CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT*Workaholic from home*"Sandra, how many wears were sold for last week?" She asked her Sales manager over the phone. The phone was securely pinned against her ear with her shoulder supporting it in place as she poured herself a steaming hot cup of brewed coffee and then made her way to the Chesterfield sofa."Good morning ma'am. Um...about 50 plus worth of sales were made last week. Sales on Saturday and Monday were a bit slow but we made terrific sales on the rest of the day of the week, excluding Sunday of course." Sandra dutifully reported.Janice nodded as she scribbled something on her small notepad opened on the table before her. "Not bad. Are there any complaints from the customers or pending orders?" She asked as she used her free hand to raise the mug of hot coffee to her lips gently and took a sip while the other hand held the phone securely against her ear as she listened into it.There was a short silence before Sandra responded."Um... As for pendin
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE*celebration!*"Let me guess, Good news?" She quizzed.He nodded, still smiling widely, and extended his right hand to her. Still eyeing him curiously, she slipped her small slender hand into his and he clasped her hands over his as he pulled her to him in a warm embrace. His unshaven beard pricked the skin on her neck, and his expensive Dior perfume tugged at her nostrils and she resisted the urge to sneeze but instead remained smiling."Dad?" she croaked out.He pulled her away and looked down at her with joy sparkling in his hazel eyes."Come let us celebrate!" He urged.There is something different about him today. He is radiating so much positivity and unbridled happiness! She wondered as she studied his features with a wide grin on her face.Honestly, She is so happy to see him like this. "Come with me!" He prodded as he held her gently by the elbow guiding her to the mini home bar located at the far corner of the large living room."Let's drink!" He enthused
CHAPTER FIFTY*I realized that she was gone, forever and I would never see her again*She burst into laughter.Her father quirked his eyebrows at her."What?" He crooned with his hands on his hips.She shook her head trying to hold the laughter in so she could speak.She inhaled and exhaled deeply."That is one hell of a story, Dad." She teased. "Bravo!" Now is his turn to burst into laughter. He sniffed and his hazel eyes glazed with tiny tears forming at the corners from so much laughter."Okay. I accept my story was so lame."He said with his hands raised in front of him in defeat. "I'm terrible at telling stories, honey."She giggled softly."It's so rare to see you like this. Very joyous and radiant." She said softly, her eyes glimmering with happiness.He chuckled and leaned forward to dip a kiss on her forehead."I'm glad I get to spend some family time with you, darling. It makes me so happy."She gave him a tight-lipped smile.And in her head she wanted to scream;" Dad, s
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE*I was so stupid to believe it will go as planned*"Enough of all these sob stories. Now let's celebrate. You want more drink?"He said as he reached for the bottle of Black rum again and started spewing her glass with its contents."It-it okay Dad!" She cried. Good lord! She doesn't think her weak brain can handle any more drinks!"My bad, I spilt so much. But I thought you were up for a drink?" He narrowed his eyes at her teasingly.Oops! Did he notice already? Is she making it so damn obvious that she's not much of a drinker?"Of course! It was just too much to take all at once." She snapped, her cheeks blushing slightly.Shit!Why are you like this Jane?First, you made a big fool of yourself in front of Drake and now your beloved father?Girl, you need some scolding!She reprimanded herself mentally.Her father quirked his eyebrows at her but simply nodded anyway.He reached for some ice cubes and splashed them into her glass. He poured for himself and did the s
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO*to make her plan a reality, she must be prepared to challenge her father*"Ahem!" His voice snapped her out of her reverie.Blinking out of her semi-daze, she gave him an apologetic look and forced a smile.Welcome back to reality Janice! The words in your head sounded better but you're still gaping like a fish! Start talking already idiot! Take it gradually for fuck's sake! She mentally reprimanded herself yet again.Her father's arms were still folded across his chest, waiting impatiently.She sighed and cleared her throat, locking hazel eyes to hazel eyes."Like I said, I will be going with my best friend, Hannah. And as for safety reasons, would you rather I hire a bodyguard? Or... Which would you suggest?"She asked faintly. Not sure where this question will lead but she's prepared to go all the way and have this conversation finalised already so that she can officially commence her travel arrangements.He raised his eyebrows at her question as if she had said
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE*plans gone wrong?*"...And if you still don't approve, I will handle the expenses myself." Her very words echoed in her mind after they came out. Hold up, girl! If my memory serves me right, the agent was saying that all travel expenses, including feeding expenses and others, cost about 200,000 dollars! What the heck!!!! How does she plan to raise such an amount within a short time?And she has a big fashion runway show to prepare for, she simply can't whisk such an amount of money away right now for the sake of taking a break. Besides, It was Dad that brought up the whole idea of a vacation, not her. So naturally, he should pay for it. But that depends on his approval, which she's still struggling to get.Her heart picked up a bit as she waited for his response. Her breaths came out in short pants as we locked gazes. His forehead was crinkled with exasperation but she can't quite explain the unspoken meaning of the dark shade of his once bright hazel eyes. Sa
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR*Is this a YES?!*"You will be hiring a guard? Where? Who?" he nearly barked, causing her to startle.For reasons best known to him, he doesn't like the sound of that. But why? She thought hiring a guard was the appropriate thing to do in this situation and yet he looked surprised and displeased.She swallowed thickly. Just tell him about Drake already! She thought.She pressed her lips tightly together.Here goes nothing.She exhaled deeply."I will be hiring Drake Hughen as my personal bodyguard." She announced, tipping her head challengingly. I will not give any room for objections. I've made up my mind already. I am in control of this situation. I am in control of my life. She assured herself internally.His adam apple bobbed in his throat frantically.He wheezed, eyebrows shooting up."Drake as your bodyguard?! Are you serious?"She nodded. Of course, she is! She had everything planned out, a vacation with Drake will be the best thing ever. But this isn't
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE*Her Safe Haven*He almost choked on his drink.Wait let me take that back.He actually choked on his drink.He clamped a hand over his mouth, roaring with a cough that the whites of his eyes turned pink.Alarmed, Janice sprung up from her seat and ran to his side."Are you alright Dad?!" She wrapped her hands around his elderly shoulders."Let me get you water, immediately!" He shook his head slowly, gripping her arm. "No, it's fine. My wine will do the trick.""Are you sure? It is not good for your health, Dad. Let me get you some warm water. Hold on.", unsure, she insisted.He sighed in resignation. She smiled at him and rubbed his shoulders soothingly. " I will be back in a jiffy." She retreated to the kitchen and he could hear the tap starts running.In a short time, she returned with a glass of water and handed it to him. He grasped the glass of water gently and raised it to his lips, taking a sip at first and finishing it with a gulp. He let out a deep A
*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