Leah's POV I quickly wash up and dry my hair. I have no idea what to wear or if I even have a proper outfit but I know I have to make a statement today as vice CEO. Am nervous but am determined to make Xavier proud and most importantly I know how much winning this war depends on him. If you're always ready, you're one step ahead. Besides, this might even help me clear my father's name and find his killers. It's a great opportunity I can't afford to let it pass me by. I settle for a black pencil skirt that goes slightly below my knees holding my curves in place. I pick a peach smart shirt and a very thin gold watch to go with it. I don't wear too much makeup, just a little with my hair tied in a neat bun. Satisfied with how I look, I smile and walk to Xavier's room. With a slight knock on his door, I don't even wait for him to answer. I peep through the door and smile."Can I come in?" This is so awkward, just yesterday it was something else and now we are what?Business partners?
Xavier's POV I did the unthinkable. Everyone is in shock. As I stand there as if it's a normal thing to do. I ask Alexa to assemble everyone and she has to look at me before proceeding because the instruction is foreign to her or I have grown an extra head."Yes sir." she hesitates. She must be thinking it's a trick to fire her or something.But I won't repeat myself.A few seconds later everyone stands and nervously wonders why they have been asked to gather. The last time this happened, it wasn't good news that they received and so I understand the tension so I don't even waste time beating about the bush. "Good morning everyone," I begin.Silence."As you all know, I got married a few months ago, but my wife has never set foot in public because we have been preparing her. She is now the new Vice CEO and I want to let everyone know that her word is my word so please make her feel welcome. Let us all work together and make this company greater than it already is. That will be all th
Chapter twenty-seven Leah's POV The office is beautiful, it has a huge table placed slightly near the huge glass window which shows most parts of the city. Such a beautiful view. There is a big beautiful black couch slightly in the center with a cute white carpet. In the corner to my left is a shelf and I am guessing I should keep my documents there. "Wow." I smile. "Mr kings made sure everything was perfect and in order in such a short period. You two really must be in love." She teases.I wish. "Right." is all I can manage to say as I walk to the couch slowly touching it, feeling its texture, and sitting on it so I can feel for myself if at all it is comfortable. "So, spill the gossip. What should I keep in mind?" "Should I ?""Of course, you're now officially my eyes and ears. So tell me." I smile. "Well, there is the biggest enemy you need to keep in check; Dante." she begins and I nod to edge her on to proceed. "He doesn't like you for a simple reason. His daughter was su
Leah's POV The next morning I feel much better than the day before. I wake up and the first thing I do is take a quick shower. I didn't see Xavier at home yesterday but I bury the thought and I move with only a towel wrapped around me. I already feel bored but then I remember that I carried a workload yesterday, to pass the time I resolve to go through the documents and scrutinize them. I plan on thoroughly reading through them to see what has been going on and to my surprise, all the documents have been cleaned. They match so perfectly is not possible. Calculated risks.Calculated loses.It's like they knew what they would be asked before the question was asked and I immediately understood that this was a load of bullshit. So I call my security team. "Hello.""Good morning Ma'am, how can I help you?""Can you get me all the records for phone calls over the past ten years and also security footage if it is available.""From the last ten years?""Exactly.""Noted Ma'am, I will forw
Xavier's POV I don't know how I found myself in the club but I somehow got here. I take a seat in my usual VIP spot and instruct the bouncers not to let anyone in. I feel so betrayed and hurt. These are the two feelings that I had never expected to feel About Kendra and just the thought of it being true is what wrecks me to pieces. I am a strong man, I never let anyone break through my walls because I always felt like I was betraying her Sacrifice so I vowed to love only her even in death. Even the times when I felt like I was enjoying Leah's company, I had to draw back and become my old self because I believed she was sad whenever that happened. My men told me she was sent on a mission and the people she works for had something to do with my father's death. The news is too much for me to handle, so I take five more shots before I walk out and head home.The drive is very slow. Santino has not said a word and I am glad he understands that I want to be alone. When we reach my mansio
Leah's POV The next morning, I wake up very early and prepare some breakfast for Xavier. After last night, I don't want the maid to do it and I am very sure that due to the heavy drinking, he will feel very sick and hungry. I quickly put together some toast and strong coffee on a tray and walk to his room. Expecting to find him still asleep, I am shocked to find he has even showered and is wearing some casual shorts and a plain T-shirt making the simplest outfit look extremely hot. "I can see that since we have seen each other naked there is no need to knock ey?" I instantly regret just walking in. "I uhm….didn't want to disturb you. So I wanted to just enter and leave the coffee on the table. I am sorry." Why is he smiling? "I am just kidding, my little vixen. Come sit with me." Huh? After the confession from last time, I had no idea how he would behave but smiling and telling me to sit next to him is a stretch and it feels too good to be true. I am not complaining, I just
