Samira entered the penthouse with an air of defiance, her posture stiff as she sensed Ray’s eyes on her. The luxurious space seemed to close in on her, amplifying the tension between them. Ray followed closely, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor, but she refused to acknowledge him. Every corner of the room seemed to harbor shadows of the turbulent past that had brought them to this moment.
Ray moved towards the drinks cabinet with the nonchalance of someone entirely in control. As he poured himself a drink, Samira’s gaze was drawn to him despite herself. She couldn’t shake the unease that clawed at her insides. His earlier words and actions had left her with a gnawing sense of dread, one that she tried to mask with an icy exterior. "Stop looking like a frightened virgin, I won't leap on you," he said, his voice smooth but laced with sarcasm. He met her eyes with a knowing smirk, as if daring her to challenge him. "How can I be sure of that? You told me that you once desired me," Samira shot back, her tone defiant but tinged with insecurity. She didn’t trust him, not after everything he had done, and certainly not when she saw the way his eyes lingered on her. Ray’s expression hardened, his smirk fading. "That was when I still believed you to be the real Delly. I lost interest when I found out that you are nothing but fake," he retorted sharply, each word a deliberate wound. He took a slow sip of his drink, savoring the moment before delivering the final blow. "You talk so highly of yourself, for a woman who gave her first to a man who dumped her the next morning." Samira’s face flushed with a mixture of shame and fury. She hated how easily he could get under her skin, how effortlessly he wielded her past against her. But she refused to let him see how much his words hurt. "Well, I am glad that I don’t seem to interest you," she replied coolly, lifting her chin in defiance. "And I can only hope that Delly shows up soon." Ray’s eyes narrowed, clearly enjoying the game they were playing. "Do I sense a bit of jealousy in there?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Jealous? I am far from feeling that. Now tell me about our sleeping arrangement because I don’t want to share the same room with you," Samira demanded, her words blunt and to the point. "I feel the same way, and that’s why I got the housekeeper to move your things to the other room," Ray responded, his tone matter-of-fact. Samira nodded, relief washing over her. But as she turned to leave, she hesitated, a thought nagging at her. "And another thing, I would like to continue working. Don’t be surprised when you see me working…" "Never! No wife of mine works," Ray interrupted fiercely, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. Samira stared at him in disbelief. "So you expect me to sit idly in this huge house and let you provide for me? You married me to be a housewife?" "It’s a luxurious life, the real Delly would certainly be ecstatic about that idea," Ray said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I’m not the real Delly," Samira snapped, her anger bubbling to the surface. "And I won’t sit around doing nothing all day. What about putting some cash in an envelope and throwing it right on my face, is that what you’re trying to imply here?" Before she could continue, Ray closed the distance between them in a flash, his arms snaking around her waist, pulling her close. The suddenness of the move caught her off guard, and she stiffened in his embrace. His grip was firm, possessive, but she could sense the conflict beneath his bravado. "My wife is meant to stay at home and do my bidding, and as you are my wife, you will stay home and do what I say," Ray whispered, his voice low and menacing. "Any more word from you and I will claim my wedding night." Samira’s breath hitched at his threat, but she refused to let him see her fear. She turned to leave, heading towards her room, but his voice stopped her in her tracks. "I will be going on a business trip tomorrow, and it will take a month," Ray said, his tone softer this time, almost as if he were offering an olive branch. "Fine," Samira muttered, not bothering to look back. "Aren’t you going to miss me?" he asked, his voice teasing. Samira paused, the absurdity of his question causing her to turn around. How did she end up with such a man? "I won’t," she replied coldly. "And I’m sure you’ll have someone with you to distract you during this trip." "Of course I will," Ray responded without hesitation. "You don’t expect me to stay celibate for one month when my only wife can’t stand my guts the same way I can’t stand hers." Samira let out a sarcastic laugh, leaning against the staircase railing for support. "As a good wife, I think I’m obliged to pack some clothes for you!" she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. Ray blinked, clearly caught off guard by her response. But before he could recover, Samira added, "What color do you prefer? I mean when I pack your underwear?" Ray choked on his drink, coughing as he stared at her in disbelief. "Easy there, my fake wife, I didn’t know you were that eager…" he trailed off, eyeing her as if trying to decipher her intentions. "Black," he finally answered, his voice quieter now, unsure. Samira didn’t bother replying. She turned on her heel and stormed off to her room, leaving Ray standing there, his glass empty and his mind reeling. Was she for real?Samira slammed the door behind her, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned against it for a moment, trying to calm her racing thoughts. The tension between her and Ray had reached a boiling point, and she had thought—hoped—that by retreating to her room, she could finally put some distance between them. But she was wrong. Just as she exhaled a breath of relief, she heard the unmistakable click of the door handle turning. Her eyes widened, and before she could react, Ray strode into the room, his expression set with a mixture of determination and amusement. He was not the kind of man to let anything slip through his fingers, least of all her. Samira took a step back, her pulse quickening. "Ray, what are you doing? Get out," she demanded, her voice wavering between command and plea. But Ray wasn’t deterred. He closed the door behind him with a soft thud, his eyes never leaving hers. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air
