Kevin I opened the office door and beckoned Eddy in. I pulled him into a corner so we could talk without Luke hearing us. My office was super big, thankfully. I enjoyed having a lot of space where I spent most of my time.It was a big dilemma. I couldn’t afford to lose the business I’d already invested heavily in, but still his demands were far too high and time was extremely short.“He wants a double!” I said in a fierce voice.He looked at me in amazement. I liked him the most because we could understand each other by our looks. We thought alike and had the same fears.“Yes, but with half the amount up front. Otherwise, I say we don’t risk it. Raise the price too.”I didn’t answer him. I went back to my desk chair, where Luke was waiting for me. “Yes, I’ll help you, though your request is difficult. The price goes up 10% and we want half up front. It’s the only way I can help you,” I told him sternly. I wanted it to be clear from his voice that there was no room for further ne
Olivia“Calm down and listen to me! Luke is trying to provoke you and he succeeds. You’ve started to get too angry and are no longer focusing on the real reason for our meeting. We can’t afford to lose this deal. There’s a huge amount of money at stake, but also your reputation.”We all stood mute, listening intently to the entire discussion between the two. We were glad that the plan Frank had set up with his two colleagues had succeeded and that the boy introduced to the house had done his job better than anyone could have expected. To be honest, I was also glad that the voice I had heard had proved me right.“I congratulate you on the way you thought things through. You’ve done an excellent job with these microphones. I didn’t think you were capable of so much.” “You underestimated me?” he asked me, feigning surprise. “Something like that,” I replied, laughing. I expected him to agree with me, but possibly his male ego wouldn’t allow him to.... “Looks like you’ve st
Mike It amazed me at the ease with which Emily filled the page that was open on her new laptop. She was living every sentence that was littering the white sheets. Though Andy and I continued to chat next to her, her thoughts were flowing with ease. It wasn’t hard to tell the joy that washed over her soul. Her face was as serene as ever. I had never seen her so beautiful. She radiated light, love, and pleasure. The joy on her face was special. It reminded me of the only birthday my father ever came home. He had forgotten that it was my birthday like every year, except that on that day, lucky for me, he had an easier day at the office and came home early. When I saw him, I jumped into his arms and thanked him for coming to my birthday party. He was surprised, then pretended to come for me. I didn’t care why he had come. What mattered to me was that he was with me. His presence was the best gift. That innocent joy I felt then, I felt now in Emily. “I have a surprise for you t
KevinThe bar, for me, was like a place of refuge, an escape, but also the best place to close deals. I had created this place to make my partners feel they were welcomed into the room with open arms. The atmosphere that greeted them should be a promise of a night full of adventure and unforgettable experiences.In the room, the light spread diffusely, creating an atmosphere of mystery. The chandeliers emitted a warm light that embraced the room with an enigmatic aura, outlining vague shadows and silhouettes on the walls. It seemed as if the space was shrouded in a veil of unanswered questions, and the soft light played discreetly with every corner and every object, as if staging a dance of shapes and shadows. The sound of music, muffled and rhythmic, filled the room, heightening the already palpable tension. The subtle smell of alcohol and tobacco hung in the air, adding a touch of decadence and excess to the atmosphere of the room.“WOW! I’ve seen nothing like this in anyone. I don’
Kevin“Hey! Are we toasting or not?” Luke’s voice was so excited. He was in a good mood and that was because of Carla.As Luke spoke, a subtle smile played on my lips, masked beneath my calm appearance. His gaze, however, seemed to pierce beyond words.“Here’s to a successful day. Today I got two very important contracts for my business,” I told him with a smile.“Two?” Luke asked me in wonder.“Yes! The next contract we’ll be celebrating on the fine, hot sand of Blue Wave Resort,” I said enthusiastically, grinning. Our eyes met for a few seconds.As the tension grew, our eyes met in a silent struggle. Behind my wry smile lurked an iron resolve to never be defeated, and Luke felt his confidence slip through his fingers.“You’ll be my guest, dear Kevin. Last night when I talked to the salesman, he told me that seventy percent I would get the contract,” Luke said, trying to intimidate me. His eyes were alert to my reaction, hoping he would catch me off guard.“Wrong Luke. I’ve just been
OliviaI was proud of our success. The information we gained was invaluable. We knew it was going to get easier to catch Kevin.The evening went well. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in such a good and optimistic mood. It turned out that Frank and I could work together without taking our eyes off each other. The only thing that made me uneasy was the look on his face. It intimidated me, which pissed me off.I had mixed feelings when I was around him, and the fear that I might inadvertently betray those feelings haunted me. I loved Frank with all my heart, but my past made me fear rejection again. The memory of the past haunted me like a dark shadow.I couldn’t bear another rejection. The one in the past was enough to mark my existence. All my life I had in mind Eduard’s mocking laughter when I confessed my feelings to him. I should have realized then that a cocky boy like him, the star of the high school, couldn’t look at a withdrawn student who loved spending her free time in t
