As the hours passed by, Aria sat on the edge of her bed, fumbling with her hands and staring into space as her mind raced. The fear that had initially gripped her heart for the past few days and for the last few hours began to loosen its hold, replaced by a simmering sense of envy. “Come to think of it, Lyra had always had everything: the perfect job, the admiration of her peers, a bright future. Everything. And now she was about to get the man of her dreams. Not just any man, but the best kind ever. A rich, handsome multi-billionaire. Even after the so-called separation, she still managed to get him back. What kind of reckless luck is that? And how could one human being do such?”She reasoned, tilting her head to one side.“Take my life as an example.” She thought.“I have struggled and toiled for every single scrap of recognition I ended up receiving, yet I have always been overshadowed by Lyra’s effortless success.”She sighed, breathing in and out. Was it really so terrible to g
Aria was still stiffened to one spot, freezing in apprehension when the door handle suddenly turned further. Her heart leaped. She quickly turned off the computer and dove behind the desk, shivering like a leaf in the wind, her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes were squeezed shut and opened again.“Who could it be?” She was asking in her mind.“At this time of the night?”She was beginning to sweat, and for the first time in a long while, she started to mumble words of prayer, hoping she wouldn't get discovered.The creak of the door opening seemed deafening in the otherwise silent office.Aria dove even further; the violet beating of her heart at this point felt surprisingly audible.The intruder stepped in, and the footsteps she heard next were quick and continuous, followed by the pushing sound of a cleaning cart as well as the tune of the person's cheerful whistle. It was a man oblivious, and he was oblivious to the tension crackling in the air. He turned on the lights, and
Aria pushed the half-open door of the club aside, her footsteps slow and unsteady as she adjusted to the dim lighting and the pulsing beat of the background music.The familiar scent of alcohol and the haze of cigarette smoke tainted the air. This would be her third time coming to this place, each visit sinking her deeper into a web of deception and fear. The club was bustling, with patrons laughing and shouting over the music, oblivious to the ongoing transaction taking place in their midst.In a few seconds, Aria spotted Felix, yet again, at their usual booth; this time he was so much farther away from the center, sitting at a secluded location out of the reach of listening ears, if any.Even in the dimness, his knowing smile was visible to Aria, his posture exuding confidence and a sense of control. His eyes locked onto her the moment she entered, a predatory smirk curling his lips. His dark hair was slicked back, and his tailored suit made him look both out of place in the smal
Lyra entered her own office a few minutes later, like a thief, her movements deliberate and measured.She held her breath as she closed the door softly behind her, the click of the lock echoing in the quiet room. Her heart was heavy with suspicion and curiosity, a gnawing feeling of anxiety. She was finally going to know who the mole in their midst was in a matter of minutes. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of stress and preparation for the launch, but underneath it all, a shadow of doubt had been growing.She moved to her desk, her fingers trailing over the keypad as she sat down. Her eyes lifted to the corner of the room, where a hidden camera was discreetly positioned. It was a precaution she had taken after the previous incident. Taking a deep breath, she opened her laptop and navigated to the encrypted files. Her mind began to wander, thinking about the faces she might see on the screen. “Who could it be? A disgruntled employee? A rival sneaking in by themselves?” H
Anthony stepped out confidently from his sleek black sedan, his polished shoes stepping on the pavement of Lyra’s company complex. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction as he took in the sight. He wore a sly grin, a display of his inner triumph.“So this is the company of the woman in Dante’s life, huh?”He murmured under his breath, the edge of his smile sharpening. His gaze settled over the entrance, where a few employees hurried in and out, clutching files in their hands as they moved within and without the building.As he strode towards the glass doors, he dipped his hands in his pockets. His movements were deliberate, each step calculated to project the authority and poise of a typical would-be investor.He wore a tailored suit that accentuated his commanding presence, and his demeanor exuded an air of practiced ease. The receptionist, a tall, slender lady, looked up abruptly the moment he stepped into the first air-tight hall, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of him, bu
Lyra fiddled with her pen while standing in her office after the meeting she just finished holding; her movements were brisk and determined.The urgency in her body language was clear; it was time for a drastic and dramatic showdown, the very moment she had been waiting for.She crouched again to scribble down the final details on a piece of paper, then stood abruptly, her chair scraping the floor as she reached for the telephone.Her fingers dialled the numbers with firm and abrupt taps.She deep-sighed to calm herself, the phone still pressing to her ear, each second ticking away like a bomb about to explode.Then, in a second, she heard the beep, followed by the voice of the PR manager.“Hello Madam.” The hoarse voice greeted."Yes, Bob, get the PR team ready immediately," she said, her voice firm."We’re going to release a statement about the stolen designs. But before that, I need you to take note of the following: ""Oh, a statement?" The voice was stressed, sounding a little bi
Mirabel gripped the steering wheel of her Mercedes-Benz as it glided down the motorway. The cityscape of Silver City unfolded around her, and the late afternoon sun hovered above. She drove past numerous towering buildings, and the road junctions bustled with the occasional honk from impatient drivers. Mirabel sighed, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping a rhythm on the steering wheel. She glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard, and it was 4:45 PM. Traffic was only getting worse. She adjusted her sunglasses, reached forward, and turned up the car radio, hoping to find something to distract her from the monotony of traffic. The smooth voice of a radio announcer filled the car. "And in today’s shocking news, there are rumours flying about that Elysium Couture might be suing the Thompsons for intellectual property theft. The fashion industry is abuzz with this scandal, as it is revealed that designs stolen from Elysium Couture were presented as originals by the Thompson
Dante was lying casually on his bed, fresh from a shower after a long day at work. The cool sheets were a welcome relief for his tired body.He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the peace.“Just what I needed.” He said, spreading out his arms.The door creaked open, and he instinctively jolted, looking tense.“Who's that?” He asked in an almost threatening tone.But his face relaxed when he saw the petite figure of Mirabel standing at the door.“Hey, Dante,” Mirabel greeted with a smile, stepping into the room.Dante sat up, a bit startled but quickly at ease. “Hey, Mirabel. What brings you here?”Mirabel shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. “I just wanted to check on my brother. How was your day?”Dante sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “Same old, same old. Meetings, paperwork, the usual grind. How about you?”“Just like you... busy as always,” she replied with a smile, moving to sit at the edge of his bed. “But that’s life, right?”Dante chuckled. “Yeah, that’s