I couldn't believe what Zayn had just asked me to do. Did he really expect me to kiss him in order to approve the project? Goodness, Zayn must have lost his mind.He was essentially proposing a quid pro quo arrangement. He should have been straightforward instead of beating around the bush. If he wanted to sleep with me to approve the project, he should have just said so.I let out a deep sigh and gave him a cold, unforgiving look. "Have you completely lost your mind?" I asked, gesturing with my hand towards my head as I approached him."What kind of ridiculous request is that? Have I ever indicated that I'm desperate for project approval, Zayn?"Zayn chuckled briefly and walked over to the window to look out at the city."A kiss is just a kiss. I didn't ask for much. Or would you prefer to keep redoing the project indefinitely until it's approved?" he declared, letting out a wicked laugh.My face scrunched up in a frown. I couldn't believe he was still insisting on his request even af
"I've told you countless times that you're wasting your time. I'm not interested in any of this...""Fuck it! I said, "Fuck!" He yelled, cutting me off and springing up from the floor.""I've said it before: you never change. You're still the Zayn I know."At this point, we were already yelling at each other as I was unable to hold back any longer.He paused, gritting his teeth as he thought for a moment. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to deny my proposal?" He asked, a bit scared."Of course. Have I been blabbing all this time? I'm not one of those who go back to their vomit," I said firmly, a smug grin tugging at my lips as I walked out of the office, heading to mine.To my surprise, as I walked out of Zayn's office, I met the management staff in the corridor next to his office, waiting for me to provide them with feedback."It didn't work," I said to them, sighing weakly.Their expressions darkened. "So what do we do now?" A lady among them asked, her tone laced with tir
The entire weekend seems to be the worst phase of my work. I never expected it to be this hectic.I would go to bed late, around 2 a.m., and wake up at 5 a.m. I barely eat because of this project, even though I had said that no work could make me do that.I was trying to deliver it by Monday morning so I could free myself from the Zech Holdings project. However, I had already lost interest in what I was doing as the work had lost its main value. While trying to implement those unnecessary policies Zayn requested, it lost its original look and value.I paused what I was doing and started to rethink my decision. The stress was much more than I expected.I sighed in frustration and gazed at the ceiling of the apartment, which is where I was staying. I had been so devoted to this project that I couldn't even spend some time with my daughter through video calls or normal calls.I couldn't even call her the day I intended, and when I finally did, the call didn't last—we had a brief conversa
The drive from where I was staying to Zayn's residence was about seventy kilometers.I took a deep sigh as the driver halted in front of the compound, knowing that I was about to go and meet Zayn, whom I had sworn a few years ago not to have anything to do with for divorcing me for his fling.I alighted from the cab and paid the driver, then turned, facing the building."Been a while," I muttered, referring to the house. Immediately, all the memories I had about that house hit me like a hurricane, and I tried to hold back my emotions.Without much delay, I walked up to the entry gate and knocked. About two minutes later, the security man walked out and opened the gate."Good evening, Ma'am. Please, are you Zora?" He questioned, and I nodded in affirmation.He was a new person, not the former security man we had then.Perhaps Zayn had already told him about me, as if he already knew that I'd one day find him."Please come in." The security man remarked, extending a warm smile."Thank y
Zayn let out a smile. "Well, I'm glad you could see that everything is still the way it was when you left. I made sure I did not change anything."I chuckled lightly. "I bet you know it's sickening hanging a picture of someone you've parted ways with everywhere in your sitting room. I think you need to see a doctor," I said, thinking it would provoke him, but he made fun of it."No worries, doctors won't even be able to cure the syndrome I'm suffering from. You're the only one capable of doing that, and that is when you...""Enough. I don't know when I suddenly became a doctor," I said with a sigh, passing my hand across my face, as I felt intimidated by his dominating aura. Pretending I was removing something from my face."Are we going to stand up discussing? Why not take a seat, dear?" He said, gesturing towards a chair in the sitting room. I went and got seated."How about I get you something to drink? At least to calm the stress you experienced, driving all the way from your apar
"But why the sudden imposition of conditions? I'm the one who is supposed to be doing that because you want a favor from me. You want to make your company proud and bring in bigger contracts for them.""You want to get the money involved in this project so you could provide what your daughter deserves, as you had earlier said. You want to...""Enough, Zayn. You're the one I'm doing a favor for because you have been clinging and disturbing me even when this project hasn't started. You want me so bad, don't you?" I asked him, giving him a seductive look, capable of making him lose his senses and do everything I demanded."Are you going to have me walk away without fulfilling your all-day wish, which is to have a taste of my lips once more?" I added, waiting for his reaction.I could see from his face that he's already drowned in my words. His eyes went from my eyes down to my mouth, and it stopped. I could tell he is lost in imagination. Perhaps, imagining his lips locked with mine and
