"You just have to be very careful," Riccardo said, firmly."What are the possible scenarios for this situation?" Vanessa asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and unease.Riccardo paused for a moment before answering. "The person might be someone who works here in your company, or the real culprit could have left it here just to confuse you."Vanessa raised an eyebrow, thinking over his words. "Which do you think I should go with?""I can’t say for sure," Riccardo admitted, his voice softening. "But you should definitely be careful about who you trust and who you’re spending time with."Vanessa smirked, unable to resist teasing him. "So, are you saying I should be careful of you?"Riccardo let out a small sigh, his eyes momentarily dropping to the floor. "Why does everything negative have to lead back to me?""Is it supposed to come to me?" Vanessa shot back quickly, her tone sharp.Riccardo pressed his lips together, clearly holding back whatever he really wanted to say. "Look
Vanessa finally approached him just as Riccardo pushed himself off his car, his eyes catching hers. “You’re here,” Riccardo said, nodding as he saw her standing next to him. “Yes. Let’s go.” Vanessa replied, moving towards the car door without looking at him. But Riccardo moved faster, stepping ahead to open the door for her. Vanessa glanced at him for a moment but didn’t say anything as she got inside. He quietly shut the door behind her and hurried around to his side. Once he got in, Riccardo started the car, the engine humming to life. He smoothly pulled onto the road, his focus on driving. “Where are we going exactly?” Vanessa asked after a few minutes of silence, her gaze fixed ahead. “We’re heading to your company,” Riccardo replied, his tone steady as his hands gripped the wheel. Vanessa turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. “My company? Why there?” “That’s where the signal came from,” Riccardo explained, his eyes still on the road as he navigated through the quiet str
Vanessa’s footsteps echoed softly as she hurried back toward the car, her mind racing with questions. She hoped Riccardo had caught the unknown person, but the growing silence around her made her uneasy. As she reached the car, her breath caught in her throat, Riccardo was still nowhere to be seen.Leaning against the car, she glanced around, trying to spot any movement in the shadows. The street was quiet, too quiet. The weight of the night pressed down on her, making her feel exposed. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, thinking of calling Riccardo, but before she could, a noise from the alley caught her attention. It was faint, like the shuffle of feet.Her heart raced. Was it Riccardo? Or was it the unknown suspect in black?Swallowing her nerves, Vanessa slowly moved toward the alley. As she approached the entrance, she saw two figures standing in the shadows, too far to make out clearly. Her heart skipped, one of them had to be Riccardo.But something felt off as
"I'll drive you home," Riccardo said, his voice calm, breaking the silence. Vanessa glanced at him for a second before nodding. "Okay," she answered quietly, her mind wandering. She stared out the window, watching the lights of the city blur by, her thoughts far away. Riccardo stayed focused on the road, his hands resting on the wheel. The silence between them grew, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He didn’t try to make her talk, knowing she needed the quiet. The soft sound of the car’s engine filled the space as they drove through the night. "Thank you for today." Vanessa said, her gratitude evident. Riccardo stared at her, a hint of surprise dancing in his eyes. He then let out a small smile. "It's not a problem." "Oh." Vanessa muttered, tearing her gaze away from him. The rest of the ride to her house was a quite one and in less than thirty minutes they arrived. Riccardo was fast as lightening to step down and open the car door for her. As she walked toward her gate, sh
NEXT MORNING: VANESSA'S APARTMENTAs usual, Vanessa got ready for work after making sure her kids had gone to school with Emily and a bodyguard. Since Lily slept over, they only had to wait for Diego who was already in the Garage waiting for them."Let's go, Lily." Vanessa said as soon as she stepped into the living room.Lily was dressed in a black skirt and blazer."Okay." She picked up her bag where she often kept her tablet.Together, they both walked out of the living room. Outside, they settled down inside the black Bentley that Diego had already driven out."Good morning, Ms Rodriguez." Diego greeted, glancing at Vanessa from the rear view mirror as he navigated the car out of the drive way."Morning, Diego." Vanessa replied, her eyes fixated on her phone."The hacker I was trying to contact for you is currently not in the country." He informed.Both Diego and Lily looked at Vanessa, trying to gauge her reaction.Vanessa's head snapped up from her phone."Oh, someone helped me
"Diego, do you really think he came back for revenge?" Vanessa asked, a hint of fear in her words."Honestly, I don't know. But, he's the only suspect in my mind." Diego muttered."This just means that we have to be careful." Vanessa whispered to herself.Lily walked out of Damien's office. "Ms. Rodriguez, the cleaners are almost done.""Alright, let's head back." Vanessa said, handing back the files to Diego."So, what was Diego able to get?" Lily asked Vanessa as they made their way back to her office."It's not her, she's currently not in the country." Vanessa informed."Then, who does Diego think it is?" Lily asked slowly.Vanessa steps faltered as she turned to face Lily."Alexander Grey." She whispered."OMG. That creep, how did we forget about him?" Lily asked."I don't know, Lily.""Don't worry, Ms. Rodriguez. Let's get to work, we'll talk about this later." Lily muttered, trying to reassure her."Alright." Vanessa replied, picking up her pace.When she reached the front of he
