Sophia followed Alexander as the elevator doors closed with a soft hum, ascending to the top floor of the luxurious restaurant. She couldn’t help but glance at him, his tall frame commanding attention even in silence. The elevator chimed, and the doors opened to reveal a stunning private dining area. The space screamed wealth; golden chandeliers, plush carpets, and panoramic views of the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. Sophia froze for a moment, unable to mask her awe.
“This way,” Alexander said, his voice calm but firm as he gestured toward the reserved table.Sophia followed, taking in the marble table adorned with silverware that gleamed under the soft lights.Two attendants pulled out their chairs simultaneously, and Alexander nodded his thanks, taking his seat.Sophia sat down, smoothing her dress nervously. She couldn’t help but think, Just how powerful is Alexander?The staff brought out the menu, and Sophia noticed AlexandSophia’s journey at Allure Fashion was anything but smooth, but her determination and natural talent made her stand out. Late nights working on sketches, brainstorming sessions with Emily, and countless hours perfecting every detail were finally paying off. Her latest project, a line of elegant evening wear, had just received glowing feedback from one of the company’s most influential clients.After the meeting, Carla approached her with a rare smile. “Sophia, that was impressive,” she said, her usually sharp tone softer. “The clients were satisfied, frankly, and so am I. You possess an eye for detail that most designers don't have. Keep this up, and you’ll go far.”Sophia felt her chest swell with pride. “Thank you, Carla. That means a lot coming from you.”“Just don’t let it get over your head,” Carla said with a wink before turning to leave. “Stay focused.”As Sophia returned to her desk, her heart brimmed with excitement. She had wor
The following morning, after the presentation, Carla called Nina into her office. The usually composed Nina felt a sense of unease as Carla’s sharp eyes bore into her.“Nina, we need to talk,” Carla began, with a stern voice. “It has come to my attention that you’ve been tampering with other designer’s work. Specifically, Sophia’s.”Nina’s face flushed with indignation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Save it,” Carla snapped. “We have evidence, Nina. You’ve abused your position, and this isn’t the first time you’ve been accused of sabotaging a colleague.”Nina’s mind raced. How had they found out? She had been so careful.“As of today, you are no longer the head of the senior design team,” Carla continued. “You’ll remain a senior designer, but you’ll have no authority over other designers. Consider this your final warning.”Nina’s nails dug into her palms, but she forced herself to remain composed. “Understood,” she sa
Marcus froze, the words catching in his throat. His fists clenched at his sides as jealousy flared in his eyes.“Who the hell do you think you are?” Marcus finally managed to spit out, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.Alexander took another step forward, his gaze cold and unyielding. “I think I made myself clear.”Marcus wanted to say something but no word could come out of his mouth. One look from Alexander rendered him speechless and he took a step back.Sophia couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips as she watched Marcus falter under Alexander’s intense gaze. She had never seen him so afraid and powerless, and it was strangely satisfying. Her heart swelled with quiet pride as she thought, Wow, my husband is so impressive. Just one look and Marcus is already backing down. For the first time, she felt genuinely protected, like Alexander’s presence alone could shield her from the chaos Marcus brought into her life.
Sophia strolled along the lake's edge, where the crowd was moderate but lively. She found a picturesque spot and immersed herself in the view. Taking out her phone, she joined others in capturing selfies. In one of her shots, she noticed Marcus and Lila approaching. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly resumed her activity, pretending not to see them. "Damn it, they're coming my way," she muttered under her breath. Marcus spoke first, his voice tinged with jealousy. "Sophia, where's your little toy? Has he already grown tired of you?" He seemed relieved to find her alone. Sophia remained silent, focusing on the scenery. Lila, eager to learn about Alexander's whereabouts, was displeased by Sophia's indifference. She stepped closer and asked, "Sophia, why are you ignoring us? Are you still angry?" Sophia's gaze turned icy. "Neither of you is worthy of my anger." Marcus was taken aback; he'd never seen her so cold. Regaining his composure, he offered, "Sophia, my offer still st
Lila and Marcus panicked. Her confidence wavered, and she thought Sophia was getting more and more bold. What is she up to? Marcus, on the other hand, couldn’t help but notice the aura of the woman before him. This wasn’t the timid ex-wife he once knew. There was a new fire in her eyes that made her even more stunning. For a brief moment, he wondered if he had truly lost her forever. Lila, desperate not to lose face, turned to Humphrey with pleading eyes, silently begging him to step in. Humphrey, who had enjoyed Lila’s company the night before, understood her message and shifted his attention back to Sophia. His tone was cold as he said, “And who gave you the right to air out personal matters in such a setting?” Sophia retorted, her voice unwavering, “Shouldn’t you be asking them? It’s their personal matters, not mine.” Humphrey was momentarily stunned by her sharp response, but he quickly composed himself. Switching tactics, he asked, “I doubt my family sent you an invitation.
