Hayden led me to his room instead of mine. Honestly, I preferred it this way. His scent lingered in every corner, calming my nerves in a way nothing else could.I was grateful it was him who found me earlier. During the ride home, he didn’t ask a single question about what had happened. Instead, he casually brought up other topics, lighthearted ones that was meant to cheer me up. He was waiting for me to open up, giving me the time and space I needed. He has always been considerate. And just like the last time he saved me, I don’t know why he was there just when I needed him. I speculated that he may have planted some men to follow me. Though I didn’t question him, I just put my mind at ease and believed that he was just there by accident.He got out for a while to brew me some tea so I was left here to myself to collect my thoughts. I glanced around his room. Everything was so neat—bookshelves perfectly arranged, his bed immaculately made, even the snake plants lined up with precis
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
"What?" I asked, processing what he just said. "I need you to marry someone to secure the company," he said. I didn't want to hear anything further so I attempted to leave, but the next thing he said made me frozen on the spot."Please, Isabella, hear me out. The company is struggling lately and the investors are pullig their shares. We had to loan a huge amount but everything drastically turned for the worse. He told me that he would save us if you'd marry him," he said, coughing im between while speaking. "Is this really the memory you want me to do have of you? Selling me off so you could save your business?" I asked him, gritting my teeth. "I..." He opened and closed his mouth, as if finding the right words to say. "I just thought by doing this I can help build your future. If you do this, then you will be free to do anything you want after this, you can divorce him and you'll be happy to do whatever you want." He said. "You really think that? Do you think everything will mag
"Are you sure your going back there?" Hayden asked me for the fifth time thus morning. He was against me going back, but...my father needs me right now. And as much as I want to leave that family, I still owe him my life. This will be the last grace of kindness I will give him, after this, after he...uh nevermind. "I've told you this a bunch of times already. I have to take care of him." I said, putting the last bit of things I need to bring with me. "At least let me drive you." He offered. "Just stop bro! I'm the one giving her a ride stop being so clingy to her it's getting annoying!" Aiden interrupted us as je barged inside trying to kick Hayden out of my room. "I'm his boyfriend I should be the one taking her there, not you." "Do you mean, pretend boyfriend?" Aiden corrected him. Hayden instantly fumed, looking at Hayden as if he was a bunny that he'll pounce and tear at any time now. "Tsk! I'm not planning on keeping it fake for very long," Hayden smirked.Aiden just roll
Father was resting on his bed when I walked in. A few hours later, his assistant, Tom, arrived and told me that he was instructed to take me to the company to tour me around. They we're readying me to face the guy who will either change us or break us. I just wonder who it is. Usually my father can solve any problems, but how the hell did we got buried in debt when the company is supposed to be doing well? "Miss? Let's go?" Tom called for me. I looked at dad one last time before closing the door."So what are we doing today?" I asked, and instead of answering me, he bombarded me with full loads of informations that I thought my brain would burst out of my head from overload of information.So the bottomline is that he told me I have to be well versed of everything that's happening. Currently, the company has just recovered from a major loss when they tried to venture and expand the business overseas, leading to the company having to loan a huge amount to an unknown creditor who wa
His head turned to the side, and clear slap mark was visible on his cheek.I felt bad a little, but what he's feeling cannot be compared to what I'm feeling right now."You told me to trust you. Yet it hasn't even been a day that I've been gone, yet you already did this," I spoke, my voice breaking as I felt a huge lump in my throat. "It wasn't what it looks like, she suddenly jumped on...""Ummm..." And awkward voice suddenly spoke from behind him. I looked over his shoulder and saw a sultry looking woman, looking at me with a sheepish smile. "He's telling the truth. It was me who initiated the kiss." She said, and my brows furrowed. Even so! He could've avoided it, yet he didn't."Bella, please, believe me, I would never do anything to hurt you," Hayden held my hand, his eyes genuine. One look in those eyes of his can really make me forget everything. "So she's the reason why you want to end things with me, huh? I get it now. Sigh, I really thought I already got a hold of you."
