Tasha straightened, maintaining her composure as Venessa's gaze settled on her. Claire, sensing the tension, glanced between them, choosing her words carefully. “Good morning, Venessa,” Tasha said with a polite smile, her voice calm yet assertive. “Anything urgent on your desk today?” Venessa raised an eyebrow, her smile more of a smirk. “Just making sure all the loose ends are tied up. It’s easy for things to slip through when people are… away from the office.” Tasha noted the implication, but she remained unfazed. “Well, it’s good to know things stayed on track. Let’s keep up that momentum, shall we?” Claire stifled a laugh, caught between amusement and nervousness. Venessa’s expression hardened, as if looking for something in Tasha that would crack. But when nothing came, she finally turned on her heel. “By the way,” Venessa said, pausing, “I hope you’re aware of the upcoming presentation. There’s a lot riding on it. Wouldn’t want anyone underprepared.” With that, she st
Tasha returned to her office, a space she was slowly reacquainting herself with. The desk was neat, but the folders she had been reviewing were beginning to pile up. With her laptop open, she started typing up notes on the mismanagement issues she had observed earlier in the day. Later on the sound of her phone vibrating on the desk broke her concentration. She glanced at the caller ID: Daniel. Answering, she placed the phone to her ear. “Hello?” “Hey, Mom!” a small, cheerful voice replied. Tasha smiled instantly, leaning back in her chair. “Hey, sweetheart. Are you having fun?” “Yes, Mom!” Ethan’s voice was brimming with excitement. “Dad and I went to this huge toy store, and I got to build my own model car!” “That sounds amazing, Ethan. Did you let Dad pick the colors, or did you choose them all yourself?” Ethan giggled. “I chose them! But Dad said my car’s design was better than his.” Tasha laughed softly, imagining the scene. “Well, of course it is. You’ve always
The next day, after a busy day at work, Tasha made arrangements for Ethan to stay with Claire for the evening. She trusted Claire, who had happily agreed to keep him entertained, mentioning something about movies and pizza. With Ethan settled, Tasha prepared herself to meet Daniel, unsure of what the evening would bring. As she arrived at the small, upscale café Daniel had suggested, Tasha took a moment to steady her nerves. The space was intimate, with dim lighting and soft jazz playing in the background. She spotted Daniel sitting at a table in the corner, his posture relaxed yet commanding as he sipped from a glass of water. When he saw her, he stood up, a faint smile gracing his lips. “Tasha,” he greeted, gesturing toward the seat across from him. “Thanks for coming.” She nodded, taking her seat. “You didn’t really leave me much of a choice,” she replied lightly, though her tone held an edge of seriousness. Daniel chuckled softly. “Fair enough. I wasn’t sure if you’d show.
“No,” Daniel said firmly, his voice tinged with desperation. “I don’t expect anything, Tasha. I just need you to know the truth. I’ve spent these years pretending I was okay when I wasn’t. I couldn’t even bring myself to live in this house because it wasn’t home without you. Do you know how pathetic that feels? To have everything but still feel like you’ve lost it all?” Tasha’s breathing quickened as his words struck a chord deep within her. She wanted to push him away, to walk out and never look back, but there was something in his eyes a vulnerability she had never seen before, that made her pause. “I kept everything, Tash,” Daniel continued, his voice breaking slightly. “Your things, your memories... even this house. I kept it all because I couldn’t bear to let go of you completely. And now, seeing you again, being near you and... it’s brought everything back. I know I don’t deserve it, but I need you to understand that you’ve always been on my mind. Always.” Tasha closed h
Stanley leaned back in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he smirked at Daniel. "So, about the wedding..." Daniel glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “What about it? Don’t tell me your brothers managed to change the date for you again?” Stanley chuckled. “Not a chance. It’s set now. December 12th. Non-negotiable.” Daniel gave a small nod, taking a sip of his drink. “Good. I’m glad you finally managed to pin it down. Rebecca must be thrilled.” “She is,” Stanley said, his grin widening. “But there’s something else. I need you to be my best man.” Daniel paused mid-sip, then slowly placed his glass down, giving Stanley an incredulous look. “Me? Are you sure about that? You have brothers, cousins... people better suited for the job.”
