The boardroom was filled with murmurs from the board members, wondering what story she was making up.Alison knew it was a hard thing to believe, seeing that all the bottles were sealed, and so, how was it that it was poisoned?“Everyone, please,” she called out, trying to calm the atmosphere. “We need to focus. Some are safe, and some are not. This is not a mistake or a random incident, someone is trying to create an internal conflict."“Are you saying we are in danger, as well?” Mr. Caldwell asked in annoyance. “This is madness!”“Who would do such a thing?” Ms. Linda spat. “And why would they target us? This is about Mr. Rodrigo!”"Ms. Linda, you have been targeting the CEO for a while now. Do you know anything about this?" "What? How dare you accuse me?" "Pointing fingers will only make matters worse. We need to figure out who is behind this before we start turning on one another. This is exactly what they are aiming for.”Enough!” Travis’s voice came through, silencing the roo
As Alison stepped out of the boardroom, her mind was filled with thoughts of what had just happened in the boardroom.Poisoned waters?Who would have had the mind to do something as outrageous as that?As she thought hard about it, she walked past the cleaning area. Something in her told her to just check the environment, and as she did, she noticed something different.She walked past a few cleaners, who greeted her, but there was something off about some of them.Particularly, one of them, who had put on a nose mask.She bowed, averting her eyes away from Alison's gaze.She bent her head low and walked away. Alison turned her head to the back, observing her footsteps, and how she acted.Could the suspect be one of the cleaners? If so, then, who sent them?With a sudden urge to find the suspect, she took a left turn and entered the elevator, heading to the control room.As she got there, she met with the head of the department, who stopped her.She took out her ID card and waved it a
Just when everyone thought Alison would slap the lady, they heard her burst into laughter, causing everyone to be shocked and wearing confused expressions.Even the lady in front of her was surprised."Clara, if it's because you didn't get the snacks I shared, don't worry about it, okay? I will treat you someday," Alison said, making Clara more confused."Are you trying to buy me with treats? You already gave me one, so what are you saying?" Camille paused for a moment. Was she not the same person who had arrived last to get her snacks?Could it be another person? Camille became confused, but in order not to show her confusion to them, she shook her head and turned to the others."I'm glad you enjoyed your snacks. I guess it's time to work now. Have a nice day," she said, bidding them goodbye.They waved her goodbye, turning around to begin the day, as some took the mop sticks, while some picked up the buckets.Camille walked out of the hallway and entered the elevator. Her mind was
Alison returned home, after having a stressful day. Well, all her days in Rodrigo International were stressful, because the case she was handling was tasking.Even at that, she still had to attend to other minor issues in her brand.As she got home, she threw her bag on the couch and took her heels, falling on the bed with a loud sigh.There was just so much running in her mind and she tried to place them accurately. Well, she needed to do this. As she thought back to how far she had come, she vowed not to give up.This was not only for her, but for her son. She would do everything in her power to get back her son from the Francisco's family.He was not safe there and she would not be at peace knowing that her son was in the hands of that evil woman, Margaret.With a sigh, she got into the bathroom to have a quick bath before continuing the work.As the water poured down her skin, she felt relaxed. It was as if the water was washing away the tension in her mind.After what seemed to
After Alison rejected his offer to work for him, Bruno had been having difficulty navigating the project he was handling.Since it was something that had illegal dealings involved, he could not properly maneuver it, or else he would get caught.He could not afford to look like a loser in front of his mother or even Alison. He needed to make it work.As he sat behind the table, tapping his hand occasionally on the table, he looked at his lawyer, who had his head bent low."So, what are you saying now? That you cannot handle it...is that it?" He asked, gazing at him.The man, who seemed to be in his early forties, shivered and was unable to look at him in the face.“Mr. Francisco, I really think we should consider our options here,” the man said, swallowing hard.He was afraid. He could not deal with such an affair. He could feel Bruno's gaze on him, and it was like he was about to reap his skin off of him.Bruno leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He tried not t
Bruno knew his mother was upset, he had to do something to make her calm down.As he went out of his office, he reached out to his mother's office. He pushed it open, and bowed, walking towards her."Mother, how about we go out and eat? Let's focus more on the success of the project, because once I am able to get them to pull this through, then we are guaranteed about the success of the project."Margaret glanced at him, knowing fully when that he was only trying to calm her down."I'm busy, just get a drink from the wine cabinet," she said, waving her hand off.He chuckled, and walked to the cabinet, picking up a wine with less alcoholic percentage.He took the glasses and set them on the table, opening the lid of the bottle.Carefully, he poured the wine into the two glasses and then set it down."Cheers to a successful project," he said, raising his glass for a toast.His mother glanced at him for a couple of seconds, before raising her glass for a toast.The two glasses clicked, m
