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EMILY'S POVI stepped into the restroom, answering the call I wish I had ignored“Why are you contacting me?” I spat,fuming with anger.“Emily, please,can we talk in person? Ethan pleaded over the phone.”I want to explain something,”“Nothing you say will change the past. You shattered the trust I have for you by cheating on me with my step sister . What could you probably have to say?”“Emily, I know I'd done wrong but —”“Don't just . Don't. You hurt me , Ethan. And now you are contacting me, knowing that I'm married? Show some decency.”“Emily, I —”“Don't contact me again, Ethan. There is nothing left to discuss.”I said, hanging up the call. I rested on the wall of the restroom, thinking about the just concluded call. ‘Where did we go wrong?’I said in my thoughts. Our relationship has been filled with laughter,love and genuine connection.My mind replayed all the memories, searching for signs but everything seemed fine –or so I thought. The feeling of the pain and betrayal still
Last Updated : 2024-11-09Marriage Bargain 23
RONALD'S POVOur conversation was flowing effortlessly when Emily's phone rang, breaking the moment. She seemed to reject the call each time it rang but the caller didn't back down and kept calling.Seeing that the caller was persistent, Emily rose up from her seat excusing herself to go to the restroom.I sipped my wine slowly as I gazed out of the 5-star restaurant window, gazing at the environment. ‘It's been a while I felt like this. The only person I open up to is my friend Colin but surprisingly , I have begun to do the same to Emily,’ I said in my thoughts. ‘ Do I see her as a friend now?’“Good afternoon sir," A waitress said, standing before me with a warm smile. “ I have a message for you, sir," she said, sliding a discrete wrapped envelope across the table.I opened up the envelope wondering who could have sent a message to me. The envelope revealed a simple, typewritten note:“ The fold greets you, old friend.We have been watching. We know where you are . And know who yo
Last Updated : 2024-11-09Marriage Bargain 24
EMILY’S POV My jaw dropped “ What!.” “How is that possible?” I said,a nervous thrill ran through me. Raking his fingers through his hair “Did you tell anyone about our contract?" My eyes widened in shock " Are you kidding me? Seriously? You think I'm the one who caused this?" ‘Why does he always think the worst about me?’ His eyes darkened "I'm not kidding, Emily. Someone clearly leaked this and I find it hard to believe it wasn't you.” ‘How could he think of that? I should have known that a narcissist would always be a narcissist,’ His voice dropped to a low, even tone, each word laced with doubt “You have always been against the terms and conditions of the agreement. Was this your way out of it?” His stare bore deep, searching for truth “Open up, Emily. Do you have something to do with this?" My eyes blazed with anger and hurt “You are so quick to point figures at me, Ronald.” I said, my voice trembling. I took a deep breath trying to control my emotions “I didn
Last Updated : 2024-11-09Marriage Bargain 25
RONALD'S POV‘I have gotten this far, I can't back out now because of a leaked.No.Never,’‘I kept my own part of the agreement well. Could Emily have been careless with hers?Frustrated. I ran my hands through my hair “Did you tell anyone about our contract?”Her pupils dilated in shock " Are you kidding me? Seriously? You think I'm the one who caused this?"My eyes darkened "I'm not kidding, Emily. Someone clearly leaked this and I find it hard to believe it wasn't you.”My voice dropped to a low, even tone, each word laced with doubt “You have always been against the terms and conditions of the agreement. Was this your way out of it?”‘I know I'm going too far with this but I don't give a damn. I can't lose. I can't,’My stare bore deep, searching for truth “Open up, Emily. Do you have something to do with this?" Anger wrestling in her gaze“You are so quick to point figures at me, Ronald.” she said, her voice trembling. She closed her eyes shut then flaring them open again, taki
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Marriage Bargain 26
EMILY'S POV I was about to take a nap due to boredom when the reply of the message I sent came in. A tap on the door jolted me from sleep. “Who is there?" I asked, raising my head from the bed.“It's me, Ma'am. I brought Miss Leila reply to you,” My assistant, Harty said, from the other side of the door.I stood up from the king size bed and sat on the cushion chair in the room. “Come in," "Ma'am,” she said, handing me an envelope.I opened the envelope to see a well written letter : Good day Ma'am, I got your message and I worked on it immediately. According to the contents of your message, I have notified the media and they are ready to have you on board tomorrow. I will have the conference room prepared before your arrival. Be ensure that everything is in control,” I beamed, seeing that my plan is going well. Ronald doesn't have to know about these afterall I have to clear my name. I was still beaming when Mia's call came in. “Shit, I forgot to call her for days," I said, aloud
Last Updated : 2024-11-15Marriage Bargain 27
RONALD'S POV The loud, rasp sound on my office door caused me to raise my head up.“ Come in,"Leila rushed in, trying to catch her breath “Boss,There is a problem. Our stocks are dropping by the minute, the ones we have sold are all being returned, we have started refunding the consumer's money as we speak,”“What's the report?”I said, indifferently. “The report started with social media complaints regarding your marriage being a — fake,” she said, hesitating.“What's the source of defects?”"The team is investigating it,"she said, “ The directors called for a meeting"" Okay,” I said, unfazed.“ Sir,we addressed the financial implications,our stock prices are plummeting,”“ Get our financial advisors on board,we need to assess the damage and prepare a statement for the investors,” “The consumers are also demanding for compensation for …. emotional stress,”“Do it,"“Sir?"“Do it! I said, my voice raising my voice "Pay them for the emotional stress,”"Get the meeting room ready i
