“Good morning Lai” I say, smiling from ear to ear as I walk towards my brother, dropping the food package on his desk. “Mom asked me to drop this off for you” I pout.“What happened?” He chuckles, “why are you pouting so early in the morning. Do you dislike doing this almost every week day”I nod, “You really should get married soon, so I don’t have to keep doing this. I have a life you know” I say, flashing a smile at him as I sit opposite him.He chuckles, “thank you very much for your advice but except you have someone in mind for me then I cannot grant you this wish of yours as I’m not dating anyone at the moment”.“Then starts dating” I whisper, in an attempt not to draw the attention of his boss. He nods, “don’t worry he’s not here yet” he says, glancing at the door before his eyes return to me.I roll my eyes, “that’s a first. Has he decided to hand over his business to you” I reply with a sarcastic tone.Lai chuckles, “very funny Lara, but no. He had an emergency meeting to at
“Time to head home” I say, closing my laptop before packing my things. “Alice” I call out as I walk into her office space.“Yes Lara” she answers. I smile, “please let everyone know that I will not be around tomorrow, you’re in charge tomorrow. So I’m leaving my company in good hands”.She nods, “I will let them know ma, I’m sure everything will run smoothly”. I nod, “thank you, please let me know if there’s any problem, no matter how small it is”She nods, “I will, but I’m sure there’ll be no need for that. Have a wonderful day off”“Thank you Alice” I say, walking out of the office and towards the car park where my brand new Nissan is packed, a gift from my loving parents.In thirty minutes, I arrive home thanks to the road being traffic free. I hand my car keys to the security, before heading into the house and straight for my room. I’m in a terrible need for a shower.Once I’m done I change into a pink floral nightgown with a matching jacket since I’ll be leaving my room.“I’m sta
Clark’s POVMy head is spinning, thoughts running through my mind as I make way to the office in my private car, tailed by two of my very best bodyguards.The emergency meeting I told Lai I was having was truly an emergency, but not truly a meeting, depending on what you define a meeting has. I had to meet up with my parents to discuss some shocking revelations that threaten to destroy all I’ve ever worked for.As the only child of Carson and Jane Rique , I have been trained all my life to inherit Dames, the company that I head as the CEO. Flashback to the meeting with his parents “You need to get married before the year runs out or we’ll have no choice but to hand the company to someone else” dad says, running his hands through his hair.“But the year will end in a month and a half. How do you expect me to find a wife in that short time? And besides what is the sudden need to get married, you’ve never required me to do so, so why now?” I ask.Mom smiles, “it’s really not our fault
Lara’s POVAfter dinner I helped Clark with washing of the dishes and the pots that were used to cook. In that moment I felt like it won’t be so bad to be friends with him, but that moment was short lived the moment he opened his mouth“That’s not how you do this” he says, taking the pot from my hands, “you have to ensure it’s cleaned with a dry towel before you return it to its original position”.I sigh, “of course, I’m sure you have a book of methods and processes for everything you do. You wouldn't want to be caught making a mistake. If you’re gracious enough, why don’t you publish the book, I’m sure the world cares so much for pan and pots, it’d be a bestseller” I say, in a sarcastic tone as I roll my eyes.He shrugs, “it’s just common sense” he replies, returning the pot to me. I roll my eyes, “I have more common sense than you do” I say, returning the pot to the cabinet.“Now what did you want to talk about?” I ask, turning to face him. “Let’s talk on the terrace” he says, inte
Our Wedding Day- The 18th of December “Do you Lara Austen, take Clark Rique to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.I smile, pretending to be in love with the man in front of me, “I do”. The priest nods, “do you Clark Rique take Lara Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.He nods, “I do”. I inwardly shake my head, so much for pretending to be in love. “I now declare you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride” the priest says, stepping backward.I flash a smile at Clark, waiting for him, inwardly grateful that I’m not the one that has to kiss him. He walks towards me tentatively like every step for him is painful.Afraid that the guests will suspect that we’r
I sidewardly glance at Clark who’s currently sitting opposite me in the car, part of me is debating begging him to let me spend some days at my own home and the other is considering leaving in the middle of the night, either way I won’t be spending the night in his house.I sigh for the sixteenth time in a row, and Clark throws an annoyed glance at me, “the way you keep sighing people will think you won’t be living in a state of the arts home”I roll my eyes, “I was already doing that at my brothers place, where I had my comfort” I say, pointedly. “And besides I didn’t realize getting married, also meant that I had to live with you. There are many couples who live separately nowadays”He nods, “that’s great for them but it’s not for us. When I took my vows I meant every word of them, meaning you’re my responsibility and I intend on us living together till we die”I roll my eyes once more, “thank you Mr Clark but I don’t need anyone to be responsible for me, I’m a grown woman” I say wi
