"Miss Hamilton," Penelope called, walking briskly towards Signoral, who stood staring at her reflection in the mirror."I don't want to hear anything work-related, Penelope. It's my engagement tonight," she warned, dismissing the ladies helping her with her looks."Miss Calista is at the event," Penelope announced, standing a foot away from her boss. "We haven't been checking up on her lately, assuming she's okay, moving on with her life in California, but she's here.""What?" Signoral asked, standing up abruptly. "Why?""She's friends with Mr. Anthony, Mr. Windsor's younger brother, and I think he invited her to the party."Signoral clenched her fist, trying not to vent her resentment. "What in the universe is she doing back here when she can stick her ass back in Los Angeles?""Is she a threat?" Penelope asked, her hands rigidly clasped behind her back.Signoral smiled. "Vivian said she might be, but I'm very sure Ranya doesn't want her. If he did, he wouldn't have sent her away the
Calista slipped away, unable to bear the urge to be alone. Everything seemed out of place. How is Emily a Hamilton? How could she have been so oblivious to the truth about her best friend?Calista walked away, seeking refuge where she believed she could gather her thoughts without intrusion. Her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as she made her way to the house, following Anthony’s directions. She soon located the visitor’s restroom and slipped inside, shutting the door gently behind her.Emily knew all along that he was her betrothed, yet she even helped her secure an appointment four years ago. Calista placed her hands on the basin, her eyes glued to her reflection. How on earth is she to face Emily, knowing fully well she had been sleeping with Ranya for the past three years they had been together?She needed to see Emily and explain. She needed to let her know she had no idea Ranya was the betrothed she had always talked about.“I love him,” Emily’s words echoed back to her. S
“May I?” Anthony asked, extending his hand toward Signoral for a dance. She smiled and accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.“You look really amazing tonight, Miss Hamilton,” he complimented as they began to dance. “I understand couples usually have the first dance, but I guess my brother isn’t one to play by the rules.”Signoral nodded, her eyes scanning the vicinity for Ranya. He should be near his father or her grandfather, but he was nowhere to be found.“It’s my pleasure to share the dance floor with you too,” she replied, turning gracefully and resting her fingers on the back of his head. “Ranya and I already had our first dance.”As they turned again, she searched the crowd for Ranya or Calista but saw no sign of either. “Your girlfriend—wasn’t she the lady you were standing with a while ago?”“Oh,” he blurted, bowing as the song ended. “What makes you think she’s my girlfriend?”“Your mom,” Signoral announced as they walked off the dance floor. She ne
“Calista?” Emily pouted, causing her to nod in acceptance.“I need to tell my parents. I bet they will really love to attend your wedding with me. Willie sends her regards anyway,” she replied, walking out of the garden with Emily as they approached the buzzing vicinity that held her engagement party.“You won’t ask me why I kept my real identity from you?” Emily asked, slightly staring at Calista, whose face was more calm than the last time they were in the garden. Maybe she’s not a threat yet, but there’s no way she will let her guard down. Reason she invited her to the White House with her. She was going to watch them closely and have reasons to eliminate Calista for good, since Ranya by now knew she had been hiding in California.“I believe we have lots of time together to ask more of these questions because, Em, you have a lot of explaining to do,” Calista replied. “I was shocked you were Ranya’s betrothed, more shocked that he is Lewiston’s first son, and extremely shocked to kn
“What? Really?” Anthony asked, shocked by her response. She rolled her eyes, nearly provoking an outburst from him.Unable to contain his joy, he grabbed her, lifted her off the dance floor, and spun her around, attracting stares from the other dancers, including Ranya.Calista laughed. It sounded genuine, but deep down, she hated having to say yes to Anthony just to get Ranya off her back. She hoped that, in time, she would learn to love Anthony as much as he loved her.“You’re causing a scene, Anthony,” she beamed, her smile radiant, while her insides churned with chaos and turmoil.“I don’t care, Cal. I don’t care,” he said amidst laughter. His smile was capable of melting the coldest hearts, but only if she truly wanted to be with him.He dragged her down the stage, and for some reason, Calista was prompted to look back at Ranya, who wore a smug smile of ‘I told you so.’ She hissed and wished she had slapped him harder in the washroom earlier.She turned back and walked with Antho
“You’ll agree with me that Anthony’s girlfriend is a beauty,” Damian said from across Ranya, munching on the pizza they had brought to Ranya’s home.He was already clad in Ranya’s clothes. “Why are you telling me that?” Ranya asked, annoyed. This was why he didn’t want Damian around. He’s a pain in the ass.“You were ogling at her, too. I saw you continuously glaring at the pretty woman,” Damian continued, ignoring Ranya’s displeased snort.“Go to bed now and leave me to do my work,” Ranya replied, picking up his laptop.“Her name is Calista; did you know that?” Damian persisted. “How can your brother’s girlfriend have the same name as the young lady you were looking for, huh?”“I will not tell you again, Damian. Go to bed now, or I will be forced to push you out of my space tonight.”“I’m only trying to talk to you, seeing as you might need company.”“I don’t need your company. Go to bed now.”Damian sighed and stood up from the sofa, prepared to leave Ranya to his work, when his pho
Ranya couldn’t concentrate in court. The McCarthy case, a high-profile one he had taken on, seemed more challenging than usual as his thoughts kept drifting to Calista.Valerie walked behind him as he made his way out of the courtroom. “You seemed distant today, Mr. Windsor,” she noted, keeping pace with him. “Do you need anything?”“No,” Ranya responded simply. Aside from Damian’s incessant nagging disrupting his focus, he hadn’t been able to fully concentrate. It was past eleven, and Damian hadn’t checked in since they both left home early that morning.Auntie Maria had called, knowing Damian was with him, and asked him to drop by her place. She wanted to see him.“Do I have any other appointments today?” he asked Valerie.She glanced at the work tablet in her hands. “Yes. You have an appointment with Mr. Giordano.”“What’s his case?” Ranya asked, waiting for Greg, who quickly opened the car door for him. He entered the car, and Valerie followed suit.“His shares were unlawfully wit
Watching him glaring and smiling at the same time made Calista extremely uncomfortable. Whatever Ranya was doing here felt so planned and intentional. The familiar secretary sat across from her, her gaze fixed on Calista as well. She nodded a greeting, which Calista returned.A few minutes passed in silence, with Ranya enjoying himself between Anthony and Calista. Damian then walked into the suite and gladly sat beside Valerie, who had a slight smile on her cheeks.“So, Ranya, you got this place?” Anthony started. He had never called Ranya “brother” before. The thirty-one-year-old man seemed quite displeased with him until last night, when Ranya had asked him to dance with Signoral.“That’s what I said when I got here, right?” Ranya responded. “What are we having here? It would be good to celebrate.”Calista stared dismissively at Ranya’s sudden witty attitude. What in the universe had happened to the quiet man who barely said a word? Had Emily influenced him so much that he now talke