"Well, you are bold. I will give you that. But I'm not the type of man you think I am. I will appreciate it if you leave my sight." Desmond said and continued with his drink."Stop talking as if you often get a hot woman like me chatting you up." She said, and Desmond chuckled. He couldn't tell if she was joking or if she actually thought she was something special."As old as you are, you are still feeling yourself as if you are anything special. I think you have the wrong idea about who you are talking with.""No, you are the one who is mistaken. All I know is that at the end, you and I will be leaving together. We are going to know each other very well. I mean...very well. And by that. I mean, we are going to my place. We are going to get naked and have lots of sex.""I... I... what?" Desmond stammered, shaking his head. He was lost for words. He was baffled. Was she joking or what? Was she pranking him? How could an old woman like her presume that a handsome, rich guy like him would
(Few Days Later. In a conference meeting)As Anabel was giving her speech, Sylvester, a medium-profile businessman, was sitting at the back of the auditorium with his arms crossed. The conference had drawn in some of the most brilliant minds from the state, and Anabel was one of them.His eyes were fixed on the stage, watching Anabel's speech. She was taking the podium with a confident stride. Sylvester found himself captivated with her excellent command of speech. Not just by her ideas, but by her very presence. There was a certain spark in her, an undeniable energy that commands attention.Ever since she witnessed Anabel's action on Zacklid's group launching day, he had been looking forward to meet her, which was the main reason he came to the conference meeting. He had done research about her and had gotten all the information he needed. HER REAL IDENTITY. Thanks to his boys, who worked it out without wasting time.When the event came to an end, Sylvester made his way to the front o
"I don't think it's necessary. If you are here to talk about love, then we have to call it a day." Anabel said."It's okay. But can we be friends? I will like to be a friend. We can get to work in the future. Like collaboration or something like that." Sylvester said, and Anabel stared at him. He looked rich and smart, qualified to have her personal number."I will give you my number, but don't disturb me. I'm a busy person." Anabel said and gave him her number. Sylvester smiled, he have taken a step to get Anabel. He knew he wouldn't fail.Days passed and he began to send love messages. Anabel would read and ignore. She didn't want to give him any chance...A week later, Anabel's father handed one of his companies to her. "You will become the acting CEO. If you survive, you will have the company." It was an automobile company. An electric car that was working with an advanced driver's assistant system, just like Zacklid group. She was happy and ready to move it to another level..
Anabel smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Sylvester. I really appreciate it."Twenty minutes later, a tall, lanky guy with a messy beard and a mop of curly hair walked into Anabel's office. He was dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a faded t-shirt, and he looked like he had just rolled out of bed."Hey, sorry I'm late," he said, extending a hand to Anabel. "I'm Max."Anabel shook his hand, trying not to stare at his disheveled appearance. He doesn't look like a professional. He looked like an indoor hacker who couldn't bag a job. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Max. Thank you for coming."Max nodded and turned to Sylvester. "What is the problem?""Mr. Jenkins will tell you everything." Sylvester said, and Jenkins explained everything to him.When Jenkins finished, Max nodded. "I think I can resolve it. Can you show me the system?"Mr. Jenkins led Max to the server room, and Anabel followed, curious to see what Max would do.For the next thirty minutes, Max worked hi
"I think Sylvester is right. This company needs the best man, and I think it will be nice if we take Mr. Max." Anabel said."But what about Mr. Jenkins, the current head of the IT department?" The manager asked. "Will you fire him?""I understand your concerns, Mr. Mike," Anabel said with a gentle voice. "But I have to think about what's best for the company. And right now, I think Max is the best person for the job."Mr. Jenkins' face fell, and he looked like he was going to cry. "But what about me?" He asked with a voice which was barely above a whisper. "What am I supposed to do?"Anabel felt a pang of sympathy for the older man, but she knew that she couldn't let sentiment cloud her judgment. She turned to Jenkins with a thoughtful expression on her face. "I won't let you go. No, I won't fire you. I want to offer you a chance to stay with the company. You can work under Max, and I'm sure both of you can work together and lift the company to the next level."Jenkins' face lit up wit
After meeting Anabel, he left the company with a satisfied smile. He have achieved what he wanted. It was all planned, and it worked perfectly. Just yesterday, Sylvester was sitting at his desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard as he was reviewing the latest reports from Anabel's company. He had been meticulously gathering information, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A knock on the door interrupted him. He glanced at the clock and then got up to open the door. He opened the door and It was Max, his trusted friend and skilled hacker. "Evening, Sylvester," Max greeted and stepped inside. "You called." Sylvester nodded and closed the door behind him. "Yeah, I have a job for you. It's a big one, and if we pull it off, it will set everything in motion." Max raised an eyebrow with a smile. "I'm listening." Sylvester led Max to the living room, where he had set up a makeshift command center. He pointed to the screen displaying detailed schematics and data from
Sylvester was sitting in his living room, sipping on a glass of whiskey, when he heard a knock on the door. He glanced at the clock; it was just past eight in the evening. He wasn't expecting anyone, but he got up and opened the door to find his old friend, Marcus, standing there. "Marcus! What a surprise. You didn't tell me you are coming." Sylvester said, stepping aside to let him in. "You can come in." Marcus walked in. "I said let me drop by and catch up. It's been a while." Sylvester nodded, closing the door behind him. "Yeah, it has. Make yourself comfortable." They settled down on the living room, and Sylvester handed Marcus a cup of whiskey. "So, what's new with you? I Heard you have been busy with some big plans." Sylvester smirked and took a sip of his drink before replying him. "You could say that. I've been working on something... something interesting." Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is that?" Sylvester leaned back, a confident glint in his eye. "You re
