The moment the car pulled in front of the mansion, Chloe got down without letting the man park properly which earned a frown from him.“You are acting like a rebellious kid,” he got down from the car and then hissed.“How are you acting then?” She hissed and then pressed the bell of the gate.“How I should,” he answered, crossed his arms across his chest, and leaned against his car.She scoffed and turned to look at him, “How you should?”He shrugged and nodded his head. “Yes.”Chloe moved over to him, ignoring the creaking sound behind the gate that indicated that it was about to be opened.“Put yourself in my shoes, Zeke.”“Why should I? Your shoes stink,” he said and she hissed.“I think you wear the stinkiest shoes in history?”“How so? I didn’t fall for my best friend’s brother… or sister.”“But you fell for your wife’s best friend,” she attacked him and he went mute.Chloe had literally never attacked him straight that way before. She would rather just blame him or tell him to b
Zeke and Ryan went silent at the news Ryan had just passed before Zeke exhaled and resumed talking.“Tell me more.”“His throat was sliced, and he took his final breath in his pool of blood.”“He knew we were coming,” Zeke stated.“I think he does. Because… How is it exactly when we were digging into him? The blood was still fresh, so my men assumed that he had just been recently killed. They called the ambulance and he was taken to the hospital.”“Fuck,” Zeke cussed again.“Has the thought of an accomplice ever crossed your mind?”Zeke drew his brows together at Ryan’s question and then shook his head as if the man was there to see the gesture.“Why do you ask?”“I don’t know. I don’t think he is acting alone. There is an accomplice and I don’t know why I am so sure of that.”If Ryan was not a businessman, he would have been a detective. A very ruthless one who is known for his hunch. No wonder why the man has the largest security company in the country.“Why would you think so? Acco
Jeremy sat in his seat quite comfortably. No, very comfortably, and swings his swivel chair around with a wide smile spread across his face.A very mischievous smile.Zeke had called him earlier, about an hour ago, and had told him he was coming over. “Call Ryan to come too.”He had said.He needed not to be told that Zeke and Ryan had fought because those two were so inseparable that they would come together whenever they were visiting him.“Why can’t you call him or come together?” He had asked.“I have a poor reception over here. And we need to talk about the recent news we have gotten.”“Ah… the reception is kind enough to let you call me but not Ryan?”“Mind your business.”“The reception is so bigoted, I must say,” he snickered.“Just call him and stop pulling my legs!”After he dropped the call with his brother, he called Ryan to come over and then the man agreed without much question.Guess it was time for him to play the role of a big brother for the first time in his life.A
The laugh went on and on for a while before Jeremy stopped and then waved his hands at them. “So sorry for the laugh.”“I guess it’s a mistake coming to you,” Chloe shook her head.“No, wait. Hold on… you and Ryan?”The couple turned to look at each other and then locked hands together.“Woah,” Jeremy tilted his head.“Wait, they are really together?!” He turned to look at Zeke whose face was as cold as ice.“Let go of her hand right now,” Zeke growled.“Why should I?”“Why should you?” Zeke drew his brows together.Jeremy crossed his arms across his chest, pressed his lips together, and then smiled gently in excitement.It has been so long since he witnessed fights firsthand. “Someone answer me, are they truly dating?!”“Yes!” Chloe snapped.“We are dating and we are in love!” She added.“With your brother’s best friend?!” Jeremy burst into laughter.“Exactly!” Zeke yelled.“With my best friend! Does that make any sense at all?!”Jeremy shook his head in disbelief and then exhaled
The two men locked their collars together for many minutes, whispering words that seemed like it was forbidden for the others to hear before they pushed each other away and breathed heavily.“Ryan,” Chloe moved closer to her boyfriend while Jeremy remained seated in his seat.The men looked at each other for a while before Zeke turned to look at Chloe and then dashed out of the office without sparing anyone a glance.They all looked through the space he had exited before Jeremy clasped his hands together and then breathed out.“He will come around.”Ryan returned to settle back on the couch with Chloe and then nodded his head.He knew that much too.“You think so?” She asked with raised brows.“Do you not know your brother by now? He’s probably pissed only because Ryan is his best friend… which I could too if I were in his shoes, because…” he exhaled, drew his brows together, and then stared at the couple.“The two of you? That is so unexpected!”“So, you have to give him a chance to
Zeke had reached halfway to his company before he realized that he had not left his brother’s office with his phone.Hissing in frustration, he had turned back the car in anger and then made his way back to the company while he hoped inwardly that Ryan and Chloe had left too because he really had no interest in running into them again.~~~Barging inside the office and sighting his brother stiffened in the chair, Zeke’s eyes widened as she watched his brother, Jeremy, clutch his chest and gasp for air. "What is happening?" Zeke asked, his voice trembling.Jeremy’s face contorted in fear, his eyes pleading for help even though he was trying to mask it with a smile. "I...can't...breathe," he finally stammered.Zeke’s mind raced as he tried to understand what was happening. He had never seen his brother like this before. His brother was the most unserious person he had ever known so this was the last thing he was expecting from the man.Panic virtually set in as he realized that his br
