Xavier watched his brothers leave as well as Ella too and slumped onto the nearest couch, feeling numbness in his knee. He couldn't stop himself from sighing continuously as his mind raced back to barely three years ago when he could go to wherever he want and do whatever he desire.But things drastically changed barely a year ago when Andy, his son, made the suggestion of selling the groups for an unknown buyer which turns out to be Lisa, their supposed long dead niece.The money they gained from selling the groups to Lisa, after the three brothers shared it among themselves, in no time was where to be found —they can't even give account of how they had spend the money. If there's anything the three brothers are very good at, it's squandering whatever money they lay their hands on, no matter how they earn it.Now broke and continuously relying on Andy, Xavier felt like he needed more —his thirst for wealth can't be quench easily as he sees the money Andy do give him as a meager compa
Alex sat slouched in his leather office chair, gazing blankly at the computer screen as his mind meandered through a maze of conflicting emotions. The news of Rosy's pregnancy lingered heavily in his thoughts, a bittersweet turmoil that tugged at his heart.Shouldn't he be elated, celebrating the impending arrival of a child? Not just any child but his! But instead, his mind betrayed him, conjuring images of a different woman, a different life.A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he berated himself for his internal turmoil. "Lisa… it should have been Lisa." He mumbled under his breath, the mere thought offering an illusory solace that only deepened his inner struggle.Alex absentmindedly smiled at himself as the thought of Lisa being pregnant instead of Rosy lifted his spirit. He assured himself of how much happy he would be to have her break such delightful news to him. The multiple knock on his desk disrupted his reverie, and he stiffened as his eyes laid on Jamel, concern etched in t
*FIVE YEARS LATER*Alex is seen heading straight to his office. He despise going late to office, most especially, if it's a Monday morning and now he knew time is not by his side. He is focused on getting to the office before he run too late. On getting to the office, he met Jamel standing at his door already lost in his own world and by his facial expression, Alex could tell that he is worried about something that he could not fathom what possibly might be about him too. "Jamel..." Alex uttered, calling out making Jamel who had not notice his presence until now, only to get stunned with the presence of his boss. "Mr. Williams ..." He replied, heaving a sigh of relieve as he rushed towards Alex and helped him with his briefcase he's with. "Good morning." "Oh, yeah. Morning, what happened? You look worried." Alex probed as he went inside his office and Jamel following his trail. "What is it that you are worried about? You can tell me." "I thought you must have forgotten about th
Alex's meeting with Ryan Lerman, the owner of El Salvador's cooperation, wasn't the type that takes much of each others time but as well, it can't be called brief. Ryan was just the type of man Alex had figured him to be, his theory did not fail.Alex has dealt with hundreds of people before and with his couple of years experience, he was able to tell what kind of clients each one of them would turn out to be. Ryan Lerman, just as Alex had predicted might be a hard nut to crack but he definitely knows what he wants."If the deal goes well as discussed and none did breach the contract, I can assure you that there are lots of deals to come in the future." Ryan Lerman told Alex straightforwardly, his voice was hoarse but professional stable."Sure, you earn my trust and that of my company's too, I can assure you that." Alex replied with the same vibe as his new client. "...and I look forward to more business proposal from you, Mr. Lerman."Their terms on the business proposal was accepte
Alex walked in, holding Vanessa's hand in his. His gaze met with his wife, Rosy, who was sitting comfortably on the couch with her left leg crossed over her right leg. Rosy was watching her favorite soap opera but turn her head towards the opposite direction when she heard the door creaked. "You are here..." She stated simply with no emotion whatsoever in her voice and just as she had turned her gaze towards the direction of the door, she turned her gaze again, this time, back to the television."Is that a proper way of welcoming your daughter and husband who has been away for couple of hours?" Alex asked as they strode towards Rosy. "Forget about me, not even a hug? To your only daughter?"Rosy scoffs, an irritated look on her face. "You see I'm busy, Alex, you should at least apply some manners here." She told him, countering. "Why must you read much meaning into little things that doesn't even matter? What's the big deal if I don't hug Vanessa, she's no more a toddler, you know!"
