talk about. “Not so great, if I would not lie. How about you? I hope I'm not taking much of your time?” She looked up at him, her eyes studying to know if she had not m
Malcolm had been restless all morning since he arrived at work, and his workers were at the receiving end of his anger and frustration. He was unable to sleep since he received the news from Sinclair that Zoe could come back home, and it had him so bothered if she had been informed too about it.‘What if she decided to leave? What if she left and acted like she didn't know him? Would their relationship just end there?’ He thought all night, and still couldn't keep the thoughts away as he carried out his job in the office. He shifted uncomfortably on his office chair so many times, with a nervous tic crawling up his body, the more his eyes darted unconsciously to his phone, for what felt like the hundredth time, as if Zoe would call anytime soon to slam those words in his ear. His mind raced with worry as his thoughts spiraled him into anxiety, with each vibration or notification from his phone sending a jolt of nervous energy through his body, only to be met with disappointment as
“I heard that you have refused to return home,” Malcolm hit off the conversation with Zoe, breaking the silence that had been hanging in the air ever since he entered the room. He was curious to know what was going on in her head, and why she was being so unpredictable. “Yes. Any problem with that?” She tilted her eyebrows at him as she tore her gaze away from what she had been scribbling on paper since he entered. “I thought that was what you wanted initially,” a confounded look danced in his eyes as he stared at her with questioning eyes, in case she cared to explain her reasons before he asked why. But he knew she wouldn't talk more than what she was asked. “Well, I don't want that anymore,” she darted her eyes back to what she was doing. “Why? Are you really planning to get married to me?” There was a hint of anxiety in his voice as he spoke, wondering what her answer would be. She had been mentioning the marriage part and making new memories with him so casually for days n
“I cannot believe she refused to come home! What is she thinking?!” Francis Sinclair's voice boomed, reverberating through the house. His eyes were twisted in a blend of fury and bewilderment, as they blazed with scorching inferno, with the veins in his neck pulsing visibly. “I will try to convince her, sir,” Gary's eyes didn't meet his own, his voice calm and soothing. “She is hellbent on remaining there! I wonder what had come over her,” he barked furiously to no one in particular, his voice rising with each word.“I thought you wanted her to make a choice, sir,” Gary inquired indirectly, wondering what the old man was up to again, since he had not told him anything. If he remembered well, he was sure Francis Sinclair had just mentioned her return as a choice and not an obligation. “Because I was sure she would move back in, since she wanted to end whatever it was with Malcolm. And till now, nothing has been progressing! I have other plans already,” He almost lashed as his eyes
Zoe made her way into the mall with grace and elegance, her long, dark hair bouncing down her shoulders in glossy waves, perfectly framing her striking features. She was dressed in a stunning red dress that accentuated her curves with a sophisticated charm. Her high heels clicked rhythmically against the polished marble floor, each step exuding confidence and poise as she sauntered past. However, beneath the facade of composure, her mind was racing through so many restless thoughts. What had occurred the previous night played over and over in her head, and she blamed herself for acting rashly just because she saw the opportunity. ‘That was a close one,’ she heaved a sigh of relief again like she was reliving the moment, as she remembered how she had managed to escape such a crazy situation.“Isla. I thought you were inside,” she interjected instantly, leaving no chance for accusations or an overt display of guilt. “Why have you come here? If no one answered when you knocked you sho
“Oh, you think you can give me anything I want?” She had shot a mocking look at him, and laughed hysterically the moment, each intensifying by each passing minute causing Andre to stiffen in anger the more even if he struggled to hold himself while clinging tightly to the suit he was wearing. “Giving me what I want is not something you can do, Andre Meyer,” she suddenly got angry.“Then why are you threatening me?!” He demanded, unable to suppress what he was feeling, “You must want something, don't you?” Isla sighed dramatically, as if expecting him to ask her that, as she leaned back tiredly, “I would not have come this far if Mum treated both of us equally anyway,” she spoke calmly as if trying to savor the intensity of her words, “But seeing you paranoid makes me happy,” she chuckled. “You are evil!” He blurted lividly. “Is that so?” She laughed, as she suddenly began to waltz carefully around the room, her fingers brushing through the tip of everything unnecessary, “I want
Still lost in thought back at RINASHONE gallery, Isla's lips curled into a slow, wicked smile as the echoes of that delicious moment replayed like a favorite melody, the moment blood drained from her brother's face when she mentioned his nemesis. “Yes, you bloodthirsty fool! You murdered your wife, and just had to ruin my plans, did you not? Or do I have to remind you?!” she had yelled at his face. ‘Oh, how she wished she had captured his expression on camera. The way he went pale, and struggled to pretend like he didn't understand what she was saying. The delight he had given her when she taunted him more after sensing the quick, almost imperceptible stiffening of his shoulders.’She loved how her unexpected accusation had struck him like a whip, and how he blinked rapidly, his throat working as he tried to force a denial past his dry lips, as if he had misheard. His entirety had trembled with the shock of his life, and his eyes widened astonishingly, when he struggled to hide th
