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CHAPTER 68

Author: CagalieYula
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-01 23:30:19

 

A moment later, the panel judge arrived—a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and an air of authority. He approached the booth with an appraising gaze, and I stepped forward to greet him.

“Good morning,” I said, offering a warm smile. “I’m Bridgette Martinez, acting CEO of Bermudez Group. Thank you for taking the time to visit our booth.”

The judge nodded, his eyes sweeping over the setup. “Mrs. Bermudez, I’ve heard a lot about Bermudez Group. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve brought to the table.”

I gestured to the LED screens, where our promotional videos played in a seamless loop. “We’re showcasing our latest projects and inno

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    With the 3D design finally in place, our booth transformed into something breathtaking. The LED screens lit up with vibrant images of Bermudez Group’s latest projects, and the 3D model projected an immersive view of our most ambitious real estate developments.Lucia and I stood back for a moment, admiring the setup. It had come together better than I had hoped, given the rocky start.“Wow,” Lucia whispered, her eyes wide. “It’s amazing, Madame CEO. I knew we could pull it off, but this? It’s stunning.”I nodded, feeling the same sense of pride. “Yeah, definitely, we

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    Days after the expo…The mood in my office was light, even buoyant, as Marcus popped the cork off the bottle of champagne. Lucia cheered, and I couldn’t help but laugh as bubbles fizzed up and spilled over the edge of the bottle.“To our fearless Madame CEO!” Marcus said with a grin, handing me the first glass. “You really pulled off a miracle at the expo.”I raised my glass, trying to suppress the modest smile tugging at my lips. “I couldn’t have done it without the two of you. If anyone deserves a toast, it’s you both. You kept everything together when things almost went off the rails.”Lucia shook her head, pouring herself a glass. “Come on, Madame CEO. You’re the one who kept us calm. If it weren’t for you, I’d have probably been a nervous wreck the moment that panel judge showed up early.”I laughed, recalling how pale Lucia had gone when we’d been told about the judge’s sudden appearance. “Well, I might’ve been panicking on the inside, but outwardly, I had to keep it cool.”“And

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    I stormed out of the boardroom, my head spinning with everything Charles had just thrown at me. This couldn’t be real—he couldn’t just walk in here and claim the chairman position without any warning, without Thiago saying a word. As I made my way through the halls of the Bermudez Group building, I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. Thiago. I needed to hear from him. I didn’t bother sending a text; I called him directly, pacing in the corridor as the phone rang, each unanswered buzz only fueling my frustration. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Thiago answered."Hello, wifey," he greeted in that calm, almost teasing tone he often used, but this time, it only grated on my nerves.“We need to talk,” I snapped, not bothering with pleasantries. “Right now.”There was a brief pause before he answered, his voice softening. “What happened? Are you okay?”Completelyh ignoring his question, I immediately replied, “I’m coming over to your plac

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    The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual, still feeling the lingering weight of my conversation with Thiago the night before. His reassurance had settled some of my nerves a bit, but not all. Charles Bermudez was still a problem, and I wasn’t about to let him keep disrupting my work.When I stepped into my office, however, I instantly felt something was off. My desk that was usually spotless and way too well put together was now messed up. My personal files were usually in a controlled state of chaos, but everything now looked disorganised and unsightly. That’s when I noticed him—Charles—sitting casually in the chair behind my desk, rifling through my paperwork as if he had every right to be there.That was when my blood boiled.“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sharp as I stormed into the room. “What the hell do you think you’re doing in my office?”Charles glanced up from the files with that same smug, arrogant smile he’d worn at the board meeting yesterday. “Ah, goo

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    Lucia walked further inside my office, closing the door behind her and pulling up a chair beside my desk. She began helping by arranging those files and documents that Charles had messed around earlier.Following that, she then looked at me with her usual supportive, yet curious, expression."Let me guess," she said, folding her arms. "Charles isn’t going away quietly, is he?"I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples as I tried to calm the frustration bubbling inside. "No, he’s not. He was in here this morning, Lucia—like inisde my office, going through my files like he had every right to be here."

