ARLAN'S POV:I walked in with a ready smile for the camera and my plus one, Matilda, by my side. I sighted my good old friend, Alex, already making his way towards me. "Arlan! Hey man." We embraced like two long lost brothers meeting after a very long time."Matilda," Alex took her hand and kissed the back of her hand, " it's a pleasure meeting you again. I'm glad you've come to came to my party."Matilda smiled at him. "My pleasure.""Matilda!" A lady called out in shock. "Is that you?" She asked and pulled her into a warm hug. "Never thought I would see you here.""Oh my goodness, Tessy. It's been such a long time," Matilda replied all smiles. "Pardon me, gentlemen." She apologized after they broke off the hug, still holding each other hands. "Meet Tessy, my friend from college.""Hi!" Tessy waved at me."Nice to meet you Tessy!" I took her hand and kisses it."If you don't mind, gentlemen. I think I have a lot of catching up to do with my friend." Matilda said as she gently clapp
ARLAN'S POV:‘Great’ I roll my eyes, ‘Just what I don't need’ "Mr. Arlan Reef.'' She counts out my name, moving close."So, it's Saraya Newman, isn't it? Don't even answer that, it's a stupid question now." I let out a sigh, releasing the tension off my chest. I took a sip of the wine in my hand, it now tasted unpleasant - like acid, compared to the good taste it had almost an hour ago."Are you mad I wasn't completely honest? When we met, my family was yet to officially introduce me. Fuck it, I hadn't even met them yet. Hilton is my mother's last name that I have been using until I met my father, so technically I didn't lie" She kept her voice low. "And also,” she adds, “ about the other night-""Little Miss." I cut her short, glaring at her in disbelief. How could she even be talking about that night with me now. I opened my mouth to say something, but I was still too stunned to utter another word. The memories of our different encounters came alive in my head. My hand had touch
SARAYA'S POV:As Arlan's words, "Someone has seen us," pierced the air, my reverie shattered, and reality slapped me back into awareness. The flutter in my chest, the thrill of our secret moment, instantly disappeared, replaced by a chilling dread. My face twisted with worry, my mind racing with the dreadful possibilities.What if it was my dad, my stepmom, or worse still, Isla? Getting in trouble was the least of my concerns now, but dragging Arlan into the mess was never part of the plan.I swiftly smoothed my dress, my fingers tremble slightly. I hope he doesn't notice. "I'll see you inside," I whispered.Our eyes locked for a fleeting moment, and I saw the mirrored concern etched on Arlan's face.With a deep breath, I watched as Arlan vanished into the sea of guests, his broad shoulders slice through the crowd. I gave him a few minutes' head start before following, my heels clicking on the marble floor.As I entered back into the party, the paparazzi mobbed towards me, holding out
SARAYA'S POV:The room felt heavier with each second that passed. Evan’s eyes blazed with an intensity that made my stomach churn. He wasn’t just angry; he was hurt.I stood slowly, keeping my hands by my sides, palms open in a gesture of calm. My mind raced with different thoughts for a way to fix this, to make him doubt what he thought he saw.“Evan,” I began softly, my voice as steady as I could make it. “You must have misunderstood. It wasn’t me you saw.”His body stiffened, and his lips trembled as though the words he wanted to say were trapped behind a barrier. He balled his fists tightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice cracked, raw and strained.“N-not… m-m-mistake,” he stammered, each word clawing its way out of his throat. “S-saw… you!” His finger shot toward me, shaking with anger. “At… w-w-window!”My breath caught. I could feel the blood drain from my face, but I forced myself to stay calm.“Evan,” I said gently, taking a cautious step forward. “I know you’re upset,
ISLA’S POV:The hallway was quiet save for the soft creak of the wooden floor beneath my feet. I was heading to the kitchen for a cup of tea to calm my nerves, when I heard Saraya’s voice coming from Evan’s room.It wasn’t her usual tone. "What could be the problem?" My instincts kicked in as I slowly approved the slightly ajar door.“Evan, please,” Saraya was saying, her voice low but pleading. “You have to believe me.”My brows furrowed. "What is the problem between these two?"“D-don’t… t-touch me!” Evan’s voice came next, shaky but loud, and full of anger. The boy rarely raised his voice. Whatever had happened must have deeply upset him. I could stay back and watched.I pushed the door open without knocking.Both of them froze. Evan stood stiffly by his bed, his face red and tear-streaked, while Saraya stood a few steps away, her hands raised as though trying to calm him down.The sight was enough to make my chest tighten.“Someone want to tell me what’s going on here?” I asked, m
ARLAN’S POVThe boardroom buzzed with subdued voices as one of the directors droned on about quarterly projections. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, trying to focus on the conversation, but my thoughts were elsewhere—on her.Saraya.I had been doing my best to put distance between us after the close call last week. It had been reckless, far too close for comfort. Evan’s shadow at the window was a stark reminder of how easily everything could come crashing down. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, her face, her touch, her laugh—they haunted me.A quiet buzz from my phone on the table snapped me out of my thoughts.I glanced down at the screen, the name lighting up like a beacon.Saraya.My chest raced, I hesitated, letting the screen go dark again. She shouldn’t be texting me, not now.The vibration came again. Another message. And then another.I clenched my jaw and turned the phone face down, ignoring the insistent buzzing as I forced my attention back to the meeting.“Arlan, do
