Leah had gone with Jeremy to see Ivan. “Please wait for me. Let me go in alone,” she said to Jeremy.“Okay,” Jeremy said without any argument.He trusted Leah so much, more than himself even. She was extremely smart and her gut feelings were usually right.Leah walked in and the warder went to bring Ivan out.Ivan couldn't look at Leah. He bent his head, avoiding her gaze.“Look at me,” Leah said, her tone firm.Ivan didn't look up.“Ivan, look at me, I said!” She sounded authoritative this time.“I can't. I'm too ashamed,” Ivan admitted, crying softly.“You were brainwashed. Big Margaret was very manipulative. I don't blame you, Ivan,” she paused and stretched her hands to his. “I'm getting you out of here, I promise.”Ivan finally raised his head up and looked at her, surprised at her words. She would help him after everything?Leah nodded as if she could hear his thoughts.— — —Jeremy was still being troubled about Clara or Claudia or whoever she was. She was an infiltrator and s
Morning light came through the curtains, casting soft lines on the walls. Leah woke up, still feeling the effects of the previous night. She lay in bed for a few seconds, enjoying the warmth and Jeremy's gentle breathing—the faint scent of him lingering in the pillows.Slowly, she got up from the bed, careful not to wake him. She yawned as she sat upright, her bare skin kissed by the gentle chill of the room. It was then she realized she was completely naked, her breasts still standing and pointed; sensitively alive, a sweet reminder of how passionately they’d expressed their love just hours ago.Last night had been more than sex. It had been soul meeting soul, a temporary sanctuary from the chaos that constantly clawed at their lives. With Margaret’s evil still echoing through the walls, with betrayal and secrets swirling in every corner of Empire Hub, and possibly Fisher Enterprise, they'd found comfort in the only place that still felt safe: each other.Leah slipped into her silky
Outside of town, in a secretive, quiet place, a lady was standing; waiting, her arms folded across her chest, her breath coming out in even mists as the evening chilled. The only sounds were the distant calls of birds settling in for the night and the subtle crunch of gravel beneath approaching footsteps.Clara appeared moments later, dressed in dark jeans and a loose sweater, her blonde hair tucked beneath a cap. She moved quickly, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. Her heart was beating fast, but not from fear—at least not entirely. There was something else pulsing through her veins: adrenaline, purpose, the knowledge of what they were about to set in motion.The lady had a striking resemblance with Clara. Their face, height, complexion, everything. They were mirror images. The only difference was that she had sharper edges and a colder aura."Update," the woman said, her tone brisk, as though she wasn’t interested in pleasantries. Even her voice echoed Clara’s, but wit
The morning sun shone brightly, lighting up the Fisher estate. The living room was quiet—a calm before a storm everyone could sense but couldn’t see. Leah sat at the edge of the sofa, her hands folded across her lap, trying to hide her nervousness.Jeremy stood by the window, staring out with a pensive look, his jaw tight. His phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced at it before ignoring the call. His mind was elsewhere, calculating, preparing.He turned and looked at Leah, concern evident in his eyes.“Sure you’re strong enough to go with them to the airport?” he asked gently, stepping toward her.Leah looked up at him, offering a small but determined smile. “Yeah, I am. Don’t worry.”She knew her body wasn’t in top shape as she was still recovering, but her spirit, her will, wouldn’t let her stay back. Not when the people she loved were being sent into hiding, even temporarily. She had to be there. She needed to see it for herself—that they were safe, that they got on the plane, t
Leah could perceive the sweet aroma of freshly baked croissants and sizzling eggs as she stepped into The Maple Grove, a quaint yet upscale eatery nestled between two tall buildings on Eastbourne Street. The morning rush hadn’t quite begun, so the place felt warm, inviting, and quiet—just as she remembered. It was the kind of place that offered comfort in chaos, and today, she needed that comfort.The hostess greeted her with a soft smile and recognition in her eyes. “Ms. Leah! It’s been a while.”Leah smiled back, her voice a little strained from the weight of everything she’d been carrying. “Yeah, it has. Just stopping by for breakfast.”“Jeremy not with you today?” the hostess asked, leading her to their usual corner table by the window.Leah shook her head. “No, he’s at the office. I’ll be taking some breakfast to him, too.”The woman nodded knowingly, placing the menu before Leah. “The usual?”Leah nodded. “Yes, please. Two of everything.”As she waited, she looked out the window
Jeremy frowned as he dialed Maggie’s number for the third time. Again, the call didn’t go through. The automated voice repeated, "The number you're trying to call is currently switched off. Please try again later."He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen like it would change the outcome."Her phone is still off," he said, puzzled.Leah turned to him from across the desk, arching a curious brow. “Maggie’s phone is off?”“Yeah. It's weird. Her phone is never off,” Jeremy muttered, eyes narrowing. “Something feels off. She always picks.”“Try again?” Leah suggested, though her voice lacked urgency. Her gaze had shifted. Like she was less focused on the problem at hand and more on him.Jeremy was about to dial again, but when he glanced up, Leah was staring at him… differently.Her head tilted ever so slightly, her lips parted just enough to reveal a hint of a sultry smile, and her eyes darkened with unmistakable mischief. Slowly, she rose from her chair and walked ar
