LEXI"What the fuck is happening here?" I questioned, walking toward the gate where Ryan was arguing with the security guards and was trying to forcefully gain an entrance.The guards holding Ryan back released their grips on him the moment they heard my voice. Turning, they gave curt bows and muttered, "We are sorry for the noise, President Lexi." Ignoring their pleas, I darted a quizzical glance over Ryan, a part of my brows raised in a questioning manner. "And what is happening here? Why is he screaming in a working environment?" I questioned.Donald had stopped beside me, and he could recognize Ryan at first glance. "Oh! Mr. Ryan," he called."This man is trying to enter the company." One of the guards let out, causing my questioning gaze to deepen. And why were they stopping him from entering? This is a company, and it's open to everyone; you don't need an invitation card to enter unless you want to see the CEO, which I doubted was his intention."And so? Why are you stopping hi
GENERALNo matter how Donald thought about it, he found Lexi's attitude toward Ryan strange. It was as tough as they knew each other before the unveiling ceremony, yet Lexi kept insisting that she had never seen him before. But what could explain the attitude she portrayed a few seconds ago?Putting a hand on his waist, Donald pinched the space between his brows and sighed. "I am so sorry, Mr. Ryan. President Lexi wasn't in a good mood before we saw you downstairs. I am really sorry for the attitude she portrayed," Donald pleaded, and that only irritated Ryan.What is his business with Lexi, his wife? Why does he keep going everywhere with him? Aren't they just colleagues?Ryan chuckled, suppressing the irritation sizzling in his belly. "It's fine, Mr. Donald. I deserve it and more. If she's going to give me an audience at the end, I'm ready to withstand any hardship she throws at me," Ryan let out, causing Donald's brows to raise suspiciously. He couldn't comprehend Ryan's statement.
GENERAL With anger surging in his belly, Ryan grabbed Casper by his collar and pulled his face closer to his. "Repeat that again and you are going to regret messing with me," Ryan treated in a hoarse, fierce voice, piercing his gaze into Casper's. With an unwavering spirit and fearlessly, Casper glared back without blinking. He scoffed, slapped Ryan's hands away from his collars, and adjusted his shirt. "I said what I said, bruh. Deal with it. Lexi will never come back to you. Did you forget the shit this woman went through in your hands? Not just you. Emily and your mother also did worse. Only a fool would try to go back to the same place she was treated like a doormat," he spewed, ignoring the aggressive expression on Ryan's face. At this moment, Ryan hated himself so much. He couldn't deny that Casper was saying the truth. Only a fool will go back to the same place she was devalued, but can't Lexi be a fool for him? He really wanted her back. He missed her so much. He was the on
GENERAL"And what are you waiting for? Why are you still standing there?" Lexi growled, darting an irritable gaze over Ryan, who was still grinning because of the embarrassment Donald just received.Smiling arrogantly, Ryan folded his arms and took steps closer to her. "How can I leave when I still have an unfinished business with you?" He let out teasingly, swaying a flirtatious gaze over her body, and that nauseated Lexi. Anger ran through her like fire on dried leaves. She snorted, "As long as I can remember, we don't have any unfinished business, Mr. Ryan Middleton. Please find your way to the door. I was busy before you barged in like a stray cat." Expressionlessly, she strolled elegantly to her seat and reclined on it.Ryan chuckled. He was not ready to back down this time. His motive was to gain her attention, and he was going to do that before leaving no matter what she did.Without asking for her permission, he settled on one of the chairs in front of Lexi's table and rested
RYAN"Beep! Beep!!!!!"The incessant ringing of my phone caused me to twitched my face, half asleep, half awake. Who is the bastard disturbing my rest this early morning? I'm not going to forgive whoever is calling me.With my eyes closed, I trailed my hands to where my phone was kept, picked it up, and put it in my ears."Good morning, boss," Gerald's voice rang in my ear, filled with fear and anxiousness.So it was Gerald that has been disturbing my rest? My nose squished, frustrated and pissed up.Finally, I opened my eyes, and I simply said, "Say whatever you have to say and drop your resignation later before the day ends." I pinched the space between my brows."You have to come to the company as soon as possible, boss. The shareholders are about to hold an impromptu meeting and I don't think it's for your good," He reported swiftly and eagerly, causing my brows to crease and my eyes to widen."What!" I spurted out in disbelief. The shareholders are about to hold a meeting behind
RYAN "I am the CEO." A feminine voice reverberated across the room. The unwavering voice screamed of order and authority, causing me to raise my head and glance in the direction of the voice. My forehead crisscrossed when I saw the person standing by the door. It was none other than Lexi, my ex-wife. "Lexi..." My voice trailed with my eyes blinking continually. My gaze darted over Lexi with my jaw dropped. "President Lexi." Other shareholders in the conference room acknowledged, standing up and bowing their heads curtly. Elegantly, Lexi walked to the table, emitting a sophisticated and majestic aura. Stopping in front of the table, she tossed her designer handbag on it. "And why are you disrupting my meeting, Mr. Ryan Middleton?" Lexi questioned in a hoarse and cold voice, putting on a fierce and unfriendly countenance. Stupefied, my mouth opened but no words came out. I was beyond speechless. My brows creased as I was lost for words. I was disrupting her meeting? And she's the
