Seated behind the reserved table in the corner of a five-star hotel’s exclusive restaurant with the best view of the city scenery, was Zoe, sitting calmly with sophistication and poise, flipping through a copy of the RADIANCE magazine, while waiting patiently for her guest to arrive. Soft classical music played in the background filling the air with a great vibrance, one which she hummed to at intervals, without even realizing that she subconsciously knew the lyrics. She was waiting for the guy that she was supposed to meet at the party who didn't show up until it was over because of some silly excuse his brother had given on his behalf. A date was set almost immediately for them to meet properly without any form of interruption, and Zoe had surprisingly agreed to go when Gary informed her without putting up a fight. It was to seal an agreement between both of them. Once she went on a blind date and met the young man, she was not going to others, and was still not coming home eithe
“Did you not do a background check on me before coming here? You should know that much already,” A malicious smirk twisted Marcel's lips as he flashed Zoe a contemptuous look, “Since you came you must have quite an ambition to have come here today, I should at least give you an answer,” he continued, his gorgeous greenish blue eyes gazing at her. “I get that you are a very wealthy heiress, but it does not matter to me because you are still one of those elite women I meet all the time, who need the perfect men to complete their sides. I will not be the one for you though,” he grabbed the champagne that was brought by the waiter in an instant, popped it, and poured the contents into his wine glass aggressively before chugging down the contents. ‘Goodness! This guy was begging to be treated so badly by her. Just how would she end this nicely without having to ruin her agreement with her grandfather? She could not risk going on another date again!’ Zoe groaned inwardly, finding it so h
Zoe was seated in front of her favorite dresser while endlessly staring at her phone, a weary sigh escaping her lips again for the nth time the more she thought of how things had been getting more sluggy. She had been overwhelmed with feelings and emotions that seemed quite too much for her to handle, after a headache and sudden memory hit her after she left her blind date the previous day. The sharp image had pierced through the fog of her lost memories, and she saw herself standing in a dining room that felt strangely familiar. She was staring at Irina's menacing face which was twisted with anger with saddened eyes glistening wet with tears, whose hand reached out and struck her hard across the face with a force that made her stagger, as following harsh words she had heard behind the back of her mind haunted her so much with fear, leaving her insanely disturbed. “You foolish good-for-nothing girl! Your wretched family just wants to feed on my son's wealth while using a worthless
Zoe's heart skipped a beat for a few seconds as soon as her eyes came in contact with the metallic, cold safe staring at her, she stretched her hand slowly to touch its imposing edges, only for it to beep out and display a digital keypad, the numbers faintly illuminated.She took a moment to think through her mind about the most possible combinations, which included the birthdays, anniversaries, and significant dates of the family members that she could think of. The ones she had dutifully learned after losing her memory. She tried Irina's birthday first, but it was with an instant denial as the lock blinked a red light, indicating that it was a wrong code. Then she moved next to Isla's own, then Ivy's, and Malcolm's, and tried everything she could think of, but it was the same. Even if she knew that Irina would definitely not use combinations as predictable as anything regarding her family, Zoe still wanted to give it a shot, considering that the six-digit code gave a hint that it
The mansion's private kitchen was filled with the aroma of perfectly made sauces, sizzling meat on a table-sized griller, and catfish being toasted in the oven, everything coming together to make one's mouth water. Zoe stood in front of one of the kitchen countertops as she carefully poured the finely chopped cabbage in a bowl into the pot of stew she was making, while Audrey, who was standing beside her stirred calmly as she was taught, her heart leaping with joy to see that she was doing something well. However, she didn't notice how absent-minded Zoe had been since she joined her in the kitchen, because she had been too engrossed in her joy of making so many improvements in cooking, to notice the anxiety that was etched upon her company's face. Zoe's head had been a mess ever since she entered the kitchen because she promised to teach Audrey before she started work again, and her thoughts kept drifting back to the unsettling discovery she had made just minutes earlier which she
Zoe was left conflicted after the discussion she had with Audrey in the kitchen, as she made her way into her car, ready to drive out. She was trying to be careful as much as possible so that it would not portray that she was just friends with Audrey because she wanted to get information from her, but deep curiosity had been seared into her that backing off would be very difficult for her. The engine of her car roared to life as she pulled out of the mansion's driveway with her heart burdened and heavy, as she pulled her phone out of her handbag and sent a brief email to Zara instantly. She and her secretary had only communicated via email ever since their last physical encounter, and it was almost a disappointment that the lady was quite clueless about getting the quick, impossible information that Gary could. However, she hoped that Zara would be of use this time. Zoe's eyes constantly darted to the front mirror, then to the side mirrors of her car, scanning for any sign of trail
Malcolm had been so bothered about Zoe ever since he traveled out of the country for business a day after the party they both went to, because she had not been picking up his calls and merely replied to his messages with curt words that portrayed her unwillingness to continue the conversation. Her responses had been almost dismissive over the past few days, and it gnawed at him more than he cared to admit.He didn't know what she had done to make him so soft and expectant, but he knew that he wanted to see her and know what she had been thinking after his sudden confession and action at the party. ‘Had she been avoiding him because of that?’ He pondered wearily as he looked so bothered, as he prepared to return home from his business trip as excitement warred with nervousness in his heart.He had been so eager to see her that he asked Edward to compress his schedule from the initially planned five days into three, so that he would be able to see her as soon as possible. Though he ha
Malcolm made his way into his mansion as soon as he arrived and Edward had left with the car, his heart pounding with anxiety even if he maintained a high level of composure, waiting to see Zoe's face, having pictured the type of facial expression she would have waiting for him. The grand doors to his mansion swung open before he got to the front of the door, and Cordelia, the new head maid, stood there already with her usual calm demeanor, her head bowed in respect as well as the others, who were in the same position. “Welcome home, Mr. Meyer,” she greeted, her ever-curious eyes darting to the bouquet he had in his hand, wondering what it was for, as she had to give a detailed report to Irina if she was to include the information about the flowers too. “Would you like anything, sir?” A subtle smile that was not evident curved her lips, hoping that he would ask for anything to at least be done for him. “Not at all,” his voice was sharp and curt. Malcolm just stalked past as usual
ZOELVA’s luxurious structure, erected tall, reflected the shining bright lights of the afternoon sun from the east, with its luxurious designs radiating across the core and surroundings far and beyond the huge city. Inside, shoppers went from floor to floor, wandering wide corridors that were lined with top-tier brands, with staff moving around to guide and direct everyone in the most orderly manner. Groups of families made their way to food stands, their laughter and shouts mingling with the savory scents of sizzling burgers, crispy pizza, and sweet, sticky treats. On another side, fashion enthusiasts, elites, and socialites were gathered around numerous designer boutiques, their eyes fixed longingly on the glossy displays of haute couture, while others anticipated getting their hands on the most sophisticated top-notch tech devices. Amid the crowd’s awe and excitement and the hubbub of purchasing endlessly and engaging so many sections in the mall, a moment of stillness fell int
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