Ray MaverickThe meeting with the board members was crucial last night, so I had to attend. I had planned to punish Emma for speaking to her Master in that manner, but I had plenty of time to do that. After adjusting my cufflinks, I sprayed my signature perfume. I knew I couldn't see myself, but I bet my looks could kill. With one final attempt, I fixed my glasses as I went downstairs to have breakfast. Trisha served the food. I could hear the cup she held shivering in her hands, and then its shattered pieces filled the atmosphere. "Are you alright, Ma'am Trisha?" "Yes, yes, Mr. Ray." Her voice broke as she said it. "I'm so sorry for my clumsy mistake." "I will quickly get this cleaned." With that, her steps blurred. Trisha returned moments later, the sound of the broom sweeping filling the air, followed by the clinking of broken glass. "Trisha!" "Yes, Mr. Ray?" "Where's Emma?" "Emma?" y"Yes, Trisha. Where is she?" "Uhm..." I could sense Trisha's unease. "Mrs.
Emma Watson."Or what?" his voice cut through again. I felt weak, my knees wobbling like jelly beans."Or you would have my husband to content with," I said defiance in my voice.The all broke out into laughter."Husband!" One from amongest the men in the room, retorted."And who's your husband?" The old man's voice cut through the air."Ray Maverick," I managed to let out my words hoping Raymond's name could make an effect to scaring this people."The blind heir?" The resumed another round of laughter."Don't be silly girl, what will Ray's wife be doing in that apartment of yours,""You don't believe me? Then give me my phone let me call him.""Oh little girl threatening to call Ray's number. Do you think he's that easy to access?""I myself don't have Ray's number despite my connections talk less or you," his eyes sruntinized me.The music was slowing dying down as everyone faced me."Well I would have loved to see you try, but sadly your mobile is with your mom.""Enough of the chi
Emma Watson"What? No!" I spoke out in defense. "Trisha is not leaving." "Punish me if you must, but please spare Trisha her job." I broke into a sob. I couldn't let Trisha pay for my mistakes. Rayian was still sipping his drink while I was still standing. "No, it's okay, Emma," Trisha spoke as she cupped my face in her palm. "It was my fault, Emma. Something bad might have happened to you," she smiled at me. "But nothing happened, Trisha," I insisted. Just when I had hoped to find a mother in Ma'am Trisha, Rayian wanted to steal that away from me too. "Let's be grateful to Sir Rayian for only sending me away and not handing me over to the cops," Trisha spoke, now in tears. She turned to Rayian. "Thank you, sir. It was truly a pleasure working for you. And I'm sorry for anywhere I might have been incompetent in my duties." "If I had the chance again in my next life, I would still choose to work for you. But this time around, I would do better at my job." "Goodbye
Ray Maverick"I'm sorry, sir. It was never my intention," the screaming voices of the sex workers' masters filled the air. For a moment, I wished I could see the sweet torture my men subjected them to. "What are you sorry about, Cairo?" I asked but was met with no answer. "Or what wasn't your intention?" "Getting ladies forcefully to work in your illegal brothel?" "Or using these ladies' videos on the internet without their consent?" "I'm sorry, sir," his voice interrupted me. "Stop saying that, Cairo. It only infuriates me more." "So, where was I?" I said before listing all the things Abel was able to find on Cairo and his crew. "Or having unprotected sex with these women, despite the fact that they were against it?" "It's a lie, Rayian," he spoke again. "Don't you interrupt me, Cairo," I spoke, the anger within me threatening to burst out. Because of him, I did what I wasn't supposed to do tonight. So it was only right he tasted my wrath if he pushed further.
