CHAPTER SIXTY*Serves him right!*A satisfied smirk creep across his face as he leaned backwards, settling into his chair. He proceeded to clasp his hands together again as his cool and assessing gaze continues to scan her features."The meeting has been rescheduled to 2 pm because I have an important matter to attend to. During the meeting, we will be launching preparations for our upcoming contract with a top lingerie manufacturing company to help them market and advertise their products. I want you to be in charge of this in my stead. This means you will be super busy for the next two weeks. Is that understood?" He demanded, staring at her intensely.She clamped her lips briefly together and nodded slowly.Oh no! What about Janice's vacation trip?!They were supposed to go together next week!Damn it! He's already pissed off and asking for another permission in this circumstance will not be accepted. How would she break this news to her best friend? She won't be happy about it.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE*Speak of the Devil, Breda!*Serves him right! She will not give him the satisfaction of getting his way with her. That's right! She loves to see the defeat in his eyes. His ego was clearly hurt!A self-conceited monster like him needs a reminder from time to time that they simply cannot get whatever they want anytime they want. They absolutely think money is the solution to all of their problems. What a joke!He cleared his throat and licked his lips again. His eyes were hooded and intent on hers.She remained standing.He glanced at his wristwatch and sprung up from his chair, buttoning his jacket properly as he straightened his broad shoulders. He was much taller than her about 6 feet tall. He was hovering over her as his midnight eyes glinted."Well, business calls. I should be going. Good thing I don't have to tell spell out your job for you. Now get back to work and leave my sight!" He bellowed.She lit her lower lip to roar back at him.What a total jerk! Sh
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO*Fuck bodies with no commitments*She watched her receding back with resentment flushing through her.Dear lord, she had never hated anyone more than she hates that slut!She bit her lower lip and swallowed.She had the guts to threaten her like that. How dare she?! Well, she can't blame her, after all, she's willing to kiss his ass to get in his good books and win him over at any cost. Even to get on his bed. They probably already fucked. Trust, Cross the playboy to get whatever he wants. The sex must have been good though... Aggressive and steamy hot! Breda seems like the rough-handler type. It must have been her lucky day indeed.Snap outta it, Hannah! She chided herself mentally, feeling embarrassed with herself for thinking like that.Wait a damn minute. what is this sudden heaviness lingering in her chest?She pressed her palm against her chest.It can't possibly be 'jealously ' is it?Absolutely no freaking way! Why would she be jealous of that slut? And b
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE*It's good news, Babe!*Janice Jordan! Her bestie.Oh shit! Why would she be calling at a time like this?Did something happen? Or did her sickness become worse? Or?...But work calls. She has to prep for the meeting coming up later in the day and her boss, Mr cross particularly noted she will be in charge of the big project. Well, the only pending issue they have on ground is about the planning for the short trip to South Africa which, unfortunately, she will no longer be available for. With an exasperated groan, She puffed out a deep breath. She contemplated calling her later perhaps during her lunch break. But for now, her hands are tight down with pending important matters to attend to. She changed the settings to vibration mode just in case a call from Mr Cross comes in. She doesn't want to give him the luxury of looking for holes to pick with her. Not this time. Not after what happened in his office earlier today.But then again, an uneasy feeling linger
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR*Sadly, she won't be part of it*"What? I don't think I got that Hannah could say it one more time please?" "Huh?" Hannah said faintly.What is she getting at? Is she bluffing right now? I just said..."I think the network from my end suddenly started acting up. My bad." She continued. "Can you hear me?"She nodded slowly, "Yes, Jane. Loud and clear." After a pause. "Can you hear me now?"Janice nodded. "Yeah, I guess. So what were you saying, Hannah?"Hannah swallowed a lump in her throat. Sharing a piece of sad news is better said once than twice. She shifted relentlessly in her seat. She was extremely nervous.Maybe is best they talk about it face to face rather than discussing it over the phone. That way, they would be able to discuss it at a greater length and perhaps come up with alternative ways for her to spend the trip.She drew in several breaths and exhaled, clamping her lips anxiously."Hannah? Are you still there? Hello?" She prompted, impatiently.Her
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE*Please go for my sake*Failing at her attempt to hold her tears at bay, she let them flow freely down her cheeks. Why does this hurt so much?She clenched a hand over her chest.A complex emotion stirred inside her.Imagine planning out something big, mapping out all your aims and steps to achieve them and then, eventually succeeding. Only for the slightest thing to alter and mar all your plans. Hence, throwing them all in a state of disarray. Especially, if this so-called plan is with someone very important to you. Someone that you cherish and love. Your best friend.That pain is the most unbearable. Really!A part of her hoped to go and would not hesitate to barge into her boss' office right this instance, demanding permission to go for the trip even though it means losing her job as a result. She doesn't care.But then, that's just the irrational part of her. The rational part of her is admonishing her from veering off and letting her emotions get the best o
