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
Pachi’s voice had been urgent over the phone, giving me no room to ask questions. "Don Chappo wants to see you," she’d said, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Come alone."Now, sitting across from Don Chappo in this slightly dark room, I could feel the tension in the room. It looked as if I had been kidnapped though I came there myself. The smell in the air was different, smells of cigars and the rest, it looked like an interrogation room or something I couldn't quite place, but I knew something was terribly wrong.The Don leaned forward, his face cast in shadow. His voice was low and rough, the kind that demands attention.“Nathan is in trouble,” he began, and those words hit me like a punch to the gut.
Everything had settled into place like the final pieces of a grand puzzle. What once felt like an insurmountable storm had passed, leaving behind a new world, one where Nathan remained the undisputed king, but this time, with order and stability.I had been called back to school, a sign that my life was finally returning to normal, or at least something close to it. The weight of uncertainty that had once loomed over me had lifted, replaced by a newfound sense of freedom and direction. Katrina had received 30% of all the clubs and hotels I owned as per the agreement, securing her future and allowing her to walk away from the chaos without regrets.Nathan, ever the strategist, had made swift work of tying up loose ends. With Don Chappo’s assistance, he had not only removed every trace of the gang that had threatened our lives but had also found a way to put Carlos to good use. Carlos had been given a fresh start—an actual career, a legitimate one—working under Nathan and Don Chappo’s g
The boardroom was thick with tension. Every eye was on Nathan, Alex Sommer, Steve, and Uncle Jesse as the battle for control of Cain Corporation reached its climax.Alex Sommer, ever the smooth talker, stood up, adjusting his perfectly tailored suit with an air of confidence. He glanced around the room and smirked, his voice dripping with condescension."None of this matters," he declared, his eyes locking on Nathan. "You can throw all the accusations you want, but it's not enough to stop the change of leadership. The majority of the shares are in my control now. That is all that matters."Blake, Nathan’s sharp and calculating lawyer, was quick to respond. He stood with an easy grace, his expression unreadable."Tell me, Alex," Blake began, "is fraud, not enough grounds to stop another fraud?"Alex narrowed his eyes, shifting his weight slightly."What are you implying?"Blake’s gaze swept the room, ensuring that every board member was listening before he continued."The very people w
The tension in the boardroom was suffocating. The air was thick with silent power plays, unspoken accusations, and the weight of the decision that would determine the fate of Cain Corporation. Nathan sat at the head of the table, his posture calm but commanding, his piercing eyes scanning the room. He wasn’t here to beg, he was here to remind them exactly who he was.My only fear was that I hoped he knew the game he was playing. A lot of things don’t favour him at the moment, but I think he can appeal to the Board members so that they can stand by him. A lot of them worshipped him, yet this was a tough call.Uncle Jesse cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany table. He clasped his hands together in a gesture of authority before addressing the board members."Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice smooth and practised, "we have gathered here today for an important matter, one that affects the very future of this company." He took a moment t
As we stepped into the office, a hushed tension blanketed the room. It was as if everyone had already caught wind of the chaos unfolding behind closed doors. Employees who normally went about their business were suddenly stealing glances at us, some filled with curiosity, others with thinly veiled concern.Nathan walked beside me, his expression unreadable, his steps measured and confident. I, on the other hand, could feel the weight of every stare pressing into my back. This wasn’t just another board meeting. This was a battle. A battle for control, for power, for survival.Blake was the first to greet us, standing just outside the boardroom with an air of quiet authority. He gave us a tight-lipped smile, his eyes scanning Nathan’s face for any signs of hesitation.“They’re waiting for you,” he said in a low voice. “Uncle Jesse, Steve, Alex… they’re all inside. They’ve wasted no time.”Nathan let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “Of course they haven’t.”Blake’s expression hard
