The airport was a hive of activity. Voices blended into a chaotic hum as travelers hurried past, dragging suitcases or clutching boarding passes. Taylor and Sarah moved briskly through the terminal, their expressions tense. Taylor carried Daniel on his hip, the little boy’s head resting sleepily on his father’s shoulder, while Sarah maneuvered their luggage through the crowd. Their flight to Rochester had been delayed, leaving them with barely enough time to catch their connecting ride. The situation had intensified the tension already simmering between them."I told you we should have left earlier," Sarah muttered under her breath, her tone sharp."And I told you the delay wasn't my fault," Taylor shot back, his voice low but irritated. "Let's focus on making the flight instead of pointing fingers."A tight line formed around Sarah's lips, but she said nothing. All the weight of their circumstance; their company's uncertain position, the intended meeting with her parents, just l
Two years had passed, and Taylons Enterprises was a shell of its former glory. The once-bustling offices, with their global recognitions, now echoed with emptiness. Where hundreds of staff once trooped down the corridors with cups of coffee and bundles of papers, a few remained now, their footsteps sounding lonely in the space. Most employees were laid off months ago when paychecks started to bounce.Those who stayed, did so out of some misplaced sense of loyalty, or perhaps because they could not bear to watch the final collapse of what was once the crown jewel of the city. Gone were Taylor's immaculately tailored suits, now rumpled shirts and loosened ties; that voice which had been a commanding tone was now husky from too many cigarettes and too much whiskey. He often, this days, spent his nights in The Golden Rose, one of the most exclusive bars in town, where what little remained of the company's money was being blown in on expensive bourbon and rigged poker games.Sometimes,
Taylor burst through the front door of his home, his footsteps echoing through the foyer with an urgency that hadn't been present in months. The familiar weight of despair that had been his constant companion had lifted, replaced by something that felt dangerously like hope."Sarah! Sarah, where are you?" he called out, his voice carrying a hint of his old confidence.Sarah came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. The afternoon light through the window showed the streaks of gray that had grown in her hair in the last two years -- years that had aged them both more than time should have.Her expression, upon seeing him, turned to that all-too-familiar look of guarded disappointment, the expression that had become her default, etched through many nights of waiting up for him to stumble home from The Golden Rose."What is it now, Taylor?" The words came out clipped, tired, as if she was already preparing herself for more bad news."You won't believe this," he said, un
The sun was gradually retarding for the day, but its rays still filtered through the transparent window curtains of the Fury mansion.Sarah stood at the kitchen window, her fingers drumming against the granite countertop as she mentally calculated what they needed from the store. The refrigerator was almost empty, and Daniel had been asking for his cereal for days now.All she could think about was how her little boy went to school every morning, his face falling in disappointment.She moved into the living room, her heels echoing off the silent walls.Taylor was not in his leather armchair; neither was he in his study, to which he retreated every time the subject of their worsening finances came up.Her calls to his cell went straight to voicemail; each ring further raised the irritation in her. It was Friday, a day marking the beginning of his self-proclaimed three-day weekends, but she had still hoped he might break his pattern of unavailability.It wasn't until a search of the ho
“Good evening,” Nicole Abrams said, forcing her voice to stay steady as she approached the receptionist at the Monarch Hotel’s sleek, gleaming front desk. “I have an appointment with Mr. Martins Grant.”The receptionist didn’t bother hiding her curious smirk as she sized Nicole up, then typed briskly into her computer. “Ah, yes. He’s expecting you. Take the elevator to the fifth floor. When you exit, turn right, and it’s the second door on your left.”Nicole nodded, thanked her, and headed toward the elevator, feeling her pulse quicken.This whole meeting had come out of nowhere, courtesy of her mother-in-law, Veronica Fury. Veronica had never been subtle about her dislike of Nicole and had questioned her motives ever since she’d married into the Fury family. So, when Veronica called her this morning, proposing that Nicole handle a “small favor for the family business” to gain her approval, Nicole had agreed without hesitation.She wanted nothing more than to ease the tension betwee
Tears trickled down my face as I sat on the narrow cot in the holding cell, staring up at the cold, gray ceiling. How had my life unraveled so quickly?One moment I was running what I thought was a simple errand for my mother-in-law, Veronica Fury, and the next, I was being accused of embezzlement.The memory of that officer snapping handcuffs around my wrists still burned into my mind, each flashback filling me with humiliation and anger.I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to hold back the tears, but the shame and disbelief were too much.Taylor, my own husband, had allowed this to happen. He hadn’t just doubted me; he’d acted as if I was nothing more than a criminal to him.And Veronica… I had no doubt she’d orchestrated the entire thing. Yet here I was, locked up, my life crumbling around me.A hollow ache settled in my chest. How could Taylor, the man who was supposed to know me better than anyone, turn against me so easily?How could he believe his mother’s word over mine? Ver