Emily It was an unfamiliar feeling. I didn’t know what it was like to have a father or what it was like to love him. The security I felt in his arms was unparalleled. It was unlike any other hug. I couldn’t compare it to anything. Maybe only the sun’s rays warm you after a cold rain. Even the heartbeat was different. It beat louder, more erratically. And the tears that streamed down my face unceasingly were like a gentle caress.His warmth, which I had lacked all my life, enveloped me completely. I clung desperately to every second, never wanting this moment to end. I finally felt complete, loved, I felt like his daughter. It was the embrace of my dearest man, my father. “We have a contract to sign. Shall we go?” he asked, still holding me in his arms. Neither will give up that hug, or rather, the most desired hug.I was sure he felt the same way I did. Our union came like a rainbow after the storm. “It should. It’s not nice to keep us waiting. Besides, we have our whole lives to e
Kevin “Fill the glass faster. What are you waiting for? Special invitations to serve me? What am I paying you for?” I yelled at the boy in front of me.Even I couldn’t understand why I was angrier than a bull in a torrid heat. I had a good day. I got more than I expected. It had been a great day, even so, why did I feel so angry?It was obvious, but why did I want to hide it? The answer was simple, but I seemed to deny it. Maybe I didn’t want to admit that even the great Kevin was being brought to his knees by a woman who didn’t even belong in our dirty world. I didn’t want anyone to know that I had fallen in love with a woman who had won me over with simple gestures. To others, these were insignificant, but to me, at that moment, they had immense meaning. The insistent ringing of the phone irritated me even more. I didn’t want to answer it, but it kept ringing.“Damn it, where’s Eddy now?” I screamed in thought. “Call Eddy. Let him come!” I shouted out loud. “Boss, he’s not here,
EMILYI still couldn’t believe everything we had experienced on the last day. It was all worth writing. I was sure it would make a wonderful book. A novel to write about my life story.It was unbelievable. Susan ruined my life, and she saved it. I was home because of her. Why had she sacrificed her life for us?“Why did you do that?” I finally asked her.“What did I do?” she asked me defiantly.“Why did you save me? You know you won’t have a quiet life with Kevin now.”“I won’t have a quiet life, anyway. My parents don’t want to see me and he’s with Carla. He’s sick of me. Besides, Carla’s willing to sacrifice even more than I have. She broke into the house of Kevin’s worst enemy just to get information for him,” she told me. “I also have pictures of her, Luke and other rivals of Kevin’s in various compromising situations and poses. When Kevin was fighting between life and death, she was partying with the rich guys and I was nursing him. But as soon as she came to her senses, she turn
MIKEI rushed over and pulled Eddy’s body off Emily. She was terrified! The crying and panic was preventing her from breathing normally. Her heart was pounding like crazy. She grabbed her torn dress and clutched it to her chest. She didn’t realize it was me next to her and not someone else. What had that bastard done to her?I tried to pick her up, but she pulled away. She was still in shock. She couldn’t realize I was there.“Baby, it’s me, Mike. You’re safe now.”She looked at me with wide eyes. When she realized I was indeed beside her, she released the wellspring of tears and threw herself into my arms.“We have to hurry. If Kevin comes back, it won’t be good for us,” Susan said from the doorway of the room.I picked Emily up and followed Susan. She knew how to sneak out of sight of Kevin’s bodyguards. The house was empty, so we went through quickly. We went down to the garage and got into a roomy station wagon. Susan was in front of the wheel and Emily and I climbed into the trun
EMILY“Maybe? Have you checked to see if we’re siblings?” I asked in a nonchalant tone. I wanted to be stronger than Kevin could have ever imagined.I didn’t want to continue the conversation. I ran for the door, wanting to leave the room, but Kevin grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Eddy quickly came up beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. He glared at him, then turned back to me.“Stay here until I finish everything I have to say. Don’t you ever dare let me speak alone again. Besides, you’re not going anywhere. Here you’ll rot. This will be your grave,” he screamed.“I...” I was more afraid than ever, but not for myself but for what he was about to say.“I always thought you were his daughter. I took a DNA test to confirm it and that’s when I relieved myself.”“Then what do you want from me? I’m not the fruit of sin. I’m not your sister.”“You are not the fruit of sin, but you are the fruit of my childhood torment. I swore I would make you mine and give you the life I lived be
