Maria was shocked when she stepped I to the house to see Mateo in the living room with their daughter, alma lying on his thighs. She had fallen asleep and he was caressing her.Marisol was relaxing on the sofa and watching a news report.When he noticed her, he merely gave her a side glance ."Honey! I wasn't expecting you to be home so early."He still didn't respond to her. He just kept on watching."I went to see my dad, that is why I am home late. He said he wanted to talk about business and..."When did your father start talking about business with you?" He asked with no expression on his face."Honey, I...it's...When the surprise had subsided, Mateo simply let out a sigh and stood up. he was extremely irritated with Maria. He took alma gently Into his arms. "I'll be sleeping in the study tonight, I have a lot of work to do. You can shower and go to bed. I'll tuck Alma in." He said and headed up the stairs without waiting for a response.After putting alma to bed, Mateo went in
Club Titans was it's usual bustling high - energy self. This was the clubhouse frequented by the high and top ranking members of the business community.It was the place where its members hung out in private, to relax and enjoy each others company.The interior was immaculately kept, as every club member's taste were.Even the sofas were perfectly oiled and fresh.The bar was on one end of the room, where you could easily enjoy the company of several bottles of brandy, or at the very least some good Scottish whisky, while one's own private fire place acted as an extra bit of atmosphere.They had a very comfortable group of couches that invited you to stay a while.This was, by all accounts, one of the better bars in the city.Li-lah sat before the mirror getting ready for her dance performance for the night.She wore a red off shoulder gown, tight and fitted to the bodice with a flowing short train. She looked very provocative and her creamy white skin glowed against the red satin of
With each passing second, the kissing intensified. Mateo's breathing began to quicken.Li-lah's kisses became more passionate, as if she were trying to devour him.Mateo moved his hand from her back to her lower back, lifting her off the bed.She felt amazing.The fire had begun to rise again.Li-lah lifted her head to see how it was burning. Mateo didn't hesitate to let his lips go to her lips.Li-lah felt an intense heat emanating from Mateo's kiss.She had never felt anything like it before. Li-lah felt electrified by his power.Mateo pulled his head back slightly.Mateo gently pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his magnificent, well-formed, muscled chest.Li-lah gasped. Her eyes were wide with surprise and her mouth was agape.Li-lah let out a small breath. She could feel Mateo's body against hers, but there was still more.As the last of his shirt left his body, she felt his full-bodied chest against her, his hard, tanned chest with a few light freckles. She ran her finger
Diego was putting finishing touches to his suit when the for suddenly opens and his aide, Olivia walks in. He shook his head. "I've told you countless times to knock before entering. What if I was naked or in the middle of something?"Olivia rolled her eyes. "that's why you have a secret room, for you do dress up and do whatever you think I shouldn't see." She ran her hand over his black jacket and then pulled it off of him. "Take that off and put on the grey one."He frowned and took his clothes off, donning the grey suit."Hurry. I have news.""So tell me. I'm sure you have the ability to make it interesting."Olivia smiled, but then continued. "The Fuegos Elementary Career Project's draft project is as follows. Check out proposition A if you merely want to keep your dignity intact, but proposal B if you want to put out some effort. I myself would like to suggest option A." She said, placing two files in front of him."We'll go with option B, and I'll discuss it with Amelia."He fel
"Of course I'll do it. Why are we friends if I can't help you out when you need me."Maria smiled heartily. "I hit the jackpot with you." she said. "I hope you won't mind if we stopped by my place first so I can take a quick shower and have a change of clothe. I'm a bit sweaty and I'll stink if i don't.""there's no problem." Li-lah first drove home and went straight into the bathroom to take a shower. She changed into something simple yet classy , red spaghetti-strap blouse and black jeans with heels. She ran her fingers through her hair, styled it into a pony tail, straightened her glasses and applied lip gloss and dark blush on her lips. She walked out of the bathroom and headed for the door. She remembered something and rushed over to her secret room. This was the main reason she had come home. She opened a drawer and took out two little black box. They contained a bug with which she would be able to listen in on every conversation going on at the place she planted it. "sorry
Lilah immediately left the device and rushed back to where she was sitting. Holding her hand, she tried her beat to shake off her fear and panic. She was almost caught again. She needs to be very careful.Xavier gave her the first aid box and a wet towel. "thank you." she said and took it. Moments later, Maria came in and told her they could leave now that she was done talking with her father. The excitement and joy Maria was feeling showed on her face.Li-lah drove Maria back to her house. "I'm so excited." Maria said as she stepped out of the car. "my father complimented me for the first time In a long while. And said that I have potential in the things I do.""I'm sure your father is really proud of you." Li-lah said. "did he agree to give you the work you wanted?" "He said hell let me know on my birthday. I'm positive he'll accept.""Alright." Li-lah said."Hey! It's my husband." Maria said when she noticed a car coming her way."Oh wow. There he is." Li-lah said and the car s
