RYAN "I want to see the President," I told the secretary I met at Lexi's office, but she was reluctant to let me in. "I... Sorry, sir. But the president warned to never let you in. Please, kindly take your leave," Sarah let out with full professionalism, intertwining her hands while keeping a straight countenance. I wasn't shocked either. I expected that after the nuisance I had caused in Lexi's office. However, it was important that I meet her today. I really needed to explain things to her. Isabelle's, our daughter's life is in trouble, and we needed to act smart and fast on it to avoid stories that could hurt us. Darting my eyes over Sarah, I smirked, "Do you know who I am? I'm sure you are mistaken. Lexi will never order you not to grant me entrance to her office." She swayed a suspicious gaze over me and bobbed her head negatively. "I'm sorry, Mr. Middleton, but I cannot let you in. I would have called her on the phone to ask for her permission, but I doubt she will pick up.
LEXII think I am going crazy. How the hell would I find Ryan's cologne relaxing and aromatic? And why was I bothered that he met Donald and me the way he met us?As soon as he slammed the door behind him, I exhaled sharply and shook my head. "You need to get your act together, Lexi."I guessed he was lurking around me because I had become the CEO of his company, which was the reason I proposed to him to be my driver. Ryan Middleton is egoistic, and I doubted that he would find my offer fair. I was certain that he would get angry and forfeit the position to me. At least he would stop stalking me and leave me the hell alone. I hated that I kept seeing his face.*Ryan strolled straight to Donald's office as he left Lexi's. Donald was deep in thought when he footed in.The creaking sound of the door propelled him to look in the direction of the entrance, and he huffed as he saw Ryan. There was something suspicious about Ryan, but he couldn't place a finger on it, and it made him extreme
JASMINE"Pick up! Pick up!! Fucking pick up your call," I gritted, hitting my phone on my hand aggressively. It had been two weeks since I had been calling Ryan, but he wasn't picking up my phone. I had gone to his company many times, but I wasn't allowed in. I was told the CEO had changed and they were strictly ordered never to allow the Middleton or anyone close to the family to step into the company. That was still a mystery yet to be solved. What was happening? How did the CEO change with nobody knowing about it?I had gone to his house. He wasn't home, but I met Emily and his mother. Unlike in the past, they were cold to me as though we were enemies. In fact, Emily warned me never to come to their house.I missed my man. I missed Ryan so much, yet he hadn't been granting me an audience ever since Lexi returned to the country. Without being told, I knew he had been busy following her around. That bitch! She returned to the country and ruined all I had worked hard for. Ryan had fuc
GENERAL"Good morning!" A familiar voice echoed in Lexi's voice as soon as she stepped out of her car that morning, causing her to tilt her head. For a few seconds, she was dumbfounded when she saw Ryan inches away from her, smiling and waving his hands. She cringed at his laughter and didn't hide it with the smug on her face.She rolled her eyes and huffed. It was a new day and a new week. It was too early to get a wonderful drama from him."Please, leave. It's too early for your drama," Lexi let out, taking her bag from the backseat and locking the door."Leave? Are you sacking me already?" Ryan asked nonchalantly, tucking his hands in his pockets with arms akimbo. Lexi's body froze; she turned and raised a part of her brows in a questioning manner. "Sack you? Does this look like your place of work? Were you ever employed?" Ryan smirked and closed the gap between them. His hands were still tucked in the pocket. Briefly, Lexi was drooled over his majestic and sexy demeanor, but she
GENERALLexi twirled her wrist to skim at her watch, and she heaved when she realized that it was time for lunch. She hadn't even exhaled when the door opened and Donald tucked his head in. "Time for lunch!" He announced with a smile, waving.Lexi's lips curled into a grin, and she snickered, "You never missed the time." She joked, getting up from her seat.Donald walked up to her, snaked his arms around her waist, and pulled her closer to his body. He made an attempt to kiss her, but she smartly tilted her face, which made Donald kiss her cheeks. He obviously noticed what just happened, but he chuckled. He presumed that she wasn't comfortable yet."Should we go for lunch now?" He asked."Of course. I'm freaking famished right now. I have been waiting for the lunch hour like it's an hour of redemption," she let out."Okay. Let's go," he muttered, and the duo stepped out of Lexi's office.On getting out, Donald sighted Ryan, getting his food from the delivery guy. "I guessed Mr. Ryan d
