SHAWNAThe door to the hall was opened and my grandfather stepped in. The way he walked in made everyone look back, a lot of people let out shocked gasps.Eugene looked like she wanted to jump into the nearest well or something. She just looks so ashamed and shocked at the same time.Grandfather walked majestically to the front, stopping by the board members who occupied the front seat. They all just looked more than shocked to see him.“Okay, I think I like this kind of surprise, you all look so shocked to see me that it's funny." He chuckled dryly, definitely not humorously.“And that makes me wonder if it's because of the things that are going on in the company currently or basically how you all have let me down?”He didn't even need a microphone for his voice to be heard, the hall was quiet enough for that. I watched as they all shrunk back into their seat, each of them trying so hard to not look at Grandfather in the face."You all really disappointed me, I won't even lie. I made
EUGENE“I swear that I've seen this face somewhere before I was locked up before." One of the ladies walking past me said.What she just said made the other girls walking with her stop too. I just ignored them, going back to scratching my legs.The air around here and everything here was just so different from what I'm used to. I've not tasted water or anything since I came here.“Same here, I recognize her. You know I was telling you this same thing yesterday.” The other one said.They walked closer to me, all with their eyes trained on me. I just hope they go their way because there's no way I'm letting them go if they insult you."Hey, the loner. What's your name?” The one at the front asked me."Just go away," I said, gesturing at them to go away with my hand too.“Even the voice sounds familiar, it sounds like that of someone I hear on the news. What's your name? What do you do normally?” The other one asked."Wait, is this Eugene Brown?” The third girl that haven't said anything
SHAWNA“Good morning, ma'am." My new assistant, Cara said to me as I got to the floor. She smiled professionally at me, walking into the office with me.I've changed everything around here, to the extent of changing the office room design, it's just like this is a brand new building once again."Good morning, Cara. What do you have for me this morning?” I asked her, returning the smile and energy she gave me.“Nothing much, you don't have any physical meetings today, they're all just physical meetings." She replied, going over the iPad she had in her hand.I settled on my seat and looked up at her. I rested against the chair, turning around a bit. I changed every bit of equipment in this office.I don't know, but it feels like using the same things she used when she was still here made it feel like I'm doing the wrong thing.Even if the assistant has been changed, there's just no way I'll let that girl work with me again. I just had to let her go while I employed another person.And i
SHAWNAI couldn't stay at the prison for long. Eugene wasn't even willing to talk to me again. I left with the promise of visiting her more often, that didn't sit well with her, of course.Just as I got out of the station, my phone started ringing. When I saw that it was Damien, a smile came up on my face. My entire face was warm.“Is someone missing me?” I teased as I answered the call."I think so, and we can meet right now if you'll meet me at our favorite spot,” he said."Really? Are you there right now?” I asked him, pausing by my car.“Yes, I'm waiting for you, come over." He said.He doesn't even have to say that twice. I was already thinking of what to do for the rest of the day since I've closed for the day, I'm done with all I have to do already.“I'll be with you shortly, stay right there," I told him.“I'll always wait for you." He said, his face very calm and soft.“Okay then, I guess I'll see you soon," I said then ended the call.I got into my car and drove towards the
SHAWNADamien looked back at the voice, he stood up immediately he saw the person who called his name. I didn't see his face very well, but it looked like was smiling.“Stacey, it's been years!" He exclaimed. They both hugged and laughed like they'd been away for years and they were just reconciling, which they were.“It has been years indeed. I didn't know I'd see you here though, I just knew that voice and the back view looked familiar." She giggled.I badly wanted to butt in there, she didn't look like someone who didn't know he was here when she was coming here, she walked straight to him without an iota of doubt in her.“Really? What are you doing here though? Both in the country and this place, you traveled out years ago." He asked her.I just sat down on the blanket while they talked away. It felt like I wasn't even there at all.“I did travel out to relocate. But I'm back here finally now, I made some mistakes years ago that I'm back to correct and start life all over again."
