The sound of children’s laughter filled Rachel’s home as she walked in, the familiar noise washing over her with a mix of comfort and exhaustion. Dante was sitting at the kitchen table, absorbed in a game on his tablet, while Damian and Danielle played with their toys on the living room rug. The whisper of a lullaby played through the speakers, enveloping the room in a cocoon of sound. Rachel took a deep breath and sank onto the arm of the couch, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on her.“Hey, Mom! Can you help me find the dragon? Dante called, not looking up.A message from Max.“Just a reminder about dinner tonight. Hope you’re ready!”Rachel looked at the screen, the feeling of warmth in the response battling the coldness of the internal vacuum of confusion. It had been a long day filled with too many questions and not enough answers. The thought of leaving the kids at home made her hesitate. What if something happened? But she pushed the worry aside. She needed a break,
The conference room was dimly lit, the morning sun filtering through the blinds in muted stripes. Ethan sat at the head of the table, his jaw tight, eyes sharp as he looked around at the gathered team. Danny, his secretary, adjusted her blazer as she took her seat beside him, her expression unreadable but her eyes alert. Lucas and Liam stood off to the side, their postures tense. Greg, the tech manager, shifted his weight nervously, glancing at Danny, who had a no-nonsense look on her face.Ethan’s voice cut through the silence. “The leak during my trip with Rachel almost cost us a major deal, and I want answers.Greg swallowed, eyes darting to Lucas and Liam before landing back on Ethan. “We’re working on it, Ethan. I'm looking for the leak's source," says Greg“You’d better, Ethan said, his tone low, the room’s atmosphere heavy with his frustration. “We can't afford another hit like that. We need to know how our systems were breached.”Lucas, who had been silent until now, stepped f
Ethan sat at his desk, reviewing the latest reports from the design team, his sharp gaze scanning every line. His focus was interrupted when his phone buzzed beside him. He glanced at the screen: Sophia Greenwood,His Fiancée.For a moment, he considered ignoring it. He wasn’t in the mood for another one of Sophia’s dramatic conversations. But when the phone rang a second time, he sighed and picked it up. “Sophia,” he said curtly. “Ethan,” her voice was sharp, demanding. “We need to talk. Now.” “I’m in the middle of work, Sophia. Whatever it is, it’ll have to wait.” “Work?” she scoffed. “Is your work more important than planning our wedding? Or are you avoiding me again?” Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m handling critical matters for my company.” “Well, this is critical too,” Sophia snapped. “I’m coming to your office.” “No, Sophia,” Ethan said firmly. “I don’t want this conversation to turn into a scene. Let’s meet at the Azure Lounge in a
Ethan reclined back in his chair and fixed his gaze on his computer while reviewing the quarterly reports. The office was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional typing sounds from Danny outside. He was fully absorbed in what he was doing when the sound of heels clicking on the tile floor shattered his immersion.“Mr. Ethan?” Danny’s voice filtered through the intercom.“Yes?”“There’s someone here to see you.”“Do I have an appointment? Ethan asked, already annoyed at the interruption.“No, but it’s Rachel.”Ethan straightened, and a sudden flicker of surprise appeared on his face. He quickly schooled his features into neutrality. “Send her in.”The door opened, and Rachel stepped inside, her presence immediately filling the room. She was dressed in a fitted green blouse and black trousers, her hair loosely tied back. She carried a confident air, but Ethan noticed the faint tiredness in her eyes.Rachel," he remarked calmly, and his voice did not reve
The sun was low over the skyline, daubing it with slivers of the setting sun. Rachel had emerged from Ethan's office with a cocktail of feelings, relief that he had spared her pitch, mixed with worry about the hurricane of complications that Sophia 's mere presence might unleash. Nevertheless, because Ethan had compelled her to partake of a meal, she had been somewhat relieved.Walking to her car, parked a few blocks away, Rachel was unable to stop the suspicion that she was the target of surveillance. Her heels made a sound upon the pavement as the streets became calmer. She looked about, scanning shadows for the unusual.“You’re just being paranoid, " she muttered to herself, quickening her pace.It was colder out than she had thought, and a chill ran down her spine as she walked towards her car. But as she approached the driver's side door, a figure emerged from behind it.Excuse me, miss," a voice said in a deep and grating tone.Rachel stopped dead in her tracks, her heart racing
Rachel pulled her car into the driveway, her mind reeling with what happened that day. Her encounter with Michael had left her shaken, and the thought of him interrupting her life again seems certain. She had overcome the fear but seeing him again made the pain in her raw and the memories of that night fresh.Laughter filled her ear, welcoming her out of her mind. The triplets were lying in the living room, on the floor, with colouring books and crayons."Mommy's home! Daniella shouted, leaping to her feet and running toward her.Dante and Damian followed close behind, their little faces lighting up. Rachel knelt, catching them all in her arms. Their comfort reduced a bit their tightness inside of her chest.“How are my babies?” she asked, forcing a smile.“We’re fine, Mommy! Daniella replied, pulling back to look at her. “Guess what?”“What, sweetheart?”“We met a man today! Dante exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.Rachel froze, her arms still around them. “A man?” she repe
