As I walked into the room, my mind was racing with the weight of the information Pachi had shared. I had to tell Nathan everything and make him understand that danger was lurking closer than he realized. But when I tried to speak, the words seemed to fall flat. Nathan, leaning casually against the wall, didn’t seem alarmed. His calmness in the face of everything was both infuriating and disarming.“Nathan, I’m serious,” I said, trying to emphasize the urgency. “You’re in danger. Your family, Don Chappo, the Stones, everyone’s playing their hand, and it’s all pointing at you.”He walked over to me slowly, his eyes studying me, but not with concern. There was something deeper and more intimate. Before I could say another word, his hands gently moved to the buttons of my shirt, unfas
Nathan’s hand was warm on my back as we weaved through the dancing crowd. The music pulsed around us, lights flashing, but our mission held a weight all its own. He wanted to see Steve with his own eyes, confirm the shadows of suspicion lingering around us.“Stay close,” he whispered, his voice smooth but sharp, as though he were already preparing for whatever game Steve might be playing. We cut through the crowd toward the central floor, weaving between dancers and bodies swaying in time to the heavy bass. Then, suddenly, there they were, right in front of us like the universe had orchestrated some twisted meeting.Carlos and Lisa.Lisa’s smile was unmistakable, that smug look she wore whenever she thought she held the upper hand. Carlos turned, and his face flashed with surprise, then satisfaction. They had seen us, just as we’d stumbled upon them. And they weren’t going anywhere.“Well, look who’s slumming it on the dance floor,” Lisa sneered, her voice slicing through the heavy mu
Nathan and I stepped out of the club, the chilly night air a welcome relief from the thick tension we’d left behind. He pulled out his phone, dialling swiftly. His expression was all business as he waited for the line to connect.“Don Chappo,” Nathan said when he finally answered, his voice low but firm. “I need to know…is everything still under wraps? No one should know about our business.”A pause stretched on the line as Don Chappo’s gruff voice finally cut through. “It’s tight, Nathan. Not a word outside of our circle. What’s going on?”Nathan’s grip tightened around the phone as he cast a quick glance over his shoulder, scanning the street. “We were at the club. Ran into some…unexpected faces. They’re circling, Don, and someone just hinted they might know more than they should.”The Don’s voice shifted, taking on a sharp edge. “Who are we talking about?”“Steve and Carlos,” Nathan replied, his gaze darkening. “And Steve insinuated he knew something. But you’re certain, no leaks?”
The hotel room did not look as accommodating as it used to be because of Nathan’s mood. It felt heavy as I stepped inside. He stood by the window, his back to me, gazing into the night as if it held answers he couldn’t find. I knew the weight he was carrying, but seeing him this quiet, so distant and removed, was unsettling.I took a step closer, hesitating. “Nathan,” I murmured softly, “come to bed. You need rest.”He didn’t respond, his body tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. I waited, sensing his need for space, but as the minutes passed, my worry grew. Finally, I took a breath and broke the silence. “Talk to me,” I urged, stepping beside him. “Please.”He exhaled, a long, weary sigh, and when he finally looked at me, his face was lined with frustration, shadows etched deeply in his eyes. “I just… wish I didn’t have so much on my plate,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Sometimes, I wonder if it’s worth it. If all of this is worth the price.”I placed
In the quiet stillness of the night, I stirred awake to the warmth of Nathan’s body pressed close to mine. The sheets were tangled around us, but his arms held me close, a gentle yet unyielding hold. His touch traced slow, lazy circles on my back, and even in the dim light, I could feel the intensity of his gaze as he looked at me, his fingers brushing along my bare shoulder.I smiled, meeting his eyes, still hazy with sleep and a tenderness that felt both new and familiar. In this soft, unguarded moment, there was nothing but the space we shared, nothing but us and the hours still wrapped in night. As if reading my thoughts, he reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and murmured, “I could get used to waking up like this.”I let my fingers wander along his jaw, feeling the quiet strength beneath his skin. “Then let’s make sure you get to.”His gaze deepened, the playfulness fading as he considered the weight of those words. “If only it were that easy,” he whispered, his ha
I looked over at Nathan, my thoughts already racing with the plan. “I think we need to see the Stones again, especially Kyle,” I said, my tone laced with certainty. “This whole situation, it has an inside job written all over it. And I think you feel it too.”Nathan leaned back, his gaze narrowing as he processed what I’d said. “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he admitted, his voice low but intense. “The Stones might not be the root of this mess, but they’re involved enough to know who is.”“And Kyle,” I added, a touch of bitterness creeping into my voice. “He’s sloppy and eager for power; if anyone’s liable to make mistakes or leave a trail, it’s him.”Nathan nodded, clearly agreeing. “Kyle’s a loose cannon, too ambitious for his own good. But he’s protective of the Stones' interests. If we push in the right way, he might reveal something he doesn’t intend to.”I couldn’t help but smirk at that. “Exactly. If he thinks we’re onto him, or that there’s a crack in our defences, he mi
