It was Sunday so it was rest day for us, no sessions just so he could rest his muscles from the intense week of training we had, but I still spent my own day doing what I have been doing for a while now which was more research as sad as that sounded. That was my new life. Usually, I spent Sunday with my sister before she got into the hospital, we would go to the park and just lay on the grass while fantasizing about the type of life we would love to live. Thinking back at it left a pang in her heart so I buried myself inside the massive textbooks to shut my mind out.“Even on a Sunday?” Nick asked walking into the garden where I was, I decided to take it outside to listen to nature as I did my thing“What are you doing here?” I asked surprised to see him “I came to give this to Leon,” he said, showing me a brown envelope “He makes you work on the weekend also? That man is such an asshole” I said“I’m right here” I heard Leon say startling me, I looked to see him rolling in his whee
“I would get going since you don't have anything to give to me,” I said turning to leave“Just wait for lunch then I will give it to you,” Amarie said“And why the hell would I have lunch with you? Are you trying to get rid of me for good?” I asked with raised brows“Just take it as a courtesy nothing more, this was once your home remember?” she said“Yeah right my home” I let out a bitter laugh“I only came here to get her stuff if you aren't giving it to me there is no point staying,” I said“Listen to your mother,” James said walking down the stairs and a loud hysterical laugh left my mouth “Mother?” I asked before laughing again“What is this fucking show you all are putting on?” I askedSomething was up I could smell it.“We will always be family,” Amarie said, even Kayla just stared at her like she couldn't believe what she was hearing from her mother's mouth“Family? What type of family kills their child?!” I asked shouting at the top of my voice the rage in me was already bey
“Where?” I asked, staring at her, my voice trembling with anger. She just stood there, looking at me like I hadn’t said anything.“I said, where do you fucking burn it?!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the house.“Woah, calm down. It was in the backyard… or garden? I don’t know which one,” she shrugged like it was nothing.Without wasting a second, I stormed out, my legs carrying me faster than I thought they could. My heart pounded in my chest as I ran to the backyard. I hoped to find something, anything that belonged to Nyla.My eyes darted around, searching desperately, hoping for even the smallest trace of her. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break free from my chest. Then, I saw a pile of ash, dark and lifeless. And on top of it, something caught my eye. A teddy bear.It was burnt halfway, its once soft fur now blackened and singed. It was barely recognizable, but I knew it instantly. My chest tightened, my breath catching in my throat as I stumbled close
RYANI leaned back in my chair, the city skyline spread out before me. It was a view I never got tired of. The world below looked so small, insignificant, and powerless. Just the way I liked it.The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor broke my thoughts. I didn’t bother turning around. Only one person in this house stormed into rooms uninvited like she owned the place.“You’re going to want to hear this,” my mother’s voice cut through the silence.I turned slowly, lazily swirling the glass of whiskey in my hand. She was standing in the middle of my office, arms crossed, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her elbow. That little habit of hers meant she was annoyed.“Well?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“She refused,” she said curtly.It took me a moment to catch up. I frowned, setting my glass down. “Who refused what?” I asked“That little orphan girl you let into this family,” she spat, her face twisted in disdain. “Amarie called. Naya turned down the deal. She
NAYAI hated that I had to get out of bed that morning. I just wanted to sleep in bed, the thought that I had to be around Leon just pissed me off more but as much as I hated it I had no choice there was work to be done and time wasn't on our side.“Aren't you coming?” I heard a knock on my doorWhy was he up so early? I groaned“We missed a session remember we don't have time to waste,” Leon said banging on my door repeatedly “Can you stop? I will be down in a minute!” I shouted covering my head with a pillow“I would be right here until you are ready to come out,” he saidWhat the fuck was he on? I got up and threw on some gym wear then I dragged my legs to the bathroom and quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. I hated every minute of it.“Coffee?” He stretched out a cup of coffee to me once I opened the door. I eyed him suspiciously. I didn't get why he was weirdly hyper, it was like the roles were reversed. He was always the gloomy one while I was the chirpy but it was th
KAYLA “I just told Jennifer about that brat,” Mom said “Who is that?” I asked “Naya who else, how would she reject Jennifer she must really think herself something now that she is married to that bastard,” she said fuming in anger “She has been different since she got into that house or is that husband of hers different from what we are seeing?” I asked “Who do you mean?” Mom asked “Well, she has gotten a lot more confident and acts like she is untouchable since she married him. If she married a sore loser, what would make her raise her shoulders so high?” I asked It was odd to me, the marriage was supposed to make her head bend lower than it used to be. She got married to a waste, a sore loser of the family so what was there that made her feel confident that she spoke to us however she liked when he was way beneath us? Was it the name that came with the marriage? “She is just showing her true colors now that she doesn't need anything from us, she has always been li