Emma Watson"Mother!" I called out as I walked with Mira toward the door. There she was, standing tall as ever after all the hardship she had put me through. "My daughter," she said as she hugged me. "I'm sorry for what I did to you," she said, tears streaming down her face. "They threatened to take Lena away from the hospital," she started, "and I couldn't allow that, dear." She pulled me out of the hug, cupping my face in her hands. Her smile was reassuring, but it pierced my heart. She immediately went down on her knees. "Emma, please forgive me. You know I love you," she added. "I couldn't just let them take Lena away, so I decided to use you since you were now influential," she continued. "It was just an act, my baby." She got me seated by the corridor as Mira watched the scene unfold. "I was just acting accordingly so they would buy my story," she kept flushing out words from her disgusting mouth without even letting me speak. "Please don't cry, baby girl," s
Ray MaverickI had just found out who was involved in the scheme with Carioa. How could she? Despite the fact that she was related, I would make her pay. "Mr. Ray, your phone has been ringing repeatedly," Abel said as the car jerked a bit, going up the high way and then speeding through. "Oh, I didn't notice," I retorted. I was really out of space. "Who's that?" I asked. "It's your grandpa, Mr. Ray," he spoke. "Oh, Grandpa. He must have heard the news." I took the phone from Abel after he received the call. "Hello, Grandpa," I answered. "My favorite grandson, Ray, how are you doing?" "I'm fine, Grandpa," I said, trying to mask my feelings. "How's your beautiful wife doing?" he asked. Definitely, Grandpa had heard the news but was just playing dumb. "She's fine, Grandpa," I answered back. "That's nice, Rayian. Don't hesitate to come to me if you need anything." "Yes, Grandpa, I won't." With that, we ended the call as I handed the phone back to Abel. "Sir, are
Ray MaverickThe kiss was so intense that I was thrown off guard. "Emma," I tried to say amidst the kiss, but I couldn't. "Emma, stop." I gently pushed her away. "My mom, Ray... I caused it," the words left her lips as she collapsed onto me. Why was Emma so guilt-stricken? I thought. ...It was a brand new day, and I made my way into the bathroom, getting dressed and ready so I could take Emma to the hospital and then head off to work. Samantha must be furious at my sudden disappearance.Emma sighed a bit as she woke up. I intentionally didn't wake her since she needed the rest. "What the fuck?" She spoke in a rush. "Wow, cursing in the morning? I don't think that's right, right?" I questioned. "Tell me what happened last night." Her voice was filled with defiance as she walked toward me. This girl was really something else. Wasn't she the one who came here last night, kissing me without a second thought? And now here she was, asking me questions she already knew
Eliana Watson I knew Emma wouldn't give in easily. But had she forgotten that I was her mother—I knew her better than she knew herself. My head was aching badly. Did she really have to make it that realistic? A nurse in a mask came into my ward with a tray in hand. "How are you feeling, ma’am?" the nurse asked as she arranged the equipment on the tray. I had expected Emma to be here by my side. Or wasn’t my accident convincing enough? "I feel okay. My head just hurts," I responded. Something was strange, though. This nurse was in a mask—was this how they operated here? "Can I see your face?" I asked. "Why, ma’am?" The lady’s voice seemed forced, as if she was faking it. "Because I would like to know the person taking care of me," I retorted. The nurse smiled before taking off her mask, revealing her face. "You got me, Mum," Lena spoke. "Speak of the devil." I shook my head. "I'm not a devil, Mum. I’m your favorite little daughter," she said to herself, makin
Emma WatsonThe late afternoon sun poured through the tall windows of the Manhattan penthouse, casting golden beams across the sleek marble floors. The scent of fresh lilies drifted through the open space, mingling with the faint aroma of roasted coffee from the kitchen. For the first time in months, the silence didn’t feel heavy or dangerous. It felt... peaceful.I stood barefoot by the glass wall, gazing out at the city I once hated for everything it took from me. Now, somehow, it had given me everything too.Behind me, Ray’s footsteps echoed softly across the wood. I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to. I knew his presence by heart now—the rhythm of his breathing, the tension in his muscles when he was deep in thought, the way his energy wrapped around mine like a second skin.He came to stand beside me, his hand finding mine. Warm. Solid. Real.“This view used to make me feel invincible,” he said quietly.I looked up at him, his profile bathed in the soft light. “And now?”He glanced do
Ray The night air bit against my skin as I stood on the rooftop of the Kingstone building, the skyline of Manhattan stretching before me in all its glittering, indifferent glory. The city didn’t know what it had cost me to get here—or maybe it didn’t care. Either way, the end was coming. And I was ready. Behind me, the wind whipped at my coat, and the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. “Are you sure about this?” Lucas’s voice was low, hoarse from the healing wound in his side. I glanced back at him. “It ends tonight. One way or another.” He nodded grimly and joined me at the edge. “We have snipers stationed on the west building, just like you planned. Emma’s team is holding the perimeter.” My throat tightened at her name. We’d said our goodbyes earlier, just in case. She’d kissed me like it might be the last time. Maybe it would be. “They’ll be here,” I said. “Benitez doesn’t miss a chance to gloat.” Luc
Emma I used to think love was the end goal. Like if I could just find the right person, all the broken parts would fall into place and I’d finally feel whole. But love wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. Because when Ray and I stopped running from who we were—and started building toward who we wanted to become—something bigger took root. Something wilder. Braver. Truer. Not a happy ending. A brave one. And that made all the difference. We spent the first few weeks after the wedding wrapped in a kind of quiet bliss. The world slowed down. Emails went unanswered. The Fellowship ran without us for a little while. Priya handled most of the chaos, sending short updates with emojis and bullet points. I skimmed them between morning walks and late-night dips in the ocean. Ray was softer, more still. I could see it in the way he looked at me—like the war inside him had finally gone quiet. I’d never felt more like myself. And in that stillness, something surpri
