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NINETEEN (4): Simply Lunch
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The way he looked at her, the way his presence grounded her in a way she hadn’t felt in years—it was impossible to ignore. She could feel the pull between them growing stronger with each passing moment.
She glanced out at the water, trying to distract herself. “They really adore you, you know,” she said, gesturing towards Aaron and Winnie.Dominic chuckled again, though this time there was a hint of something bittersweet in it. “I try my best. It hasn’t been easy... after their mother left.”Lila’s heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. She knew what it felt like to be abandoned by someone who was supposed to care for you.“You’re doing a great job,” Lila said softly. “They’re lucky to have you.”Dominic smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I don’t always feel that way, but... thank you.”They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the space between them. Lila could feel the air thickening withRelated chapters
Tangled Destinies TWENTY (1): Tracking Andre
True to her word, Annabelle refused to be discouraged by the unyielding secretary’s frosty demeanor. For the past several days, she had bombarded Andre Winters' office with calls, her heart sinking a little each time the reply came back the same: “Mr. Winters is too busy to speak with you.” The sixth time she heard that clipped tone, her patience wore thin, and she threw her phone onto the couch in frustration.With determination etched across her features, Annabelle stood up and smoothed the fabric of her skirt. No way was she letting James’s blunder slip away so easily. If she needed to track down Andre Winters, then she would go to him herself. It was time to shift tactics.After a quick shower, she dressed in her most expensive activewear—a sleek black sports bra and matching leggings that hugged her figure perfectly. The material felt soft against her skin, the brand name printed across her chest a symbol of exclusivity that might help
Tangled Destinies TWENTY (2): Tracking Andre
Andre turned, his gaze flickering from surprise to recognition. “Annabelle,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “Annabelle Robinson. What a surprise to see you here.”“I had to see what all the fuss was about this place,” she replied, deliberately making her tone casual. “And I thought it was the perfect time to catch up.” The two men beside him exchanged glances, and Annabelle felt a rush of adrenaline; she was standing before one of the most influential men in the city, and she needed to make her pitch.“Busy, as always,” Andre said, glancing at his watch. “But I could spare a few minutes. Care for a quick game?”“Actually, I’d love to talk business.” Annabelle cut in, her heart pounding. “It’s about your contract with my brother. I think there’s a way we can work this out without you taking your business elsewhere.”Andre raised an eyebrow
Tangled Destinies TWENTY (3): Tracking Andre
Annabelle stared at him, her mind racing. He was playing games with her, she knew it. This was his way of putting her in her place, of brushing her off just like his secretary had done so many times before. The realization filled her with irritation, and before she could stop herself, the words flew from her mouth.“Is this another way of dismissing me?” she snapped, her voice laced with sarcasm. “You think I won’t go through with it? Or are you planning to block me from seeing you again, just like you’ve been doing these past few days?”Andre stopped mid-step, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. For a moment, they stood in a tense silence, his eyes locked on hers. Then, to her surprise, he laughed softly, the sound low and rumbling. It wasn’t a mocking laugh, but it wasn’t kind either.“Dismiss you?” he repeated, his gaze flickering with amusement. “No, Annabelle. I don’t plan on dismissing you at all. In fact, I’m making you a promise right now.” He too
Tangled Destinies TWENTY (4): Tracking Andre
Annabelle stormed through the office hallways, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor, but she paid no attention to the surprised looks from the staff. She was still dressed in her expensive sportswear, the tailored outfit clinging perfectly to her figure, and yet, despite the whispers that surely followed her, she was beyond caring. Her focus was singular, laser-sharp: Get the Winters contract.When James’s secretary tried to block her path, warning that her brother was in a meeting, Annabelle didn’t even pause. No meeting—nothing—was more important than the mess James had created and her need to fix it before it exploded beyond repair. Without hesitation, she threw open the door to James’s office, ignoring the secretary’s protests. What she found inside made her lips lift in distaste.The "meeting" was nothing more than James and Rachel entangled in each other’s arms, Rachel perched on his lap like some queen on her thr
Tangled Destinies TWENTY (5): Tracking Andre
David’s presence filled the room instantly, his tall, broad frame making the spindly secretary look even more insignificant. His face was unreadable, but the tension in his posture and the tight set of his jaw were unmistakable. James shot up from his seat the moment he saw their father, knocking into Rachel in his hurry, and ignoring her surprised yelp. She scrambled to stand, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but David didn’t even spare her a glance. His sharp, dark eyes were locked onto Annabelle.“What did you learn from Andre Winters?” David asked in a low, authoritative tone, his voice carrying the weight of years of command. There was no greeting, no pleasantries, just the demand for answers.Annabelle rose slowly from the couch, meeting her father’s gaze with the same steely resolve she’d inherited from him. “He wouldn’t give me the details outright,” she began, her tone calm and measured, “but he
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-ONE (1): Helping Out
