Selena POV With the last strength in me, I pushed Colin away as soon as I opened the door and hurriedly bolted the dressing room door. Gasping for breath, I staggered over to the couch and lay on it, holding my aching belly. "It hurts," I managed to whisper through clenched teeth, the memory of losing the baby and the pains I felt after still fresh in my mind. I could hear Colin's voice from the other side of the door. "Open this door, Selena! You can't hide from me forever," Ignoring his threats, I focused on my breathing, controlling the pain . Each breath felt like a small victory. I felt exhausted, I whispered to myself, "I will survive this. I must.” I lay there, trying to steady my breathing and ease the pain, but then my eyelids grew heavy, and my vision began to blur. ****** I gradually opened my eyes to see everywhere dark. "Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed as I searched for my phone in darkness. I found it, switching it on and I realized that my battery was down to a mere 3
Holding my head as the memory faded, I whispered to myself, "Was that a deja vu?". "Hold on tight!" Colin exclaimed, and pressed down on the accelerator but the car moved forward on its own. The rain fell, the wind pushing the car from all sides, Colin had no choice but to stop the car. "I hope it will pass soon," I said, peering out the window. Colin reached for the radio dial and tuned in to the weather broadcast channel. We heard a female voice, "The weather forecast for today predicted a stormy and rainy night, starting at midnight. The storm is expected to continue through the night until the next morning," she announced. "Everyone, make sure to stay safe and cozy with your blankets and heaters." Colin exchanged a glance with me. We were faced with a choice: wait out the storm in the car or brave the storm to seek shelter in the nearby building. "We'll have to make a run for it!" Colin declared, his eyes meeting mine. "It's dark, and everyone has locked up. No one will ope
"What was that for, Selena?" Colin's voice came out sharp as he stood up, his eyes glaring at me. "That was self defense that's why I said don't come close or you'll get hurt," I retorted, my own glare unshaking. "I don't remember being with you or having anything to do with you. I'm only here with you now because I'm stranded, nothing more. If you think you can use this situation as a tool to get me laid, you must be joking." I spat out. Colin stood there angrily as if trying to process my words. I rose from the bed and grabbed the lamp on the bedside cabinet, as I pulled it closer to myself on the bed as a weapon for self defense if Colin tries anything stupid again. Despite the unease gnawing at me inside because I know I might be no match for him, I forced myself to appear composed. I lay on the bed, half awake throughout the night, the recent event still scares me as I couldn't dare take a full nap. With the first light of morning filtering through the curtains, I noticed Coli
"She left?" I repeated, totally disappointed. "Yes," the receptionist confirmed. I gnawed at myself as I processed the situation. "What an ungrateful brat she has become so daring unlike before," Returning the hotel key, I made my way to my car and drove back home. The throbbing headache persisted. I took medication to numb the pain, eventually succumbing to sleep to escape the pain. I woke up, and my stomach rumbled, I held on and sat up on the bed when I heard the sounds of plates emanating from the kitchen. "Is that Selena?" I asked myself, before I recall what happened in the morning, "Perhaps I'm still dreaming," I mused as I stood up from the bed. I made my way to the kitchen, opening the kitchen door to see David sipping juice straight from the fridge. " What do you think you are doing?” I asked, starling David as he quickly turned with the juice can on his mouth. “ What's up, bro? I saw you sleeping when I came, so I didn't border you" “ Oh!” “ Your fridge is empty
“What was that for?" Jasper demanded. "It is what it is," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. Jasper took hold of his fork and moved forward to get my chicken out of Selena's plate. I stopped his attempt, using my fork to block his. He moved his fork back trying to use it on another angle but I stopped him again. We started struggling not letting each other win. Unwilling to lose Jasper pushed my hand away with his left hand, and my hand hit the glass of wine near me, I tried stopping the glass from falling but it was too late as it poured on a man passing by all dressed in white suit. "What the hell!" The man yelled, drawing the attention of diners and staff, all eyes turned in our direction. "Won't you apologize?" I asked Jasper. "You wish!" Jasper retorted. “ Won't any of you say something?” The man yelled, “ how can you pour wine on me, to think am even wearing white, what the fuck…is this” he yelled again. Selena quickly rose up from her seat, and took a handkerchief from