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  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 74

    And as soon as Marcus left, I grabbed my phone and dialed Thiago’s viber. I needed to inform him about the things that his cousin was doing behind our back.The weight of everything—Charles’ meddling, the betrayal within the company, and the looming threat to Bermudez Group—hung over me like a dark cloud. I needed to seek help, and of course, the only person I think that could help me now was no one else but Thiago. I needed him now.It rang a few times before Thiago picked up, his voice calm and collected as usual. "Wifey, what’s going on?"I didn’t bother with pleasantries. "We need to talk. Please, Charles is snooping around in our financial files in secret, and he’s not doing it alone. Someone in the company is helping him, and I need to know if you’re involved."There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, my heart pounded in the silence. When Thiago finally spoke, his voice was firm but a little colder than usual. "Wifey, I’ve already told you—I have noth

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    I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Charles’ sudden appearance than just some power play within the family. The way he slithered into meetings and casually acted as if he belonged at the head of the table made my skin crawl. Something was off, and I wasn’t going to wait around for him to make his next move.After my confrontation with Charles earlier that morning, I decided it was time to take action beyond just words. I needed to know what his true intentions were with Bermudez Group, and I wasn’t going to rely on Thiago to find out. This was my fight now.I had quietly reached out to a private investigator the day before—someone who specialized in corporate espionage and discreet investigations. I didn’t want anyone in the company to know about this yet, especially not Charles. The less he knew, the better.As I sat at my desk that afternoon, waiting for the investigator’s report, Lucia came into my office, looking anxious but determined. "Madame CEO, you need to s

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  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 76

    As the days passed, the investigation into Charles’ activities only deepened. My private investigator had uncovered more connections between Charles and several of our competitors, particularly one shady conglomerate that had been sniffing around the edges of Bermudez Group for months.It became clear that Charles was playing a much bigger game than we originally thought.I sat in my office, pouring over the investigator’s latest findings, my mind racing. Every new revelation only made things murkier. Charles wasn’t just after my position—he was after the whole damn company.Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Lucia poked her head in, looking more concerned than usual."Madame CEO," she said softly, stepping into the room. "You’re going to want to see this.""What now?" I asked, barely hiding my frustration. I had enough on my plate as it was.Lucia handed me her tablet, her fingers shaking slightly. "I pulled another set of CCTV footage from last week. I know we’ve already s

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    I took a step back, my breath coming too fast. I needed space. Air. Something solid to hold on to, but all I had were shifting lies.Santiago watched me, his smirk fading into something more dangerous—anticipation. Like he was waiting for me to break.I wouldn’t give him that.I forced my voice steady. “You don’t get to decide for me.”Santiago sighed, almost bored. “You think you have a choice?” He gestured lazily with the gun. “You were born into this world, hija. You don’t just walk away from it.”Victor stepped forward, his hand subtly shifting toward his jacket. “She’s not you, Santiago.”Santiago laughed. “And you still think you can save her?” His amusement vanished in a blink. “I’m giving her a way out. If she’s smart, she’ll take it.”My heart pounded. “And if I don’t?”His expression darkened. “Then you’ll regret it.”A flicker of movement. A breath of warning.And then Victor lunged.I barely had time to react before he was on Santiago, knocking the gun aside. A shot rang o

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    The old pier stretched before me, silent except for the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the wooden posts. A single lamplight flickered above, casting long shadows across the damp planks. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, my breath visible in the night air.I checked my phone again. Midnight. I was a few minutes early, but whoever had sent the message wasn’t here yet.Or maybe they were watching.A gust of wind sent a shiver down my spine. I crossed my arms, not just against the cold, but against the gnawing uncertainty clawing at my insides. This could be a trap. Thiago could have sent the message, luring me here to force a conversation I wasn’t ready for. Or worse—someone else, someone more dangerous, could be behind it.I turned, about to leave, when I heard footsteps. Slow. Measured.I spun back, my pulse skyrocketing as a shadow emerged from the darkness.It wasn’t Thiago.Victor.His sharp features were cast in half-light, his expression unreadable as he stepped towar

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    Thiago kissed me like he was trying to brand himself into my soul—like he could erase every doubt, every betrayal, with the heat of his mouth.And for a moment, I let him.For a moment, I kissed him back, gripping his shirt like it could anchor me to something real.But reality crashed in just as fast.I shoved him away, breathless, my lips still tingling from the force of him.His chest rose and fell, his dark eyes locked onto mine with a heat that burned straight through me.“No,” I said, voice hoarse.Thiago’s jaw tightened. “Bridgette—”“No,” I repeated, stepping back. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to lie to me, manipulate me, and then kiss me like I’m supposed to forget everything.”His hands curled into fists at his sides. “I wasn’t lying to you.”“Really?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Then why do I feel like I just walked into a trap?”Thiago exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”I crossed my arms.

