Fiona's POV I walked in calmly, my eyes fixated on Sabrina, who stood close to the glass window, offering a good view of the countryside. She had a wine glass in hand, and as soon as she heard me walk in, she took a step closer."So, you're really alive," she said. "I always knew those men were useless. Just a little job, and they messed it all up.""You requested to see me," I said, looking at her with disdain, maintaining a still position."I'll give you whatever amount you request for, if you leave the country quietly," she said, walking slowly towards me. "That's only if you promise to keep it a secret.""I think I'm having déjà vu," I chuckled. "You tried to strike a deal with me a few years back.""You're so petty. Well, I don't even remember," she yawned loudly. "This is getting boring. Are you in or not?""You really think you can get anything you want?" I took a seat on the sofa. "Unfortunately, I'm not one to give everything I have, especially not something so useful to bri
Alexander's POV"It's sad that the stocks plummeted so badly. Who's the head of the PRO department in Spain?" I asked, fiddling with the pen in my hand."Mr. Ricardo," one of the directors, Mr. Yan, said. "He's doing his job well.""I never asked for your input," I said, walking to the board. "If the stocks plummet any further, it will affect headquarters, and it seems we are all comfortable with this.""No, we are not, Mr. Brooks. We've also been trying to make changes," another director, Mr. Richard, said."I can't see any changes, Mr. Richard. Put a call through to Mr. Ricardo and the directors there. We’ll be having a meeting tomorrow," I said, dropping the pen on the table.A lady walked in, wearing a fitted A-line gown, her blonde hair neatly curled on her shoulders. She wore a pleasant smile as she approached me. "Good day, Mr. Alexander," she said, revealing a nice set of teeth.I stared at her for a moment, trying to ascertain who she was."I'm Sofia Lopez, a representative o
Fiona's POVI pressed the bell nervously, watching as the door swung open. "Harden," I smiled, "I'm so sorry I came unannounced."He stared at the luggage for a while, then helped bring it inside. "Come in, Jess is spending some time with her friends.""Ah," I exhaled, "I almost fell into a coma thinking about what she'll say to this shameless lady.""Jess is always like that with everyone," he closed the door, leading me into the living room. "I'm pretty sure she hasn't seen the news about our relationship."I chuckled, "Thank you, Harden. I know it was so cowardly to ask you to...""I'll do whatever you want, Fiona. However," he held my hands, "you would do me this little favor."I sat up straight, "Anything for you. Say it.""Apparently, my father saw the news, so he has invited us for dinner," he paused, "I promise you can decline, and I'll come up with an excuse.""No," I stopped him from speaking, "let's pay him a visit together."He smiled, "So, why did you decide to live here?
Alexander's POVI walked in, surprisingly finding Fiona at the far corner of the room, sitting close to Harden. Sofia held my arms, leading me to an empty seat as she sat on the sofa. I slowly waved to Fiona, trying to hide my nervousness."Thank you for coming," Sofia whispered in my ear, brushing her lips slowly against my neck as I turned to look into her eyes. "Why are they here?""Who?" she asked, then got the message. "Oh, Harden and his girlfriend? Harden is a friend; it's safe to say we grew up together."I stared for a while, feeling uncomfortable. Staying there made me fume with rage, so I quietly walked out of the room into another room down the hall.I lit up a cigarette, smoking away my thoughts.A few minutes later, Sofia walked in, closing the door behind her. "Don't you like my party?" she said, leaning on the wall, her eyes darkening."No, I just felt uncomfortable," I said, exhaling the smoke."So, you smoke," she asked, moving slowly towards me. "I don't like men wh
Fiona's POV"Alexander denied being in possession of the camera chip," I said, waiting for Michelle's response.She walked up to me with two glasses of wine in hand and handed one over to me."Thank you," I gave a weary smile."What's wrong with you?" she asked, taking a small sip of wine. "You don't seem alright."I set the glass on the table. "Do you think I should have stayed hidden in Korea?" I asked, trying to suppress the tears."I'm sorry I said that. I was just scared something bad would happen to you," she said, taking my hands in hers."I wonder if he felt the same way or if he just wanted me not to find out about it," I couldn't hold the tears any longer as they rolled down my cheeks."Hey, babe, what's wrong?" Michelle asked, moving to sit close to me."Alexander has a child," I blurted out. "Jayden, and he's five years old." Michelle didn't look surprised. "Did you know about it?""I found out three years ago. Alexander had the chip forcefully taken away from me. I had to
Fiona's POVI took a deep breath as I pressed the bell. The only reason I had accepted his invitation was to satisfy my curiosity."Hey," Alexander said as he pushed open the door. He looked as though he was ill.I walked in, brushing his hands, which were so hot. I tried to ignore it but saw him struggle to walk. "Hey, are you okay?""Yeah," he coughed lightly. "I know it's hard seeing me after everything I did, but I promise it was a mistake. I was drunk.""It's...""Jasmine," he stopped me from speaking, "she has been on my neck for years now. It's my fault, I know, but I don't want you to suffer for my mistakes."I moved closer to him, placing my hands on his forehead. "I promised never to speak to you," I said, helping him to the sofa, "however, it's just for today.""Fiona?""Your temperature is unreasonably high. I think you have a fever. Wait here," I said, finding my way into the kitchen. I soaked a napkin with cold water and walked back out. "You need to lie on the bed. Wher
