Zoe could not even wait to discuss meeting her old alums from college with her grandfather, before she excused herself from his house before she would lash out at him, and cause more problems for herself. She had just gone on a blind date to let sleeping dogs lie since she refused his offer to come home. ‘But, getting married to a disgusting man like Marcel? That was the height of it. She just couldn't take it!’ She knew there was no way she would be able to develop her bond with the only family she had left, because he was way too rigid and unreasonable, trying to force her into doing things she didn't like. He was like a perfectionist while expecting the same of her, and never failed to remind her that he was the reason she had a reputable life now. That she owed all her wealth and fame to him. ‘Was that how he treated her when she had not lost her memories yet? Controlling her? How was she even able to live with him?’ Zoe scoffed in anger as she stormed out of his house angrily,
Zoe stepped out of her sleek black car in the underground parking lot of the Meyer mansion, already dressed in a white shirt that was neatly tucked into black custom-made pants, and complemented with a luxurious black waistcoat. Her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway of the mansion since it was six at dawn, even if she could already hear the endless buzzing of the maids, cleaning every corner in the house as usual, with probably something musing to talk about while time passed. Her mind and head were stormed with choking thoughts and emotions because of so many questions she needed answers to, which had been amplified by the unsettling visit to her grandfather’s house and the strange woman too. She had promised herself not to overthink or worry about useless things, but it seemed as if she could not help but grasp her thoughts at every moment she realized that her world was too dark without any light of truth. She had spent the night at a private bar and tried to drown her anx
Zoe stepped out of her sleek red car that pulled in front of ANCLAIR imposing building, as the morning sun radiated against its polished surface and cast an eye-blinding reflection to those who cared to look. She stood like a regal figure as soon as she was greeted by the employees who were waiting outside to welcome her already, her impeccable three-piece, exuding sophistication and timeless elegance. As she proceeded through the revolving door into the lobby which was full of the usual busy activities of the morning, behind her was Gary, in his perfect suit, and the others, walking behind her like an army. Hush fell into the room the moment she sauntered past the marbled-floor lobby, the click of her heels echoing in the silence, as employees paused mid-conversation, their eyes widening as they caught sight of the daunting lady who was making her way into the elevator. As the doors of the elevator slid open with a soft chime, Zoe stepped inside together with Gary and the doors
As the thought of Malcolm came to her mind, Zoe’s mind could not help but flash back to what he had told her that morning before she left the house. It was when he gazed at her with some kind of expression that conflicted her. “Zoe,” he called her as if his breath had seized from him, his eyes twitching with something she thought seemed like sadness. “Do you think that you can leave this family now? And be away from everyone? Finally? Don't try to know anymore and just break off?” His voice carried a hint of something that sounded like weariness which she wasn't sure of, because Malcolm Meyer was not the type to express such emotions. “What do you mean?” her eyebrows raised with surprise, her questioning eyes searching him with curiosity to know what he meant by those words. “Nothing,” a smile she knew was not genuine curved his lips, as he slowly brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it gently behind her right ear, “I… I probably was too eager to hear if you would st
Zoe arrived at the discreet golf course in the evening after she clocked out of the company a little earlier than usual, as she spotted her friend, Martin, waiting by the golf tee, looking all fit and fine in his golf outfit. He waved the moment his head turned right, and he saw her, a smile curving his lips with delight. “Hey, Zoe,” he called out, still smiling, as they both hugged briefly and shook hands smoothly, “How have you been?” His eyes peered at her with admiration. “Hi, Martin,” a brilliant smile stretched Zoe's lips, as she adjusted her cap and the golf outfit she had asked Zara to order for her less than an hour ago, after he asked to meet there, “I have been great. Trust you have been too.”“Absolutely,” Martin responded, handing her a golf club, “Let us make this a good game,” he winked at her.The two made their way to a further place in the large field away from the eyesight of the few people that were around, till they got to what looked like a perfect spot for the
Martin's eyes took a haunted look, as he stood unblinkingly trying to process what he had just heard, before turning to stare at her with shock, “Your fiancé?” Blood drained from his face at that unexpected revelation, “Zoe are you serious?” there was urgency in the way he spoke. “She nodded, her gaze steady, “Yes, Martin. I truly am.”Martin shook his head as his stomach contracted into a tight ball, “But...how?” His voice failed him miserably, as he couldn't mask the deep disappointment he felt at that moment. He was suddenly confused. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how Malcolm Meyer of all men would be her fiancé.‘Where did they meet? How? Since when have they been together? And why was it even a man like him? How was that even possible?!’ Martin's mind was stormed with different questions, his brain battling to process the numerous rhetorical questions one after another. He truly hoped it would not be true. He wanted to ask if she was sure he was truly her fiancé,
