GINA
Driving into darkness
I was looking over some files in my office, the quiet hum of the air conditioning mingling with my thoughts. My desk was strewn with documents, proposals for the upcoming quarter, and reports that needed my immediate attention. For a moment, the chaos of corporate life felt manageable as I focused on the numbers and projections. Everything felt routine until the door creaked open, and in walked Fred.
“Hey,” he just said.
Something wasn’t right. He looked like he was about to give up the ghost. His face was pale, and he wore an expression that screamed discomfort. It caught me off guard. Just that morning, we had left for work together, both of us full of energy. We laughed and joked during the drive, our favorite music playing softly in the background, the kind
GINA Love has left me heartbroken!My heart raced as I picked up the telecom and dialed my secretary's number. “Viola, please come to my office at once,” I instructed, my tone leaving no room for debate.When she arrived, I wasted no time. “What other meetings do I have scheduled for the rest of the day?” I asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.She looked confused, flipping through her notes. “Well, you have the brainstorming session with the marketing team, the budget review with finance, and then a dinner meeting with potential investors.”“Cancel all of them,” I ordered, my voice rising unexpectedly.Her eyes widened in shock. “But, ma'am, those meetings are extremely important! We could lose important partners because…”“Cancel or consider yourself sacked!” I nearly yelled, cutting her off. The urgency of the situation pushed my impatience over the edge. The look on her face was a mix of confusion and concern, but I didn’t care.“I’m leaving and won’t return until t
FRED She's a tsunami!I fell right into Ashley's trap. The moment I did, I knew there was no getting out of it, no matter how much I tried to. The situation was a complete mess, one I created with my own hands. Or rather, with my own careless thumbs. I’ve never been more frustrated with myself.It all started with what should have been a romantic evening. Gina, my girlfriend, was everything I wanted in a woman—kind, smart, funny, and absolutely stunning. I wanted to surprise her with a special night to celebrate our anniversary. I had planned everything down to the last detail. The bed was made with fresh sheets, soft music was ready to play, and I had scattered petals across the floor. It was cheesy, sure, but Gina loved that kind of thing.To add a little spice to the night, I decided to text her something bold. I wasn’t the type to send daring messages, but this time, I wanted to push the boundaries. So, I took a deep breath, snapped a pic
ROCHELLE A Day Off with Mr. BenMr. Ben had surprisingly given me the day off from work. "But on one condition," he said, while I was still trying to wrap my head around it. It was such a sudden turn of events. I had not done anything special to deserve this kind of treatment. In fact, my mind was racing with thoughts about the projects I had to finish and the clients I needed to call on his behalf. I looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.“What condition, sir?” I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side. Ben, with his usual confident demeanor, suddenly had a twinkle in his eye that made me even more intrigued. He reached into his sleek designer bag and pulled out something wrapped in black silk. He placed it gently on the table between us.“Open it,” he said, his smile widening as he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying this moment.“I should open it?” I asked, feeling the excitement bubbling inside me. This was all so unexpected. I
ROCHELLE That kiss…..As we made our way down to his sleek black car, he opened the door for me, an effortless gesture that made me feel special. I slid into the leather seat, and he closed the door behind me before striding around to the driver’s side. Every little thing he did made me feel like a queen, a feeling I was not used to.The drive to the restaurant was accompanied by light chatter, which gradually eased my nerves. We talked about everything and nothing, laughing at silly anecdotes and sharing bits about our lives. I discovered that he had a secret passion for cooking, which surprised me. A man like him, a billionaire business mogul, cooking? It didn’t fit the profile I had imagined.“Maybe you’ll have to cook for me sometime,” I te
ARIES Jealousy or…?Rochelle had returned from work less than two hours after she left, looking very excited. It wasn’t exactly like her to rush home, especially when her duties at the office always seemed to stretch longer than expected. But today, she walked through the door with a bright smile on her face, the kind of smile that lit up any room. Her hair bounced lightly with each step she took, and the sway of her hips was almost hypnotic.I had been sitting on the couch, scrolling through my phone absentmindedly, but that smile pulled me away from the screen. It looked so out of place in our apartment, which was usually quiet and fairly serious. I couldn’t help b