Alexander's POVA Day Ago...“It’s been a long time, Mr. Alexander Brooks,” Mrs. Cole said, leading me into the corridor. “It’s been years.”“I told you I would be back the next day. I’m sorry it took this long,” I apologized.“I heard your father, Jordan Brooks, died the day after, but it was surprising you didn’t come after that,” she said, stopping at a door. “However, I had to spend the years making sure the valuables were safe.”I walked in as she opened the door, carefully closing it behind me. The gold bars were still the same, neatly arranged in squares and pyramids. I took out one piece, sniffing it calmly. “The smell of gold—it reminds me of my father.”Mrs. Cole chuckled. “The amount still remains the same—seven hundred million pounds,” she said, pronouncing the amount slowly.“Interesting. It’s been years, and I’ve forgotten the amount.”“Are you here for them?”I turned to look at her, placing the bar carefully. “No, I’m here for something more important.”“What could be
Fiona's POVPresent Day...I watched the reporters storm into the house. They surrounded Mr. Parks, paying little attention to my presence.“Is the content in the video true, Mr. Parks? Were you really involved in the illegal mining activities, Mr. Parks? What did you do with the bodies, Mr. Parks? Is your daughter also involved, Mr. Parks?” The reporters didn’t stop throwing questions at him.Soon after, a group of men walked in, revealing themselves as policemen. One of them walked up to Mr. Parks with a handcuff in hand. “You’re under arrest, Mr. Joshua Parks, for running an illegal and unauthorized mining company. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”The reporters took every shot as Mr. Parks was escorted into the police vehicle. His men followed, all protecting him from any sort of impending harm.I managed to get out, wearing a smile on my face. Frederick walked to me, handing me a cap.“Wear this, ma’am. You shouldn’t be spotted,” he said as I p
Fiona’s POVThe office was buzzing with the aftermath of the press conference. While the atmosphere had shifted from tense to victorious, Alexander seemed preoccupied, his mind clearly still processing the events of the past few days. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that he asked to speak with me privately in his office.I followed him in, curiosity and a hint of nervousness bubbling up inside me. He closed the door behind us and retrieved a small, polished box from his desk drawer. The sight of it made my heart race, a mix of excitement and apprehension flooding my thoughts.“Fiona, there’s something I need to say,” Alexander started, his tone serious but filled with sincerity. “Through everything that’s happened, you’ve been my rock. You’ve stood by me, supported me, and believed in me. I can’t imagine my life without you.”He opened the box, revealing a breathtaking engagement ring. I gasped softly, my emotions swelling as he continued, “I want us to build a future together.
Alexander’s POVThe morning after the board meeting was a chaotic flurry of activity. My phone buzzed with calls from investors and partners eager to discuss the implications of the new strategy. It was a good problem to have, but it meant I was already diving back into the deep end.As I navigated through the day’s schedule, my mind kept circling back to the board meeting. The victory had been significant, but it wasn’t complete. Sabrina and Leonard were wounded, but they would regroup and try to regain their footing. I needed to stay vigilant and one step ahead.Fiona met me at my office for a quick breakfast. She’d been a constant source of strength throughout this ordeal, and I was grateful for her presence. We settled at a small table in my office, a plate of croissants and coffee between us.“How’s your day shaping up?” she asked, breaking the silence.“Busy,” I replied, taking a sip of coffee. “I’ve got meetings lined up back-to-back. Investors are already interested in the new
Alexander's POVThe tension in the boardroom was palpable as I waited for the meeting to begin. Today was the culmination of weeks of strategizing and maneuvering. The stakes were high, and I had to make sure that everything I had planned would come to fruition.Fiona was by my side, a silent pillar of strength. Her presence was a grounding force amidst the chaos. As the clock ticked closer to the meeting’s start time, I glanced at her and gave a reassuring nod. She responded with a supportive smile.The board members trickled in, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Sabrina and Leonard arrived last, their air of confidence almost tangible. They were clearly expecting an easy win, but I was ready to change that.Mr. Richard, the board chairman, called the meeting to order. “Thank you all for coming,” he said, his voice steady. “We have a packed agenda today, starting with the discussion of the company’s future direction.”I took a deep breath and rose to speak, project