GENERAL"Welcome, ma'am. Welcome, sir," Sarah greeted Lexi and Ryan as they returned from lunch. Lexi responded with a smile and said, "Get me a cup of coffee." Darting her gaze over Donald, she asked, "Do you care for?" "Uhm... Yes. A cup of coffee for me too," he replied, and Sarah left to carry out the task she was given.Donald and Lexi sauntered into Lexi's office and went to settle in the visitor's corner, where there were two couches facing each other and a small table in between. Five minutes later, Sarah returned with two cups of coffee and placed them carefully on the table."Thank you, Sarah," Donald muttered smilingly, and Sarah's face flushed. She lowered her head and nodded before she walked out.Lexi picked up a cup of coffee, placed one leg on the other, and folded one of her arms as she took the cup to her lips. However, as she sipped the coffee, the door flew open.The banging sound of the door made Lexi and Donald glance at each other, and they hurriedly stood up
LEXII was satisfied with what I did. The look on Ryan's face when I was pouring the coffee on his head cannot be forgotten in a while. I have it engraved in my head. I had the urge to laugh at him when I suspected him battling with his emotions, especially his temperament, but I held back. With what I did, I knew he would not come back to work for me henceforth, and I couldn't be happier.As I pretended to work, I felt Donald's gaze over me, and it made me uncomfortable. How could I have forgotten that I still have a lot to explain and it isn't over yet? Gosh! Can't he just let things be and pretend like nothing happened?"Don't you think you owe me an explanation?" My greatest worry happened. He finally broke the silence and demanded an explanation.I shut my eyes, gritted my teeth dejectedly, and shook my head unhurriedly. With a smile, I opened my eyes and raised my head."An explanation? What explanation?" I questioned, feigning ignorance, and I hoped he wouldn't drag up the issu
GENERALDonald stepped out of his car and walked straight into his flat. He was staying on the first floor of a two storey-building. Getting into his apartment, he tossed his bag, flinging it on the couch, removed his suit, undid his tie, and collapsed onto the couch, flopping his hands and leaning his head backward. He had been exhausted from the day's activities. It was evident in his eyes and the way he breathed.He took his phone and grimaced at the screen, which revealed Lexi's picture as the wallpaper, and he sighed. They didn't talk to each other since the argument. Lexi was too stubborn to apologize to him and he was also standing on his manly ego. He missed her.Swiping the phone, he went to the recent calls and stared at Lexi's number, contemplating whether to reach out to her or not. The urge to give in and call her first was strong but he overcame it, turned the phone off, hissed, and tossed the phone to the side.Sitting up, he thought about the whole thing. From the orig
GENERAL Five Months Later The thump on the door caused Cinderella and Donald to raise their heads and look in the direction of the entrance. At the same time, the door opened slightly, and Lexi popped her head in, scrutinizing the whole place. When her gaze finally landed on the couple, she smiled and waved her hand. "Hello, mummy and daddy," she mumbled, strolling inside. She was followed by her husband, Ryan, and her daughter, Isabelle. "Lexi!" Donald muttered, walking up to Lexi and pulling her in a tight hug. "You didn't tell me you would be coming when we talked on the phone yesterday," he added, breaking the hug and darting his gaze over her. He was surprised to see her at the hospital. "Yeah! I didn't tell you, but it would be bad of me not to come to see my godson as soon as he was born," she said, sauntering past Donald to where the baby was. "Oh! My little pookie. You look so handsome," she complimented, taking the bed from his bed. "He looks just like you, Cinderella,"
GENERALThe sounds of gunshots reverberated across the building. Jasmine was shot in her legs and was forced to stagger into the fire she just created. Like a flash, the fire spread quickly and engulfed the whole building.Zoe and Emily screamed their lungs out for help. The cops who had arrived at the scene earlier rushed in before the fire could get to the people who were tied. Expertly, they released them from the hold and carried them out one after the other. Fortunately, nobody sustained burns except Jasmine, who fell into the fire. The fire was quickly quenched, and she was saved before she could be burnt beyond recognition. Her face, hands, and legs were burnt like an offering. Just when they thought the storm had calmed, Isabelle, who hadn't revived from her blackout, started breathing with difficulty in her mother's arms. Her chest hurled up and down.Lexi's jaw dropped and her eyes blinked as she looked at the girl in her hands. "Isabelle! My love! What is wrong with you?