Meanwhile, at the MEL-CO headquarters company that morning, every worker scrambled quietly to get to the main building to clock in for the day with their employee’s card, where they could stuff themselves into the elevator and get to their respective offices before their working hours for the day would begin. Inside the private elevator which led instantly to the CEO's office was Malcolm standing without a word, and beside him was Edward, who was shuffling through a neatly organized tablet of notes, completely unaware of the storm awaiting them as the elevator went up with the speed of light. Reaching the top floor of the office building, the elevator doors slid open with a quiet dinger, and Malcolm stepped out, his polished leather shoes blending with a silent click against the marble floor. He was dressed in an impeccable dark navy blue suit, which perfectly complemented the crisp white shirt beneath, and the black tie that knotted his neck. Expecting to see the usual bustling
Amid the hubbub that had filled the city’s media outlets, Isla sat in her office, with her legs crossed elegantly behind her desk. Her lips were curved in a satisfied smirk, as she sipped delicately from the porcelain mug filled with tea that was hanging between her fingers. She drew deep breaths in and out as she closed her eyes to savor the rich aroma of the tea incessantly before each sip, with her eyes glistening in the amusement of the exciting news that filled her ears that morning. The huge television that was always buried within the walls of her office and had always just served for aesthetics, played out its first purpose of displaying the scandal regarding the person, whose downfall she wished for desperately. Her lips curled in a derisive, wicked grin, as she muttered, “So many people want her ruined too,” Isla thought with delight, “It is not just me. How poetic,” she tilted her head as the anchor’s voice droned on about the chaos at the mall. To her, it sounde
Jasmine drove her car along the quite busy street that led to her flower shop in the morning after dropping Raine off at school, while tapping her fingers on the steering wheel absentmindedly, her thoughts still muddled from a restless and sleepless night. She didn't sleep well the entire night. She had too many worries buzzing around in her head, even if no one could tell just by looking at her merely. She looked as radiant as ever, her auburn hair loosely tied into a bun, and lips a perfect curve in the usual alluring manner. The tires of her car glided right across the front of her shop, and she pulled up outside it, the brakes letting out a faint squeak as the car staggered a few miles to the back before it finally came to a halt.Turning to the back to grab her bag from the passenger’s seat, she stepped out of her car and waited a few seconds before shutting the door behind her, as a brief weariness weighed against her heart.Jasmine drew in a deep, sharp breath and shut her ey
The drive to the mall had been a lot for Zoe, who was driving with the intensity that she wanted to solve what was going on in her company, only to be rammed with a memory she wanted to be very sure wasn't hers. She tried to block the absurd drunken memory that flashed through her mind out of her head as she drove and switched lanes aggressively, while jerking her steering wheel left and right. All through her drive, she was calling back a few of those who had called her incessantly to give them an order about what to do. “Come up with the fastest way to mitigate the effect of being sued by the victims, before we get to the bottom of this,” she informed the legal team. “Secure the footage for the past two weeks at the food storage and distribution centers, with the past few days in focus. Contact the heads and receive their logs for the past few days instantly, so that we can know what distribution unit brought it to the mall,” she told Hepzy, her general manager, whom she was sure
“What happened?” Zoe questioned, her voice calm and collected, even if her head was already conjuring up the worst case scenarios. “One of our food products….” Zara exhaled sharply, her head spinning with worry, “It landed three children from different homes in the hospital yesterday night. Severe food poisoning. A mother went public about it, and now it is everywhere on social media, and news outlets. The two other moms joined in too, and now it is a crazy business. The mall is being dragged through the dirt, and people are canceling their orders. Many people are saying a lot of trash, and calling for a boycott. It is crazy!” She narrated without taking a breath. Zoe's head almost tumbled hearing that, but she remained composed regardless, “Which store?”“The gourmet section. It is the new frozen chicken which was just added to the line. They said they all had it for dinner yesterday night, and that was the food they had in common. I truly hope that there will be no more casualtie
The morning sunlight filtered through the floor-length curtains of the living room which were usually barely opened, with its mild rays radiating heat against the body of the lady that was sprawled on the couch, her tightly shut eyes squinting endlessly. Unable to cope with the intensity of the sunrays, Zoe tried to turn to the other side the way she usually did on her bed, when her other hand suddenly landed on an open space causing her heart and eyes to jump open at the same time. ‘Shit. Where was she?’ she wondered, as her eyes which were initially struggling to open parted instantly from the shock that she landed on the floor from the chair. ‘She was sleeping in her living room and not her room?’ Zoe panicked, as she pulled her body up instantly, and looked around, wondering if it was truly morning already. ‘How long did she sleep?’ she wondered, her eyes scanning around as if she could tell just by that. She could tell from how she was feeling in her body that she slept a lot
“You know her?” Jasmine asked reflexively, before she shook her head, realizing what a weird question she asked, “I guess she is so popular that you even know her,” She shook her head again, “It is no news if a child born today knows her.” “Ye…es. Yes. Yes, I do,” Justine answered, almost stuttering, her voice and gaze a little distant as if she was getting lost in the thoughts of something else. Her face suddenly stiffened in a more deepened shock. “She is. She is somehow the daughter of my first love, and friend who betrayed me so terribly. It is crazy how life turns out,” she continued to rant endlessly, deeply bitter because she just couldn't help but wonder how. She ran a thumb along the rim of her glass, staring at the city as if the answers were out there somewhere, and continued to speak, “And I know that it is not the child's fault that all this happened, but I cannot help but be resentful,” she paused again, her head spinning. “Sometimes I get sentimental, which is