Once we were in the car, Bryan started acting as our tour guide. Our first stop was the zoo. Bella’s eyes lit up as we walked around, looking at the animals. She pointed at the monkeys and giggled as they swung from the trees. We spent like an hour there before moving on to our next stop.We decided to go to the cinema to watch a new cartoon that had just premiered. But as the movie went on, Bella ended up crying her eyes out because the female lead, which was her favorite, died. We spent about two hours there, and I started regretting bringing her to see it. Her crying drew a lot of attention, so I had to pull my hat lower to cover my face as I carried her out of the cinema."It’s okay, Bella," I whispered, holding her close as we walked out. "Your favorite character is still alive. That’s just a movie, not real life." It took a while, but I finally managed to calm her down.Next, we headed to a playground. Seeing Bella running around, laughing, and playing brought me so much joy. It
Seeing Lance with Bella made my heart pound heavily and without thinking, I rushed over to their sides, pulling Bella away from him.“Haven’t I told you not to talk to strangers? Didn’t your mommy tell you the same thing?” I snapped, my voice trembling with fear and anger.“I’m very sorry, Miss Ariel, but he said he knows you,” Bella stammered.“Anyone can say they know me. But how do you know they’re not lying?”“He showed me your pictures in a wedding gown with him. You looked different, but I definitely recognized you,” Bella whispered, her words sending a chill down my spine.I glanced at Lance who wink at me and I find it hard to believe that Lance still had my picture. Mamita assured me she burned everything that was connected to him, including our photos. I definitely made sure nothing was left that could tie me to him. And now, he has our wedding pictures?Arrgh...This is a headache.The name I used when I married Lance was Maya Hendrix, a fake identity I created after my pare
His tongue slid into my mouth gently exploring and caressing mine and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the depth of his touch, forgetting everything that had happened between us—all the pain and heartache that I had gone through. I let myself be vulnerable, feeling the warmth of the man I once loved with all my heart.I was taken back to four years ago, to a time when I adored him deeply, when he was the only man that my heart beat for, the only man that looked good in my eyes.But as the kiss deepened, so did the memories of how he shattered my heart flashed through my mind and I remembered how he escorted Ashley out of his car, welcoming her in his home while leaving me in the rain, pretending as if I didn't exist. I remembered the heartbreaking pain that I went through when he divorced me and then my poor Bella…….No, I haven’t forgotten what he did to me! Fueled by the painful memories, I found the strength to push him away. My hands pressed against his ches
My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts and I quickly dip my trembling hand into my pocket to pull out my phone. Seeing my mom’s picture flashing on the screen, I took a shaky breath before swiping to answer. Me: Hi Mom. Mom: Sweetheart, where are you? She asked in a sharp tone as if she already knew where I was. Me: I… I’m just… (My eyes darted around, desperate for an excuse) I’m out. Mom: Don’t even try lying to me! I just blocked a picture of you and Bella circulating online. How many times do I have to tell you to keep her out of public sight? Didn’t I make myself clear enough? Me: Mom, I was just trying to cheer her— Mom: Trying to what Maya? Don’t you understand the damage this could cause? People are already curious about who she is. The more they dig, the more mess we’re going to have to clean up. Me: I know, Mom, but after what you did to her— Mom: Enough! That’s not your job! That’s Mia’s responsibility, not yours. You’re wasting time when you should be focusin
The room remained silent again with the directors exchanging skeptical glances and I could almost hear their thoughts as their actions speak louder than their voices: Marcus Roderigo had decided to rest, but instead of passing the reins to Carlos Roderigo or another experienced director, he had chosen this little brat. But they were mistaken, I’m not anyone's little brat. What they didn’t realize was that I had been trained during my five years in Italy. I had learned everything about running this empire, and the last thing I would do was beg for their acceptance. I will prove myself. Carlos leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he spoke. “ But it seems that you are mistaken about one thing Ariel. This isn’t just any meeting. This is a shareholders’ meeting and we’re here to discuss your removal.” “Removal, Uncle?” I repeated, allowing a faint smile to tug at the corners of my lips. “Wow, that sounds... conniving.” “ What?!” There was a loud murmuring in the room. “Wel
