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68|The Long Game
Last Updated:
2025-02-04 00:41:54
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Reckless Hearts 69|More Valuable As An Ally
Could it be? Could the two men be related? Could this be Jaco's return to The Corporation and the start of his long-anticipated revenge? And could Anton be just a chess piece in whatever deadly game Jaco was playing? "No fucking way," Andrei whispered as he pushed the contract away and reached for his laptop, getting down to some serious internet sleuthing as soon as it blinked to life. There were several photos of Anton from LinkedIn and other social network sites for professionals. A quick scan through his online résumé confirmed everything he'd told Andrei at their meeting—from his educational background to the founding of Nexus. Andrei breathed a sigh of relief he didn't really believe in when a search through his connections revealed no apparent link to Jaco. But, he thought as he sat up and stared at the screen. Just because he couldn't find an obvious link between the two men didn't mean he wasn't right. In fact, the longer he sat there, going over the timing of the mee
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 70|Played A Stupid Game
Holly stuck to her guns and was at the Institute first thing Monday morning to hand in her resignation letter. Hoping to avoid another ugly confrontation, she planned to leave it on Katherine's desk, collect her stuff from her locker, and sneak out without detection. But, she had a rude awakening when she found the campus already bustling with student apprentices and the Corps as they went about their morning. It seemed she wasn't the only one with a good work ethic. Her disappointment shot up when she reached Katherine's office. Even though it was just before 6:00 AM and too damn early for anyone to be productive, her soon-to-be former boss was already hard at work, furiously typing away. The dark circles around Katherine's eyes, her constant yawning, and the coffee mug beside her laptop were very telling. Her insomnia was back, and Holly couldn't help but smile with glee as she knocked on the ajar door, glad to see that her ugly sins were keeping her awake at night. Katherine l
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 7I| What The Devil Stole
"Please, let's talk about this," Katherine pleaded, stopping short of selling her soul to Holly. "You are a valuable asset to the team. The Institute needs you. You'll make an amazing teacher. After your surgery, I'll speak to the board and fast-track your promotion—" "Promotion?" Holly snickered, rolling her eyes. Joining the teaching staff was hardly a promotion. If anything, for someone with unparalleled talent like her, it was a demotion. "We both know that's not a promotion!" She clucked her tongue in contempt, wondering if Katherine had always seen her as nothing more than an idiot who could easily be manipulated with just a few empty promises. Deciding it didn't matter anyway since she'd resigned, Holly tried to leave again. But Katherine held on to her arm and switched gears as she ramped up her manipulation tactics, promising to find her the best dance instructor to help her return to the stage. "I know how much being a prima means to you. I'm sure your condition can be fix
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 72|A Magician Never Reveals Her Tricks
A pale-faced Lola stormed off with her groupies. One or two were brave enough to ask what Holly had said to leave her so shaken. "It's nothing," Holly heard her say just before she slipped inside the security office, where she spent an unbelievably long time going through the off-boarding process. When Carlo, one of the security guys assisting her, confirmed she was off the system, Holly excused herself, racing to the Porsche Cayenne Coupé parked in front of the entrance. For a minute or maybe more, she just stood there, soaking in the weight of her decision and unable to believe her journey as a dancer was truly over. "How does it feel to be a free agent?" Eric asked when she took her place in the back moments later. "Exhilarating! I never thought unemployment would feel so great!" Holly replied, amazed at how much she liked the idea of being a free agent. "I guess congratulations are in order then!" Eric teased, smiling at her as they pulled away. Holly gazed out the rear w
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 73|The Recording
The party was already in full swing when Holly arrived at Crush just after 3:00 PM, even though she was the guest of honour. She found Russel and Naomi at the bar, having a good old time sipping cocktails. "You made it!" Naomi placed her drink on the countertop and hugged her briefly, before pushing her to Russel. "That's a hell of a move you pulled, kid!" he said, giving Holly a bear hug. "Yeah, your exit was definitely not on my 2025 bingo card," Naomi chimed in, leading the way to a VIP booth upstairs, away from the deafening music and drunken voices. They sat down, with Holly running an appreciative gaze around the room. After Austin took over, the place had undergone a major revamp, and she liked the chic yet playful design better than the old, over-the-top, garish neon furniture. "What happened?" Russel asked, pulling out his laptop. "What was the final straw for you?" Forcing a smile on her face, Holly kept her response vague, blaming her career-ending injury for her sna
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 74|Isabella Rossouw
