DAYS LATER As Leila and Hayley made their way to the venue of the unveiling ceremony, they couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling within them."I can't believe this day is finally here." Hayley exclaimed, her voice filled with so much anticipation.Leila acknowledged her words with a small nod, a smile playing on her lips. "It's feels surreal, doesn't it? But we both have worked hard for this moment, so let's enjoy it to the fullest."Hayley grinned, her eyes filled with pride."You deserve all the success, Leila. You've dedicated your heart and soul for this, and it's finally paying off."Leila's cheeks flushed with warmth at Hayley's words. "Thank you, Hayley. I couldn't have done it without your support every step of the way."As they arrived at the Venue, Leila's heart swelled with Joy at the elegant setup she beheld.The room was filled with industry professionals, investors, and members of the press, all eagerly awaiting the unveiling of Leila's products.Taking
Vanessa stood beside a table in the hall, slowly sipping on her glass of wine. Staring up in front of her, she saw Riccardo approaching her.She rolled her eyes as she twirled the wine inside the glass. He was now standing beside her."Mr. Gonzalez, it seems that your foot doesn't know how to stay away from me?" She asked, glancing up at him."No." Riccardo replied."Why are you here?" She asked, sipping her wine."Have you thought about my proposal?" He asked, his eyes fully focused on her."My PA will send you a message regarding that. Be patient until then." She said, keeping her tone professional.Riccardo searched his pants pocket and brought out a small bottle of Leila's facial product."How did you get it? It's not open for sales yet." Vanessa asked, curiously."I got this from Lucas. Here, you can have it." Riccardo said, stretching it out towards Vanessa.She stared at him, her gaze scrutinizing."Is it Okay?" She asked, raising a brow."Yeah. The owner is aware." Riccardo sh
Leila's surprise grew as the lady stood up from the couch and proceeded to embrace Lucas. Leila's mind raced with different questions, each question adding to the growing sense of confusion swirling within her.When they finally disengaged from the hug, Leila's gaze locked with the lady's. Her eyes widened in surprise as she slowly recognized the lady. She was the generous customer who had purchased hundred products from her stall, back when she was still selling at the market. She remembered that she had mistaken her to be his girlfriend. She now wondered who the lady was to Lucas."I'm Camile." the lady introduced herself, her voice was particularly warm and friendly."I'm Leila." Leila replied, her tone tinged with a mixture of politeness and curiosity."Leila, this is my cousin." Lucas introduced, breaking the silence between them.Leila's breath caught in her throat as she began to fix the pieces of the puzzle. She recalled how she had argued with Hayley at the market, insisting
Monica's heart raced as she stared at the headline and picture that accompanied it, fear and disbelief swirling in her mind. She couldn't shake the image of Leila, the young lady who they had dismissed as inconsequential, staring back at her from the front page of the news. "How could this be?" she murmured to herself, the weight of her husband's ominous words echoing in her mind. She remembered him telling her that Leila had stumbled upon him making a call of their illicit dealings. And he had mentioned taking care of her.A shiver ran down her spine as she realized the gravity of the situation. "How is she still alive?" Monica wondered, her breath catching in her throat. Panic surged through her veins, urging her to take action."Drive faster." She instructed the driver, her voice trembling with urgency."Yes, Ma'am." The driver replied, his foot pressing down on the accelerator. The car surged forward.Minutes felt like hours as they drove towards their mansion, Monica's mind was
Leila's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as she processed the recorded conversation, the voices felt familiar, and she didn't need a soothsayer to tell her who they were. It was obvious that the CEO of the ROYALS and his wife were responsible for all of her misfortunes. She turned to face Lucas."How did you get it?" She asked, her brows raised slightly, her voice was laced with curiosity and surprise.Lucas flashed her a knowing smile, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "I have my ways." He replied with a shrug, his voice tinged with satisfaction.Leila couldn't help but marvel at Lucas's resourcefulness."I figured out that you should have solid evidence before fully venturing into your revenge plan." He added, a sense of determination laced in his words."Yes." Leila nodded in agreement."That's nice of you. Thank you." She muttered, her gratitude evident as she stared at him.Lucas nodded his head slightly, his gaze softening with understanding."When was the conversation re
VANESSA'S APARTMENTVanessa gave one last glance at her kids and Emily who were seated at the Living room, watching some kids show.She smiled warmly. They seemed to be getting along with Emily very well.Walking out of the door, Vanessa shut the door behind her. She met Lily at the garage waiting for her."Good Morning, Ms Rodriguez." Lily greeted."It's weekend, Lily." Vanessa corrected politely."Good Morning, Vanessa. How was your night?" Lily asked, a small smile plastered across her lips."It was great and yours?" Vanessa asked."Fine."Glancing around, Vanessa asked. "Where is Diego?" She asked."He'll be here in a minute. What car would you love to use today?" Lily asked.Vanessa thought for a while. "I'll use the Bentley." She replied."Let me drive today." Lily requested."Why? Diego can drive for us." Vanessa said, her brows slightly raised."Well, it's been a long time I drove around." Lily shrugged."Okay. Sure." Vanessa agreed."Great." Lily whispered, clasping her hands
