Lila's POV The morning air was crisp with the usual buzz of the company coming to life. My mind was preoccupied with everything that had happened lately—the shattered windows, the break-in, and all the tension that seemed to hang like a dark cloud over my head. The more I paid attention to these things, the more I realised that a danger might be lurking somewhere in the shadows, waiting for the right time to manifest. But I just can't seem to wrap my mind around whatever it is. Even as Randall seemed to be my prime suspect, judging from his sudden change of behaviour, I still can't be too sure since there's no solid evidence to corroborate my speculation of him.Speak of the devilI barely had a chance to settle into my thoughts when I saw him—Randall.He was one of the first few people I ran into, standing by the reception desk, talking to the receptionist as she was flipping through some documents. When our eyes met, he greeted me with a wide, innocent smile that caught me compl
Lila's POVDespite the fact that I had additional company in the back seat of my car, the silence we maintained was strange, yet I revelled in it, hoping the soothing silence helps me clear my head.The two guards who would stay at home permanently were in the car with me, together with my two personal guards. The driver and I made it six of us in the new SUV car that drove us home, yet it was as silent as a graveyard. Well, nobody would say a word unless necessary, or unless I engage them to. And I'm not really in such a mood.The soft hum of the car intertwined with my thoughts as my driver drove us home. I've not just had a long day, I've stumbled on something that has stirred up some unrest within me.Finally, the car pulled up in front of the house, and as I tried to alight, I suddenly paused when I heard the voice that came from one of my guards at the back seat. “I'll get that ma'am,” he said. I was lost. I didn't understand what he meant until he quickly alighted from the
Lila's POV When Damian walked into the office this morning, I felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. I hadn’t been able to sleep much the previous night; the discovery in my mum's old journal was haunting me.I needed to tell him about it, to share the weight of this terrible secret with someone who might have answers—or at least know what to do next. All the times that Damian and I had spent together, I've seen how he handles situations. I could tell that he is a better problem solver than I am. Maybe he could help me figure this out. He looked calm and composed as usual, flashing me his reassuring smile as he approached me. "Good morning, Lila," he greeted me warmly, but I could tell he sensed something was off. My face must have betrayed my restless night."Damian, we need to talk," I said, my voice a little shaky as I stood up and gestured towards the corner office. I couldn’t have this conversation out in the open. His brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded, following m
Lila's POVThe last thing I needed was to be stuck in my own head, tangled in the web of confusion and anxiety that had been tightening around me since I discovered the truth about my parents. Damain had left early today to fully attend to some functions in his own conglomerate. So, using his company for my distraction wasn't an option. As I kept pondering on what else I could do, that’s when the idea struck me—shoppingShopping felt like the perfect escape from the overwhelming stress I’d been under. It was my first evening free in a while, and I needed a distraction—something to take my mind off the haunting discoveries about my parents and the lingering anxiety over my mum’s upcoming surgery. With everything happening, I’d been avoiding the company's apartment, going straight from work to home every day. But today, I was determined to break that routine.After work, I decided on a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip. I wanted to pick up a few things for the house, for Mum, and for
Lila's POVI was deep into reviewing some documents when my phone buzzed, interrupting my concentration. Glancing down, I saw his name flash across the screen again—Connor.I huffed. This guy won't just quit. Since last night, he had been so intent on blowing up my phone. I got a call last night from a strange number that popped up on my screen. I wondered who could be calling me quite late at night, only for me to answer the call and find out that it's Connor.As soon as I heard that it's Connor, I hung up on him immediately, even though I didn't like how something in me disapproved of what I did. First, I wondered how he got my contact information but I didn't ponder it too far before I reckoned that since I'm now the CEO of a big company, he must have searched me up on the internet and got my contact information there. I tried to stay as low-key as possible in the shopping mall yesterday by moving only with Elena, but he must have seen the guards and the luxurious car that wai
Damian's POVYesterday was a whirlwind. The demands at my company had me tied up all day, so much so that I didn’t even make it to Monroe Corporation. Valerie had been doing well at keeping things in order while I was away. But there was still a lot to do, so I assisted her myself with some of the tasks. My deed caught her by surprise. She knew I would not reduce her salary because of the help I rendered to her, so she voiced her gratitude to me a couple times with a smile on her face each time. Actually, Valerie is beautiful, but I do not see her in any other light apart from being my PA. Aside from being perfectly qualified for her job, she doesn't spark up anything in me. Nothing at all. I've figured out that she likes me, but she knows the stakes. She dare not make me sense that she's making any advance towards me. She should keep it all to herself. It wasn’t until I finally settled down at home, my mind free of distractions, that I realised something surprising—I actually mi