I noted how the lawyer kept referring to me by my maiden name, as if I and Taylor were already divorced. I stepped out of the lawyer’s office, clutching the divorce papers in my hand.My heart sank as I realized that the only person I had to lean on was Sarah. I rummaged through my bag and pulled out my phone, dialing her number.The line rang once, twice, before her familiar voice finally answered."Nikki?" Sarah's voice sounded tense, worried."Sarah," I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. "I... I'm out. They dropped the charges, but...""Oh, Nikki, thank God!" Sarah said, her voice filled with relief. "Are you okay? I mean... I was so worried."I took a shaky breath. "No. I'm not okay. Taylor... he sent his lawyer with divorce papers, Sarah. He wants nothing to do with me."There was a momentary pause on the other end, just long enough to make my stomach twist with unease."Sarah?" I prompted, frowning.A sigh drifted through the receiver, one so faint it was almost swallowed
The room fell into complete silence. It was so still I could almost hear each heartbeat, and every pair of eyes fixed on me. But I only cared about Taylor’s reaction. His jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring as he stared at me, searching for any sign that I might be lying.“Yes,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I looked straight into his eyes. “It’s true. I found out yesterday. That’s why I called you so many times. I wanted to tell you the news, but you didn’t pick up. And when I texted, I said it was something important. That’s what I wanted to share with you.”My heart pounded as I waited, hoping, praying that he’d believe me. His gaze softened, just a fraction, as he scanned my face, and I dared to hope. Maybe, just maybe, he’d see the truth in my eyes.But before he could respond, Veronica’s voice cut through the room, dripping with venom. “You can’t actually be falling for this, Taylor. After everything this woman’s done, do you really think you can believe a word out of her m
The sun was gradually retarding for the day, but its rays still filtered through the transparent window curtains of the Fury mansion.Sarah stood at the kitchen window, her fingers drumming against the granite countertop as she mentally calculated what they needed from the store. The refrigerator was almost empty, and Daniel had been asking for his cereal for days now.All she could think about was how her little boy went to school every morning, his face falling in disappointment.She moved into the living room, her heels echoing off the silent walls.Taylor was not in his leather armchair; neither was he in his study, to which he retreated every time the subject of their worsening finances came up.Her calls to his cell went straight to voicemail; each ring further raised the irritation in her. It was Friday, a day marking the beginning of his self-proclaimed three-day weekends, but she had still hoped he might break his pattern of unavailability.It wasn't until a search of the ho
Taylor burst through the front door of his home, his footsteps echoing through the foyer with an urgency that hadn't been present in months. The familiar weight of despair that had been his constant companion had lifted, replaced by something that felt dangerously like hope."Sarah! Sarah, where are you?" he called out, his voice carrying a hint of his old confidence.Sarah came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. The afternoon light through the window showed the streaks of gray that had grown in her hair in the last two years -- years that had aged them both more than time should have.Her expression, upon seeing him, turned to that all-too-familiar look of guarded disappointment, the expression that had become her default, etched through many nights of waiting up for him to stumble home from The Golden Rose."What is it now, Taylor?" The words came out clipped, tired, as if she was already preparing herself for more bad news."You won't believe this," he said, un
Two years had passed, and Taylons Enterprises was a shell of its former glory. The once-bustling offices, with their global recognitions, now echoed with emptiness. Where hundreds of staff once trooped down the corridors with cups of coffee and bundles of papers, a few remained now, their footsteps sounding lonely in the space. Most employees were laid off months ago when paychecks started to bounce.Those who stayed, did so out of some misplaced sense of loyalty, or perhaps because they could not bear to watch the final collapse of what was once the crown jewel of the city. Gone were Taylor's immaculately tailored suits, now rumpled shirts and loosened ties; that voice which had been a commanding tone was now husky from too many cigarettes and too much whiskey. He often, this days, spent his nights in The Golden Rose, one of the most exclusive bars in town, where what little remained of the company's money was being blown in on expensive bourbon and rigged poker games.Sometimes,
