Reyona knew something was wrong the moment she stepped out of her office. Actually, she had known seconds earlier. She had been antsy since she got back to work, and she couldn’t settle down no matter what she did. She had tried to contact CEO Jordan to ask him to persuade his partner or whatever she had to do to not let that asshole screw her over. The personal line he had given her had gone straight to voicemail. Michelle told her he wasn’t back in office yet. “Oh, I can’t predict his movement,” was what the assistant said when Reyona asked if she knew when he would be back. So, she was back to where she started from. And the prospect of going back to the rental house for any culinary adventure holds about as much excitement for her as being poked in the eye. So, like a caged lion, she moved from her desk to the opulent seating area at the other end of her office. She tried to work, but the numbers seemed to be playing tricks on her eyes. She tried to read a book she had s
Bad news spreads faster than good news.The phenomenon was not different in Reyona’s case.She started checking the comments and reposts.The original post had been reposted more than one hundred times already.Comments upon comments danced before Reyona’s eyes as she scrolled fast and furiously.Most of them were tagging her company pages.Bloggers had started posting about it.#chronicleofacheater was everywhere.Reyona couldn’t even begin to imagine the extent of the damage.Her office phone rang, and she contemplated letting go of it, but she knew that was not the moment to ignore her calls.There are people who count on her.People would be sorely disappointed about what they were seeing and reading about her.She picked up the call on the third ring.“Good afternoon, CEO Lanoth. Have you seen...?”“Yes, I have seen it, Roaurke. It is not true.”“But you…”“Yes, I was the one in the video, but the narrative is wrong.”The man on the other end sighed and said, “You need to do some
The chairman of the bidding committee called Andrew’s office immediately after he got the news about the clip. When Michelle informed him that Andrew was not in and he might not be coming in soon, the woman informed Michelle of the urgency of the call. So, Michelle had to call Andrew’s wife in order to get in touch with Andrew. Within a few minutes, Andrews had spoken with the bidding chairman, who was afraid that they might have made a horrible mistake by giving their contract to such a horrid woman. Having little tolerance for dramatics, Andrews told the woman to get on with what she wanted to say or get off the phone. “Saying it wouldn’t matter. You have to see it.” With that, she sent the video link to Andrew’s email. Andrew automatically clicked on the link, and Celia, who was standing right behind him, gasped. She thumped him on the shoulder as she said, “Andrew Sean Jordan, how dare you? Is this your way of telling me that I am no longer attractive to you now that I loo
Maxwell disconnected the call and reached for his system.He had just opened the tracking section when the visuals on the TV changed and a chirpy reporter announced that there was an impromptu press conference from ReyDexter LLC.The name was what caught Maxwell’s attention, and he turned swiftly to face the TV.The distance did nothing to reduce the reaction she always caused in his body.There she stood, all poised and professional.Anyone looking at her would never believe that she was the woman whose sex tape had just been released for all of Tom, Dick, and Harry to watch.It was gallant of her to even dare to show her face to the world at the moment, as most people in her situation would have simply given a press release or said nothing at all.She looked calm and collected, with only a red-haired younger lady standing a few paces behind her.Maxwell knew who that lady was, but at the moment, all he had eyes for was Reyona.He stood up from behind the table where he was seated in
Divorce? What is this talk about divorce? CEO Lanoth is leaving her husband for her lover. Is she that kind of person? As loud whispers and murmurs resounded clearly to everyone watching, the young lady behind Reyona launched herself towards Thomas. “You asshole! How dare you talk to my sister like..." Maxwell was already out of the door by the time the live conference got disconnected. He wished he could lay his hands on Lanoth at that moment. Thoughts mingled with shock rippled through him as he drove as fast as he could towards ReyDexter. Reporters vans were pulling out when he got there. He was less concerned about them at the moment. He saw one of them stay behind and wait as Thomas got thrown out of the company. “Can you see that?” Thomas was screeching at the top of his lungs. When he saw the reporter approaching him, he quickly rearranged himself and looked squarely into the camera. Even before the reporter could ask any questions, Thomas said, “I am a man who bel
ReyDexter Boss traded her husband for a richer lover! The rich win again! Masked man revealed! Cuckolded husband beaten to a pulp by lover. Pornstar CEO to divorce husband for her lover. The husband got cheated on in his own bed. These and more were the taglines trending over the following days. Apart from the failed press conference, no one had seen Reyona in public since then, and that seemed to drive the public into a frenzy. Reyona held a conference call with all their clients to explain how things are for them. She made them realise that what happened was a vengeful tactic to bring her company down. She also tried to assure them that the scandal would not affect their cooperation in any way. Even at that, some of her clients cancelled their contracts with ReyDexter. The most painful part of that for Reyona was the fact that two of those customers were people she had known back when she was still using a dingy office for her startup. Most of them had been startups back
