Anika’s P.O.V I was in a deep sleep when my phone's ringtone abruptly woke me. Without checking the caller ID, I groggily answered. "Hello?" I mumbled, my voice still heavy with sleep. "Ma'am, it's me. You must wake up immediately; we have an issue," urgently spoke my secretary, a voice I recognized, prompting me to open my eyes and sit up in bed. My heart raced upon hearing the urgency in Lisa's voice. "Lisa, what's the matter?" I inquired anxiously. "I don't know how to put it, but a group of people just stormed into the company. They're claiming ownership and ordering employees to leave, forcibly entering the office, and taking things from your workspace. I can't prevent them, and no one else can," Lisa explained, her voice trembling. Throwing off my blanket, I hastily got out of bed. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear as I absorbed the startling news. "What? I'm confused. Who are these intruders?" My heart raced as I questioned her. "I'm not sure but they arrive
Anika’s P.O.V The room became silent as I tried to understand what I was seeing. Everyone, including the executives, looked surprised by what was happening and they exchanged bewildered glances with each other. My heart raced, and I asked Richard when I found my voice, "What's going on? Why do you look different, and why did your hair change from black to blonde? Please, explain this to me," I said, still confused. He leaned in and said, "What's confusing about me telling you that I'm the new owner of ADOWNS? You willingly gave it to me, and your signature is on this document." He produced a new Ownership Transfer document from his bag, with his name on it and my signature at the bottom. I grabbed the document from his hands and read it. "This isn't… I never signed this," I exclaimed. He leaned in and whispered, "Remember the day I asked for your signature on a document about the orphanage charity we were organizing? You should always read what you're signing, not just sign anythi
Anika’s P.O.V I ignored the many phone calls I received and drank the alcohol in my hand. I wanted to be alone, to reflect and immerse myself in thoughts. I looked at the night sky; it was beautiful with its shimmering stars. I was drunk, the most intoxicated I've ever been. I didn't care to stop drinking; I just continued to drink to avoid thinking about the events of the past two days. I felt embarrassed, especially since many people had warned me about my decisions, but I had disregarded their advice and done things my way, which had now led to trouble. I was foolish, unable to face anyone. That's why I kept ignoring their calls. I couldn't even bring myself to check my phone when I saw Laura's missed calls. She must have seen the news, and I knew my mom, family, and friends had also seen it. Richard had made headlines as the new owner of my company and realized his phone was all over the Internet. I knew that many people would want an explanation, but I was unwilling to provid
Anika’s P.O.V It had been months and my company was still controlled by that man. I couldn't make any progress because it felt impossible. There seemed to be no solution to my problem and I had to watch as Richard took charge of my company. He even threw a party, declaring himself as the new owner. The public's anger towards him was starting to fade and people were slowly forgetting about the situation he put me through. I felt helpless. No matter what advice I received, it seemed like there was nothing I could do. I ran away from everything after that day with Kelvin in the night. I stayed home and spent days in my room, avoiding everyone, even my mom. I couldn't face her especially because she had warned me about Richard years ago. She specifically told me that Richard wanted more from me but I foolishly ignored her. After a few days, I packed some things and went to a hotel far away. I messaged my mom that I was okay and asked her not to search for me. Laura and Kelvin tried
Anika’s P.O.V "Sorry, I still don't get why you're here and how you got here. I thought you didn't like me and-" She interrupted, lying on my bed. "You were right. I did dislike you a lot when you were with that guy and chose not to listen to me." She paused, then continued, "I never wanted to see you again to avoid watching you at your lowest, like I did years ago. But when I saw the news, I had to break my promise not to contact you while you were with him. You ignored me when I tried to reach out." "I didn't mean to ignore you. I wasn't in the mood to talk and I was processing everything that happened, so I shut everyone out," I explained as I sat on the bed she was lying on. "I figured as much, which is why I stepped in. I knew you'd take the news hard, even worse than you did years ago. Did you think I'd just leave you to struggle with depression all by yourself?" she raised her eyebrows. "Well, I thought you didn't care because you stopped messaging or calling me, and I a
Anika’s P.O.V "What are you guys talking about?" I asked, a puzzled expression on my face as I glanced between them, struggling to understand the topic. "I mentioned that we're strategizing to talk Richard down, and we need you on the plan. Aren't you interested?" Laura questioned. "I—I don't feel capable, and—" "Don't start with the excuses about not being capable. Just hush. I've made the decision, and it's final. You don't get a say. I can't bear to see that guy run my uncle's company any longer. The company is yours because he recognizes your abilities. Snap out of your depression phase, get to work, and be the Anika you used to be," Laura asserted. I don't understand why, but my gaze shifted to Kelvin, who observed us silently. "I'm still the same Anika you knew before; I don't know what you're talking about," I said, averting my eyes as Kelvin caught my glance. "Shut up. You know exactly what I mean. So, are you in or not?" "I—" "Perfect. Here's the plan. You'll—" "Stop,