The conference room buzzed with anticipation. Executives sat in their best suits, some glancing nervously at the clock, others whispering theories about the identity of the new CEO. The air was thick with curiosity, the kind that made every second feel like an eternity. Vanessa leaned against the wall near the back, arms folded, her face a mask of disdain. “Probably some spoiled kid with no idea how to run a company,” she hissed to a colleague. Her annoyance was palpable, but no one dared to engage. The restroom was quiet except for the soft hum of the overhead lights. Tasha stood at the mirror, adjusting her blazer, her reflection radiating confidence. Her sleek black suit and emerald blouse hugged her figure perfectly. As she reached for her lipstick, the door swung open, and Vanessa strutted in, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. Her sharp gaze fell on Tasha immediately, narrowing as she took in her polished appearance. “Well, well,” Vanessa sneered, stepping to th
Gasps heard from across the room as heads turned in shock, their eyes darting to the elegant woman emerging from the shadows. Tasha stepped forward, she moved with confidence, her expression calm but carrying a glimmer of emotion that betrayed her nerves. Cameras flashed as Mr. Belvoir held out his hand to her. Tasha took it, stepping onto the stage beside him. For a moment, she stood there, scanning the room, her chin held high. The room erupted into applause some hesitant, some enthusiastic, but all carrying the weight of this monumental revelation. Tasha leaned into the microphone, glancing briefly at her father before addressing the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight. I know this may come as a surprise to many of you, but I promise to give my all to continue the legacy of Belvoir Couture." As the applause swelled again, Tasha's eyes caught Vanessa, her expression shifted, uncomfortably. Her jaw clenched, her knuckles white as she gripped her champagne glas
Daniel sat in his apartment, the warm glow of his laptop screen reflecting off his face as he absentmindedly scrolled through the news. He had been trying to distract himself after the whirlwind of emotions from the past few days. With a glass of whiskey beside him, he leaned back into the plush couch, his mind only half-engaged with the articles he skimmed. Then a headline caught his eye: "The Return of the Heiress: Tasha Belvoir Takes the Reins of Belvoir Couture" His hand froze on the trackpad. He blinked, as though unsure if he had read it correctly. His heart started to beat faster as he clicked on the article. There she was, front and center in a photograph accompanying the piece. Tasha, poised and elegant, standing beside Mr. Belvoir at what looked like a grand event. She looked breathtaking, he
Tasha sat on the edge of the couch, her eyes unfocused, staring at the walls of their living room as if willing time to move faster, to hurry through this painful stretch of silence. The whole day had passed in a blur, Robbin had given her the space she needed, but it didn’t change the fact that her heart was heavy, weighed down by the quiet storm brewing in her home. Ethan hadn’t come out of his room since their conversation. She couldn’t blame him, but it didn’t make the ache any easier to bear. The clock on the wall ticked away relentlessly, the sound sharp in the quiet house, reminding her of just how much time had passed since Ethan had stormed off. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now, he had always been so full of life, so full of questions, yet now he was silent. The silence was suffocating. Tasha’s gaze moved from the clock to the door leading to the hallway, her thoughts clouded with worry. She knew it wasn’t easy for Ethan. She knew he was hurting. But wha
Tasha sat in the living room, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been a long time coming this conversation, this moment. She had been avoiding it, hoping it would somehow sort itself out, but she knew deep down that it couldn’t be avoided forever. Robbin and she had been together for a while now, and their relationship was moving forward. It was time to let Ethan know. She glanced toward the kitchen where Robbin was cleaning up, his movements calm and steady, like he was already mentally preparing himself for what was coming. He had been so patient, so understanding with her and Ethan. But even he couldn’t help her avoid the inevitable. Ethan had to know. Tasha’s heart ached at the thought of her son’s reaction. She had already seen the worry and confusion in his eyes in recent weeks. He had been asking questions, small ones at first. The thought of seeing the sadness and confusion in Ethan’s face broke her every time. But she knew t
The next morning arrived in a blur for Daniel. He barely remembered falling asleep, but when his eyes opened, the harsh light of day pierced through his apartment. The room was a mess, a reflection of his state of mind. Empty bottles, a broken glass on the floor, and remnants of the night before scattered around him like the fallout of a battle he didn’t want to fight. He dragged himself out of bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion, both physical and emotional, pressing down on him. But sleep hadn’t given him respite. It had only brought him restless dreams of Tasha, her smile, her voice, her warmth only for them to dissolve into nothingness every time he reached out. He stumbled to the kitchen, the air thick with the smell of stale alcohol. He had no appetite, but he poured himself a cup of black coffee anyway, needing the bitter warmth to shake off the fog in his mind. As the liquid slid down his throat, he leaned against the counter, staring at nothing, his thought
