The excitement in the headquarters' main hall was palpable. Representatives from the media, shareholders, and executives crowded the room on the day of the corporate election. Nicole Hart, the departing president of Corporate Affairs, was the center of attention.Nicole Hart began her career at Apex Industries in Orion as a junior analyst and advanced fast through the ranks thanks to her intellect and unwavering determination. She oversaw a significant merger, increasing the impact of Apex Industries and enhancing her standing as a skillful tactician.By the time she became President of Corporate Affairs, she had dominated the corporate landscape, securing Apex Industries' position as the city's leading firm. Nicole's power extended beyond the company, as she built influential alliances in politics, finance, and media.As her tenure neared its end, Nicole identified Elsa Reeves as her successor. Elsa, known for her strategic brilliance, was seen by Nicole as the ideal candidate to con
It was 6:30pm, and the sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the city. After bidding Tony goodbye, Flora swung the door open and stepped out, feeling the cool evening breeze. She walked a few miles, and then decided to place a call to who she was meeting."Hello Ms. Thompson, good evening to you," Flora greeted. "Please, where can I find you?""Just move a few steps forward, and you'll find me. I can see you from where I am," Ms. Thompson responded, after which she interrupted the call.Ms. Thompson had come to pick a few items from a grocery store near Flora’s neighborhood, so she decided to stop by Flora’s place to ask if she had accomplished her side of the bargain.Flora arrived at her car, and Ms. Thompson ordered her to get in. Flora got in, unsure of how to act, knowing she had not completed her task"So, do you have some good news for me?" Ms. Thompson asked, in anticipation."Emmm," Flora hesitated, unsure how to respond."Not yet," she finally responded, placing
"The CEO, Mr. Alex Tate would like to see you," the receptionist echoed, calling Amelia's attention as she noticed her trying to leave the building."Oh! Okay. Can you please direct me to his office?" Amelia asked politely."Don't worry, I'll take you there myself," the receptionist offered.Amelia felt grateful for her benevolence. As she walked quietly behind the receptionist, she was excited about how her interview went. It went so smoothly that the sales manager was highly impressed and couldn't wait for her to commence work.As Amelia walked through the building, her mind was racing with thoughts of how successful the interview had been. She couldn't help but admire the environment. The workspace was a testament to luxury and opulence.The floors were polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflecting the ambient lighting that was carefully designed to provide both functionality and aesthetic appeal.The walls were adorned with contemporary art pieces, each meticulously chosen to enhanc
A stone's throw away from the bar, Amelia's phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from her thoughts and onto the notification she had just received. She carefully opened her bag and retrieved her phone, her fingers deftly navigating the screen as she read through the message from Mr. Lawrence.Mr. Lawrence had texted Amelia to prepare for a visit to Mr. Nick's house the next day. He and Alex had decided to keep secret their prior visit to survey the environment and the fact that Mr. Nick had already sold his house. They agreed it was best for Amelia to discover this on her own, believing it would be easier to manage her reaction.Amelia's eyes widened slightly as she processed the information. After a moment's pause, she quickly typed out a response, confirming that she had received the message and was willing to join him tomorrow.Just as she was about to press send, a car sped out of the bar's driveway, its engine roaring loudly. The sudden movement caught her attention, and she
6AMAmelia woke up with a feeling of excitement, having had a good night's rest. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across her room.She stretched luxuriously, savoring the lingering comfort of her dreams. The quiet hum of the city waking up outside felt like a gentle symphony, matching her buoyant mood.As she moved through her morning routine, her excitement grew. She chose an outfit that made her feel confident. After putting on her dress, she took a moment to admire her reflection in the mirror, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.Amelia had completed her morning routine and was waiting for Mr. Lawrence to arrive at her residence. Even though her house was situated deep within the neighborhood, she was surprised and impressed at how fast and easily Mr. Lawrence managed to locate it.As she walked closer to the car, she noticed Alex seated on the right side, just beside Mr. Lawrence. Mixed feelings rushed through her. First, she was excited t
It was 8 AM at Tate Industries, and every worker was bustling around, arranging things and getting ready for the day. The air was filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of office supplies as everyone settled into their routines.Amelia had just stepped into the office, looking absolutely gorgeous in her professional attire. She exuded confidence, her outfit perfectly tailored, highlighting her poised and elegant demeanor. The moment she entered, all eyes were drawn to her, curiosity evident in their glances. It was clear she was new, and her arrival had created quite a stir.In boldness, despite the obvious glances, she walked towards the receptionist and greeted her warmly. The receptionist, a woman with a friendly but professional demeanor, smiled back and asked Amelia to hold on for a short time. She explained that the CEO, Alex Tate, would like to officially introduce her as a new member of the company.As they conversed, the atmosphere in the office seemed to shift.
