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Chapter Forty
Last Updated:
2025-03-28 20:41:57
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Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-One
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The vibrant hum of London's nightlife still lingers in my ears as Yemaya and I step into the grand entrance of the high-end shopping mall. The rooftop lounge in Knightsbridge had been a fantastic escape—elegant cocktails, a breathtaking view, and the lively chatter of London’s elite—but of course, Yemaya wasn’t satisfied with just that. She’d insisted that I needed a wardrobe upgrade, especially now that I would be stepping into the role of CEO.“You’re the face of an empire now, babe,” she says, linking her arm with mine as we stroll into the gleaming, chandelier-lit atrium of the shopping mall. “You need to dress the part. No more ‘casual chic.’ We’re talking power dressing—sexy, corporate, intimidating.”I sigh, more amused than annoyed. “You mean uncomfortable, stiff, and overpriced?”Yemaya gasps dramatically, clutching her chest as if I’ve wounded her. “Sacrilege! You’re going to thank me when heads turn at board meetings.”I let her pull me deeper into the maze of
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Two
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚I really couldn't have wished for a longer weekend. Despite the whirlwind of drama and activities the past few days had been with Yemaya's visit, I would have given anything to prolong the weekend and to delay today from arriving just a bit longer. Because now, it's Monday morning, which is officially my first day at GemsThorne. My first day stepping into a world I never imagined I'd ever be a part of.And even though I'd spent the past couple of weeks preparing for my presentation and by extension, my induction as the CEO of GemsThorne following the success of our partnership deal with Lancaster Luxe, the anxiety continues to eat away at me while I can't help but fret over this day finally arriving. Nerves coil tightly in my stomach, a relentless storm of self-doubt swirling despite the many times I’ve chided myself for feeling this way even after all the encouragement from my family. I stand before the mirror, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my crisp white button-dow
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Three
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The morning goes by quickly, and before I know it, it's time for my lunch break.Craving a much-needed breath of fresh air away from all the expectant stares and thinly-veiled bootlicking I have already started receiving from some of the employees amidst walking around the vast building as well as all the names and executive positions I'd have to remember, I decide to head somewhere a bit distant from GemsThorne. My personal driver drops me off at the restaurant my personal assistant, Winifred, had recommended earlier—Ristorante Celeste, a quiet, upscale Mediterranean restaurant nestled in the heart of corporate London. The restaurant exudes an effortless blend of elegance and warmth, with soft golden lighting, terracotta walls adorned with delicate mosaic patterns, and large arched windows that let in streams of natural light. The air carries the tantalizing aroma of olive oil, fresh herbs, and slow-simmered sauces, promising a dining experience that is both refined and
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Four
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚Marcos’s intense gaze on my face persists as I mull over his question, debating on how much truth I really want to reveal. Finally, I tilt my head, meeting his stare head-on.“Alright, deny it then,” I say, my voice laced with a challenge. “Deny that it wasn’t just my appearance that caught your attention at first sight.”His lips curve up in a tiny smile, but his eyes remain unreadable. “Is that what you think?”“It's what you and I both know,” I counter, leaning back in my seat. “You said you value character over beauty, right? So then, you should be able to easily deny that your attraction to me didn't stem from my physical features.”Marcos studies me, fingers tapping idly against his glass. “Well, you came across as a direct and blunt woman,” he finally says. “You didn't just sit back and let things happen. And you didn’t give in easily.”I arch a brow. “So, what? You like a challenge then?”He exhales a quiet chuckle. “Partially. But it’s much more than that.” Then
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Five
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚Alone in my office, I focus on the project I’m currently working on with Cameron’s company. The blueprints are spread out across my office desk, a meticulously arranged chaos of detailed sketches, notes, and material samples. The sheer scale of the design demands my full attention, every inch of available space covered in drafts and annotations.I run my fingers over the smooth edges of the jewel samples placed beside the building interior layout, mentally piecing together how each element will weave into the final aesthetic of the hotel’s interior. Not just for opulence—but for atmosphere, and for presence. The way the light would refract off the polished gemstones embedded in the marble-tiled floors, casting a subtle shimmer that whispers the luxury rather than screams it. The soft, understated accents on furniture that would add dimension without overwhelming. The deliberate placement of crystal in the chandeliers, catching and bending light to create a warm, inviting
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Six
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚I wake up with a jolt, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. The room is dark, but the nightmare lingers, burning behind my eyes like an afterimage I can’t blink away. My chest tightens, my pulse hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, each beat a cruel echo of the fear still curling around my spine.I can still see them. Stella’s smug, knowing smile. Daniel’s cold, detached stare. The cruel laughter of those who reveled in my humiliation. Their voices slither through my mind, sharp as glass, slicing through the thin veil between past and present. It was just a dream. But it doesn’t feel like one.The air in my bedroom suddenly feels suffocating. I shove the damp sheets aside, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, my bare feet meeting the cold floor. Ground yourself. Breathe. I squeeze my eyes shut and press the heels of my hands against them, as if that alone could drive the memories away. But they refuse to fade, lurking like shadows just out of reach.How l