After Zoe left the golf course, she couldn’t bring herself to go home because of how she was feeling, and the surfeit amount of thoughts that were running through her mind. Instead, she drove to a faraway beach to clear her head, parked her car miles away, and walked down to the edge of the ocean where water could sweep her feet. She stood on that spot for a few minutes, her mind racing through many conflicting thoughts and emotions, before she finally turned back and sat down, wrapping her arms around her knees as she gazed out at the relentless waves from a distance while lost in thoughts. The disturbing revelation Martin had told her earlier made her so worried, as she slipped her phone out of her inner coat, and swiped across the screen to her gallery where the picture of the card she took was. It was an innocuous-looking card, plain blue, embossed with simple red lettering. If not for her curiosity about everything that was in Irina's safe, there was no reason for her to both
Zoe threw her phone back into her pocket, her hands trembling with rage as she got on her feet, straightened the rumples on her clothes, and stormed to where her car was parked. The drive to the six-star restaurant was almost at the speed of light, as she gripped the steering wheel so tightly, and floored on the accelerator so keenly with her eyes fully on the road, while navigating through the city’s evening traffic. The memory of Marcel, arrogant, disrespectful Casanova, who had asked to see her burned in her mind, and she knew she would not let unwelcome reappearance go unanswered in the right way. As she pulled up to the opulent restaurant, the valet took her keys with a nod after her orders, as she strode purposefully through the lavish lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. She was on her way to see him on the very last floor that was said to have been reserved for just the both of them, to resolve their differences.‘Ah,’ her lips twisted into a wicked
Marcel struggled against her tight, feisty grip as he grabbed her hands and overpowered her, before jerking himself free from her grip, almost causing her to fall back. His breath came fast, his chest rising and falling with fury, “I have nothing to say to you,” he said calmly, as he began to straighten the creases that formed on his shirt because of the way she had grabbed him. “What?! You have nothing to say to me?!” Isla lashed out angrily, seeing that he was about to enter his room, as she dragged him back from leaving with every ounce of her power and might. “After what you did to me? After you betrayed me and joined forces with my enemy to take over my company?!” she spat with a fireball of fury, her eyes threatening to scorch him on the spot, “You, of all people, knew what that company meant to me. Why would you do it?! I had to travel miles just to come and see you in this rat hole you have pathetically hidden.”“Do what exactly?” he continued to speak with a low, enthusias
As the bright rays of sun bounced against the reflective glasses that made up the gigantic hotel building, a lady stood in front of the building, as her eyes, which were protected by the dark shades she had on, read the name of the hotel in her mind, her lips twisting into a smirk. Dressed in a stunning white dress, Isla observed her surroundings for a few seconds, before she raised the slip of paper she had slipped out of her white clutch bag to her face, reading the three digits number that had been scrawled on it to remind herself of where she was going. Without hesitation, she strode forward and went straight into the hotel through the revolving doors, as her red heels echoed against the marble lobby floor, a huge frown now scrunching up her face. She pressed the buttons to the nearest elevator, and stepped inside as the door began to close slowly, before she pressed the button for the floor that she was going to.Isla's head jerked to the right in an instant and her eyes caug
A small laugh tugged his lips, when he thought of how she initially barged into the library to ask him that question, “You were thinking that somehow you weren't Fred’s biological daughter?” he searched her eyes, wondering what she was thinking. Zoe rolled her eyes at his question before she threw her gaze away from him, as her lips twisted into a small sneer, “I knew you wouldn't even take me in if I wasn't. You once abandoned me. It is not news,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes finally basking in the beauty of the library as she looked around. “I didn't,” Sinclair cleared his throat heavily as he walked in slow steps, even if he knew she wouldn't be convinced, “I didn't mean to,” he added. “Why did you treat me badly then?” She suddenly asked him even if she didn't intend to, her voice growing sour just from her question, “You never showed me love or acted like I was wanted by you. You were going to throw me out and replace me if I didn't live up to your expectations!” Zo