The airport was a hive of activity. Voices blended into a chaotic hum as travelers hurried past, dragging suitcases or clutching boarding passes. Taylor and Sarah moved briskly through the terminal, their expressions tense. Taylor carried Daniel on his hip, the little boy’s head resting sleepily on his father’s shoulder, while Sarah maneuvered their luggage through the crowd. Their flight to Rochester had been delayed, leaving them with barely enough time to catch their connecting ride. The situation had intensified the tension already simmering between them."I told you we should have left earlier," Sarah muttered under her breath, her tone sharp."And I told you the delay wasn't my fault," Taylor shot back, his voice low but irritated. "Let's focus on making the flight instead of pointing fingers."A tight line formed around Sarah's lips, but she said nothing. All the weight of their circumstance; their company's uncertain position, the intended meeting with her parents, just l
The once-mighty Taylons Enterprises was on its last legs. For three grueling months, Taylor watched helplessly as the company spiraled deeper into financial ruin. Investors had abandoned the ship, wary of associating their wealth with what now appeared to be a sinking vessel. Out of the original eight investors who had remained after the massive breakdown, three more had withdrawn just two days ago. More uncertainty with each passing day, the pressure of failure weighed heavier in Taylor's chest.Inside the Fury household, things were not different from the chaos at the company.Anger had simmered within Taylor always, until today, which finally started to boil over.It blew its stack in the living room with Sarah standing her ground, red with indignation."How could you even believe I did this?" she screamed, her blue eyes ablaze. She jabbed an accusing finger in his direction. "I have stood by you through all that has happened, Taylor, and this is the thanks I get?"Taylor's fist
Nicole stood on the balcony overlooking the sprawling garden below, the early morning air cool against her skin. The birds chirped faintly, but their melody did nothing to soothe the storm raging within her. She had decided on a course of action, and however hard the situation was, she knew just what she had to do. For weeks, she prepared her mind for this occasion, and now it had come.Leo walked into the room, his expression an image of confusion with an air of concern. "You want to leave?" he inquired, his voice almost tinged with disbelief.Nicole turned to him, her face cool yet unyielding. "Yes, Leo. Your grandmother is much better now. Even her doctor confirmed this and said she is well on the road to recovery. My job here is done."His brow furrowed. "But what about us? What about everything we've built together? Nicole, you know how I feel about you."Her heart contracted with his words, and for one moment, she wanted to stay. But the memory of what the Fury family had done
Two days ago....Taylor’s jaw tightened as he surveyed the dimly lit conference room. The air was thick with tension, and the faces around the table were a blend of skepticism and cautious optimism. These were the few board members he trusted—the ones who hadn’t betrayed him, who had shown him nothing short of absolute loyalty since the company had fired him."With a tool we can end this once and for all,” Taylor started, his emotions drowned with determination. “If Taylons Enterprises does not find a new big investor soon, it will go bankrupt.” "New leadership is most likely to start dismantling companies and selling them in bits. If they succeed," he said, "there will be nothing left to save."Silence filled the room like a shroud.At the far end of the table, sat a man of considerable age, named Mr Hughes, who was the first to break the silence. "Can I be blunt, Taylor? Investors are not fools and they don’t invest in a business that is going down the drain. Why would anyone st
The weight of disgrace hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. Taylor sat slumped in the corner of an upscale hotel suite, the plush furnishings around him seeming like mockery rather than comfort. Empty bottles of bourbon and discarded takeout containers littered the coffee table, a testament to the days he had spent drowning in despair.The recent headlines had been merciless: "Taylons Empire Toppled," "Taylor Fury Dethroned," and "A Family Scandal Like No Other." His dismissal from the company he once dictated the fate of was music to the ears of former employees, exciting for some media houses, and hopeful for the shareholders who saw this as an opportunity to reform.But for Taylor Fury? It was a shadow of the man he used to be. Every word of the articles was a stab in his pride, dragging him down to his knees. The knock at the door snapped him from the somber mood. He didn’t answer. Whoever it was could get the fuck out, the same way as everyone else
Taylor's office, once a sanctuary of power and control, now felt like a cage. The walls, adorned with accolades and framed contracts spanning two decades of success, seemed to close in on him. Late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and cast long shadows on the Persian rug.The troubling recent protest, his removal and the unbelievable appointment of his wife, Sarah, as new CEO built up to the whirling dervish that threatened to consume him now. She came into the room, her movement sure and measured, heels ticking across hardwood flooring.She wore the expression of concern and determination; even her designer suit had emerged unscathed after the tension of the day. "Taylor, we need to talk," she began in a smooth, velvety voice laced with urgency that raised the fine hairs at the back of his neck.He looked up from his desk, and in his eyes, could be seen a mix between betrayal and disbelief; the wedding ring on his finger now seemed to feel heavi