Luna rested her hands on the large table that stretched across the conference room, leaning forward as her employees gave her their report.“Our properties at Atlanta, Macon and Augusta have been thoroughly checked. No signs of gas leaks, bad wiring, tampered cameras or a break-in,” the manager concluded wearily, stemming from the fatigue of checking buildings day after day. With her eyes closed, Luna nodded in satisfaction, “Mmm, what about those in Bronswell and Dahlonega?” The manager seemed to know that she would ask that question as his lips curled up into a small smile. “Everything’s in order ma'am.”Luna pinched her eyes–an action she did whenever she was tired or frustrated–and let out a sigh, “You all have done a great job. Considering how hard you've all been working, our check-ups will now be weekly,” the faces of her employees lit up with joy at the news.“Seeing as there aren't any issues regarding the rest of our properties, we'll go back to the normal routine check-up
George slumped into the plush couch in his sitting room, as the fading evening light cast a warm orange glow through the windows. Across from him, Alexander settled into the armchair, his eyes fixed intently on George's weary face. “Man…you look like shit,” Alex mused.George narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line as he shot him a glare. “You try apologising to your ex-wife who thinks you betrayed and cheated her all those years ago,” he remarked, his voice rising slightly.Alex's expression turned apologetic as he scratched his head nervously. George hissed, tapping his foot anxiously on the cold tile floor.“Yeah, sorry about that. Why don't you try being honest with her about your feelings and past mistakes? Try explaining to her why you did what you did,” He shrugged and reached out to grab the TV remote on the table. George clenched his eyes closed as he silently seethed, resisting the urge to punch Alex in the face. Letting out a sharp breath, he got up swiftly f
Beep, beep.Beep, beep.The alarm clock on the nightstand buzzed, waking Luna up from her slumber. She groaned and turned over, reaching out to turn it off. A small sigh of fatigue left her lips as she rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the grogginess.Dragging herself off the bed, she stretched her arms and legs, letting out a quiet yawn as she did so.Luna checked the time–it was 7 AM.“Time for a jog,” she mumbled and headed towards the other side of the room. Luna scanned her closet, her fingers trailing over the hangers as she searched for her sleek black jogging suit.Once she found it, Luna made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and change into the outfit she'd selected.It was the weekend and everyone was taking some time off–courtesy of Sophia who insisted that they all needed a break.Truth be told, Luna did need a break and she realised it as soon as the chill air hit her face. As Luna jogged along the curved path in front of the river, the morning sun cast a warm
The hospital's automatic doors slid open as she walked through, and she scrunched her nose as the antiseptic scent hit her like a punch to the gut. She hadn't set foot in a hospital since her mother's passing.The same clinical hallways, the same beeps of machinery, the same hushed whispers of worried families. Every step she took reminded her of the times she visited her sick mother in the hospital, they reminded her of how she failed to prevent her mom's death.As she approached the reception desk, her eyes scanned the area, avoiding the curious glances of the staff. She spotted a nurse with a kind face and approached her. “Excuse me,” Luna said politely, her voice soft. “I'm looking for room 310.”The nurse's eyes flickered to Luna's face, her expression warm. “Are you family?” Luna hesitated, unsure of what to say. “I'm…a close friend.”The nurse nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “Room 310 is on the fourth floor. Elevators are just down that hall. You can take the
The morning sun poured into the room, casting a mild glow that danced across George's face. He blinked, his gaze gradually focusing as the morning light illuminated his face.George winced as he tried to get up from the bed. He glanced at his arm still placed in a cast, it was giving him a really hard time. Even simple tasks became challenges with his dominant hand imprisoned in a stiff cast. Luckily for him, Luna had been there to help him through his pain ever since he'd been discharged. She took very good care of him, occasionally visiting him to care for him and her visits became the highlights of his day.Luna would help him with his medication, prepare his meals, and even assist with his physical therapy exercises.Her patience and kindness were like a soothing balm to his frustrated spirit. As he reflected on those difficult times, George's gratitude towards Luna deepened. She had placed his needs before her own, skipping work and meetings just to cater for him. And George kne
“I'll be fine, Soph. I'm just going for a few days and I'll make sure I keep in touch every day.” Luna inched closer, enveloping her in a warm hug. The corners of her lips pointed downwards, her forehead wrinkling as she buried her face in Luna's neck. “I'll miss you,” she mumbled.Luna chuckled, “I'll be back soon. I just want to be sure we'll never have to see her again.” Standing a few feet behind them, George kept an eye on his watch as they cuddled, waiting for Luna to hurry up so they could leave. When he realised they'd started a new discussion, he cleared his throat and moved closer, interrupting them.“Sorry to intrude, but Luna, we have to go. You can chat with her later over the phone.” Sophia narrowed her eyes at him and gave him a snarl.Leaving Luna's side, she walked up to George, tilting her head up to face him. She directed her index finger at him and waggled it, making him cock his head back. “Listen, George, don't you dare try any funny business with Luna, okay? I