As I grabbed my bag and headed toward the car, Nathan looked at me with surprise. He raised an eyebrow as if to question my decision, but the glint of approval in his eyes made it clear he wasn’t about to object.“You’re skipping class?” he asked, a slight smile curling at his lips as I slid into the car beside him.I met his gaze and nodded confidently. “If there’s an emergency meeting, I want to be there with you. Whatever’s going on, I’m not letting you face it alone.”His smile widened and softened, and he reached for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. He gently squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Thank you,” he whispered, the warmth in his voice adding a touch of reassurance to the tense anticipation filling the car. I was glad I was with him.We didn’t need many words. In the silence that followed, I felt his appreciation, and he knew I wasn’t backing down. We were facing whatever awaited us together.“Go ahead and message your lecturer,” he said, h
As we walked through the different hallways leading to the lift, I could sense the tension in the building. Though no one spoke to us, it was as if they knew what the board members were up to. Nathan was calm as usual, but I could see that his steps and pace had increased, and I was playing catch up.We got to the conference room and Nathan pushed open the door, catching Uncle Jesse mid-sentence, his voice booming throughout the room, “Then, let’s proceed with the votes - -”But before he could finish, Rose’s voice cut through, firm and sharp, “I’m afraid you can’t call for a vote, Jesse. Nathan is here now.”A hush fell over the boardroom as all eyes snapped to us. Nathan’s gaze was steely as he scanned the room, settling finally on Jesse, who appeared surprised but didn’t back down. Jesse’s mouth twisted into a sly smile, his tone smooth as he replied, “We’ve been waiting for you, Nathan. The board has already decided we can’t delay the vote any longer.”Nathan’s jaw tightened. “Wai
Nathan and I stepped into the sleek, high-rise office building of Cains Corporation, and the tension between us was evident. My heart pounded with a mix of dread and determination, while Nathan’s jaw was set in a hard line, his usual confidence tempered by the storm we were walking into. The elevator ride to the boardroom felt interminable, the silence between us punctuated only by the soft hum of the machinery.When we entered the room, the atmosphere was as icy as the air conditioning. Steve and Uncle Jesse, seated at the large conference table, looked up in unison. Their expressions shifted from surprise to defiance. Alex Sommer stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back turned to us, gazing out over the city. He turned slowly, a sly grin spreading across his face as he took us in.“Well, well,” Alex drawled, his voice oozing mockery. “If it isn’t Nathan Cain and his... entourage. What a pleasant surprise.”Nathan’s lips tightened, but he ignored Alex’s taunt. “What’s going on
Nathan arrived the next morning, his face a mask of frustration and concern. He didn’t wait for me to invite him in; instead, he stepped into the room with an urgency that instantly unsettled me. I had been expecting him after our tense phone call, but the weight of his expression told me this wasn’t going to be a simple conversation. I gestured toward the couch, and we sat down in silence for a moment. Hoping that he would ask me about my meeting with Carlos because I had a lot running through my mind. The situation we have found ourselves in was because I chose to love him.He ran his hand through his hair, clearly grappling with how to begin. Finally, he exhaled deeply and broke the quiet.“Katrina’s not backing down,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “She’s made it clear that she’s going to push forward with this lawsuit. She’s demanding 50% of my worth, and she’s threatening to implicate you further. Mel, this isn’t just about me anymore, it’s about you too.”I felt a lump f
The air in the café shifted the moment Carlos walked in, his presence as commanding as it was unsettling. He strolled over to my table with an air of self-assured arrogance, a smirk playing on his lips. It was clear from the way he carried himself that he felt in control, and the glint in his eyes told me he was ready for a confrontation.“Well, well, well,” Carlos said, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from me without waiting for an invitation. “I got your little... plea bargain. That’s why I’m here.”I frowned, confused by his words. “Plea bargain? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Carlos.”His smirk widened. “Oh, come on, Mel. Let’s not play games. Pachi told me you wanted to talk, to negotiate, to plead for a truce. Isn’t that what this is?”I shook my head firmly. “No, Carlos. I’m not here to bargain or plead. I’m here to talk some sense into you, to figure out why you’re doing all of this.”Carlos leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why?
