Freya's car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the newly acquired building for her future restaurant, its sleek crimson-red exterior reflecting the soft late morning sunlight. Majestically, Freya stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she adjusted her charcoal gray overcoat and looked up at the structure before her. Her eyes beamed with joy and a sense of accomplishment, her broad smile radiating an enthusiastic energy. She had finally done it. She had acquired a new building very close to Desmond's corporate headquarters just the day before. Right under Desmond's nose. Her lawyer, Attorney Kim, followed closely behind, clutching a leather portfolio in one hand and a confident smile on her face. “It’s ready,” Kim said, her voice steady and encouraging. She gestured toward the building with a subtle nod. “It’s yours, Freya. Everything you’ve worked for.” Freya’s gaze traveled upward once again, taking in the sight of her future. The building was a beautiful
The warm, familiar aroma of roasted garlic, simmering sauces, freshly baked bread and the hum of chatter and clinking dishes greeted Freya as she pushed open the glass door of Bayside Bistro. A bell above the entrance jingled softly, announcing her arrival. It was mid-afternoon, and the restaurant was alive with activity: waitstaff gliding between tables, patrons laughing over glasses of wine, and the distant clatter of pots and pans echoing from the kitchen.Freya paused in the doorway, taking it all in. This place was her first step to success, a constant reminder of her triumph, how she had won the breakthrough cooking contest. She had poured her heart into her work here, finding a sense of purpose. Now, she was back to say goodbye. Returning to resign from her position there felt bittersweet, but it was necessary. It was all for the best.She began walking towards the kitchen, to see her soon-to-be ex-colleagues. But she halted abruptly, realizing it was better to see the manag
The boardroom of Hunter Global Enterprises was filled with the sharp sound of clicking pens, murmurs of conversation, and the rustling of papers as Diego walked in.Diego stepped into the center, his back straight and his face set in a mask of stoic professionalism.His demeanor was composed, yet his eyes held a hint of uncertainty and discomfort. His company's board of directors suddenly called a board meeting without specifying the details. The board members, a sea of stern faces and expensive suits, glanced up from their notes, acknowledging Diego's presence.Their collective gaze was fixed intensely on Diego, throwing him off balance. Diego threw his gaze away, but his expression remained stoic to prove he wasn't intimidated.As Diego sat down, his eyes scanned the board members’ faces, hoping to fish out the reason for the meeting from their expressions.For a moment, the room fell silent, with the eyes of the board members shifting between each other as if silently calculating
The grand opening of Freya’s new restaurant finally arrived after a few weeks of anticipation and it was nothing short of spectacular. The venue radiated sophistication—elegant chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, while the earthy tones of the decor created a welcoming yet refined atmosphere. Every detail, from the artfully plated dishes to the melodic hum of a live jazz band, spoke of Freya’s sophisticated taste. The luxurious space, decked in modern elegance, buzzed with excitement and expectation. Guests entered in a steady stream, their laughter and murmurs of admiration filling the room. Society’s elites, dressed in sophisticated attires, mingled effortlessly and clinked champagne glasses, each one vying for Freya’s attention as they extended their congratulations. This was Freya’s night, a hard-earned triumph she had gotten through hard work and heartbreak. However, tonight, the crowd wasn’t just here to celebrate her success. They were also here to observe, to judge
The atmosphere after Imelda's departure was now tense. And Freya seemed to have lost her smile. She sat in a corner, cradling a glass of champagne in her hands but not taking a single sip. The P.A she had recently hired, by the name Kira, approached her, wondering why she was staring blankly into space when she should be getting ready for the night.“Freya!” she called out, a mix of surprise and confusion etched on her face. “What's the matter?”Freya snapped out of her thoughts, her expression turning professional. She looked up at her P.A, forcing a faint smile.“Just wanted to have a drink. Let's go,” Freya said calmly, rising to her feet.Just before she could take a step, she caught a glimpse of someone at the entrance and halted abruptly.Desmond had just arrived.Freya didn't flinch or react, she simply stared Desmond down, her piercing tawny eyes boring into his soul.As Desmond walked in, flanked by his bodyguards, his domineering presence commanded the room and attracted at
Freya's gaze softened, and her heart fluttered in her chest as happiness warmed her entire being. He made it eventually—Diego honored her invitation. Even if he didn't show up at her event, she wouldn't hold it against him. He had every right to be mad at her. Yet, he showed up and her pleasure showed outwardly in a soft, subtle smile. Diego didn't mirror her smile, his expression still neutral. However, there was a hint of warmth in his eyes that Freya didn't miss. He didn't take his eyes off her, his gaze unwavering as if he were under a spell.Just in time, Desmond’s disdainful voice broke Freya out of her reverie. “Look what we have here. I see Diego decided to grace us with his presence. Bold of him, considering the circumstances.”Freya’s eyes suddenly darted to Desmond, a hateful intensity in their depths. Her expression switched from soft to cold in an instant. Her pulse quickened, but she tried to maintain her composure. “He was invited,” she replied icily. “He’s a valued s