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Seven
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬The harsh, sterile glow of the overhead lights bathes the operating room in an almost surreal brightness, casting sharp shadows on the masked faces surrounding the table. The steady beeping of the heart monitor fills the silence—calm, rhythmic, an ever-present reminder that life still clings beneath my scalpel.This moment, this weight of precision and control, is what I live for.I exhale slowly, steadying my grip. “Scalpel.”Dr. Harriet, standing to my right, responds instantly, placing it in my waiting palm. Her gloved fingers brush against mine, the touch lingering for half a second too long. A deliberate move? Maybe. But now isn’t the time for distractions.“Here,” she murmurs, her voice low, smooth, as if we aren’t elbows-deep in someone’s open abdomen.I ignore it. Focus is everything.The blade glides along the marked line, parting skin and muscle with practiced ease. The scent of antiseptic thickens as suction whirs, keeping the field clear. Beneath layers of tis
Last Updated : 2025-03-31Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Eight
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The weekend has arrived once more, but this time, I’d decided to spend it with my best friend, Yemaya, at the apartment we used to share just a couple of months ago while I had worked at The Gilded Stag restaurant. I figured it was high time I returned for a visit, especially since just the week before, she had come to visit me at my parents' mansion and had spent the entire weekend there. Besides, there’s a certain comfort in being back here, in a space filled with memories of late-night gossip, spontaneous dance-offs, and shared struggles. And just to admit it, I had missed my best friend despite being doted on and surrounded by my loving family. Because no one can ever take her place in my life no matter what.And now on this Saturday afternoon, the two of us are craving something sweet, and since Yemaya is the one between the two of us who actually enjoys cooking and baking, she’s taken charge of baking us some Eccles cakes—a British pastry filled with spiced currant
Last Updated : 2025-03-31
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Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Fifty
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The news is everywhere.Tabloids, newspapers, hushed conversations in hotel lobbies and high-end restaurants. My name, my face, my supposed triumph—spread across the city like wildfire.The lost daughter, now officially found. The hidden gem, finally unveiled.I try not to let it get to me.I bury myself in work, tell myself this is what I wanted—what I’ve been preparing for. And for the most part, I believe it. I tell myself I’ve moved past the distractions of Marcus and Cameron, that they no longer occupy space in my mind. That my focus is solely on the company and my role within it.But the illusion only lasts until the night of my father’s party.A grand affair, of course. My father doesn’t do anything half-heartedly. The ballroom is adorned in gold and ivory, chandeliers dripping with light, the scent of expensive champagne and wealth hanging thick in the air.Dignitaries, business moguls, and high-profile figures mill about, exchanging pleasantries, shaking hands, w
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Nine
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The memory of Harriet pressing her lips too close to the corners of Marcos' mouth replays in my mind like a bitter melody I can’t turn off. The way she clung to him, the possessiveness in her gaze, and how he hadn’t outright rejected her touch—it all festers inside me, an emotion I refuse to name. It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.But it does.And that alone infuriates me.I should have known better. I should have learned my lesson after Daniel, after the years I wasted believing in a love that was nothing but a mirage. Marcos might not be Daniel, but that doesn’t mean I should entertain the idea of him any longer. The moment I saw him with another woman—saw him let her touch him like that—I should have let every foolish inclination I had towards him die on the spot.So I do what I must—I bury myself in work, throwing myself into tasks that keep my hands busy and my mind even busier. I stop going into the office unless absolutely necessary, opting for virtual meetin
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Eight
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The weekend has arrived once more, but this time, I’d decided to spend it with my best friend, Yemaya, at the apartment we used to share just a couple of months ago while I had worked at The Gilded Stag restaurant. I figured it was high time I returned for a visit, especially since just the week before, she had come to visit me at my parents' mansion and had spent the entire weekend there. Besides, there’s a certain comfort in being back here, in a space filled with memories of late-night gossip, spontaneous dance-offs, and shared struggles. And just to admit it, I had missed my best friend despite being doted on and surrounded by my loving family. Because no one can ever take her place in my life no matter what.And now on this Saturday afternoon, the two of us are craving something sweet, and since Yemaya is the one between the two of us who actually enjoys cooking and baking, she’s taken charge of baking us some Eccles cakes—a British pastry filled with spiced currant
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Seven