ZAYN—I stood there watching Zora as she left the compound with my mouth open. I felt really bad. It was as if I was watching a precious treasure vanishing in front of me.My eyes didn't depart from her until she was out of sight, and I felt empty. I staggered and slumped on the couch, exhaling a deep sigh. Mad frenzy engulfing my mind."Fuck. I can't believe this was reality," I said inwardly, licking my lips so I could feel her taste once more on my lips.I hadn't imagined the kiss would go that way because of Zora's body reaction at first and the imposition she brought up. Never did I think she could respond to the kiss, talk more, or caress my body.I chuckled with satisfaction. "She still loves me. I can say that boldly that she loves me from the way she kissed me back and even allowed me to fumble her breast. She's just playing hard to get." I said in my thoughts, confident about it."Shit!" I exclaimed, feeling like cursing the person who was calling her during the beautiful mo
"Of course, it did. Trust me," I remarked, my head swelling up with pride."Bad guy. You really enjoyed yourself because she is now the epitome of beauty, and her body has set perfectly the type you want it. Figure eight."I was smiling as he was blabbing all that. Blake's wife always sees him as an innocent, God-fearing guy. Only if she knew how corrupt his mind is. Mind you, I'm not insinuating that he cheats on her."So after all that, she fell for you. Letting you hit. Ladies indeed do follow their emotions and don't have a mind of their own," he remarked, sounding a bit disappointed in Zora."Well, we never did that. Although we could have, it's just that something erupted.""So what's all the excitement for then? Why did she visit? What did you end up benefiting from her visit?" Blake was laughing."We just had a kiss. But trust me, it's worth it.""Really? What then stopped you from having your way since it's worth it?" He asked, his tone a mix of surprise and curiosity.I sigh
ZORA —"Zora, I don't like your sudden decision to go back to Zayn, but..." Daisy exhaled a sigh and continued, "Who am I to question your decision?" she added with a solemn expression.It happened that she was on furlough today, so I asked her to accompany me shopping. I wanted to buy some new dresses for the dinner tonight—I wanted to look unique and different to Zayn and not wear one of the outfits he's used to."No worries, Daisy, I'm being careful with him. After all, we haven't officially reunited because the divorce documents have to be disqualified," I replied, patting her shoulder with a chuckle."It's fine. I'm only looking out for your best interest," she shrugged off, sighing."Yes, dear. So tell me about the latest update. Are you going to proceed with the artificial insemination procedure we discussed?" I asked her, wanting to change the topic.She had told me earlier about the recent issues she had been having with her husband regarding their childlessness, which I sugg
ZORA —"Can you please attend the meeting Lisa told you about? We need to have a brief meeting with the directors," I requested, my eyelids raised as I expected his response."Well, that's actually the main reason I called you. Unfortunately, I can't attend the meeting because it's a waste of time for me and the directors," he said.However, he wasn't harsh to me. I thought he would scold me and asked me not to set foot in his company, but he didn't. Instead, he was cold with his responses."How? By the time you arrive, everyone would be done with what they're doing," I blurted out, trying to convince him to show up, but he was not ready to relent from his decision."No, Zora. I've already made up my mind, and that's it. I hope you respect that.""Um, how about Daisy? Won't you like to see her? Are you also mad at her?" I asked immediately before he could end the call.There was a moment of silence from Jason's end. Deep down, he doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore, bu
ZORA—"Ah! Jason? He didn't tell you? He has stopped working here," said Lisa with a creased forehead, making me stare at her moronically because it hit me hard. Is she trying to pull my leg or what? If Jason doesn't work here anymore, where could he be working? I hope he's not considering suicidal thoughts."But he's the owner of this place? Did he officially announce his resignation, or did you conclude it after not seeing him for long?" I asked her, tucking my hair behind my ear as I concentrated on her reply. Inside of me, I was already praying hard for it not to be what I'm thinking."I'm not saying based on assumption, Zora; I'm stating a fact. I even heard that he has got a buyer, and they're negotiating the price.""Buyer?" I asked with my jaw dropped. What is really going on? Could it be that Zayn went ahead with his plan of purchasing Tech Savvy Strategies, and Jason accepted? I shrugged off the thoughts because Jason, as far as I know, is not desperate for money to do that
