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Chapter One hundred and four
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2024-05-18 16:27:24Related chapters
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and Five
It was a more stressful week than Lana could admit. First they had gone for the interview, and then she had to attend a parent-teachers association meeting in the kids’ school. It was a Thursday, and she was more than too lazy to do anything. She thought about how she was going to cajole Cameron into taking the kids to school. After much persuasion, a pinky finger promise, and tonnes of bribe kisses, he agreed to drop them off, dropping the keys to the Cadillac, which I always use, and taking the Ferrari instead. “Babe, take the subway." More protection for the kids.” “How does it protect the kids?” “Double armour coating, speed, and cruise control settings, and it has more focus on the parental control in the car.” He looked at me, shock written on his face at how I had gotten so much information. “I read their manual on their website; it’s nothing new. I would even like you to explain some terms to me when you’re back.” Dawn was just breaking, and the kids had to be taken earl
Last Updated : 2024-05-18TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and six
Cameron got back from the school drop-off a little early, excited as if he had seen Santa Claus in real life. He came outside, perspiring and telling Lana all about his day, trying to go slow while telling her about the race. He narrated everything to her: the adrenaline in his energy, the power of his engine, and the manoeuvrability of his vehicle. He even tried to visualise it from the other racer's point of view and described the story to her. Lana listened with intent attention, not understanding over eighty percent of everything he said. When he mentioned the keywords relating to cars, she felt lost like a star in the vast emptiness of space. Cameron had always told her to get her head around those terms, but she couldn’t just see herself doing it. They had to dress quick and sharp; they were having an international business meeting, the Annual Regional Business Meeting, the annual period where business representatives from different brands, groups, and conglomerates come tog
Last Updated : 2024-05-19TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and Seven
The annual business meeting tagged “Summit of Titans” was the most anticipated event of the year by businessmen and women alike, drawing the who’s who of influential figures from the corporate world. Held at the luxurious Grand Plaza Hotel, a bastion of elegance and sophistication, the gathering promised to be a spectacle of high-powered networking, deal-making, and inspiration. As attendees arrived from different corners of the world and different professional backgrounds, they were greeted by a red carpet and a phalanx of efficient staff, who whisked away their luggage to their reserved rooms and escorted them to the opulent lobby. The atmosphere was electric; the hum of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses filled the air. Despite arriving over an hour early for the event, the place was filled with business personnel of different calibers. Even with the crisp folds of their suits and the shiny glittering jet black polished shoes, every aspect of the ballroom reflect
Last Updated : 2024-05-19TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter one hundred and eight
As the sun began to set, the room was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the evening festivities commenced. The evening session was just lightweight sessions and workshops, splitting them into different classes where they were taken by different coaches. Lana could feel both Andre and Cameron constantly staring at her, her eyes usually catching both of them. Towards the end of the day, the businessmen were called to dinner, cooked by the hotel’s renowned chef. Each dish was a work of art, presented with precision and flair on fine china and crystal glassware. The aroma of roasted meats and fresh herbs wafted through the air, attacking the senses and building anticipation. The first course, a delicate seafood bouillabaisse, was served with a side of crusty baguette and a dollop of creamy rouille, all of which looked strange to Cameron. He looked at it with admiration but ate with a different attitude. The flavours danced on the palate—a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. As th
Last Updated : 2024-05-20TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and Nine
Lana hoped she was not going to regret what she was doing, but she hoped in her heart that this was the right choice for her and the children. People were starting to suspect her and Cameron’s relationship to be beyond official business, and if there was something she could avoid, it was definitely a scandal at the moment. If the news leaked that she was staying at his place despite not being married or engaged, they could be in more trouble than they bargained for. The thought had suddenly occurred to her during the business meeting after she had met Freda. For yet another time, she weighed the consequences of what she did in her mind, hoping that Cameron would be emotionally okay. Sinking on the couch in the long, deserted, untidy room, she flipped the light switch, the light blinking to life. She took a look around, taking in the scenery. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, softening the edges of furniture and belongings. Cobwebs clung to corners like delicate tapestri
Last Updated : 2024-05-20TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and ten
