While in the car, Clayton gently drew her near to his body and hugged her.
“Are you this clingy, Mr. Strong?” Emerald chuckled.
“No, I am just making up for the lost time when you were deliberately avoiding me,” Clayton replied as he propped his chin on shoulder.
“Whose fault it was?” Emerald reached out and ran her fingers on his hair.
“Mine,” Clayton admitted that it was wrong for him to decide without consulting her opinion.
As husband and wife they should listen to each other's opinion before deciding.
“Ba
“What’s wrong darling?” Giovanni asked again while he ambled towards the dining table.“Nothing, grandpa. I just felt funny because my mood changes quickly in just a blink of an eye. I was happy and all of the sudden I’m annoyed and wanted to cry.”“That's normal for a pregnant woman, however you must learn to control your emotions as it wouldn’t be good for both of you and the baby. And that would also make things hard for your husband,” Giovanni patted Clayton’s shoulder in a manly manner.Emerald smiled and moped her tear streaked face with her palm and finished her breakfast.“Grandpa, we’ll be heading out,” Cla
Emerald looked at Clayton like she was a deer caught in the headlights.LIke an angry lion Clayton stalked near them.Emerald was expecting to be yanked away from Ian but the opposite happened.Clayton took her gently from Ian and pushed Ian away from them.“Are you hurt?” He saw Emerald backed away from Ian when Ian grabbed her hand.He froze where he stood when she nearly toppled down and was angry by this. Emerald won’t be caught in the situation if Ian didn’t grab her hand in the first place.“I’m fine, babe,” E
Clayton’s face turned pale as his blood ran cold, seeing the blood on her hand.Clayton stood up and took her hand, “Get the first aid kit,” Clayton ordered.Clayton washed her cut with running water and made her seat on the chair. Soon the maid was back with a first aid kit.“Tell me does it hurt like hell?” Clayton asked as Emerald was not whimpering just like the time she sprained her foot.He thought she was just trying to contain the pain so as not to make him freak out.“I’m fine, it hurts but I could stand the pain,” Emerald answered. She herself was wondering what had happ
Freya’s heart sank into the depths of her stomach while her chest tightened.Lowering her head in dejection, Freya hung up the phone.Here she was happily telling Emerald that Red was finally accepting her and all of the sudden they were back to square one.When will he finally let go of Emerald? This love triangle was really complicated. It would be easier for her if Emerald wasn’t her friend.Emerald didn’t know what to tell at the moment. She silently consoled Freya as she took her hand and stroked it.Not long after Freya hung up the phone, she looked up at Emerald, smiling faintly. “I have to go. Th
“Why did she leave so soon?” Clayton was curious that Freya didn’t stay long and saw the sadness in her eyes though she wore a smile on her lips.“Red is waiting for her in the lobby downstairs,” Emerald replied as she took her seat on her swivel chair.“Red should have come up to pick her up,” Clayton commented.“I think he didn’t want to come up,” Emerald shrugged her shoulders.Clayton chuckled. “Red is still struggling. He has yet to come to terms that it is impossible between you. He still has a lingering feeling for you.”“Are you jealous?” Emer
Unable to stomach what was going, Clayton stood.“Let’s go,” Constantine stood as well, following his boss.“Claiming the moral high ground,” Mr. Sealy sardonically said in the hearing of everyone.Being accused as a self - righteous person should have riled up Clayton but he checked his emotion and didn’t give in to what Mr. Sealey intended.“What do you want to do with him?” Constantine asked as they strode away.“All actions have consequences, we don’t have to do anything to him,” Clayton didn’t want to use his time exacting vengeance. So long as they ke
Though Clayton already explained everything to her the night before, she still felt uneasy seeing a woman sitting on her husband’s lap.Emerald hadn’t noticed that her hands around Clayton’s arm tightened.Clayton folded the newspaper and gave it back to Wallace and lovingly caressed Emerald’s hand to mollify her anxiety.“Explain!” Wallace spoke with a stern voice.“What happened?” Coming into the living room, Giovanni noticed the tension.Wallace handed him the newspaper, and he unfolded it right after he took it from him
