Ever since they had the conversation during their ride, a series of thoughts had overwhelmed his mind. When he thought of what Jace told him, he was still perplexed. No chance, the person Jace might be referring to couldn't be his grandfather. On the other hand, there were a lot of people he had been close to for the past few days but none of them appeared to be dangerous. After all, people knew how to conceal their intentions. He was in his office while having a smooth conversation with Kevin, Jace returned to his office after meeting his grandfather. Zayn insisted he wouldn't be tagging along because he had other important business to attend to, although he hadn't officially taken over business because Mr. Carey was the acting vice chairman, Zayn had some major work that couldn't be neglected now that he had returned. The moment Jace slumped onto a couch, Zayn dismissed his executive assistant with a gesture. Kevin handed over the files to him before exiting the office. “Did grandf
“We don't have many scenes left to shoot. I just think that the shoot is almost over. Gosh, to be honest, I wish it wouldn't end this soon. I have so much fun working with you, Gwen.” Shane expressed his dissatisfaction, looking straight into her eyes. Ever since they arrived at the restaurant, sitting at the VIP's he had been talking nonstop. Gwendolyn wasn't as enthusiastic as he was, however, she didn't want to ruin his moment, it appeared that he was enjoying himself. Thinking about right from the moment the director introduced them, at that instant she knew Shane idolized her more than anyone else. After all, she was mostly everyone's favorite and always left a remarkable impression on anyone she ever had a shoot with.“Have we met before?” She enquired. She presumed their current shoot shouldn't be the first thing that brought them together. She couldn't recall if they had met before, but she knew it was not their first time meeting.“Mh-mmm, I can't say we've met before and I
“What was that earlier?” Gwendolyn shut the door behind her, dropped her heels on the floor, slumped against the door, and then buried her face in her palms. Recollecting the event that happened two minutes ago, her heartbeat rapidly. She couldn't believe they kissed. “What's wrong with me?” She lowered a hand to her chest which was beating faster than before, pouting as she soliloquized while gazing on her feet as she curled up. She couldn't believe that she kissed him even though the first kiss was a mistake. However, it was certain that she didn't regret it but why was she feeling strange even after the kiss? She was pondering what Zayn would think of her after she took the opportunity. Gwendolyn tried to snap out of it but her mind kept drifting back to Zayn no matter how hard she tried to distract it. ‘Am I in love with him?’ Even though the question was an absurd question to ask herself, she still contemplated the answer. She could scarcely deny her feelings for him if she didn
“Come to think of it, you haven't told me about your date. Did you have fun?” Jace enquired about the date since Zayn wasn't talking about it even though he had been waiting to hear him say it since it was taking him longer than expected so he decided to ask.While sitting on a swirling chair, he flipped through the paper that required his signature. There were piles of documents, some he needed to access just as Mr. Carey informed him earlier, and some that required his signature before they were taken away. He twirled the pen in his hand, staring at the name on the contract before signing it. “It's a one-billion-dollar project, Jace. Mr. Carey brought the records earlier, why should we assign this project to them?” He ignored his question, paying his undivided attention to the papers. Jace couldn't argue or bug him to respond to the question he asked so he decided to play along. He believed that if they couldn't talk about the date now he would ask him on their way home later. Sinc
After the meeting ended, Austin didn't return to the company because he had another important thing to handle at his mansion. He wasn't surprised when he received her message that she was at his mansion but what perplexed him was she told him her flight would be a bit late due to the weather forecast. Was she playing a trick on him this time? The car skidded to a halt in the garage, Austin alighted from the car and headed in. Since he never hired any maids because of privacy, the whole house was as hushed as a grave. He saw her sitting on a sofa with her legs crossed. “Leave us, Brand,” Austin ordered imperatively.He nodded, veering around, and then exited. Emily pivoted her head to look over when she heard his voice, and then she rose and skipped a few steps away from the sofa.“But you said your flight would be forty minutes late.”“Well, surprise! I'm here now. You haven't changed the passcode so I let myself in.” When his expression was as sour as lemon, she tried to explain to
Still, there was nothing he could do in his capacity. He had tried to contact the headquarters through his father's connection but none was enough to resolve the matter. All the shareholders wanted an annual board meeting to be held as soon as possible. No doubt, that was a hint of scandal, Mr. Whitlock knew he was about to lose his essential slot over a trivial matter because of his son's recklessness. When it had gotten to the point when no one believed that he hadn't done anything to degrade their company's reputation at Redgrave company, Austin had to narrate what he did at the company over again. His mind never suspected Zayn because he believed he wasn't a threat to begin with, but Jace, he suspected him. He couldn't conclude what he had done wrong, all he could tell was what Jace Redgrave didn't like about him at their first encounter. He'd decided to leave a good remark next time they would be meeting. After three hours, Mr. Whitlock was able to address the issue with the ac