GENERALLexi's gaze was unwavering and determined. She pierced it into Ryan's and deadpanned, "Guess what you did, Mr. Ryan." The gaze was so fierce and intimidating that it made Ryan gulp uncomfortably. He rummaged through his head, struggling to remember what he had done to request Lexi's wrath."Could it be because I claimed Isabelle as...?" His eyes widened when it finally clicked on his head. He returned his stupefied countenance to Lexi, who smirked evilly and nodded."Yes! You dared mention my princess's name with that filthy mouth of yours. And what did you say? She's your child?" Lexi remarked, clasped her lips and burst into laughter. "That must be the funniest joke I have ever heard in my life. I guess you've been misbehaving because you have a lot of time in your hands. You are going to realize that there's more to life than creating nuisance in my company and embarrassing your age around me when you start looking for a job to sustain your family and your lifestyle," she
GENERAL"We are here!" Donald announced, stepping on the brake. Isabelle stood up and glanced out of the window; a beautiful smile was etched on her lips. The glints of excitement and satisfaction glimmered brightly in her eyes."Wow! The mall is so beautiful," Isabelle muttered, grinning.Lexi and Donald shared stares and chuckled. Lexi knew she would like it, so she wasn't extremely surprised by her reaction."You are yet to marvel. Let's step into the supermarket at the mall first," Donald remarked, opening the side door for the little girl to step out. Excitedly, Isabelle descended from the car and leaped into the mall with her mother.Donald had asked to take Lexi and Isabelle out, and Lexi obliged after a brief hesitation and reluctance. On the other hand, Isabelle refused blatantly because she didn't like him and didn't want to choose a man like him for her mother. But when Donald showed her that he was behind and capable of taking care of her and her mother, she took a liking
RYANLike a madman, I zoomed off to Jasmine's house. Thankfully, it was already dark and safer to break the traffic rules without having to pay any fines. I was able to reduce the journey from fifty minutes to thirty minutes because of the speed I drove the car. I dashed out of the car and stormed toward Jasmine's door without closing the door of the car.Impatiently and angrily, I thumped on her door. I could hear a response from inside, but that wasn't what I wanted. I need to see her horrible face and teach her a lesson she will never forget in a hurry.Again, I punched her door fiercely. Another response came, but harsher this time. Just as I was about to knock on the door one more time, the door opened and an unfamiliar face came into view. Her expression was hard, but it instantly became soft when she saw me.For a reason, I could discern that this person knew who I was because why would her expression change the moment she realized I was at the door? But I didn't even know he
RYANI am tired. I am really tired of the constant trouble I have been fighting with ever since Lexi returned to the country. If it wasn't this, it would be that. There hasn't been a day of resting. Either I am dealing with this or with that.Just when I thought Lexi was warming up to me, dirty news was revealed on the internet about us. My pictures and our pictures have been flying all over the Internet, and Lexi didn't want to believe that I wasn't the one behind them. Yes, I wanted her. Yes, I wanted my company back, but I wouldn't stoop so low to do something as embarrassing as that. She didn't believe it. I could see the disappointment and pain in her eyes as she looked at me. The last time I saw this was four years ago when she signed the divorce papers. I could remember those eyes because they had been engraved in my head ever since. "Whoa! I don't think you can ever win her back," Casper let out, taking the cocktails from the bartender who was standing in front of us and pu
GENERAL"Are you sure this will work?" Jasmine asked, worriedly, glancing at the news headline and reading comments under the blog posts. Emily chuckled, "That shouldn't be a question. I am one hundred percent certain it has worked. My brother must be on a hot seat right now," she let out with a dark smirk."I am just scared. What if they find us out?" Jasmine mumbled, tossing her phone on the couch and settling beside it.Emily was shocked by Jasmine's behavior. The lady she had always wanted for her brother wasn't a coward. What happened? What caused her change? "I didn't know you to be a coward, Jasmine. I have always known you to be brave. How would they even find out that we are behind the pictures flying over the internet? They're not going to know, my dear," she explained, hoping to relieve Jasmine's tension.Despite everything Emily said, Jasmine was still terrified. Her heart beat faster and it almost jumped out of its position. She put her thumb in her mouth and nibbled on
