She couldn’t possibly know the kind of trap she was walking into. Despite the perils of the business world that she had successfully navigated to this point, Freda still considered Lana a little too gullible at this point. That’s why she had just consented to the invitation without giving it a second thought. Freda had planted camera men with equipment ready to stream their conversation, and her legal team had also invited the senior team; there was no way Lana could escape their interviewing wits without getting herself into a scandal that would surely burn her in one way or another. Freda smiled, satisfied with her own plan, and sat in the restaurant, waiting for her team of lawyers and then her prey. Lana, dressed in a sleek and sophisticated ensemble, exudes confidence and poise. She donned a tailored black pencil skirt that fell just above her knees, paired with a crisp white blouse adorned with subtle lace trim and a delicate silver brooch. A fitted blazer complements her cur
“What do you mean by seeing me before she dies?” “It’s what you heard, Cameron.” He could feel her cracking voice as she tried to bite back the tears. “Will you please calm down and tell me how all this happened?” “Two weeks ago, she was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The doctor gave her two months before she gave up the ghost, and she has been in the hospital ever since.” “Why are you just telling me about all this now?” “We’ve not been able to reach you up until now!!” She screamed, the frustration in her voice always showing itself. “I’ll be home the first thing tomorrow morning.” “The earlier, the better.” He dropped the call, his heart racing in fear and anticipation, not knowing what he was going to meet at home. He hated seeing his mom cry, but now that she was sick and on the deathbed, He couldn’t even bring himself to imagine how it must have been. This was surely the end of the work for the day; there was no way he could sign these papers in front of him i
The trip to Cartonica had been gruesome, lasting seventeen hours, but Cameron had paid no attention to the time spent. If it were within his power, he would have stopped the pilot from giving them the two-hour stopover that occurred in between the trips. As he got down from the phone, he quickly took off his phone from the flight mode as previously advised by the pilot and placed a call through to Becca. The call droned on until it was forwarded to the answering machine. It was strange for her to leave her phone hanging, but then strange things had been happening these days—a lot of strange things. He properly straightened the jacket he was wearing and headed towards the relaxation area like the other travellers, paying constant attention to the expensive, shiny timepiece on his hand, measuring the time used and the time he still had. He looked around the airport, searching for somewhere he could find something to fill his stomach on, and discovered where they had landed was more
Lana sat in the depressingly massive office space, staring at the mountainous stacks of paper sitting before her in a very neat manner as a million thoughts crossed to and from the thresholds of her mind. She tried her possible best to make it make sense to her in a way she knew wouldn’t. Cameron had not told her he had a family; no, he never mentioned a family in her hearing, and now that she knew about it, she couldn’t help but fight the feeling of doubt and uncertainty that was slowly finding her way to the memories of him that she held sacred. Restless, she stood up from the chair and paced to and fro the office space, not even knowing where she was itching from. She took her phone and went to his office upstairs, not looking for anything in particular. On getting to the door of his office, she met the secretary prancing out of the office. “What were you doing?” she asked suspiciously. “I went to supervise the cleaner and made sure she did her job the way she’s supposed to,”
The company’s cafeteria, known affectionately as “The Hub," was a warm and welcoming oasis in the midst of the bustling corporate landscape. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, enticing employees to take a break from their desks and gather around the tables. Known for its warm and inviting atmosphere, the Hub boasts comfortable seating and vibrant décor, and the menu is diverse and affordable, offering a range of options to suit various tastes and dietary needs. The Hub serves a mix of classic comfort food, international cuisine, and healthy options, all at prices that were streamlined to suit the needs of the middle- and low-class workers of the company. From hearty sandwiches and soups to flavorful curries and stir-fries, there’s something for everyone. Lana watched as employees lingered over their meals, the hum of conversation and the clinking of utensils against plates creating a sense of community and camaraderie. The Hub seemed to be more than a place to
The thirty minutes were shorter than he had anticipated, and with the assistance of the embedded computer in the car, he effortlessly navigated his way to the carefully structured city of Singer. As he drove, he tried to remember some places or roads but discovered that most of the structures he was familiar with were either bulldozed off or renovated to look like something new. He remembered how the TV presenter had described Singer on a programme in the past year. ‘Singer, the capital of the famous Cartonica offers a home to all and many; businessmen and women, industrialists, students, entrepreneurs, and even thieves, loafers, and criminals will have somewhere to put their heads. Home to the Myers Dual Islands, one of the most beautiful chains of private islands in the region, it boasts the most entrepreneur-filled city of the year. When you are thinking tourism next, think Singer, the city of skyscrapers.’ He turned away from the busy motorway to the more private road that led
“Why is the house void and empty? Where are all the maids?” Cameron questioned, taking in the beauty of the hallway as they walked past it. “They are retired to their quarters, sleeping. You know how Mother always capitalises on retiring to bed early,” she replied, taking Cameron down another trip through memory lane. “Yeah, yeah, I do.” He chuckled, trying to keep abreast of the moment. “Welcome back; you’re finally here after all these years.” She spun back to look him directly in the eye and raised her hand to caress his face, suddenly realising how tall he had become. “How long has it been? Fifteen years?” Cameron nodded his head in approval, suddenly ashamed of how long he had forgotten this place he had once treasured. “Go to bed now and rest well; we’ll visit Mother first thing in the morning,” she urged, opening the door of his long abandoned room for him. “I’ve had it cleaned and arranged, but I also made sure it was exactly the way you left it. Welcome back home, princ
“Becca? Are you with me?” His voice jolted her back to life, pulling her away abruptly from her reverie. “Yeah?” she answered, looking around the room like a chicken that had just witnessed the sacrificing of her mother. “I had been talking with you for over five minutes now, and you were not responsive.” “Five minutes? Was I lost in thought for five minutes?” “A little more than that. I was about to ask you what happened to mom.” “Well,” she started, “she had this coronary artery disease. It’s a heart condition where the lungs do not seem to have the strength to carry the blood to the heart, and the heart also doesn’t have the strength to pump enough blood.” “I didn’t know you were a medical prodigy,” he commented. She shrugged, staring daggers at him. “That was how the doctor described it. Now, coronary artery disease doesn’t have a cure; it can only be mitigated by pills and a change in lifestyle. But then, in the worst case, a heart transplant would be the only pathway ou