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Chapter 25: A Moment of Vulnerability
Last Updated:
2024-12-27 16:09:00
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Allison Simeone stood outside the towering glass structure of Anderson Corp, her reflection staring back at her with a confident smirk. Her heels clicked loudly against the polished and tilted floor as she entered the building, her mind already racing with how to handle the man she once knew so well.Frank Payne was the first to spot her at the reception desk. His eyes widened as he recognized her. “ Miss Allison Simeone?” he asked, his tone a mix of surprise and disbelief." Why are you being so formal, huh?" Allison said with a slight smile on her face."I was just surprised to see you.... what are you doing in the company?"“Hello, Frank, it's nice to see you too after three years.” she replied smoothly, her smile disarming. “I need to see Liam, is he in?”Frank blinked, taken aback. “I'm sorry. It's nice to see you too but it’s been years since…”“Yes, it has,” she interrupted, her tone casual but firm. “I’m sure Liam will want to see me. Please let him know I’m here. I'll wait.”
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The air in the PR Horizon conference room was thick with the sound of tapping keyboards and shuffling papers. Employees gathered around the large table, their focus sharp as they waited for Allison Simeone to speak. Isabelle sat quietly near the corner, scribbling notes as Ethan handed out printed lists to everyone.“All right,” Allison began, her sharp voice slicing through the murmurs. “We’re here to finalize the ambassadors for Elle Luxe’s Rebirth Collection campaign. Ethan, what do you have for us?”Ethan stood, his usual friendly demeanor laced with professionalism. “I’ve compiled a list of potential ambassadors based on the campaign’s theme and Isabelle's idea. These individuals have compelling personal stories of overcoming hardships, aligning with the idea of rebirth and transformation. Their stories are relatable, and they have active followings across various platforms.”Allison took the list from Ethan and scanned it. Her expression betrayed nothing, but her sharp eyes dart
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Allison’s sharp eyes glinted under the soft streetlights as she looked from Isabelle to Ethan. She tilted her head, a sly smile creeping onto her face.“Well, well,” she said smoothly, her tone sounding amused. “What brings the two of you here, together?”Ethan opened his mouth, but Isabelle quickly stepped in, her voice steady despite the knot forming in her stomach, staying silent would make her more nervous. “We agreed to meet MIA here, we already had a meeting with her and she left. She signed the contract.”Allison’s smile widened. “Ah, wonderful news. I knew you’d handle it perfectly, that's why I assigned you to it. But I don't remember asking Ethan to follow you, so why are you here, Ethan?”“MIA was my university junior, I figured it'd be faster for two people to come, plus, MIA isn't an easy egg to crack and I'm sure you know that too. I'm surprised that you assigned Isabelle who would be busy with lots of things for this campaign to take care of the ambassador for Elle Luxe
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The soft glow of the bedside lamp filled Isabelle’s room as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the suitcase in front of her. Her thoughts went back and forth relentlessly, circling back to the image of Liam and Allison together at the restaurant.“What could they be doing now?” she muttered under her breath. The thought made her chest tighten, but she shook her head firmly. “No. Stop this, Isabelle. It doesn’t matter. Focus on work. Allison is your boss and she probably doesn't know that I'm married to Liam.”Her mind shifted to Ethan’s earlier suggestion. He had proposed they travel to the campaign site together the next morning since the location was a little bit far and they’d be staying there for several days for the shoots.She pushed herself up from the bed, Isabelle grabbed her suitcase and began packing. She carefully folded clothes and packed essentials, trying to focus on the task at hand instead of the storm of emotions and questions swirling inside her.The
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“Are you lost?” he asked, his voice calm but unsettling.Isabelle’s hand tightened on her phone, her instincts screaming at her to stay alert. “I’m fine,” she said quickly, her voice firm. “I’m waiting for someone.”The man tilted his head, rain dripping from his hat. “Are you sure? It’s dangerous to sit here alone in the dark.”Panic bubbled in Isabelle’s chest as she tried to think of what to do. Her phone buzzed in her hand—Ethan was calling back.She glanced at the man, his unsettling smile sending a shiver down her spine.“Ethan, please get here soon,” she whispered."Miss, i'm talking to you. Do you have car issues? I'm sure I can fix that right up for you" He continued."I'm okay, really. Thank you for your concern." Isabelle said and turned around to enter back into her car but the man was faster. He held the door down with his hand, stooping her from opening it.The rain poured relentlessly, and Isabelle shivered, trying to stay calm as the man outside her car leaned closer t