Clayton turned his attention away from his phone and looked up to Emerald. Entrance by the dazzling smile plastered on the man’s face, Emerald, for a moment held back her breath. Clayton lifted his hand with his phone and said, “Take a look.” “No need.” Ashamed of her attitude, Emerald turned back. ‘You’re shameless!’ she said, reprimanding herself. Her body became taut upon sensing the man stood behind her. Heat emanating from his body. He placed his hands over her shoulders and slowly turned her to him. “I am giving you the right to look at my phone. You are my wife and there should be no secrets between us. We are one, so I don’t think you are invading my privacy.” To begin with, Clayton had nothing to be afraid of as he didn’t do anything to betray her. As a married couple they have to practice accountability so there would be no gray area in their lives. It’s easy for him to fall into a trap when he isn't accountable to his wife. He lightly pinched her chin and li
“Dad!” Maya pouted while Spencer chuckled. He’s used to the father and daughter’s antics. Clayton ignored Maya’s protest and talked to his granddaughter. “And don’t take your grandma and mother’s love for extreme sports.” Clayton looked at Spencer. “Make sure that your daughter won’t get involved in any extreme sports.” “Yes, dad.” Spencer nodded. He too didn’t want his daughter to take a liking to extreme sports. He would surely have a heart attack. “Are you going to make her life dull? No hobby? Just study and take over a company?” Emerald asked in a teasing tone. “Of course not, just no dangerous sports. There are sports that aren’t life threatening. She can choose from those. I can’t teach her to play golf when she grows up.” “That’s a great idea, dad.” Spencer agreed and added. “Maya and I also planned to enroll her for piano, dance and art lessons.” “Really?” Clayton was excited. Clayton wants diversity in their family. He wanted his grandchildren to have different hobbie
Zoey bit her lips. The feeling she had for Maurice was an elephant in the room that she was unwilling to face. Maurice was in a relationship and Zoey didn’t want to be the third party, destroying a relationship. Ignoring her feelings for the man would eventually kill it. That was the reason she didn’t want to admit to herself that she had fallen for the man. “Do you like me, Zoey?” Maurice’s voice was so gentle that it touched Zoey’s heart. Despite knowing that Maurice was currently free and had no girlfriend, she had no courage to confess. “If you say you don’t like me. I will tell mom and ask her to search for another woman that wants to be with me. I don’t want to force you into this relationship, Zoey. I won’t bother you again. ” Zoey's heart thumped painfully in her chest. Just the thought of losing Maurice to another woman was tearing her heart to pieces. “Do you like me, Zoey?” Maurice repeated his question a while ago. “How about you, Maurice?” Zoey asked with teary eyes.
Zoey bit her lips as her entire body and heart turned cold. “Sir, I’m not making an excuse. My phone and wallet had been stolen.” Zoey’s distressed look moved Emerald’s heart. She can’t just watch at the sideline and do nothing to help her. She couldn’t help but imagine her own daughter. What if her daughter, Maya was the one in this situation? Of course, she wanted someone to step in and intervene to help her daughter out of her predicament. “I’ll foot the bill,” Emerald passed on her black card to the server. Grateful that a good samaritan had stepped in to help her, Zoey stood up and bowed several times and unceasingly said, “Thank you.” She was in a foreign land without her phone and any money. If this kind hearted person didn’t take the initiative to help her, she couldn’t imagine what would have happened to her. She didn’t know if justice prevailed in this nation. “Come with us,” Emerald said in a soft voice. Since she had started helping her, she will follow through a
“Ms Desmond,” the man called out, his voice having an edge of huskiness. Recognizing the man, Zoey nodded and said, “Mr Fuller.” Jonathan Fuller was the president of the company that hosted the event. The event was exceptional and everything went well and beyond what he had expected. Since taking his father’s position, this was the first time that he hosted such a big event. He got curious about who was the event specialist that handled their event so well. His assistant took Zoey to meet Jonathan before the event concluded. Jonathan was smitten by the woman’s beauty and grace. “Get in the car. I’ll drive you home.” Confident that Jonathan wasn’t a pervert, Zoey didn’t refuse and hopped into the car. It was almost one in the morning when they arrived at Zoey’s apartment building. Zoey could not unbuckle her seat belt and Jonathan volunteered to help her. Not far from them, Maurice saw everything. From his vantage point it seemed that the man and woman in the sports car were