ARIES Fantasy night!“You’re probably going to think I’m ridiculous,” she said with a charming smile, “but I really like him. We had this amazing conversation, and he kind of gets me.” “Kind of?” I echoed, my voice lighting with skepticism. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. A lot! He’s really brilliant, and he can talk about everything from finance to art. I’ve never met anyone like him before.” I tried to mask my irritation. “And that’s why you like him?” “That’s just part of it! Plus, he’s funny!” she added, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Rochelle, I just really want you to be careful,” I said, my tone shifting almost protective again. “Yes, mama bear!” she shot back, folding her arms in mock seriousness, but I could see her playfulness was waning. “Okay, okay. I’ll ease up,” I relented, feeling a little defeated. “But please keep us in the loop, alright?” “Sure!” she grinned, but deep down, her smile felt like someone pulling away. I could see the
FRED What if she did?I was really worried about Gina. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one echoing louder than the last, while my fingers tapped nervously on the glass surface of the table. It was getting really late, and she still had not returned from work. My heart sank a little as I thought about it. I had missed her call earlier, and that made my worry deepen. What could be taking her so long?Gina was dedicated to her job, but she was not the type to stay after hours unless something was seriously wrong. I picked up my phone, staring at it like it was going to magically give me answers. Nothing happened. I cursed myself for missing her call. What if she needed me? What if something had gone wrong? I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of worry inside me.“Just call her,” I whispered to myself. I retrieved my phone from the table, my thumb hovered over her name in my contacts list, but then an idea knotted my
ROCHELLE I feel like an idiot right now!I couldn't tell why, but I had a feeling that something was going to go off at work that day. It was a sensation that clung to me like a shadow, lingering just at the back of my mind. Maybe it was the storm clouds gathering outside, or perhaps it was the uneasy feeling in my stomach. Whatever it was, I could sense that the day ahead would not be normal.Before I left for work that morning, Aries walked into my bedroom just as I was getting dressed. His presence filled the room with warmth, and he reached out to caress my shoulder as I pulled my blouse over my head.“Hey, beautiful,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss against my neck. The gesture was meant to be comforting, and I wished I could lean into it fully. But instead, I felt distance creeping in, an invisible barrier formed by the worry that churned inside me.As I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down my blouse, I caught Aries’ reflection. His brow furrowed as he noticed
DELIGHT Out of sight!I stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time that day, my patience thinning with each passing second. Aries and Adrien had promised to call as soon as the arms for Edgar were ready. It wasn’t just any arms deal—this was for Edgar, the ruthless Mafia lord of the Red Sect, and he was breathing down my neck with threats that didn’t feel empty.I couldn’t understand it. Aries and Adrien were never this careless, especially not with Edgar involved. They had assured me they’d handle everything, and all I needed to do was show up and pick up the supplies. But here I was, waiting like a fool, trying to calm my nerves.The silence was maddening. I tapped my phone, pulling up Aries’ number first. It rang and rang, but he didn’t pick up. Next, Adrien. Same result. I left a voicemail, trying to keep my tone even though I was fuming inside.“Aries, Adrien, it’s Delight. Where the hell are you guys? Edgar’s losing his patience, and so am I. If
ADRIEN The only way out!I felt a knot in my stomach as the cops carefully searched through our things. I could practically feel the tension in the air, like this whole encounter was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.After what felt like hours—although it was likely just a few minutes—the officers stepped back into the living room, empty-handed but not defeated. “We know you two have your hands dirty,” the lead officer said, fixing us both with a steely gaze. “You’re not as smart as you think you are. We will be keeping our eyes on you.”Aries scoffed. “You can’t prove anything against us. You’ve got nothing. We’re innocent. You found nothing on us, remember.”“You can play that game all you want,” the officer replied coldly. “But mark my words, we won’t be far behind you.”“Hope you keep up with the pace of the game,” Aries smiled.“We shall see about that,” he replied.With that, they turned and left, the door clicking shut behind them. The moment we were al