Sylvester arrived at Anabel's company and asked her to join him in his car. She hesitated for some moments before she got in. On their way to the restaurant, they chatted about work and the latest developments in the company. The restaurant was a cozy, upscale place with dim lighting and a romantic ambiance. Sylvester had reserved a private table by the window, offering a stunning view of the city skyline. When they settled into their seats, a waiter approached to take their orders. Once their meals were ordered, Sylvester leaned forward with his eyes fixed on Anabel. "I'm really happy you agreed to come out tonight. I know you've been under a lot of stress lately." Anabel smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Thank you, Sylvester. I appreciate it. It's been a tough few days." Sylvester reached across the table, gently taking her hand in his. "It's normal, everything comes with challenges. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. You don't have to g
"Then what are we going to do now?" Jethro asked. "I will call an ambulance to take him to the hospital." The doctor said and picked up his phone. He called the hospital for an ambulance and turned to Anabel and Jethro. "I have called for the ambulance. It will be here soon, and your dad will be taken care of." Anabel’s breath shuddered as fresh fear consumed her. Her greatest nightmare—the thought of losing her father—was tightening its grip around her chest. She couldn’t lose him. She wouldn’t lose him. But right now, it felt like she had no control over that fate. Every second felt like an eternity until the ambulance finally arrived. The flashing lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. The paramedics moved with urgency, but their presence only heightened Anabel’s anxiety. Jethro, her brother, immediately rushed forward to assist Dr. Maxwell in lifting their father from the bed. Anabel stood back, frozen, her hands trembling as she watched them carefully maneuver Sir Orton
Without wasting a second, Anabel called her brother, Jethro. The moment he picked up, she repeated the same panicked message.“Dad collapsed! You have to come home!”“I’ll be there, Anabel! Just hang on!” Jethro replied.After ending the call, she knelt beside her father again, gripping his hand as she watched his shallow breathing. “Daddy, stay with me,” she whispered through her tears. “Don’t leave me. Help is coming. Nothing will happen to you. You are going to be fine.”A few minutes later, she heard a car pull up. She was expecting the doctor, but when the door opened, it was her brother, Jethro. He had to speed up immediately after he answered the call."We need to take him to the hospital," Jethro said just as he entered the room."I've called the doctor. He said he's coming.""You have called the doctor, and he's yet to come?" Jethro asked."I don't know what is delaying him. He said he's coming already.""I don't think I'm going to have that patience. Come on, let's carry him
At this point, she could barely breathe. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. Her dad had been struggling on his own until he went weak. Her dad had been fighting with asthma for a very long time, though he always controlled it. But today, she couldn't tell what triggered it. And she was so startled to see that his inhaler was empty. He always bought dozens of it. But since he started taking his drugs, he has found the inhaler unnecessary. These days, he barely uses it. She tried to wake him up, but it all went futile. At this point, she doesn't need any prophet to tell her that her dad needed urgent medical attention. Anabel zipped down her handbag. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her phone. Her fingers were slicked with sweat as she scrolled through her contacts. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. She struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but the sight of her father lying motionless on the floor had shattered any semblance of calm she
The next morning, as the soft beams of sunlight filtered through the windows in Anabel’s room, Anabel was busy at her desk, clicking away on her system. Her fingers were moving rapidly over her computer keyboard as she worked through tasks with total focus. Even though she seemed focused, her mind was restless. She had been debating whether or not to visit Sylvester and Vanessa that morning. Desmond’s words had burrowed deep into her thoughts, creating an unsettling doubt that she couldn’t shake. She needed answers. She needed to confirm what was true. She wasn't ready for another heartbreak. Not when she hasn't even recovered from the first heartbreak. Hours passed, and finally, she leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply as she finished her work. She closed her laptop and rubbed her temples as she tried to clear her thoughts. With a quiet sigh, she got up and stretched before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. As the warm water cascaded down her skin, her thoughts
Without wasting any time, the dad asked, “Why did you reject Reuben? You can't tell me you are not ready for marriage because that is what you need now. A man that will take good care of you and your child.” Anabel let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. “I don’t like him," she said flatly. “I’m not just interested in him.” She answered, and her father crossed his arms as he gazed at her. “That doesn’t matter much. What matters is that he loves you. Reuben is a good man. Ever since I knew him, he never caused trouble. All you need is a man that will love and take good care of you. You can start loving him after marriage. You think all those successful marriages started with love? No—commitment comes first, and love follows.” Anabel shook her head, standing her ground. “That’s not how it works for me, Dad. My heart isn’t in it.” Sir Orton exhaled slowly as he sensed frustration creeping into him. He wasn’t angry—not yet—but he was growing weary of Anabel's choices.