The soft rustle of curtains being drawn back pulled Samira from the depths of sleep. The early morning light filtered into her room, casting a gentle glow across the floor. She struggled to open her eyes, her body protesting the sudden intrusion of dawn. When she finally managed to blink herself awake, her vision focused on the figure standing at the window. Ray was already dressed, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, every inch of him the embodiment of controlled power. The sight of him, so composed and put together, filled her with an inexplicable annoyance. Why did he have to be so flawless, so utterly unbothered by everything that had transpired between them? As she sat up in bed, the silk sheets pooled around her waist, she felt an involuntary pang of irritation. Ray moved with a grace that seemed almost feline, his footsteps soundless on the plush carpet as he approached her. His presence filled the room, a force that demanded attention even in the quiet of the morning.
Samira had settled into the rhythms of her new, albeit isolated, life. The days blended into each other, punctuated by the occasional chatter of the staff and the endless flow of photographs and stories of Ray’s exploits. Each morning, she would rise early, determined to break free from the gilded prison that was the mansion. She would sit at the grand mahogany desk in her room, her laptop open, and search for jobs that could be her ticket to independence. Despite her efforts, the responses were few and far between. Companies were hesitant to hire someone with a sparse resume, a mysterious background, and a prominent surname that linked her to a man like Ray. It was a frustrating experience that threatened to sap her resolve. Yet, Samira pressed on, driven by the need to reclaim her life and her identity. Then, one morning, as the sun painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, her phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat as she hesitantly answered
**~A MONTH LATER~** "Glad to have you back," Joey said, grinning as he offered a seat to Ray in his office. "I was only gone for a month, not like I've been gone for years," Ray replied, settling into the chair while keeping a suspicious eye on Joey, who was pretending to be engrossed in his paperwork. "But to me, you've been gone for quite a while. A married man shouldn’t be doing that," Joey teased, glancing up with a mischievous smile. "I might be married, but that doesn’t stop me from going on business trips. My wife hasn’t complained about that." Ray shrugged, pretending to be focused on the file in front of him, though he was secretly trying to gauge if Joey was leading up to something. "Talking about your wife, do you know what she’s been up to for a month now?" Joey asked, his tone suddenly more serious. Ray froze, his eyes narrowing at his friend. "What has she been doing?" he asked, his mind racing through all the possible mischief Samira could have gotten into
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, revealing Ray standing inside, his hand poised to step out. Samira, ready to board, froze at the sight of him, her heart skipping a beat. Ray’s eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside the elevator seemed to vanish, leaving only the two of them in the stifling silence. Ray’s expression was unreadable, his sharp features masked with a calm that Samira knew all too well—a calm that always came before the storm. Her pulse quickened, but she refused to show any sign of weakness.She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin slightly, her gaze unwavering. “Ray,” she greeted coolly.“Samira,” Ray responded, his voice low and controlled, but there was a fire smoldering behind his eyes. He took a step forward, as if to exit, but then something in his expression shifted, a flash of determination crossing his face. Without another word, he stepped back, leaning against the side of the elevator, his eyes never leav
Samira stood in the sterile, brightly lit perfume production room, her senses assaulted by the pungent scents of various floral extracts and essential oils. The air was thick with the cloying sweetness of roses, the sharp tang of citrus, and the earthy undertones of sandalwood. Yet, to her dismay, she could barely discern the delicate nuances of the fragrances she was supposed to be working with. Her heart sank as she tried to focus on the task at hand. She was stationed at her usual spot in the far corner, near the large steel blending machine. Her hands moved mechanically, guided more by muscle memory than by any real connection to her work. The flowers—delicate jasmine and violets—lay before her, waiting to be processed. The petals were soft and velvety between her fingers, but the once intoxicating scent felt distant, almost like a memory she couldn’t fully grasp. “Extract the liquid from those flowers and don’t just stand there like a statue!” Charlie, the head of production