The day was cold and windy, steadily announcing the near arrival of winter and its children. Settling for a fully furred sweater with a turtle neck, Kathy came out of the convenience store, bags in hand, breezing through to the sedan parked on the other side of the mall. She walked to the car, almost tripping over on the interlocked tile floor twice. After successfully navigating to the car, she settled in, rolling down her window to look for her way out. The lights on the cell phone sitting on the dashboard blinked repeatedly, and the phone rang out, sending Kathy jolting back. She picked it up and found a strange number; she had been wary of picking unsaved contacts ever since she left Andre, but something kept picking at her to pick it. She held the phone, measuring the weight of the decisions in her mind. She picked it up, and the familiar raspy voice of Andre came over the phone, booming loud and clear with an ever-authoritative tone. “Hey, where are you?” “I guessed you di
Last Updated : 2024-05-21TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and eleven
Still curious as to who came down the car with Cameron, Lana tried to look beyond his head, but he had overshadowed her from the front, not allowing her to see anything but his clothed torso. “Where is your guest?” She asked curiously. “Good morning, Lana.” “Morning Cameron.” She realised she had not even greeted him that morning.At the same moment, Andre came into the hall, intentionally brushing past Cameron and extending a hand to me with his smile. “I called you this morning. I guess you were not on your phone.” He said, a naughty smile dancing on his lips. His gaze shifted from Lana to Cameron, and he let out another laugh. “Oh, we shouldn’t really talk about your romantic life around your boss.”Lana knew what he was driving at, and she was not ready to let him achieve it. She stepped in, giving him a side eye. “Have you lost your way, young man? Or have you sent Kathy packing again?” He looked at her in shock and bewilderment, mouth wide agape. A vengeful, naugh
Last Updated : 2024-05-21TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and twelve
It was the fourth and final day of the meeting, which also doubled as the most anticipated and filled moment of the meeting. The grand ballroom had been redecorated for this event and was abuzz with excitement as the crème de la crème of the business world gathered for the annual Business Excellence Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. One would know that this was indeed an awards ceremony that was worthy of being the talk of the town; everything was top-notch. The media presence at the ceremony was impressive, with a diverse range of outlets and journalists invited to cover the event. The list included leading dailies of national newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal; industry-specific business publications like Forbes, Fortune, and Bloomberg Businessweek had a strong presence; and digital media outlets like CNBC and Reuters were also in attendance. Regional newspapers and business journals from the host city and its environs we
Last Updated : 2024-05-22
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TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter Two hundred and three
Andre’s POV Two Years LaterMy mother was upset that I had gone behind her back to sabotage her. To sell her company to that little brat—that is what she refers to Lana as now—who knew nothing about business, but I did not have to tell her that it was either that or see her remanded in prison. To watch everything I had and everyone I loved taken away from me. I did not need to tell her that we were lucky we had a choice. The poor girl had no choice back then and had to take life as it was handed to her. My mother would live—abort sourly—but at least she would still live. We could build back the company even if it took a long time. Thankfully, all she had back then was a minor heart attack. As for the little brat, Lana, she and Cameron got married two years ago and have spent the last two years of their marriage touring the world.I was envious of the love they found. The comfort they gave each other, the strength in their numbers, but as time went on, I too was beginning to live wi
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter Two hundred and two
Lana’s POV The house was still the same way I remembered it. The chairs, the arm stool, and the and the settees All of the arrangements were still the same, and it struck a chord of familiarity within me. I settled into the plush armchair and watched Andre move towards the bar, his demeanour calm and composed. It was hard to reconcile this composed man with the man I had known years ago. Andre returned with a glass of red wine, just the way I liked it. He handed it to me, then sat across from me. “Have you come to a conclusion regarding what we discussed?” I crossed my legs, one above the other, and stared blankly at him. “Regarding what exactly? The only thing I remember that we have yet to talk about are the kids and how we’ll split their days between us. Other than that, I don't think we have any unfinished business. Except you are talking about signing the documents, which would see me as the new CEO of Ranhold.” Andre heaved a long sigh and rubbed his temples. Was he beginnin
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter Two hundred and one
Lana’s POV We spent the next week gathering evidence against Freda and meeting with potential witnesses who could testify against her if we were to take her to court, but it seemed as though that would not be needed. It was some time towards the end of the week when what was going to be our break happened. It came in the form of André getting a recognition award. I had no idea what his relationship with Freda had been like following everything that had happened lately, so I cannot talk about that. But upon receiving the award, Freda was so happy with her son that she decided to allow him to make certain decisions that regarded the leadership of Ranhold. In the past, André had been nothing but a figurehead. Although he sat in the CEO position, his mother, Freda, usually handled all the decision-making, and everyone knew this. He was useless, and if it was important that his signature be appended to a document, he had to get permission from Freda first before doing it. But now, all
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter Two hundred
