“You don’t know why I quit in the first place,” I snapped. “It’s more personal than you think.”“Doesn’t matter. If you walk away now, you’re still a quitter. And I’m not going to let you.”I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to let me?”“That’s right.” His tone hardened. “You're useful right now. My second demand is simple: you’re not quitting Black Wind. You’re staying until our project is finished. Until you’ve completed the deal with Flagler Corporation, you’re not walking away.”I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms,“And when this project is over?”“Then you can quit all you like. But until then? You’re staying. So start thinking about work, Nina. You’re not done with me yet. You will be seeing a lot of me in the future.”“What is it with you?” I snapped, my eyes narrowing.Trey raised a brow, feigning innocence. “What do you mean?”“Does making me feel uncomfortable do something for your ego? Does it give you a high? Or what? Does it get you hard? Is that it?”
"Why are you doing all of this? What is it that you want?" My voice was full of frustration. "Why don’t we just go to the heart of it so you can tell me what it is you want? I just want to give you whatever you want so you can leave me alone. Okay?"Trey's eyes didn’t waver. "I don’t think this is any way to talk to me.""You mean to talk to someone who’s blackmailing me? Someone who’s threatening me?""I wouldn’t put it that way.""Then what way would you put it?" My voice rose, "What way do you want me to put it? What was it that made you choose me? I wonder” I asked while thinking it through,“Was it because everyone at that table was a man and I was the only woman? Is that it? You couldn’t choose your mother—obviously. And you couldn’t choose Rita because she’s…what value does she even have to you? You don’t know anything about her. But me?" I leaned forward. "Me? You admitted yourself that you had been investigating me and that you were obsessed with me. But, You know about Emer
We sat in heavy silence for a few minutes. Then Treyson broke it with a whisper."I’m sorry."I turned my head, giving him an unimpressed look before rolling my eyes. "Well, don’t get suddenly all soft on me," I snapped. "Blackmailers aren’t supposed to be soft, are they? You’re forgetting the role you’re supposed to play."A chuckle escaped him. "Then I guess I’m lucky I didn’t have a brother.""Well, I mean…" I paused, my voice softening. "I don’t know. Some people have sisters and brothers, and they’re actually happy to have a family, siblings. I just… I can’t believe I never saw it. I knew Rita was a little jealous of me growing up. I mean, I was jealous of her, too. I guess that’s normal with siblings, right? I was always envious of her bond with our mother, and she resented my relationship with our father. But still…" My chest tightened at the memories. "It was very painful. It still is. I don’t want to think about it."Treyson didn’t interrupt. He just watched me, letting me s
For reasons I did not understand, reasons I was not ready for, I was laughing with this person. He was the most maddening person in the world. And being in here, he has made me tell him how I was feeling, and laugh with him. Ridiculous!This must be the second time I was laughing with him. As I realized this, I looked at him again, and I thought, 'What’s up with this one? Is he a psychopath? Is he... Like, what is it about him that can be so maddening and makes you laugh at the same time? Is he a psychopath? A narcissist? A master manipulator?But also...I’m very confused.And as I thought this, I knew it. He was dangerous. He was trouble. He was not someone to be close to. He was someone I was supposed to keep a distance from and tell someone—anyone—about whatever it was that was going on here.So, out of nowhere, I just snapped."Is that going to be all? I don’t have to leave Blackwind? Okay, right, done. Can I leave now?"He looked at me, and there was this look.I caught him off
"Fine. What's the next one?" I decided to cut to the point."Well..." He drew out the word. "To be honest, I think I’m just gonna give you three.""Alright. Thank you, Your Majesty," I replied, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "What’s the last one?""I think I’m gonna keep this one to myself."I blinked. "What?"He smirked. "I feel like there’s a day when I’ll need to use this last card. So I’m gonna keep it. One day, when the need arises, I’ll cash it in.""What do you think this is, the Mafia?" I narrowed my eyes. "Are you like the mob, keeping favours or something?"He actually considered this for a moment, nodding as if he were seriously pondering his life choices. "You know, I could have been a good Mafia boss. I mean, I’m handsome after all. Strong. Charismatic.""One punch sent you to the hospital," I pointed out flatly.He winced, rubbing his jaw in mock pain. "Then I guess I just need to work harder."There was a pause."So... Rita’s gonna have a baby. And you’re gonna have