A hush descended upon the room, the kind that makes the air feel thick and suffocating, as if a storm were about to break. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the shrill ring of the doorbell.Alex felt his heart leap into his throat because it came too suddenly, but Rosy seemed completely at ease as though she had been waiting for it. "Looks like the drama is about to begin..." Rosy quipped, and Alex, on the other hand, caught the sly smile that played on Rosy's lips. Alex was weary of Rosy's smile but only shrugged it off and the silence returned. Barely five seconds after the first shrill of the doorbell, the silence was broken again. Alex groaned softly as he reluctantly walked up to the door and opened it slowly, and peeped to see who it was. "Oh, it's you!" He drawled and sighed in relieve when he saw the person before him.The fellow turned out to be Jamel. "Good day, Mr Williams..." He greeted him, flashing his usual small smile of his. "Oh, Jamel..." Alex muffled out, his e
The chairman's office was a veritable showcase of opulence, with luxurious furnishings, high quality materials, and tasteful decor that evoked a sense of refinement and authority.The atmosphere was hushed and dignified, with a focus on professionalism and efficiency. The office exuded a sense of sophistication, purpose, and success, with the chairman's presence adding to the air of prestige and importance.Andy is seen sitting on the plushy leather arm chair behind the desk at the far end of the spacious office, the expression on his face adding more meaning and dignity to the atmosphere in the office.Behind the facade of his expression was a tired man who refuses to quit whatever he's doing. As the day wore on, Andy's face wore a stoic expression, his resolve unwavering despite the fatigue he felt in his mind and body.His eyes, though tired, remained focused on the task at hand, and he continued to sign document after document without pause. The atmosphere in the room was heavy wi
It was supposed to be a side and quick hug but Andy couldn't let go. Five years without her feels like a five thousand years to him, seeing her before him doesn't feel surreal at all —it was like a dream and he wished he won't wake up from it."It's really you, right, Lisa?" Andy asked, immediately they disengaged from the hug. His eyes were running all over her as though he was checking her out, well to be sure he wasn't dreaming. "This is the same Lisa I've known to be my Coz, right?"Lisa laughed softly at his naivety. "Have you been seeing my doppelganger behind my back?" She asked, a glint of sarcasm in her voice."Whoa, mom..." Xenia, Lisa's daughter and the female among the twin, squealed in excitement as her eyes shone brightly. "You do have a doppelganger and you didn't tell Klaus and I? That's awesome!"Lisa furrowed her brows, completely taken aback. "Wait, what?" She blurted out, short of words.Xenia jumped happily, still squealing in delight. "I can't wait to meet her, m
As she sat, deep in thought, a sudden buzz broke her concentration. A notification appeared on her phone, with a message from her former fiancé, David."Why is he sending me a message out of the blue?" She muttered within herself as she unlocked her phone to read the message, feeling a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. She read the message, and her breath caught in her throat.Sarah stared at the message sent to her, her curiosity suddenly turned into a mixture of anger and sadness. It reads, 'I can't believe you are such a gold digger, Sarah! This was your plan all along? To ditch me, leave me in disgrace at the altar, and go after the president because he's loaded, isn't he?'Sarah gritted her teeth in fury as she read the message further. 'You are such a cheap slut, but I promise you, Sarah, that I won't go down without a fight! Be on your best guard because tonight, I'm giving you the biggest surprise of your life...!'David's words cut through her like a knife, the fact that he go
Sarah, a name now acknowledged and recognized in the journal of the nation's political context, stood as the center of an exceptional sight, surrounded by glaring lights, loud and noisy voices, and examining eyes from the press, reflecting a model of the public.Amidst the lights and noisy surroundings, the press that managed to get close to her probed her with questions, their eyes gleaming with excitement. She was their new prey - the fact that she was the first Lady made things more interesting for them.For the first time since her marriage with the president, she had only stepped out for a moment to look around and probably get used to her new environment but things did not turn out as she thought would be.As though the press was keeping a close watch on her and monitoring her movement - maybe someone had tipped them off her whereabouts, they hovered around her like flies, trapping her down in the same spot.Microphones and other instruments used by the press were pointed in her
As Sarah stood at the altar to exchange marital vows with the president, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was as if time had slowed down, and everything around her was moving in slow motion.The guests, the priest, the groom - they all seemed to be moving at a fraction of the speed she was used to. Everything felt surreal as if she was in a dream. But she knew this was real. This was her wedding day - another wedding she was holding in that same week she ditched the first one.The priest's words drifted through the air as if they were carried by the wind. "Do you, Sarah, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"As the words of the vow hung in the air, Sarah felt her heart skip a beat. It was like everything had stopped, and it was just her and the president in the world. She looked into his eyes, a