I breathed heavily, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. My legs ache and sweat trickled down my back, sticking my shirt to my skin. I had never climbed a hill before, let alone one this steep but I had no choice as Mrs. Brooks lived up here, and I needed to see her. Regret hit me hard as I glanced down at my high heels. What exactly was I thinking to even wear this? No, this is obviously not my fault. That stupid secretary of mine never mentioned anything about her living in the mountains or any climbing when he told me where to find her. "Of all the places in the world, why did she have to live here?" I muttered angrily, bending down to yank off my heels. My feet throbbed as they met the rocky ground, but I didn’t care. Barefoot was better than breaking my ankles in those shoes. After what felt like hours; though it was probably just forty minutes later—my throat was parched and my mouth was now dry as sandpaper. I could even hear my legs scre
Getting outside Mrs Brooks house, I whirled around to face him. “Are you working with my uncle to get back at me?” He raised an eyebrow. “Working with your uncle? Really, Maya? You of all people should know me better than that. Sweetheart, I don’t work with people who think they can boss me around. I’m my own boss. Always have been.” “ Have told you several times, to stop calling me that. You can say that to your wife at home not me.” I warned, running my hand through my long wavy hair. I hated that he was right as I know that Lance was many things—arrogant, infuriating—but he wasn’t anyone’s lackey. He will never bow for anyone, so I doubt he was trying to get the land for my uncle. I don't even care about why he is getting it but what I’m angry about is that it was him of all people. “Then what do you want?” I snapped, crossing my arm on my chest. He leaned against the porch railing, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Simple. I want you to approve my contract.” I stared at him
~~KINGLSEY'S POV~~ As I stepped out of the car and entered the company's glass doors, the usual routine greeted me: people bowing their heads slightly in deference. But my attention was totally elsewhere as a fire of rage was already burning within me. With one hand in my pocket and the other clutching my iPad, my gaze was fixed on a picture that made my blood boil. Right now, I was seeing the image of Maya kissing the very man who had torn her clothes at the party last time—her ex-husband. I knew that guy seemed familiar when I first saw him at the party, but I wasn’t able to recognize him immediately because of how tense thing we're at that moment. It was after the party that I checked his picture again and remembered that he was Maya's ex-husband. My grip tightened on the device as I stared at the two of them together, with the guy's hand all over her. Seeing them together makes me angry as I had thought Maya had cut all ties with him after everything that he had done to h
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~Lying on my side, I watched Maya's sleeping face. She looked so peaceful with her lips slightly parted, her hair still messy and I couldn't stop staring at her.I'm so happy to see her like this, as yesterday's events were still fresh in my mind—the way she held onto me, the way she moaned my name, the way she asked for me like she needed me just as much as I needed her.It still feels much like a dream, as I never thought Maya would be the one to ask for sex first. After two rounds in the car, we drove home to continue the rest, all through the night.I reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, and she gently stirred a little but didn’t wake up yet.My chest tightened as I remembered yesterday. The fear I felt when I found out she had been kidnapped nearly drove me insane. I thought I was going to lose her. I thought I was never going to see her again. As I drove to where the locator was indicating, I kept telling myself that if anything happened
~~~~MAYA’S POV~~~“Are you certain it’s what you want?” His tone was soft, there was also a certain eagerness making his breath come in raspy — an indication he wanted this as well.“Yes.” I nodded, already reaching for his full mat of hair, slithering my fingers through the strands.My body was on edge — waiting for his touch and the submission that came with it. My mouth was slightly open — a silent invitation for him to take control.Without further questions, he reached for my seatbelt, unbuckled it and in a fluid, expert move, had me sitting on his lap. My chest already heaving with feral lust, I neared his face, our soft, needy breaths growing in soft pants as his lips captured mine.A soft moan escaped me, enjoying the feel of his mouth on mine. His tongue slipped into my mouth in quiet dominance, clashing with my tongue and bringing it to surrender as he plundered and caused flame alongside. I didn’t care we were inside his car, I didn’t care it was a tad bit uncomfortable.