Kelvin’s P.O.V "Riley?" I asked Anika, and she confirmed my suspicions with a nod. "At first, I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her, but now I'm sure. She's still in the country, in this area. She's been close to us all this time without being apprehended," she explained. "So, what are we waiting for? Tell us where she is, so we can confront her, extract all the information she has about Richard, gather evidence against him, and then hand her over to the police to face the consequences of her crimes," Laura declared with anger in her tone. "We need to approach her calmly, speaking in a non-threatening tone, to ensure she doesn't get scared and is willing to help us. We can't risk alienating her and we don't know if she's still in contact with Richard so planning our approach to her has to be crucial," I emphasized. "He's right, Laura. Stay calm; scaring her off won't help. We need her cooperation," Anika advised, casting a glance at Laura, who simply shrugged. "Fine, but h
Kelvin’s P.O.V There she was – the lady we'd been searching for emerged from the mart, wearing a cap to conceal her identity. She swiftly exited the store but before she could get away from our sight, Anika tugged at me, and we discreetly trailed her from a distance so we could remain unnoticed by her. “This wasn't my plan; we were supposed to approach her and talk,” I remarked as we followed Anika. “And do you really think she'd willingly talk? She'd bolt the moment she saw me, considering the way she wronged me. Plus, with the news of Richard's takeover of my company, there's no chance she'd agree to a conversation. We need to corner her – who knows if she's still connected to Richard. He might be buying her silence or threatening her. Either way, we have to follow her to her hideout rather than attempting to talk, as you suggested,” Anika explained, making a convincing case as we continued tailing the girl. "That's clever," I complimented. "I know," she replied with a slight
Her life had been going exceptionally well, surpassing even her expectations, and she couldn't be more thankful. The current chapter of her life had spread out just as she had hoped, bringing her happiness that had been elusive for a long time. She found herself in a state of peace with no drama surrounding her, and she couldn’t be more grateful to the man above. As she reflected on these thoughts, her phone rang, and a smile lit up her face as she saw her sister's name on the screen. Answering the call, she was greeted by the melodious, high-pitched voice of her sister on the other end. "Hey, Anni," Andrea's voice conveyed happiness over the phone, and at that moment, she sensed that something significant had happened. Andrea wasn't always in such a jubilant mood. "Spill the tea. What's got you so excited?" Anika inquired. "How did you know I was about to share something interesting?" Andrea responded. "Because I'm your sister, and I can sense when exciting things happen to you
Anika’s P.O.V My face lit up with happiness, surprise, and curiosity as I attempted to stand. "What are you guys doing here?" I managed to utter, my voice cracking from inactivity. "Anika…" Kelvin said, his voice filled with emotion as he looked at me, tears welling up in his eyes. He rushed forward to hug me, and I couldn't help but cry in response. My eyes then met Andrea, who stood at the entrance with sadness in her eyes. I knew she wanted to hug me but was unsure how. "How did you guys find me?" I asked as Kelvin and I disengaged from the hug. "We'll discuss that later, but now, we have to get out of here before whoever did this to you returns," Kelvin said, helping me stand. I wobbled because I hadn't stood in a long time, and just as I was about to fall due to weak legs, Kelvin steadied me, his hands on my waist, guiding me toward the door. "I swear to god, whoever did this to you is going to pay, I promise," he muttered with anger in his voice as he led me down the sta
Anika’s P.O.V My eyes fluttered open, and I realized I was on the floor. I sat upright, only to be hit with a pounding headache that made me squirm in pain. I cradled my head, attempting to numb the ache until it subsided, which it eventually did. After calming myself, I surveyed my surroundings, furrowing my brows in confusion. I didn't recognize where I was. As I tried to piece together how I ended up in the room, memories flooded back—from being chased to the moment I was drugged, leading to my blackout. Panic set in, and I glanced around the dimly lit, small room. The only light filtered in from a tiny window far from me. I stood up and walked to the door, banging on it desperately. "Help!" I yelled, close to tears, terrified by the unknown kidnapper. "Somebody, please help me! If you're hearing this, help!" I continued, relentlessly pounding on the door, trying to open it in vain. Despite minutes passing with me still banging, I refused to give up. I hit the door with all my