EMILY“You lied to me?” I screamed.“How else would I get my hands on you?” he asked me mockingly.“Kevin, you don’t get to play with people’s lives the way you want. Why don’t you mind your own life and let us live ours? I promise I’ll talk Olivia into destroying your file,” I tried to convince him, hoping I could talk him down.“And you want me to believe you?” He asked harshly.“I’m not like you! I don’t lie!” I replied curtly.“Emily, you’re mine and you’re mine forever, whether you like it,” he continued in a calm tone.“You can do whatever you want with me, but leave them alone. Don’t touch them, they don’t answer to me,” I replied just as dryly.“Wow! Little princess claws out! My dear, you are in no position to negotiate or threaten. I remind you that you are in my territory. One command and you’re dead,” he replied sadistically.“Kevin, I’m not scared of you and you know it,” I said fiercely.“You really don’t know how to lie. You’re more afraid than you’ve ever felt. I can r
EMILYI was afraid, more afraid than ever. Kevin was so unpredictable. He proved to be more dangerous than anyone else. He came back from the dead and was ready to destroy us all. I didn’t know what would happen to me there.In the end, it didn’t matter what happened to me. All I cared about was the safety of the people I loved. He promised Mike’s release if I stood by him. I wanted peace for everyone. My life was meaningless without Mike.The closer I got to the meeting place, the harder my heart pounded. I could feel it not in my chest where it belonged, but it was rising into my throat in a big, painful lump that was sapping my strength.In front of Menfail Park, a black car with tinted windows waited for me, just as the message had said. I looked around before opening the back door and seeing that there were no familiar eyes, I quickly got in.To my surprise, there was only a driver in the car who didn’t even say hello. As soon as I got in, I got another text message:“This phone
MIKECouldn’t believe that this bastard has so many lives, like a damn cat. I hated him. I even came to hate him more than anything else in the world. What had I done wrong to want him to see me destroyed?He kidnapped my wife and my unborn child, even though I left and withdrew from his life. I left him everything, but it still wasn’t right. What else did he want? Emily was mine. I wouldn’t leave her to anyone. I was fighting for her, as I wasn’t willing to lose her, too. Mary caused me enough pain. Then, when I saw Emily lifeless, it was cruel.I knew for sure where he was hiding, and I wasn’t afraid of him or his goons. Rather than live a panic-stricken life, then fight with my life. I was doing it for the woman I loved and for myself. I owed myself, Mary, and Emily.I raced at top speed toward the house where the bastard was holed up. I felt my blood boiling and my heart pounding with the rage I felt.When I got there, I burst through the gate, oblivious to the guards running afte
EmilyAs I stepped into the driveway in front of the house, my emotions overwhelmed me. I felt like I saw Kevin in front of me with every step. I even felt like I heard him.“I should have taken Olivia up on her offer to stay at Frank’s,” I thought angrily to myself.At Olivia’s wedding, I felt like all that wound had healed, but I realized there was still a flame smoldering in the depths of my heart.Mike got to know me very well and realized right away that the past broke my peace. I feared for a second that I might be overcome with jealousy, but I soon realized that Mike was not that kind of man. To my relief, Mike realized he was the only one I loved, but that the wounds of the past still hurt. Still, he knew, or at least I hoped he knew, that no one and nothing had any place between us. I only wanted him in my life!I opened the door carefully, as I had the wedding night scene in my eyes and in my ears. I could hear, like a melody on repeat, Kevin’s words that I had heard when I
KEVINI wish I could have seen my idiot brother’s face when Eddy shot his girlfriend. Actually, his mistress was because she was still my wife.“Honey, please don’t get up. You’re still in a delicate state.” I hated being nagged, especially by Susan. She’d always been a nag who thought by throwing herself on my bed she’d have me in her clutches like a puppy. Except her plans didn’t coincide with mine, so I quickly chased her away. “You must be cautious, as you’re still weak. You’ve had a very serious accident and you haven’t fully recovered,” she continued, rousing me from my reverie.“Leave me! Get lost!” I yelled at her.“But ....” she tried to apologize in a trembling voice. I honestly had more important things to do than listen to her.“What don’t you get? I said leave!” I yelled at her again.“Kevin!” she said and walked closer to me. She tried to stroke my cheek, but I got so annoyed that I hit her across the face with all my strength. She looked at me with wide, questioning eye
Emily“Thanks for everything, baby. I loved the concert so much and especially the dedication you gave me,” I told her flushed.“What? Were you still in a coma?” he asked, surprised.“I don’t know how to explain, but I could hear everything. I wanted to wake up, but something was drawing me into a distant, pure world, something dreamlike. It felt so good there, but I was sad about your suffering. I don’t know if it was all real or just dreams, but I felt present in two totally different worlds,” I tried to explain.Mike smiled gently. He struck my cheek, then lifted my left hand and kissed it. The engagement ring gleamed beautifully in the beating sunlight that streamed nonchalantly in through the large parlor window.“Never mind what it was. You’re here with me now and that’s the most important thing right now. I love you infinitely wonderful woman!” he told me.His daily care helped me recover faster than the doctors expected. They always said that love works wonders, and that I was