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
The members of the board were expecting to hear from Nathan but he stood calm and reserved, looking at each one of them straight into the eyes. Some of them could not return his gaze and acted like they were busy or going through documents.Leaning close, I whispered softly, “Nathan, this board... it’s informal, remember? They only have shares of about 35% collectively, and none of them hold more than 5% on their own. You have a solid 55%, so technically, they can’t vote you out.” Nathan’s jaw tightened, but he listened, his eyes not leaving Katrina as she shifted uneasily in her seat across the room.“And there’s more,” I added in a lowered tone. “Katrina has already filed for divorce, so technically, she’s no longer part of the board. She can’t vote, no matter how determined she looks.”A slow, amused smile crept onto his face, barely noticeable but there, shining in his eyes. Nathan straightened and looked directly into my eyes for a brief moment, a glimmer of satisfaction flashing
Nathan’s eyes shone with a calculated intensity as he straightened, about to respond, but at that moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his next words, the words that could very well decide the fate of them all.Nathan leaned forward, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. "My plan is simple," he said, his eyes locked onto Jesse. "Effective immediately, I am suspending Jesse Cain indefinitely for his collusion with the Stones to undermine this company."A stunned silence fell over the room, shattered only by the sound of Jesse rising from his seat, his face flushed with indignation. “You can’t suspend me based on accusations! You don’t have any evidence,” he spat, his voice a mixture of anger and fear.Nathan didn’t flinch. Instead, he met Jesse’s defiance with a firm gaze, unwavering. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Jesse,” he replied, his voice low and steady, with a hint of warning. “The evidence is there, documents, communications. All of it.
As Nathan and I stood just outside the boardroom, away from prying eyes, I turned to him, my expression serious. “Nathan,” I began softly, “I think I need to speak to Katrina separately. While you’re handling things with Kyle, I’ll try to reason with her… maybe there’s a way to bring her around.”Nathan’s brows knitted in concern, but he didn’t interrupt. He listened intently, his eyes scanning my face for a hint of what I was planning. Though I could see the expression on his face meant disapproval, I was not backing down from my idea.“I just feel like this is our best chance,” I continued, choosing my words carefully. “If she sees that we’re genuinely trying to secure the company’s future, maybe she’ll back off on some of her demands. But… I think you should handle Kyle alone.”Nathan nodded slowly, as if weighing the idea. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, his voice low. “Katrina’s been difficult, and she’s not exactly looking out for our best interests, I am sure you know that.
As I stepped into Nathan’s office, I was taken aback by the sound of laughter coming out of the room. It was a rare sound in these tense times. Nathan and Kyle were seated across from each other, each wearing an easy smile, their usual guarded expressions softened. For a second, I wondered if I was in the right place if somehow I’d wandered into an alternate reality where alliances held no bitterness or rivalry.I was sure that something must have triggered their laughter and not that they had something in common. Or they would actually be laughing at the threats they had issued each other.Kyle noticed me first, his face lighting up even more. “Well, if it isn’t Nathan’s brain box,” he greeted me, his tone both playful and respectful. There was no sarcasm, only an unexpected warmth that caught me off guard.Nathan looked up and smiled, that familiar, reassuring grin of his. “You’re just in time,” he said, waving me in. “Kyle and I were just... sharing a good laugh about old times.”C
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
As I walked through the campus, the familiar hum of student chatter and hurried footsteps filled the air. It used to excite me, but now it felt distant, like a life I was ready to leave behind. My finals were in sight, and I was counting down the days until I could close this chapter for good.In class, the lecturer praised my grades. It was one of the few moments that reminded me why I had started this journey in the first place. But even that satisfaction felt hollow. My mind was elsewhere, on Nathan, on the chaos in my life, and, unexpectedly, on Lisa.After class, I spotted Lisa near the cafeteria, chatting with some classmates. She seemed different, more confident, even a bit aloof. As I approached, she noticed me and offered a small, polite smile.“Hey, Lisa,” I greeted her, trying to keep my tone light.“Hey,” she replied, tilting her head slightly as if trying to gauge my mood.“I heard you paid your tuition fees,” I said, genuinely happy for her. “Congratulations. That’s a bi
We stopped abruptly, both of us turning to see Ali struggling to stand, his face pale and streaked with sweat. His earlier arrogance was gone, replaced by something almost pathetic. He held out a trembling hand, his voice cracking as he spoke again.“Please,” he said, his tone a strange mix of fear and urgency. “Don’t leave. I - - I have more to say.”Nathan’s jaw tightened, his expression darkened. He didn’t respond immediately, his silence stretching the moment into something unbearable. Finally, he turned back toward Ali, his movements slow and deliberate, each step measured.“You’ve got thirty seconds,” Nathan said coldly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Make it count.”Ali swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to steady himself. “I - - I didn’t tell you everything,” he stammered. “There’s more... more you need to know about the deal, about who’s really behind it.”Nathan crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing. “You withheld information?” he asked, hi