The main event began and Freya mounted the podium, a wide smile plastered on her face. The soft murmur of the crowd faded as the spotlight centered on her. She stood tall, her posture exuding confidence, yet her expression carried a quiet intensity. She adjusted the microphone, glancing briefly at the audience, where dozens of faces waited expectantly.Diego sat with Noah at the table in the front row which Freya had reserved specially for them. Freya's driver had brought Noah to the event quite late, but just in time for her speech.Noah was very happy to see Diego once again. He was more glad to know he was still in touch with his mom—being at the event proved that.They had a little father-and-son bonding time before Freya mounted the stage. Diego was especially grateful he was given a chance to see Noah again. He couldn't contain his happiness, which was evident in his wide grin.However, Desmond was seated away from the front row—Freya had arranged it that way. She had reserved t
The event had finally begun to wind down, the last notes of music fading away as the guests began to disperse. Freya felt the weight of the evening pressing on her shoulders, evident in her tired eyes and robotic movements. Smiling and thanking the guests had taken its toll, and she needed a moment to herself. Quietly excusing herself from Noah and a few other guests, she slipped away from the main room, heading toward the restroom at the far end of the hallway.Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, the sounds of the celebration fading behind her. She let out a slow breath, grateful for the brief relief.But just as she turned a corner, she stopped dead in her tracks, stunned.Diego was walking toward her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his steps unhurried. The soft lighting of the hallway highlighted the familiar features of his face—his sharp jawline, the kind warmth in his eyes, and the faint trace of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.Freya fr
Desmond sat at the head of the long, polished mahogany table in the opulent boardroom of his company's headquarters. The late morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting sharp reflections off the glassy surface. However, the mood in the room was anything but bright. His board members sat in tense silence, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Their faces were painted with concern, brows furrowed, and lips pressed into thin lines.Desmond was no exception to the tension in the room. His nervous demeanor was carefully masked behind a serene expression, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.The CFO, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a tense demeanor, cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Mr. July, as we discussed in last week’s meeting, there’s been an unexpected decline in profits this quarter. We’ve identified discrepancies in the financial flow, particularly in a few key investments that…"Desmond quickly held up a hand, his expression cal
Freya sat on the plush leather couch in Diego’s apartment, his arms wrapped around her.Her fingers absently traced gentle lines on his thigh as they were glued to the TV screen.The news of Desmond's company being engulfed in a massive fire had spread rapidly. Freya and Diego tuned in to a news channel to witness the news even though they were already aware.The faint sound of the news anchor’s voice filled the room as the screen displayed aerial shots of a smoldering building surrounded by flashing police lights.“...authorities are investigating a massive fire that engulfed Dexus Innovations’ central warehouse late last night. Early reports suggest an electrical malfunction may have triggered the blaze, which destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of high-tech equipment, including robotics, computer gadgets, and proprietary designs. Investigations are ongoing…”A sly smile tugged at the corners of Freya's lips and she stole a glance at Diego, as if checking if the feeling of triumph
Desmond stood at a distance, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he watched the wild flames consume his company’s prized warehouse. The air was thick with smoke, the acrid stench of burning electronics assaulting his senses. The night sky glowed with a haunting orange, smoke rising like a veil into the darkness.Firefighters moved frantically, battling the towering flames with powerful jets of water, but it seemed futile. The fire was relentless, roaring louder than the panicked voices around him.The flashing lights of fire trucks and police cars painted his face in red and blue, highlighting the sheer panic etched in his expression. His chest heaved with each labored breath, the weight of his empire’s potential downfall pressing down on him like an iron fist.His hands trembled as he held the railings in front of him for support, his eyes fixed on the warehouse as it collapsed inward with a deafening crash. The fire was too intense; there was no saving the building."No…no