“Lai kindly ask one of the home keepers to prepare a room for your father and I, it’s been a while since we last came over” I hear a voice that sounds strangely like my mother’s say.I immediately head downstairs, almost falling down the stairs as I do. Walking briskly to the lounge room, I find my mom seated on the sofa as she converses with my brother.“You need to start preparing to take over the company” she says. Lai eyes widen in shock, not at the words that she just said but at my presence in his house.Mom notices immediately and turns to see what his attention is fixed on, “what are you doing here?” She asks, standing to her feet.“Hi mom” I smile sheepishly. “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten rid of your husband in just less than eight hours” she says, ignoring my greetings.“She couldn’t get rid of me even if she tried” Clark says, walking to my side. I roll my eyes, “I wish I could” I mutter under my breath, out of my mothers earshot but loud enough for Clark to hear.He chuckle
“Does this dress look fine?” I ask Clark, my eyes fixed on the mirror as I speak. I intend to make an excellent impression on his parents, as we will be visiting them for the first time as a couple.He absent-mindedly nods, “Clark” I say, snapping my fingers in his face. “Yeah?” He says startled, “the dress” I say, pointing at the light pink dress I’m wearing.He nods, “oh yes, apologies. The dress is beautiful and even if it isn’t my parents already love you” he says with a shrug. I roll my eyes, “well is that a yes the gown looks pretty or a no, you need to change out of the dress?” I ask impatiently.“It’s a yes, the gown looks pretty” he says, a pointed look on his face. “Thanks, in that case I’m ready to go” I say, grabbing my bag from the bed.The trip to Clark’s parent family home a day before the annual general meeting is quite important to Clark. He wanted me to officially meet his parents and besides, it’d be awkward if the second time I’d be meeting my in-laws was at the co
Annie nods, her expression serious. “I understand; this is a very serious matter. What would you like me to do?” she asks, her tone shifting to one of readiness and support. I can sense her commitment to addressing this issue, and it gives me a moment of reassurance amidst the issues at hand.I nod, my expression serious as I meet her gaze. “It is a serious issue, and it’s bigger than you imagine. I’d like you to come with me to answer some questions and also help identify your subordinate who was directly involved in the hiring process of Rita. It’s crucial that I speak with her, too, to get a clearer picture of what went wrong.” She nods, a look of resolve crossing her face. “Please give me a minute,” she states, her voice steady, before exiting the room. I take a moment to gather my thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on my mind. In a few moments, the door swings open, and she returns, this time not alone but with a younger girl by her side. “This is Kelly,”
“Are you willing to testify at court?” I ask, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion. Rita’s response is immediate, her head shaking slowly, almost as if she’s trying to physically reject the weight of my question. “I’m sorry, Lara, but I can’t,” she states, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her words. “I can’t betray my cousin like that.” Her eyes dart away, avoiding my gaze as if the very act of looking at me might shatter the fragile barrier she’s built around her loyalty. I nod, a hint of irony creeping into my voice. “You already betrayed her by telling me the truth in relation to this matter, but don’t worry, I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do.” I pause for a moment, letting my words sink in, watching as her expression shifts, a mixture of guilt and defiance flickering across her face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? You were so comfortable lying against me in the court of law, and now you’re hesitant to say the truth.” I can see her jaw tighten at my
Rita opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, my voice firm and unyielding. “Remember that the system will log the exact time you arrived each day by tracking when you swiped your access card. So think twice before you try to lie or come up with some flimsy excuse,” I say, letting my tone carry the weight of authority. I lean in slightly, my gaze piercing through her defences, waiting for her to reconsider her next words. The silence stretches as she weighs her options, knowing full well that I’m not just making empty threats.She hangs her head, feeling defeated, “Yes, Lara. I’ve been coming into work late every day for the past week. I’m sorry,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper as she raises her head to meet my gaze. I nod slowly, my expression unwavering. “I need a tangible reason for why you’ve been strolling into the office late every afternoon,” I say, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion.“If you can’t provide a valid explanation, your pay will be docked,