“What?!” My mind couldn’t process it. “No—maybe she was just following her dad’s orders.”But Maya just laughed again, that same bitter, empty laugh. “No, she wasn’t. She was the one behind it all and I was blind, Lance. I thought she was the kindest out of all of them. I actually believed she was helping me. But that bitch… she was just using me.”She turned to me, tears running down her face. “She used me to save her father from going to jail. No wonder why she knew that you were after someone when Bella got into an accident. I should have thought harder back then.”“I don’t get it.”“It’s simple and I was just too dumb to see it earlier. Back when I left everything and went to Ohio, If her father had taken over and me and my dad were kicked out, Carlos would have been the one arrested for the crime they blamed my father for. Sophia planned everything. She only did all that to protect her father, not to stop him from ruining the empire.”I exhaled sharply, trying to make sense of i
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~I hold Maya close as her sobs slowly die down but she still grips my shirt like she’s scared I’ll disappear. Every tear soaking through my skin felt like a knife straight to my heart.I should’ve been faster. No—I should’ve followed her the moment she rushed out of the boardroom. But I was too busy pretending like there was nothing between us just so I could keep earning Carlos’ trust.I had no idea he was cruel enough to do this. I’ve seen different sides of him, sides I didn’t even know existed, and I kept thinking maybe we were wrong. That maybe he wasn’t the one behind this. Apart from his obsession with taking over Maya’s father’s empire, I never saw him do anything truly awful.But now, I know he’s just been hiding it all along.And I swear, he’s not getting away with this. He’s going to pay.When Maya finally calms down, I help her sit on the bench. Her eyes stay locked on the unconscious kidnapper like she wants to rip him apart, but mine stay on her, trying
"Lucas is the most qualified person in this room," I continue. "And consider this: by supporting Lucas, we're setting a precedent. For the first time since the establishment of this empire, we're saying that the leadership of this company isn’t limited to only the Roderigo family. This means that any one of you here could potentially lead this empire one day, based on merit rather than bloodline."It was as if I had dropped a lottery card as the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. I could see people coming to their senses, their expressions changing. Happiness filled their eyes as the realization of possibility, the potential and for some, the greed of leading this empire one day all came crashing onto them."So instead of helping others climb up, why not pave the way for your own future?"Carlos must see that the directors are now wavering in their decision. His face turned even darker."You can't—" he begins, but Aunt Melissa cuts him off."Maya is right. There is no legal b
It's finally the day of the board meeting. I have gotten more courage than I should have. Lance and I still haven't met each other, other than communicating on the phone. He's with Carlos twenty-four seven, meeting with other board members, trying to win them over to his side.Lance already told me that most of the directors were now on Carlos' side and that winning them over to my side would be a little difficult, especially within the short amount of time.This was exactly why we have come to make another decision, and I have already gotten permission from my father to do this.But the mystery part that we have been trying to solve and investigate was how the cops found the ledger that Lance presented the other day in my father's office.I clearly checked every single place in his office when he was arrested, leaving no stone unturned. So how did it miraculously get in there? The surprising part was that a week ago, when Mom was hospitalized and I was in the hospital with her, two h
As everyone settled into their seats and Mr. Williams opened his mouth to speak those words I already knew he wanted to say but I cut him off and stood up."It is with my deepest pain that I inform you all of the predicament of the leader of this great empire.""Now she informs us after a lot of damage has already been done," Alexander said mockingly.I remembered that they weren’t even supposed to be here. They had already promised not to set foot here again unless summoned.But now was not the time to address that.I continued, "My father, the leader of this great empire, has fallen into a trap set by his enemies—the same enemies he made while trying to protect this empire and drive it forward.My father has been leading this empire for a solid thirty-five years, ever since it was handed to him when he was just twenty-two years old. Despite his young age back then, he led us well—well enough for us to become number one across the globe.He’s not the kind of man who gives up on his p
~~~MAYA'S POV~~~I picked up a pair of red high heels from the shoe rack, slipping them on carefully. Stepping in front of the full-length mirror, I smoothed down my sleek black dress, the fabric hugging my figure in all the right places. But something still felt incomplete.Then my gaze shifted to my reflection and landed on my loose waves cascading over my shoulders. I suddenly didn’t feel like letting my hair fall freely this morning. So I gathered it up and twisted the strands into a smooth, doughnut bun.Now satisfied with my look, I grabbed my phone and then grabbed my bag before heading outside my room. As I climbed down the stairs with my heels clicking harder, my eyes glued to my phone. My hand hovered on the chain on my neck as I read Lance's two-old message for the hundredth time:"I love you, Maya. Remember that. I would never do anything to hurt you."He had sent this message to me and also sent the necklace. Those two things has been something that has been cheering me
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~It's been like four days now since Maya's father was arrested, and everything has spiraled into chaos faster than I could have imagined.For days now, Maya's family has been turned upside down. The reporters are even chasing her around, asking if she was aware of her father's activities.The media circus isn't helping either. Every time I turn on the TV or check my phone, there's another headline about A&R and Maya's father. The company's stock is in freefall and Maya's mother... God, she couldn't handle it all. She's in this same hospital now, three floors below and her body was giving in to the stress of watching her world crumble.No matter what anyone says, Maya still solely believes that her father is innocent. Unfortunately, belief alone cannot save him. They need more evidence which we still didn't have.My heart aches every time I think about Maya. She's been practically living at the police station, working tirelessly with their lawyers to secure her father'