Desmond sat on the edge of the sleek couch, his eyes fixed on the television as a business update ran across the screen. The quiet hum of the television filled the living room, but his mind was consumed with other thoughts.Freya sat on a couch across from him, focused on her phone. They were supposedly watching the news together, as husband and wife. But neither of them paid attention to what was being displayed on the screen. They didn't even talk to each other.Desmond's mind swirled with the usual concerns—his business empire, his uneventful life, and of course, Freya's defiance towards him. He glanced at Freya, absently scrolling through her phone, completely absorbed in whatever she was reading. Her posture was casual and collected, her expression neutral.The room was silent except for the murmurs of the news anchor’s voice.Then suddenly, Desmond's phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking his thoughts. His fingers twitched, an instinctive response to the interruption, and he
The dining room was cloaked in a heavy, tense silence. The soft clink of utensils on porcelain and the occasional scrape of a chair were the only sounds that punctuated the stillness. The chandelier above cast a warm, golden glow over the long mahogany table where Freya, Desmond and Noah sat together for dinner.Freya sat across from Desmond, her fingers lightly gripping her fork. She barely touched the food on her plate. Her gaze was fixed on him—unblinking, sharp and searching. He was eating methodically, cutting his steak with precision, his movements calm and deliberate.For days now, Desmond had been silent, almost as if he was avoiding her. It was strange and it bothered Freya so much. What was going through his head?He had changed—or at least, he wanted her to believe he had. Ever since she came back, he had stuck to his promise of becoming a changed man—it was unbelievable.His usual sharp remarks, the arrogant air, and the veiled threats had all disappeared. He had taken on
Freya's driver brought the car to a stop in front of Desmond’s mansion. The towering estate stood firm, silhouetted against the deep orange evening sky, staring back at Freya through the car window.She exhaled slowly, glancing at Noah, who sat stiffly beside her, his wide eyes glued to the mansion and his lips pressed into a thin line. The tension between them was palpable.Though she had grown used to Desmond's outbursts, the thought of his reaction to their 24-hour disappearance unsettled her."You ready?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.Noah nodded, his movements jerky and uncertain. "Will Daddy Desmond be...mad?" he whispered.Freya forced a reassuring smile. "I don’t know, sweetheart," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "But whatever happens, stay close to me, okay?""Okay," Noah murmured, his voice barely audible.She reached over and squeezed his hand, drawing strength from the bond they shared. Then, steeling herself, she opened the
10:30 PM The event had come to an end, and guests were trickling out in large numbers, leaving the venue abuzz with faint remnants of laughter and conversation.Desmond stood near the entrance, scanning the thinning crowd for Freya and Noah. His jaw tightened, a knot of unease forming in his chest as neither of them appeared. He had been searching for the two of them ever since the event drew to a close but to no avail.“Where are they?” he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting across the room. Freya’s sudden disappearance felt deliberate, a silent defiance that only added fuel to the growing fire of his rage.How could she leave her own event like that without supervising its conclusion? And how dare she not tell him where she was going?He moved purposefully through the venue, his commanding presence making the staff glance nervously his way. Each one he passed offered polite nods and smiles, but none dared to stop him as he searched every corner. The restrooms, the bar, the
The event had finally begun to wind down, the last notes of music fading away as the guests began to disperse. Freya felt the weight of the evening pressing on her shoulders, evident in her tired eyes and robotic movements. Smiling and thanking the guests had taken its toll, and she needed a moment to herself. Quietly excusing herself from Noah and a few other guests, she slipped away from the main room, heading toward the restroom at the far end of the hallway.Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, the sounds of the celebration fading behind her. She let out a slow breath, grateful for the brief relief.But just as she turned a corner, she stopped dead in her tracks, stunned.Diego was walking toward her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his steps unhurried. The soft lighting of the hallway highlighted the familiar features of his face—his sharp jawline, the kind warmth in his eyes, and the faint trace of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.Freya fr
The main event began and Freya mounted the podium, a wide smile plastered on her face. The soft murmur of the crowd faded as the spotlight centered on her. She stood tall, her posture exuding confidence, yet her expression carried a quiet intensity. She adjusted the microphone, glancing briefly at the audience, where dozens of faces waited expectantly.Diego sat with Noah at the table in the front row which Freya had reserved specially for them. Freya's driver had brought Noah to the event quite late, but just in time for her speech.Noah was very happy to see Diego once again. He was more glad to know he was still in touch with his mom—being at the event proved that.They had a little father-and-son bonding time before Freya mounted the stage. Diego was especially grateful he was given a chance to see Noah again. He couldn't contain his happiness, which was evident in his wide grin.However, Desmond was seated away from the front row—Freya had arranged it that way. She had reserved t