The CEO..I slipped into the car, my body trembling. I had ruined it all. The pain I saw in her eyes still terrorized me. I wanted to slam the dashboard, but I couldn’t. I wanted to go back, hold her, and call her name, but I couldn’t.My phone buzzed, and I saw her message: “I’m going; you won’t have to be reminded of Ariel.”My heart raced, and my pulse quickened. Images of her holding a knife to her wrist flooded my mind. I had seen something like that.I bolted out of the car, fear pushing me towards the house. I keyed in the password, and the door was unlocked. “Binky!” I yelled, my eyes frantically darting around the apartment as I searched for her.I headed to the kitchen. The sight of pills scattered across the slab and the opening of the bottle of alcohol made my heart race—each beat pounding panic into my bloodstream.Haunting thoughts gnawed at my mind as I made my way to her room. Each step—urgent and desperate.My eyes fell on the bed—she wasn’t there—then at the bat
Lucy ..Laying on my bed, tossing and turning, sleep seemed like a faraway dream. Damon's words echoed in my head repeatedly, making it impossible to find any peace. Every time I tried to close my eyes, his voice returned, louder and more insistent. The room felt stifling, the silence cramping down on me. I found myself chewing sweets through the night in order to ease the excruciating ache in my neck. The sugary treats were a small comfort, a brief distraction from the relentless discomfort and the restless storm of my thoughts. The night felt endless.My jaws were sore, but his dark promises kept echoing in my mind. The look in his eyes still haunted me. I got up from the bed, whispering to myself, “How did everything go so wrong? It was finally coming together.” I bit my fingers, pacing around my room.I grabbed my phone and dialed a number. After ringing a few times, a voice answered, “Hello, ma’am. We’re on it, keeping a close watch.”“Forget that. Stop the surveillance for no
The toy...It's been two days since I left the hospital. The house, once a haven of warmth and laughter, now felt cloaked in sadness. Each room seemed to echo with an oppressive silence, amplifying the void left by recent events. The kitchen, usually a bustling heart of activity, stood eerily still, devoid of the comforting aromas of home-cooked meals.In the living room, the sunlight that filtered through the windows felt weak and distant, unable to penetrate the heavy gloom that had settled. The photographs on the mantel, once vibrant reminders of joy, now seemed like relics from a different life, their smiles frozen in time. Every step I took felt heavy as if the house itself was drowning in sorrows alongside me. Jessie was out of town and had recommended I stay at her house, hoping a change of scenery might provide some relief. I sank myself into my bed, knowing the futility of it all. It wasn’t the house that was cursed; it was me. The sadness emanated from within, an unshaka
The CEO . . Mr. Brian's eyes brightened, and he leaned forward, his fingers tapping continuously on the desk. "So you want me to sell the five percent share of Beckham Construction that I own to you?" he asked, a striking energy in his voice. He seemed to have more to gain than me."Yes," I said firmly, my lips tightening and my eyes narrowing slightly. "And what do I get in return?" he asked with a wide, mischievous smile. That made my skin crawl, and I couldn’t help but hate it "10 percent of Twinkle Company. Twinkle is the biggest jewelry brand in the country, pulling in higher revenue than Beckham Construction. I’m also offering a larger share. I think that’s a pretty good deal," I said, hardly masking the eye roll and the tightness in my jaw as I spoke Mr. Brian waved off the offer with a heedless manner. With a cold, measured glare, I said to Mr. Brian, “It would be wise to rethink my offer.” I tapped my hand against the table. “Or perhaps you can come up with something b
The toy...My eyes widened as I stared at his beautiful face, partially lit by the disco lights. His eyes bored into mine, quickening my heart. For maybe three seconds—maybe more—we stood staring at each other as though it were a contest—the first to look away fails. The bright lights, and the loud music around me—all quickly disappeared into oblivion. And as usual, my weak heart disappointed me, and I averted my gaze.Damon gripped my hand, and my pulse rate hiked. Warmth, one I needed not to feel, traveled from my point of contact to my heart, offering delusional comfort. I struggled to release myself from his grip, but his grip tightened, and he pulled me closer, our bodies mere inches apart. I breathe in his cologne.His warmth.Damon yelled, “Follow me.” He turned around and pulled me, paving the way among the crowd with his tall, broad physique.Leading me into a private room. The silence relieved me from the raging sound from the previous spot. The neon light that decorate
The toy...Stretching on the bed, I yawned. I noticed Damon wasn’t on the bed. I reached out for my phone to check the time, and it was 10 a.m. He’d probably gone to work. The regret I anticipated last night came rushing in. I sat on the bed—my knees to my chest—already weak and tired.“Morning sunshine,” Damon greeted, leaning shirtless on the door frame. My body jerked and my gaze shifted to him. My eyes lingered on his body, admiring every contour of his sculpted body. Quickly, I turned my face away as I felt my face turn crimson and hugged my body tighter.“Breakfast is ready; come on.” Damon pulled me from the bed and led me to the kitchen.I settled in the dining room, and he sat next to me. The butler placed the breakfast—pancakes, omelets, and hot dogs—before us.Damon opened the juice, filled my cup, and then dug into his food.Slowly, I stuffed my mouth. My thoughts were still heavy in my mind. Every action, every glance, and every accidental touch only immersed my heart
The CEO . . My eyes were glued to my phone, barely paying attention to the man rambling on in what felt like a completely pointless meeting. All my messages were left unread, and I couldn’t fathom why she insisted on me calling her Aria. What was wrong with Binky? I scoffed, my brows knitting together. "Mr. Wesley," the data analyst called out, his chin held high and a tiny smile on his lips. "What do you think about the project?" he asked. I didn’t need to listen to him fully; from the start of his presentation, I could already tell it was trash. Yet, he seemed to think he had delivered something groundbreaking. "Trash," I called out. His eyes widened and his smile faltered. I leaned back, wrapping my fingers around each other. "I said it's trash. He blinked, looking taken aback. "May I know why sir?” He questioned, stuttering. I sighed, shaking my head. "Firstly, your data analysis is all over the place. You didn't even consider the most recent market trends. And your pro
The toy..My phone's incessant pinging grated on my nerves, fueling an annoying heat in me. I stared at the screen as expected; it was Damon. Every three hours, he’d blow up my phone with calls and texts. I put the phone in silence and hid it beneath the pillow.The shower stopped, and Eliana came out, a towel tied around her body. “If you don’t do something about it, he’s going to keep disturbing you.” She had been staying with me for some days now. I sighed and turned restlessly on the bed. “Better still, block him.” Eliana sat on the bed.I rose to a sitting position.Thoughts of Damon crossed my mind. The bed carried so many memories. I dug my fingers into the bedsheet. A part of me wishes Lucy never showed me the diary; I should have continued living in the delusion—I was happy.A bloody war was going on in me—me wanting to let him go, the other begging him till he accepted me. None seemed easier. Eliana burst into laughter. “When did you become such a reckless romantic?” Sh