Mr. Davis sat behind his desk, his eyes crinkling with pride as he looked at me. "Mel, if you stay on this path, you’ll graduate as a first-class student," he said, his tone warm and encouraging. "You’ve always had the potential, and now you’re proving it. Keep focused, and the world is yours."
His words should have filled me with joy, but instead, they hung heavy in the air, like a weight I wasn’t sure I could carry. I forced a smile, nodding my head as I thanked him. “Thank you, Mr. Davis. I’ll do my best.”
But inside, my thoughts were filled with chaos.
How was I supposed to stay focused? Lisa’s betrayal still stung, and Carlos, despite everything, still had a pull on me. My father, always drunk, was falling apart, and Natha
As I stood by my desk, my phone still silent with no word from Carlos, a mix of frustration and nerves built up inside me. I had been waiting for his feedback on the assignment, but all I got was silence. It was unlike him to ignore me this long, and I didn’t know how to handle the growing anxiety of it all.Suddenly, Nathan’s voice broke through my thoughts as he called me into his office. I straightened myself and walked in, expecting him to discuss business or give me another task. But when I saw him sitting there, a faint smile playing on his lips, I could tell this wasn’t the usual meeting.“How’s school going, Mel?” he asked, his tone softer than usual, catching me off guard.School? Nathan asking me about school? I stared at him for
I closed the door and turned to face Carlos, my arms crossed defensively as I tried to suppress the rising irritation in my chest."Why are you in my office, Carlos?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. "You could have at least answered my calls or replied to my messages."I was not going to take it easy for coming to my office knowing fully well that I was working for Nathan. Carlos knew what he was doing and he was looking for an advantage to get one at me.Carlos shrugged, his expression unbothered, leaning back in the chair. "I don't operate like that," he said coolly, his eyes meeting mine without a sort of remorse. "If you want the information, I’m here. If not, I can walk out of that door right now."
Carlos stood there, eyes blazing with determination as he locked his gaze onto mine. His voice, though lower now, was thick with emotion, “I’m here because of what you said, Mel. You told me to fight for you. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”“What? You cannot use that on me!” I replied in shock.“Why not? You wanted me to fight for your love, right?” he asked.I blinked, momentarily taken aback. He was talking about the conversation at the Royal Café, the one where I’d challenged him to prove he wanted me back. I hadn’t expected him to take it this far.“What did you think I meant by that?” I asked, my voice a little shaky.
A burst of laughter filled the room, breaking the silence. A tall, elegant woman stepped in, her laugh echoing in the space as she clutched her stomach.Nathan, clearly caught off guard by her laughter, furrowed his brow. "Why are you laughing, Rose?" he asked, slightly annoyed but curious.She wiped a tear from her eye, trying to compose herself. "Oh, I’m sorry!" she said, still giggling. "It’s just... I’ve never seen a man that... hard in such an awkward situation." She pointed at Nathan’s trousers with a mischievous smile, and I couldn’t help but follow her gaze. Sure enough, Nathan's apparent "reaction" was quite visible.Nathan cleared his throat, his face barely concealing his irritation, and introduced
As the meeting wrapped up,I could see that there was still tension in the room. Nathan had handled the discussion with his usual authority, but I could tell that Steve was far from satisfied with the way things had unfolded.Uncle Jesse, looking concerned, had quietly pulled Nathan aside before leaving, asking the same question that had been on everyone’s mind."What’s your plan, Nathan? You can’t leave us in the dark on this," Uncle Jesse had pressed, his voice low but insistent.Nathan looked at Uncle Jesse and gave him a brief, knowing smile. "I’ve got to handle this one myself, Jesse," he said, his tone firm yet unruffled. "I do not want family politics in this. They are too messy. You know how it is."