SARAYA’S POVThe line went dead, and I stared at the phone in my hand, my chest heaving as the silence engulfed me. My anger was still burning, but now, it was mixed with something else—something sharp and raw that made my throat ache.I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe he was avoiding me.I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my phone across the room, but I didn’t. Instead, I just held it, staring at the screen where his name still lingered."Why am I so unlucky when it comes to the matters of the heart?" I asked soliloquizing.Here I was, feeling like I was begging for something that wasn’t there. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Was this really how he felt about me? How easily he could pull away, just when I needed him most? Was I just another thing he couldn’t deal with?I paced the room, clutching the phone in my hand. I’d never been the kind of person to play games, but that’s what it felt like he was doing. Careful, he called it. But was that really it? Or
ARLAN’S POV:The clock ticked quietly yet loud enough for me to hear but sleep refused to come. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, replaying Saraya’s voice in my head.Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. "Evan called me a whore."The pain in her voice had been unmistakable, and it clung to me like a phantom, haunting me as I closed my eyes.My chest tightened as the memory of her tone, so raw and vulnerable, played over and over. It was as if the weight of her hurt had settled in my bones. I turned over, hoping to will the thoughts away, but they refused to leave.Frustration clawed at me. I couldn’t just lie here, stewing in guilt and helplessness.Without a second thought, I threw off the covers and got out of bed. My movements were quick, almost frantic, as I shed my pajamas and slipped into a pair of jeans and a black hoodie. The cool fabric felt grounding against my restless skin. I needed air. I needed... to clear my buzzing head.The city was quiet as I drove aimless
ALEX'S POV:I watched Mary walked in looking gloomy as I glanced up from the tab I was holding. "What’s wrong?" I asked.She hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a low voice. "Your mom hasn’t joined us at the table since the board’s unanimous decision." Her eyes were downcast and so was her voice. "I've done everything possible to make her join us but she just won't concede.""If that is all, then you don't have to bother yourself about it." I muttered under my breath.Mary sighed. "She’s your mother, Alex. You should worry about her, as a matter of fact, I think you should stop avoiding her as well and talk to her."My hands tightened round the tab I was holding. "I’m not letting her blackmail me emotionally," I snapped. I was already tired of the emotional manipulation and wasn’t in the mood for another round.Mary stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "I understand how you feel, Alex but I want you to remember her seventieth birthday is coming up. So you should patch th
ARLAN'S POV: Saraya ended the call abruptly and I knew I deserved it, I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand down my face. She was right. I was confusing her, and it wasn’t fair. I had tried to keep my distance, to draw a line between us, but every time I thought I could walk away, I found myself reaching for her again.The thought of seeing her earlier had kept me awake all night and when I did see her, I almost lost every sense of reasoning.It had taken me a great deal of discipline to contain myself while we were in the boardroom meeting.I sighed heavily, staring at the phone in my hand as I was trying hard to resist the urge to call her again. And Matilda...The memory of her walking into my office just an hour ago replayed in my mind like a scene from a movie.****One Hour Ago*I had barely closed the door to my office when Matilda turned to me. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced,” she said, taking a seat on the couch.I raised an eyebrow while chuckling,
SARAYA'S POV:The boardroom felt stiff, formal, exactly how a meeting like this should feel. It was my first time stepping into Arlan’s company, and everything about it screamed business.My secretary was beside me, quietly jotting notes, while his did the same. But my focus wasn’t on the documents or the numbers being thrown around. It was on him.Arlan had this way of commanding the room without trying. It was maddening, really. I tried to focus, to stay professional, but every so often, my gaze would drift to him and our eyes would meet.When the deal was finally sealed, and I stretched my hand towards him. "I look forward to our collaboration, Mr Reef.""Same here, Miss Newman."The moment his hand touched mine, I felt it; a spark, sharp and electric, rushing through me like a jolt. His hand pulled away almost instantly, as if he felt it too. I quickly looked away like it was nothing but my heart was racing heavily.We were just leaving the boardroom when she appeared.“Arlan!”I