Ali looked at me as if I did not know what I was doing being there with him, as it looked like he was not about to release any information until I played ball.“What do you want?” I asked, looking at him seductively, inviting him in with my eyes.He smiled and licked his lips, “You could offer something else,” He said.As he walked towards me, I pushed him back and he looked surprised. “You have been paid and one way or the other I am getting what I have paid for.”He did not like the fact that I spoke to him that way, and he attacked me. “See, there is no way anyone can help you with what is to happen to you as this room is soundproof, bulletproof and one way in. So without me, you are not going out. Tell me what it’s going to be?” he asked.As Ali’s hand shot out, trying to close the distance between us, I instinctively sidestepped, slipping from his grasp. My mind raced, the shock in his eyes only feeding my resolve. His laugh echoed through the dim room, low and mocking.“Impressi
As the car sped along, the hum of the engine was a soft backdrop to the excitement bubbling within me. Nathan handed me the contract files, and I noticed immediately that the document bore my name in bold letters. My heart skipped a beat, a mixture of curiosity and surprise flooding my mind.“Why?” I asked, my voice tinged with both excitement and confusion as I looked up at him.Nathan glanced at me with an unreadable expression before his lips curled into a small, sincere smile. “You’ve been with me through everything, Mel. As a friend, as someone I can rely on. I trust you more than anyone. You’ve shown me nothing but loyalty.”I stared at the files, still trying to process what he was saying. This felt like a huge step. It was one I hadn't expected, especially not after everything that had happened with Carlos, the mafia, and the endless twists and turns that had coloured our lives. But in that moment, something about his words, his actions, and the way he looked at me, made me fe
The boardroom buzzed with unease after Nathan’s initial briefing about the Sanchez Gang. The air was thick with tension, and several members exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond to the gravity of the situation. One of the board members, with a stern face and a reputation for asking tough questions, cleared his throat and addressed Nathan directly.“Nathan,” he began, his voice calm but laced with concern, “if this gang is disrupting our legitimate business and threatening our operations, why haven’t we involved the authorities? Why are we handling this ourselves?”There was a collective murmur around the table as the board members eagerly awaited Nathan’s response. The question was valid. In any other scenario, the authorities would be the first line of defence, and many of
The morning was brisk and filled with an air of urgency as Nathan was already dressed. I woke up feeling lazy and foggy. As I dragged myself out of bed, I saw Nathan going through some files. He was sitting at the desk, his attention fixed on a pile of papers, meticulously going through them.I could tell he was deep in thought. It was as if the files were magnetic and caught his gaze, as he didn’t even notice me. I pushed myself to the bathroom. We have a board meeting this morning and I do not want to be the one to make us attend the meeting late.When I emerged from the bathroom, naked, I could feel the weight of the day’s responsibilities evident on his face.I stepped out of the bathroom, the sound of the water still lingering in the air, as I wrapped
As we stepped out of Don Chappo’s place, I felt a chill run down my spine, not just from the intensity of the situation we were stepping into, but from the way Don Chappo’s eyes had lingered on me, low and intrusive. It was as though he could see right through my dress, and I regretted that I hadn’t thrown on something thicker.Once we got into the car, I exhaled and looked over at Nathan. “I know Don Chappo’s important to you, but he was practically undressing me with his eyes,” I murmured, a little unsettled.Nathan shot me a sidelong glance, catching my expression and smiling as he started the engine. “Don’t worry about Chappo,” he replied casually. “He can look all he wants, but he’s smart enough to know that’s all he’s getting. Only I get the real deal
In the quiet of the room, Nathan's touch felt electric, every caress filled with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. He moved with a kind of urgency, as though he was trying to make up for lost time, every moment between us fueled by a powerful longing. His lips brushed my skin, igniting a warmth I hadn’t felt before, and I found myself completely lost in him, surrounded by his scent, his warmth, his closeness.Every kiss was intentional, as he kissed every part of my body. Finally, his lips rested on my breast and his tongue carefully and gently moved around my nipples. I moaned“Argh," as I grabbed his other hand and placed it on my wet pussy. He gently clipped the tip of my pussy as he kept on sucking one of my breast intensified. Fast and gentle, sending the right kind of waves all through my body. I reached out for his hard dick as my heart yearned for him inside of me.He moaned “mm.” And I replied with mine “Argh.’ it was systemic as it was rhythmic.It was a questi