Emerald pursed her lips. Truly, Clayton is as stubborn as a mule just as Leonardo said. She can't persuade him to leave her and there's no way for her to stop him from going with her to the art gallery opening."Suit yourself," Emerald went to her lounge room and took a shower. On the other hand, Clayton called Constantine. "I'm going to an event, I need to change. I'm at Emerald's office." Constantine whistled. "Sure, lover boy." "Shut up!" Clayton snapped at him. "What's wrong with you? You should be in a good mood that she asked you to be her date." What he said only worsened Clayton's mood instead of making it better. Is he insulting him? Emerald didn't ask him to be her date. He insisted and Emerald acquiesced. Clayton hung up the phone as he didn't want to hear anything from him. Half an hour later, Constantine came with a new set of suits and the other things he needed. "Why do you look like the world owes you?" Constantine asked as he laid the thing he brought on th
The following day, the death of Charlotte has become the talk of the entire upper society in Westfield. "Who would have guessed that she's such a despicable woman." Freya's mom, Francine, said while having a coffee with her friends. "No you're wrong, there are a few people who knew about her illicit affairs while her husband was still alive." Helen replied, shaking her head. "Her involvement with a gang leader had proven the speculation that her husband has shady business." Cynthia chimed in. "It's a shame, they have tarnished the name of the Jacksons." Francine said. "Do you know that Henry Jackson is alive?" Gloria asked the group. Gloria learned it from her uncle, the lawyer of the Jacksons. "Really?!" Francine exclaimed. Her eyes grew wide in surprise. Henry is her husband's friend. Why didn't they know it? "Yes, my uncle told me." Gloria said, nodding her head. "And you know what, his step - mother had plotted against him and hired someone to kill him. Fortunate
"Pregnant?" Harrison's voice boomed out of nowhere.Francine quickly stood before Harrison and stroked his back.“Thanks for that great news, doctor," she smiled at the doctor. "If you could please, excuse us doctor. Our family would want to celebrate the news alone ""Of course, madam!" The doctor recognized Harrison and Francine West."You are pregnant?" Harrison asked with an unreadable expression at the doctor's departure."That's what the doctor said," Freya shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe, there was a mistake.""It's not," Francine was convinced that F
Clayton could not say, he came to visit a family as Red will know that he was lying."I came to visit a friend," Clayton answered in the end. Then he looked at Red. "Grandpa is waiting for you to visit him."Clayton took precaution and diverted the subject.Harrison's eyes went from Clayton to Red. "Are you related to each other?""We're cousins," Red answered."Oh, really?" Harrison's eyes flickered with excitement. "So, we will be related to you by marriage."Clayton looked at Red askance."I'm g
Emerald observed Clayton's reaction but couldn't read him as he was expressionless.There was not even a hint of surprise as though he had anticipated it."I won't deny it. I went to see her because of my brother. But I am sending her abroad," Clayton answered.Emerald looked away and peered outside the car.Emerald wondered how long he was going to repay for what his brother had done for him? Did he really have to do that despite the damage Lizzy did to their relationship?If it wasn't for her, her relationship with Clayton wouldn't have crumbled.Emerald knew t
The next day Clayton and Emerald boarded the helicopter and flew for about thirty minutes. Mr. Johnson was there waiting for them as they landed. There were people with him and they took Emerald and Clayton's suitcases. "This way, Mr. Strong and Ms Emerald," Mr Johnson said and led the way to the car waiting to transport them up the mountain. Emerald was in awe of the development they made in the island as they traveled the winding road. She saw the picture of the island prior to the development. It was already beautiful but it became more beautiful. The project is now in its final pace, so she imagined an excellent outcome after the development is completed. "What do you think?" Clayton's warm breath fanned against Emerald's cheek resulting in a flushed face. She trained her eyes on the road and replied, "They did a great job." She refused to look at him, as she knew how red her face was at the moment. Even so, her beet red ears and neck betrayed her. As they we
Clayton's face inched forward eating up the distance between their faces and pressed his lips on hers. Thrown off guard, Emerald's mind was in a haze. There was a fierce battle within her as Clayton was coaxing her to kiss back. Her mysophobia said no and the other part said yes. The latter part overthrew the former and Emerald responded to his kiss. They were lost in their passion, kissing for a long time. "Clayton, no!" Emerald pushed him away when he was on the verge of taking her. Her voice snapped him back and in an instant he regained his control albeit with much difficulty. Clayton got up. He got dressed and went to take a shirt and sweatpants from the wardrobe. "Put this on," Clayton gave the articles of clothing to her and then strode to the couch to sleep. However, sleep had long evaded him. At the same time, Emerald had also struggled to sleep. Dawn was breaking in. Rain had finally stopped. The eerie gray light illuminated the cabin. Clayton could
"Ms. Fowler, refrain from speaking like that. Others might misunderstand your words." Clayton said coldly as he felt someone was watching them. Clayton was tricked. He was expecting to meet Georgia's father so he didn't bring Constantine with him. After the incident with Charlotte, Clayton became wary of meeting a woman alone. When he came in, Georgia was sitting there. She told him that she was her father's representative. But Clayton refused to sit and left. But, Georgia was adamant to make him stay so she followed him and deliberately said those things when she caught sight that someone had come out of the door from the other private room. "We are both adults, whatever happened inside had nothing to do with outsiders," Georgia replied. "Are you really that desperate?" Clayton said in a mocking tone. "Yes, I will make you mine. Use all means to have you, even giving my father's company to have you," Georgia replied. Georgia's family hailed from Grenwalt. They're the we
“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