"The interview is tomorrow. Are you ready for it Leila?" Hayley asked as the two friends walked out of the Company and towards their waiting Car.It had been a long day at work and it was finally time to head home. "As ready as I'll ever be." Leila replied, a small smile dancing across her lips."Good evening, Sir." She greeted the driver as he opened the door for her."Evening Ma'am." The driver replied with a small bow.The two friends settled inside. "This interview will be a great opportunity for your business." Hayley matter-of-factly."Yes, I know. I'll do my very best. I have you by my side." Leila smiled, holding her hands in hers."Alright, let's stop by a Restaurant to grab dinner." Hayley suggested."Sure." Leila agreed readily.Hayley had been staying with Leila ever since Lucas went on his business trip, it's been a week already.They always call each other most of the time, but Leila still misses him and couldn't wait for him to be back."Ms. Rodriguez has finalized the
Vanessa quickly picked up her Jacket that was lying crumpled on the bed and wrapped it around her body. She glanced at her daughter Emily and she still had that innocent look on her face, not understanding anything that was going on.She frowned deeply at her before taking her tablet from her, Riccardo was still on the phone."Good evening." He greeted politely, adjusting his phone in his hands."Evening, you wanted to speak with me?" Vanessa asked, shifting from one foot to another."Yes, How are you doing?" He asked, his face not giving anything away."I'm great." Vanessa replied, grateful that he wasn't saying anything about her earlier outfit, she'd have been more embrassed than she already was.Did he actually see what she wore? She asked herself inwardly. Or was she just thinking to much about it? His face didn't give anything away. So, Vanessa pushed the thoughts aside."I want to ask for your permission. Can I take Ethan and Emma to an amusement park during the weekend?" He as
A NEW CHAPTER Three years later. Ethan and Emma were running around, playing tag with Riccardo, who pretended to struggle to keep up with their speed.“Daddy, you’re too slow!” Emma giggled, darting away as Riccardo reached out to catch her.“Oh, I’ll get you!” Riccardo teased, his playful growl making both kids squeal with delight.Vanessa leaned against the doorframe, cradling her six-month old daughter in her arms. The baby cooed softly, her tiny hands grasping at the edge of Vanessa’s blouse.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Sofia?” Vanessa whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s soft hair.The past three years had been a journey of hope, love, and healing. Vanessa’s diagnosis had been a heavy weight, but with Riccardo’s unwavering support, they’d found the best doctors and treatments. Through hard work and a little luck, her. condition had stabilized.“Mommy, come play!” Ethan called, his dark curls bouncing as he ran toward her.Vanessa smiled, walking over with Sofia in
TWO DAYS LATER Vanessa’s heels echoed on the marble floor of her office as she paced back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear. Her movements were sharp, her mind racing. For weeks, she had been gathering evidence against Alexander Grey.He had done too much harm, kidnapping Ethan and Emma, orchestrating the failed attempt on her life, and lurking in the shadows, ready to strike again. But she wouldn’t let him win.Her phone call ended with a click, and she stared out of the large window overlooking the city. The evidence was solid. It wasn’t just a small victory, it was the beginning of the end for Alexander Grey. She took a deep breath, her hands clenching at her sides.“Ms. Rodriguez?” Diego’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He stepped into the office.She turned to him, her voice calm but firm. “It’s time, Diego. I’ve sent everything to the authorities. The files, the recordings, everything. We’re moving forward.”Diego nodded, his respect for Vanessa clear in his eyes. “They’
ONE MONTH LATERThe sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light through the windows of Vanessa’s office. She sat at her desk, focused on reviewing a stack of reports. The past month had been hectic. Riccardo had recovered, Lucas had been relentless in tightening security, and life was slowly falling back into its usual rhythm. But today felt... different.Vanessa glanced at the calendar on her desk. It was her birthday, but she had no plans to celebrate. Birthdays had never been a big deal for her, especially not now when there was so much work to do. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she reached for her pen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, expecting Lily or Diego with an update.The door opened, and Emily poked her head in. “Ms. Rodriguez, sorry to bother you, but can I steal you for a moment? There’s a small problem with Ethan and Emma.”Vanessa frowned, setting her pen down. “What’s wrong? When did they get back?"