Vanessa opened her purse and took out a paper towel and handed it over to Lily to wipe her face.Meanwhile, Davis stood up from his chair and took his leave. He was glad that this was a VIP section. If not, he would have been extremely embarrassed when he finds other customers staring at him.He gave Lily and Vanessa one last hard glance before leaving fully."Are you Okay?" Vanessa asked."Yes. I am." Lily responded.Vanessa's eyes moved downward to her shirt, it was already stained."Your clothe is stained. Go see if you can wash it off at the restroom." Vanessa suggested."Okay." Lily replied, making her way out of the VIP room."I'll wait for you outside." Vanessa added behind her.Vanessa went ahead to pay for the wine and everything. She stood outside waiting for Lily, Few minutes later, she came out and they both settled down inside the car and Diego drove out of the Restaurants parking Lot."Seems like you succeeded in removing the stain." Vanessa said."Yes." Lily nodded."Th
Leila walked into the house and met Camille seated in the living room, watching a show on the television."Hey. You're back already?" Camille asked, tearing her gaze away from the Television, to look at Leila."Yes, I am," Leila replied with a smile as she made her way towards her room, climbing the staircase."Are you free? Let's go shopping!" Camille's voice echoed from downstairs."Give me some minutes," Leila called back.Entering her room, Leila went ahead to freshen up, before dressing up in a blue dress."Should I call Riccardo?" she pondered silently."No, he's busy," she decided, pushing aside the urge to reach out to him. She didn't want to disturb him during his work hours.Heading back downstairs, Leila found Camille waiting for her, dressed in a stunning white gown with a black handbag dangling from her arm and six-inch heels adding to her elegance."You're ready?" Leila asked, impressed by Camille's impeccable sense of style."Yes, I am," Camille replied with a smile."A
FEW MINUTES LATERVanessa grabbed her bag and cast one last glance at Riccardo. His face was unreadable, his dark eyes steady as he stood by the doorway."I'm leaving," she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder."I’ll come back to pick Emily later," she added firmly."Sure," Riccardo replied, his voice calm and steady. "Stay safe."Vanessa gave a small nod, muttered, “I will,” and headed out the door.Outside, the cool evening air greeted her. Diego stood near the car, his posture straight as ever. The moment he saw her, he moved quickly to open the car door."Thank you," she said, stepping inside. The faint scent of leather filled the air as she settled into her seat.Diego climbed into the driver’s seat and glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Where’s Emily?" he asked."She’s staying at Riccardo’s for now. I’ll pick her up later," Vanessa replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked out the window.Diego nodded silently. After a moment, he asked, “Where to?”
Vanessa pushed open the door to the guest room. The bright overhead bulb illuminated the space, making the white walls appear even more pristine. She expected to see Emily fast asleep, curled up under the neatly folded comforter. Instead, Emily sat cross-legged on the bed, her phone in her hands, scrolling leisurely.Vanessa paused in the doorway, tilting her head. “Why did you say you needed a nap if you’re not even sleeping?”Emily looked up, a playful smile on her lips. “I realized you both needed to talk. So, I gave you privacy.”Vanessa blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of her response. She stepped further into the room, closing the door gently behind her. “Wow,” she said after a moment. “That’s... unexpected.”Emily shrugged, setting her phone aside. “It wasn’t a big deal. You both looked like you had things to say.”Vanessa sat down at the edge of the bed, her movements slow as she processed Emily’s words. “Well, thank you. That was thoughtful of you.”“No problem.” Emily’s
Vanessa glanced around the house as Riccardo led Emily toward the living room. She had only been here once before, and that was under far different circumstances, desperate and frantic, begging him to help find her missing kids and Emily. The house still felt foreign, despite its warm lighting and elegant decor. The scent of polished wood and faint cologne lingered in the air, a reminder of Riccardo’s presence everywhere.She followed them into the spacious living room. The walls were lined with tall bookshelves, the shelves neatly filled, and a large painting hung above the stone fireplace. Vanessa took a hesitant seat on the soft gray couch, her posture stiff. Emily, on the other hand, settled in comfortably, running her fingers over the plush throw pillows.“Ms. Rodriguez, this house is so beautiful,” Emily said, turning her head to glance at Vanessa with wide, admiring eyes.“Yes, it is,” Vanessa replied simply, her gaze briefly flickering to Riccardo, who was pouring tea from a s