As the slides began to display on the screen, there was a palpable tension in the room. Alex stepped aside, allowing the coordinator and the judges to carefully review the content. Slide by slide, they compared the materials from Tate Industries to what had just been presented by the other company.Though the PowerPoint designs were different, the contents were exactly the same as those of Tate Industries. The similarities were undeniable.The judges exchanged glances, their expressions growing more serious with each passing moment. The coordinator's face hardened as he saw the evidence before him.He turned back to the audience, raising his hand to get their attention. "It is evident that the presentation given by the first company contains material strikingly similar to that of Tate Industries. This matter will require further investigation."Alex felt a surge of relief and vindication, though the sting of betrayal still lingered. He looked at his team, who were now filled with a mi
Lucy's heart sank. Her mind raced, knowing she was the one who had recorded their initiatives and plans and had given it out. The weight of her actions bore down on her, suffocating her with guilt and fear. She muttered to herself, “What if after this investigation, I'm caught as the traitor?" Panic gripped her, and she stood still, her thoughts spiraling. “Mr. Alex wouldn't hesitate to fire me!” she yelled, the sound echoing in the empty office.She glanced at her wristwatch. It was already 5:10 PM, past the usual closing time of 5 PM. Her pulse quickened. She hurriedly packed her bags, her hands trembling as she arranged her desk. She needed to get out, escape the looming consequences. As she left the office building, she fumbled for her phone and dialed Mr. Vincent's number.“Good day Mr. Vincent," Lucy greeted, trying to sound calm"Greetings to you, Lucy," Mr. Vincent responded"Sir, there's an investigation going on,” she blurted out as soon as he answered. Her voice was shaky,
The vast, exquisite estate served as the perfect setting for the lavish wedding of Alex and Amelia. The event was held in a verdant yard with beautiful white and blush flower arrangements.Nathan and his spouse, who traveled from a distance, were among the loved ones, friends, and employees present.A string quartet's gentle strains accompanied Amelia as she walked down a rose-petal-filled aisle in a stunning couture gown with elaborate lace embellishments.Alex waited at the altar with love and anticipation in his eyes as he looked stunning in a fitted tuxedo.The reception was held in a large ballroom with tables adorned with exquisite china and glittering cutlery and lit by crystal chandeliers that created a pleasant glow.Following a five-course gourmet dinner, guests danced in a gorgeously lighted patio under the stars.The coordinator, whose job had been taken because he had refused to comply with Elsa's requests, contacted Alex at the ceremony's conclusion and gave him some sur
"Amelia is doing great. She's stable, and the doctors are making sure everything goes smoothly. We won't know much more for a while, but she's handling it well thus far,” the nurse said.With a sigh of relief, Flora's shoulders eased. "We really appreciate you informing us of this."The nurse nodded. “I’ll keep you updated on her progress. Feel free to wait here, and I’ll come to get you once there’s more news.”Alex and Flora resumed their seats, their minds slightly eased but still filled with anticipation. They chatted quietly, trying to distract themselves from the nervous energy that lingered.Hours seemed to pass quickly as they continued to wait. Finally, the nurse returned, her expression filled with positive news. “You can see Amelia now. She has asked for both of you to come in.”The nurse led Alex and Flora through the hospital hallways until they arrived at the delivery room.They were met with the sight of Amelia who appeared relieved yet exhausted, and they saw her holdi
Three days after, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a golden hue over the city, Alex sent a message to Amelia: he had a surprise for her. The excitement in his text was palpable, and Amelia’s curiosity piqued as she went about her work for the day.During the end of work, Alex waited for her to tidy up her things, and when she was done, she strode to where his car was parked.Alex smiled warmly to welcome her when he sighted her walking towards him. As she arrived at the car, he stepped outside and gave her a warm hug and thereafter, he asked, "Do you trust me?" his mischievous and genuine eyes sparkling."Of course I do," Amelia answered, her smile expressing her confidence in him. “Good,” Alex said, pulling out a soft blindfold. “I’m going to need you to wear this for a bit while I drive you to our destination.”Amelia chuckled and agreed, her excitement evident. “Sure, go ahead. I’m ready for this surprise!”With the blindfold gently placed over her eyes, Alex took her
Upon arrival, Alex’s access proved invaluable. He guided the team through security and into the estate. The officers, led by Agent Smith and Detective Benson, approached Elsa Reeves’ mansion with determination.As they made their way inside, the securities and bodyguards reacted with alarm as they saw Alex bringing in officers into the mansion.They moved to confront the intruders, but Alex quickly intervened, instructing them to back off. The commotion caused by the confrontation created a distraction, allowing Elsa to make her way to the living room.As Elsa arrived, her expression one of surprise, she asked, “What is going on here?”Detective Benson stepped forward, holding up the warrant. “Elsa Reeves, you are under arrest for your involvement in the false allegations and the fake business proposal deal with Walmart Industries. Please come with us for questioning.”The officers moved in, and Elsa Reeves, though initially resistant, had no choice but to comply. As she was led away,