The warm sunlight streamed into Juliet’s room, touching her skin and making her stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking at the brightness filling the space. For a moment, she stayed still, letting the peace of the morning calm her. Then it hit her, like a storm rolling in.She remembered.Her heart began to race as memories came rushing back. She could hear her stepmother’s cold voice, the cruel words that had shattered her world. Juliet had overheard her stepmother plotting to kill her, all for her father’s money and property. The betrayal still burned deep in her chest.Her breathing quickened as more came back to her. The fear. The panic. She could see herself running, her steps fast and desperate as she tried to escape. She had been so scared that she hadn’t noticed the car. She remembered the blinding headlights, the screech of the tires, and the sharp pain when she hit the ground.And then... Romeo.He had been the one to save her. She saw his face in her mind, calm and stro
The quiet hum of the machines filled the room as Vanessa sat by Riccardo’s side, her fingers gently brushing against his cool hand. Each second felt like an eternity as she waited for Lucas. The sound of hurried footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Vanessa glanced up just as the door opened, and Lucas stepped in. His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on Riccardo. His face, usually composed, twisted with worry and anger.“Vanessa,” Lucas said, his voice low but steady. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, his gaze fixed on Riccardo. “How bad is it?”Vanessa stood, smoothing her hands down her blazer as if it would steady her nerves. “The doctor said he’s stable,” she began, her voice quiet but firm. “The bullet missed his vital organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He hasn’t woken up yet.”Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. He pulled a chair beside Riccardo’s bed, his hands curling into fists on his lap as he stared at his unconsci
Vanessa paced outside the operating room, her heels clicking softly against the sterile tile floor. She kept her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of her blazer like it was the only thing keeping her together. Lily and Emily sat on the nearby bench, their faces pale and somber. Diego stood close by as he watched the hall for any sign of the doctor."I can’t believe this is happening," Vanessa muttered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion. She stopped pacing and turned toward the small group. "He took a bullet meant for me.""Ms. Rodriguez," Lily said gently, her voice trembling. "It’s not your fault."Vanessa shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "How can it not be? If he hadn’t been there..." Her voice broke, and she quickly looked away, blinking back tears.Emily, sitting with her hands folded tightly in her lap, glanced up. "He’ll pull through," she said, though her voice lacked confidence. "He’s strong, isn’t he?"Vanessa n
The faint sound of the ambulance’s siren echoed in the distance, fading as it disappeared around the corner. Vanessa’s heart raced, a knot forming in her stomach as she turned sharply to face Diego. Her voice came out in a breathless whisper, a mixture of fear and urgency."What hospital is the ambulance heading to?"Diego hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he quickly checked his phone. The seconds stretched painfully. He didn’t need to ask why. Vanessa’s face was pale, her eyes wide with worry, and she was already halfway to her car."The nearest hospital," Diego finally replied, his voice calm but urgent. "Saint Anthony’s.""Let’s follow them." Vanessa’s voice was steady, though the tightness in her chest made her words feel like they were being dragged from her.Before Diego could protest, she was already inside her car, the engine roaring to life as she slammed the door shut. The sleek black vehicle peeled out of the parking lot, its tires screeching against
The workday finally came to a close, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft orange glow over the city. Vanessa stood in her office, the final task of the day weighing on her mind. Emily and Lily had just walked into the room, the slight shuffle of their shoes breaking the silence.Vanessa smiled as she looked at Emily. "Emily, dear. You did well today."Emily blinked in surprise, a soft smile crossing her face. "Really? Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez. I’m happy to help with whatever I can."Vanessa’s eyes softened. "I appreciate it, truly."Lily cleared her throat, her expression eager. "Are you ready? Let’s go."Vanessa nodded, the last-minute decision still fresh in her mind. "We won’t be using the same car today," she said, her voice firm but calm.Lily raised an eyebrow, and Emily’s face faltered for just a moment, but they both said nothing."I’ve already told Diego. He’s brought another car for me," Vanessa added.As they made their way to the parking lot, the evening air wra
Vanessa paced her office, the tension in her chest growing heavier with every second. She couldn’t let this drag on. The mole had to be identified before the end of the day. Picking up her phone, she called Damien.“Vanessa,” Damien’s voice was brisk.“Get to my office now,” she said without preamble. “We have a serious problem.” She added.“I’ll be there in two minutes,” he replied and hung up immediately.Few minutes later,“What’s going on?” Damien asked, shutting the door behind him. “We have a mole,” Vanessa said bluntly. “Someone leaked the designs for our new product to Grey Enterprises. They launched it ahead of us this morning.”Damien’s jaw tightened. “Do we have any leads?”“Not yet,” Vanessa admitted. “But we don’t have time to play detective. I want this person caught before the day ends.”Damien nodded. “Alright. Let’s start with the basics."He pulled out his laptop and placed it on Vanessa’s desk. “We’ll need to narrow it down. Vanessa, do you know exactly which files