As I step out of the office, my attention is immediately drawn to Rita, who is just settling into her desk. "Good afternoon," I say, offering a tight smile that barely masks my curiosity. I gently knock on the doorframe to catch her attention, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet of the afternoon.Rita looks up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, good afternoon, Lara! You’re here!" she exclaims, her voice filled with shock as she rises to her feet.I nod, a smirk dancing on my lips. “I work here, remember?” I say, letting a subtle hint of sarcasm slip into my tone. She looks up at me, her cheeks flushing slightly as she nods, “Of course, sorry ma’am,” her voice dropping as she glances down.That action instantly transports me back to memories of Alice, who would always adopt that same piteous look whenever she was called out for something. A wave of annoyance washes over me as I watch Rita mimic that behaviour. “Anyway,” I say, shifting my gaze away from her and scanning her clut
“Where are you heading to?” Clark asks, a confused look on his face as he rises to his feet, his brow furrowing slightly. “To the office,” I state, my tone laced with surprise at his question. It’s almost as if he can’t believe I’d choose to dive straight into the investigation on a day like today.“Today?” He asks, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Yeah, the sooner I get started with the investigation and communication approval, the sooner the lies made by Alice can be revealed.” I can feel the urgency in my words, the determination to clear the air and gather sufficient and compelling evidence.He nods, a spark of understanding igniting in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll come with you. Thank you so much for your time and dedication,” he says, his voice steady and sincere as he exchanges handshakes with both Becky and Elvis.“Yeah, thank you. I’ll contact you as soon as I can,” I say, exchanging firm handshakes with Elvis. Then, I turn to Becky, pulling her into a warm goodbye hug, “Take ca
“And what is the conversation with the HR team meant to achieve?” I ask, slightly leaning in as I wait for Becky’s response. Her face scrunches up a bit, which is a very common trait that she shows when she is thinking, and I can’t help but find it endearing. “Speaking with the HR unit helped us understand the hiring process and if there was any bias involved,” she explains, her tone growing more animated as she continues. “This could help us prove to the court that Alice brought Rita into the firm for ill intentions. If we can show that there was favouritism or a lack of proper procedure in Rita’s hiring, it’ll cast doubt on her credibility. We need to establish that her testimony is tainted by her connection to Alice, which means her words can’t be trusted by the court since she’s not independent from any of the parties involved in the case.”I nod, absorbing her words, feeling the gears in my mind turning. “So, if we can uncover any discrepancies in the hiring process, it not onl
“Good afternoon, Mr. Clark,” Elvis says, his voice warm and inviting as he stretches out his hand for a handshake.“Good afternoon, Elvis,” Clark responds, meeting his grip with a firm yet friendly shake, the corners of his mouth lifting into a light smile that hints at a shared camaraderie. “And it’s just Clark,” he adds, his tone casual and approachable.Elvis nods appreciatively, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Apologies, afternoon Mrs..” he begins, but before he can finish, I interject with a playful smile, “Afternoon, Elvis!” “It’s just Lara,” I continue, teasingly cutting him off. “What’s up with him today? He never calls me Mrs.” I chuckle, shaking my head in mock disbelief as I turn to face Becky. “Good afternoon!” I exclaim, pulling her into a tight embrace. She shrugs lightly as I finally release her from my embrace. “How are you doing?” I ask, gesturing for us to settle onto the plush sofa. She smiles, her expression brightening the room. “Quite fulfilled,” she
“Didn’t you notice that there were no media personnel in the room?” Clark asks, his smile widening. I shake my head, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. “I didn’t take notice since I came in at the last minute. I know that most court cases are open to the public, so I just sort of assumed that they were there,” I state, my voice trailing off as I glance around the room.He shakes his head, “well, they weren’t. I personally requested the court to make the case a private trial, with only the necessary attendees being allowed to view the proceedings.” “Really? And when did you do this?” I ask, intrigued by the proactiveness of the man before me. There’s something admirable about his initiative, and it makes me curious about his deeper feelings for me. “Two weeks before the court case,” he replies, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that suggests he’s not merely following protocol but doing this for a deeper reason. “It takes a week to apply and process the documents submitted
Clark walks towards me, his presence radiating warmth as he wraps me in his embrace, pulling me close as he slides his arms around my waist. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice laced with concern, turning his face just enough to catch a glimpse of mine, searching for the truth behind my silence.I shake my head gently, feeling the weight of my thoughts as I release myself from his comforting hold. I turn to face him fully, wanting him to see the turmoil swirling in my mind. “Nothing, really. I’m just thinking about the court case hearing from last week Monday,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh that seems to carry all the tension I’ve been holding inside. “I’m sorry,” I say, frowning deeply, my face a canvas of worry as I replay the events in my mind. The way Alice and her lawyer, Rick, manipulated the entire situation feels like a bitter pill to swallow. “I can’t believe they would twist the entire story to their advantage like that,” I continue, my voice tinged with frustration. “To m