SHAWNAIs she mentally deranged or what? Because I can't just seem to understand why she'd say something like that. Damien is not a kid or toy that should be claimed that way.The fact that she walked away before I could give her a response was even more annoying, I was too stunned to say anything to her.Since we were almost at my car before she said that, I just got in. I drove off with my head filled with different thoughts. I didn't want to think too much about what just happened, I didn't want to be sad so soon already.I just started getting happy, there's no way I'll let anyone soil my happiness with her delusions. Damien doesn't have anything to do with her again, right? She just came out of her hiding ten years ago.I drove home, playing my favorite song on the car's speaker. I'm trying so hard to not let anything make me sad at all. She's not just enough to bring up that emotion in me.On getting home, I saw only my mom up. The kids and their grandfather were fast asleep, th
SHAWNAThe excited look on my face dimmed when I saw that it was a necklace, what was I even expecting? Why was I that happy? My heart dipped a lot when I saw what happened to be in the box.“I just thought I'd give you an apology gift, I owe you one." He said as he stretched out the gift towards me. I just kept staring at the shining object dangling in his hand.“I don't think I understand you, why are you giving me a necklace?" I asked even though he just clearly stated the reason he got it for me.“It's an apology gift. I'm sorry that I had the picnic ruined that way, and that's why I'm offering this as an apology.” He rephrased the sentence he said before.I stared at the necklace, he was still stretching it out to me. I honestly just don't know if the reason I'm mad is because I mistook the content of that box being something else.I eventually took the necklace from him but I was still mad, I didn't want to be so rude that I didn't take the gift from him. But what I had in mind
EUGENEI scratched my hair, the scalp was itching me so hard that I just wanted to pull it out or something. I can't remember the last time I had it washed.And the fact that the kind of heat that's around this side is just too much, there's almost no form of ventilation in the room. I was placed in the worst room around this side.“Hey, liar. Come over here.” One of those ladies that I fought with that day catcalled me. I just ignored them like I've been doing.I just want to be on my own but these ladies don't seem to understand that. Lillian was about to walk closer to me, definitely about to start trouble with me.Before she could get to me, a warder interrupted us."Eugene Brown, someone is here to see you,” he said, turning around almost immediately.I walked after him, knowing that those ladies would come after me if I didn't go now. I wonder who's waiting outside for me, I have an inkling that it's my mother though.She has been the one visiting me since I've been here. My fat
SHAWNAI followed Damien out of the boardroom, my heels clicking against the marble floor as I sighed exaggeratedly. "I feel like all we do is attend parties," I complained, shaking my head. "First, it was the gala, then the investor's dinner, and now we have to prepare for the annual company ball?"Damien chuckled, adjusting his cufflinks as we walked. "Well, at least we’ve stopped running around dealing with crises. I’d say that’s progress.""If you say so," I muttered, though I wasn’t entirely convinced. "Three days is such short notice. I don’t even have a dress yet.""Oh no, whatever will you do?" Damien teased, smirking. "It’s not like you have an entire wardrobe filled with designer dresses."I rolled my eyes. "You don’t understand. The annual company ball is different. Everything has to be perfect. It’s not just about looking nice, it’s about making a statement. People notice everything."Damien chuckled, clearly amused by my dilemma. "Shawna, you could show up in a garbage ba
PHOEBEThe moment I saw him, I didn’t even think. “Ramon?”His head snapped up, his dark eyes narrowing as they locked onto mine. “Phoebe?”I stepped closer, weaving through the line of applicants as a few people turned to watch. Ramon looked like he wanted to disappear. “What are you doing here?” I asked, still in disbelief.He crossed his arms. “I should be asking you that. What, are you stalking me now?”I rolled my eyes. “Oh please. I work here.”His brows shot up. “You? What could you possibly be doing here? Applying for a job you don’t need?” His lips curled into a smirk. “Figured you’d get bored of spending Daddy’s money eventually.”I laughed, shaking my head. “No, actually. I’m not here for an interview because this is my company.”The amusement in his expression vanished. “What?”“This…” I gestured around the office space “is my company. Lance Industry. I built it after I finished school.”Ramon stared at me for a second, his mouth slightly open as if trying to decide whethe
PHOEBEI sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to explain everything to my parents. “Ramon left… angrily,” I said softly, still feeling guilty.Mom frowned, sitting up a little. “Angrily? Why?”I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. “Because when we got to the hospital… the police thought he had kidnapped me.”Dad’s face darkened instantly. “What?”“They arrested him right there at the entrance,” I admitted, my voice laced with frustration. “They didn’t even ask questions. They just assumed the worst because of how he looked.”Mom gasped. “Phoebe… that’s horrible.”I nodded. “I tried explaining that he saved me, that he was just helping, but they wouldn’t listen at first. It took a lot of convincing before they finally let him go.”Dad ran a hand down his face. “So that’s why he left upset.”Later that evening, mom was discharged and she told me to lead them to Ramon’s place. As soon as we pulled up in front of Ramon’s house, I could already tell this was a mistake. The place w