"How are things there?" Hayden asked at the other end of the line while I read a bunch of papers in father's office.His health was deteriorating day by day, which is why I can't focus much on the task that Tom is bombarding me with. "It's fine, I'm just really struggling emotionally. I can't help but get worried of father. He's alone at our house. I know Benjamin is there but I still can't get rid of the feeling." I said, massaging my temples."Do you want me to go over and take a look?" He asked. "No, no need, besides I know your bu..." Before I could finish the call ended. I looked at the phone to see that my battery was dead. I groaned, flooping my head on the table. The papers were all the same. It was all contracts of our artists that needed to be reviewed and signed. I was told the company will fo a temporary reolacement of CEO just until when I finish college. Father seemed to have agreed to it as well so the question now is who exactly are the boards recommending?...I
The cool night air brushed against my skin as Hayden and I stepped into the garden. The soft glow of lanterns hanging from the trees illuminated the pathway, casting flickering shadows on the ground. The sky stretched above us, a vast canvas adorned with a sea of stars. "Come on," I urged, tugging his hand. "I want to show you something."Hayden chuckled, following my lead. "You're being very secretive. Should I be worried?"I shot him a playful glare. "Just trust me."We stopped at a secluded patch of grass where the view of the sky was clearest. I spread a thick blanket I had brought earlier and gestured for him to sit. He raised a brow but complied, settling beside me as I lay on my back, staring up at the constellations."This was something my mom and I used to do," I said, my voice softer now. "Whenever I had a bad day or just needed to escape, she'd bring me out here, and we'd just watch the stars. She knew all the constellations, and she'd tell me their stories."Hayden's gaz
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
In a blink of an eye. Two years have already passed after we left the country and settled in a small town where Hayden’s mother grew up.Hayden had to do his job at home since he doesn’t want to leave us alone. However, there are occasional trips where he had to go back for some important meetings and negotiations. You might think I left on impulse, but no. We didn’t leave immediately that night. I stayed home, and fulfilled my promise not my father to take care of him till the end. Thankfully he passed away without experiencing any pain. One night, while he was sleeping, he didn’t wake up. All that’s left was a letter in his nightstand. It seems he had already prepared everything. It’s as if he knew what was going to happen that night. He was clutching a frame in his chest that showed an image of him and my mom when they were younger. He had on a bright smile, and she was looking at him with so much affection. When I stumbled into his room, I could only silently cry, but the pai
I think it’s safe to say that all of us are I hell right now. It was exams week and I haven’t been able to catch up with all the discussion. If you heard the thing about how a one day absent in college can have a huge effect, it’s not a lie. And now imagine my case. A whole week of being excused. “I can’t read any more of this concepts.” I buried my face on the mountains of books. “Shhh! No loud talking!” The librarian reprimanded making me flinch. I looked at the others and they seemed to be handling this exam weeks pretty calmly. “You shouldn’t have gone on a break for a week,” Aiden shook his head at me, silently laughing at my misery. I glared at him and stuck my tongue out. Tsk! He’s just jealous because he can’t freely blow off school. Not that I can, but…ugh! This exam is killing me!!! “Stop that Aiden. You’re scores were pretty much hanging in the last prelimination.” Asher said making me chuckle. Aiden quickly shut his mouth and drowned himself on his books. I l
The cool morning breeze wrapped itself around me as I stepped out of my car. The campus stretched ahead in all its usual chaos. Students hurried between buildings, their chatter blending into the hum of the bustling crowd. I wasn’t in a rush today though. Not that I wasn’t excited to be back, it’s just…I’m not really looking forward to anything. I figured I’d just go see Aiden since I’m too early for my first class anyway. I reached the gymnasium since I’m aware that the has practices in the morning. However, his team mates were already heading out. I asked one person and he said that Aiden was still in the locker room, showering. I figured I’d just wait for him here outside to finish. A few minutes passed and I heard his voice, however, he wasn’t alone. I was sitting on the bleacher near the wall so he didn’t see me as they both passed by. Who is that person he is talking? A friend? I was about to call him, but when I saw what they did next, I just wished the ground would sw
The cool night air brushed against my skin as Hayden and I stepped into the garden. The soft glow of lanterns hanging from the trees illuminated the pathway, casting flickering shadows on the ground. The sky stretched above us, a vast canvas adorned with a sea of stars. "Come on," I urged, tugging his hand. "I want to show you something."Hayden chuckled, following my lead. "You're being very secretive. Should I be worried?"I shot him a playful glare. "Just trust me."We stopped at a secluded patch of grass where the view of the sky was clearest. I spread a thick blanket I had brought earlier and gestured for him to sit. He raised a brow but complied, settling beside me as I lay on my back, staring up at the constellations."This was something my mom and I used to do," I said, my voice softer now. "Whenever I had a bad day or just needed to escape, she'd bring me out here, and we'd just watch the stars. She knew all the constellations, and she'd tell me their stories."Hayden's gaz
"How are things there?" Hayden asked at the other end of the line while I read a bunch of papers in father's office.His health was deteriorating day by day, which is why I can't focus much on the task that Tom is bombarding me with. "It's fine, I'm just really struggling emotionally. I can't help but get worried of father. He's alone at our house. I know Benjamin is there but I still can't get rid of the feeling." I said, massaging my temples."Do you want me to go over and take a look?" He asked. "No, no need, besides I know your bu..." Before I could finish the call ended. I looked at the phone to see that my battery was dead. I groaned, flooping my head on the table. The papers were all the same. It was all contracts of our artists that needed to be reviewed and signed. I was told the company will fo a temporary reolacement of CEO just until when I finish college. Father seemed to have agreed to it as well so the question now is who exactly are the boards recommending?...I