"Oh God! That was insensitive of us. I'm so sorry!" Naomi sprung from her seat, wrapping her arms around Holly's shoulders as she led her back to her seat and plopped down beside her.Russel looked just as remorseful, if not uncomfortable. "Is that why you resigned?" he asked."Among other things." Holly nodded, biting her lower lip as she reached for her bento box for something to distract herself with. She toyed with her food, pushing it away after a few bites, her guilt gnawing at her."I wish you'd told me this sooner," she said, hanging her head in shame, the heavy weight of her decisions stomping down on her hard. "God, I wish you'd told me about Cooper much sooner before I withdrew the protection order—""There was a protection order?" Naomi and Russel said at once, demanding all the gory details as they gave Holly their undivided attention. Their interest in her ordeal was a little more than unnerving. But she filled them in anyway, her voice quivering with anger the longer
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 75|So Damn Depraved
Weak as a newborn calf, Holly crumpled to the floor, holding her head in her hands as she pressed her clammy back on the cool, tiled wall. Angry didn't even begin to describe her feelings. She was mad as hell, not only at Russel and Naomi, but also at herself, because in her desperation to protect Andrei, she'd unknowingly allowed Cooper to get away with his crimes again. How many other women would he hurt because she was too much of a coward to stand up to him? How many more women would he break because she'd chosen love over her gut instinct? Still reeling from shock, Holly stumbled to her feet and returned to the VIP booth, her head pounding louder than the EDM music shaking the walls. She found Russel and Naomi snorting lines of coke on the coffee table, not in the least shocked or surprised. She wasn't the only cokehead in their circle; drug use was common. "Here, have some," Naomi offered, throwing a stainless steel snuff bullet at her. "It'll take the edge off." With
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 76|But The Flowers
After briefly chatting with Holly and confirming they were still on for supper at The Empress, Andrei hunkered down for another hour and worked through Aero's financial statements before calling it a day, not bothering to check up on a sulky Monique on his way out. Ever since he put her in her place, ending all her involvement in his personal life—from being his plus-one at company events to performing personal-related tasks for him—she had become a little harder to deal with. Today, she was especially combative, sniping at him for the most minor tasks he asked of her, as if he were an inconvenience and not the man who paid her salary. Monique was one slip-up away from being shipped to one of their overseas offices. "Boss!" she ran out of her office now when she saw him stroll past, her Marc Jacobs stilettos clicking furiously on the gleaming floors. "What is it, Monique?" Andrei asked, shaking off her hand. The only hands he wanted on him were Holly's. The only smile he wan
Last Updated : 2025-02-13
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Reckless Hearts 115|Shone as brightly
"Give me five minutes," Andrei said when they pulled into the horseshoe driveway and parked close to the front door a little while later. "You'd better hurry up. I have a flight to catch," Ivan retorted, reminding him about his trip to Botswana. The team of four guys he'd assembled to bring Sienna in were already on their way to the airport. "Yes, sir!" Andrei called over his shoulder, giving his lieutenant a mock salute as he ran up the front steps. The housekeeping staff were taken aback when he stepped into the lavish foyer and found them polishing the bannisters of the grand double staircase. "Mr Ivanov, we weren't expecting you." "I know!" Andrei replied. He never made unplanned stops. And if it weren't for his father's insistence to have a home-cooked meal with him at least once a week, he wouldn't even bother coming by. The place had stopped feeling like a home long before his mom died. "What can we do for you, sir?" The two ladies asked, ready to be of service, as they
Reckless Hearts 114|Like A Pendulum
"First time?" asked Thabo, Lev's mortuary technician friend. His brilliantly white teeth, as he smiled at Andrei, were a stark contrast to his smooth mahogany skin. "Hardly," Andrei replied and quickly shut his mouth, afraid if he didn't, the unbearably warm stench would creep into him and taint every inch of his soul. They passed several closed doors as Thabo led them down an endless corridor. He candidly explained that the air-conditioning system was out of order, hence the humidity and smell. "We logged it two days ago, but they have yet to send the technicians to fix it. I guess no one cares about the material comforts of the dead," he said, taking them deeper into the bowels of the morgue. Just when Andrei began to think the man had no idea where they were going, Thabo abruptly stopped in front of a cavernous room whose metal doors were wide open, like a gaping mouth. "There they are," he said, pointing at several bodies lying on cadaver carriers. "Why are they out in the o
Reckless Hearts 113|Seen And Smelled Death
"I was surprised you went with orchids," said Diane, the beaded strands tinkling softly as she pushed the curtain back in place and returned to her workstation."Aesthetically wise, I would have gone with roses," she added, setting the potted plant on the table. "Anything but roses!" Andrei murmured, running his fingers on the tips of pink tulips peeking out from an elaborate arrangement on the counter beside the cash register."But I like the symbolism behind orchids," she continued, as if Andrei hadn't spoken. Her hands moved deftly as she got down to work and performed magic with the Spanish moss, curly willow vines and some clippers. "Did you know that orchids were associated with virility in ancient Greece? In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child consumed large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl."Andrei didn't know this, of course. He'd chosen orchids for their enduran
Reckless Hearts 112|Vaguely of Sympathy, Jaded Dreams and Romance