As we stood in the office, still embraced in the conversation we just had, the door swung open, and Rose walked in again. Her usual playful smile was firmly in place, but there was an edge to her eyes. She glanced at me first, then shifted her gaze to Nathan."Tell Nathan we’re meeting in the conference room," she said, her voice light but purposeful. "There’s a new update."Before I could respond, she turned and left without even allowing me to ask any further questions. “Is that the way they behave here?” I asked myself. I blinked, confused for a second, unsure of what had just transpired.I told Nathan we needed to be in a meeting via the intercoms right from my desk. Nathan was already moving toward the door, and I followed quickly, tr
As I stood there, nervous and unsure, I asked Nathan quietly, “What should we do about the Stones?”Nathan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked over to his desk, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a dress, a beautiful, sleek piece of fabric that shone in the light. It was bold, striking, and far more revealing. He held it up, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.“Change into this,” he said softly, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver through me.I looked at the dress, then back at him, unsure of what to do. “I… I’ll go to the bathroom,” I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my face. “I don’t want someone to walk in…”Nathan’s smile deepened, a gentle, almos
As we arrived at the mob's headquarters, I could feel the familiar knot of tension tightening in my stomach. This place always made me uneasy, but there was something different in the air today. Don Chappo emerged, his usual air of casual authority replaced by something more ominous. His smile, the one that always seemed like it concealed secrets, was gone. His face was serious, hard, as though whatever had brought us here weighed heavily on his mind.He didn’t waste time with pleasantries, waving us inside with a brisk motion. The room he led us into was unlike any we’d been in before, a high-security room, dimly lit, and completely cut off from the outside world. The kind of place where secrets were meant to stay buried.Nathan was calm, his face a mask of control, but I could sense the underlying tension in him. Someth
I was silent for a moment, letting her words sink in. I had always known Katrina had a tough exterior, but hearing the raw emotion in her voice made me realize how much she had been holding in. She wasn’t just fighting for herself or Nathan or even the business. She was fighting for her place in a world that had never given her the respect she deserved.But this wasn’t the way.“I get it, Katrina,” I said softly, my voice gentle. “But this isn’t the answer. You’re hurting Nathan, and you’re hurting yourself. Don’t let Alex control you like this. Please, just think about it. Think about what you’re really doing here. Is this really what you want?”Katrina’s face twitched, and for a brief moment, I thought she might break down. But instead, she took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and walked toward the window. She didn’t say anything for a long while, and the silence between us felt heavy, almost suffocating.Finally, she spoke, her voice much quieter than before. “You’re right
I sat on the couch, the envelope from Katrina trembling slightly in my hands. I had known this moment was coming, the threats, the subtle innuendos, and Alex’s sudden reappearance in our lives, but seeing the court papers made it all too real. The words on the document were cold and clinical, and yet they felt like daggers piercing through my chest.Nathan walked into the room, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, his face betraying the weariness of a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He took one look at my expression, and his eyes immediately darted to the envelope in my hands. Without a word, he crossed the room, sat down beside me, and gently took the papers from my hands.His jaw tightened as he scanned the document. His face, usually so composed, contorted in a mix of frustration and pain. “She’s actually doing it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He placed the papers on the coffee table and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clas
The morning had arrived with a sense of urgency, and the office felt colder than usual. Nathan and I had just arrived, and the moment we stepped inside, I felt the weight of what was to come. There was a tension in the air that was hard to ignore, everyone seemed to sense that something big was on the horizon.I made my way straight to Rose’s desk, my heels clicking against the polished floor with each step. Rose looked up as I approached, her eyes sharp and focused, as if she had been expecting me.“Mel,” she greeted me, her voice calm but with an undertone of alertness. She was always on top of things, and I knew that she’d have something important to share.“Rose, I need to know everything. Have you heard anything about Steve and Jesse’s meetings with Alex?” I asked, my tone low but urgent. I couldn’t afford to waste time. Every second counted.Rose nodded, glancing around the office before leaning in slightly, lowering her voice as she spoke. “I overheard them, Mel. Steve and Jess