Ray When I was a kid, I thought power meant control. Silence in a boardroom. Eyes following your every move. A last name that carried weight, made people sit straighter. Turns out, none of that matters when you’re standing in a village where no one knows who you are—just that you show up when you say you will. That’s real power. Not dominance. But trust. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t chasing power to bury my father's shadow. I was chasing purpose—with Emma beside me. We moved slower now, not because we had to, but because we could. Mornings began with thick coffee and open laptops, balancing spreadsheets with outreach emails. The fellowship was growing faster than we planned. Our quiet office above the bookstore had tripled in size, and we were already looking for a new space. We weren’t just funding journalism. We were creating platforms. Safety nets. A family of storytellers, rebels, and truth-seekers. People I would’ve never noticed if I’d stay
The Shape of Forever Emma The breeze was warm, laced with the scent of frangipani and sea salt as I stepped out onto the balcony. Below, the ocean stretched into a horizon so clear and infinite, it felt like time itself paused to breathe. Bali wasn’t what I expected. It was better. No crowds. No headlines. No past. Just us—and the rhythm of waves that didn’t care about who we used to be. Ray was in the kitchen, humming something soft as he sliced fruit. Shirtless, barefoot, sun-kissed. If I didn’t already love him, I would’ve fallen for him right then and there. But I’d already fallen—completely, recklessly, irrevocably. And here, in this quiet corner of the world, it finally felt safe to land. We spent our mornings wrapped in each other, too lazy to set alarms. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we didn’t need to. His fingertips would trace patterns on my skin while the sun climbed higher, and I’d close my eyes, memorizing the silence between our heartbeats. In the af
Ray The wind cut through my coat as I stepped out of the cabin one last time, the cold air snapping me to attention. Snow crunched beneath my boots, and far below, the world stretched out in a sea of silver and blue—mountains frozen in time, quiet valleys that didn’t care about headlines, betrayals, or billion-dollar collapses. Up here, the world couldn’t touch us. But it also couldn’t stay frozen forever. Behind me, Emma zipped up her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the chill, her hair tied back in a loose braid. She looked at me like she always did—like I wasn’t the broken son of a corrupt empire, but something more. Something worth saving. And maybe—for the first time in my life—I believed her. The train we caught into Lucerne was empty except for an older couple reading a newspaper and a teenage boy scrolling on a cracked phone. Emma sat beside me, her head leaning on my shoulder, one hand looped around my arm. I watched the
Emma The sun rose behind a shroud of pale clouds as we crossed the Swiss border. Ray sat beside me in the back of the SUV, his eyes fixed on the snow-dusted mountains ahead. Lucas dozed in the front passenger seat, snoring softly, a jacket draped over his face like a makeshift shield from reality. I watched Ray in the quiet. The shadows under his eyes hadn’t faded, even after everything we’d done. Even after the truth had finally come out. The Chronicle had published it all. Langston Enterprises. The bribes. The offshore accounts. The ports. The human cost. The devastation left in his father’s wake. It was global news now. Presidents were giving statements. CEOs were distancing themselves. Stocks were crashing. Investigations were launching across four continents. And yet, somehow, the air between us still held that tension. That edge. Because justice came with a price. And we were the ones who’d lit the match. The safe house was tucked into the mountains above Interla
Ray It wasn’t just the name—it was everything that came with it. Langston. In boardrooms, it carried weight. On Wall Street, it opened doors. But in my blood, it felt like a curse I’d spent my entire life trying to outrun. And now, it was time to turn around and face it. I stared at the screen, Emma asleep beside me on the couch, her legs curled underneath a blanket, her head resting on my thigh. The glow of the laptop cast long shadows across her peaceful face. God, she deserved peace. Deserved a life untouched by this war. But she’d chosen to fight anyway. With me. For me. I couldn’t let that be for nothing. I scrolled through the documents we’d compiled—encrypted logs, money transfers, real estate deals, fake nonprofit filings, covert port activity. All of it pointed back to one name: Langston Enterprises. All of it pointed back to my father. Everything we needed to dismantle his empire was right here. The question was—who could we trust with it? Lucas had reached
Emma The morning after the bloodshed, the safe house felt eerily quiet—like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I stood by the window, watching the pale gray mist roll over the hills. The trees swayed in a rhythm that felt too calm, too detached from what had happened less than twenty-four hours ago. Inside me, a different storm brewed. One that didn’t care for peace or clarity. Ray was still asleep. His breathing steady beside me in the bed we had barely touched since arriving. We’d held each other in silence last night, the kind of silence that didn’t beg for words but craved understanding. But even in his arms, I hadn’t truly rested. My mind hadn’t stopped since I’d pulled the trigger. I’d never killed before. I wasn’t even sure I believed in the right to. But when that man raised his weapon toward Lucas, something primal in me had taken over. I hadn’t hesitated. I hadn’t flinched. I’d acted. And I didn’t regret it. That’s what scared me the most. I steppe