A malicious smile played on Vanessa's lips, her deadly eyes boring into Luna's soul as they came into the room. Although her hands were handcuffed to the table, she tapped her fingers on it in a sinister way, making Luna shudder a bit.Vanessa hadn't changed at all.Even though she'd only seen her once, the memory of what she looked like was still fresh in her brain. Her almond-shaped eyes perfectly accentuated their emerald colour, bringing out that devilish look in her and her skin was still as flawless as ever.But Luna stood tall, broadening her shoulders as she straightened up in front of her.“So, you guys are finally back together,” she stated, rolling her eyes as she leaned back in her chair.Luna glanced at George for a moment who was quietly seething at Vanessa, before she turned her attention back to her. She clenched her jaw, “My building….why did you burn it down?” “What building?”Luna's eyes narrowed, tilting her head slightly to the side as she gave Vanessa a ‘Don’t
Sophia's face lit up on the screen, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “It’s been a wild ride. We've secured three major deals with Nova Solutions, GreenTech and Solo Ventures.”Luna's eyebrows shot up as she leaned back in her chair, taking in the update. “That’s amazing. What kind of numbers are we talking?”Sophia glanced down at her notes, her hair falling around her face. “We’re at $2.6 million in investments, and revenue's up 28%.” Luna let out a low whistle, a wide smile spreading across her face. “Looks like business is booming.”Sophia nodded, her eyes glinting. “Marketing's been crushing it too. Social media’s up 45%, website traffic by 25%.”Luna leaned forward, her elbows on the desk. “What about new clients?”“Fifteen acquired so far.” Sophia's smile grew wider. “And I've got some exciting news – we're in talks with a potential investor who is looking to put in $6.5 million to fuel our expansion.”Luna's eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her lips. “That's huge, Soph.”S
George set his bourbon glass down and leaned back on the couch, his eyes turning to slits as he clenched his jaw. "What is it?" his voice remained calm, a deliberate opposition to the tension in Regina's voice."Luna confronted me tonight at a gala I attended," she said, her words dripping with contempt but George could sense the uneasiness hiding beneath them. "She accused me of lacing her drink that night."His gaze shifted to the crystal glass on his table, the dark amber liquid glowing in the soft lighting of the room. He poured himself another shot, the ice clinking against the glass. "Tell me everything," he said, his voice sounding low and measured.He listened intently as Regina recounted the confrontation, her words spilling at a normal pace. "....and then she had the audacity to walk away from me," she said, spitting out venom as she concluded.George's gaze was fixed on the glass in his hand as he swirled the bourbon in it, watching the liquid sway from side to side. Luna
Marcus raised an eyebrow, curiosity written across his face. “Regina? Why do you want to see her all of a sudden?”Luna’s gaze flicked up, and she smiled, a thin, calculated line. “I just want to talk business with her.”“Suddenly, you want to talk business with her?” he asked, eyeing her inquisitively.“It’s just business, Marcus,” she replied calmly, her tone sounding almost stoic. “Nothing more.”But her mind told a different story, memories flooding back like a dark wave. The last time she’d seen Regina, her senses were clouded because of the substance Regina used to lace her drink. It was all George’s plan though; to have her men take advantage of Luna and capture it all on camera for the whole world to see. Luna’s stomach churned, disgust and fury burning within.Yet, Luke had saved her that night. His intervention had saved her the humiliation, the shame.Luna’s eyes shifted back to the papers on the desk, her brow furrowed as a faint crease formed between her eyebrows. Her lip
Luna’s thumb hovered over the play button, hesitating for a moment before pressing down on the screen. The video sprang to life on her phone with the two brothers filling the frame. She’d watched it countless times, yet the pain still felt like a freshly opened wound.Luna’s eyes narrowed as she analysed the two of them and their every word. Luke’s smile, once warm and beautiful, now seemed manipulative. “…we’re on the same page here. I’ll take care of things here on my end and you don’t have to worry about anything.”The words were laced with such sincerity and his eyes were bright with conviction. He lied to her. He had always lied to her. But she saw the truth now.The way he acted like he didn’t know her history with George, the way he meticulously coaxed her into signing over her shares, and the way he sweetly talked her into revealing her trade secrets. Every single thing became clear to Luna now.Her gaze lingered on George’s face and the smug smile plastered on it as he pa
