The living room in the Strong Manor was lively when Maverick returned home. Laughter’s imbued the living room as the twins were comically making faces as though they were trying to entertain the adults.
“They're so adorable!” Maya giggled as she took a video of the twins.
“Troy and Thea, look at aunt Maya,” she called the twins’ attention and they both responded to her, making faces.
Theo caught sight of Maverick and said, smiling. “How’s the new CEO doing?”
Theo always had a good relationship with his siblings. Maya only acted a brat towards him because of Tracy. She and Tracy were best friends, but Theo broke Tracy’s heart that the
Realizing that she has no right to ask for his explanation, Esther turned to leave Maverick’s office so she could pack her things.“Where are you going?” Maverick asked when she pulled the door open.“I’m going to pack my things, sir,” Esther answered timidly. Just his voice intimidated Esther.Before Esther was abandoned by her parents to her grandparents, she was verbally and physically abused by her parents. And that caused her timid personality. Whenever she detects anger emanating a person she’s terrified. Maverick’s cold voice and gaze makes her feel uneasy.“Come back here when you're done,” Maverick commanded.
Unable to identify who her boss was between the two, Esther's eyes moved from left to right repeatedly. It dawned on her that she didn’t really pay much attention to her boss’ appearance. It wasn’t that Maverick wasn’t attractive. It was just that Esther’s mind was fixed in building up her career that she hadn’t noticed Maverick.Perceiving that she was confused, Maverick was saddened. She had seen him in the company a lot of times and they have been in close contact for the last two days. Maverick expected her to tell the difference between him and Maurice.Maverick has emerald green eyes like his mom and he has a wavy raven hair color and pillowy lips. On the other hand, Maurice has blue eye color like Clayton, dark brown wavy hair, thin lips and he was fairer than Maverick.
The following day, Esther arrived at the company building. Disdain was in the eyes of the employees as they surveyed Esther from head to toe while whispering.Unconcerned about the undisguised contempt she was receiving, Esther kept walking until she was in the employees elevator.She wasn’t guilty, she did nothing wrong. Why would she let those judgemental gazes get under her skin? If she did wrong, then she won’t have the balls to come into the office. Esther was not a thick skinned woman. If she did something wrong she won’t have the courage to show herself but since her conscience was clear she has nothing to be afraid of.When she reached her work station, Esther began her work right away, wasting not a single second. She brought out
In a fluid motion, Maverick scooped Esther in his arms. But before he left he looked at Penelope and the employees with his bone chilling gaze. The whole place was filled with the stifling aura emanating from him.Everybody, under his piercing gaze, shuddered and cowered. They could not make a sound, afraid that they would incur his wrath.Maverick gaze finally settled on Betty who had just stood up from the floor. “Follow me to my office.”He knew that Betty was the only person in the office that Esther was close to. Betty followed behind Maverick. Though her appearance was unkempt, Betty held her head high.Esther was so shy to even look at Maverick at this point, hid her face on her
A sullen look appeared across Maverick’s handsome face. He marched out of his office towards Esther’s workstation.‘This woman is heartless’ Maverick bitterly complained in his heart upon seeing that she was already eating.He stood before her desk and pulled the lunch box away from Esther, looking at her with a pout on his lips.Esther looked up and couldn’t help but snicker seeing his expression. Esther crouched down and picked a lunch box from her treasured tote bag.“Here, this one is yours,” she said as she deposited the packed lunch on the table and pulled the lunch box away from him.
Esther held Betty’s hand as she didn’t want a repeat of what happened this morning. It was traumatic for her as it only evoked the fear she already forgot. She had been physically abused when she was a child and the trauma it left her took years before she eventually forgot about it. But today’s incident brought back the painful memory.Little did Esther know that Maverick heard everything that the woman said. Maverick’s blood boiled while listening to the woman’s remark against Esther.Maverick stood and approached the table and looked at the woman with a condescending smile. He growled. “Are you bitter because you couldn’t get a rich man?”“Excuse me? Who are you to judge me? Even when you’re ric
Esther frowned at his answer. She was having a headache on how to turn down the persistent man.“Do you want me to repeat my answer again?” Esther couldn’t keep her irritation anymore and it seeped through her voice.“No need, I have to go now.” Maverick said, turned and left before Esther could form a word.Esther wasn’t an unfeeling woman, she could feel his loneliness but she doesn't have the courage to get into a relationship.She was afraid that she would be like her aunt who got depressed and became lunatic because her husband cheated on her and left her for another woman. Her aunt had a promising future, she was an architect but her life was ruined b
Hearing her grandma shouting, Zoey released Maurice collar but that was before giving him a death glare.Maurice fixed his shirt while scrutinizing the insolent woman before him and then he turned to look at the old woman.“Mrs Desmond, everything had been taken care of. Your bill has been covered. And here is the check to compensate you.”Irritated, Zoey reached out for the check and tore it into pieces. “Do you think we are after your money? You rich people always think you can just get away because of your money.”“Zoey, the young man is now sorry. Why don’t you let it go?” Mrs Demond helplessly said. Her granddaughter has developed a dislike towar
“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