Tina wasted no time rushing towards Treyson's side. Her hands went over him like a mother hen checking every feather. She touched his face, smoothed his hair, and examined his black eye with a gasp that could have won an award for most dramatic performance."Oh, my baby," she muttered, half-praying, half-cursing whoever had dared to harm her precious son.I watched the scene, feeling like a trespasser in some strange family drama."It's fine, Mom. It's okay. I'm fine. I promise I'm fine." Treyson placated his mother.Tina's face remained concerned, her eyes scanning him like she could somehow make his injuries disappear. "Are you sure, baby? Are you sure? Who did this?" Her gaze flicked over to me, and there was something about the way she looked at me—as if she was ready to attack at any moment.Trey sighed and laid back against his pillow, his voice soft."I hit my head pretty hard. I really don't know what happened. I went to the toilet, then I went outside the restaurant, the ba
Tina shot me a sharp glare as she stared at me, and then she looked back at her son. Then with a calm, soft voice, she said, "Why don't you just look after your health? I just want you to get better. Let's get better so we can go home.""Go home?" Treyson asked as he looked at his mother. "What do you mean, go home? I thought you were leaving me here to head the project.""Yeah, well," she said as if she didn't want to have this conversation here or with me present, because she kind of gave me a look too. "We'll discuss that later.""No, there's no discussing that later. Tell me now or leave. What do you want to say that has to wait? If it's the injuries, it's just the eye, but I'm okay.""Your head is bandaged." Tina pointed out."I know, but the doctors told me it's not as bad as it looks. And as long as I rest, drink my water and look after myself, it will all be good in a couple of days. They are just concerned I might have a concussion, but I don't think I have it. So, what is r
I awkwardly stood up, brushing myself off and making sure I had everything with me with a quick glance around, Suddenly Trey's voice was heard commanding the room, and there was an edge and a threat in his voice as he said, “Mina, could you come over here for a second?”I looked at him, hesitant, knowing full well I was not going to follow whatever scheme he had in mind. But then, he pointed towards his mom with his eyes.He didn’t say another word, but he spoke to me through his eyes, and I understood what he was trying to communicate. I knew what he wanted.Reluctantly, I went closer to him.“closer,” he he said,I moved closer, hesitating but then, without warning, he grabbed my head, pulling me towards him.He whispered, “Do not tell anybody about our sacred agreement. One word out, and the offer is off the table.”“What are you two whispering to each other?” Tina said, her eyes narrowing as she first looked at me with an accusing glare, then shifted her attention to her son.Wi
Mina I was in the delivery room about to bring my baby into this world, and who knew it hurt like hell? Mmh! I was very lucky and very grateful to have my husband here with me. He kept holding my hand, telling me sweet things, and encouraging me when the doctors told me to push. He pushed with me, breathed with me. It was kind of crazy. I don't know, maybe after I was done here I would think about this moment and laugh about it. It was a moment in my life when I really needed him, and I was so, so happy and so grateful to have him here beside me. The two doctors that Mr. Emerson insisted on having here were top in their fields. He didn’t care, he had to fly one in as long as I got everything and I was in great hands. The doctors were great, they were encouraging. I just wanted this moment to be over and for my baby to come into this world so I could hear their cry. We were still in the dark; we didn’t know if we were having a girl or a boy. I was just waiting for that moment wh
EmmersonThe next morning, I decided to handle things myself. I know Mina’s already been through enough trauma with her family, so I don’t want to involve her in this. She’s still asleep, and I slip out quietly to deal with Eric.I find him at the hotel, slumped over, still asleep. I nudge him with the toe of my shoe, the force making him stir. Slowly, his eyes flicker open, and the haze of sleep and alcohol makes him groggy. He rises, blinking and groaning, his hand clutching his head."Wake up, Eric," I tell him as I open the curtains, letting the bright light flood the room. He immediately shields his eyes, groaning louder."My head... hurts," he mutters, his voice thick with a hangover. He grabs the bottle of water on the bedside table and gulps down a large portion in one go."Last night," he laments, "I didn't like how your men dragged me out of that nightclub.""You call that a nightclub? It was a strip
EmmersonOh yeah?” Mina’s voice is a little high-pitched.And then Rita says something that makes my blood cold.“Of course,” she replies, her voice dripping with arrogance. “I mean if I could take Eric from you so easily before… When you weren’t this heavily pregnant, and we weren’t even living in the same house. Just think how simple it would be to take his father from you now.”Her voice is low and suggestive. Mina scoffs, maybe out of shock, but Rita doesn’t stop.“I mean, look at you,” she continues, mockingly. “You’re pregnant. You can’t even walk properly without someone holding you. You have to be carried just to get around.” She chuckles,“And me?” she adds. “I’m just getting started. The exercises I’ll do, the maintenance I’ll keep up… You know I won't be breastfeeding, right? This baby is feeding from the bottle. Nothing is messing up this....hot body.”In my mind, I can already picture her motioning to her bo