Luna's eyes stayed glued to the screen, the video replaying for what seemed like the hundredth time since yesterday. His words, laced with conviction, echoed in her mind as he spoke: "We're on the same page here. I'll take care of things on my end and you don't have to worry about anything."Each replay twisted the knife deeper into her heart, destroying the fragile strings of trust she had left. How could she have entrusted her heart, her secrets, and the future of her company to someone who so heartlessly plotted against her?How could she have been so stupid to trust him? Memories of their laughter, their conversations, and passion now mocked her, a bittersweet reminder of her foolishness and vulnerability. The ache within her swelled and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she remembered the kisses and intimate moments they'd shared.A knock on her house door broke through the suffocating silence and it made her skin jump. Luna's gaze shifted toward the door of her room,
Luke leaned back in his chair, fingers intertwined, as the past flooded his mind. His eyes drifted, lost in a maze of memories.That day still lingered in his mind, a festering wound that he'd tried so hard to cover up. It was Sophia's birthday and he'd planned out the perfect surprise. He had been away from Georgia for a month–buried in work–and he just couldn't wait to envelop her in his arms again after so long. The distance between them had been weighing heavily on him, but the thought of reuniting was what kept him going.As he pulled up to Sophia's house, anticipation coursed through his veins. He imagined her bright smile, the cute sparkle in her eyes. But the scene that greeted him shattered his world.The image burned itself into Luke's brain – Sophia, pinned against the wall, with another man's hand roaming her body. Luke's heart stopped beating for a moment as rage and excruciating pain wrestled for the top spot. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut and he was unable t
The scene before her was in disarray and her eyes widened in shock and horror. Papers were scattered everywhere, furniture was overturned, and Sophia stumbled around like a wild animal with a huge bottle of alcohol in her mouth. Luna's nose scrunched up as the smell of whiskey wafted her nose and she caught sight of a broken bottle lying at the corner of the room–this was clearly not her first bottle."Jesus Christ, Sophia, stop! You're going to hurt yourself, what's wrong with you?" Luna pleaded, rushing towards her but Sophia's response was a deadly glare, her eyes blazing with fury and hurt."S-Stay away from me, Luna," she spat. "You backstabbing... cheating...thief!" Her voice cracked, slurred by the inevitable effect of the alcohol. Sophia's face was reddened, and hot tears streamed down her face, mixing with the mascara and ruining her makeup.Luna raised her hands, palms up in a calming gesture. "Sophia, please - we can talk about this,” she said softly.A whimper escaped Soph
Her fingers trembled as she accepted the sealed documents from Em, her name scribbled in bold letters across the front. Em's hesitant expression sparked curiosity, but Luna's focus remained on the papers. "What's this?" she asked, eyeing the package in her hands. The secretary's eyes darted around the living room for a brief moment before settling on Luna. "I had to deliver it by Mr. George's instructions. It seemed urgent and very important," she shuddered, remembering the way he gazed at her unnervingly. Luna's brows furrowed, confusion etched on her face. What could George want with her now? Hadn't he already done enough? With hesitant fingers, she parted the sealed edges. The contents spilt out, revealing a small stack of documents. As she scanned the pages, Luna's eyes slowly widened. Her mind reeled as she struggled to understand the words dancing before her. Shares, assets, and transfer of ownership... Her name was everywhere. And George's signature was boldly inscribed at
George leaned back in the chair, his fingers instinctively tracing circles on Luna's - no - his desk. Memories flooded his mind as his distant gaze stayed fixed on the window, a mix of emotions wrapping around him as he got lost in the past. The warmth of his father's study, the nostalgic scent of old books and cigar smoke–all blended together in a haze. He'd just clocked 20 and the eagerness to prove himself had already begun to fester. "George, you're the future of this family," his father's voice echoed in his mind. "I see the potential and prowess you have. Unlike your brother, Luke," the tone of disappointment in his voice as he called his brother's name wasn't easy to miss. "I'm confident you'll carry our legacy forward, son," he continued, his eyes filled with pride. "You'll make me proud."George's chest swelled with determination as he remembered his father's firm pat on the back. "I won't let you down, Father." And he had meant it. Every word.He still recalled the countl
A week had passed since Luna joined Luke's team, and so far it had been pretty nice working with him. As she settled into her new role, the weight of the past events began to lift off her shoulders. With each passing day, Luna's confidence grew, and her smile returned. She was grateful that she wasn't moping around at home, feeling helpless and lonely.Instead, she spent her days surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Luke's thriving business empire–even though her workload wasn't much. Luke's home energy company, Nova Solutions, was a titan in the industry, breaking new ground on innovative solutions to achieve sustainable living. Luna marvelled at the fact that he'd built the company from scratch years ago, and here it was, excelling in its field. Luna's primary responsibility was to ensure the smooth operation of Luke's tight schedule, coordinate meetings, and manage some projects assigned to her based on her expertise in real estate. Her keen attention to detail and orderly skil