“Have you asked him about what Austin said to you, sis?” Claudia enquired curiously after she went quiet for at least two minutes. During their video call, she wished she was there to comfort her sister because it seemed like she needed it. The last time she ever saw Gwendolyn so hurt was when their mother died. It had been a long that she wore the look on her face, seeing it now, she was perturbed. After asking a question, she waited for her to respond but instead of answering, Gwendolyn kept staring at the magazine she failed to return to Austin.“No, but still, he lied to me. I told him he could tell me anything. He should tell me when he regains all his memories. I was just worried for nothing.” She lamented in such a way that Claudia could tell she was deeply hurt. “He must have his reasons. There must be something else you care about other than him keeping his identity a secret. What's it, Gwen?” “There's nothing else. I just felt betrayed when I trusted him so much. I don't ev
The following day was supposed to be good for her but Gwendolyn found herself concerned over the same matter. Despite what Lucien said to her last night, yes, it was reckoned to ease her mind, and convince her that whether he was Zayn or Lucien he was still who he was. Why did she find herself overwhelmed with a myriad of her thoughts?She contemplated what he said last night ‘I'm still who I am and because I'm Lucien Redgrave doesn't mean I can't still be Zayn.’ She had mulled over what he meant when he said that to her. Was he telling her something? Gwendolyn didn't want to get her hopes up like she did back then with Austin. She reminisced how it all started, yet she was always the one getting hurt in the end. When she received a message from Lilith that she was outside waiting, she grabbed her handbag and headed out.Unexpectedly, she bumped into him on her way out as her body collided with a well-built body. That was what she had been trying to avoid. She had been lingering in he
Six years later “Yeah, that one! You're a natural!” The photographer exclaimed, his camera clicking rhythmically as he captured countless photos of her. Gwendolyn felt the familiar routine of posing wash over her, but today, an unfamiliar heaviness settled in her body, an undercurrent of stress she couldn’t quite shake off. With an instinctive grace, she lifted her chin slightly, offering a tantalizing side profile, her right hand poised just shy of her moist, nude lips, a gesture that felt both natural and intentional. “She’s truly stunning. Just look at those golden blonde hair!” One of the crew members remarked, her voice etched with admiration. A warm blush crept over Lilith’s cheeks, making her feel like she was the one being admired. Her gaze darted towards Gwendolyn, who effortlessly commanded the spotlight with her poses, exuding confidence and charm. “Do you know who she is?” A curious new worker piped up, his eyes wide with intrigue. “Mrs. Redgrave? Oh, everyone
As Margaret heard the voice of the person she had come to see, a shiver ran through her as she withdrew her sore hand, gently massaging her wrist. The redness that bloomed there was akin to the deep hue of a cherry, a stark reminder of the forceful grip that he applied when he grabbed her hand. “I’m thinking of working with Ms. Brook.” She said tentatively, her voice trembling slightly. “My company would be glad to have someone as talented as her on board if she’s willing.”“I'm afraid she’ll be rejecting your offer.” He replied sharply, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “If your company requires a model, find one through your agency, but leave her out of it.”Margaret felt the weight of his glare, the ferocity in his eyes making her heart race. There was a tempest of fury swirling within him, and the air around them seemed to thicken, pressing down on her like a suffocating shroud. As she reluctantly met his gaze, she noticed how he towered behind her, his imposing presence ov
“Why did you lie to me, Gwen?” Edward asked, his voice low and calm, revealing no trace of anger, but a hint of disappointment lingered in the tone.“I didn’t lie to you, Dad. I just... shared my feelings about him. If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn’t even have mentioned who he is. I’m really sorry it took me this long, but now I can finally share everything because he's the one I want to be with. I'm not ashamed to say it.” Her heartfelt apology hung in the space between them, palpable and sincere.“Hiding the truth is just as bad as lying. You shouldn't have kept this to yourself. God, what were you thinking?” His brow furrowed slightly, concern etched on his face, though the softness of his gaze suggested a well of unshed emotions.She suppressed the urge to huff in frustration, forcing herself to maintain her composure. Tapping lightly on his mahogany office desk, she met his gaze head-on, ready to respond. “Well… if I had told you sooner, would you even believe me?”“I would.