As soon as Ray walked into the cafeteria accompanied by Joey, a hush fell over the room. Every employee in the vast, bustling space stood up as if on cue, their trays and forks clattering in nervous unison. "Okay, this is weird," Ray muttered under his breath, causing Joey to raise his hand to motion them back into their seats. As if they were strings attached to his fingers, the employees promptly sat back down, their stiff postures and forced smiles still firmly in place. Ray sighed, taking a seat at an empty table with Joey by his side. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air heavy with the aroma of spaghetti, meatloaf, and stress. "Why is everyone acting like they're at a funeral?" Ray asked, his brow furrowed as he scanned the room, his gaze landing on a group of employees nervously spooning soup into their mouths as if they expected it to explode. Joey, grinned and leaned back in his chair. "Well, Ray, you are the most powerful CEO in the city. They probably think
The cafeteria had emptied out after all the employees finished their meals very fast to avoid any problems considering their boss was around. The chatter and clinking of utensils was replaced by an eerie silence. Only three people remained: Ray, Joey, and Samira, who was still leisurely eating as if nothing had happened.Ray sat at his table, lost in thought, replaying that moment in his mind when Samira had confessed the truth of her being a fake. He had been so angry, so hurt by her deception, but now, sitting here in the cafeteria, he felt something different. There was a tightness in his chest, a longing he couldn’t quite shake because he'd already been smitten by her the moment he laid eyes on her the very first time they met.Joey, who had been watching his friend closely, finally snapped him out of his reverie. “Hey, man, what’s up with you?” he asked, nudging Ray with his elbow. “You’ve been staring at your food like it’s about to tell you the meaning of life.”Ray blinked, sh
Ray sat motionless in the hospital chair, his body slumped forward, elbows resting on his knees, his head buried in his hands. The harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a sickly glow over everything in the ICU. Time seemed to stretch and contract in strange, disjointed intervals—he couldn’t tell how long he had been sitting there, waiting. Waiting for news that would either break him or bring a small glimmer of hope. Samira had just undergone an emergency surgery as a last, desperate attempt to save her life. Ray had barely caught the doctor's words as they rushed her into the operating room, the sounds of alarms and the frantic shuffle of nurses ringing in his ears. It had all blurred together, becoming just another wave of horror in a day that already felt unbearable. He had spent the entirety of the surgery in a fog, pacing the narrow waiting area, replaying the events of the last few days in his mind. The scandal, the betrayal, his drunken mistake with Delly it al
Ray stepped out of Delly’s apartment, his head pounding from both the hangover and the crushing weight of what had just happened. His entire body ached with regret, guilt swirling in his chest like a storm ready to tear him apart. He couldn’t believe what he had allowed to happen, what he had done. The cold morning air did little to clear the fog in his mind, the realization of his mistake bearing down on him like a physical weight. As he hurried down the steps, pulling his phone from his jacket, Ray felt his heart race. The first person he thought of was Samira. Guilt knifed through him again as her face flashed in his mind—the woman he loved, the woman he had betrayed. He had to get home, had to find a way to fix this mess before it got any worse. But as soon as he unlocked his phone, a barrage of missed calls and notifications lit up the screen. His stomach lurched. Most of them were from Mike and several other business contacts, but one message stood out—the one from Samira's pa
Ray found himself sitting at a corner table in one of the most upscale restaurants in the city, nursing his third glass of scotch. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The evening had started out as a routine business dinner, a gathering with potential investors to discuss a lucrative new deal. But after a few drinks, Ray couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling in his gut, the persistent reminder that something was deeply wrong at home. Samira had been distant for weeks now, almost like a stranger living in his house. He couldn’t get her to open up, couldn’t find a way to bridge the gap that had grown between them. No matter what he said or how much he tried to reassure her, it always seemed like there was an invisible wall standing between them. The investors chatted on, laughing, their conversation buzzing around him like static. Ray’s mind, however, was elsewhere. The whiskey burned as he downed the last of his drink, and for a brief moment, he welcomed the warmth it brought. It was ea