Damian's POVAs soon as the driver pulled the car back around, we were right where we’d seen them before. I stared at Lila, trying to keep my expression unreadable, but inside, my emotions were spiralling out of control. I reminded myself—again—that Lila wasn’t mine. We weren’t together, and I had no right to feel possessive. And yet, there I was, watching her, unable to tear my eyes away.She seemed comfortable, too comfortable, with that guy. They were laughing, chatting easily. I could tell from his body language that he was flirting, leaning forward, his gaze locked on hers like she was the only person in the room. My jaw tightened as I watched him reach across the table and take her hand. As if everything unfolding before my eyes wasn't enough to spite me, this flirt just took her hand and planted a kiss on it, his gesture slow and deliberate.Damn!My fingers knew what to do. They didn't take permission from me before curling into a fist beside me as if warming up for an impen
Lila's POVEn route back to the house after work, I took sluggish steps as I walked across the street. I watched as cars sped by like there's no tomorrow, the wind swirling unpredictably. The few people left on the street ran to seek shelter as the first drops of rain began to fall.It was like I was seeing all of that without really seeing, because I was only staring into space. I was too broken to be affected by the activities going on around me. Even as the rain crescendoed, pouring down in torrents, I didn't stop. I kept moving with a melancholic gait. I would have worried if I currently had a phone on me, but my quirky phone won't come on for days, so I saw no need to take it along with me to work this morning. As though the rain carried the power to wash all my sorrows away, I let myself get drenched by the downpour, each raindrop on my skin a painful reminder of the harsh words my boss hurled at me today. “You're always absent minded at work,” Greg roared, his eyes blazing
Damian's POVAs soon as the driver pulled the car back around, we were right where we’d seen them before. I stared at Lila, trying to keep my expression unreadable, but inside, my emotions were spiralling out of control. I reminded myself—again—that Lila wasn’t mine. We weren’t together, and I had no right to feel possessive. And yet, there I was, watching her, unable to tear my eyes away.She seemed comfortable, too comfortable, with that guy. They were laughing, chatting easily. I could tell from his body language that he was flirting, leaning forward, his gaze locked on hers like she was the only person in the room. My jaw tightened as I watched him reach across the table and take her hand. As if everything unfolding before my eyes wasn't enough to spite me, this flirt just took her hand and planted a kiss on it, his gesture slow and deliberate.Damn!My fingers knew what to do. They didn't take permission from me before curling into a fist beside me as if warming up for an impen
Damian's POVYesterday was a whirlwind. The demands at my company had me tied up all day, so much so that I didn’t even make it to Monroe Corporation. Valerie had been doing well at keeping things in order while I was away. But there was still a lot to do, so I assisted her myself with some of the tasks. My deed caught her by surprise. She knew I would not reduce her salary because of the help I rendered to her, so she voiced her gratitude to me a couple times with a smile on her face each time. Actually, Valerie is beautiful, but I do not see her in any other light apart from being my PA. Aside from being perfectly qualified for her job, she doesn't spark up anything in me. Nothing at all. I've figured out that she likes me, but she knows the stakes. She dare not make me sense that she's making any advance towards me. She should keep it all to herself. It wasn’t until I finally settled down at home, my mind free of distractions, that I realised something surprising—I actually mi
Lila's POVI was deep into reviewing some documents when my phone buzzed, interrupting my concentration. Glancing down, I saw his name flash across the screen again—Connor.I huffed. This guy won't just quit. Since last night, he had been so intent on blowing up my phone. I got a call last night from a strange number that popped up on my screen. I wondered who could be calling me quite late at night, only for me to answer the call and find out that it's Connor.As soon as I heard that it's Connor, I hung up on him immediately, even though I didn't like how something in me disapproved of what I did. First, I wondered how he got my contact information but I didn't ponder it too far before I reckoned that since I'm now the CEO of a big company, he must have searched me up on the internet and got my contact information there. I tried to stay as low-key as possible in the shopping mall yesterday by moving only with Elena, but he must have seen the guards and the luxurious car that wai