Two hours after the harrowing incident, Mr. Kane reached out to Lucien, informing him that he had just arrived at the airport and was on his way to the company. Lucien felt an unsettling tension knotting in his stomach at the thought of the meeting. Despite their many attempts to connect over the past weeks, some unforeseen obstacle always intervened. Now, with an important board meeting underway, he regretted his inability to go to the airport himself. Instead, he urged Jace to make the trip, accompanied by a few bodyguards—a precautionary action against any unexpected threats that might arise.Although anxiety gnawed at him, Lucien found solace in the skills Jace brought to the table, he trusted that he could handle the situation without a scratch on him. Every five minutes during the meeting, his phone vibrated gently on the table—texts from Jace, each one carefully crafted to reassure him of his safety. Yet, amid the flurry of updates, a flicker of doubt gnawed at him. He couldn’
“Your three days are over. Tell me, why should I accept that actress who supposedly used you?” The weight of frustration hung heavily in his mind as he whimpered, his voice laced with desperation. “How many times must I tell you that she didn’t use me? Shouldn’t you be grateful that she’s the reason I’m alive? You’re the one who refuses to accept Gwen, but I’m not marrying anyone other than her. I love her, and that should be all you need to know. Stop being such a stubborn old man.” Though Lucien’s anger had dissipated, a certain stubbornness still clouded his grandfather's acceptance of the woman he adored. He could sense that the unexpected invitation to the office was merely a prelude to their confrontation. “Of course, I'm mostly grateful for that. I would have given her a tower of gold if she was wise enough to report you missing the moment she found you. My great-grandchildren shouldn’t have a mother like her.” He declared, his voice steeped in disdain. “My children don't de
After showering, she sidled across the room to his walk-in closet. She selected a long blue shirt and wore it over her pants, the shirt barely reached her thighs, and her curly hair tumbled over her shoulders. She glanced at the mirror on her way out of the closet, she noticed her nipples were conspicuous, stiffened in the shirt, but she barely cared about that. She stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and dampened her lower lip.She seemed refreshed. Their conversation replayed in her head, echoing in her mind as each word reminded her of a tingling feeling she felt earlier. When he asked if she wanted to get married, she felt the yen to say yes if it was him; remarrying him would be a wish come true, but Gwendolyn still assumed they could be fucking buddies until both of them got tired of each other. After all, she believed it would happen one day. ‘If it's you then I don't mind. ’ She hit her forehead when she recalled what she said. She only said that during the heat of the mom
As the echoes of the conference meeting faded away, leaving behind an air thick with unspoken words, the last few attendees ambled out of the hall, their footsteps becoming feeble. A palpable tension hung in the atmosphere, settling heavily on Jace's mind like a suffocating air. He remained seated, his thoughts a chaotic like a total disaster, knowing all too well that he needed to confront the unyielding silence that stretched between him and Lucien. Every time their eyes locked, a flicker of unquenchable curiosity sparkled in Lucien's gaze, silently pleading for acknowledgment. He despised not talking to his elder brother and he didn't want to be the first person to break the eerie silence.“You look like someone who just lost his first love, Jace. What's the matter? Are you going to stay angry at me forever?” Lucien's voice sliced through the stillness, a sharp voice to the thick awkwardness they had both been sidestepping for days.Jace hardly reacted to the teasing remark. His ex
Immediately the call disconnected, Gwendolyn swerved around to look at him, holding her phone tightly. Her countenance wasn't pleasant, she was still worried despite her father assuring her everything was fine, he just needed her to be at the hospital with her stepmom.“Is everything all right?” His brows furrowed with confusion. Seeing how worried she looked, he couldn't gauge if everything was all right.With a shake of her head, “I’m not sure. I should be heading to the hospital now. He said she needs me there like I'm a doctor. I wonder if everything is fine as he said.” She enunciated impatiently. She stepped away from the chair, and then to the exit. Lucien tagged behind her as both of them ascended the stairs together. ”Hospital? Did something happen? Did he tell you what happened?“Yes. Remember I told you she's pregnant, right? I think it's almost time. She might be feeling uncomfortable. She'll need me there. She's in her third trimester. Fuck, I'm supposed to keep my phone
In the next second, they were back in his bedroom, still engaged in a passionate and lips-devouring smooch. Gwendolyn could scarcely explain how he brought her back to his room, the only thing she knew was when she eventually opened her eyes to look at him, they were both on their feet near the king-size bed. His mouth left hers in a swift motion, grazing her cheek down to her neck with kisses, her body quivering with nervousness. She was feeling nervous, and at the same time, her need was about to make her lose her mind. Every time his tongue brushed on her skin, her stomach always tingled. Suddenly, his hand caressed her back slowly, vaguely searching for a string. There, he found the zip. He zipped down her gown with reluctance. Even though he already felt his erection, hardening below, he was more willing to create room for a change of heart, if she wanted. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to stop him, they had both lost their minds in the pool of lust and love.“Ah, Lucien,” She