Emmerson By nightfall, the police have already paid us a visit. It’s all over the news. Madeline had a little accident on the highway. Her car hit the side of a bridge and went down under. She suffocated. But I know the truth. Let her feel what it’s like to lose air. Anyway, the point is—she’s dead. The police came because, after her attack on Mina, there was already a record of her actions. They were just here to deliver the report. To tell us that she was gone. That also settled the issue with Rose. Mina had never been convinced that Rose was behind it, and now that Madeline was out of the picture, it was clear she had been wrongfully accused. Mina was shocked with the news, I never thought she would actually be upset after everything. Even though there’s still sadness in her eyes, I can see the difference. She’s no
EmmersonAfter I had taken Mina home, I gave her a bath, making sure she was okay and taken Care of. She was reluctant to eat at first, but I insisted. “You need nutrition,” I reminded her. “I know you don't want to but do it for the baby. You’re pregnant, you're doing it for our baby.”She sighed, but eventually gave in, taking small sips of the warm soup I had prepared. I watched her closely, ensuring she had everything she needed. Then, I sat her down and gently caressed her hair.I kept talking as I did it—about everything and nothing at the same time. Just filling the silence, making sure she felt covered and safe. My voice was low and comforting. I caressed her head, feeling the softness of her scalp, letting her know she wasn’t alone.And then, she fell asleep.Once I was sure she was deep in rest, I finally allowed myself to feel it all—the anger, the frustration, the overwhelming sense of failure.How could I h
As Emerson's voice continued on the phone, offering words of comfort, trying to calm me, I felt my tears flow faster. I couldn't hear him clearly anymore over the noise in my head, the panic, the certainty that I was going to die. I just listened to him, letting his voice be a thread tying me to something.Then, the banging stopped.I hadn't even realized it.Instead, a knock. A soft, reassuring knock."Mina, Mina, come on, open the door," Emerson's voice came through the phone, clearer now.I still didn’t understand what was happening. My mind was so clouded by fear, but hearing his voice… it soothed me in ways I couldn’t explain. I was barely aware of his words, just the sound of him calling my name, telling me it was okay."Emerson, is that you?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper."Yes, it's me. Open the door, Mina."The reality of it hit me. I had been trapped in a nightmare, my heart frozen with terror, bu
I started scribbling on the piece of paper.[I can't do this anymore. I'm going to kill myself.]I set the pen down and exhaled. "Okay, I'm done."Madeline narrowed her eyes. "What did you write so fast?"She stalked toward me, snatched the paper out of my hands, and read it. Her expression darkened, and before I could brace myself, she slapped me hard across the face. The force nearly knocked me out of the chair.A sharp sting spread across my cheek, my vision blurred for a second. My entire face tingled from the impact, and I gritted my teeth, refusing to let a single tear fall.Who knew I would ever be in this situation? Kidnapped at gunpoint. Forced to write my own suicide letter.Madeline took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. Then she smirked."You're smart, Mina. We can argue about a lot of things, but not that. You're a smart little thing, a devious little thing. That’s how you got Emerson i
Madeline’s grip on my arm became almost painful. I could feel the gun on my side, like a silent, invisible threat.I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "Oh, you know... My condition." I gestured vaguely at myself. "It’s still hard for me to get up, takes a while to get out of bed. I was sleeping."Tom stared at me, his eyes searching my face as if he was trying to read through my words.Then, finally, he gave a slow nod. "Okay."But he still didn’t leave."Can I come in?" he asked. "I can give you some company.""No!" The word shot out of my mouth too fast, too loud, too desperate.Madeline pressed the gun against my side, a silent threat, a warning that made my blood turn cold.Tom’s frown deepened.I forced another smile, shaking my head quickly. "I mean—no, it’s okay. I was sleeping. I don’t need company right now."I gave an awkward laugh, motioning toward the inside of the apartment. "If you came in, you’d just be sitting alone because I’m going back to bed."Tom didn’t look conv
"I'm sorry, Madeline, I swear I didn’t—""Just tell me why!" she shouted to my face, her voice filled with frustration.I was shaking, my throat dry, my mind running a mile a minute. "I don't know, okay? Maybe because he was there. He was nice. He was understanding, and he made me feel safe. He made me happy. He made me feel like I could be the person I wanted to be." My voice cracked, and I rushed to explain, desperate for her to believe me. "It was never about his age, Madeline. I always thought he was cute, you know? I always thought he was really handsome. And then when we slept together, I realized I could have everything I ever wanted with him, okay? I'm sorry. I really didn’t know—"She let out a cold laugh, cutting me off. "You're not sorry. Stop trying to act like some innocent girl who thought he was ‘the one.’"Her voice was mocking, twisting my words into something dirty."You don’t even love him. Not really. You love the things he represents." She took a step closer, he