GENERAL"What! What are you saying?" Zoe let out a stutter. Her lips shook with her eyes dilating in disbelief. She was certain that she didn't hear right. Jasmine would never say that.Jasmine prodded into her eyes, and her lips curled into a sinister smirk. "You heard me, Zoe Middleton. I still have unfinished business with your son," she repeated herself."No, Jasmine. You promised me. This wasn't the agreement. Don't you even try to go back on your words?" She interjected, "I don't like when you try to act sly. I hate betrayals, and I don't pity them." She spurted out, her eyes revealing anger.Jasmine snorted, unfazed by her reaction. "Well, I lied, Zoe. Feel free to call me a betrayal," she asserted.Lexi burst into a peal of hysterical laughter, throwing her head backward. "Such a fool! You think you are smart. Nobody knows Jasmine better than I do. She is just a desperate attention seeker. You are doomed," she muttered amidst her laughter.Angered and frustrated, Emily walked
GENERAL Ryan's eyes blinked when his sister, Emily, and Zoe, his mother, walked in. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was forced to shut his eyes and open them back, and they were still there. They didn't change. "Mum!!!" Ryan muttered, stupefied. It was as though he had just seen horror. If he had been told that he would be betrayed by his own family, especially his mother, he would have argued blindly. What pushed his mother to this? Zoe and Emily strolled closer to them and folded their arms. "Surprised?" She muttered, and he gulped. "What are you doing, mother? Why are you here? Why are you with Jasmine? Don't tell me you've joined hands with her..." He mumbled, and his mother shrugged her shoulders, asserting his speech. His mouth opened and he scoffed. "What are you thinking, Mum? What is wrong with you? Why would you do such a thing?" He retracted his gaze from his mother and moved it to his sister, Emily. "And you? Can't you tell her that this is wrong? Did you join an ou
GENERALRyan drove like a madman to the spot where he was told his wife's car was found. Getting there, he met some cops doing their work. "Mr. Ryan," one of them called the moment he stepped out of his car. "Did you find any clue? Have you checked the dashboard? Isn't there any CCTV in the street?" He hurled questions at the cops, scared. "The card in the dashboard has been removed. We guess the kidnappers took that with them. And for the street CCTV, we've asked the residents here, and they said it isn't working. It was just there as a camouflage," the cop explained, and Ryan hissed. What was happening? Why did bad things keep happening anytime he was happy? Who would dare kidnap his wife and daughter?He ran his fingers through his hair and placed a hand on his waist. He hated that he was helpless. His child and wife had been kidnapped, but he didn't know what to do. How would he save them? Where were they taken to?* "What! My Lexi? Never!" Mrs. Alexandra's eyes widened when
GENERAL "Please, have your seat," Donald said, pulling the chair out for Cinderella to sit on it.She scrutinized the restaurant they visited with admiration in her eyes. She didn't know where they were going before they left home. Donald just told her to dress nicely. She blushed as she took her seat. He walked to the other side and reclined on his seat. "Welcome, ma'am. Welcome, sir. What would you like to take?" A female waitress walked up to them as soon as they settled.Donald picked the menu and skimmed through it. "Seafood, and a bottle of champagne," he responded, handing his debit card over to the waitress. She took the card, bowed curtly, and left to prepare their order. The seafood he chose was Cinderella's favorite. Soon, the waitress arrived with their orders and arranged them on the table. She returned Donald's debit card. "Enjoy your meal," she said and left.Cinderella's eyes sparkled with hunger as she saw the seafood. The urge to dig in surged within her, b
GENERAL "Finally! You've come to visit me," Ryan's grandmother said, grinning as she went to welcome Lexi, Ryan, and Isabelle, their daughter. "Oh, my Goddess! Is this my little Isabelle?" Grandmother asked, ruffling the little girl's hair. "Hello, grandmother," Isabelle greeted with a smile. "Hey, granddaughter. You've become so big," Grandmother said with admiration in her eyes, and they laughed.Lexi went close to her. They prodded into each other's gazes and embraced each other. Tears brimmed in Lexi's eyes. There was no way she would count her blessings and not count her grandmother. In fact, she would count her twice. She was the only one who never looked down on her despite her poor status in the past. She took her like a daughter and made sure she never lacked a thing. Seeing her again after five years brought back memories, and tears strolled down her eyes. "Thank you for everything, Grandmother," Lexi said with a croaky voice. A lump clogged her throat.Breaking th
GENERALLexi and Ryan weren't surprised by their presence. They glanced at them indifferently, waiting to hear why they were there.Zoe swallowed hard. "Hey, son!" She mumbled with a fake smile.With an emotionless expression, Ryan said, "Why are you here, ma'am?"Her eyes widened. She stuttered, "What... What do you mean by that? Why would anyone ask why I am at my son's house?" She darted her stare over Lexi and threw her deadly and hateful glare. Lexi didn't mind the looks from her. In as much as she didn't step her foot into the house. "I thought I told you not to bring your legs here unless you are ready to repent." Why are you here with the devil you birthed?" He snapped at his mother, fixing a cold gaze at her sister, who was hiding behind her mother.Zoe's face changed into horror. She wore a squinty countenance. "What! Did you just call your sister a devil? What has gotten into you? Has this witch messed with your sense of reasoning?" She hurled questions at him, throwing
GENERALJasmine's step slowed as she neared her hideout. It was evident that she was scared. Perhaps not scared. She wasn't just ready for the drama that would follow once she got to where she was staying. As expected, she saw the man she had been staying with, standing outside and looking fierce.With the way he paced up and down, Jasmine discerned that it wouldn't be a good day for her as usual. He was drunk and exasperated. She was going to get beaten for the umpteenth time. When she escaped the prison some weeks back, she met this grumpy man who offered to help her if she agreed to be his wife. Without thinking, she accepted since she was in dire need of help. And that marked the beginning of her misery. If she was beaten today, she would be sexually abused the following day. Should we talk about the dirty streets and the stinky houses? If she was the previous Jasmine, she would have puked the first time she stepped into his house. "Look who is here. The Almighty Jasmine," The