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬The harsh, sterile glow of the overhead lights bathes the operating room in an almost surreal brightness, casting sharp shadows on the masked faces surrounding the table. The steady beeping of the heart monitor fills the silence—calm, rhythmic, an ever-present reminder that life still clings beneath my scalpel.This moment, this weight of precision and control, is what I live for.I exhale slowly, steadying my grip. “Scalpel.”Dr. Harriet, standing to my right, responds instantly, placing it in my waiting palm. Her gloved fingers brush against mine, the touch lingering for half a second too long. A deliberate move? Maybe. But now isn’t the time for distractions.“Here,” she murmurs, her voice low, smooth, as if we aren’t elbows-deep in someone’s open abdomen.I ignore it. Focus is everything.The blade glides along the marked line, parting skin and muscle with practiced ease. The scent of antiseptic thickens as suction whirs, keeping the field clear. Beneath layers of tis
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Six
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚I wake up with a jolt, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. The room is dark, but the nightmare lingers, burning behind my eyes like an afterimage I can’t blink away. My chest tightens, my pulse hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, each beat a cruel echo of the fear still curling around my spine.I can still see them. Stella’s smug, knowing smile. Daniel’s cold, detached stare. The cruel laughter of those who reveled in my humiliation. Their voices slither through my mind, sharp as glass, slicing through the thin veil between past and present. It was just a dream. But it doesn’t feel like one.The air in my bedroom suddenly feels suffocating. I shove the damp sheets aside, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, my bare feet meeting the cold floor. Ground yourself. Breathe. I squeeze my eyes shut and press the heels of my hands against them, as if that alone could drive the memories away. But they refuse to fade, lurking like shadows just out of reach.How l
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Five
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚Alone in my office, I focus on the project I’m currently working on with Cameron’s company. The blueprints are spread out across my office desk, a meticulously arranged chaos of detailed sketches, notes, and material samples. The sheer scale of the design demands my full attention, every inch of available space covered in drafts and annotations.I run my fingers over the smooth edges of the jewel samples placed beside the building interior layout, mentally piecing together how each element will weave into the final aesthetic of the hotel’s interior. Not just for opulence—but for atmosphere, and for presence. The way the light would refract off the polished gemstones embedded in the marble-tiled floors, casting a subtle shimmer that whispers the luxury rather than screams it. The soft, understated accents on furniture that would add dimension without overwhelming. The deliberate placement of crystal in the chandeliers, catching and bending light to create a warm, inviting
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Four
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚Marcos’s intense gaze on my face persists as I mull over his question, debating on how much truth I really want to reveal. Finally, I tilt my head, meeting his stare head-on.“Alright, deny it then,” I say, my voice laced with a challenge. “Deny that it wasn’t just my appearance that caught your attention at first sight.”His lips curve up in a tiny smile, but his eyes remain unreadable. “Is that what you think?”“It's what you and I both know,” I counter, leaning back in my seat. “You said you value character over beauty, right? So then, you should be able to easily deny that your attraction to me didn't stem from my physical features.”Marcos studies me, fingers tapping idly against his glass. “Well, you came across as a direct and blunt woman,” he finally says. “You didn't just sit back and let things happen. And you didn’t give in easily.”I arch a brow. “So, what? You like a challenge then?”He exhales a quiet chuckle. “Partially. But it’s much more than that.” Then
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Three
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚The morning goes by quickly, and before I know it, it's time for my lunch break.Craving a much-needed breath of fresh air away from all the expectant stares and thinly-veiled bootlicking I have already started receiving from some of the employees amidst walking around the vast building as well as all the names and executive positions I'd have to remember, I decide to head somewhere a bit distant from GemsThorne. My personal driver drops me off at the restaurant my personal assistant, Winifred, had recommended earlier—Ristorante Celeste, a quiet, upscale Mediterranean restaurant nestled in the heart of corporate London. The restaurant exudes an effortless blend of elegance and warmth, with soft golden lighting, terracotta walls adorned with delicate mosaic patterns, and large arched windows that let in streams of natural light. The air carries the tantalizing aroma of olive oil, fresh herbs, and slow-simmered sauces, promising a dining experience that is both refined and
Aretha Hawthorne: The Rise Of The Phoenix Chapter Forty-Two
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚I really couldn't have wished for a longer weekend. Despite the whirlwind of drama and activities the past few days had been with Yemaya's visit, I would have given anything to prolong the weekend and to delay today from arriving just a bit longer. Because now, it's Monday morning, which is officially my first day at GemsThorne. My first day stepping into a world I never imagined I'd ever be a part of.And even though I'd spent the past couple of weeks preparing for my presentation and by extension, my induction as the CEO of GemsThorne following the success of our partnership deal with Lancaster Luxe, the anxiety continues to eat away at me while I can't help but fret over this day finally arriving. Nerves coil tightly in my stomach, a relentless storm of self-doubt swirling despite the many times I’ve chided myself for feeling this way even after all the encouragement from my family. I stand before the mirror, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my crisp white button-dow