Jasper POV I couldn't handle how I was feeling after Selena hugged and kissed Colin. "You must be so happy she did that, huh?" I said bitterly. "Why won't I be happy? She has to hug me, I'm her fiancé," he retorted. My jaw clenched and I shot back, "She was," "I'm still her fiancé," Colin replied. “ And also You can't do anything about that, and besides, you can never come between us, so get the fuck off," Colin added. Enraged by his dismissive attitude, I closed the distance between us, grabbing hold of his shirt, "You wanna try?" I asked. "I would love to," Colin shot back. "Do you think this is still college when you took her away from me?" I seethed, filled up by my deep-rooted pain that had grown bitter over time for years now. "Yes, and I'll do that again and again, without her ever knowing what truly happened," he smirked. I can't take it anymore, Colin has bitten more than he can chew and am tired of it, I gripped his shirt tighter, moving my other hand backwards an
Pulling up to IMG Models, I spotted Noah waiting for me at the entrance. I stepped out of my car, his presence reminded me of my responsibility. Noah Inman, is the owner and founder of IMG Models, and also my best friend. “I told the newly accepted models from the audition to come, so you can pick your choice, Jasper the ball's in your court fully," Noah informed me. "I mentioned I was dealing with a dilemma, Mr. Inman," i began, but Noah cut me off. "And I told you Business is more important right now, we can talk about your dilemma later but right now , we need to get this app on air, to the public, this is a big project that will get us a billion or more, don't get on my nerves Jasper move it" Noah stated. I forced a smile and nodded, taking the lead. Entering IMG Models I walked alongside Noah, my hands tucked into my pockets. I could see the lineup of models awaiting us. Noah guided me towards the center of the hall, positioning me for a closer view of the models as they sto
I quickly posed "That's the style," Jasper remarked as he approached me. I met his eyes and nodded, taking a step back to adjust to the new direction. He looked at me for some time before he walked over to where the photographers were reviewing images on the computer. "Start!" the photographer called out, signaling the continuation of the shoot. I pushed my earlier feeling, focusing solely on my poses and expressions as I immersed myself in the shoot. Despite meeting Jasper's eyes while posing, I pretend not to notice his attention. While posing bringing out the bad bitch styles in me, the photographer chimed in, "Yes, I like that look. Give me a 'bad bitch' look." I adjust to the bad bitch setting, My training kicked in, allowing me to deliver the powerful look the photographer desired, showcasing my versatility as a model. Colin POV After finishing my meal at the restaurant, I stepped out. Just then, my phone rang, I glanced at the caller ID to see David's name flashing on the
Levi POVI left the cafe, my mind was racing. I knew that Armstrong was right. I didn't have much time. Global Reach Enterprises was circling like vultures, waiting for ByteForge Technology to fall.But there had to be another way, a way to save my company without giving in to Thier demands.I pulled out my phone and dialed Dad's contact, i had promised myself i would never asked Dad for help but i guess i need to break my promise. “Hello Dad,” I said when he answered. “I need your help." “Levi?” Dad asked in surprise, “What is it, son? What’s going on?”I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. “Dad, I’m in trouble. ByteForge is in trouble. I’m about to lose everything.”There was a long pause, and then Dad spoke. “I see. And what can I do to help?”" I want to know the real owner behind Global reach Enterprise, they want ByteForge , like there are desperate and any silly move from me might ruin everything, i want to know who i'm fighting not shadows" “T
Levi POVI sat in my office, replaying all that Aviva had said to me a while ago. For the past months my company ByteForge Technology has been going through a severe rough patch, is the breach thing Aviva talked about the cause? I sat down wondering.I paced around my office. Aviva’s words echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The security breach she mentioned could be the work of a disgruntled former employee? Or could it be something more sinister? As the CEO of ByteForge Technology I have to take this seriously. If someone was targeting our company, we needed to be prepared. But was Aviva telling the truth? Or was she part of something more nefarious?My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.“Come in,” I called, returning to my desk and trying to appear composed.My assistant, James, entered,“Sir, we’ve been contacted by Global Reach Enterprises. They want to speak with you about a…potential collaboration.”“Potential collaboration?