RachelAs soon as I exited the taxi and entered the office building, I sensed the air of tension. From the lobby, I could also perceive agitated shouting and the sound of a person yelling. My heart sank.What now? I mumbled to myself while I ran for the elevator.As soon as I reached the floor, clamor rose to its peak. A middle-aged woman was seated in the center of the reception room, with several staff trying unsuccessfully to calm her. She was running a piece of fabric in the air as if it were a witness in a courtroom.“You people are thieves! The woman screamed, her voice shrill and furious. Do you think you can come and get away with it? I trusted you, and this is what I got?”“What’s going on here?” I asked, stepping forward. Each and every one of them turned around and gazed at me, relieved and with a look of terror on their face.“Rachel, thank God you’re here,” said Emma, my assistant. “This woman claims we scammed her, but”“I don’t claim anything! the woman interrupted, gla
Rachel walked into the café, her head held high and her emotions firmly in check. She spotted Michael sitting in the corner, his shoulders tense as he stared out the window. For a moment, she almost turned around and left, but then she reminded herself why she was here. This wasn’t about him; it was about putting the past to rest. As she approached, Michael looked up, his expression softening. He rose to his feet, his movements hesitant. “Rachel,” he said, almost pleadingly. “Michael,” she replied curtly, sliding into the seat across from him. “Let’s get straight to the point. What do you want?” Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We need to talk about the kids. I’ve been patient, Rachel, but I can’t stay away any longer. They’re mine, and I deserve to be part of their lives.” Rachel raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “Yours? Really, Michael? That’s interesting, considering the last time I checked, you were busy sneaking around with your sec
Ethan sat at the head of the conference table, his sharp gaze sweeping over his team. The atmosphere was thick with tension. Danny had just finished his report, but it wasn’t the news Ethan had hoped for."So you're telling me," Ethan said, his voice steady yet tinged with frustration, "that after all this time, we still don’t have solid evidence against Sophia and Michael?"Danny shifted uncomfortably in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. "We’re close, Ethan. But every lead we’ve followed so far keeps going cold. Somebody is covering tracks. I tried speaking with some of their staff but nothing came out from them"Greg continued. " I also tried checking her fundings and that of Micheal but it was clean. No foreign invested but the company is running a billion dollar project. Impressive I must say”Ethan let out a sharp breath, pressing his fingers to his temples. He despised this—the waiting, the uncertainty. Every moment that ticked by without action was another moment for Soph
Michael sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His heart pounded as he stared at the tall glass building in front of him—Rachel’s company.She has moved on.The words echoed in his mind, filling his chest with an unbearable ache. He had been torturing himself for many years with the idea that she would one day be back with him, that what they had is important. However, now she was drifting off, and he wouldn't allow that to continue.He made a sigh, stroking down his face before getting out of the car.As he approached the entrance, Donna, Rachel’s assistant, immediately blocked his path, her arms crossed over her chest.You're not welcome in here, Mr. Micheal," it said, a firm voice tone masking a concealment of emotion on the woman's face.Michael forced a smile, though his jaw was clenched. "Donna, I just need to talk to Rachel. Just five minutes."Donna didn’t budge. "She’s busy."Micheal squeezes his hands trying to mask the annoyance. "
The smell of the bar reeked of booze, cigarettes, and desperation. Dimmed lights danced against the dark wood, casting long shadows as Sophia sat at the far end with a half-empty whiskey in front of her. The amber liquid swirled absently in her glass before she took another sip; the burning did little to soothe the storm inside. People of different colors and shapes move around each other like two poles of a magnet..the smell of sweat, perfume, and cum made the room slightly darker, more drawing. She noticed two male men pleasuring each other's cocks. One was moaning a little louder than the background song, but they didn't give a single fuck if anybody saw them or heard them.She was running out of time.She needed Michael to take action. Just then, some men came sauntering up to her table, guffawing loudly. One of them, with a slicked-back haircut and a confident smirk, pulled a chair out for himself."Mind if we join you, sweetheart?"Sophia didn't even turn toward him. "I do min
The cool evening air brushed against Rachel's skin as she came out of her house, holding a garbage bag towards the trash bin. She inhaled deeply, trying to clear her mind, but no sooner had she turned around than she froze. Michael. He was standing a few feet away from her, his hands inside his pockets, his eyes dark with something unreadable.Rachel huffed loudly. "What is it, Michael? Hurry up. Really, I don't have time for your rubbish." Michael moved another step closer to her, the corners of his lips curling into a bitter smile. "You really played me, didn't you?" he said, low and dangerous. "You knew those kids weren't mine. You let me chase after them, trying to win their trust-wasting my damn time!”Rachel crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "I was telling you the truth, but you refused to listen. That is on you, not me." Michael's jaw clenched. The next thing she knew, he clutched her wrist, his fingers hard into her skin. Rachel winced, struggling to free her hand."