Lila hadn’t seen Dominic for days. After their lunch together with Aaron and Winnie, he’d disappeared like mist in the early morning sun, leaving behind only the odd flutter in her chest whenever she thought about him, and an unexpected ache she couldn’t quite understand. Sea’s Edge was small enough that bumping into someone frequently was inevitable, but somehow, Dominic had vanished from her daily life. The one constant was Aaron and Winnie. Every day, like clockwork, Marcus would show up at the bookstore with the children in tow. He had started babysitting them more frequently, and every day after school, he would bring them by the shop before taking them home. Idly, Lila wondered if this was related to how little she saw of DominicWhenever school ended, Marcus brought Aaron and Winnie to the bookstore before taking them home, lingering just long enough for the kids to burn off some of their energy, but not long enough for Lila to ask about Dominic
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-ONE (2): Helping Out
“I can pick them up, no problem,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “But I don’t know if the school will just hand them over to me.”Marcus chuckled. “Already ahead of you. I called the school, described you, and gave them a password for extra security. You’re all set.”“Wow, you really thought this through,” Lila teased, grinning. “Maybe this is the universe telling you it’s time to let that old monstrosity of a car go.”“Hey! Put some respect on my baby’s name,” Marcus shot back, laughing. “But yeah, this might be the final straw. Just make sure you use the password. And, Lila? Thanks. I owe you one.”They hung up, and Lila closed up the shop in record time, locking the doors and getting into her small car. Her mind raced as she drove. She couldn’t ignore the way her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Dominic, even if it was jus
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-ONE (3): Helping Out
Lila hurriedly got Aaron and Winnie out of the car, huddling under their umbrellas as they made their way to the front door of Dominic’s home. Rain drizzled steadily, a cold dampness creeping into the air that made her instinctively adjust Winnie higher on her hip, trying to shield the toddler as much as she could. The house loomed ahead.When they reached the door, Lila set Winnie down for a moment to check if the door was unlocked, but to her dismay, it was firmly shut. The toddler, her eyes half-closed with sleep, leaned heavily against Lila’s leg. Shifting her weight, Lila dug into her pocket to pull out her phone, first trying Dominic’s number. As Marcus had warned, the call went straight to voicemail. From where she stood on the porch, Lila could faintly hear the muted sound of a ringtone from inside the house, but it quickly cut off.“Looks like your dad’s a pretty heavy sleeper,” Lila muttered to Aaron, who had
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Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (3): Harsh Words
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced at it absently—it was a message from one of the servants, asking if she wanted tea before bed. She quickly sent a polite decline. Tea wouldn’t fix the turmoil in her chest. Instead, she sent Lila a short text, telling her she might come and see her this weekend. Right now, Sea’s Edge seemed more inviting than ever.She sat down at the small vanity by the window, staring at the moonlit reflection of the garden outside. Her mind wandered again to Andre. What was it about him? She hadn’t intended to let the kiss happen. She was confused and unsure of her own emotions. But then, his presence had been so consuming, so undeniable. And now she was left trying to piece together what that kiss meant. Why had she let it happen? Why had she felt so drawn to him? Her thoughts were spiraling. She knew she shouldn’t have kissed him. She didn’t even know him, not really. He was just another complica
Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (2): Harsh Words
“I won’t go back to being some filthy mistress, James!” Rachel screamed, her voice rising in pitch with each word. “I won’t be the one people look at with disgust every time I walk into a room. And now you’re going to leave me too? After everything I’ve done for you?”James finally turned to face her, and for a brief moment, Annabelle saw something in his eyes—a flicker of something soft, something desperate, as he held her shoulders gently. He rubbed them in an attempt to calm her down, but Rachel was having none of it.“I don’t want to go back to Lila,” James said, his voice low and strained. “I’ve already told you that. But you have to be patient. We’re in a tough spot right now. The Winters contract... if we don’t get it back, the company... everything’s at risk.”Rachel’s face twisted in frustration, and Annabelle could see the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She was clearly not in the mood for patience.“Patience? Patience!?” Rachel
Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (1): Harsh Words
Annabelle’s mind was a storm as she drove home, the quiet hum of the car’s engine doing little to settle the chaos raging inside her. She couldn’t stop replaying the kiss with Andre. Her body still remembered the heat of it, the sharp edge of his hands on her skin, the firm press of his lips against hers. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to forget how quickly it had ended—how swiftly she had pulled away from him, shoving aside any budding feelings as if they were a distant and irrelevant threat. She had told him it meant nothing. She had forced herself to believe it.The kiss had been a mistake. There was no way around that. She knew better than to indulge in anything that could cloud her judgment. Andre Winters had the power to make or break her family. And for all the chemistry that had crackled between them, for all the ways he had made her feel seen and wanted, it was dangerous. His interests were tangled in business, in a world where emotions didn’t belong.The nagging voice i
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (4): A Night of Confession