Tension fell into the air as soon as Zoe's rigid voice pierced through the atmosphere, and demanded from her grandfather, the question he was not sure he had ever imagined that he would be asked. Francis Sinclair, a little taken aback even if he didn't show it, turned his head to look at her, as if wanting to decipher the reason she asked him that question just by looking at her face. “Why that question?” he responded with a question, and it made Zoe's heart tremble even more with bated breath when she had waited to hear just the truth. “Just answer!” Words slipped out of her lips weaker than she intended, as her voice trembled in the fear that he would say no, “Truthfully,” she whispered, with a silent plea in her eyes. As much as she resented him so much in her heart, she couldn't bear to hear that he wasn't her grandfather. That had manipulated the DNA results to save face, and that she was not his son's daughter. She feared that she would totally be alone in the world withou
Ever since the previous day after the art exhibition ended, Andre Meyer had been restless. He had seen Zoe at the closest distance for the first time, and even if he didn't get to talk to her, he didn't like the aura she radiated. It was almost as overbearing as Malcolm's. Intimidating. Without wasting further time, he had called for his lawyer to see him as soon as possible the next day, and had waited impatiently for him to arrive at his office by canceling almost all his schedules for the day. At the arrival of the lawyer, Andre ushered him to take his seat on one of the leather couches in his huge office, as he sat across from him with signs of desperation and restlessness visibly written on his face. “Concerning what you inquired about last night, Mr. Meyer,” the man began, as he pulled out some files in his briefcase and placed them on the table. “I need to know, Harris,” Andre interrupted almost immediately, “Can I fight for custody of my son and win?” His eyes studied the
The executive team of the ELVA was seated patiently in the conference room awaiting Zoe, who entered just right in time with a sullen expression on her face, as she signaled they would begin the agenda of the meeting without saying much. Each head of the team presented updates on the plan for the launch of their latest jewelry collection in two days, which included detailed market strategies, production timelines, and promotional campaigns that she had demanded of them. But as they each shared their insights and strategies through the hologram before them, her mind was elsewhere. Even if she was staring at everyone as if she were listening, her mind was far away from the room. Her head was melting and floating at the same time. The message she read from the previous night thoroughly shook her bones, that they tightened so hard and painfully with trepidation at the processing of it. Her head expanded with the dire gravity of what she had read. ‘How? How on earth? Just how much did
It had been so long since he sat open in the serenity and basked in its beauty, that he had even forgotten how to do that. He had forgotten how it felt to sit comfortably in the repose of his mind, without having to think of anything at that moment. The sounds of rustling leaves, the distanced chirping of birds, the beauty of flying fireflies, the buzzing of distant insects, and the humming of a cold evening breeze all created a beautiful backdrop that seemed to catch Malcolm's attention, as he sat back on the reclining chair in his garden, his right hand wrapped around a half-empty glass that contained the scotch whiskey he was drinking. As he stared at the swaying of the beautiful flowers in his garden, with their branches fluttering with soothing sounds, he wished he had heard sooner. It had taken him years to sit in this peace, and finally understand the bondage he had been plunged into. He couldn't understand why he had spent so long living in a mansion he was barely at peace
“Excuse me,” Zoe walked away from the company of those that she found herself in at the moment, “Will be back in a jiffy,” she informed with a smile. She sauntered away elegantly and made her way into the nearest ladies’ bathroom as she entered the place. Sticking her hand under the faucet which detected her presence immediately, she watched her hands delicately in water for a few seconds. Right in the moment, the air around suddenly became heavy as someone made their way inside behind her, and instantly scanned through the entire bathroom to be sure no one was there. Standing rigid, Isla's arms crossed tightly against her dress, her voice dripping with contempt, “What the hell are you doing here?!” she demanded, her gaze burning with a fierce intensity that could scorch Zoe on the spot. Zoe paused as a smile curled her crimson-painted lips, while staring at Isla through the mirror that was facing her, as her eyes danced with amusement, “How are you, Isla?” “I asked what yo
Meanwhile, Isla, who was the last to catch sight of what was going on as she was too engrossed in her explanation, froze momentarily the moment her eyes came in contact with Zoe. Instantly, the bright smile on her lips died and her eyes widened in bewilderment. She never in her entire life would have expected to see Zoe attend her art exhibition, since the last time they met was the day she took over her company through Mason's help. The memories of their past encounters, rivalries, and deep-stemming hatred flared in her mind as her heart skipped so hard. ‘What was this bitch doing here?! Why was she here?!’ Isla almost lost it on the spot as her entire body began to shake uncontrollably, while her fists clenched hard in anger the more she stared at Zoe from where she stood. As their eyes locked for a few seconds, Zoe paused, just long enough for Isla to savor the effect of her presence, with amusement dancing in her gaze, before she tore her gaze away and channeled her attention