Anika’s P.O.V I was in my room, getting ready for the event scheduled for the next hour. Jason, the CEO of OXFORD, had organized a small party at his home to celebrate the partnership between our companies. Initially, I had considered declining, but Laura persuaded me to attend so I could support her as an 'associate' and spend some quality time together. We hadn't seen each other since her long-ass vacation. After applying a final coat of mascara to my lashes, I stood tall, examining my reflection in the mirror. The dress I wore accentuated my curves, and my hair was perfectly styled. The heels I had on added to my height. I turned to Laura, who was already seated at my makeup desk, and asked, "How do I look?" "Hot! If I were a guy, I'd have bent you over this table right now," she said with a playful wink, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her quirky compliment. "I'm not dressing up for a guy; I dress for myself and no one else," I stated as I glanced at my reflection. Laura
Kelvin’s P.O.V I averted my gaze and proceeded to enter the party, disposing of my drink in a nearby trash bag. The desire for drinking and partying had dissipated within me. I couldn't fathom the cause of my irritation. I had no right to feel this way, but the truth was evident. She deserved to be with someone capable of loving her, and that someone happened to be the guy I had left the hotel with earlier. I recognized him, and it was abundantly clear that she was enamored with him, as she had brought him to the party. After a conversation with my newfound friend, Laura, during which I shared my contact information as she had requested, we concluded our chat and went our separate ways. As I wandered about, I found myself in the backyard of Mr. Jason's party. Just as I was about to leave, a familiar voice caught my attention. I followed the sound and came face to face with Anika and the guy. They were engaged in conversation, laughter, and flirtation, leaving me helpless to inter
Anika’s P.O.V I had a wonderful time with Richard at the party, and even though it may sound strange to admit, I'd say I genuinely missed the moments we shared. Despite Richard's controlling nature, I couldn't deny that our relationship had its enjoyable moments. However, it was hard to overlook how he manipulated me to extort money. Perhaps it was my financial contribution that made him always make me happy back then to get more money from me. Nevertheless, a part of me still wants to believe that Richard didn't fabricate any of our happy memories together, that he genuinely found joy in our moments, even if it was just occasionally. As we reminisced about amusing stories, I found a sense of peacefulness in our connection, possibly due to the alcohol I consumed or simply because I missed sharing joyous memories with someone. I couldn't pinpoint it precisely, but in that moment with Richard, I felt truly alive. Just as I realized the situation with Richard, I snapped out of the
Anika’s P.O.V I pulled away from the kiss as soon as I realized what was happening. Oh no, this couldn't be. I must be freaking out of my mind for kissing him. This was bad. Why did I do that? What was wrong with me? Why did I kiss my ex, who used me for money and cheated on me? I must be out of my mind. "Anika," Richard tried to reach out to me when he saw the expression I had, but I removed my hand from him before he could, and I stood up. "I should be going now, and please, let's never meet again." With that, I grabbed my things and ran off to my car. Thankfully, Richard didn't follow me, so I was in my car with the door locked. My head was on the steering wheel as I closed my eyes in embarrassment. I couldn't believe I acted this way; why did I feel the need to kiss Richard, of all people? I sighed deeply and promptly left the area to avoid any reminders of what just happened. Instead of going home, I drove straight to the company and headed to my office after informing
Anika’s P.O.V "Why aren't you answering me?" I inquired. "Hmm, I can't believe what you're saying right now. After all the hurtful things I did, it's confusing why you'd want us to go on a date," he confessed, a mixture of disbelief and confusion in his tone. "Don't you want to go on a date with me?" I asked, surprised that he didn't say yes immediately. "I do, but it's complicated. I like you a lot, but I can't shake this feeling of paranoia. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't have the courage to ask for a date. I'm torn between my desire to say yes and my confusion about why you asked. It's perplexing," he admitted, showing a blend of conflicting emotions - desire, confusion, and apprehension. "Well, the reason I asked was to confirm something. I didn't invite you out to get back together or anything like that. As you mentioned, I wouldn't have asked myself out either. But I can't deny that something has changed since you kissed me. It's a messed-up situation, and I'm only h
Yvenne’s P.O.V We were awkward. The drive was silent as Richard continued driving towards our destination, a place he kept a secret, determined to "surprise" me, as he put it. The car's radio was our only companion, filling the silence with music that added a touch of life to our surroundings. Yet, despite the tunes, our connection felt distant, making me question my decision. Perhaps we were not meant for each other, after all. "Ahem," I was startled from my thoughts when Richard cleared his throat. I looked in his direction and sensed his effort to initiate a conversation, but it seemed like he was struggling. Throughout our drive, I noticed that he had been trying to break the silence, but neither of us could think of a suitable topic. It had been so long since we'd been together like this, and I didn't know his new persona well enough to know what to say. "So, how have you been?" Richard finally spoke, attempting to sound casual, but his voice quivered slightly. I glanced o
Anika’s P.O.V "Have you reviewed the document our partner from the States sent to me?" I asked Greg. "Yes, I have. I'm just double-checking it. I'll send it to you shortly, and it will be ready soon," he replied. "Alright, if you're finished with it, please send it to me. Also, I've been informed that HENTRE has sent us a partnership document they've put together. Kindly send those files to my email so that I can review them. I want to assess their potential as a partner. Their company seems promising, and it wouldn't hurt to forge a closer relationship with a smaller, more talented, and trustworthy company than some of the larger ones out there," I said to Greg. "I completely agree with you on that. I'll proceed with your requests, ma'am," he said, and I nodded as he left my office. After he closed the door, I let out a sigh and sank comfortably into my soft chair. Exhaustion had settled in after a long day of non-stop work. The stress weighed on me, especially considering the c
Anika’s P.O.V Waking from my slumber, I groaned as a weight pressed down on me. Something heavy and distinctly male, but my eyes remained shut, courtesy of the pounding headache. My thoughts were a haze, struggling to recall the events from the previous night at the club. After considerable effort, I managed to crack my eyes open, releasing a relieved sigh as the headache gradually subsided. However, my relief was short-lived when the arm around me tightened, sending panic coursing through me. Oh no. My gaze traveled upward from the muscular arm that pinned me down to the face of the person who could have been my one-night companion. I had thought I was past these one-night stands, but not. My drunken desires had led me into the arms of whoever had shown interest in me the previous night. I was wrong. My panic skyrocketed when I recognized the all-too-familiar sharp jawline and those plump lips. Damn, it was Richard. I couldn't believe I had slept with Richard. What was he d
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