Lila froze, the spark of recognition lighting up her eyes as she remembered seeing the scandal splashed across headlines. The media had dubbed it “The Lowes Low”—a twisted play on Dominic’s last name, and a reference to how low a person could sink. She remembered how every tabloid and news outlet had latched onto the story: Maria, desperate to secure more money, had orchestrated her own children’s kidnapping, thinking it would help her case. Dominic watched her as the memories came flooding back.“She planned it all,” he murmured, exhausted. “But Marcus—he hired a private investigator to follow her. That’s how we found them.”The images from those articles were still fresh in Lila’s mind, the ones that detailed how Maria had left her own children in a rundown apartment with nothing but candy to eat, only seeing them every few days as she took their father to court for every penny he had. Her throat
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (3): A Night of Confessions
But as the movie approached its end, Lila’s smile began to fade. She noticed that something seemed off. A subtle shift in tone crept in—a quiet, haunting sense of melancholy that lingered just under the surface. It was almost unnoticeable, and Aaron and Winnie, still engrossed, didn’t seem to notice. Elara and Finn eventually reached a tower hidden by fog, where, they were told, an evil witch had imprisoned their mother. The children, with the help of the friends they’d made, bravely faced the witch, banishing her and freeing their mother at last. But when the mother embraced her children, the animation took on an odd, faded quality, the colors dulling slightly, though the characters’ joy remained. The final scene showed the three of them reunited, a snowy landscape stretching out behind them.Then came the twist, so subtle that only an adult could catch it: a soft voiceover from Elara, whispering to her brother that everything would be okay now,
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (2): A Night of Confessions
When they returned, Dominic had just finished setting their plates on the coffee table. The slight tension in his face eased when he noticed Lila carrying Winnie, and when the little girl sleepily murmured, "Daddy," he seemed to visibly relax, his lips curving into a quick, grateful smile aimed at Lila. Dominic reached out, gently lifting Winnie from Lila’s arms and setting her on his lap.Aaron, far too focused on the movie to pay attention to dinner, darted toward the DVD player. He expertly removed the disc from its plastic case and popped it into the player, moving with the kind of confidence that showed he’d done it a hundred times. As he nestled himself between Lila and Dominic, he seemed to barely contain his excitement, his small frame practically vibrating with it.As the opening scenes of The Waiting Place began to play, Aaron leaned over to Lila, whispering, "You’re so gonna enjoy this."Winnie, who was now wide awake, shushed him im
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (1): A Night of Confessions
In the kitchen, Dominic focused on making a simple, familiar dinner—spaghetti with a mild tomato sauce and homemade meatballs, suitable for both the kids and Lila. He chopped fresh basil and sprinkled it into the sauce, stirring until the aroma filled the room. It was easy, quick, and one of the kids’ favorites. Winnie, who had a fussier palate, would at least eat the noodles if the mood struck her, and Aaron always loved rolling the spaghetti onto his fork like a pro.Meanwhile, in the living room, Lila sat with Aaron on the floor, sorting through Dominic’s impressive DVD collection of animated children’s films. It was a surprisingly massive selection; with nearly every popular kid’s movie she could think of—and many she hadn’t even heard of. It felt like a small treasure trove, like Dominic had quietly built up his own library to keep Aaron and Winnie entertained."How about this one?" she suggested, pulling out a bright gree
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FOUR (3): Unexpected Meeting
Just as Annabelle was about to take a deep breath and relax, Andre reappeared with two mocktails in hand, his expression one of feigned innocence."Here we go," he said, setting the drinks down in front of her. "I thought you might need a little something after that... torturous exchange."Annabelle raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to save me."He smirked, the glint in his eye mischievous. "Oh, I was, but I changed my mind. You see, I had to sacrifice you to her. She’s obviously really into me, and I had no choice but to let you face her alone to save myself. But you survived, didn’t you?"For a moment, Annabelle stared at him, not quite understanding. And then, the meaning of his words hit her. Her lips parted in a surprised laugh, the sound bubbling out of her before she could stop it. Andre’s mischievous grin was contagious, and before she knew it, the weight of the day seemed to lift, if only for a moment.As the laugh
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FOUR (2): Unexpected Meeting
They found a nearby bench, surrounded by hanging plants and soft sunlight streaming through the glass roof, and settled down. Annabelle felt her tension begin to ease. It wasn’t as if she was unaware of the dangerous position she was in—she couldn’t forget for a second that Andre had the power to crush her family with the flick of his wrist. But for now, in this quiet space, she allowed herself to pretend she lived a much more normal life. She forgot about her father’s frantic desperation and the threat Andre posed. In the bubble of their easy banter, the power dynamics seemed to blur, leaving just two people talking in a quiet garden.The hours seemed to slip by as they talked— business, the weather, small things that made her forget the weight of her responsibilities. Annabelle found herself surprisingly at ease with him.It wasn’t long before she realized that she was enjoying his company. There was an undeniable chemistry between them, something that made her feel
