[MADDOX]“Now, even the newspapers know about it! When are you going to bring her to meet me?”It was the third time mom mentioned the article going viral in newspapers and other business magazines. A picture of me and a woman in a black dress. They took the picture at my uncle’s anniversary party and, of course, the girl in black was none other than Zara Fisher.Someone snapped it right before we got into the elevator.The good thing was that only Zara’s back was visible. The idea of people knowing about her made me apprehensive from the inside and made me sick as fuck.Not because I was embarrassed to have her by my side. But because I was not. If anything I felt like a fucking vagrant who won a lucky jackpot. The root of my concern was the undeniable truth that there were people who could see her as my vulnerability and try to cause her harm. I might not be sure about my feelings referring to her, but I definitely didn’t want her to be rolled up in the tangle of this wicked busines
[ZARA]“Is everything alright at work?” Mom asked as she made her way into the living room where I was sprawled in front of the TV, watching some reality show that I never ever heard of.After what happened at the anniversary party, the smartest thing I had was to religiously avoid Maddox Richmond and his so-called cousin, Armonica. Under no circumstances had I any intention of running into them. I hadn't even been to my apartment ever since, afraid that a certain cocky billionaire would show up unannounced like he always did.Maddox and I were so unlike and contradictory to each other. We had nothing in common. He ruined my life for crying out loud, but I was so fucked-up in my head that repeatedly I allowed him the concessions that he did not deserve in the first place.Most importantly, the one thing that I could never forgive him for was that he hurt my mom. I should be ashamed of myself for having literally any kind of relationship with him.I wanted nothing to do with that man an
[ZARA]“A customer is asking for you, Zara!” Nate, the head server at our restaurant, told me.“Why? What happened?” I asked, a bit surprised because even though customers could ask for the manager at any time, it was strange as I just came back after attending a table. Not even five minutes had passed.Anyway, it wasn’t like I had any say on the matter. If the customer was asking for me, it was better to leave right away. Make them wait for a second longer and they took it personally on their ego. It was an uphill climb from thereon. Nothing but free meals could satisfy them.I closed the register, the one that I came here to check and adjusted my blazer. “Let’s go then. Why make them wait?” I told him with a smile and he returned with a chuckle.I followed him to the table, expecting to address some rude men in business attires as if someone pissed in their coffees. But what I didn’t expect was to be greeted by three old ladies and a young boy. All of them looked fairly content. As
It was Louis. And she was back to fix me with her scrutinizing gaze.“I won’t say this again, young lady. Get back here and sit tight.”My legs acted before my brain completely processed the situation. My butt dropped back into the chair.Louis sat back and smiled. “That’s like a good girl.”Only a bone was left for her to wave at me to really make me feel like a dog.“Now,” she began, picking up the menu from the table and handing it to another woman sitting beside her. “While I have a one-to-one with this lovely young lady over here, why don’t you oldies order something to eat? Don’t want you grouchy later.”“I would take that as a personal attack, but I’m genuinely hungry,” the woman who sat to my right grumbled, yanking the menu out of Louis’ hand and calling for a server before she even picked her meals.While both the other women busied themselves with the menu and the server that arrived to take their orders, Louis placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to get my attention. “So,
[MADDOX]“It’s only a matter of a few days,” I said over the phone, rubbing my temples. “Once I’m sure he isn’t planning anything nefarious, you’ll be free to go. So, please, for the love of God, stop giving hard times to my men. I posted them outside of your house for your own safety and not for any sort of kick.”“It’s already been three days, Maddox,” she droned, sounding annoyed.“You don’t know him, Jade. He is a fucking psycho. Once he gets the hang of something, he doesn’t let go until he sucks the life out of it.”“I’ve read his file. I know about his…obsessions.”“Then you should know better than to take him for granted. He is a dangerous man, Jade, and if we want to destroy him in his own game, we need to think and act like him. Else, he’ll be always one step ahead of us and we’ll never be able to…”“…avenge Emily?”“Catch him...but yeah, that too.”“I trust you, Maddox. I hope you know that. But it still annoys me that I can’t get the hell out of this place. I’m so fucking b
[MADDOX]“Don’t forget to get her some flowers,” mom followed me, as I steered towards the door and turned my jacket to my left hand.“Gotcha, mom!” With another roll of my eyes, I walked down the porch and bossed for the car waiting outside.“Don’t just keep talking about yourself. Let her talk. Be a good listener.”Was she really coaching me on how to talk to people? Did she think I didn’t know that already?Feeling the phone vibrate in my pocket, I slipped it out and checked for the new messages that arrived. Mom kept droning about something in the background while I texted back some instructions to Margo so she could forward them to those Chinese clients.Abruptly, someone ripped the phone out of my hand.I frowned.“Mom!”“Did you even listen to a word I said?” she glowered, her face flushed with irritation. “This is the damn reason you’re not married yet, and no girl wants to go out with you. You’re so distracted all the time with this work that it never ends. How are you going t
After texting Josh the address of the venue of the date, I met Jade in the hotel room where she was staying.We ordered the food in the room and ate while talking about what our next plan of action should be. Now that our intentions of catching that man red-handed were exposed, we needed to alter our methods. Jade suggested it would be better if we quit going after him for a while.“Let him think we are out of his hair,” she said, wiping her mouth with the napkin. “He would be more cautious because of our interference now. So, there’s no point in going after him until he’s confident enough to get back into his game. We both know it wouldn’t take long. His obsession wouldn’t put him at ease for that long. He’ll snap sooner or later, and that’ll be the opportunity we would have to seize.”“Fair enough,” I gave her a nod. “But what if he went into hiding again? We still don’t know the people who are helping him.”“He won’t!” she said confidently. “He is a cocky bastard. If we actually ba
[MADDOX]The man choked and let out of strangled noise. “W-what…are…you…? Let me…let me go,” he picked at my grip, a pathetic attempt to release himself.He should have known better than to take my warning for granted. The fucker needed to pay for it now.“Leave him, you jerk!” a woman shrieked next to me, yanking at my hand and cussing me aloud.I snapped my head at her, warning her to stay out of this.She gasped, eyes fear-stricken as she gulped and grew pale as a ghost.It was only after I stared at the man’s face for a little longer; I realized he wasn’t Josh.I released my hold, and he fell to the floor with a heavy thud.Did I just…?The same woman came hurrying next to his side. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she cried, tears pouring down her face. She cradled the face of the man, blood flooding back to his pale skin. “Kyle, are you alright, baby? Are you hurt? Manager! Where’s the manager? We need a doctor here!”…lose control?I lurched backwards.They weren’t at the res