ZORA—"Mommy, wake up; it's morning already," I heard my daughter's voice as she barged into my room, causing me to sigh exasperatedly because I hadn't wanted to wake up by this time.I rolled myself to face her and stared at her for a few seconds before sighing. "Honey, it's not yet school time, okay? By the way, your schoolteacher just called yesterday and informed me of the postponement of your school's resuming date.""Huh, why would they do that?" She said with a frown."Are you not happy that you have more days to enjoy?" I asked with a surprised look. I thought she'd like to spend more days at home playing video games."I hate it. I'm missing my friends, especially Sophia and Liam. I want to see them." She responded with a decisive tone, making me chuckle. I thought she was missing studies, but she was after her friends."No worries, you'll see them soon, okay?" I said, and she nodded in affirmation and turned to leave.I sighed and was about to continue sleeping when she stopp
DAISY —I had been worried since last night because of Blake's absence in the house. He had never acted this way before since we got married."Could it be that he got kidnapped on his way back, or did his car develop a technical issue, and he decided to park and spend the night at a hotel?" I asked myself, trying to figure out what might have gone wrong."At least he should have answered my calls if he's in a good state," I doubted, sighing in frustration, tears welling up in my eyes as I tried to stay strong."Gosh, God, don't let this befall me. I'm too young to be a widow. I don't even have a child," I cried, felt so emotional that the tears I had been controlling began streaming down my cheeks without my notice until a drop touched my lips.I quickly wiped my eyes and took my phone. I went online and searched for my husband to know the last time he was online.{Active five minutes ago}"Really? He was active a few minutes ago and didn't bother to call me back. Could it be that he
Blake —I felt completely weakened and confused. "Are you trying to blackmail me, Danielle?" I asked, trying so hard not to make my fretting obvious to her.She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, tucked the few strands of hair cascading down her cheeks behind her back, and turned to me with a mean expression."I'm not here to debate, Mr. Blake. I've already fulfilled my mission, so you should do what's necessary; otherwise, your wife will find out...""No, no, no. It's fine. Let's settle it here, please," I said with tension, reaching into my wallet and taking out a few bundles of dollars. "I hope you'll leave me alone now. You have to delete those videos in my presence so everything will be sorted out," I said, expecting her to comply."Alright," she said, unlocking her phone and deleting the videos as I requested."Good. I hope you can now stay away from me and never disclose what happened here to my wife. I hope the money is enough for you," I said, my voice a mix of ser
Blake —My hand landed on something soft, and my subconscious guided them to form a gentle circle, as if cradling a delicate object. The sensation brought me a strange sense of satisfaction, and I pinched them.The softness made me wake up to see what it really was, and then I saw her—a lady lying close to me.“Ah…” I gasped in shock, taken aback as I noticed it was her breasts that I was touching all this while. Apparently, she was naked because she only covered her body with the duvet, but some parts of her cleavage were showing.I was startled upon realizing that I was in a hotel room with a naked lady.I slowly raised the duvet to observe myself, to confirm if my instincts were right, but unfortunately, it is what it is—I was naked as well."What is going on here? How did I get here?" I asked, shaking her and waking her up from sleep.I could only remember going to the bar to drink in order to forget my problems, especially the issue of childlessness in my marriage, but finding my
ZAYN—"Babe, what about your friend Daisy? I haven't seen you talking to her or mentioning her lately. Are you still in touch with her?" He asked, running his fingers through my hair as I rested my head on his chest, feeling the softness of his beard.We both were lying on the bed, taking advantage of that prime time of the early hours of the morning. Unlike usual, we didn't have sex today because we had enough last night—in fact, almost throughout yesterday was sex that we accomplished."Of course I do. But you stole my attention throughout this period that I couldn't even think of calling her," she replied, sighing and giving me an unserious deadpan look.I chuckled and responded, "As it should be. I deserve all the attention.""While I don't deserve yours, right?" She asked with a tone of jealousy, leaving me curious. Hadn't I been giving her my attention since our reunion?"What is that supposed to mean? Had I not been here with you throughout this week, I didn't even visited my o
DAISY —"So, doctor, what is the result?" Blake asked as soon as he barged into the doctor's office upon the doctor's summons.However, when he saw the solemn look on my face, his body weakened instantly."Um, calm down, Mr. Blake. Please have a seat," the doctor remarked, bringing out the test results. Before she could even stretch out her hand to give them to Blake, he snatched them from her and began scanning through them."Fuck!" He exclaimed, kicking the air with his hand as he saw what was written there.He exhaled a deep sigh of frustration before swallowing the lump that formed in his throat."Calm down, Mr. Blake. None of you are to be blamed for this unfortunate situation, but..."Blake did not even wait for the doctor to finish speaking, and he rose to his feet, flinging the test result to me and heading out of the office with his gaze upcast. He wasn't happy at all.At that moment, with the expression on his face, if a fly mistakenly perched on his face, it was surely goin