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The drive to Westford University was tense. Isabelle gripped the steering wheel firmly, her mind racing through possible ways to handle the situation. Next to her, Selena sat with her arms crossed, tapping her nails against her knee impatiently.“I still don’t see why we have to be nice about this,” Selena muttered, shifting in her seat.Isabelle sighed, keeping her eyes on the road. “Because we need them to trust us. If we go in there guns blazing, they’ll only become more defensive.”Selena scoffed. “That’s assuming they deserve any respect after what they pulled. They didn’t just reject our partnership—they publicly trashed Polaris Tech. If they had doubts, they could’ve kept it internal.”Isabelle nodded. “I agree. What they did was irresponsible. But think about it—did they say anything false?”Selena frowned. “Well—no, but—”“They didn’t outright lie,” Isabelle continued. “They didn’t fabricate anything. They just repeated what they thought was true. And whether we like it or no
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By the time Isabelle finally walked through the doors of the house, exhaustion weighed down on her shoulders. The day had been long—Crestview’s success, Westford’s betrayal, and the revelation that Laura and Estella were behind the attack on Polaris Tech.And worse, the growing suspicion that Marcus had been orchestrating this entire thing from the start.She barely had time to gather her thoughts before she heard the deep, familiar voice from across the living room.“You’re late. Again, Isabelle.”She looked up to see Liam standing by the bar, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, and a glass of whiskey in his hand. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unreadable.Isabelle sighed, setting her bag down by the couch. “I know. I'm sorry.”Liam placed his glass down and crossed the room in three long strides. Before she could react, he cupped her face, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.“Are you alright?” His voice was low, laced with concern.She swa
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Isabelle took a deep breath before stepping out of her office. It was time for the meeting with the marketing team, and she had already put together a few ideas on how to boost Polaris AI’s public image. As she made her way toward the meeting room, she spotted Selena walking ahead of her, her posture stiff, her steps quick and purposeful."Selena," Isa called out.Selena didn’t stop.Isa frowned but quickened her pace until she caught up and gently grabbed Selena’s arm. The woman turned sharply, her eyes flashing with irritation."What do you want?" Selena asked coldly.Isa let go of her arm and met her gaze with calm confidence. "Look, I know you don’t like me here. You think I’m here to take your position, but you don’t have to worry about that. I have no intention of staying in Polaris Tech permanently."Selena’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes."I’ll be gone in three weeks," Isa continued, her voice steady. "I was brought in temporarily,
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 115 – Walking into the Lion’s Den
The towering glass building of Polaris Technologies loomed before Isabelle as she stepped out of the car. The sleek, modern exterior was almost like Anderson Corp’s, yet there was no sense of familiarity—this wasn’t her first time here. But today, everything was different. Today, she was not a visitor or a negotiator. She was an employee. Even if temporary.With a deep breath, she adjusted her blouse and made her way through the entrance. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. Whispers rippled through the lobby like a wave, eyes discreetly flicking in her direction. Some employees murmured with excitement, others with skepticism."So that’s Isabelle Rivers? Liam Anderson's wife?""I heard she’s brilliant.""I heard she played a big role in the security breach scandal. She even held a press conference. What’s she doing here?"" Has she been hired permanently by Mr Carter?"Isabelle kept her head high, ignoring the murmurs as she reached the reception desk. The receptionist, a
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 114 – Marked and Claimed
Isabelle stood in front of the mirror, absently gathering her hair to tie it up. But the moment she lifted it, she froze.Hickeys.Deep, reddish-purple bruises littered the pale skin of her neck and collarbone, evidence of last night’s passion. She inhaled sharply, her fingers grazing over them.Her cheeks flushed.She should be annoyed—it was inconvenient to go around with these marks. But instead, a small, traitorous smile tugged at her lips.Liam was insatiable.She bit her lower lip, caught between amusement and frustration. There was no way she could wear her hair up today.Behind her, the door to the walk-in closet opened, and Liam stepped out, dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit. His hair was neatly styled, and he was adjusting his tie with practiced ease. The sight of him, so effortlessly put together, made last night’s memory even more vivid.Liam glanced at her reflection in the mirror and smirked. “What’s got you so happy this early in the morning?”Isa snapped out of her daze
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 113: The Answers To The Questions
Isabelle gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she maneuvered through the dimly lit streets. She wasn’t supposed to be doing this.Both Allison and Ethan had warned her—stay away.But how could she?The way Vivian had been dragged away, the panic in her eyes, the sheer weight of what had happened—it wouldn’t leave Isa’s mind. And Marcus... she had never trusted him completely. Something about him had always felt off.Now, more than ever, she needed answers.She arrived at the detention center, her heart pounding as she stepped out of the car. It was a grim-looking building, surrounded by barbed wire and guarded heavily. What the hell am I doing? she wondered. But it was too late to turn back now.After going through security and the necessary formalities, she sat in the visitation area, waiting. The fluorescent lights flickered above her, making the dull gray walls feel even colder.The door on the other side of the glass partition buzzed open.Vivian stepped in.I