Finally, the day of the meeting had arrived, and everyone on the team—including Amelia and Alex—knew how important it was. They carried on with their day, constantly reminding themselves of the meeting's time and place.Mr. Nick stayed back at the hotel to get ready for the 6 PM meeting because he didn't have any work obligations that day.The anticipation increased as the morning became into midday. In the midst of this tension, Mr. Nick was called by Detective Benson, who already had his number."Hello, Mr. Nick," Detective Benson greeted, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I need to know if you still have the evidence from the investigation on Elsa Reeves. It's critical for our case."Mr. Nick paused, his mind flashing back to the painstaking hours he had spent gathering that evidence.He knew how vital it was, not just for the case but for justice to prevail. "Yes, I still have everything," he replied, his voice steady. "I've kept it all safe, kn
Mr. Nick took a deep breath, the weight of the revelation heavy in the air. He looked at Amelia, his expression serious, ready to finally unveil the truth.“It was Elsa Reeves,” Mr. Nick revealedAlex's face twisted in frustration, his brows furrowing deeply as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. His neck veins widened as he gave a shout, "Damn it!" His voice echoed in the confined space of the car.His fury was so intense that he smacked his finger into the steering wheel, despite the searing pain.His nostrils flared and his breathing quickened as he attempted to regain control, but the anger that was already blazing fiercely inside of him seemed to get stronger, his thoughts a whirlwind of hatred and helplessness.Following his reaction, Detective Benson, who was seated close to Alex, gave him a calming tap on the shoulder to help him regain his composure.Mr. Nick continued, "One fateful day at the office, while I was having a casual chat with Mr. Walmart, his phone rang," h
“Amelia!”Mr. Nick screamed Amelia’s name, his expression a pure blank of disbelief. His eyes widened with shock, his usually composed demeanor shattered by the unexpected sight before him.With a tone that blended nostalgia and shock, Mr. Nick said, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."His gaze remained on Amelia as though attempting to make sense of the situation, his eyes suddenly softer and slightly emotional."Why do I have a feeling that this was a set up?" he questioned, turning to face Alex with a raised eyebrow.With a knowing gleam in his eyes, Alex grinned. "It's true that I really wanted to show you the document, but primarily, I wanted you to meet with Amelia alongside."Mr. Nick's face softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He muttered no words, but the relief and curiosity in his eyes spoke volumes. His gaze shifted to Detective Benson, who was seated beside Amelia."Hello sir," Mr. Nick pleaded, his voice gentle yet urgent, "could you come over to th
Following their conversation, Alex turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Flora with a renewed sense of purpose and a heart full of gratitude.He got into his car and rode straight to the office, his mind racing on whether or not to expect any situation awaiting him. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by his employees which he responded to and he headed straight to his office.When Alex arrived at the floor of his office, he walked towards Maxwell's office. "Maxwell," he called out as he entered, "can you remind me of the time of my appointments today and how many people I'll be meeting with?"Maxwell looked up from his desk, consulting his schedule. "You have just two appointments today, sir. One at 2PM and the other at 4PM."Alex nodded thoughtfully. "I'll need you to move the 4PM appointment forward because I need to leave the office by 4PM to prepare for an event tonight.""Okay, sir, I'll do just that," Maxwell responded promptly.A few hours later, the 2PM appointment arrived a
As Alex arrived, Cora, who was sitting still, muttered, "I don't want to speak with you, Alex."Alex felt sad; he never wanted it to come this far, but her continuous threats to Amelia had made him do so.He asked a few questions about her well-being, but Cora ignored him and channeled her energy into emotional blackmail.Alex ignored her tactics and asked how she had managed to get that image of himself and Amelia.Cora laughed maliciously, and thereafter she answered, "The day our engagement was called off, because I still loved you, I felt the need to keep an eye on you."She paused, and then continued, "So, the next day, I used my spare keys to get into your apartment and installed a hidden camera in your bedroom. From time to time, I would check the footage to see if you were with someone else. That night, after witnessing you both together, I watched the video on my PC, where the camera was wirelessly connected, and took a picture of it."Alex was taken aback. He couldn't believ