PHOEBEMy hands trembled as I read the messages over and over again, my vision blurring with panic. My heart pounded against my ribs. Mom had passed out because of me. My mother was in the hospital.I stumbled to my feet, grabbing Ramon’s arm. “Take me to the hospital. Now.”Ramon frowned, his hands still stuffed in his pockets. “What?”“My mom—she’s in the hospital. I need to get there,” I choked out, barely able to breathe.His face shifted slightly, from irritation to something else. Concern? Annoyance? I couldn’t tell. “What happened?”“Because of me!” I snapped. “She passed out because I left. Please, Ramon. Just take me there.”He exhaled sharply but grabbed his keys. “Fine. Let’s go.”The ride to the hospital was silent except for the rapid beating of my heart in my ears. I kept my eyes on my phone, but I couldn’t bring myself to text my brothers back. I was too scared of what they might say.As soon as we arrived at the hospital parking lot, I barely waited for the car to stop
PHOEBERamon led me into his house, and I immediately took in the small but neat living room. It wasn’t extravagant, but it had a cozy, lived-in feel. A dark brown couch sat against one wall, a small television across from it. A few shelves held books and random trinkets. The scent of coffee and something faintly musky lingered in the air."Nice place," I said sincerely, turning to face him.I watched as Ramon scoffed, tossing his helmet onto the couch with a careless thud. His place was small but neat, dimly lit by a single overhead bulb. The faint scent of leather and motor oil clung to the air, a stark contrast to the floral and citrus-scented halls of my home.“Don’t flatter me, princess,” he muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. “I’ve been to your house. One of your bedrooms is bigger than this entire place.”I blinked at the bitterness in his tone. “That’s not what I meant. I was just—”“Just what?” He turned to face me fully, arms crossed, eyes dark with something unr
SHAWNAI paced the living room, my arms wrapped around myself as I stared at the phone in my hand. The call had gone straight to voicemail. Again."She's not picking up," I whispered, my throat tightening. "Her phone is off."Jasper frowned, his own phone pressed to his ear. "Mine too. She's not answering anyone."I turned to my husband, my chest constricting. "This was a mistake, wasn’t it? I never should’ve let her leave. I should’ve stopped her."My voice cracked, and before I could hold back, tears spilled down my face. My husband, Damien, was beside me in an instant, pulling me into his arms."Shawna, she’ll be fine," Damien assured me, rubbing slow circles on my back. His voice was calm, but I could feel the tension in his muscles, the worry he was trying so hard to suppress. "Phoebe’s smart. She’s strong.""But she’s alone!" I pulled back, my voice rising despite my best efforts to keep it steady. My heart pounded against my ribs, my hands trembling as I clutched at his shirt.
PHOEBEThe men laughed, their cruel amusement echoing in the dark alley. My breath came in shallow gasps as I took another step back, but there was nowhere to go."You really thought someone would help you?" the stocky one sneered. "You’re in the wrong part of town, sweetheart. No one’s coming."The tallest one cracked his knuckles again, his grin widening. "Might as well stop screaming. Save your energy."Panic clawed at my chest. My heart hammered as they advanced."No! Get away from me!" I screamed, thrashing as hands grabbed my arms. I kicked my foot connecting with someone’s shin. He cursed, but another pair of hands yanked at my jacket. I felt the fabric rip, the cold air hitting my skin as my shirt followed.Terror surged through me. "Please, stop! Let me go!"A deafening roar filled the alley. Not a scream. Not a shout. An engine. A motorcycle.The hands-on me hesitated, just for a second, before a blur of movement shot through the dimly lit alley.A figure in black jumped off
PHOEBEBilly grabbed my arm as I zipped up my suitcase. "Phoebe, think this through. You’re acting reckless."I yanked my arm free. "No, I’m acting like an adult who’s tired of being treated like a child. I need space. I need to breathe."Jasper crossed his arms, his face unreadable. "And you think running off in the middle of the night is the way to do that?""I don’t care what you think," I shot back, dragging my suitcase toward the door. "I’m leaving tonight."Shawna stepped in front of me, her eyes pleading. "Phoebe, please. At least wait until morning. It’s late, and—""No." I shook my head, my grip tightening around the suitcase handle. "If I don’t go now, you guys will find a way to guilt me into staying. And I refuse to be guilt-tripped any longer."Everyone fell silent. I could see it in their faces—hurt, frustration, helplessness. For a split second, my resolve wavered. Then I reminded myself why I was doing this. I needed to be on my own. I needed to live my life without th
PHOEBEJasper stiffened, his expression darkening. Billy’s mouth fell slightly open, and for a second, there was only silence.Then Jasper’s voice, low and sharp, cut through the tension. "Are you serious right now, Phoebe?"I crossed my arms. "Yes, I’m serious. You both act like I need a full-time security detail when I’m just trying to live my life. But I wasn’t the one who got kidnapped, was I?"Billy let out a short, disbelieving laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Wow. That’s low, even for you."Jasper took a step closer, his eyes blazing. "You think just because it didn’t happen to you, it didn’t affect you? It affected all of us, Phoebe. We almost lost Billy! And if you had been in the wrong place that day, it could’ve been you."I scoffed. "But it wasn’t. And yet, here we are, years later, and I’m the one being treated like a prisoner!"Billy shook his head, his hands on his hips. "You don’t get it, do you? We’re not overprotective because we want to control you. We’re like