The morning was cold, but he felt none of it as he stepped from his sleek black car into the towering Mavericks & Co building. His hair was a little tousled, the dark circles around his eyes evidence enough of the sleepless night. His workers, who otherwise looked forward to his arrival, hesitated at the sight of today's wrinkled shirt, and the tension in the square of his jaw flickered in their eyes.He ignored them. His footsteps were quick, his face hard as he entered the private elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, he let out a sharp exhalation, leaning his head against the cool metal wall. What the hell is going on?Rachel, the kids, Michael, SSophiain one big web of lies and deceptions, and he was right in the middle. By the time the elevator finally reached the top floor, his fists were clenched. The elevator doors slid open, and he strode into his office, slamming the door shut with a little too much force. No more than a second or two passed before his phone went off.
Ethan leaned back against the plush leather seat of his car, his fingers drumming absently on his knee. His mind reeled with the contradictions that had surfaced tonight. Rachel had told him that the kids' parents were abroad, but tonight, Daniella had looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Our daddy is dead. We want you to be our daddy."Ethan let out a sharp hiss, exhaled, and raked a hand through his hair. “Were they lying, or was Rachel?”He turned his gaze toward the city lights blurring past the tinted windows and asked, "John, do kids lie?" His chauffeur, with graying hair and wise eyes, glanced once in the rearview mirror at him. "Not really, sir. Kids are too honest for their own good. They lie if they're told to by an adult, or trying to protect someone." Ethan's jaw clenched tight. Protect someone…Without another word, he reached for his phone and typed a text to Liam.Ethan: Need to see you first thing tomorrow.Liam: That serious?Ethan: Just be there.He let out a
The moment Rachel stepped into her apartment, she let out a shaky breath, leaning against the door for support. The night had been a disaster-humiliating, painful-but as she unlocked her phone, her fingers trembling, the news headlines flashing across the screen made her heart stop. "Ethan Greenwood Defends Rachel at the Investor's Gala!" "Billionaire Ethan Greenwood Shakes Down Bullies in Defense of Mystery Woman!"Her eyes scrolled down the articles, her breathing hitching at the videos. Ethan, in front of a crowd, voices sharp and commanding, glare promising to send anyone shivering down their spines. He had defended her. Publicly.Rachel swallowed hard and turned to him. He was already heading to the door, his broad shoulders tense. Without thinking, she called out, "You can stay, you know." Ethan paused, his fingers on the doorknob, and he turned slightly toward her, his expression unreadable, but something, maybe a flicker of hesitation, crossed his features. "The kids are
Ethan fixed the cuffs of his suit as he closed the door on Rachel, trapping her inside. Her tear-stained face and shaking hands had kindled something dark within him, anger so sharp and cold, which seemed to curl around his ribs like a vice. He breathed out, straightening, and then turned back toward the entrance of the gala, his polished shoes tapping against the marble floor.The moment he was inside, the murmurs began. Eyes followed him, whispers rippling through the crowd like wildfire. At the center of it all, Sophia stood arms crossed over her chest, her lips curled into a self-satisfied smirk. Beside her stood the women who had tormented Rachel, basking in their supposed victory.In one moment, upon seeing him, Sophia's face changed. The smirk smoothed out into a small pout; her eyes, shining with water, made her head bob up in false innocence. "Ethan," she cooed, sliding toward him. "I was just saying—Rachel does not belong in events like these. You know how she can get … unst
The investor gala was one of the hottest tickets of the season. But for Mavericks & Co, it was the chance to pull in the world, forge links, broker deals, and even maybe get to the bottom of the identities of Emerald Designs' funding sponsors. Ethan put on his cufflinks and, for a few moments, looked at his cell phone, then dialed a number.Rachel answered almost immediately. “Ethan? Her voice was soft, with a hint of hope.“There’s an event tonight. I need you to attend with me,” he said curtly.Rachel’s heart skipped a beat. “You want me to—”“Don’t get the wrong idea,” he interrupted. “This is strictly professional. We’re attending to investigate the people behind Emerald Designs. Nothing more.”Rachel’s smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. “I understand. I’ll be ready.”---That night, stepping out of the car, Rachel wore a flowing midnight-blue dress with an elaborately beaded effect that shimmered in the light. The dress hugged her curves elegantly, and her hair cascaded d