When the call came through, Reyona was tempted to simply let it ring until it disconnected.Even though it was a Saturday, she had been on calls throughout the night trying to get international companies to come aboard.Kayooma was known for its emphasis on culture and reputation.No business was totally separated from the owner in the eyes of people.Reyona couldn’t blame the clients who pulled out of ReyDexter; she knew they were just trying to save their own companies from facing backlash.That was why she would forever be grateful to those who stood by ReyDexter, despite the fact that they knew what the implications would be.Since trying to get new clients at that moment was like hitting one’s head against the wall to create a path, Reyona decided to actively look beyond the shores of Kayooma.Though ReyDexter had international clients, Kayooma had always been their main base of clientele.Time to change that, Reyona thought, and that was what she had been working on mostly since
“I think you don’t take your clients or business seriously enough,” he said simply. What? What the hell is this bastard talking about now? Reyona reeled in her anger as she felt a headache coming on. She gingerly stood up from where she was seated. She had to stifle the groan that almost escaped her mouth as her muscles cramped suddenly. She inhaled deeply and sank to the floor immediately “What is going on?” he asked from the other end. What? He heard her? Reyona wondered, embarrassed. She inhaled slowly to steady her voice. Then, as she rubbed her shin, she answered carefully. “Nothing is wrong. Now, please, if you are done with your analysis of how I handle my business, I need to go.” She tamped down on the electrifying feeling in her feet as she gingerly stood on it. She reached out to disconnect the call, but his words stopped her. “There was ongoing cooperation between our companies, wasn’t there? Isn’t it irresponsible of you to just leave us hanging without furthe
Dear Reader, Thank you so much for following this journey from the beginning to this point. I appreciate your comments, votes, review and continuous reading. You are my real MVP. Reyona's story has come to an end here as she went on to live happily ever after while navigating the beauty and trials of life with the love of her life. But then Toria's story is just about to begin. What do you say to navigating Toria's new journey as she confronts her rollercoaster feelings for Andreas while dealing with the powerful Kanellis family and forces determined to keep them apart? Would you like to see if a headstrong, free-spirited lady like Toria can fit into the imperious and honourable family while she fights her demons? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Thank you for being here. Do check out my other books. I am Kabirat Aleem.
“.... I promise to love and cherish you for as long as we live and beyond. I will respect you and always remember that you are my partner before anyone else. I will put you and our family first in my decisions. You are mine in totality just as I am yours. Together we shall grow in loyalty, in abundance, in comradeship, in support and eternal love. I will forever be by your side in everything that comes our way on this journey of life….”“I, Maxwell Rohan, take you, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, as my lawfully wedded wife today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until I breathe my last.”“I, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, take you, Maxwell Rohan, as my lawfully wedded husband today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until the day I die.”As her sister and her husband completed the vows they had worked on themselves and slid the rings on each other's fingers, Toria tried hard to keep her tears at bay as the minister said, “You may kiss
The past month had been the most heart-filling one for Reyona.She watched as Allysyn lolled Sophie's bassinet while showing her something in the picture book she had in her hand.Meanwhile, Junior jiggled the rattle above Lucas to the delight of the baby and the hopping dog.An inexplicable bliss filled her at the thought that these belonged to her.These beautiful blessings that had been bestowed upon her when she least expected them were a solid part of her story.Reyona leaned back in her chair with a big smile on her face as she reached for her drink.“Rey, you are glowing. I mean, you are literally glowing. You should see your face right now. Hold on.”Toria quickly took a few snaps with her phone before turning the phone around to face Reyona.Reyona smiled as she looked at the pictures while sipping her mimosa.Although she couldn't see herself literally glowing as Toria had said, she loved what she saw.The woman in the picture looked…fulfilled.Long gone was the anxious, sad