Xavier's POV I feel a sense of pride in the way Leah handled herself when those bitches disrespected her. I was going to do something about it but I am glad she took over and stood up for herself. Makes me feel confident about the position I gave her because it will require one who can stand their ground. We walk to the next shop, and I gesture for her to take a seat in the VIP section as I settle the arrangements. I turn to check on her hoping she likes it better here only to find her face pale from fear. Before I can reach her, a random woman approaches her."Are you okay?" she asks. Because clearly, she looks like she will pass out at any moment. "Xavier." She calls my name almost like a desperate prayer and I reach her immediately. Holding her shoulders so I can check her face, I turn her to face me."Leah, are you okay? You look pale.""We are being followed. Please take me home." is all she says as she grabs my arm. Holding it tightly like her life depends on it.Does it?I
Leah's POVGiving me a whole year wouldn’t be enough to explain how the past months have been. As I lie on the bed in Xavier’s arms, I cannot believe this is happening. During our wedding vows, he made it very clear this marriage was only on paper. Though there is nothing to prove yet, I feel he has warmed up to me a little and that is enough for me. The past few days have been too good to be true and my heart is drowning in fear that everything might fall apart.I get up to take a shower before he wakes up. As the hot water falls on me, It feels so good. Staying here for a bit wouldn’t be such a bad idea but then again we have work to do.Oh Shit.“Xavier, are we going back home?” I ask with my head slightly peeping through the half-opened sliding door.“What do you mean?” He asks lazily as he rolls on the bed, certainly not interested in waking up.“What is there to mean about going home?”“Leah please, it's too early. We will go home later after work.’’‘’What am I going to wear? I
Leah's POV Xavier's body lies crumpled on the ground, an agonizing table of pain and sacrifice. My mind is a whirlwind of shock, grief, and disbelief. The room feels distant as if I'm viewing this heart-wrenching scene through a fog of numbness. The air is thick with the acrid scent of gunpowder, a reminder of the violence that has unfolded before me. But amidst the chaos, a new voice rises—a voice that trembles with a pain that mirrors my own. Sandra's cries cut through the suffocating silence, her anguished sobs a haunting symphony of regret and despair. "No! No, I didn't want this! Xavier, I didn't want to kill you!" Sandra's voice is a broken wail, each word carrying the weight of a thousand shattered dreams. She falls to her knees beside Xavier's still form, her hands hovering over his body as if unable to touch him, to bridge the chasm between them. Her cries are a collision of emotions, a torrent of love and torment that fill the room. She speaks of a love that has festered
Leah's POV Am extremely exhausted and everything seems to be working against me. I haven't eaten for two days and being pregnant doesn't make it any easier. Somehow it feels like my brain is playing games with me but it seems this is reality. Confusion mingles with my fear as I try to make sense of her cryptic words. "Xavier? What does he have to do with any of this?" Sandra's eyes gleam with a mixture of pain and resentment as if she's revisiting a memory that still haunts her. "You have him now, don't you? The man who shattered my world." My heart skips a beat, pieces of a puzzle falling into place. "Wait, you and Xavier…?" Sandra's laughter is a bitter echo in the dimly lit room, devoid of any real mirth. "We used to be close, good friends. But one night, in the midst of drunken haze, he… he took my virginity. I thought it meant something, that maybe there was something more between us." My eyes widen, disbelief mingling with sympathy for the woman before me. The revelation
Leah's POV The cold, hard ground presses against my knees as I huddle in a dim corner of the warehouse. The stolen phone I've managed to secret away is my only connection to the outside world, my lifeline in this web of darkness that Sandra has woven around me. As the minutes stretch into an agonizing eternity, my fingers tremble as they punch in the numbers. The phone's screen casts a faint glow on my face, a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows that surround me. My heart hammers in my chest as the call connects. I try to be as low as possible not knowing where Sandra is or who she has left to watch over me. My voice wavers, a mix of desperation and fear as I try to convey the urgency of my situation without alerting Sandra to my actions. Every second feels like an eternity as I wait for him to answer, my desperation growing with each passing ring. "Hello?" His voice cuts through the darkness like a lifeline. "Xavier!" I breathe, relief flooding through me just at the sound of hi