MATILDA'S POV"Saraya..." I called out again for God knows. "I had heard it before, hadn’t I?" I asked myself so loud.It was maddening how familiar it sounded, like a word teetering on the edge of recognition but refusing to step forward. I drove until I found myself at an empty bridge, the car screeched to a halt as I parked on the side and stepped out. I clenched my fists and let out a loud, guttural yell, the sound echoing into the night. It didn’t make me feel any better. If anything, it only amplified the turmoil raging inside me.“Saraya,” I muttered under my breath, the name lingering on my tongue like a bitter aftertaste. Why did it feel like I should know her? Why couldn’t I place where I had heard it before?My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I pulled it out with shaky hands, the name on the screen reading Tessy. For a moment, I debated whether to answer. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, but Tessy wouldn’t stop until I picked up.Clearing my th
MATILDA'S POV:For one, I didn't know how I managed to keep myself in check throughout dinner. With every bite of food, I could feel the food hanging in my throat like a bitter pill to swallow.More than anything, I wanted to find out about this woman that could make Arlan lose appetite and make me unseen."I have some work to do, feel at home." Arlan said jolting me out of my thoughts as he excused himself and disappeared to his study.I nodded and smiled as his words lingered: "Feel at home."Home? How could I feel at home in this place, where every corner seemed to whisper of my inadequacies? Where every glance, every word, reminded me that I had lost something I never truly had?I unclenched my fists, my nails leaving faint crescents in my palms. I didn't mean to react that way, but it was getting harder to mask the emotions clawing at me.For years, I had stood beside him, hoping, waiting. A part of me had always believed that if I stayed close enough, if I proved myself patient
ARLAN'S POV:The silence between us was deafening as we both stared into each other's eyes or perhaps soul.I leaned back in my chair and cleared my throat, deciding to cut through the awkwardness. “Look, I know this is… weird,” I began. “For both of us. And yeah, I’ll admit I can be a bit of a jerk sometimes.”Her gaze shot to mine, her brow arched slightly. "A bit?"I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, maybe more than a bit. But hear me out. I’m sorry about yesterday but trust me, I'm not here to make things harder for you. I just need a few minutes, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”Saraya studied me for a moment, her expression indifferent, before finally sighing. “Fine,” she said. "But since you’re here, tell me what you know?""I believe your dad has explained everything to you.""You know that's not true from your end." She retorted.I sighed and decided to give in. "Well, the moment Alex called and told me Isla was pushing the weight of her shares around, I already h
SARAYA'S POV:The room fell into silence. My grandmother’s face darkened, her knuckles reddened as she gripped the armrests of her chair. “How dare you insinuate...”“I insinuate nothing,” Arlan cut in, his tone calm but commanding. “I merely said what is obvious for all to see. Saraya Newman has the board’s trust, the shareholders’ support, and the qualifications necessary to lead. Perhaps it’s time to let the new generation take the reins of the affairs of the company.”"You dare speak of the board's trust and the shareholders support without me." My grandmother spat at me. “How about we call for a vote of confidence, let's see if the board agrees with you.” She said confidently."I agree with you, let's do this and save our time here." Arlan replied with a smirk on his face while matching my grandmother's gaze.The tension in the room reached its peak as the final vote was cast. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound almost drowning out the murmurs of the board members. The secret
SARAYA'S POV:My grandmother glared at me as she storms into the polished sleek space of the boardroom.“A unanimous agreement without the consent of a shareholder is preposterous! Don't you all think?” she spat, taking her seat opposite of mine. The distance between us was thankfully separated by the width of the wide and long mahogany table in the middle. Sitting to the left of my father, my grandmother casted a displeased stare at him for what seemed like seconds before turning her head to stare in the same manner to the others in the room, and then back to me.“I thought you agreed not to interfer with the company directly any longer and allow me run it as I seem fit?” Father whispered in-between gritted teeth, leaning towards her.I straightened up shoulders, I didn't want to give off any sign of the uneasiness gnawing my soul as my grandmother held her gaze intently fixed on me without blinking, and I returned the favour.The room suddenly felt tight and rippling with murmurin
ALEX’S POV:I stormed into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My chest heaved with anger, and I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth.How could she? After everything I’ve done to keep this family and business intact, did my own mother just threaten me with her shares?“Alex,” Mary’s gentle voice cut through through my thoughts. She closed the door softly and came to my side. “Please calm down.”I stopped pacing and looked at her, my frustration bubbling over. “Did you hear her, Mary? She practically threatened to pull the weight of her shares!” I threw my hands up. “This isn’t just about Saraya anymore, she’s undermining me in front of the entire family!”Mary reached out, placing a calming hand on my arm. “I know you’re upset, but we need to approach this carefully.”“Carefully?” I snapped, pulling away. “She’s trying to control everything, and now she’s dragging Saraya into her power games. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid!”Mary’s gaze softened an