Emerson, rightly so, was mad, but I didn’t want that to feed Emerson’s ego any more than it already had.Emerson’s words came out through gritted teeth as one hand went protectively to my back, the other fist clenching and unclenching in frustration. His voice was low but unwavering as he directed his attention toward Eric.“Still, whatever it is you’re thinking of her, whatever your problems with her are, whatever feelings you have towards her, you’re still going to respect her. She’s my fiancée and I’m going to marry her. She’s here because you forced her. She’s helping this company, And for her to do that, you are going to respect her.”The whole room was tense with suffocating tension before Emerson’s next words broke through.“This is a place of business,” he continued calmly, his voice filled with authority. “Yes, I know it’s a place of business, but you still used your friends and your connections to have her here, because you want her back in this company. You think I don't k
"I don't understand," Emerson said, taking a step toward me.I moved quickly, rounding the desk and putting the desk between us to create some distance. We needed to have this conversation, and we needed to have it now.He sighed deeply, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Okay, Mina, I don't understand what's going on, so why don't you just tell me? Instead of playing this game, explain what it is you’re upset about."I narrowed my eyes at him. "You think I'm playing a game with you, Emerson? Why did you come there? Why did you come to Eric’s office?"His brows furrowed. "I came to look after you. I just wanted to make sure you two had talked, came to an agreement, and that everything was okay.“ he answered, but when he saw the look in my eye he quickly added,“Honestly, I thought you would go through HR, and let them sort out the office situation with Eric. But when I heard you went straight to his office... Mina, nothing good ever comes from your interactions with him.
Knock, knock."Mr Blackwind, we really have to go," Jason said as he peeked inside. "The people are getting restless.""Yes, of course," Emerson said, shaking his head like he suddenly remembered. "Please don't tell me that you forgot about this meeting with IT," I asked him with a fake disappointed smile."I'm sorry. It's just, you really drive me crazy.""Then I think it's bad that I'm back here since I'm making you forget about your responsibilities.""No, never. You would never make me bad. You just make me work harder." He said with a wink.I could sense the innuendo in his answer, so I gave out a laugh. He grinned at me one last time before heading out.I saw an impatient Jason already filling him in as the two of them walked away. I watched them leave through the glass window, the sight of them walking away slowly fading from my view.Then I looked at my new office.It wasn't really mine. I was just occupying it for the duration of the project. People had tried rearranging the
"Eric," I began, my tone slow, as if I were talking to a child who had just misunderstood the simplest thing ever. "I asked about Rachel before I called her to my office. I was specifically told she was working with the filing team. So it’s kind of weird and crazy that you're saying now, that she's your secretary. You just agreed with me when I told you she was working in the filing office. So what the hell are you talking about?"Eric’s eyes narrowed as if I had just insulted his intelligence. "Well, you see, Mina, I know that she was working there. But yesterday, I already went through all the procedures. I talked with HR. There’s already a form there. I wrote her a letter, and she was supposed to come upstairs and become my secretary. So there you have it."I couldn't hide my disbelief. "If that was the case, why was she still down there in the filing system when I called?"Eric shrugged dismissively, an air of superiority coming from him. "I don’t know. Maybe you should ask her. B
I raised an eyebrow in question as I asked, "What is this?"Eric shook the cup in his hands, a faint smirk on his lips. "It’s your cup. Your favourite cup, if I’m guessing right." A winning smile on his face, like he was trying to get me to buy a product."And why do you have it?" I countered, arms crossing over my chest. "Do I need to do something to get it? Is that what you’re thinking? That you can hold the cup hostage over me, or something?"He laughed, the sound dripping with a hint of mockery. "Of course not, Mina. Your mind is running a mile a minute. It’s just a cup, stop being so paranoid. But I just remembered that you really like this cup. And since you’re back at work, I thought I could give it to you.""Why?" I asked, levelling my gaze at him, determined to read between his words. I didn’t trust him—not even for a second.Eric shifted slightly, his eyes darting away before he finally answered, "It’s a ‘Welcome Back’ gift, kind of. Think of it as...my version of a welcom
I stood there, stunned. My favourite cup suddenly felt like a hot coal in my hand. This—this was classic Eric, wasn’t it? He couldn’t lose. He couldn’t back down. And when the stakes were high, he played dirty. As long as he rose above in the end, The carefully laid desserts, the coffee, the damn cup—they were all off-limits now. The whole room was tainted, and poisoned, and my appetite was long gone.But then, another thought crept in. What if Giselle was lying? She’d hated me from the moment I’d walked into this company and resented me for my relationship with Eric. What if this was all part of some plan to alienate me, payback to make me mistrust everyone here?I looked at the cup again, doubt mixed with disgust. Could I really trust anything—or anyone—in this office?Probably not.I dumped the cup in the trash bin, the ceramic clinking hollowly l. It felt good to get rid of it, a silent testament to whatever petty games Eric was playing—or perhaps Giselle's manipulations—felt odd
“Mmm, I’m gonna have to break your heart there, lover boy,” I said, giving him a playful smile.“Oh, please don’t do that. What is it?” he asked, his face falling. “Don’t tell me you’re that busy. You just got back to the company today, and you haven’t gotten up to speed. Don’t tell me you’ve already started working.”“Not yet, it’s just that I kind of already had lunch,” I replied.“Oh, you’re coming from lunch?” he asked, his voice teasing.“Yes,” I confirmed.“You’re such a bad girl,” he said with a grin. “Why didn’t you just tell me or ask me to lunch? I would have loved to have lunch with you. I missed you so much and was looking forward to seeing you. And knowing that you were just downstairs was killing me. I was really looking forward to having lunch with you.”“I know,” I said, my voice apologetic. “ And I wanted that too, but I thought you might be busy, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”“But you could have called Jason and asked,” he suggested.“But then Jason is always so
"Nothing," Eric answered, looking too casual. "This is about the Blackwind. My father paid me a visit just now and reminded me that this is about the company and our legacy. Whatever feelings I have towards you, I should put them aside. I'm going to own this company one day After all, so yes, I'm not going to let us lose a big client just because you're... well, a whore."The words hit me like a slap in the face, but I just couldn’t stop the laugh that followed. “Well, that took longer than I thought for you to start throwing names at me," I said, still chuckling. "But it’s the truth now, isn’t it? Why should we hide it?” he sneered. “Just remember that I’m your Sister-in-law.”“Sister-in-law? Oh, come on. The way Rita puts it, she doesn’t have a sister anymore. How you’ve embarrassed her and ruined her entire social life. She’s got a gold digger for a sister now. Some people even think that because the two of you are related, she might be like you.” He paused, a smug look on his f
MinaI 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 b
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