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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
The café was bustling that morning, filled with customers' chatter and cups clinking. I pushed the door open, the little bell above it jingling softly, and immediately scanned the room. There they were, Steve and Lisa, sitting together in a corner booth, heads close as if sharing some secret. My blood boiled at the sight. Steve had no business being here, especially not with Lisa.I walked briskly to their table, my heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Steve looked up, a smirk spreading across his face as he saw me approach. Lisa, on the other hand, looked uneasy, her eyes darting between Steve and me.“What are you doing here, Steve?” I asked, my voice low but firm.He leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “Having a cup of coffee, Mel. Last I checked, this was a public place.”I ignored his sarcasm and turned to Lisa. “You shouldn’t be here with him. Do you know how dangerous this is? If Carlos sees the two of you together, there will be trouble.”Lisa looked awa
The weight of the day's events bore down on me as I paced in the penthouse, waiting for Nathan to come back from his meeting. My hands were trembling slightly, and my mind raced with thoughts of Katrina’s betrayal. She had set me up in the worst possible way. How could someone stoop so low? The knock on the door snapped me out of my spiralling thoughts.I opened it to find Nathan standing there, his face a mixture of concern and determination. “Mel,” he said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. “What happened?”I took a deep breath and launched into the story, my words tumbling out in a torrent of frustration and fear. “I went to Katrina’s place to try and talk to her, Nathan. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could reason with her. I begged her to drop the suit, to stop all of this madness. But she wouldn’t listen. She accused me of taking everything from her, her life, her marriage, her dignity.”Nathan’s jaw tightened, and his blue eyes darkened with anger. “G
As I stepped into the courthouse that morning, a sense of unease prickled at the back of my neck. Nathan and his lawyer had assured me this would be a standard procedural hearing, a step in the long and drawn-out divorce battle Katrina had initiated. Yet, the moment I entered the courtroom and locked eyes with Katrina, I knew something was off. Her expression wasn’t just cold; it was triumphant, a look that sent a chill down my spine.The judge called the session to order, and Katrina’s lawyer wasted no time. His voice was sharp and deliberate as he addressed the court."Your Honour, before we proceed, my client would like to call an additional witness to provide relevant testimony to this case. We call Merylyn—" he paused for effect and then said my full name.I froze. My heart stopped for a moment before racing wildly. A murmur rippled through the courtroom. Nathan turned to look at me, his face etched with shock and anger. His lawyer immediately stood to object.“Your Honour, this
When I returned from my meeting with Katrina, the weight of her words and the tension between us still lingered in my mind. I walked into Nathan’s office, where he sat at his desk, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Papers and documents were spread out before him, and his phone was buzzing incessantly with messages and calls. His usually calm charisma was replaced by an intensity that made the air in the room feel charged.He looked up as I entered, and his expression softened slightly, though the edge of his stress remained. "You’re back," he said, his voice low but tinged with curiosity. "How did it go?"I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to divulge. “It was… enlightening,” I began carefully, placing the divorce papers I’d copied onto his desk. “Katrina didn’t know Alex was in town. She was genuinely shocked when I mentioned him.”Nathan’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. “Shocked, huh? Or just playing dumb?”“No, Nathan,” I said
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