Lila's POVThe last thing I needed was to be stuck in my own head, tangled in the web of confusion and anxiety that had been tightening around me since I discovered the truth about my parents. Damain had left early today to fully attend to some functions in his own conglomerate. So, using his company for my distraction wasn't an option. As I kept pondering on what else I could do, that’s when the idea struck me—shoppingShopping felt like the perfect escape from the overwhelming stress I’d been under. It was my first evening free in a while, and I needed a distraction—something to take my mind off the haunting discoveries about my parents and the lingering anxiety over my mum’s upcoming surgery. With everything happening, I’d been avoiding the company's apartment, going straight from work to home every day. But today, I was determined to break that routine.After work, I decided on a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip. I wanted to pick up a few things for the house, for Mum, and for
Lila's POV When Damian walked into the office this morning, I felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. I hadn’t been able to sleep much the previous night; the discovery in my mum's old journal was haunting me.I needed to tell him about it, to share the weight of this terrible secret with someone who might have answers—or at least know what to do next. All the times that Damian and I had spent together, I've seen how he handles situations. I could tell that he is a better problem solver than I am. Maybe he could help me figure this out. He looked calm and composed as usual, flashing me his reassuring smile as he approached me. "Good morning, Lila," he greeted me warmly, but I could tell he sensed something was off. My face must have betrayed my restless night."Damian, we need to talk," I said, my voice a little shaky as I stood up and gestured towards the corner office. I couldn’t have this conversation out in the open. His brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded, following m
Lila's POVDespite the fact that I had additional company in the back seat of my car, the silence we maintained was strange, yet I revelled in it, hoping the soothing silence helps me clear my head.The two guards who would stay at home permanently were in the car with me, together with my two personal guards. The driver and I made it six of us in the new SUV car that drove us home, yet it was as silent as a graveyard. Well, nobody would say a word unless necessary, or unless I engage them to. And I'm not really in such a mood.The soft hum of the car intertwined with my thoughts as my driver drove us home. I've not just had a long day, I've stumbled on something that has stirred up some unrest within me.Finally, the car pulled up in front of the house, and as I tried to alight, I suddenly paused when I heard the voice that came from one of my guards at the back seat. “I'll get that ma'am,” he said. I was lost. I didn't understand what he meant until he quickly alighted from the
Lila's POV The morning air was crisp with the usual buzz of the company coming to life. My mind was preoccupied with everything that had happened lately—the shattered windows, the break-in, and all the tension that seemed to hang like a dark cloud over my head. The more I paid attention to these things, the more I realised that a danger might be lurking somewhere in the shadows, waiting for the right time to manifest. But I just can't seem to wrap my mind around whatever it is. Even as Randall seemed to be my prime suspect, judging from his sudden change of behaviour, I still can't be too sure since there's no solid evidence to corroborate my speculation of him.Speak of the devilI barely had a chance to settle into my thoughts when I saw him—Randall.He was one of the first few people I ran into, standing by the reception desk, talking to the receptionist as she was flipping through some documents. When our eyes met, he greeted me with a wide, innocent smile that caught me compl
Damian’s POV“Lila, are you there?” I called out again when I didn't hear any response from her just like she did last night before I had to rush to her place.Does she have a thing for going quiet suddenly? Finally, I heard her swallow audibly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I went to my company’s apartment earlier today, just to settle a few things before heading home. Damian... someone broke in.”My eyes narrowed, and I felt a cold wave of surprise wash over me. “What? What happened?” I asked sharply, though my mind was already racing. This was unexpected. I had been the one to assign someone to hack her phone, but this... this was something else entirely.“The window... it was shattered,” she said, her voice trembling. “The same way it was at my main house the other night. It’s like whoever broke into my home did the same thing to my company’s apartment.”I clenched my jaw, tension coiling in my chest. This wasn't part of my plan. Whatever games I was playing with Lila, bre
Damian's POV.The memory of the night replayed in my mind like a broken record even as I lay on Lila's bed last night. After the rain had stopped, as well as the lightning and thunder, and we had both realised what we'd done by chance, we both retired to bed quietly to sleep away the memory. I would have just gone back to my apartment immediately but it appeared that Lila still needed someone around a little longer. The storm, the kiss, the unspoken intensity that hung between us—it all felt so raw, so undeniably real. Yet, as I lay awake in Lila’s bed, staring at the ceiling while she faced the other way, I told myself it was nothing more than lust. A fleeting moment of weakness. My body had betrayed my mind, and I needed to get a grip.The silence stretched between us, broken only by the occasional rustle of sheets as she shifted slightly, and I wondered if she was awake too, lost in her own thoughts. I waited until her breathing slowed, indicating she'd fallen asleep, before I