The CEO..Binky’s footstep got louder as she approached the dining, and at the time it stopped, I opened my eyes.It fell on hers, dread written in them as she took on the scene. The blood trickled down and tainted my white dress shirt. The shards of broken bottles that carpet the corner behind me. I forced a smile in an attempt to pacify her fear that was palpable. “It’s not that serious.” I tried wiping the coagulated blood on my head.She scurried towards me and cupped my hands between her palms. A frown formed on her face. “I hate when you do this; trying to act tough all the time.” Her tone dripped with seriousness. “You are only going to break.” Going to break, I chuckled inwardly; I might already be broken. My expression darkened. “What did he tell you before I came?” I remember the look in her eyes when I stepped in. The way fear tainted it made my heart ache. I needed to know if he had threatened her. Ignoring my question, she questioned, “What does he want from you?” S
The CEO..I swiveled in Tracy’s chair, waiting for her to arrive at her office. She had called me to meet her up at the office, and I hurried here, thinking she would be there. I had called her multiple times and even laid the threat that I was leaving, but an hour had gone by and she was still not here.“Oh God.” I smacked my forehead. “Remind me never to show up early whenever I meet up with her,” I muttered to myself. With boredom eating my soul, I opened the drawer, and a black album caught my eye. I took it out and opened it. The first picture was an old picture of her and my dad. They were probably in their early 20s and in college. They sat on a bench beneath a big tree with an extensive canopy. I hadn’t seen a picture of my father when he was young; this was the first time, and really the resemblance was uncanny. At first or a second glance, I could have passed as him. An image of him slipped into my mind; that’s how I am going to look when I’m older. I grimaced.I flippe
The toy..I paced around the room, my footsteps restless and uneven as the tension tightened its grip on me. The walls seemed to close in with every step I took. My mouth moved silently as if trying to shape words that refused to come out. I was lost in the chaotic swirl of my thoughts, feeling like I was spiraling out of control.I reached for my phone and called Jessie. My hands shook slightly as I held the device to my ear, waiting for her to pick it up. When she did, the words came tumbling out before I could stop them. "Jessie, I’m scared. I don’t know what to do anymore. Everywhere I go, it feels like he’s watching me like I can’t escape him. It’s like a shadow that I can’t shake off."I could hear Jessie moving around on the other end, probably pacing like I was. Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of concern that she couldn’t quite hide. "Ari, you don’t have to push yourself right now. If you’re too scared."I wanted to believe her, to let myself off the hook, but I co
The CEO ..I sauntered into Mr. Brian’s office, the door closing with a soft thud behind me. The room was modest, with stacks of papers threatening to overflow from his desk and the faint scent of stale coffee lingering in the air. Without waiting for an invitation, I plopped into the chair opposite him, crossing my legs from ankle to knee in a casual yet commanding posture.Brian, who had been scribbling nervously on a document, looked up with a start. His face paled as he realized who had just walked in. “Good day, Mr. Wesley,” he stammered, his voice trembling slightly. He quickly rose from his chair, extending a clammy hand towards me. “What brings you to my office today?”I met his outstretched hand with a cold, disdainful glance, not bothering to mask my irritation. “I’m here for the 5%. Have you gotten it from Pearl?” My tone was sharp, each word laced with impatience. My eyes bore into his nasty, nonchalant look. I offered him I wasn’t here for pleasantries.Brian visibly
The CEO..Our gaze burnt with intensity. My chest tightened. My fingers dig into my skin that hid beneath my trousers, hoping to wake me up from the dream. I had to be careful. I shouldn’t panic, not before him. I leaned in and conjured confidence out of thin air. “You can’t disown me. You have worked hard to mold me into your image.” I forced a smile; I made my eyes gleam with resolve—anything to make him believe he hadn’t shaken me yet. “You don’t have any children. What about your legacy?”My father leaned in, his resolve unwavering. Was it real? Was he feigning it like me? That I couldn’t tell. “What’s the use of having a child that wouldn’t listen?” His amber eyes burned like a scorching sun. “You are a failed project. You are useless. You are as weak as your mother.” His voice deepened. “You have my exterior, but you took your mother’s heart.” His words cut deep. The way he talked casually after he killed her. My eyes fell on his hand, the ones that took my mother's life, a
The toy..Damon gently cupped my face, his touch warm but firm. "The headlines are going to be buzzing about my wedding happening soon," he began, his voice steady, yet I could sense an undercurrent in his voice. "But don't take it too seriously. I mean, I'm not getting married to anyone that isn't you. I'd rather join my mother in the grave than leave you.”His words hung in the air, heavy with a promise that both comforted and terrified me. The highlights of our relationship, the heartbreak we've weathered, and the fragile trust I'm trying so hard to place in him all flashed before my eyes. I wanted to believe him, how I wanted to, but the nagging doubts clawed at the edges of my mind.Damon leaned in closer, his eyes searching mine with a desperate sincerity. "Believe me, Binky," he pleaded."Alright," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. The severity that everything held up pressed down on my chest, but I forced a smile. “I’ll believe in you, Damon.”Damon gently reac
The Toy..Mr. Davis Jackson sat on the other sofa across from us. His eyes darted around like he was scanning for an escape.“Mr. Jackson, don’t do anything stupid.” There was a wide smile on his face. “I never knew you were capable of showing emotion with the way you were sitting on the chair while my father threw his tantrum.” He leaned back. “If I knew you were the one I was looking for, I would have decorated your face with your blood.”The tension and the unease were palpable. Sitting down, my eyes kept dancing between both of them. I had a lot of questions, but I had to wait for Damon to set the stage.“Why did you buy the bracelet under my name?” Damon questioned. “Why were you trying to frame me for her murder?”Mr. Jackson's eyes widened. “Your name?” Confusion was written on his face. “I never bought it in your name,” he responded. “But on the receipt, you wrote Mr.“ Damon froze mid-sentence; he faced me, fear settled in his eyes. "Damon, what happened?” My voice quiver
CHAPTER 141The CEO..I swerved lanes as my thoughts spiraled, one after the other, in an endless loop. The steering wheel felt almost unknown in my hands as I struggled to keep my mind from wandering too far. The evening breeze, cool against my face with the convertible top down, did little to soothe me. Instead, it seemed to mock my state of mind, reminding me that freedom was an illusion—one that I was no longer privileged to enjoy.The truth was, I didn’t believe I deserved to keep seeing Binky anymore. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but every time I looked at her, all I could see was my father. I saw his hands, bloodied with the weight of Aria’s misfortunes, staining everything. If he hadn’t had Aria killed, Binky would have never fallen into that coma. Their mother wouldn’t have developed the brain swelling that eventually took her life. Binky wouldn’t have to live as Aria.Forced to lift and live with the weight of a life that was never meant to be hers. My father was a mon