Margaret sat in the back of her black SUV, scrolling through her phone. She was engrossed in a series of photos from last year's women’s conference, and she wondered what she would wear for this year's women's conference.“Maybe a luxurious yellow dress,” she thought, mentally picturing how it would look on her and how everyone would praise her for her outfit.She glanced up and saw a black Roll-Royce, one car she admired but was only available in limited slots. Her heart skipped a beat, as she kept staring at it, her mind daydreaming out of reality.Suddenly, the car jolted forward, and Margaret was thrown back against the back seat. The driver cursed under his breath, as he turned to her.“Sorry, ma’am! Just a little bump!” he said, looking away immediately.“What do you mean a bump?” Margaret snapped, widening her eyes. “What did you hit?”As the driver reversed a bit, Margaret tilted her head to the side to see the side of the car she was admiring now dented. Even her car had a sc
It was finally the day for the employees' party. Alison had arranged everything perfectly well, so much that no one suspected anything.The employees were even happy seeing that the CEO decided to give them a break from work and allow them to relax.Alison stood at the entrance of the hall, her expression mixed with anxiety and anticipation. Everything seemed normal, and for some reason, she started to doubt herself, wondering if what she was doing was right or going to even work. Anyway, the party was just beginning. She just had to observe everyone around and not lose focus.Although she could not interrogate the employees, she had checked their resumes and there was just a particular person her instinct was gnawing at.Melissa.She was a junior staff in the production department.“Can I get you a drink, Ms. Harper?” Clara asked, interrupting her thoughts.Alison did not want to get distracted by anything or anyone. Her eyes were still fixed on the employees gathered together.She
The moment he sighted Alison walk out of the room looking like a ghost, better still, a frame of her former self, Travis' eyes widened in shock, so did his mouth. There was not any way he would have believe that his Alison would lose so much weight and life in just a matter of twenty one days. Her collar bones were glaring, deep enough to hold water in them. Her eyes were red, and so was her face… a testament to the tears she had to shed and the pain she'd gone through.Alison on the other hand, kept staring at him, although at first she didn't want to admit it, he was looking so haggard and unkept, his hair was messy and his moustache was starting to grow wild.Only twenty-one days apart did this to the couple, who would have thought so.Still standing apart, the couple kept staring at each other, with so many words running through their minds, yet no one was uttering any words.Who would?Travis who was articulating his thoughts and thinking of the perfect way to get Alison's for
After so much hesitation, Travis finally planted a soft knock, on the door of Megan's apartment.“Who is it? How can I help you?” He heard Megan's soft voice ring from inside, and moved back slightly.As sounds of footsteps approached and grew louder, so did Travis’ heartbeats. What if she sends him away rudely?Alison must have told her about everything that happened, so how was he going to face her now?“Who is it, yo …” Megan's voice stopped halfway as she sighted Travis standing by the door, looking pale.“Y..you're here,” she said, obviously shocked. “I never thought you'd stop by.”“I'm sorry, I swear, I'm really sorry.” He said and Megan folded her arms under her chest.“What do you want? Why are you here?” “Aunt Megan, please… I need your help, don't say no, I beg of you.” He pleaded. “A lot happened, and I really need to speak with Alison.”“Well… sorry to disappoint you, but Alison is not here.” Megan shrugged and turned to go in, but Travis held onto her hand, with guilt
Travis tried to trail Raquel, but she was nowhere to be found, apparently she had already gone too far.“Fuck!!” He groaned in annoyance, punching his steering and screaming his lungs out. “I've lost everything!”Before he could stop himself, tears began slipping down his eyes. He got to the side of the road and parked.“Why did I let it get to this point?” He asked himself, ruffling his hair in frustration and crying out. “Now she has gotten what she wanted and is nowhere to be found.”He tried to calm himself down but it just was not working out.‘why not just head home, hopefully you would meet her and explain everything.’ His subconscious mind suggested and Travis shook his head.“I fucked up already, what explanation is going to make sense to her?” He muttered, his eyes already red from crying and his fists bruised.Eventually, he decided to drive home, not knowing exactly what to expect, but hoping for the best nevertheless.The drive was rough, with Travis growing more emotiona