Li-lah looked at the mirror one last time. She was stunning in a shimmering white gown with gold stitching, her hair loose and falling past her shoulders, her arms glimmering with gold.Tonight she was going to go all in. If Mateo thinks he could just ignore her and go just like that then he was crazy. Tonight she was going to make him realize just how much he needed her. She was going to make him desire her like no other woman before. She was going to make him jealous and angry at the same time. Tonight, she was going full throttle and was going to get exactly what she wanted from Mateo.She went outside to see Daniel waiting for her. "you look beautiful ", he said with a grin as he took her hands in his."thank you" Li-lah said as she stared into his brown eyes. "I've missed you Daniel" she said."I have missed you Li"They got into his car and drove off to the venue. This was a party held for the elites and high society. They all stood on the patio that overlooked the ocean, loo
Diego had another meeting to attend so he had to leave before the party ended."Thank you for showing up Mr Diego." Maria said warmly, "We will see you next week.""Thank you for inviting me." "Li-lah? Why don't you see him off, I have to go retouch my make up." Maria said. That was a white lie. She had seen the look of interest on his face whenever he looked at Li-lah. She knew he was attracted to her and she wanted the two of them to be alone in private. " Alright Maria. " Li-lah said, "I'll take care of him. ""Thanks Li-lah. " Maria replied, "I will see you soon.""See you soon!" Li-lah called out to her.Li-lah walked with Diego to the exit. Once they were alone, they stood facing each other.Li-lah bowed lightly to show her appreciation. "Thank you so much from showing up Mr Diego. I know busy..... She stopped talking when she saw him raise his right hand to acknowledge her courtesy." Can you stop with the official attitude? We've known each other for a long time even thoug
The winds of change swept through the air as Amelia stepped onto the plane, her heart heavy with the weight of all that she was leaving behind. Mexico had been a place of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and redemption. It had shaped her in ways she could never fully explain. But it was time to move on. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as memories of her family, of Mateo, and of everything they had endured together, flooded her mind. She thought of the quiet moments she had shared with Mateo—the stolen glances, the tender touches, the unspoken words that had once bridged the distance between them. Those moments would forever be etched in her heart, but they were not enough to keep her tethered to a past that no longer served her. Her family—her mother, her father—had been the driving forces behind her fight. Their memories were now the foundation of her resolve. She would honor them by living a life that was not shaped by the darkness that had consumed them but by the stren
The tension in the warehouse was unbearable, the air thick with fear and desperation. Maria stood at the center of the room, her gun trembling in her hand, her child clutched tightly in the other arm. The sound of her erratic breathing echoed in the otherwise silent space. Amelia could feel the weight of the moment, the gravity of everything that had led up to this point. She glanced at Mateo, standing to her left, his face a mix of anger and concern. They had cornered Maria—this was it. The endgame. “Maria,” Amelia called, her voice steady but urgent, “put the gun down. You don’t want to do this. You’ve already lost.” Maria’s eyes darted around the room, panic and defiance battling for control. “You have no idea what I’ve lost!” she hissed, her grip tightening on the weapon. “You’ve taken everything from me. My power, my family… my future.” Amelia took a slow, deliberate step forward, her heart pounding in her chest. She could see the desperation in Maria’s eyes. She could se
The day had arrived. Amelia stood at the podium, her heart racing as the cameras flashed in front of her. The press conference was set, and today, Maria would be exposed for the monster she truly was. Amelia had prepared for this moment for weeks—gathering evidence, making connections, and ensuring that nothing could be dismissed as a lie. This was the moment of reckoning. Amelia glanced down at the folder in front of her. Inside were the irrefutable documents that would bring Maria to justice—details of her illegal activities, her involvement in her father’s crimes, and the horrifying truth behind the murder of Amelia’s mother. Every piece of evidence was meticulously organized, every lie Maria had spun unraveling before her. As she looked out at the sea of reporters and cameras, Amelia felt the weight of what she was about to do. Maria had taken everything from her—her family, her love, her peace of mind—and now, it was time to take it all back. She took a deep breath before beg