Last Updated : 2024-11-15Marriage Bargain 28
EMILY'S POVThe soft morning light crept into my room, slowly waking me up. I stretched my body as I stood up from the bed. My eyes glanced over the room, seeing that Ronald is not in the room, I rushed over to the bathroom to prepare for the day. ‘I will make everything clear today,’I said to myself, straightening my skirt. My phone beeped, drifting my attention to the phone on the table stand. I clicked on the message notification on the screen: ‘The time slated for you to meet the media is by 11am today.--- Leila.”I looked at the mirror one last time before I left the house.The chauffeur was in the driveway waiting,I hopped into the car as the car engine came to live.My palms were sweaty and my tingled nervously as we drove to the Hoffman's Empire company. As I stepped out of the car, I was immediately surrounded with swamps of reporters all clamoring for my attention.The flashes from their camera blinded me for a moment and the uproar of questions threw me off balance making
Last Updated : 2024-11-19Marriage Bargain 29
RONALD'S POV“ What's the issue on the ground concerning growth?” I asked, glancing at every face in the room. Department heads, team leaders, and key personnel filled the space eager to discuss the company's growth. Lemy from the strategic department said, “Good day everyone. I'm pleased to report that our company has seen outstanding growth over the past quarter. Today we will discuss how we continue this pace and address any challenges.”“I think we are made for greater success. Our adverts have been yielding impressive results,” Steve, the marketing director , nodded enthusiastically.I rhythmically tapped my fingertips on the table, accessing the meeting documents with my other hands. “That’s great but how will the progress affect our workload? We are already stretched thin,” Rain, a plan manager spoke upMy phone buzzed notifying me that I had a notification while the meeting was ongoing. I brought out my phone and click on the first notification that says ‘Emily Hoffman publi
Last Updated : 2024-11-19
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EMILY'S POVAs I sat at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee and staring blankly at my phone, I couldn't shake off the thoughts of Ronald that had been plaguing me all morning. I had made up my mind to avoid him at all costs when I get back to work on Monday. But the thought of avoiding him only made my heart ache. Mia's sudden return, beaming with a bright smile, caught me off guard. "Emily," she called out, her voice low and sweet, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.I looked up, my curiosity piqued, and raised an eyebrow. "What's making you smile like that?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of amusement.Mia just chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and said, "I have something to show you." My curiosity was piqued, and I found myself leaning in, eager to know what Mia had in store.Just then, Colin walked in, followed by Ronald. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and I felt a rush of emotions: anger, hurt, and a hint of longing. My expression changed instantly, my
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RONALD'S POV Ronald went about his morning routine, tackling his tasks with his usual efficiency. But just as he was getting into the swing of things, his phone buzzed with an unexpected call from Calling."Hey, meet me at the usual spot," Calling said, his voice low and mysterious.Ronald's brow furrowed in surprise. "What's up? It's only 2 pm. We don't usually meet until evening."There was a pause on the other end of the line before Calling responded, "Just trust me on this one, Ronald. I need to show you something."Ronald's curiosity was piqued. What could Calling possibly want to show him that couldn't wait until evening?As I drove to meet Colin, the city streets blurred together in a haze of worry and anxiety. The sound of the engine and the hum of the tires on the pavement were the only sounds that filled my mind. I navigated through the crowded streets, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, my mind racing with thoughts of Colin's call. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease
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EMILY'S POV As I lounged on the couch, lost in thought, the door swung open and Mia burst in, her energy infectious. She dropped her bag with a flourish, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Emily, let's eat out today!" she exclaimed, already moving towards me.I opened my mouth to protest, but she was too quick. Her hand shot up, palm facing me, and I felt a familiar sense of resignation wash over me. Mia always got her way, and I knew better than to argue.With a sigh, I let her pull me up from the couch. She propelled me towards the bedroom, chattering excitedly about her day. I shrugged, letting her fuss over me as she rummaged through my closet for a change of clothes.As Mia dug through my closet, her voice bubbled over with excitement, recounting the highlights of her day at the office. I couldn't help but smile as she giggled her way through a story about her boss's misadventure with a cup of coffee. "And then, he stood up, and coffee just dripped down his shirt!" Mia's laugh
Marriage Bargain 85