“What the hell is going on here?” Alison yelled in shock, and Raquel got off Travis thighs, deciding to play the victim.“Sweetheart, what is she still doing here? I thought you said you were no longer with her?” Raquel asked Travis, pointing at Alison and crying. “I should never have trusted you again in the first place.”“Alison, I swear I can explain.” Travis whispered getting off the couch and swiftly going over to hold Alison.“Don't touch me!” She snapped, slapping his hands off her. “I should have known that this is what you were up to when you suddenly woke up and created the idea that you were going to work from home.”“Cupcake, it's not what you think.” He said going on his knees. “I promise you, I was actually working from home.”“It can even be what I think, but what I saw Travis… this bitch was straddling you and you didn't even push her off, what is she even doing here? And what does she mean by you said we'd broken up?” Alison asked, feeling her feet grow cold then she
The notion that ‘time flies’ had never made more sense to Alison. Just like yesterday, she was fighting to get her son back, then she lost him, and now three months had passed already. She had finally embraced the fact that her Theo was gone and she was never going to see him again. Deep down, she was grateful to Travis, who had always been her knight in shining armor, walking her through every single stage of grief. She finally opened her heart to Karen, Megan and Carlos, letting them comfort her. Although Alison never believed the saying that ‘time heals’ she'd a testament to that. “You're awake?” Travis muttered with a small smile as Alison tried to sit upright. “How was your night?” “It was good, I mean… I slept well,” she replied and smiled back at him. Her gaze caught the time on her clock and she gasped. “It's 8am, already? I have to get to the office.” She said and swiftly got out of bed. “Wait, you're resuming, already? You sure you are ready?” Travis asked, with
“I can't keep watching her do that to herself.” Travis murmured, as he sipped from his drink at the bar. “It's been more than two weeks already, and she is still refusing to talk to or see anybody.”Oscar sighed and then patted Travis’s back softly. “You've got this boss. Although Miss Alison needs som time alone, you should be by her side, comfort her and and reassure her that you're always going to be by her side and she hasn't lost her only reason to live.”“I had no idea you were really good with advice.” Travis chuckled lightly, and took a sip of his drink. “She's extremely vulnerable at this moment, and I am too…it's difficult consoling her, when she keeps blaming herself for everything that has happened.”“The more reason you have to be there for her, help her get rid of the emotional trauma.” He said, his expression unreadable. “It's better that way, so she doesn't feel like she's alone.”“I'll try to do that, and I hope she'd finally agree to go out. I can't watch her in that
Tears, pains, guilt, regrets and sorrows suddenly redefined Alison. It has already been a week since Theo's death, but to her it was no more that yesterday.Words of encouragement came in through one ear and went out through the other, leaving her drowning in despair and a walking shadow of her former self.“Where did I go wrong?” She asked no one in particular, as she sat alone in the room Theo spent his last week in. “Why do forces seem to be standing against my happiness? One moment, I'm at the verge of achieving my dreams, and the next minute, it's like everything has been turned upside down.”Travis who had been watching her from the door which was slightly ajar, shook his head in pity.“For how long will you keep doing this to yourself?” He finally asked. Alison didn't flinch despite how sudden his voice came, neither did she react, she just remained motionless, holding tightly onto Theo's bloodstained clothes, as if they were going to disappear if she let them go.She had ins
After running over Theo, the person behind the wheels smirked triumphantly and drove off without bothering to wait.When he had gotten to a reasonable distance away from them, he pulled the mask over his face revealing Spider.“Too bad, the little boy had to pay for the sins of his parents.” He repeated Raquel's words from the last time and then dialed her number.She answered on the first ring.“Hey spider, what's good? Did you succeed?” She asked, panic obvious in her voice.“You don't trust me?” He asked proudly. “To think that they made things easier for me, I didn't have to trail or…”“You're saying the kid is dead already, right?” Raquel cut him off impatiently. “Not yet, but with the level of harm I caused, I doubt he will survive it.” He reported.“Are you already on your way back here?” Raquel asked, and he could hear a hint of disdain in her voice.“Why asking?” He asked back.“Don't come back to the Cartel yet. Those people are smart enough, they would have you trailed and
**ONE WEEK LATER**“Travis, do you think I am a bad mother?” Alison asked, one morning before breakfast. She was seated before her mirror, staring at her expression, while Travis sat on the bed behind her, working on his laptop.“Where is this coming from?” He asked, clearly shocked by her question. “This is not about Theo, is it?”“It's him, and I just can't help it.” She muttered, then a tear slid down her eyes. “He does not seem happy, I have tried my best.”“He will come around very soon, it's not so easy moving away, and then blending in with new people just immediately, try to understand him.” Travis explained, keeping his laptop aside.“It's been a whole week already, Travis! I spent years praying for the day when he would finally be by my side, and call me mom without interruption. I longed to hold him in my arms and play with him…” she chocked on her tears, swallowing the bile that rose to her throat. “And now that I finally got the chance to do so, he isn't even happy.”“Hav