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX*She needed a challenge! *It was a misty chilly Saturday morning and Janice vowed that today she would go jogging instead of being slothful and sleeping in the house almost all day.She needed a challenge! And today seems like the right time to do it.She groggily forced herself out of bed, yawning loudly. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and strolled to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She finished in three minutes, washing her face. She dabbed a towel on her face and sauntered to her walk-in closet. She flicked open the wardrobe compartment that housed all her workout clothes and equipment. She sneezed loudly, rubbing her nose. Damn! It's frigid cold outside.This could be one reason to deter her from jogging outside but she shook her head frantically, reiterating the importance of today's workout. She won't be lazy anymore. No excuses whatsoever Janice! Today we will be doing a little jogging around the compound. We need to get your lazy body bouncing back! We need t
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN*Whatever means necessary, he will not hesitate to seize*His naked body was draped in the duvet as he stared at the ceiling mindlessly. He slept naked yesterday without realizing it. He had worked so hard at the stables, losing track of time and getting back to the Cabin pretty late. He had lazily jumped into the shower for a quick one with sleepy eyes and by the time he got to the bed he was already fast asleep. He yawned and flexed his muscles. His eyes flickered to the clock at his bedside table. 7:10 am. He stared at the window, the dark was still fresh and the sun is gleaming weakly through the window.He yawned again. As much as he would love to continue his beauty sleep on the bed some more, he got work to do today.Saturdays are for track run exercises at the stables. The horses need some early morning exercises around the wasteland. He sighed deeply. By the way, it's been a couple of days since he last set his eyes on her. Hope she's doing fine thou
*To forever and beyond…*The day of the trial had arrived, and it felt as though the world held its breath. The courtroom was filled with journalists, spectators, and photographers positioned on all corners of the courtroom doors waiting. They were all here for the same purpose: the moment the world would witness as justice decided the fate of Mr. Jordan. In other words, the downfall of the Jordans.The courtroom was so unnervingly quiet that you could hear a pin drop as every creak of a bench and every rustle of paper lingered in the tense air.Janice Jordan sat at the front with Finn beside her. Her uncle came with some family members and they sat behind the pew. Janice’s hands trembled in her lap, fingers clasped so tightly together that her knuckles turned white. She glanced at Finn beside her, his jaw set, gaze fixed on the judge as if nothing else existed. This was heavy for him especially but at last he would witness the final judgment and hopefully get the justice his late f
*He had to bear the consequences of his actions.*Janice sat in an uneasy silence, staring out the window as the news sank in, each word settling into her mind like stones dropped into water.She could hardly believe her ears. Her father has been arrested?! This was the first time such news would reach her ears. The mighty Jordan was arrested?!"Janice? This isn't the time to space out!" Finn's voice yanked her out of her reverie. She blinked repeatedly as her brain was still processing this whole unexpected turn out of events. She gulped. "What's going to happen to him, I-I don't even know what to say. He's the only family I've got, Finn," her words barely squeak out of her lips."Unfortunately, it may be nothing good, Janice. This is the moment of truth, and justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done." A cold shiver pricked against her skin like goosebumps. As much as she tried to ignore it, it was the hard truth. Her father had done horrible things in the pa
*Was this the end of the line for the mighty Jordan family?* "Janice, I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone, " Finn said, pulling her towards him for a long hug as he stroked her hair. Janice broke into tears, sobbing as her body shook with the weight of losing a child, a part of her that she wasn't fortunate to bring into the world. She sniffed and muffled against his chest, "I didn't mean to hide this from you, Finn. This is shocking news to me as well." "It's alright, sweetheart." He said gently as he continued to stroke her hair. Then he broke the embrace and cradled her wet face in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, Janice," he wiped her tears with his thumb. His heart tightened seeing her like this. "I promise I will wipe the tears off your face. We can always make another one." She momentarily stopped crying and looked at him wide-eyed. "You didn't even ask if that child is yours, Finn." He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't
Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty*The unexpected and Sad Revelation*Finn's (once Drake but will be called his real name henceforth)hammered as he paced the narrow room with the burner phone clutched tightly in his right hand and his left hand frantically raking through his sandy brown hair.Every creak of the floor, every rustle outside the window, seemed like it could be Fergus’s men clawing closer.They were running out of time.With the government closing in and Fergus’s rage nearly tangible, Finn knew their only chance was to reach out to someone who could help them disappear. His father’s old friend, Yamato—a man, both feared and revered, a former militant from Japan who had once pledged his loyalty to the family.Yamato listened in silence, his deep breaths echoing through the line. Then, without a word of question or reprimand, he simply said, “Be ready. I will take care of the arrangements.”A wave of relief coursed through Finn's body at once. His father had been right af
Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Nine*My real name is Finn Orwells and not Drake Hughen.*He knew of one place Fergus wouldn't dare to look.The drive to his special hideout was unbearable, long, and tedious. It was a rocky path in the thick of the forest but close to a river bank. He usually came here when he needed some privacy from the Jordans and planned his next revenge move. But right now, the reverse was the case. How ironic did things turn out to be? He was literally bringing his arch enemy's daughter to his secret hideout, away from the hawk eyes of his evil brother-the person he was supposed to be working alongside.Well, things had changed. Maybe he had changed, too.But right now... he had a purpose.He glanced at the passenger's seat, where Janice was sitting quietly. Apparently, she was still shaken by everything that had unfolded. Poor woman... He had to protect her even from his own family.I'm so sorry, Mother....but I think I broke the rule.He gulped. I had fallen
*At any rate, he must save Janice.*The heel of his boots pounding in her stomach sent her to the floor, retching and wheezing with her heart in her throat, threatening to explode. A crushing pain seared through her chest. She sprawled on the ground, with her eyes shut tight, gasping for air desperately. The blindfold was restricting her vision, so she couldn't see who it was, but she could feel the extreme coldness exuding from his presence. "Let's try again, shall we, darling. And this time I won't go easy on you. I suggest you answer my questions if you want to leave here in one piece and see your asshole of a father!" the menacing raspy voice roared across the empty room. The man cocked his head to the two huge guys in black and at once they heaved her roughly to the chair and tied her hands and legs to the chair. The sound of the cocked gun jolted a shiver down her spine. He took long strides towards her and trailed the gun around her exposed chest, her buttons had come undon
*He must save Janice no matter what!*"What do you mean you haven't seen her?!" Mr Jordan bellowed through the phone, his hands trembling badly."You need to calm down, Mr Jordan. Remember, this is bad for your health. I will be at the shortly. " Matt spoke as calmly as possible through the phone."Calm down? What if something happened to her, Matt?! You were supposed to take care of her and now..." He paused, taking a sharp breath as he rubbed his temples frantically to ease the tension building up inside of me.Where on earth was his precious daughter? What could have happened to her?"Please, exercise some patience, Mr Jordan, while I wait for the construction team to help me remove my door. As I explained to you, Janice just stormed out of the house and locked me inside because she took the remote with her. She must have been in a hurry or something. I think maybe she's at her best friend's house, Hannah."Mr Jordan's eyes lit up.That may be true....who else will Janice be wi
She was super excited and relieved to see Drake coming to her rescue. Tears of relief etched at the corner of her eyes. He came for her! He must have sensed that I was in danger! But how did he know where to find me....? She pondered silently as she arched a brow at him curiously. "Drake! How did you know that I'm here?" She quizzed.He shrugged, winking at her."I just know, Janice. Now come one before Matt comes out!" He urged, waving her over.Her heart jumped at the mention of Matt. That monster! She never wants to be around him ever again! For now, she has been rescued, and she can safely go home and put this whole marriage behind her.Luckily, she has the videotape as evidence to nail Matt on the cross and call off the engagement. She rushed to the car and opened the passenger's door in the front seat and settled on it, jamming the shut quickly.For now, she will have to ask questions later."You good, Janice? I hope he didn't hurt you in there?" Drake asked, although his
*...if it wasn't Drake, then I would rather not love at all.* Damn it! Matt found out already? How did he even know about this? I thought he wasn't aware of it. What do you mean, Janice? Of course, Matt had been watching you non-stop! Only a fool wouldn't be aware of the deep connection that exists between you and Drake. At this point, I wouldn't even be surprised if the maids knew as well. The voice in her head taunted her. She bit her bottom lip frantically, trying to rein in the turbulent thoughts writhing inside of her head. She had to act cool and unbothered. Pretend as if you didn't know what he was saying, Janice. Act cool and get the hell out of here! The voice rang inside my head again like a Belfry. She sucked in several deep breaths and looked up at Matt intently, a smirk curling up her lips. "I have no idea what's you babbling about, Matt," she snapped, feigning ignorance. Matt scoffed, shaking his head. "Stop lying, Janice. It's too obvious! I'm not a