Alexander nodded, stepping closer, trying to sound more sincere, his eyes pleading for her to believe him. “Yes, he knows. Drake isn't just an employee; he's a good friend, and I trust him. Just like Michael and Jake. Besides, we studied abroad together, so we're more like brothers. But I promise, he didn’t know anything about you until after I called him. He couldn’t have interfered with your promotion because he wasn’t involved until I made that call.”
Sophia relaxed slightly, knowing they could trust Drake with their secret. Still, that didn't mean she had forgiven him; she was still angry. “You made me look like a fool there. I shared my experiences and struggles at work, and you didn't say a word. How can I trust you?” she asked quietly, still wondering what else he was hiding from her. Alexander’s shoulders slumped. He crossed the room, closing the gap between them. “I know, sweetheart. I should’ve told you sooner. I’m sorry. I will never hide aBack in the chairman's office, Drake Egerton leaned back in his chair and said in admiration, “But I must admit, your wife is something else. Totally different from most women out there. Most care about material things and status, but look at her, she doesn't even want people to know she’s connected to you. And worse? She refused the company. Allure Fashion is the top fashion house in the country, yet she couldn't care less.” Alexander nodded a proud smile on his face. He knew exactly the kind of woman Sophia was and that was why he couldn't resist falling in love with her. Drake smirked. “Man, you've got a gem. If I could win her, I swear I’d take her to my grandpa tomorrow and marry her the next day. I would even make her...” He suddenly stopped, sensing the shift in the air. The deadly glare from his friend sent a chill down his spine. If looks could kill, Drake would be dead by now. He shifted uncomfortably in his chai
The sight of Larry made Alexander’s blood boil with rage when his mind flashed back to the "woodie guy" he had been investigating. His eyes narrowed as realization struck him. It was him! He was the same person who had visited Gerald in prison, the one who had likely orchestrated his escape. And him approaching Sophia now? This was not a coincidence. He had his team investigate him and nothing crucial came up. He even sent a half-photo of this man to Michael, his trusted friend, to dig up information. And before he got any feedback, here the man was, sitting across from his wife. Alexander wanted nothing but to walk right before the guy and kill him with his bare hands. The aura around him shifted drastically but before many people could notice it, he took a slow breath, pushing down the anger that was about to consume him. By the time he started walking inside, he had already composed himself and with deliberate strides, he approached the
The receptionists exchanged confused glances. Yes, they could tell the man before them wasn't an average Joe just from the aura he gave them. But they couldn't go against the company's policy.They were right, not many people knew who Alexander was except a few business associates. He wasn't in the mood to wait so he pulled out his phone and called Michael.“I’m at the reception,” he said, his voice flat when the call was answered.Michael, who was busy with his work, frowned after answering the call. Alexander has never visited his company before. Did something serious come up? Without hesitation, he rushed downstairs.The moment he spotted Alexander, who was waiting at the reception despite his impatient nature, he got furious.“What are you all doing? Don't you know who he is? The next time you make him wait, you can all forget about working here. He berated the receptionists.He then turned to Alexander and gave him a fr
Sophia shrugged dismissively. “You don't have to say anything if you don't want to.”“I'm heading to bed. Goodnight,” she said, making her way towards the stairs, but Alexander stopped her.“Don't go yet, I'm not hiding anything. I can tell you whatever you want to know.”She paused and looked back at him, unsure whether he meant it. “You know you don't have to. I was just mentioning it casually.”“She's the young girl who saved me many years ago. I only owe her a debt of gratitude. Nothing more.” He said reassuring her.Sophia felt a lump in her throat. Owing a debt of gratitude to a woman? She felt very uncomfortable with that thought.“So how are you going to repay her?” she asked folding her arms.The question stunned him. He hadn't thought about it yet. He had promised himself that he would marry her if she wasn't married when they reunited. But meeting Sophia changed everything. So he wasn't sure how to r
The next morning, Sophia woke up in Alexander's arms. She really wanted to stay in his embrace but she had to go to work and she knew the delicate balance they had to maintain.She was determined to build her career without relying on her husband, and that's why their relationship had to be kept a secret especially now that he was their chairman.They had a quick breakfast together and as they prepared to leave for the day, Alexander insisted on driving her to work. “I'll only agree on one condition,” she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.“What condition?” he asked, raising his eyebrows quizzically.“Well, you have to drop me a few blocks from the Allure building. I don't want anyone to see us together.”“Okay.” He nodded chuckling at her insistence but complied, understanding her desire to maintain her independence at Allure Fashion.When they neared the drop-off point, Alexander
"Of course he wouldn't. We trust each other." Sophia replied not at all bothered.She knew her husband well; he may not like other men around her, but he trusted her.Larry took a seat across from her, glancing around with a curious expression. “ You all seem very busy and tense, but I admire your composure. It’s clear you’re passionate about your work.”“Thanks. There’s a lot of pressure with the upcoming selection, but I like the challenge.” Sophia replied, leaning back in her chair.“Oh! What competition?” he asked, his interest piqued.“There will be an international design competition coming soon. It'll be held in our country, probably in Averia,” she revealed, her eyes glistening with anticipation.She continued filling him in on the process and the competition within the company. Larry listened keenly, offering professional suggestions and encouragement.He smiled, his gaze lingering on her for a mo
To make matters worse, the rumor that the chairman wanted to offer her the chance but she declined added to Nina’s bitterness. Even though she had no proof, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Sophia had an advantage.That is why she wanted to do everything by herself to prevent any mistakes. She shut down her team's efforts, determined to handle everything herself to prevent any mistakes.Still, she had something prepared to secure her win. She texted Joyce, one of her secret informants in Sophia's team.‘Remember our agreement. We act on the last day before the presentation.’She made sure to use WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature. As soon as Joyce read the message, it would automatically vanish, leaving no trace behind.With only one week left, the teams worked overtime to make sure they stood out.Each morning, Alexander dropped Sophia off a few blocks away from the office. It had become th
That same evening, Catherine was grocery shopping. As she left the supermarket, she accidentally bumped into someone. She had many shopping bags and some were now on the floor. “Oh, I'm sorry.” She said, struggling to pick up the scattered items. “It's okay, I'll help you.” A young man interrupted her and quickly gathered the shopping bags, picking up all the items. Catherine was touched. She had been in a hurry and hadn't seen the man, making her the one at fault. Yet, instead of getting upset, he graciously volunteered to help. “Thank you so much, young man. That's very kind of you.” She thanked him sincerely. “No problem at all. You can call me Larry.” The man replied respectfully. “Oh, thank you, Larry, you must've been raised well.” “Do you need a ride? I see you've shopped quite a lot.” Larry offered. “Oh, no need. My car is nearby. I was feeling bored at home so I stepped out today.”
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