Two hours later, Vanessa leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she glanced at the time on her laptop screen. It had been a long day, and the weight of it was beginning to settle in. She was just about to shut her laptop when a soft knock came at her door."Ms. Rodriguez, are you done for today?" Emily’s voice came through as she peeked in.Vanessa glanced up with a small smile. "Yes, dear. I’m just about to wrap up."Before she could finish, the door opened wider, and Lily walked in with Emily now standing beside her, both carrying the faint energy of people eager to leave for the day. Vanessa clicked her laptop shut and rose from her swivel chair, picking up her jacket from the back of it. She took a moment to stretch, rolling her shoulders as she approached them.But as she moved, her mind drifted back to Riccardo. She’d been curt with him earlier, perhaps too curt. A twinge of guilt poked at her chest.Was I too harsh? she wondered. He had helped her find her children, a
The restaurant buzzed with quiet conversation, and the ambient lighting made everything feel intimate yet professional. Vanessa stepped inside, her tailored navy-blue dress exuding confidence. Her sharp heels clicked against the polished floor as a hostess guided her to the reserved table.Mr. Kenwood stood when she approached, offering a polite smile. “Ms. Rodriguez, always a pleasure.”Vanessa extended her hand. “Mr. Kenwood, thank you for meeting me.”He gestured to her chair, and she sat gracefully. A waiter appeared, pouring wine into their glasses and presenting the menus.“You’ve been keeping quite busy, I hear,” Kenwood said, sitting across from her.Vanessa nodded, her fingers resting lightly on the menu. “That’s one way to put it. Expansion doesn’t happen without a bit of chaos.”“Chaos is an understatement in your case.” He chuckled. “I’ve seen your numbers. Impressive growth, but it comes with risks, doesn’t it?”Vanessa met his gaze, her tone steady. “It does. But calcula
Diego brought the car to a gentle stop in front of the company building. Vanessa stepped out gracefully, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. Lily followed closely behind, carrying a tablet and a folder, while Emily trailed them with an eager smile. Diego nodded and drove off to park the car in the designated lot.The glass facade of the building gleamed under the morning sunlight, and Emily tilted her head up to admire it.“This place is stunning,” Emily said quietly, taking in the sleek design and bustling energy of the entrance. It was her third visit here, but she still felt a sense of awe.Vanessa smiled at her enthusiasm. “Ready to get to work?” she asked as they walked through the rotating glass doors.Inside, the lobby buzzed with activity. Employees moved with purpose, their voices mingling with the faint hum of computers and phones.Vanessa glanced at Lily as they headed for the elevator. “Lily, what’s my schedule for today?”Before Lily could respond, Emily piped
Vanessa woke to the warm rays of sunlight streaming across her bed. She blinked a few times, her vision clearing as the golden light bathed the room in a soft glow. Stretching her arms over her head, she let out a long sigh and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.Padding across the cool wooden floor, she made her way to the large window. She pulled the curtains open fully, letting the sunlight flood in. The view of the busy city stretched out below, alive with the early morning hum of cars and distant chatter. Vanessa stood for a moment, taking it in, before turning toward the bathroom to start her day.The scent of lavender soap filled the air as she finished her shower. She wrapped herself in a soft towel and stepped out, her skin still damp and cool from the water. Dressing in comfortable jeans and a light sweater, she tied her hair into a loose bun before heading to the kitchen.The kitchen smelled faintly of coffee from the day before, and Vanessa immediately set to work. Th
Vanessa adjusted her coat as she walked out of the hotel room. Emily followed closely, her steps quick to match Vanessa's pace, while Lily and Diego trailed behind. The morning air was crisp, and the sound of their shoes echoed in the quiet hallway.Emily had been staying with them ever since her school closed for the year. Her parents were constantly traveling, leaving her alone in their large house. So, when Vanessa suggested Emily come along to her company, she jumped at the chance.Outside, Diego opened the door to a sleek black van parked in front of the hotel. Vanessa helped Emily climb in before settling into her seat. Lily slid in beside her, while Diego took the driver’s seat. The van purred to life as Diego drove out of the parking lot, blending into the light traffic of the morning.Emily turned to Vanessa, her voice hesitant. “Ms. Rodriguez, are you sure this is a good idea?”Vanessa glanced at her and smiled softly. “Trust me, it won’t be bad at all,” she said reassuringl
Vanessa pushed her chair back slightly and turned to her kids. “Emma, Ethan, how’s the food?”Ethan, with his mouth full of bread, gave her a thumbs up, while Emma nodded enthusiastically. “Grandma’s food is the best!” she declared, grinning at their grandmother, who beamed with pride.Vanessa chuckled softly, shaking her head. The warmth in the room was almost enough to make her forget her troubles. Almost.Her mother sat down, smoothing her apron as she did. “Vanessa, are you staying long this time?”Vanessa hesitated, her fork hovering over her plate. “No. I have a lot things to take care of." She replied with a small sigh.Her mother studied her for a moment, her sharp eyes catching the tension in her daughter’s posture. “If there’s anything you need to talk about, you know I’m here,” she said gently.Vanessa forced a smile, nodding. “I know, Mom Thank you for being here."Ethan piped up, breaking the somber moment. “Can we go to the beach tomorrow, Mommy? Please?”Vanessa ruffled