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of Nathan’s penthouse, casting long golden streaks across the room. I stirred beneath the silk sheets, the warmth of last night’s intimacy still lingering on my skin. For the first time in what felt like forever, I had slept soundly, wrapped in Nathan’s arms. But as I opened my eyes, the weight of reality crashed back onto my shoulders.Nathan was already up, standing by the window with his phone pressed to his ear. His posture was tense, his back rigid as he listened intently to whoever was on the other end of the line. I could only catch snippets of the conversation.“…Yes. Make sure it’s all filed before the meeting… No, I don’t care what Alex Sommer thinks he’s planning,” He paused, exhaling sharply before adding, “Just do it.”I sat up slowly, watching him as he ended the call and turned around. His piercing eyes met mine, but they weren’t filled with the warmth I had seen last night. Instead, they were sharp and calculating. H
As the warm water cascaded over my body, I let out a deep sigh, letting the steam wrap around me like a comforting embrace. The tension of the past days had been suffocating, and for the first time in a while, I allowed myself to relax.I ran my hands through my hair, washing out the last traces of soap, my eyes closed as I let the water cleanse not just my body, but my mind as well. When I finally opened them, my breath hitched.Nathan stood before me.He was completely bare, his chiselled form illuminated by the dim, misty light of the bathroom. Droplets of water clung to his skin, accentuating every curve of his muscles. His deep blue eyes held mine, dark with something I couldn’t quite name, something raw, something undeniable.For a moment, neither of us moved. The sound of the water filled the space between us, the steam creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. My heart pounded in my chest, my skin prickling with awareness.Then, he stepped forward.His fingers trailed up my arm,
As we stepped into Nathan’s penthouse, the tension from the boardroom still lingered in the air. Nathan’s jaw was set, his mind clearly working through everything that had just happened. I had barely settled onto the couch when the doorbell rang.Nathan didn’t even need to guess who it was. He strode to the door, exhaled deeply, and pulled it open.Katrina stood there, her sharp gaze moving between the two of us before she stepped inside as if she owned the place. She was still dressed in the same impeccable blazer from the board meeting, her posture poised, but there was a flicker of unease in her expression.Nathan shut the door and turned to face her. “Alright, Katrina. Let’s cut to it. What deal did she offer you?”Katrina tilted her head slightly, then smirked. “You seem impatient.”“I don’t have time for your games,” Nathan replied, crossing his arms. “Tell me.”Katrina’s gaze flickered toward me as if debating whether to say it out loud. But then she shrugged and leaned against
As Nathan and I stepped into the conference room, an unmistakable tension filled the air. Every board member was present, their eyes shifting between one another, some avoiding Nathan’s piercing gaze, others openly hostile. But what caught me off guard the most was the sight of Katrina seated confidently among them. She was dressed in a sleek black blazer, her expression unreadable, but there was something steely in her gaze as she met Nathan’s eyes.Nathan’s posture stiffened. He scanned the room, his piercing eyes locking onto each individual before settling on Katrina for a moment. Then, in a voice dripping with restrained fury, he asked, “What is going on here? Who gave the authority to call a board meeting in the middle of the night?”A slow, deliberate chuckle broke the silence.It was Uncle Jesse. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany table, and clasped his hands together as if he had all the time in the world. His smug expression made my stomach twist
The revelation that Steve, Uncle Jesse, and Alex Sommer had called for an emergency board meeting sent a chill through me. This wasn’t just a power move, it was a calculated strike, and if Nathan didn’t act fast, he could lose everything.We grabbed our things but instead of moving towards the door, we stood there looking at each other. I wondered how we got here, to the point where we are almost losing everything we hold dear. Our love, my school, and Nathan’s empire seemed to be crashing down with n solution.I turned to him, my voice firm despite the panic bubbling inside me. “Nathan, if they’ve called a board meeting without you, it’s not a good omen. You know what this means.”Nathan clenched his jaw, running a hand through his dark hair as he exhaled heavily. “I know,” he said, his voice laced with frustration. “But what do you want me to do? Sit here and watch everything I built get handed over to Alex Sommer on a platter of gold?” His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, a sto