Anika’s P.O.V As we arrived at the magnificent mansion, I felt a sense of awe wash over me. The gloriousness of the place was truly breathtaking. The massive iron gates swung open to welcome us, revealing a long, winding driveway lined with manicured gardens. Our car drove in and after some minutes, he pulled over, and Kelvin and I both got down. As I stepped out of my sleek, black vehicle, my eyes widened in awe at the sight before me. The huge mansion that Fred owned loomed grand and imposing, its elegant façade adorned with ivy-covered walls and ornate wrought-iron gates. The soft glow of evening lights illuminated the mansion's windows, casting a warm and inviting ambiance. The house appeared incredibly lavish, making it clear that he was certainly wealthier than I. It wasn't that I couldn't afford the house, but purchasing it would significantly dent my net worth. While I marveled at the grandeur before me, a maid elegantly attired in a crisply pressed black traditional unif
Anika’s P.O.V I was awakened by one of the maids in Fred's mansion, who kindly informed me that breakfast was ready. I had no complaints because I was thoroughly enjoying my stay at the mansion. The project wouldn't begin for another five days, so I intend to make the most of the day by relaxing and enjoying myself before I delve into my office work tomorrow. I requested the maids, asking them to let me know when the food was ready, even if it required waking me up. I knew that I wouldn't have that chance again back home because I would be occupied with work and I rarely found the time to eat at home. This break in his house was exactly what I needed to restore my nutritional balance. However, even though I was on a mini break, it didn't mean I wouldn't be working at the office. There were still numerous tasks to attend to, and simply doing nothing would put those responsibilities at risk. After freshening up, I made my way to the dining table. To my surprise, I couldn't spot Fr
Kelvin’s P.O.V I had trouble falling asleep that night. Some unexplained restlessness kept me from closing my eyes. Maybe it was the demanding day's work, following Fred on his Paris project. Unable to find peace, I went downstairs to the balcony outside my room and brought a bottle of alcohol with me, hoping it would help me relax. Sipping my drink, I found comfort in gazing at the stars, the alcohol gradually taking effect. It was just what I needed to unwind. But as I was savoring the view, I got interrupted. "Hey," I heard Anika's voice from behind, and I turned to see her. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed her outfit. As always, she looked stunning in her short nightgown, even though she had a night robe over it that didn't quite cover her thighs. I quickly averted my gaze from her body and focused on her face instead. I could feel myself growing flustered, and the fact that I was slightly intoxicated didn't help. I shouldn't be looking at her that way; she has a boyfr
Kelvin’s P.O.V I opened my eyes to the bright glare of the morning sun and the feeling of pain in my head. Shit. I was suffering from a hangover again. I shouldn't have drunk so much. I sat upright and put my hand to my head until I felt better enough to stand on my feet. I got undressed and hopped in the shower. The water felt refreshing on my head, relieving my headache. It was just what I needed. As I enjoyed the shower, I suddenly remembered everything from yesterday. I recalled talking to Anika about our night together two and a half years ago and how I almost kissed her. “Fuck,” I cussed and regretfully rubbed my face. What was I thinking about kissing her? I had made a big mistake. She would probably distance herself from me because of it. I should have had more self-control. I was never drinking alcohol again. I hurried through my shower and got dressed. In my room, I paced. I didn't know how to face Anika after everything that happened. Yesterday was overwhelming, esp
Anika’s P.O.V "Acquiring ANTINE's shares would enhance this project and since they are currently in high demand, it would make more sense to grab some shares before other people start to lay their eyes on it as it is almost finished," I said to Fred, who listened attentively. "But what if their sales were to decline?" he asked. "Then we can sell our shares quickly since the news would get to us fast; I know someone there. That's why I suggested you buy a two percent share initially, to see how it goes. Even if the share price drops, we should still make a profit because the little we invested would have turned big and it would take a while before it can shrink down. Don't worry, I'm sure there will be no decline so let's just buy a small amount of shares so we can invest that money in our project," I concluded, and I could see Fred's proud smile. "Wow, you truly are a genius. I always knew involving you in this project was a great idea. I'll instruct my assistant to buy ANTINE's sh
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
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