Daniel’s apartment was eerily quiet when he returned. The faint hum of the city outside, the low murmur of distant traffic, seemed to only emphasize the emptiness inside. He didn’t bother turning on the lights, instead letting the dim glow of the streetlights filter through the windows as he made his way to the kitchen. It was the same routine now coming back to this cold, lifeless space after a day full of fake smiles, forced interactions, and the constant undercurrent of pain that he couldn’t shake. He opened the cabinet, his hands moving almost automatically, grabbing a bottle of whiskey. It was the same bottle he’d been nursing for the last few weeks, ever since everything had spiraled out of control. He didn’t know why he kept drinking, it didn’t numb the pain; it didn’t make things better, but it was the only thing that seemed to dull the sharp edges of his thoughts, even if just for a little while. The glass was filled quickly, the amber liquid s
Daniel had always been a man of control. From the moment he’d made the decision to step back from Tasha’s life after the accident, the fallout, the memories lost, he had tried to maintain his distance. He told himself it was for the best, for her sake, for Ethan’s. But nothing could have prepared him for the slow, torturous pain of watching from the sidelines as Tasha moved forward without him. And yet, there he was, still in Ethan’s life, still seeing his son, even if he no longer had a place beside Tasha. The gala had been on his mind for days. The invitation had come through Belvoir Couture, of course the company he was still very much involved with, even though his heart was no longer in the glamorous world of high fashion. It wasn’t his place, not anymore. Still, there were business matters to attend to. And so, there he was, standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his tuxedo. The reflection staring back at him was someone he barely recognized eyes tired, jaw clenched, the
One evening, the soft hum of the city outside barely noticeable as Tasha stood by the window, looking out into the night. The past few weeks had felt like an emotional rollercoaster. The amnesia, the painful fractures in her relationships, the uncertainty that had filled her life. But standing here now, the air around her felt different less heavy, more certain. Her eyes drifted to Robbin, sitting at the small kitchen table. Ethan was in bed, and they were finally alone. The house, once too silent, now held a different kind of peace, a peace that Tasha hadn’t realized she longed for until this moment. Robbin had been there for her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. When she needed space, he gave it to her; when she needed support, he was always there, not demanding answers or explanations but offering comfort in silence. Robbin cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. “Tasha,” he began, his voice low, “I know this has been diff
Daniel sat in his car outside the house, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He had promised he wouldn’t overstep. He had promised he would only come for Ethan. But damn it, walking away from Tasha like that, hearing her say she didn’t want him around, hurt more than he thought it would. He raked a hand through his hair, frustration and helplessness twisting inside him. How will she remember. She didn’t remember what they had built, what they had gone through, what they had recently meant to each other. And now, she didn’t even want to try. His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, Stanley. With a heavy sigh, Daniel picked up. “How did it go?” St
Tasha glanced at the clock again, tapping her fingers against her arm. They should be back by now. She paced slightly, trying to shake off the strange unease creeping in. Maybe traffic was bad. Maybe Ethan had asked Daniel to stop somewhere. She walked to the window, peering outside. Still nothing. With a sigh, she turned away, only for the sound of a car pulling into the driveway to grab her attention. She moved back toward the door just as it opened, and the first thing she heard was Ethan’s excited voice. “Mom! We got ice cream!” Tasha barely had time to react before Ethan ran up to her, his face bright with excitement. “It was soooo good! Dad let me pick any flavor I wanted, and I got chocolate and cookies and cream! And I added M&Ms, and whipped cream, and even caramel drizzle!” He bounced on his feet as she smoothed his curls, trying not to let her gaze drift to Daniel, who
Tasha stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, her fingers hovering over the screen. Her heart raced, unsure of the words she had just typed. 'Let’s talk tomorrow' It was a simple message, but it carried so much weight, so many layers of emotions she couldn’t yet understand. She bit her lip, debating whether she should send it. What if it triggered something else or something she wasn’t ready to face? But then again, the words were already there. She couldn’t take them back, could she? A deep breath escaped her as she pressed her thumb on the screen and clicked send. The phone buzzed softly in her hand, the message now sent into the ether. She waited. For what? She wasn’t sure. A response, perhaps? Some kind of acknowledgment that she hadn’t completely lost herself or the person she used to be? Minutes passed. Nothing. Tasha let out a shaky breath and put the phone d