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TWENTY-THREE (2): On Thin Ice
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2024-11-10 16:46:01Her father’s political career was, she knew, far more at risk than he let on. The media had long awaited any chance to dig into his volatile temper and questionable decisions, and with Andre distancing himself, they would have that opportunity. David would lose, and it would be nothing short of spectacular.
Part of her almost wanted to see it happen.
But another part, the part that had been raised with a relentless sense of duty to her family’s legacy, steeled her resolve. She had to save the company. If there was any chance of securing Andre’s contract again, she would have to play this carefully.
She leaned back against her desk, folding her arms as she eyed her father and brother. “So,” she said coolly, “I assume you’re here to tell me something important.”
“He’s pulling out,” James said, breaking the tense silence that followed Annabelle’s question. His voice was low, full of frus
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As Annabelle spoke, she could see her father’s frustration rising, his temper ready to spill over. But what troubled her more than anything was the way James shrank under their father’s simmering rage, the way his shoulders hunched in defeat. She could feel the familiar tension in the air, the power struggle between her father and brother, one that had been ongoing for years.David didn’t waste any time before turning his fury on James. “You’re useless, James! Utterly useless!” he spat, his words biting through the silence. “How could you let this happen? How could you let Lila slip through our fingers? And you never even bothered to run a proper background check on her?”James flinched, his face pale. He struggled to find his words, his hands twitching at his sides as he stumbled over his answer. “I… of course, I did,” he muttered shakily, his voice betraying his nerves. “The background check cam
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She needed a moment to herself.Her own office felt like a suffocating cage—tight, oppressive, and full of unresolved tensions. James’ weak explanations, her father’s simmering frustration, and the undercurrent of danger looming over the Winters situation. She needed a space to breathe, a place far from the relentless demands of her family and the suffocating weight of their expectations. She couldn’t go back home just yet—not where her mother would be waiting, looking up to her to solve this mess James had created.With no particular destination in mind, she turned her car toward the outskirts of the city. She drove aimlessly, the city’s buildings blurring past her, until her car stopped at a small sanctuary she knew of: an indoor garden nestled in the heart of the city, hidden away from the prying eyes of the world. The lush greenery and the sweet scent of flowers helped her ground herself in ways she couldn’t explain. It was
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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