Even as Nathan drove, I could see the tension on his face. It was one of the rare moments I have seen him in this expression. His usually calm and controlled demeanour had cracked, revealing a side of him I hadn’t seen before, a rare glimpse of uncertainty.His hands, typically steady on the wheel, were tight now, his fingers gripping it almost as if it were the only thing holding him together. The silence between us was thick with unspoken thoughts, and I could feel my pulse quicken as I tried to process the situation. Something was off. Something more than just Alex’s arrival, something deeper was gnawing at Nathan’s nerves.Just as the silence became too much to bear, his phone rang. I watched as his eyes flicked down to the screen before he answered with a single word, his voice unexpectedly clipped.“Chappo.”I leaned back in my seat, instinctively quieting myself as I realized the weight of the conversation that was about to take place. Don Chappo was no stranger to Nathan’s bus
As Nathan and I settled into the car, the hum of the engine barely audible over the quiet tension that hung between us, my phone buzzed in my hand. I glanced at the screen. Ali. My stomach tightened as I answered.“What is it now, Ali?” I asked sharply, not bothering to hide my annoyance.His voice was unsteady, almost hesitant. “I just thought you should know... Alex Sommer is in town. He’s been asking questions. Serious questions.”I couldn’t help the scoff that escaped me. “We already know, Ali. You’re not exactly delivering groundbreaking news here.”There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear him exhale deeply. “Look, I know I screwed up earlier, but this is serious. You need to meet with me. There’s more to this than you realize.”Before I could respond, he hung up, leaving me staring at the phone in frustration. I turned to Nathan, who was sitting next to me with his arms crossed, watching me closely. His expression was unreadable, but his sharp eyes told me he had bee
The car glided through the quiet city streets, the hum of the engine filling the silence between us. I stole a glance at Nathan, his jaw set tight, his fingers gripping the steering wheel with an intensity that told me he was deep in thought.I have rarely seen him this way. He was more concerned with his thoughts than with the beautiful lady sitting next to him. I know his brain is running through every option but I also know this must be about what Rose had told him.“Nathan,” I began cautiously, breaking the silence. “What did Rose say?”His eyes stayed on the road, his lips pressed into a thin line as though he were debating whether to tell me. Finally, he sighed, his grip on the wheel loosening slightly.“She came to warn me,” he said, his voice measured. “Alex Sommer is in town.”The name hung in the air like an uninvited ghost, chilling the space between us. I frowned, searching my memory. “Alex Sommer... your friend from years ago? The one you’ve mentioned a few times?”“Frien
The hotel was bustling, a hive of luxury and importance, but all I cared about was the man waiting for me inside. When I knocked on the door, Nathan himself opened it. His shirt sleeves rolled up, and his tie slightly loosened, evidence of a long day.“You’re here,” he said, his voice warm but laced with the weariness of his meetings. He stepped aside, motioning for me to enter.As I walked in, the faint scent of his cologne filled the air, grounding me after the chaos of my day. The suite was immaculate, a blend of modern design and subtle luxury. A small conference table at the corner of the room held scattered files and a half-empty glass of what looked like scotch. He must have just wrapped up his meeting.“I thought I would have met you at the lounge,” I said.“Nope, finished the meeting my dear,” Nathan replied.“Sit down,” he said, gesturing to the plush armchair near the window. “You look like you’ve had a long day yourself.”I didn’t sit. Instead, I folded my arms and got str
As I stepped out of the café, the late afternoon sun momentarily blinded me. I adjusted my eyes and moved to the sidewalk, but I froze when I saw Carlos leaning against a sleek black SUV with his men flanking him. His presence was as commanding as ever, and though his face held a faint smile, his eyes carried a weight that set me on edge.“Mel,” he said, straightening up and taking a cautious step forward. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. But since you’re here, I guess fate gave me an opportunity I didn’t have before.”I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “What do you want, Carlos?” My tone was sharp, with no room for pleasantries.He sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly. “I wanted to apologize,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft. “For everything that happened. I never got the chance to say it properly. I know I hurt you, Mel.”I stared at him, waiting for the rest of his speech. Carlos wasn’t the kind of man to show vulnerability unless he wanted something.“And?” I
The moment Katrina walked out of the café, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts, but that reprieve didn’t last long. No sooner had I taken a sip of my coffee than I spotted Steven striding into the café, his eyes locked onto me with unsettling intensity.“Mel,” he called out as he approached my table. His voice carried a mix of sarcasm and disdain, enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.I sighed, setting my cup down. “Steven, what are you doing here?”“I could ask you the same thing,” he said, sliding into the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation. His gaze flickered toward the door where Katrina had exited moments earlier. “Funny seeing you here with Katrina.”I tensed, immediately on edge. “Were you following me?”Steven gave me a silly smile, leaning back in his chair with a casualness that belied his intrusive behaviour. “Call it what you want. I like to keep an eye on things, especially when it co