“Style?” Zeke snapped his brows together and took a step back.“Yes. My cool fucking style.”“You are insane!”Jeremy chuckled and shook his head. “I know.”“How could you keep something like this from us?”Jeremy smacked his tongue together and hissed, “Are you worried? You would not even give a damn if I passed away from it, would you?”Zeke covered the space between them and grabbed his collar gently.“What?”“Did I lie?”“That I would love to see you dead?”“Something like that,” Jeremy chuckled.Zeke leaned closer to him and said. “No. You don’t get to die at all. No one… of nothing dares to kill you.”“But can?” Jeremy chuckled.Zeke released his grip and adjusted his shirt. “Yes. You will not die, or I will never forgive you.”“It’s not even like you plan on doing so,” Jeremy hissed and adjusted in his seat.Zeke exhaled, palmed his forehead, and then settled on the chair away from his brother.“God, I hate you,” Zeke shook his head.A long silence ensued between the two of the
“Really?” Elena raised her brows.“Yes, ma’am. I just confirmed it,” her assistant, Marvella answered over the phone.“Alright, thank you.”“Any problem?”She raised her head to look at her mother who settled in front of her.“My assistant said I have been nominated.”“Nominated? For?” Her eyes lit up.“One of the projects I created has been nominated as the best project of the year, and I have been nominated as the fast-rising CEO of the year… if that is a thing,” she chuckled.“Wait, really?!” She widened her eyes and she nodded her head.“God! Congratulations, my dear!” She exclaimed and pulled her up into a hug.“Come on, Mum. It’s just a nomination. It’s not like I’ve won and been awarded,” she chuckled as she pulled away gently.“Don’t say that,” Karina slapped her arm gently.“I am so proud of you my dear. It’s not up to six months since you came to the limelight and you are getting the recognition you deserve already!” Karina said in nothing but excitement which rubbed off on
Before he stepped out of the car, he dialed Jeremy’s number first and then waited for the man to pick up which he did after the call was almost ending.“I hope you are calling for something very important. It’s so early in the morning, dang it,” Jeremy hissed.“There is a problem,” Ryan exhaled.“Good, I love to hear that. What is wrong?”“It is Zeke. You need to leave everything you are doing and come over here, right now. Please.”“What is wrong with Zeke?”Ryan glanced out to look at his friend before he answered Jeremy and a long silence ensued.“Share me your location,” he said and then dropped the call.After he ended the call, he placed a call across to Chloe too, and then explained the situation at hand before he finally stepped out of the car.He moved over to Zeke, palmed his forehead, and then dropped his other hand on his waist.“W… what in the name of madness is this?” He moved to his front, leaned down, and then lifted his chin up with his hand.Staring down at his frie
“Is he truly outside?” Karina rushed to her husband as he entered the room and he swallowed, entering fully.“I have told him to leave. He is leaving already,” he answered and then looked around the living room.“Where is Ramon? I ran into him outside the door here.”“He has gone to see Elena,” she replied.“Was he truly on his knees?”“You worry too much, Karina.”“Answer me, Raymond.”“Do you think that man has what it takes to do that?”He knew so well that his wife would not agree to the fact that he had left Zeke on his knees outside their mansion.“Honey, I really think you should stop interfering in their business.”“Whose business?” He feigned ignorance and settled on the chair.“Elena and Zeke. Raymond, they are not children.”“You are not honestly rooting for them again, are you?”“I am in support of whatever Elena chooses. I can’t make decisions for her and you need to know that too.”“In the past, you were against their union! I should have listened to you.”“That was beca
“Who did you say is asking for Elena?”“A Zeke Russo, sir.”Ray drew his brows together and turned to look at Karina who sat on the couch away from him.“Don’t let him in.”“Raymond,” Karina called him softly.“Let him return to wherever he is coming from or you will be losing your job!”The gateman bowed and then rushed out back.Delivering the message to the man in a rather harsh way, he closed the gate and returned inside.“Something happening?” His partner asked him as he returned inside his quarter.“The man outside. Boss said he does not want to see him in this compound or I will lose my job.”“Wait, really?”“I am telling you,” he exhaled and then settled on the chair in front of the big screen.“W… what is he doing?” He stuttered as he watched the screen.The other man rushed to him, drew his brows together, and then parted his lips.“Is that what I think it is?”“He is on his knees?” The gatekeeper asked rhetorically and then stood up hurriedly.___________“Hey, are you craz