Sarah had never seen him before which made her curiosity piqued, her gaze on the parcel he stretched out to her. Though she was tempted to take the parcel from him, she still hesitated as though she was contemplating taking the parcel from him.His unusual warm smile spread wider, urging her to take it from him. Seeing how much she was hesitating, he squatted down to her height, opened her palms, and placed the parcel on them."For you..." He uttered, still wearing his unusual warm smile. His voice was calm but far from the regular manly voice Sarah had heard."What's in the parcel?" She asked, directing her gaze from the man to the parcel in her palms before raising her gaze to meet the man's. "-and why are you giving it to me?""I can read the curiosity in your eyes, lady." He responded quietly, maintaining his calm tone. "Why don't you feed your curiosity by checking it out yourself?"Sarah said nothing in reply and did as the man had suggested. She opened the parcel and couldn't be
Alone on the serene and deserted beach, Sarah sat on the sandy shore, the waves crashing against the beach as if echoing her inner turmoil. The sunset on the horizon in its warm hue of orange failed to bring comfort to the despair that hung over her like a chute.Her eyes were red and swollen, heavy with the weight of sorrow and betrayal. Tears painted her face, the hurt as vast as the sea itself and heavy as a lead. Yet underneath the sorrow was an underlying sense of trepidation - a thought that wasn't born out of hope but out of fear of continuing to live.Sarah ought to be grateful that she found out about them before the knot was tied between herself and David - how worse would it be if things started to unfold after her wedding?Sarah stood up abruptly and walked closer to the beach, shutting other thoughts off her head and mind. She stared intensely into the raging waves of the waster as thoughts of suicide attempts swirled in her mind, tempting her to end the painful game she f
Divorce is okay.Starting over is okay.Moving on is okay.Being alone is okay.But, what is not okay is staying somewhere "YOU'RE NOT VALUED AND APPRECIATED!"Sarah is betrothed to her highschool lover. A man whom she has dreamt a million dreams to grow into an old age with.What happens on the eve of their wedding day. A betrayal of infidelity struck her path.But the question remains; Will it save her marriage, destroys it or rather changes her fate for a greater good?You and I needs to find out!.....................The sun rose over the town, casting a warm glow on the streets. It was a partially sunny day, and the sky was clear as well. The air was crisp and cool, and the birds were singing happily in the trees.The streets were quiet, and there was a peaceful stillness in the air. It was the perfect morning for a walk in the park, or for sitting under a gazebo with a cup of coffee. The world seemed to be at peace, and everything was just as it should be. It was a morning to be
Gerald was pushed aggressively back into the prison, and the warder locked the gate immediately, throwing the keys into his pocket. Gerald hissed in pain as he forcefully hit his knee on the cold floor, bruising it in the process.“I wonder how long you are going to last here with the nonchalant attitude you are putting on, man!” The warder scowled disapprovingly at him, resting lazily on the gaze. “You won't even last three months here —you will be lucky if you do.”Gerald's eyes widened in shock. Three months…? That's a whole lot of time to be detained in a prison, how is he supposed to cope in this kind of surrounding for that long period of time without even knowing his offense? The thought of spending three months locked up in a cell was terrifying as it made his stomach dropped.It was hard to imagine being stuck in such a small space for so long, with nothing to do and no one to talk to. Gerald tried to think of ways to pass the time, but his mind kept returning to the same thou
Gerald's eyes blazed in fury as he banged his hands dangerously on the table, separating them from each other. “I rather remain in this hole than be at your mercy or listen to your petty orders! You can't make me do your bidding!” He growled at her.“Tsk, tsk!” Aunt Elsie twitched her nose in disappointment, unmoved by his rage or threats. “Then what would happen to Lisa? I told you; that your reaction and obedience will determine Lisa's fate, didn't I?”“What are you going to do to Lisa?” Gerald demanded, his heart beating against his rib cage. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her. “Tell me what you want, and I'll do it. Just don't hurt her.”Aunt Elsie's lips stretched into a thin smile, she was loving the desperation in Gerald's eyes —he's the perfect pawn in the game. “I'm glad to see that you're willing to cooperate.” She said, satisfaction evident in her tone. “You're a smart man, Gerald, I think we can work well together.”Gerald hated the way she was talkin
Aunt Elsie smiled broadly, she was right about him. Only someone like him will be needed —he had managed to read her perfectly without getting close to her. She was impressed, and that will only make her want him more.“I don't bargain, yeah…" She uttered, admitting to his words. “—but I'm ready to do so, if it'll please you.”“What do you mean by that?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. “Why would you change your usual tactics just to please me? What do you want from me?”Aunt Elsie's smile widened, she was glad he didn't bite her head off this time —instead, she loved the curiosity in his eyes; that was what she wanted from him anyway, not otherwise.“I've found myself smitten with you, Gerald.” She replied, her voice taking a different turn. “And I would do anything to get what I want from you —I'm not afraid of bargaining this time because I know what I want, and I want it badly.”Gerald was no in for her twist and turns, he wanted her to say whatever thing she's got for him and let