Mark, standing tall and composed, bowed slightly. "Of course, Mrs. Evans. Your wish is my command."He turned to Humphrey, who looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole and said coldly. "You heard her."Humphrey nodded frantically and barked orders to the security guards. "You two, escort them out. Now!"The guards wasted no time. They grabbed Marcus and Lila, ignoring their protests and pleas."Wait! Mr. Gregg, you can't do this!" Marcus shouted, struggling against the guards. "You don’t understand, she's nothing without me!""Yes!" Lila screeched. "She’s just a fraud! You’ll regret this, Mr. Gregg!"But their words fell on deaf ears as the guards dragged them out of the venue, their desperate cries fading into the distance.Sophia stood motionless, her face unreadable, while she watched the entire scene unfold with cold detachment, her lips curling into a faint smile as the two were thrown out.She remembered Alexander's words from a few months ago: 'You might let them g
Sophia followed the waiter through a winding path lined with lush greenery, the sound of birds chirping softly in the background. The sun was warm but not scorching, and the air carried a faint scent of blooming flowers. They finally stopped at a beautiful wooden building, tucked neatly beside the natural hot springs. Steam rose gently from the springs, curling like soft whispers into the afternoon air.“This is the place, Mrs. Evans,” the waiter said with a polite smile. “Please take your time and enjoy.”Sophia thanked her and stepped inside. The interior was calm and soothing. The soft murmur of running water echoed through the space, and everything smelled of lavender and eucalyptus. A kind-faced attendant greeted her warmly.“Welcome. You’ll begin with a soak in our hot springs,” the attendant explained as she guided Sophia toward the changing area. “They’re known to work wonders for the body and mind.”Sophia wasn’t sure what to expect, but when she slipped into the steaming wat
But still, the thought of Alexander searching for another woman, someone who meant something to him made Sophia’s stomach twist painfully. Does he love her? she thought. Her fingers subconsciously tightened around her fork.After what felt like an eternity, Alexander returned. His movements were calm, his expression carefully composed, as though the tense conversation had never happened. He sat back in his seat and picked up his utensils, continuing his meal like nothing was wrong.Sophia watched him quietly, her appetite completely gone. She wanted to ask him. She wanted to demand who Karen was and why he was so desperate to find her. But the words caught in her throat, and instead, she swallowed them down like a bitter pill. It’s none of your business, she reminded herself.The rest of the meal passed in silence. Alexander didn’t say much, and Sophia didn’t push. After they finished, Alexander placed his napkin on the table and stood up.“Goodni
Rachel fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking. The moment she pushed the door open, she froze. “Oh my God!” Her voice was barely audible.The room was scattered, with glasses on the floor and furniture overturned, and in the middle of it all, Jessica sat with her back against her bed, her expression blank.Rachel’s stomach dropped. “Jessica!” She rushed in, nearly slipping on the scattered glasses. “What happened?”“My dear, what have you done?” She cried, as her heart broke, seeing her daughter sitting in the middle of the mess.“Meccy, get someone to clean up quickly,” she ordered the assistant and helped Jessica up.“Honey, what do you think you're doing? You need to listen to dad and grandpa. They mean well. Just go abroad for a few months. Okay?” She persuaded her.“Mom, I don't want to. What's so special about that woman? Alexander is even willing to go against our family just for her. Now she wants me away completely?” Jessica complained. If it wasn't for Sophia, Alexande
Alexander kept quiet, unsure of where to start or, rather, how to start.But Sophia wasn't in a hurry; she just stood there, watching him.“Can we talk somewhere else?” he asked cautiously, glancing at Amelia.“I'll be inside. Call me if you need anything.” Catching on his hesitation, Amelia interjected, tapping Sophia on her shoulder.Sophia nodded appreciatively.As soon as Amelia went inside, the air between them felt heavier. Alexander stepped closer, his shoes barely making a sound.He wanted to reach out and hold her in his arms, to make sure she was still his, but he stopped himself. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to ignore the pull in his chest.“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to meet Jessica,” he admitted.“Was it the reason you were unreachable when Mr Egerton needed your signature?” Sophia asked, staring daggers at him.Alexander was shocked! Oh no, what a terrible coincidence.“What do you mean, sweetheart? I had a meeting at Evans Towers at that
Finally, Alexander decided to get some rest and wait for tomorrow to go find Sophia. But his mind wandered to his friend Michael Jordan. The Jordan family was the pioneer in cutting-edge technologies, investing in almost everything from advanced robotics to aerospace engineering. They had built a tech empire under the leadership of old master Jordan and were well respected for their strategic ventures that pushed the boundaries of invention. But for Michael, that wasn’t enough. Born into a family that thrived on technological progress, his ambition still outpaced even their expectations. From a young age, he wanted to create his own projects and not just within the confines of the family business. His projects were always bold and demanding, requiring massive capital for developments. The good thing was that he had a keen eye for projects with the potential to reshape current and future technology.He had developed cutting-edge AI systems, quantum computing, and next-gen encryp