RONALD'S POVI sat at my desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of me. It had been a week since I'd sent Emily packing, and I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled in my chest.I missed her. I missed her smile, her laugh, her sleepy face under the morning light . I even missed the way the calls me, the way my name rolled out of her tongue when we were intimate .But my pride refused to let me admit it. I had to maintain my tough exterior, my confident demeanor. I couldn't let anyone see the vulnerability that was eating away at me.As I glanced around the office, I noticed my subordinates whispering and glancing at me. I knew they were speculating about my relationship with Emily. The fact that she hadn't been coming to work only added fuel to the fire.I felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why did they have to gossip about my personal life? Bunch of gossipers. But deep down, I knew it was my own fault. I had let my pride and ego get the better of me. I ha
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EMILY POVI felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the crushing weight of my grief. My body ached from crying, my eyes burning from the constant flow of tears. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt such overwhelming sadness.As I lay there, I felt Mia's gentle touch on my shoulder, her soft words of comfort whispering in my ear. But I couldn't respond, couldn't even muster up the energy to push her away. I just lay there, numb and broken, as she tried to reach me.I knew Mia was worried, I could sense it in her touch, her voice. But I couldn't reassure her, couldn't even look at her. I just felt too much pain, too much sorrow.As the minutes ticked by, I felt Mia's presence fade away, leaving me alone in my darkness. The silence was oppressive, the only sound was my quiet sobs. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my grief, unable to escape.I don't know how long I lay there, lost in my sorrow. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside my
Marriage Bargain 83
RONALD'S POVI stormed into the conference room, my face a thundercloud. My team, seated around the table, exchanged nervous glances. I couldn't help it - I was still reeling from the pictures I had received the previous day. My mood was in a jumble of mess. "Alright, let's get started," I growled, slamming my fist on the table. My team jumped, taken aback by my outburst."Uh, yes, sir," one of them stammered. "We've got the quarterly reports ready for review."I snatched the report from the team member's hand, my eyes scanning the pages with a mixture of disdain and anger."This is unacceptable," I snapped, my voice rising. "You call this a report? It's a joke!"The team member who had presented the report looked taken aback. "I-I apologize, sir. I'll make sure to-"I cut him off, my face red with rage. "You'd better. I expect to see a revised report on my desk by the end of the day. And if it's not up to par, there will be consequences."The team nodded hastily, eager to escape my
Marriage Bargain 82
EMILY POVI trudged into the room, my heart heavy with shame, regret and confusion. Ronald's words still echoed in my mind, "I don't want to see you again." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut,my heart shattered,my breath knocked out of me.I began to pack my bags, my hands moving mechanically as I tried to process what had just happened. The question, ‘How did this happen?’ swirl in my mind,I couldn't even remember all that happened before I black out, I just know that I was in the club. I didn't have anywhere to go, no one to turn to. I contemplated calling Mia, but I didn't want to burden her again. She'd already done so much for me.But I didn't have a choice. I had to call Mia. She was the only person I could turn to. I dialed her number, my heart racing with anxiety.Mia's son came to pick me up, and the drive was silent. I could feel Mia's eyes on me, sense her curiosity and concern. But she didn't ask me any questions, didn't pry. She just let me be.When we arrived at Mi
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RONALD'S POVAs I stepped into my house, I felt a wave of fury wash over me. My expression was a mask of controlled anger, my eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. My jaw was clenched in a tight line, my face set in a stern, unyielding expression.I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A photo of Emily, laughing and smiling with a drink in her hand, had been sent to me. My mind was reeling with questions and doubts. Why had she lied to me? Why had she told me she was going to a quiet dinner with Mia when in reality she was out partying?I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my trust and faith in Emily shattered. I couldn't believe that she had betrayed me like this. I thought we had something real, something special. But now, I wasn't so sure.As I walked through the house, my footsteps were heavy and deliberate. I was weighing each step carefully, trying to calm myself down before I confronted Emily. But it was no use. My anger and hurt were simmering just below the surface, w
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EMILY'S POVThe doctor discharged me, giving instructions that I should have enough rest and should be taken care of. I couldn't stop crying as we left the hospital. The pain and grief were overwhelming, and I felt like I was drowning in my own tears.As we were about to part ways,Ethan turned to me with a pleading look in his eyes."Emily, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," Ethan said, his voice filled with regret. "I feel like this is all my fault."Mia's voice was sharp and angry. "You're right, it's your fault. Why weren't you watching her? Why did you let her out of your sight? You invited her to the party,you should have made her your responsibility."I reached out and put a hand on Mia's arm. "It's not Ethan's fault, Mia. It's an accident. I'm the one who...who...". I couldn't finish the sentence. The pain was too much, and I felt like I was going to break.But Mia's was unforgiving. “An accident? An accident that could have been prevented if he had been paying attention.”Mia'