ADRIEN A City on FireThe tension in the city was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel it in the air every time I stepped outside. The streets that had once buzzed with life were now filled with an ominous silence, interrupted only by the distant sounds of sirens and gunfire. Each day brought new reports of gang wars escalating, innocent lives caught in the crossfire. My heart sank further with each headline I read or news bulletin I heard. This was no longer a city; it had become a battleground.Sitting in our living room that afternoon, I glanced over at Aries, who was scrolling through a news article on his phone. His face was set in a frown, evidence of the weight pressing down on his shoulders. Both of us had seen what this life did to the people of this city, yet here we were, playing our part in it. “Look at this, Adrien,” Aries said, his voice gruff. “Another shooting last night. A seven year old girl. Just like that, her li
ROCHELLEI broke the ice!The rhythmic sound of my heart thumped loudly in my ears as I lay in bed. I couldn’t shake the burning memory of dinner with Prince Herold from last night. The disdain he had for women echoed in my mind like a haunting song. How could someone so powerful be so disgustingly ignorant?Just as I settled deeper into my thoughts, a heavy bang jolted me awake.“Open the fucki
ROCHELLE Racist!As Dos Santos led me back toward the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. I had finally seen them again, and now I had to leave? Why was everything so complicated?The ride back to the mansion felt like a blur. I sat in silence, mulling over the events of the day. Deep down, I wished things were different, that I could just walk up to Aries and Adrien and tell them I was alive, that I was okay. Once we returned home, the maids were already waiting for me, dressed in their crisp uniforms, ready to prepare me for dinner. I had little choice in the matter; I could feel their urgency as they moved me to a lavish room filled with expensive beauty products.“Please, who is this boss?” I asked one of the maids while they applied makeup, but she remained silent as always, only smiling at me. It frustrated me to hell, honestly.“Is he important? What does he look like?” I couldn’t help but press. Again, I was met with silence and mo
ROCHELLEI saw them… Aries and Adrien!I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the large window of my room. The sun streamed in, painting the walls golden. For a moment, I forgot where I was. My memories raced back, grabbing hold of me like a vise. I was no longer in my own home, but rather a mansion I didn’t recognize, hidden away in Tijuana, Mexico.Every morning was the same. I would stretch, taking in the lavish surroundings that felt eerily like a dream. I looked around a
ADRIEN More questions than answers!We moved from clinic to clinic, asking questions, scanning records, but still no sign of Rochelle. Frustration began sinking in, gnawing at the edges of our hopes. At one hospital, we were met with the same disheartening response—they had no record of her. I could feel the spark of hope dimming, giving way to doubt. “What if the sheriff was right?” I asked Aries, dread pooling in my stomach. “What if she really is gone? What if it was another person's autopsy result that was mistaken for Rochelle's?”A lot of what ifs.“No!” he snapped, determination coursing through him. “I refuse to believe that. Rochelle is strong. She wouldn’t just disappear into thin air without leaving us a clue as to what happened. Come on, don't tell me you've given up”“I don't know what to say,” I admitted.“Then let's talk less and act more,” he said. “We have a long way to go before we can call it quits,” he added.There was nothing to admire about his faith… bli
ADRIEN Searching for the dead!I could barely contain my excitement as I sat in the car next to Aries. It felt surreal that we were driving to the sheriff's office, finally about to confront the circumstances surrounding Rochelle. The thought that she might still be alive was like a burning flame in my chest. We hadn’t spoken much since we got the news, but every glance I tossed at Aries echoed the same sentiment. Hope.“Can you believe it?” I said, breaking the silence that clung heavily between us. “Rochelle might actually be out there!”Aries turned to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and excitement. “I can’t. I always thought... I thought we’d lost her for good. After everything.”I nodded, feeling my pulse quickening as we pulled into the small parking lot of the sheriff’s office. “Let’s find out how far they’ve gone in trying to find her. We need to know, dammit.”We entered the building, and instantly I felt the change in atmosphere. The walls carried a weight
DELIGHT Covering my tracks!The world stood still when I heard the news. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The autopsy showed that Rochelle was not the woman buried.What? How?My nails dug into the soft leather of the armchair as the information sank in. It couldn’t be. I had made sure of it. Rochelle was supposed to be dead, lying six feet under, with no way of ever coming back to haunt me. But now, the news confirmed what I feared the most. I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.“Are you okay, Delight?” Adrien’s voice cut through my racing thoughts.I quickly schooled my expression, offering him a weak smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”But they weren’t looking at me. Aries and Adrien were completely engrossed in the news report on the TV. For the first time in several weeks, I saw the fire in their eyes, the spark that Rochelle’s supposed death had dimmed. And it made my blood boil.“Did you hear that?” Aries said,