Aviva POVElara’s laughter faded away as she walked out, I could practically feel the tension in the room. We all knew what was at stake, what would happen if we failed.“Okay,” Parker said, breaking the silence. “So we get in, find the backup server, and get the info. Sounds simple enough.”I knew it wouldn’t be that simple, not with the high stakes and the security precautions in place. But I also knew that Parker was trying to lighten the mood, trying to keep us focused.The three of us left the conference room, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I could feel my legs getting heavy, making every step feel heavy and slow.“Don’t worry, Aviva,” Armstrong said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got this. We’re going to get the information and get out, no problem.” I nodded, trying to smile. But I couldn’t help but feel creeped out. Something about this mission felt…off.Soon it got dark and we made our way towards Byteford Technology headquarters, disguising ourselves as janitors
Aviva POV“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rutherford,” I replied, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this position with you.”“Indeed,” Elara said, her gaze assessing me “I’m sure you’re wondering why we’ve reconsidered your application after all this time.”I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “I am curious, Ms. Rutherford.”“Have a seat,” she gestured for me to sit. I sat down in the chair across from her, feeling as if I were being measured and weighed, Elara leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on me. “I’m not going to lie to you, Miss Rogers. We’re desperate. Our recent ventures haven’t been as successful as we’d hoped, and we’re in need of new blood.”A chill ran down my spine at her words. “And you believe I’m the right person for the job?”Elara smiled, a cold, calculating smile. “I believe you have potential, Miss Rogers. You impressed us during the initial interview, and your determination to find employment even after we
Aviva POVThe disciplinary committee was a panel of three stern faced executives, each with a folder of documents in front of them. Bianca took her seat at the head of the table.“Aviva Rogers,” she said, her voice clear and authoritative. “You stand accused of falsifying company records and conspiring with other employees to undermine the authority of your superiors. How do you plead?”I opened my mouth to protest, but the words died on my lips. I knew it was useless. Bianca had made up her mind.“We have compiled a significant amount of evidence,” one of the disciplinary committee interjected, “But we’re willing to offer you a deal. If you confess, we’ll let you leave with a slightly more favorable recommendation.”I glared at him, my hands balled into fists under the table. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” I replied instead of pleading, “I refuse to confess to crimes I didn’t commit. I was set up!”The committee members exchanged glances, “Very well,” Bianca smirked,“We will proceed
Aviva POV" She would not if we all work together, we can cover for you. Divide up the work so it looks like you’re doing it all yourself, but we’re helping behind the scenes. i promise we would do it just like you and no one will notice" Jeff advised.I hesitated. It was a risky plan, and part of me worried about the consequences if we got caught. But the alternative of failing to meet Bianca’s impossible deadline was even worse. I nod at least I'll be able to get a good night's rest. Feeling renewed with hope, I returned to my desk and began sorting through the files, dividing them up among Jeff, Clara, Dana and Sarah who suggested she would help. We’d have to work quickly and discreetly, and we can do it.The hours passed, we passed the files around, each of us working on different sections. We didn’t talk, didn’t even look at each other. Finally, the clock, near midnight, the last file was finished.“Are you sure no one will notice?” I whispered to Jeff as I placed the files ba
Aviva POVSwallowing hard, I got up from my desk and made my way to Bianca’s office, each step feeling heavier than the last.I entered her office, and Bianca was standing by the window, her back to me. She didn’t turn as I approached.“Close the door,” she barked. I obeyed. What have I done wrong now?“You will never humiliate me like that again,” Bianca hissed, finally turning to face me.“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, Bianca’s eyes flashed with rage. “You spoke to James,” she spat. “You thought you could go over my head and complain about your little cleaning assignment, didn’t you?”I blinked, my mind reeling. How did she know? “I…I didn’t…”“Liar!” she shouted.It's obvious she knew about it yesterday. Why bring it up now? Is she trying to drive to something? I wondered, staring at her. I stood there, paralyzed, as Bianca paced back and forth in front of me, her heels hitting the floor hard.“You think you can outsmart me? You think you’re special just
Aviva POVI felt so relieved and I felt like I could breathe again. “Thank you, James, I appreciate your help.”“It’s no problem, Miss, Bianca can be a handful, and I know Levi wouldn’t want you to be treated like that. But if she continues to give you trouble, you need to tell me. Don’t keep it to yourself. Now, why don’t you head back in there and start proving your worth?”. I nodded smiling, I turned and head into the department office when i suddenly heard my name from Bianca's office, "Aviva come over" she said loud and i sighed before heading there, i got into her office and she leaned back into her chair." I saw the strings you pulled, but take this, " she threw a file to work, " work on it and submit it tomorrow." I caught the file mid air, feeling the contents,“What is it?” I asked, curious piqued despite my wariness.“It’s a project for one of our biggest clients,” Bianca said, leaning forward. “I expect you to review the numbers, make sure everything is in order, and hav
Aviva POVI began mopping the floor, pushing the mop In anger, Why was I being made to do this? Was this some kind of twisted initiation rite, a test of my willingness to submit? Or was Bianca just a cruel, power hungry lady who enjoys humiliating her subordinates?Whatever the reason, I had to stay focused. I couldn’t afford to lose this job, no matter how degrading it was. I moved to the windows, Here I was, a highly educated woman, reduced to menial labor like a common maid.I worked in silence, my jaw clenched. She looked up from her work, and looked away as long as I was doing what she wanted.The more I scrubbed, the angrier I became. Why should I have to endure this treatment? Wasn’t there any way to fight back, to stand up for myself? I recall the main reason i'm here so i kick the thoughts aside, " Aren't you done yet?" Bianca barked and i stood up straight facing her. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied, “I’ve finished the windows and surfaces.”Bianca finally looked up from her work,