Alexander’s POVThe office was quiet as I waited for Jasmine. My decision to seek full custody of Jaden had been weighing heavily on me, but I knew it was necessary. The recent upheavals in my business had made it clear that Jaden needed stability—something I believed I could provide better now.When Jasmine walked in, her demeanor was guarded. The warmth she once showed me was now replaced with a cautious detachment. She took a seat across from me, her posture rigid.“Alexander,” she said, her voice polite but with an edge.“Jasmine,” I replied, trying to keep my tone even. “Thank you for coming.”Her eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s this about? I thought we were handling everything without conflict.”I leaned forward, determined to convey the seriousness of my request. “That was before I discovered the extent of the turmoil at work. With things settling down, it’s time we discussed Jaden.”Her eyes widened, and a flicker of concern crossed her face. “What about Jaden?”“I’m asking fo
Alexander’s POVSabrina was trying too hard to cover her nerves, and that confirmed what I already knew—she was scared. She thought she had everything lined up perfectly, but the meeting’s adjournment was exactly the opportunity I needed. She wasn’t as confident as she appeared.I leaned back in my chair, maintaining my composure as I watched her and Leonard. “You seem a little too eager for this meeting to end, Sabrina,” I said calmly. “You should be worried. You know better than anyone what happens when I’m given time.”Leonard chuckled, but I kept my focus on Sabrina. Her eyes flickered towards the door and back to me, sizing up her next move. She thought she had already won. Her arrogance was showing, but it was too early for her to celebrate.“You’re finished, Alexander,” she snapped, the sharpness in her voice a sign of her own doubts. “You can stop pretending that there’s a way out for you.”I tilted my head, a slow smile forming on my lips. “You underestimate me. That’s going
Fiona's POVI should have known better than to expect Sabrina to speak without taking action. Her words had always been a prelude to something more, and she had truly outdone herself with Jess.The streets were frigid as I walked with the cold seeping through my coat. I glanced over my shoulder frequently, half-expecting a shadowy figure to appear. Fortunately, the streets were deserted, offering no unwelcome surprises.Earlier, Harden had called to tell me that Jess was still unconscious. Guilt gnawed at me, but nothing was more disheartening than hearing that Alexander was on the brink of being dismissed by the board. I had sent a desperate message to Mister, pleading for his help with Alexander’s predicament, but it remained unread.The building Jasmine had instructed me to visit was an older structure, its faded paint and weathered façade a stark contrast to the vibrant chaos of the city outside. I climbed the creaky stairs, trying to follow the twists and turns of the corridors u
Alexander's POV"What are you trying to do?" I asked as Jasmine opened the door. She had a face mask on and walked over to sit on the sofa."What do you mean?" she asked, feigning ignorance."You know what I'm talking about," I said calmly as I closed the door behind me. "What was with the accusations you made on air today?""Oh, the news?" She laughed. "You should have been more specific. I just needed to get your attention since all you care about is Fiona.""That was a way of getting my attention? Didn’t we agree that I pay you to take care of my son? There’s no relationship between us."She removed the face mask, stood up, and walked over to me. "The last time I checked, there’s a relationship between us, Alexander. I am the mother of your son.""Then what do you want?" I asked, my voice rising. "Why did you have to lie to the world? Why do you keep making my life a living hell?" I took a deep breath, wary that she might have a recorder on."Did you just ask what I want?" She smil
Fiona's POVI wore a beaming smile as I looked into the mirror, thinking about what had happened the previous day. A knock on the door woke me from my thoughts. I walked to it and turned the knob. Before I could pull it open, the door was pushed fiercely."Jess," I said, surprised at her attitude, "what's wrong?"She walked in, looking around the room. "I can't believe you have no shame. So, you moved in?""I can explain. It...""My brother is such a fool. He lets you in but doesn't know what you've been up to," she laughed, walking to the dressing table."What do you mean?" I asked, folding my arms as I watched her pick up a lip gloss."I saw you yesterday, Fiona," she said, applying the lip gloss. "I saw you go into Alexander's house."I remained silent."You had sex, right? It was so obvious when you walked out.""Watch your mouth, Jess," I warned her for the first time."Why should I? You cheat," she yelled, pulling me by the arm. "I won't keep quiet. I'll make sure I make your li
Alexander's POVI stepped out of the house, heading for the elevator when it slid open. Fiona stood there, dressed in a green silky gown. Her legs were revealed so nicely that I stared at them for a moment before snapping back to reality."Hi," she said, walking out of the elevator."Hi, Fiona," I smiled. "Would you like to come in?""You were heading out. I don’t want to waste your time," she said in a low tone.I chuckled. "No, please come in. The meeting starts in two hours. I still have enough time.""Okay," she said, following me to the door. I pushed it open, allowing her to go in first before I closed it behind me."Please, have a seat," I said, walking into the kitchen with a smile on my face. Deep down, I felt nervous. I could hear the rattling of the spoon in the cup as I filled it with tea.I walked back out. "Have this. It's good for the heart," I said.She sipped a little. "Do you still fear that what happened to your father might happen to you?"I was silent for a moment