The night was heavy with unspoken words as Amelia walked into the private ballroom. She had agreed to meet Mateo under the pretense of settling their differences, but deep down, she knew this meeting would be anything but peaceful. This was the final chapter of their story—the last time their paths would cross before the consequences of everything they’d done came crashing down. Mateo stood by the grand windows, his back to her, staring out at the city below. His shoulders were tense, his profile etched with the weight of everything he had lost. The moment Amelia stepped into the room, he turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of pain and longing. “I didn’t think you’d come,” he said softly, though there was a trace of relief in his voice. “I couldn’t let it end like this, Mateo,” Amelia replied, her voice steady but betraying a flicker of emotion. “We have unfinished business.” He took a few steps closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “You’ve made your choice, Am
The night air was thick with tension as Amelia made her way through the narrow alley behind the café. Her mind raced with the information she had just uncovered—the confirmation of Maria’s role in her father’s death had set her heart ablaze with fury. The weight of it all was suffocating, and yet she couldn’t allow herself to falter. The battle was only beginning, and she had to be ready for whatever came next. Suddenly, a car’s engine revved, and shadows flitted across her path. Before she could react, she was seized from behind, strong hands clamping around her arms, pinning her to the cold, unforgiving wall. A rough voice growled in her ear, “You should’ve stayed out of this, Amelia.” She struggled, but the grip was too tight, and she was dragged further into the alley, where three men emerged from the darkness, each one more menacing than the last. They weren’t just after her—they were there to silence her for good. Amelia’s heart hammered in her chest, panic rising, but her
The late afternoon sun shone brightly, creating long shadows in Mateo's study. He was there, trying to understand the confusing mess of his life. Papers were scattered everywhere as he looked through old files and ledgers that were covered in dust. He felt a heavy weight in his chest because he had so many questions that remained unanswered.While he was sifting through his father’s old things, his hand accidentally touched a worn leather journal that was hidden under a pile of papers. His curiosity grew, and he decided to open it. As he flipped through the pages, he recognized his father’s handwriting on the yellowed paper. At first, the entries appeared simple and ordinary; they talked about business deals and family stories. But as he continued to read, he started to notice a more troubling story unfolding.The journal revealed a series of shady business deals, secret payments, and alliances that helped build the family company’s wealth. Mateo's stomach started to feel uneasy as he
The grand ballroom shimmered with opulence, its crystal chandeliers casting warm light on the sea of glamorous attendees. It was the charity event of the season, a perfect facade for the elite to mask their scandals and betrayals with smiles and champagne. Amelia stood near the entrance, her fiery red gown flowing like liquid passion as her sharp eyes scanned the crowd. She was a tempest in disguise, ready to unleash her storm. Her target was clear—Mateo. He was standing near the bar, looking dashing in his tailored suit, yet there was an air of defeat around him. His usual confidence was subdued, replaced by the weight of recent revelations and his growing dependency on alcohol. Amelia took a deep breath and approached him, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a ticking clock. “Mateo,” she said, her voice cutting through the hum of the crowd. He turned, startled, and then his expression hardened. “Amelia." they stood and just stared at each other for a while, none
Amelia stood in the shadows of the estate, her heart pounding as she glanced up at the imposing structure. Maria’s father’s estate loomed over her like a fortress, its high walls and security cameras serving as a stark reminder of the danger she faced. But she couldn’t turn back now. This was her last chance to uncover the truth—a truth she had spent years trying to find. Clutching the forged access card Diego had given her, Amelia slipped through the side gate. The night was eerily silent, the faint rustle of leaves and the chirping of crickets the only sounds accompanying her. She pulled her hood tighter over her head, praying that the darkness would conceal her presence. The basement was her destination, a place she had heard whispers about but had never dared to approach until now. It was rumored to be the heart of all of Maria’s father’s secrets—a vault of information, hidden atrocities, and untold truths. ---The air grew colder as Amelia descended the stone staircase lead
Mateo sat in his dimly lit study, the room thick with the scent of whiskey. The glass in his hand was half-empty, though the bottle beside him was nearly gone. He stared into the amber liquid, his mind clouded with a whirlpool of emotions: betrayal, confusion, anger, and heartbreak. Lilah—Amelia—whatever her name was—had torn his world apart. The woman he had trusted, the woman he had loved, had deceived him. He could still see her face in his mind, the tears in her eyes as she pleaded for him to listen. A part of him wanted to believe her, to believe that what they had was real. But Maria’s words echoed in his mind, feeding his doubts. "She’s a liar, Mateo. She’s only after your money. She never loved you."He tipped the glass to his lips and downed the remaining whiskey in one go, wincing as it burned its way down his throat. The pain was almost comforting—it matched the ache in his chest. ---Maria watched from the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she observed Mateo’s deteriora