Her father continued. “I’ve told him everything. About your first marriage and your divorce. I also told her about your pregnancy, and he still accepted.” Anabel’s lips parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. Reuben was a very cute guy, but looking at him, she doesn't see herself gisting with someone like him. She shifted in her seat before speaking. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Father. And I thank the Johnsons for coming.” Sir Johnson smiled faintly, observing her with an unreadable expression. Reuben remained unmoved as he continued to watch her with silent interest. Anabel took a breath and continued, “Under normal circumstances, I might have asked for time to think it over because we have never talked about it. But there is no need for that.” Her father leaned forward slightly and asked. “And why is that?” "I don't know how this will sound, but I am not interested in marriage now.” She answered, and the room went silent. No one was expecting
Anabel got back home and stepped out of her car. Her mind was still occupied with thoughts about her hospital visit. The conversation with Desmond had stirred something in her—an unease she had tried to push aside but couldn't fully ignore. As she walked toward her father’s grand villa, she noticed two luxurious cars parked neatly in the driveway. She slowed her pace slightly, and her brows knitted together as she took in the unfamiliar, expensive cars. She tried to recall if they were expecting visitors, but nothing came to mind. She tried to recognize the cars, but she couldn't. One was a gold Bugatti, and the other one was a gray Rolls Royce. The latest and the most expensive car in the country. Even though her father was known to have high-profile associates, these cars weren’t ones she recognized. The insignias, the vip plate number. They belonged to people of significant wealth, people who rarely made unexpected visits. Anabel straightened her posture and entered through
Desmond glanced away, knowing that it wasn't even his problem at the moment. His main problem was that someone was about to extort a big amount of money from her. He couldn't stand it. "Yeah, I know, but that’s not my problem right now." He said with a weak voice. Bella raised an eyebrow in curiosity and asked. "What do you mean it’s not your problem? What’s going on? Which other problem do we have here than winning her back?" Desmond hesitated for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "There’s a man. Her so-called new boyfriend." "Does she have a boyfriend?' Bella asked. "Yeah, but the problem is that he's deceiving her. He’s about to extort a huge amount of money from her." Mrs. Elizabeth and Bella both stared at him in shock, but Bella was the first to speak. "A huge amount of money?" "How much money are we talking about?" His mom asked with a voice tinged with disbelief. "I know you guys won't believe this, but this man is about to extort three million dollars from her.
Desmond's mom let out a long sigh and let her shoulders sag slightly. "I don’t blame her, though. She has every right to be angry. After everything we did, after how we treated her... I wouldn’t stop to listen either." Bella, who was standing a few steps away, folded her arms tightly across her chest. "But she should at least hear us out," Bella muttered. "Why would she do that? I mean, we are trying to apologize. We are trying to make amends, aren’t we? It’s not like we are asking for much. She could have rolled down the window for a second. Just a second." Mrs. Elizabeth shook her head gently and glanced at her daughter. "Bella, don't say that. She's angry, and she should be. This is not about what we think she should do. We pushed her away. We hurt her. She doesn’t owe us her time, not after the way we treated her." Bella huffed in response and said,. "Yeah, okay, we were wrong. But if she doesn’t let us talk, how are we supposed to make it right? She should have just let us tal