Xavier's POV As we sit Many things run through my mind and right at this moment what will follow next will determine how fucked up I am. I remain silent as he continues with his explanation. "But," Santino continues, his voice catching, "things changed. Sandra's feelings for you... they evolved into something beyond friendship. She fell hard for you, Xavier. And when you started dating Alexandra, it devastated her." ''But how did you not recognize her or were you protecting her all along?'' ''No, not at all. I would never do that to you.'' The revelation hits me like a punch to the gut. I have been completely unaware of Sandra's feelings, of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface I would never be with her but at least I would have been more alert not to be caught by surprise. Santino's eyes hold a mixture of regret and pain as if he was sharing a secret he had carried for far too long. ''Did you love her?'' I ask. ''This one we see Yes I had some feelings but the Sandra am talk
I stood there amidst the flashing cameras and the eager chatter of reporters, my eyes fixed on Sandra as she confidently accepted the title of Chief Financial Officer of King Tech. A wave of disbelief surged through me, accompanied by a sharp pang of anger. This was not how things were supposed to go down. But I couldn't let my emotions show, not in front of the media. As the applause and questions filled the room, I forced myself to maintain a composed exterior. Inside, however, a tempest of thoughts raged. How had she managed to orchestrate this so perfectly? How had she manipulated the board, the media, and even my closest allies to ensure her rise to power? I had always known Sandra was ambitious, but I never fathomed the extent of her ruthlessness. It was a bitter realization that left a bitter taste in my mouth. The company that I had poured my heart and soul into was slipping through my fingers, and there she stood, the orchestrator of it all, basking in the spotlight what was
Xavier's POV The tension in the boardroom is palpable as I sit at the head of the long table, facing the board members and executives who once stood by my side. But now, their expressions are a mix of doubt and suspicion. I can sense the shift in the dynamics, the undercurrents of betrayal that have infiltrated even the closest of my allies especially when I had frozen the accounts. I called this emergency meeting to address the recent allegations and scandals that have rocked our company. The media storm, the accusations, and the subsequent investigation had caught us off guard. I had been working tirelessly to salvage our reputation, find the truth and clear our name. But now, facing these once loyal faces, I can't shake the feeling that something has changed. So much is piling up and now there is no certainty on who can be trusted. Mr. Kings," Robert one of the founding partners speaks up, his tone cautious. "We're concerned about the impact this scandal is having on the compa
Leah's POV As I wake up in the morning, I find the space beside me in bed empty. Xavier must have already left for work, not wanting to disturb my much-needed rest. I appreciate his concern, but I wish he had woken me. I hate feeling like he's carrying all of this alone. I push myself out of bed, still feeling the exhaustion from the events of the previous day and the pregnancy was not helping not that I'm complaining. The scandal, the accusations, and the constant media attention have taken a toll on me. I make my way to the kitchen, craving a cup of warm tea to soothe my nerves. Just as I'm pouring the water, my phone rings. I pick it up and see a familiar number flashing on the screen. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I answer. She still has a lot of questions to answer anyway. "Hello?" Her voice on the other end sounds broken, sobbing softly. Sandra rarely cries, so something about this feels off. "Leah," she manages to choke out between sobs, "it's Sandra. I need your he
Xavier's POV Leah falls asleep on the way back home, her exhaustion evident after the emotional rollercoaster we had been through. As I watch her peaceful expression, my mind still racing with thoughts. Emily's revelation about Kendra being the mastermind behind the scandal has shaken me to my core. But there was something else that was bothering me, a lingering suspicion that I couldn't shake off. Especially the stunt pulled the time she came to my house and at the funeral. Sandra's sudden involvement and determination to help us had set off alarms in my mind. Her connection to Emily, her knowledge of the scandal, and the way she was pushing us to pursue this investigation all seemed too convenient. Could she really be as innocent as she portrayed herself to be? Last I recall she was Leah's assistant who I fired. What I expect is anger, not help for Fucks sake! Once we were back home, I carefully carry Leah to our bedroom and tuck her in. She stirs slightly but doesn't wake up. I
I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the pregnancy scandal than meet the eye. The timing was too perfect, too convenient. I had to find out who was behind this, who wanted to tear us apart. But then this war began before I was even in the picture but I will not let anyone harm my child again even if it means killing again I will do it. I pick up my phone and dial Xavier's number. He answers after a couple of rings. "Leah, I'm on my way to you," he says, his voice carrying a mix of concern and urgency. "Xavier, we need to talk," I reply, my tone resolute. "I know, baby. We will talk as soon as I get there." "No, Xavier, this can't wait. I need to know who's behind that scandal. The timing is too suspicious." There is a moment of silence on the other end of the line. "Leah, I have my suspicions too. I'll be there soon, and we'll figure this out together." As I hung up, a knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. Sandra stands there with a determined expression.