Lana’s POV Back at my apartment, we laid out all the new information we had gathered. It felt like we were finally making progress, and the weight of uncertainty was beginning to lift. But then a call entered my phone, which was going to either bring everything crashing down on us again or continue pushing us forward.We had laid everything on the table in front of us, and we were about to start sitting through them when the ringtone of my phone shattered through the peace, quiet, and anxiety that had settled over us. Sighing and thinking it was from one of my colleagues at Lukem, I pulled the phone from my pocket and paused when I saw the caller ID displaying on my screen.“Hmmm... Andre.” I said it out loud, alerting the other guys to who the caller was. Without waiting for their response, I swiped on the screen and placed the phone in my ear. “Hey, Andre.” I greeted. “What’s going on?”“I found something.” He announced. From over the phone, I could not make out the time of his vo
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and Ninety-nine
Lana’s POV Fred smiled warmly, taking a seat beside Clara. “It’s been a long time, Aunt Clara. We have so much to catch up on, but there’s something important we need to ask you about first.”Clara looked at him. “Of course, anything. What do you need to know?”Fred glanced at me, and I handed Clara the letter. “We found this among my father’s papers. It mentions a promise to protect you. We need to understand what happened.”Clara took the letter and began reading it. As she read through it, I noticed the change in her expression. She took a deep breath and glanced up at us. “This... this brings back memories I thought I’d buried. Your mother and Mr. West were the best friends I ever had. But there was more to it, and it brought trouble or would have brought trouble had Mr. West not decided to act in what he believed to be the best interest of everyone, including your mother. Fred’s face lightened up, as did mine. “What do you mean?”Clara sighed. “Secrets.” She whispered. “Anne an
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and ninety-eight
Lana’s POVFred shrugged. “She hinted at societal expectations and family obligations,” he replied. “But she didn’t give specifics. I think she knows a lot more than she’s letting on.”I nodded slowly. “My father never mentioned anything about your mother or you and Kathy. And I started going through his papers; maybe I would find something.”Fred’s expression softened. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but it is not to be helped. I cannot say I know how you feel or what you are feeling right now. Finding out that a person you think you know has another side, which you have no idea of, can really do something to you.”I reached out and touched Fred’s hand briefly. “We’ll figure it out together. I have some of my father’s old letters and documents that might help us piece things together. Maybe we can confront Freda again with more concrete questions? What do you think? Right now, she’s the only person who can give us answers, and we are not even on good terms.”We returned to m
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and ninety-seven
Narrator’s POV Freda’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments, a shadow crossing her eyes before she quickly regained her composure. She leaned back in her chair, interlacing her fingers and resting them on her desk.“That’s quite a heavy topic, Fred,” she said, her tone now more serious. “Why are you suddenly interested in this?”Fred shrugged. “Perhaps after Kathy’s death, I realised something. I just want to know why he abandoned my mother, why he chose his other family above us, and why he caused us so much pain and loss. I want to understand all of these things; perhaps it would help me forgive, let go, and move on.”A shadow of a smile crossed Freda’s face. “Ahhhh... I guess it runs in the family then.” Fred narrowed his eyes, wondering what she meant by that statement. “I don’t understand. What runs in the family?”Freda stood to her feet and approached the floor-to-ceiling window, which offered a great view of the city. From here, he could view the city’s skyline and wat
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and ninety-six
Narrator’s POV Freda’s office was located on the uppermost floor of the skyscraper that acted as Ranhold’s headquarters, a detail that made Fred pause as he stepped out of the taxi five minutes ago. He blinked against the rays of sunlight reflecting off the monolithic structure of steel and glass, momentarily blinded. The reflective surface mirrored the city below, creating an illusion of infinite depth.The other buildings around it were similar in their grandeur, each with its own unique design. For the umpteenth time since his arrival in the city, Fred was reminded of how little he had traveled. There were places outside of his known world yet to be explored, and this city of steel and glass was one of them. He had spent—wasted—five minutes entranced by the sleek, modern design, temporarily forgetting his purpose for being there.Pulling himself back to reality, he straightened his suit and approached the entrance. The revolving glass doors spun smoothly, ushering him into a grand
TOO GOOD TO LEAVE TOO BAD TO STAY Chapter One hundred and Ninety-five
Lana’s POVI took tentative steps towards the bouquet. Whether unconsciously or by some reflex response in our system, we all had taken steps away from the bouquet. For some reason, we felt threatened by it. This was not the first time we would receive threats disguised as gifts, and I guess that has taught us a lesson. Slowly, I pulled out the card in the bouquet and glanced at Cameron and Sally, who both gave me curt nods. I opened it and began reading it aloud. “Congratulations on Zoe’s recovery. Best wishes for the future. – Freda.”The room fell silent as the implications of the message sank in. Sally was the first to break the silence. “Freda has acted once again. First of all, it was an almost dead bird on my door, and now congratulatory bouquet?”My grip on the card tightened. “Is this supposed to mean something?”Cameron stepped closer, resting his hand on the small of my back. “Hey, we’ll keep our guard up. She’s only trying to play mind games, but we won’t give her the sat