GENERALLexi's grip on Donald's phone tightened as she read the news on his phone. The news headline says, "Alexandra Lexi and Ryan Middleton set to walk down the aisle as they got engaged yesterday in Korea." There was a picture of them at the hotel when Lexi was drunk and stumbled over Ryan's body. The angle the picture was taken made it seem as though they were in an intimate position. Lexi's eyes darted between the phone and Ryan. Her eyes darkened as inexplicable irritation swirled within her. It was glaring. It didn't need to be investigated. Ryan was the only person who could gain access to the photos because he was the only one who knew about what transpired between them aside from her. She snickered bitterly inwardly. She couldn't believe that he could be this desperate. This was the same man she had a plan of returning his position to when they returned to England. Meanwhile, Donald was brewing with anger where he was seated. Even though he was trying his best to suppress
GeneralKoreaLexi descended from the cab, wired the money to the driver, and scurried into the hotel. She walked fast as though she was chased by some people. Getting into her suite, she locked the door and rested her back against it. Scoffing, her breath became deep and rapid. She couldn't believe what happened at the hospital."Am I a fool?" She asked nobody in particular, her chest hurling up and down. She let go of the door handle, sauntered to the bed, and collapsed onto it, sprawling with her arms widely spread while she faced the ceiling. Staring blankly, she rested a hand on her chest, and she listened to the way her heart was beating rhythmically.Blinking, she asked rhetorically, "What is wrong with me? Do I have a terminal disease? It cannot be that I am still in love with Ryan, right?" Frustrated by her unanswered question, she hissed and punched the air a few times. She blamed herself for allowing her emotions to take over. She blamed herself for going to the hospital
GENERALPresident Alexandra and Madame Alexandra were seated in the living room when Jasmine walked in, with Mr. Ricardo, his PA, beside her. Mr. Ricardo bowed curtly and strolled away when they got to the living room.As soon as Madame Alexandra saw Jasmine, she stood up and closed the gap on her. "And what were you talking about? What was that shit you were clamoring all about?" She asked, swaying an irritable and hateful gape over Jasmine, who was terrified for a moment when she saw the wealthiest man in the country for the first time. That man—she had always seen him on TV. His aura and demeanor were as strong as it was on V; in fact, it would be safe to say that it was stronger. "Cat got your tongue? Don't you have a mouth?" Madame Alexandra yelled, exasperated that Jasmine didn't respond to her question. "Abigail! President Alexandra called his wife's name, which was unusual of him. The woman's body froze, but she knew what he was trying to imply. He just indirectly told her
GENERAL Jasmine glanced at herself in the full portrait mirror and smiled widely, satisfied with the way she had dressed. Her outfit was perfect for her outing. Since it was more like she was going to a war, it was better she dressed like a warrior. Taking her bag, she wandered out of her bedroom and met Gina on the way. "Good morning, ma'am. Breakfast is ready. Should I serve it already?" She asked, darting her gaze over her. She wouldn't be surprised if her boss flared up at the question. She had become used to her mood swings and her bad temperament. As expected, Jasmine didn't find it funny and growled exasperatingly, "And so? Did I tell you that I'm hungry this morning, or is food the only thing you can think of? Is that the only thing your empty skull could install?" Gina dropped her head and mumbled, "I'm sorry, ma'am. Forgive me, ma'am." She knew better than anyone not to argue with her unless she wanted to put herself in deeper trouble. Swaying an irritable gaze over her
GeneralThe kissing started slow and languid, but as they got engrossed in it, the kissing intensified, and it became rough and aggressive. It was as though they had been denied it for years. Or maybe it was true. They nibbled on each other's lips hungrily, their hands roaming all over one another's body.They both knew it was wrong. Lexi knew that she might regret it. Her brain was telling her to stop, but she couldn't. She just didn't find herself stopping what she had started and tasted. Maybe it was because it had been long since she kissed someone; she found herself craving more as the kissing deepened. She wanted more. More than kissing and touching.She stopped thinking about her regrets. She stopped chiding herself to stop. Since it had happened, she could as well enjoy it to the fullest and just pin the blame on Ryan when they were done. At least she would be satisfied.Her hands moved to his chest, and Ryan's body trembled as her fingers rubbed his nipples, tickling him and
GENERAL "What! Jasmine exclaimed, springing up from the couch. She clenched her hand on the phone she was holding in her ear as anger coursed through her like fire on dried leaves."We are sorry, ma'am. A man appeared from nowhere, and he was crashed into instead of our target." The man on the other side of the phone explained to her, but she wasn't having it. She had been thinking about the task she gave the men in Korea. Her instinct had told her something would go wrong, but she decided to clear her doubt by giving them the opportunity, and this happened. Who was the fool who saved Lexi? Why did she keep getting help anytime she tried to attack her?"You are so incompetent. I am such a fool for trusting you guys with such an important task. I want my money back right now. You have five minutes to refund my money back to me, or else you wouldn't like it if I came to that side myself." She threatened, gritting her teeth and seething with anger. She would have pounced on the incomp