“Take, one more spoon,” Elena patted her daughter as she took the last spoon of her food and after the girl collected it from her, she cleaned her mouth with a handkerchief and then leaned back.“Are you full?”Natalie nodded her head and then turned to look at her plate where Nathan had dropped a piece of meat in.She raised her brows, smiled gently, and then picked it up.“Thank you.”Nathan watched her sister chew it completely and then asked. “Do you want more?”She shook her head and then instead pulled off her cap. “See, my hair is starting to grow.”Nathan stared at her head where he could barely see a strand and then chuckled. He pulled off his cap too, bowed his head, and then showed her his. “Mine too.”“But…” Natalie tilted her head. “I can’t see any hair there.”“Same. There is no hair on your head either.”They dropped eyes on each other, and Elena pressed her lips, thinking Natalie had taken offense at his comment when her facial expressions literally went unreadable.Sh
“So, you’re not going? Really?”Zeke ignored Ryan totally, his head buried in his laptop and the man shook his head. Ryan exhaled and collapsed in the chair opposite Zeke and palmed his face.“Your daughter… Natalie is getting discharged today and you really are not going there?!”Still, he was mute. Maybe if Ryan peeped to check what Zeke was typing continuously on the keyboard, he would see that the only word he kept typing was ‘Natalie.’“You know, you are an asshole, right?”Still, he was mute.“She is leaving the hospital today. It means she is hale and healthy already. It means she can move around freely and you can meet her as you please, you know?” Ryan reminded him.When Zeke did not answer, he leaned closer, pushed the laptop shut, and then hissed.“What are you planning? I can swear that you are not busy and you were typing shit right there.”“C… could you see them home safely?”“Dude, that is your duty, not mine!” Ryan snapped with creased brows.Zeke nodded his head, exh
Elena looked out of the door for the umpteenth time and then sighed before she returned to stab a piece of apple in the bowl in her hand.“Give up. He’s not coming,” Ariana breathed out.“Who?”“I know you are waiting for Zeke.”“I am not!” She denied and Ariana nodded her head.“Besides… how did you know he is not coming?” She asked.“It’s been almost a week. He left without telling you and has not returned since then. He didn’t call you either.”“Something… might be wrong with him,” she shrugged her shoulders off.“Something like? Chloe was here and she didn’t deliver any bad news, so, what something?” Ariana asked.Elena sniffed, bit her lower lips, and then turned to look outside again.She did not want to admit that she was worried, but deep down, she knew she was.He was supposed to be here…He had promised he would be by her side till Natalie got discharged.He left that morning and had not returned since then.He didn’t even call her!She suspected so strongly that her father
“Did something happen?” Ryan asked Zeke again. This time, he had pulled the car gently into his compound and had followed him out of the car.Zeke had kept mute the entire time in the car and even though he and Chloe had thrown random jokes, or started random conversations with the hope that he was going to join, he kept mute still.Still, Zeke said nothing and made an entrance to the big door of his house.“No, I am certain something happened. What is wrong? You said you were going to stay for a while. You said you wanted to see your daughter.”“Ryan…” Zeke finally exhaled and swallowed.Entering the living room fully, he turned around, dropped his eyes on the couple, and then palmed his forehead.He was keeping his feelings bottled up. He felt like he wanted to cry.But, he was a man and he should not cry, right?But, fuck that.He had little regret in his life, but this…?He would forever regret it.It was something he could have controlled. He did it anyway. He thought it was the
When Ray suddenly burst into laughter, Zeke’s eyes fluttered as though he had said something very funny. He tilted his head and then sighed.“Sir?”“Is this some movie show?”“You asked…”“How much do you want, Zeke?”“I have answered you.”Ray shook his head, “My daughter is not an option.”“Everything I did is for my family, father.”“I am no father of yours and they are not your family either.”Dumbfounded, Zeke nodded his head and then smacked his tongue. “Sir.”“I am grateful to you for what you have done for our family. For my grand daughter.”“It is my responsibility as her father.”“You have no responsibility to fulfill, dear,” he chuckled rather sarcastically.“So, see her as much as you want to while we are still in the hospital. Elena included. I can assure you that will not happen again after she has been discharged.”“Fath—”“You can’t have her again!” He snapped and then palmed his forehead.“You don’t even deserve her.”“I will make myself worthy of her again,” he said.
“Are you sure? If it were up to me, I’d suggest that you stay here for a few more days,” Elena said, worry plastered across her face as she watched the man who did his shirt button.It was early the next morning and Zeke had already asked to be discharged even though the doctor had suggested that he should spend at least a day more.He insisted that he was good already and that he had no other complaints and if he did, he'd let the doctor know.“He does not listen,” Chloe who stood beside Ryan rolled her eyes and hissed.“I don’t like it here. I could not sleep well in that bed,” Zeke snapped his brows together as he glanced at the bed.“As if you’ve ever slept well in any bed,” Ryan rolled his eyes.Zeke swallowed, moved over to Elena, and then dropped his hands on her shoulders.“I am fine. I promise.”She exhaled, nodded her head, and then sniffed. “You better let me know if anything goes wrong again.”“I promise. Now, we gotta wait till Natalie gets discharged, right? The surgery