The news about her and Ray hit the gossipy Media like a storm. Ray was a well-known figure in the business world, his every move was always scrutinized by the press. And now, after a long period of silence about his personal life, a major media outlet had somehow gotten wind of his marriage to Samira. The story was everywhere—headlines speculating about their relationship, photos of them together at romantic hotels, there were also wild rumors about family drama, and, of course, the inevitable speculation about when they would start a family since they were already married for over a year now. Samira hadn’t been prepared for any of it. She had left the house that evening to find her peace of mind because the house had felt kind of stuffy, she sat on the park bench, seeking some solitude. The cool breeze carried with it a fleeting sense of peace as she closed her eyes, trying to block out the world. For a moment, she felt distant from everything. But peace was a luxury she didn’t ge
The days after Elena’s departure felt like an eerie calm. Samira had managed to keep up her polite, dutiful wife routine while Elena was around, even engaging in brief touches and stolen kisses with Ray, all under Elena’s watchful eyes. It was like playing a role on a stage, a performance they both had to give. But now that Elena was gone, the façade crumbled. It started small. Samira found herself flinching when Ray reached for her hand at night, instinctively pulling away. She couldn’t even explain why it happened. His touch—once familiar, warm, and reassuring—now felt foreign, almost repulsive. Each time he tried to kiss her, she felt nothing, no flutter in her stomach, no soft warmth spreading across her chest like it used to. There was just… nothing. She would lie awake at night, Ray's arm draped across her waist, his breaths soft against her neck, and wonder when things had changed so much. There had been a time when his presence made her feel safe, cherished. Now, it was suff
Ray lay on his side of the bed that night, keeping a deliberate distance from Samira. The room was silent except for the faint sound of the ceiling fan turning slowly above them. The air between them felt heavier than it ever had, weighed down by unspoken words and lingering doubts. Samira could sense the tension in Ray's body, the way he kept his back to her, as if touching her might shatter the fragile peace they had managed to hold onto since that call. She stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with the memory of Delly’s video and Ray’s promise that he had never lied to her. A part of her wanted to believe him, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw that look on his face in the video—comfortable, intimate, with Delly. It didn’t add up, but for now, Samira told herself to trust him, no matter how much it hurt to push the doubt aside. The days that followed were quiet. Ray left for work early and returned late, and although they shared meals together, the words between them w
Samira’s hands trembled as she set her phone down on the table, her mind swirling in a storm of confusion and betrayal. She had wanted to believe Ray, to hold onto the warmth of his proposal, the hope of a future filled with love and forgiveness. But now looking at Delly’s video, she felt like she was free-falling into a dark chasm, that made her unable to catch herself. The room she was currently in felt suffocating, She paced back and forth in the living room, as her footsteps echoed in the silence. Everything in her screamed for answers, for a confrontation, but at the same time, she feared what she might uncover if she pushed too hard. Finally, Samira sank down onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. How could Ray do this to her? Hadn’t they been through enough already? The short memories of their fights, their moments of reconciliation, the promises made—and broken—appeared to be just a farce. And now, just when she had started to believe in him again, to trust in their
Ray had always envisioned a grand proposal, one that would sweep Samira off her feet, leaving her breathless and undeniably sure that he was her forever. But as the plane descended back into the city, he realized that what mattered most wasn’t the grandeur, but the sincerity. Samira wasn’t the kind of woman who needed extravagant displays of love; she needed honesty, commitment, and a promise that he would be by her side, no matter how rocky the road got. When Ray finally made it back to their shared home, he found Samira sitting in the living room, lost in her thoughts. Her gaze was fixed out the window, and he couldn’t help but feel the sadness around her considering she'd just lost a competition and her job. But tonight, he was determined to change that. “Hey,” he said softly as he entered the room. Samira turned her head slightly but didn’t fully meet his eyes. “You’re back,” she said quietly, her tone neutral, revealing nothing of what she was feeling. Ray sat beside her on
As Samira pushed through the heavy glass doors of Joey's company, the cool breeze from outside kissed her flushed skin, offering a momentary reprieve from the heat bubbling inside her. Fired. She couldn't get that word out of her head. It echoed over and over, like a cruel joke that she couldn't escape. She clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady her racing heart. But just as she was about to make her way to where she'd parked the new mountain bike she'd chosen to drive today, since the day she bought it with Ray's credit cards, her eyes landed on a familiar figure standing by the entrance—a tall, elegant woman with dark hair tied neatly into a bun. Her posture was regal, her gaze sharp, and her lips set in a soft, knowing smile. Elena. Ray's mother. Samira's chest tightened. Of all the people she wanted to avoid today, Elena ranked high on the list. But there was no turning back now. She forced a smile onto her face as she approach