RYANMy whole day just went down the hill when I saw what Mark had sent to my office. It was the info on Naya but there was nothing helpful in it. There was nothing on her, nothing distinctive about her, no secrets, nothing. I was so confident that I would have her wrapped around my fingers soon and have her lick my foot but there was nothing that could be used against her.I took my phone and immediately rang Mark“This can be it,” I said as he picked up the call“That's it like that is all, she lived a very boring life. She was adopted with her sister by the Genreys, attended high school like an almost invisible student, and got admitted into Med school immediately after while she was there she had no social life and dated only one person then she dropped out and worked in a coffee shop all through until she got married. That is basically all her life nothing was left out I promise you” he said like I hadn't already seen that“Did I fucking ask for an explanation, I saw that alread
LEONMy mind kept going back to the way Naya confronted me. I knew she was angry, but I didn’t realize just how furious she was until she poured out every single thought she’d been holding in. It was like she’d stripped away every filter, leaving no room for doubt about how she truly felt. I could still hear her words, each one cutting deeper than the last, and the worst part was knowing I’d brought it on myself.It wasn’t surprising that Jennifer had tried to manipulate my life again. She’d always been calculating, always scheming, and this wasn’t her first attempt to control me. The idea of tying me down with someone she could use to keep tabs on me was classic Jennifer. But the marriage? That had its own tangled history.The whole thing started with an old contract between my father and James Genrey, keeping their companies affiliated through marriage. The details were vague, it didn’t specify which son had to marry but it was a deal sealed with signatures and promises. After my f
RYANEverything seemed to be happening at once. My mind was spinning, struggling to make sense of what I had just seen. Leon? The CEO of TechNova? No, there was no way. It just couldn’t be true.TechNova was one of the fastest-growing companies, the name on everyone’s lips. Their products were everywhere people talked about them, used them, and praised them. I used them. My phone, my laptop, and even the computers at work were all TechNova products. And I wasn’t the only one. Everyone I knew used their devices because they were the best.The company was so good at what it did that no one ever questioned the identity of the anonymous founder. There were rumors, of course, speculations that went around from time to time. But it was never something I paid attention to. Because it didn’t matter.Until I saw Leon standing on that stage, taking credit for everything.Of all people Leon? How did he pull it off? It was just a regular company but it was a multi-billion dollar company and he di
KAYLAI was having lunch when I saw Ryan’s message, “Come to my place. Now.” The text read followed by his address.Without thinking twice I grabbed my keys and rushed out abandoning my food“Won’t you finish up before you head out?” My mom asked“I’m done you can clean up” I answered as I went out the doorThe drive to his house felt longer than usual. I wanted to fly to him if I could. I was already there. He called for me first, I didn’t have to linger around him. He called me himself. That was a huge progress right there. By the time I arrived, it was already dark. The guards at the gate let me in without question, and I made my way to the main house. I entered without knocking.The air smelled of smoke and expensive cologne. Dim lights cast long shadows across the room, and there he was, sitting on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His shirt was unbuttoned, his hair slightly messy, but his sharp eyes were just as intense as always.“You’re late,” he muttered, taking
The venue was massive, even bigger than I expected. A luxury hotel ballroom filled with bright lights, expensive decor, and an overwhelming crowd of people. From businessmen to reporters, socialites to tech enthusiasts, everyone was here for one reason. The launch of TechNova’s new phone.It was funny how everyone was present but no one knew the face behind the company. I stood beside Leon, my hand linked with his as I scanned the room. Everything was perfect, the shimmering golden banners, the sleek displays showcasing the new phone, and the massive TechNova logo glowing on the stage. The air buzzed with anticipation, and cameras flashed nonstop as reporters tried to capture every little detail.Leon looked unbothered no single sense of nervousness from him. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his shoulders held high oozing out a great amount of confidence. Even in a room filled with powerful people, he stood out effortlessly.“Are you nervous?” I asked, watching his expression car
NAYAEverything else went smoothly, and all we had to do was wait for them to schedule another election. In the meantime, I kept myself busy by helping out at the office whenever there was work to do. I didn’t do much, but it was better than sitting around all day with nothing to occupy my time.I was seated in Leon’s office while he attended an online meeting. The more time I spent around him, the more I realized just how busy and hardworking he was. He had so many things going on for him that he didn’t even need Valois Group.Leon wasn’t just some ordinary businessman, he was a powerhouse. He owned an investment company with ties to several major corporations. He was the owner of the country’s largest tech company. He even had a private villa, home only to people of high status, those were the few I knew about. And yet, despite all of this, no one had the slightest idea. They thought he was struggling, living in misery, when in reality, he had been building an empire in silence.“He
JENNIFERWhat I received was worse than a low blow. How could Ryan have done something so reckless, something of this magnitude, and keep it from me? At the very least, if I had known, I could have done some damage control. But now, it was too late.I was too dumbfounded to speak, too stunned to react as the shareholders and board members all turned on me, demanding answers. They thought I was part of this mess, but they had no idea that I was just as shocked as they were. I wanted to defend myself, to explain that I had no clue what Ryan had done, but the words wouldn’t come. For the first time in a long while, I was completely speechless.“How could you allow this?” the chairman of the foundation asked“This has to be some type of misunderstanding,” I said trying to calm the situation but they weren't having it and my patience was drawing thin.“Did you think this was a good agreement and made him sign it?” his wife asked me irritating the shit out of me, who was she to question me?