A fleshy bud of dark, wilting petals peeked at Andrei amidst the jagged pieces of broken glass. He picked it up, twirling the thin, broken stem between his thumb and forefinger as he scanned the street for a nearby florist shop. When he found none, the coldness in his veins steadily turned to ice. Troubled, he carefully wrapped the withered bulb with his silk handkerchief and stuffed it in the inner breast pocket of his tailored cashmere coat before returning to the car, unable to shake off the unsettling feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. "Lev called," Ivan announced as he watched Andrei buckle up. "He wants us to meet him at the morgue." Andrei glanced at his Cartier and nodded. The next slot for visiting hours at Glen Eagles Mediclinic, where Holly was being kept overnight for observation, was at 7:00 PM. There was still plenty of time before then. "Let's do it," he said, texting Austin, urging him to meet him at Crush around 10:00 PM. After a flurry of back-a
Reckless Hearts 111|Sliver Of Light
Long after the police vans and emergency services vehicles were gone and the news cameras had stopped rolling, Church Street was back to normal. Well, as normal as it would ever be after all the horror it had seen. Of course, some shops were closed, including the luxury car dealership Holly's Porsche had crashed into. There was no way they would have stayed open after all the mayhem. But for other establishments, it was business as usual. People went about their day. Life carried on uninterrupted, like it was any other regular Tuesday, and a bloody cartel war was an everyday occurrence. "You wanted to see the place. You've seen it. I think it's time to go," said Ivan, the walls of the car trembling when he turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. "Not yet," Andrei stopped him, touching his arm briefly before exiting the car. "For fuck's sake, Boss, you can't do that!" Ivan yelled as he ran after Andrei when he lifted the police tape and approached the cri
Reckless Hearts 110|Biggest Mistake
Without waiting for an invitation, Cooper shut the door with his foot and crossed the room. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Clifton Bay?" Holly croaked, hating how thin and terrified her voice sounded as she watched him place the roses on the nightstand."With this?" Cooper waved his bandaged hand, pulling out his victim card. "I would be if your Russian sociopath lover hadn't maimed me. But that's neither here nor there. How are you holding up?"Without waiting for her to respond, he continued, nonchalant as ever, like they were still on good terms, "I saw the news, and I had to come and see you." When he leaned over and tried to kiss Holly on her forehead, she shrunk away from him and fumbled for the emergency button.Cooper swiftly ripped it from her hands, wagging his finger at her. "Really, Holly, you disappoint me. I thought we were good. I mean, you dropped the protection order—""Because you forced me to!" Holly snapped."No, you wanted to protect your Russian
Reckless Hearts 109|Delayed Dreams
"Please don't be mad at him," Holly said, trying to salvage Liam's friendship with Levi. "I asked him not to tell you anything because I didn't want to worry you.""Bullshit!" Liam snarled, pointing accusingly at Holly. "You asked him to keep his mouth shut to protect Andrei!"Holly had no defence and no comeback because Liam was spot on."How did you get the video?" she asked, her brain struggling to process the dumpster fire she was in. "Colleen sent it to me," Willow replied, her voice barely a whisper. "She thought it would help crack the case. You know, uncover the identities of the masked men who took you guys hostage—""We weren't taken hostage," Holly clarified, but Liam hushed her up, growling at her to stop focusing on the small details."Do you have any idea the world of trouble you're in?" He thundered at her as he approached the bed, ready to throttle her. But Willow held him back just when Holly thought he'd take her in his arms and shake her like a rag doll. "I told yo
Reckless Hearts 108|The Whole Truth
Holly was taken into the emergency room as soon as they arrived at the Mediclinic in Glen Eagles, and after an hour or so of checkups and tests, she was given a clean bill of health. But the attending doctor—a young woman fresh out of medical school, with a sincere smile and all her textbook knowledge still crammed in her brain—insisted on keeping her overnight at the hospital just to make sure she didn't have a concussion. "All your tests are looking good. But I must warn you, whiplash, especially after a car crash like the one you were involved in, is normal. We'll give you something for the pain–" Holly zoned out after the part about the whiplash, the white-hot pain searing her knee spreading throughout her entire body like wildfire. "An absolute miracle, I tell you," said the doctor, squeezing Holly's hand before exiting the room with Liam. Two nurses strolled in then and wheeled Holly to a private room on the second floor. When she complained about her knee, even after they g
Reckless Hearts 107|Brush With Death
"Miss Anderson," said the head of security, hugging Holly briefly. "We were so worried about you. I'm sorry it took us so long to get to you. Traffic is backed up to the bridge, and some roads have been closed off." "James, it's okay," Holly said with a smile. "I'm fine." "No, you're not," said Liam, calling her out on her lie as he drew her away from James, only to wrap his arms around her tightly. "Goodness, Holly! Do you know how terrified I was when I got the emergency alert?" "What emergency alert?" Holly asked, a slight frown creasing her forehead as she stared at Liam. "The one you sent." "I didn't send you anything." "Well, I got a text telling me you were involved in a car crash." That explains it, Holly thought, as she squeezed him back, vaguely remembering her Apple watch vibrating like crazy earlier. It wasn't Eric's fault, but her own, for adding Liam as one of her emergency contacts. He wouldn't be here if she hadn't, and she wouldn't have to face a Spanish Inqui