Zoey was snapped back from her own world and remembered that she wasn’t alone in the living room. She sat on the couch still hugging, Chubby the giant chubby penguin. Having no idea what to talk to, Zoey said nothing. Exhausted from the long journey, Zoey could not stop her eyes from closing when she was hugging the plushy. Maurice observed the sleeping woman, her eyebrows were drawn to a frown and her mouth slightly parted. But it didn’t lessen her beauty to a tiniest bit. “Here you go,” Trina served the hot chocolate drink. One for Maurice and one for Zoey. Trina smiled sheepishly at Maurice. “Zoey, sweetie.” Trina tried to wake Zoey by pulling the plushy away from her. “Mom, no, don’t take away Chubby from me. I missed him so much, I haven’t hugged him for two weeks,” Zoey murmured while she hugged Chubby tighter. Something flashed across Maurice's eyes while listening to Zoey. He took a sip on the hot chocolate while his eyes never left the woman who was mumbling in
Zoey felt Maurice’s body turned rigid. She bit her lips and wished that Maurice would go along with her. The man beside her looked down on her with an unreadable expression, and Zoey gave him a pleading eyes to act along with her. Zoey’s heart thumped strongly, banging her ribcage as she waited for Maurice. “Let’s go,” Maurice said indifferently and guided Zoey to his car. He opened the passenger seat and protected Zoey’s head from hitting the car frame. It was quite a romantic gesture that crushed Nick’s sliver of hope. Inside the car, Zoey fiddled the strap of her handbag, guiltily. “I’m sorry for using you Mr Strong. Please tell me how do I compensate you?” Zoey said but Maurice remained silent. Zoey felt goosebumps covered her entire body at the eerie silence that enveloped the car. “You can compensate me by making a plan for a marriage proposal.” Maverick spoke after an undetermined time of silence. “You have a girlfriend?” Zoey exclaimed in shock and added, quickly. “
Maurice pressed his lips into a thin line, waiting for Zoey to react and decline Tracy’s proposal. Caught unawares, Zoey's mind went haywire and she couldn’t form a word to refuse the idea. She swallowed several times to moisten her dry throat. Seeing that she wasn’t refusing the idea, Maurice frowned and said. “Her apartment is in the opposite direction to the manor. I have to go to bed early.” At this time, Zoey already recovered from her surprise, nodded in agreement and said, “It’s still early, taking a cab isn’t dangerous and I have learned some self - defense. So you don’t have to worry about me.” “Ten o’ clock is already late. Maurice, do me a favor. Drive Zoey to her apartment.” Theo spoke this time, he knew that Maurice would not refuse him. Maurice's hand that was in his pocket balled into a fist. “Please, don’t worry about me. I’m used to taking cabs.” Zoey was telling the truth. Before she managed to buy a second hand car, Zoey used to take cabs even in the dead
“Congratulations, Mr Strong and Ms Wagner,” Zoey said when she was near them. Maverick and Esther, shook hands with Zoey. On the other hand, Maurice who was near them took his phone and pretended to check on his messages.“You did a great job, Ms Desmond,” Maverick gave her two thumbs up. “Thanks Mr Strong but I only managed to come up with that idea because of the information you gave to me about Ms Wagner.” Zoey didn’t want to take all the credits. With clients' willingness to give her an input she was able to come up with such ideas. “By the way, Ms Desmond, I will introduce you to my siblings and in - laws, who knows, perhaps they will be your clients soon. That man wearing a black suit with gold tie is Theo, my eldest brother and his wife, Tracy. Next to her is my sister, Maya. Well we are triplets, and Maurice is my identical twin. Next to Maya is her husband, Spencer. And also the one seated on Maurice’s left side is Esther's best friend, Betty with her boyfriend, Rex.” Zoe
Although she had made a decision to let her know that she saw Maverick leaving the hotel with a beautiful woman, she found it hard to begin. “What? Cat got your tongue?” Esther teased her to alleviate the tense atmosphere. Betty swallowed before opening her mouth to speak but the phone atop her desk rang, stopping her from disclosing what she saw. She picked up the handset. “Come to my office,” Betty heard the familiar voice and her body went straight like a ramrod. “Okay sir,” Betty answered and she looked at Esther while putting down the handset. “I’ll talk to you later, the boss wants me to report to his office.” “Okay,” Esther sighed. Meanwhile in his office, Maverick was tapping his fingers on his table as he waited for Betty. “Come in,” he said as the first knock. “Betty, I need your help,” Maverick said as soon as he saw Betty enter the office. Betty couldn't help but frown, she couldn’t forget that he and a woman got into the same car, leaving the hotel. B