  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 277

    I forced myself to meet Santiago’s gaze, schooling my expression into something unreadable. If he was here, breaking into my penthouse in the middle of the night, it wasn’t just to chat.He wants something.I wasn’t going to give it to him.“You have about ten seconds to explain why you’re here before I call security,” I said, gripping the wine bottle so tightly my knuckles ached.Santiago smirked, the kind of lazy, self-assured grin that made my stomach twist. He took a slow step forward, completely unfazed by my threat. “Security?” he mused. “Mmm… You could call them. But we both know they won’t get here in time, mi amor.”His voice was smooth, practiced, laced with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he held all the cards.I refused to let him see the flicker of unease tightening in my chest.“I don’t have time for games, Santiago.”“I know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Which is why I’ll get to the point.”In one fluid motion, he reached inside his suit jacket. I

  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 276

    His lips moved against mine with a slow, deliberate hunger, as if he was savoring every second of my surrender. I should have pushed him away. I should have turned and walked out of this penthouse, out of his life, like I swore I would.But the second his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, every ounce of resistance melted away.Thiago knew my body too well. He knew exactly how to unravel me with a single touch, how to make me forget logic and consequences. His fingers trailed down my spine, sending a shiver through me, his kiss deepening until I was breathless.I tore away, gasping, my palms flat against his chest. “Thiago—”His forehead rested against mine, his breathing just as uneven. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this.”My fingers curled into his shirt, torn between desire and the storm raging in my mind. “It’s not about what I want.”He exhaled, a humorless chuckle escaping him. “Then what is it about, Wifey?”That nickname. The way it rolled off his tongue like a promise

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    The hallway felt too small, too suffocating with both men standing there—Victor rigid with frustration, Thiago exuding that quiet, commanding presence that had always been my undoing.I should tell him to leave. I should push past this moment and pretend my heart wasn’t beating too fast, that I wasn’t already losing this battle.But I didn’t.Instead, I met Thiago’s gaze head-on. “What do you want?”He tilted his head slightly, studying me, before stepping closer. Too close. The scent of him—expensive cologne, faint whiskey, something distinctly him—wrapped around me like a noose.Victor shifted beside me, his tension palpable. “You’re wasting your time, Bermudez. She’s done with whatever game you’re playing.”Thiago let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes never leaving mine. “That so?” His fingers twitched at his side, like he was resisting the urge to touch me. “Because she hasn’t told me to leave yet.”Damn him.Victor exhaled sharply. “Bridgette.” His voice was low, a warning.I swallow

  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 274

    The silence stretched between us, thick with words left unsaid. Victor's gaze remained steady, unwavering, as if he could will me into understanding the danger I was walking into. Maybe he could see the fracture lines forming beneath my skin, the way I was slowly unraveling under the weight of my own choices.But what choice did I have? Thiago was a shadow I couldn’t outrun. No matter how far I went, how fiercely I tried to carve out a life separate from him, he was always there. And worst of all, some part of me still wanted him to be.I exhaled sharply, shoving past Victor toward the kitchen, needing space—needing something to ground me before I lost myself completely in this never-ending push and pull. I reached for the half-empty wine bottle on the counter and poured myself a glass. My hand trembled slightly as I took a sip, the bitter liquid burning down my throat.Victor followed but didn’t say anything right away. He just leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest,

  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 273

    The silence between Victor and me stretched, taut and suffocating. He watched me like I was a puzzle he had almost solved but was too frustrated to finish.“Bridge,” he finally said, his voice softer now. “You don’t have to do this alone. You know that, right?”I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Victor had always been my safety net, the one person who saw the mess I was and still chose to stand by me. But even he couldn’t save me from myself.I turned away, rubbing my arms as though that could shake off the cold creeping into my bones. “I’m tired, Vic. Can we just—can we not do this tonight?”His eyes darkened, but he nodded once, reluctant. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him. I waited, standing frozen in place until I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway. Then, with a shaky breath, I turned and pressed my forehead against the door, letting my eyes close.Not five minutes later, my phone vibrated on the counter.I didn’t wan

  • TRAPPED WITH MY DAD'S BESTFRIEND   CHAPTER 272

    The weight of Lucia’s words lingered long after she was gone, settling over me like an unwelcome shroud. The air in my apartment felt heavier, thick with the ghost of Thiago’s presence.I set the wine glass down with a soft clink, pressing my fingers against my temples. My head throbbed, not from the alcohol but from the war waging inside me. Thiago was a storm—unrelenting, consuming, and I was the fool who kept stepping into the rain without an umbrella.I forced myself to move, needing to shake off the static thrumming in my veins. One step, then another, until I was standing before my bedroom mirror. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. There was defiance in her eyes, yes, but beneath it, something else lurked—uncertainty.My gaze dropped to the ring, still snug on my finger. I could almost feel the phantom trace of Thiago’s touch lingering there. My hands curled into fists. I should take it off. I should have done it the second he walked out that door.With a sharp

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