When I arrived at Café de Royal, the sun was settling down. Its warm golden glow filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows across the tables. My heart raced as I stepped inside, half hoping and half dreading the encounter I had orchestrated. The plan was simple: meet Carlos, try to reason with him, and perhaps take one step closer to untangling the mess that had become my life. But fate had other plans. Instead of Carlos, I found Lisa seated at a corner table, scrolling through her phone with a focused expression.The sight of her made my stomach twist with unease. I had hoped to avoid her tonight, at least until I spoke with Carlos, but now that hope was gone. Taking a deep breath, I approached her table. She looked up at the sound of my footsteps, her eyebrows raising in mild surprise.“Lisa,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”“Mel,” she replied, her voice cool but not outright hostile. “What brings you here tonight?”I hesitated, unsure of
The phone felt heavy in my hand as I paced back and forth in the dim light of my father’s living room. The weight of Don Chappo’s call was still pressing down on me like a stone on my chest. With a deep breath, I pressed Nathan’s number, my fingers trembling as I waited for him to pick up.“Mel?” Nathan’s voice came through, low and calm, yet there was an edge of exhaustion in his tone.“Nathan,” I started, my voice faltering for a moment. “I just got off the phone with Don Chappo.”There was a pause on the line before Nathan responded. “What did he say?”I sighed, gripping the phone tightly. “It wasn’t what he said as much as how he said it. Nathan, he’s not happy. He knows about everything, Carlos, the warehouse, Alex Sommer. He’s worried that this mess is spiralling out of control.”Nathan let out a long, measured breath. I could hear the tension behind it, the way he was trying to keep himself calm. “And what did he want from you?”“To fix it,” I replied, my voice cracking slightl
After my conversation with Nathan, my instincts pushed me toward Lisa. If there was any chance to stop this madness before it spiralled even further out of control, I needed to address the situation head-on. Lisa had to understand the gravity of her actions and the potential consequences they were inviting. Yet, with the police on my trail, meeting her in person was risky. Still, I couldn’t let that stop me.We arranged to meet at a small, out-of-the-way café, one of those places that managed to stay under the radar. I arrived early, scanning the room nervously, hoping no one had followed me. Lisa walked in shortly after, her usual confident stride somewhat subdued as she spotted me. She gave a hesitant smile, clearly uncertain about the tone of the meeting.“Hey, Mel,” she said, sliding into the seat across from me. “You sounded... urgent on the phone. What’s going on?”I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Lisa, I’ll get straight to the point. This thing with Steve, it has to stop.”Her
It was a quiet evening when my phone buzzed, breaking the stillness of the room. I glanced at the screen, seeing Pachi's name flash across it. My heart sank slightly; calls from Pachi rarely carried good news, especially in the tangled web of complications we’d found ourselves in lately. I hesitated for a moment before answering, bracing myself for whatever storm was about to hit.“Pachi,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “What’s going on?”“Mel,” he began, his voice tinged with urgency and anger. “I don’t even know how to start this, but you need to hear it straight. Carlos, he’s gone too far this time.”A cold shiver ran down my spine. Carlos had always been unpredictable, his temper as volatile as a storm at sea, but there was something in Pachi's tone that told me this wasn’t just another one of Carlos’s outbursts.“What did he do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Pachi let out a long sigh, as though he was gathering the strength to deliver the news. “He saw Steve
I pushed back from his hold and sat down. Nathan stood there, his arms folded across his chest, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. I got up and took a hesitant step closer, searching his eyes for a change of emotion, of vulnerability, anything to bridge the growing tension between us. I tilted my head up and leaned in, intending to kiss him, to remind him of what we had. But before our lips could meet, he turned his head away, leaving me hanging in an awkward limbo.The rejection hit me like a slap. I took a step back, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anger. “What’s going on with you, Nathan?” I demanded, my voice sharp. “Why are you pulling away from me?”He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off a headache. “Mel, it’s not you. It’s... complicated.”“Complicated?” I repeated, incredulous. “What’s complicated about this? About us? You say you care about me, but you won’t even let me get close to you anymore. Who am I to you, N
Nathan arrived at my father’s house just after sunset, his presence commanding even in the dimly lit surroundings. I had been pacing the living room, a swirl of emotions gripping me, confusion, frustration, and a growing sense of unease. When he walked in, he gave me a soft smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.“You said it was urgent,” he said, shrugging off his coat and laying it across the back of the couch. “What’s going on?”I motioned for him to sit, but he remained standing, his posture rigid. I decided to get straight to the point. “I spoke to Alex today.”That got his attention. His brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened. “Alex?”“Yes,” I confirmed, crossing my arms. “He told me a lot of things, Nathan. About you, about him, about Katrina.”Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “What did he say this time?”I stepped closer, my voice steady but tinged with urgency. “He said you betrayed him. That you pushed him out of the business and took his shares, he said that’s