Once again, the election didn’t hold it ended before it even started, worse than the last time. The shareholders couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The moment they finished reading the contract Ryan signed, chaos erupted.Jennifer tried to calm the situation down, raising her voice above the commotion. “Let’s give Ryan a chance to explain himself,” she urged, her eyes scanning the room desperately. But when it was finally time for Ryan to speak, he did the exact opposite of what everyone expected, he stormed out without a word.His sudden exit only made things worse. The board members erupted in anger, shouting over one another. Some demanded answers, others turned their frustration to Jennifer. She was left standing there, trying to maintain control, but it was clear this was a disaster.Leon turned to me, his eyes glinting with amusement. “What do you rate this surprise?” he asked, smiling like he had just pulled off the greatest trick in the world.I folded my arms, pretending
Arriving at the company for the election was almost the same as last time, the eyes of everyone around were glued on us, the camera of the press flashing in our faces. The only difference I would say is that Leon wasn't sitting in a wheelchair he was walking by himself.“Your cane” I gasped remembering he came without it again“I’m fine trust me and I have the best masseuse in the world” he winked at me as we walked in. I just shook my head at himRyan and Jennifer were the only ones not present yet everyone had to wait for them to show up. Everyone’s eyes didn't look away from us they kept whispering and giving us dirty look“Leon” a man called softly behind us and when we turned, it was an older man in his late fifties wearing a classic black suit so I assumed he was one of their family or major shareholders.“How may I help you?” Leon asked ignoring to exchange pleasantries “I am Richard Brokee, I worked as your father's vice president before he died,” he said“Okay and?” Leon ask
NAYAThe rest of the week passed by so quickly that it almost felt like a blur. Before I knew it, the day had come for us to meet with the board members and shareholders. It felt like time had slipped through our fingers, and now we had to face the moment we had been waiting for.It had only been a week, and I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. There was no way Leon could have convinced enough people to support him in such a short time. Winning them over required careful planning, persuasion, and time was something we didn’t have much of. I don’t think he even started trying to win them over to his side yet.The thought made my stomach twist with worry. What if things didn’t go as planned? What if the board was already leaning in Ryan’s favor? No matter how confident Leon appeared, I knew this meeting would be tough. And that uncertainty scared me.“What are you thinking about?” Leon asked from behind me wrapping his arms around my waist“The voting would commence today,” I said“Okay and
LEONI woke up to Naya sleeping peacefully beside me, her soft breath caressing my neck. I couldn’t help fit smile just watching her sleep like a baby, memories of the night we had came flooding in and the smile on my face grew even bigger, my arms were wrapped around her as she slept. We were still both naked, our bodies having contact with each other and I didn’t mind it.The night took an unexpected turn never would I have guessed that I would be naked in bed with her and I didn’t regret anything in fact I wanted to have more nights like that. Life felt perfect and I wanted it to remain like that forever, I just had to keep her safe and not let harm get to her in any way.I placed a small kiss on her forehead making her let out a low mumble in her sleep. She was adorable I was smiling way more than usual. I just out of bed took a quick shower and headed to my office, there was a lot of work to be done and as much as I would love to spend the day in bed with her I had multiple thin