Suddenly, a group of men in black suits emerged from the shadows, their movements swift and deliberate.Their presence was subtle yet commanding, like a storm brewing in the distance.Before Marcus or his bodyguards could react, swift and precise strikes took them down.The air shifted, and in an instant, Marcus’s moment to shine was completely overturned.Groaning in pain, he barely had time to process what had just happened.One of the men turned to Amelia and gave a respectful nod. "Get Madam out of here."Amelia didn’t have time to register what had just happened. She simply nodded and led Sophia to the car.As she sped away, she stole one last glance in the rearview mirror. The mighty Marcus Hawthorne was brought to his knees. About time! She smiled, wishing Sophia was sober to witness the scene. If they weren't in a hurry, she would have stopped to take a picture.By the time Marcus regained his senses, Amelia’s car was long gone.He got up with the help of his bodyguards, who
The woman looked at Sophia, unable to hide the shock in her eyes.Just as she was about to respond, a speeding car screeched next to them.“Be careful,” she warned before vanishing into the darkness.The front door of the car opened and a burly man stepped out, opening the back door.Amelia, who was about to lead Sophia to her car, paused to look at the newcomer.“Could it be your husband?” she asked Sophia who was leaning on her shoulders.“Let's go. I don't wan’ to… see him.” Sophia said, urging Amelia to lead her to the car.Amelia nodded, agreeing with Sophia. Why did it take him so long to show up?Amelia was more disappointed with Alexander and she turned around without sparing the car another glance.But when they took two steps, a voice came from behind startling both women.“Sophia, sorry I'm late. I came as soon as I heard you were in danger.”Sophia froze as her mind cleared slightly, recognizing the voice.“Marcus?” she asked, turning around to confirm.Sure enough, Marcus
Back at The Last Stop Bar, Sophia was still drinking, her eyes glassy and her words slightly slurred. Amelia, sitting beside her, had been trying to coax her into leaving for the past hour. “Bestie, you’ve had enough. We should leave,” she said, gently placing a hand on Sophia’s arm. Sophia blinked lazily, pushing the glass away from her lips. “No... I can take a… few more drinks… Amelia.” Amelia stared in disbelief. Sophia was already slurring, yet she wanted more. With a sigh, she reached for the glass and pushed it further out of her reach. “Come on, let’s go,” she said, her voice firmer this time. Reluctantly, Sophia nodded. “Fine, but I don’t want to see him.” Amelia bit her lip, glancing around the bar. She knew who she was referring to but where else should she drop her?
Meanwhile, in Jessica's private villa, she sat smugly, her manicured fingers resting against her cheeks as she savored the chaos she had caused.Two servants were giving her a massage and she closed her eyes to relish the moment.Her assistant had been pacing outside, waiting for permission to enter.Jessica had specifically given the order that no one should disturb her.Two hours later, she signaled for her assistant to get in.The assistant hurried in nervously.“What's it? Didn't I say I don't need you around until tomorrow?” Jessica snapped.She wanted a peaceful evening, yet this girl had been standing there for hoursIf I weren’t in such a good mood, I’d have her punished for standing outside that long.“Miss Jason, the news was pulled down.” the assistant reported cautiously.“What?” Jessica snapped, sitting up straight, her eyes turning cold.“Didn’t I tell you to use however much money you needed to make it trend until tomorrow?” She asked angrily.“We tried, Miss Jason. But
Amelia reached across the table and held her hand. There was nothing more to say.The alcohol might dull the pain for a while, but it could never truly heal her heart.She knew this had to be a misunderstanding, but where was Alexander? As Sophia's husband, shouldn't he be here to clear things up?***Back at the other end of the city, the man in question was rushing frantically through the city.After failing to locate Sophia at the office, he had driven like a madman to Sophia’s old apartment.Nothing.His chest felt like it was being crushed with every second she remained missing. He could feel the world slipping from beneath his feet.Worse still was the fact that Gerald was in the shadows and Larry might take action if he gets a perfect opportunity.In desperation, he rushed to the villa where Catherine and Ethan lived. He knocked urgently, barely containing his panic.Catherine opened the door, her face lighting up when she saw him."Alex! Come in! How are you?" she greeted war
Meanwhile, in Alexander’s Office… He had returned in a rush, still angry with Jessica.He hadn’t even spent three minutes in the hotel room. The moment he saw Jessica waiting for him, he knew something was off.She had danced around the topic of Gerald, offering no substantial information. It had been a waste of time, and he’d left almost immediately.Now, standing in his office, his assistant, Mark, rushed in, holding a tablet.“Boss, you need to see this,” Mark said, handing it over.Alexander stared at the screen, his heart dropping into his stomach.The headlines were everywhere. Photos of him and Jessica entering the hotel room together were plastered across every major news outlet.The captions were even worse, speculating about their relationship and hinting at an affair.Alexander’s grip tightened on the tablet. His jaw clenched. "Damn it!" he muttered, his pulse racing.He hadn’t done anything wrong, but the media had already made their own narrative.And now, the entire wor