“What is going on here?” Clark asks, “Why are you here with him?” He asks, clearly upset. I can tell from his tone that he's not letting out half of his anger towards me.“Oh hi Clark” I say, standing to my feet, “this is Jordan, a friend of mine” I say, introducing them. “Nice to meet you” Jordan says, extending his hands.“That doesn’t answer my question” Clark says, ignoring Jordan’s hands. “It wasn’t planned. I heard someone crying and I came to check it out. Coincidentally it turned out to be Lara, I’ll give you both some space to talk” he says.“Bye Lara” he says, walking away, “bye, thanks for this evening” I say, before returning my attention to Clark. “You’re angry” I say, watching him closely, “what makes you think that” he replies, folding his arms across his chest.I wince, “your tone and body language show that your are angry even though you’re trying so hard not to show it” I reply, sitting on the bench. “And do I have a good reason to be?” He asks, calmly watching me.I
A month has passed by and things have been really peaceful between Clark and I. We have fallen into a routine and quickly adapted to each other without peering too much into each other's life but still ensuring that we show care for each other.It's Friday and it’s Lai’s birthday. We are celebrating at the LaiLa Hotel named after Lai and I which was recently built by my parents. My parents have decided to expand their business by going beyond the online gaming industry and diving into the hotel management business.This development led to Lai handing in his resignation letter due to my parents' pressure. As the only son, my traditional parents believe that it’s time for him to run the company that will be handed over to him, which is why I’m glad I started my business long ago.Thankfully Lai won’t be leaving immediately as he has given Clark a two months resignation notice, giving Clark sufficient time to hire a new personal assistant depending on how finicky he is.I head down to Cl
“Happy birthday Lai” I say, embracing my brother in a hug before placing a kiss on his cheek. “This is for you” I say, handing him his gift. “Thank you Lara” he says, smiling.“Happy birthday bro” Clark says, pulling Lai into a hug. “Many more years of celebration” he says, before releasing him from his grasp. “This is a nice way to celebrate your birthday” Clark states, looking around the hotel.Lai chuckles, “yeah mom wanted us to celebrate here before the grand opening of the hotel”. I shake my head, “well how great it must be to be the favourite child” I joke.Lai rolls his eyes, “it’s a wonderful experience” he retorts, laughing. “Where is Belle?” I ask, looking around the room.“She’s making arrangements in the dining room where the party will be holding” he says, with a smile. “And here I thought we will be celebrating in the entire hotel” I joke walking towards the dining room as I leave Clark and Lai behind.“Hey sister” Belle says, running over to me. “Hi Belle” I say, pulli
After the appetiser, Belle gives me a look signifying that it’s time to unleash the drama. I subtly nod, informing her that I’m ready as I wait for her to take the first move as that will be the basis on what we argue about.Once the main course is served, Belle moves to pour cheese on my pasta without informing me, “what’s your problem, I never asked for cheese” I say, feigning an irritated tone, the drama swinging into full speed.Mom gives me a look clearly surprised at my behaviour but she doesn’t say a word, “is everything fine?” Clark asks. “Yeah” I smile, “why do you ask?” I say, switching Belle and I’s food, “since you love cheese so much why don’t you have mine” I say rudely to her before returning my attention to Clark who looks extremely concerned about my behaviour.“I was just trying to help” Belle scoffs, I roll my eyes, “maybe you should keep your help for someone who actually asked” I reply. “Whatever” she replies, pouring extra cheese on the plate in front of me, “w
“So what’s the plan for today?” Clark asks, drying his hair as he simultaneously goes through the emails on his phone. “Give me a minute” I reply, scrolling through my phone to acquire the plan for today.“Okay, so in thirty minutes we are supposed to join the family at the poolside. Today is supposed to be a lazy day, so we’ll be spending the entire day at the pool”“At 8am we’ll be having our breakfast, 2pm for lunch and 6pm for dinner and of course Lai has planned some things to do to keep us busy” I add, setting my phone down as I return my attention to Clark who’s still juggling drying his hair and reading emails.“Hmmn, okay” he replies absentmindedly. Shaking my head I get off the bed to approach him, “let me help you with that” I say, taking the towel from his hands. “Are you sure?” He asks, turning to face me, making it the first time he’s bothered to make eye contact today. I nod, “the faster we both get done with your hair and the emails, the sooner we can join the others
Lara's Point of ViewThe rest of the day goes well and I’m back at the hotel room with Clark. Tomorrow is Monday, so we have to get ready to leave for work first thing tomorrow morning.I’m yet to ask Clark about what he meant when he says it wasn’t for my parents, but I’m afraid to know what he meant by that statement. So for now, ignorance is bliss.“All done” I say, zipping Clark and I’s shared luggage, “you totally should have done this cause I was the one who packed the bag for the trip” I say, resting against the bed frame.He chuckles, “yeah I know, I would have loved to help but there’s something that Lai and I had to finish up” he says, referring to the two hour meeting he just had with Lai.I playfully roll my eyes, “so how are you going to make it up to me” I smile, “I’m thinking a a bowl of ice cream and a trip out of the country will do” I joke, teasing him.“Done” he smiles, I shake my head, “no need, I was just joking around. I don’t need any of those things and besides
The ride back home in the wee hours of the morning was rather quiet. We said our goodbyes to my parents and immediately retired to the car as we set back home.The tension and awkwardness in the atmosphere could be felt, so much that the driver kept looking at us through the mirror. Clark remained seated on the extreme right side of the car and I made myself very comfortable on the extreme left side as I faced the windows not having the confidence to face him.Pity we were just planning to go on a vacation, I guess that has no chance of happening and for the right reasons too, at least according to Clark.The driver parks at the entrance and immediately scurries off to park the car in the garage. Without waiting for Clark to assist in opening the door, I let myself out of the car, heading straight to my room.Either way the room is either going to be mine or Clark’s, and I guess in due time we will find out. “Are you okay?” Clark asks, unaware of the discomfort he’s caused by suddenly
“Good evening Lara” Clark says, as he settles into the back seat, simultaneously placing his bag on the floor. “Good evening” I reply, curtly before looking away gazing out the windows.Clark sighs, “we’ll be stopping at leve street, there are some documents I need to get there” he says to the driver. “Would that be our only stop, or do we have more stops?” I ask, with an annoyed tone, feeling surprised with myself immediately the words leave my mouth.He nods, ignoring my tone, “yeah, after that we can go home” he says, pulling out his phone as he busily texts someone. “Or maybe I could just get down here, not sure what could happen next with you” I mutter under my breath.“Please let yourself out” he mutters, out of the driver's hearing causing me to shoot him an annoyed look. “Please let's stop here” I say, giving Clark a determined look as the driver immediately stops at the curb looking confused at my sudden instruction.“Thank you” I say before getting out of the car. The moment
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