Two Months Later“Does this mean we will have to call you Mum and Dad now?” Allysyn asked in a solemn tone.Reyona looked at Maxwell with a smile before responding to Allysyn.“It means we are forever your family now. It means we have got you forever. In as much as you do not forget that, what you call us doesn't matter.”Although she knew how beautiful it would be to hear them use those words.“I am Thomas Junior Rohan?” Junior asked with his head tilted after he pronounced what he had been using his hand to trail in spelling.“Do you like being Junior Rohan?” Reyona asked with a smile.He looked thoughtful for about ten seconds before saying, “I love it.” To Maxwell, he said, “Does this mean I get to drive your car now?”Reyona and Maxwell laughed as Allysyn rolled her eyes.Reyona sucked in her breath as the laughter waned.“Well, maybe in the future, if you've been very good, of course. But not yet.”“Aww,” Junior said with a pout. Then he brightened in the next second. “I will be
The call was from his head of security.Reyona listened to his terse response to the person on the call.Then, just as he took the turn towards his estate, she felt her phone buzz.She frowned as she saw that it was a message from Maxwell.“We have a guest,” it says.She looked at the back of his head as she wondered why he couldn't just say that directly instead of sending it as a message.She was about to ask him who it was when she looked beyond the windscreen and saw the police cruiser.Her heart kicked against her rib and she looked downwards to check if the even-breathing Allysyn had slept off or something.“Look, Max! The police!” Junior shouted excitedly as he pointed at the spot where the police officer was just turning away from the man he was speaking to, the head of security.Allysyn's lax body went taut as she jerked upward, looked in the direction that Junior was pointing at, and then back at Reyona.She had a mixture of fear, question and uncertainty in her face.Reyona
Reyona and Maxwell went together to take the kids from school that day.Despite their fears that some unrelenting reporters might have decided to call them about what happened or ambush them for an interview about what they felt about Thomas's death, nothing of such happened.The school was also free of any lurking reporters or paparazzi.It was either they had decided that Thomas's death was not as worthy of news as his scandal had been, or they were still jeering up to blast the family with all they got later.Whatever it was, they were glad as they waited in silence in front of the school for closing time.Soon enough, school was over for the day.Maxwell came out as the students came out en masse.Soon enough, they saw Allysyn and Junior.Junior was skipping alongside Allysyn while dragging his backpack along and shouting some words at a friend who was going towards another car parked close by.He was being his jovial self as he waved hard at the friend and asked him not to forget
Reyona's head jerked upward as she heard Maxwell's voice.Then she looked sideways when she heard a growling sound.Jerking his head from Reyona to Maxwell, Skippy's pupils had dilated so much that they almost covered his entire eyes.His growl continued as he looked confused about where he should escape.Reyona realised what was going on as she saw Maxwell standing at the entrance, blocking his escape route.He felt cornered!She realised as the dog backed away while his growl increased in pitch.“Maxwell, move,” she said urgently, and he automatically stepped aside.The dog hopped past him in a flash.The dog kept going without stopping at all.Maxwell shook his head and went to Reyona. “What was that about?” He asked in an incredulous voice.“We were building a friendship,” Reyona said with a pout.“That was friendship?” Maxwell asked in disbelief.“Well, we were about to. Then you…do you think they do therapy for dogs?” She asked in contemplation.Maxwell started chuckling, “Ah, a
The soothing sound of the water reminded Reyona of the brook that ran through their homes in Bellevue Hill.She felt completely blissful in the oasis that Maxwell had surprised her with.It was exactly a replica of the one in her home in Sydney.After their dinner that night, Reyona was still pretending to be miffed at him because he wouldn't tell her if he really was the one who donated to the orphanage she had opened in her grandmother's name.Then, as if he didn't notice, he told her to check out something.“I am still mad at you,” She had said as she folded her arms above her belly and gave him a mutinous look.“It is a good thing that you are a versatile woman then. You could be mad at me and still come check this out. You will be glad you did. I promise.” He said innocently.Then, just as Reyona pretended she had not made up her mind yet, he swept her off her feet.How can he still carry her so effortlessly? She wondered as she squealed “Maxwell!”That was the first time the pap
Reyona had no intention of having the wedding while she was still pregnant.“It is called ‘walk down the aisle’, not waddle down the aisle'. Thank you.”That had been her argument and everyone had agreed with her.Not after Toria had added that their dad could carry her.“Then it will be ‘float down the aisle'” she had said in jest.They all came to an agreement that the wedding preparations would start after she had given birth in about two months.They spent the night in the hotel, and they all visited The King’s Creek to pay obeisance to Grams before their parents’ and Toria's departure.Maxwell, Reyona and the kids will stay back in Boowag until the jet got back.Stefan and his co-pilot were to carry Gladys and Carlisle to their destinations before coming back for them.It would take Gladys home first, then make a stopover at Milan to drop Carlisle before coming back.Toria had a standby jet that had brought her to Boowag and Kayooma for the preparation of the surprise and all.Of