Anika’s P.O.V "I'll be heading to YOLE's for the partnership meeting now, ma'am," Greg informed me as we walked out of the boardroom after we met with the executives. He was about to represent us at another company for a meeting I wouldn't be available for. "Alright then, when will it end?" I asked him. "In four to five hours, I'm not sure, but I'll let you know once I'm done and about the outcome of the meeting. So, adios," he said with a salute as he left, making me chuckle. He was a funny man. As I entered the elevator, about to go to my floor, someone stuck his hand to stop the elevator from closing. It was Kelvin. "Hey," he flashed me a grin as he entered inside and stood next to me. The elevator closed and began to head up. "Sup, I can see you are smiling from ear to ear, and I can assume that your little date last night went well," I raised an eyebrow at him. "You are certainly right, it went well. Vivian is a great person, and I'm happy I went on that date with her becau
Anika’s P.O.V I was thrilled to be back in the city after months away on a business trip. returning I was back early and I decided to surprise Kelvin at work since he had been expressing how much he missed me. I couldn't deny missing him too so I would see him and also check on the company's progress. As I entered the office, I received warm greetings from colleagues. I reciprocated the greetings and could hear the murmurs spreading about the news of my arrival. I rode the elevator to Kelvin’s floor alone without my assistant Greg since I kept my return a secret from him too. I approached Kelvin's secretary after stepping out of the elevator. "Welcome back, ma'am," she greeted and I replied with a smile and asked about Kelvin, hoping he was in his office. "Yes, he is, but—" "Alright, thanks," I interjected and proceeded to Kelvin’s office. Upon entering, my intention to shout 'Surprise' shifted dramatically when I discovered a girl lying on top of him on his office couch. My
Kelvin’s P.O.V "What should we do with the document for the TOPAX project?" my assistant asked. "Just delete it. They're not a reliable company to work with. We don't work with people we can't trust or who won't agree to our terms," I told him. "Okay, I'll let them know we're not interested," he said. I nodded before sending him off. As he closed the door, I sighed. I was tired from the day's work but I was used to it since it had become my routine for a long time. With a good salary, I couldn't complain. I found myself in a new role at the company—I had become the manager, a position previously held by Hart before he was fired and sued by Anika for betraying her by aligning with Richard. Despite his years of service before Anika became the CEO. It serves as a reminder to be cautious about whom to trust; not everyone is truly a friend. Taking on this new responsibility was challenging, even though I had been in the position for nearly two years. However, I still felt drained afte
Anika’s P.O.V "The court thoroughly reviewed the evidence M.s Downs submitted about Mr. Hale's deceptive acquisition of ADOWNS. After careful consideration, it's clear Mr Hales manipulated M.s Downs into signing ownership transfer documents under false pretenses. He presented these documents to her as approval forms for a donation to an orphanage, and she signed them. Later, M.s Downs discovered that she unwillingly gave him ownership and control of her company." "The court examined the evidence, including witness testimonies. Ms. Downs, you brought forward Francis Addams, who was coerced into acting as M. Downs's assistant. She provided information about ADOWNS Limited through illegal means in exchange for money, which she used to pay for her mother's hospital bills. This has been proven through a recording of the conversation between both parties submitted to the court." "This confirms Ms. Downs' claims of deceit and manipulation. Additionally, Ms. Downs presented a witness who wo
Anika’s P.O.V "The current trending news revolves around the lawsuit filed by Anika Rebecca Downs, the former owner and ex-heiress of ADOWNS, against the new owner, her ex-boyfriend of over four years, Richard Hale. This topic is making waves across various media platforms, with social media users actively sharing and discussing the information, creating a buzz in the country. We managed to obtain the court date, scheduled for next month, and many are eagerly anticipating the outcome to see if the case will be messy or not and-" Fed up with the continuous coverage, I turned off my television, choosing not to listen any further, and casually tossed the remote behind me. I still couldn't believe I filed a lawsuit against Richard that morning. It required a lot of courage, but I finally took the step. Once the media caught wind of it, they kept the story alive and spread the news far and wide. Since that morning, they had been bombarding my lawyers with calls, eager for more informa
Kelvin’s P.O.V There she was – the lady we'd been searching for emerged from the mart, wearing a cap to conceal her identity. She swiftly exited the store but before she could get away from our sight, Anika tugged at me, and we discreetly trailed her from a distance so we could remain unnoticed by her. “This wasn't my plan; we were supposed to approach her and talk,” I remarked as we followed Anika. “And do you really think she'd willingly talk? She'd bolt the moment she saw me, considering the way she wronged me. Plus, with the news of Richard's takeover of my company, there's no chance she'd agree to a conversation. We need to corner her – who knows if she's still connected to Richard. He might be buying her silence or threatening her. Either way, we have to follow her to her hideout rather than attempting to talk, as you suggested,” Anika explained, making a convincing case as we continued tailing the girl. "That's clever," I complimented. "I know," she replied with a slight