The phone slipped from Jeremy’s fingers. He barely caught it before it hit the floor. His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, a deafening rhythm in the stillness of the office. He looked at Leah, his face expressed disbelief—shock. Perhaps he was hoping that she might confirm that this wasn’t real, that it was some cruel illusion crafted by his stressed mind."I... I don't understand you," Jeremy said finally, his voice rough and uneven, still battling the reality Maggie had just thrust upon him.Maggie's voice trembled through the speaker. "It's true, Jeremy. He's here… at the penthouse in Japan."Jeremy's lips parted, but no words came out. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. His wide, unblinking eyes stared through Leah, through the walls, through everything.His head was filled with thoughts.How?And if true, why?Why had the man stayed away all these years?Was he here now out of love and loyalty or was he plotting something sinister with those who had been tr
"You're fired, Leah! I don't want to ever see you here again.” Her boss' words struck her like lightning. She had just lost the only job that fed her and her family. Hot tears threatened to leave her eyes as she stood in front of Mr. Michael, trembling. “Please, sir. I- this is my only source of income. You know how it is ever since my dad-” “Enough, Leah! You should have just continued to be the obedient girl that you were.” He cut her off, his voice sending a chill down her spine, as she glanced around to see people staring at her. All she did was refuse the advances an annoying customer had made toward her. Her boss had queried her because of the several reports he had gotten from their top customers on how she snapped at them. He said she was being rude to their big customers and was likely pushing them away to their competitors. He urged her to just play along when they flirted with her. “You don't have to go to their houses and get in their beds, Leah. Just play along h
The phone slipped from Jeremy’s fingers. He barely caught it before it hit the floor. His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, a deafening rhythm in the stillness of the office. He looked at Leah, his face expressed disbelief—shock. Perhaps he was hoping that she might confirm that this wasn’t real, that it was some cruel illusion crafted by his stressed mind."I... I don't understand you," Jeremy said finally, his voice rough and uneven, still battling the reality Maggie had just thrust upon him.Maggie's voice trembled through the speaker. "It's true, Jeremy. He's here… at the penthouse in Japan."Jeremy's lips parted, but no words came out. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. His wide, unblinking eyes stared through Leah, through the walls, through everything.His head was filled with thoughts.How?And if true, why?Why had the man stayed away all these years?Was he here now out of love and loyalty or was he plotting something sinister with those who had been tr
Jeremy frowned as he dialed Maggie’s number for the third time. Again, the call didn’t go through. The automated voice repeated, "The number you're trying to call is currently switched off. Please try again later."He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen like it would change the outcome."Her phone is still off," he said, puzzled.Leah turned to him from across the desk, arching a curious brow. “Maggie’s phone is off?”“Yeah. It's weird. Her phone is never off,” Jeremy muttered, eyes narrowing. “Something feels off. She always picks.”“Try again?” Leah suggested, though her voice lacked urgency. Her gaze had shifted. Like she was less focused on the problem at hand and more on him.Jeremy was about to dial again, but when he glanced up, Leah was staring at him… differently.Her head tilted ever so slightly, her lips parted just enough to reveal a hint of a sultry smile, and her eyes darkened with unmistakable mischief. Slowly, she rose from her chair and walked ar
Leah could perceive the sweet aroma of freshly baked croissants and sizzling eggs as she stepped into The Maple Grove, a quaint yet upscale eatery nestled between two tall buildings on Eastbourne Street. The morning rush hadn’t quite begun, so the place felt warm, inviting, and quiet—just as she remembered. It was the kind of place that offered comfort in chaos, and today, she needed that comfort.The hostess greeted her with a soft smile and recognition in her eyes. “Ms. Leah! It’s been a while.”Leah smiled back, her voice a little strained from the weight of everything she’d been carrying. “Yeah, it has. Just stopping by for breakfast.”“Jeremy not with you today?” the hostess asked, leading her to their usual corner table by the window.Leah shook her head. “No, he’s at the office. I’ll be taking some breakfast to him, too.”The woman nodded knowingly, placing the menu before Leah. “The usual?”Leah nodded. “Yes, please. Two of everything.”As she waited, she looked out the window
The morning sun shone brightly, lighting up the Fisher estate. The living room was quiet—a calm before a storm everyone could sense but couldn’t see. Leah sat at the edge of the sofa, her hands folded across her lap, trying to hide her nervousness.Jeremy stood by the window, staring out with a pensive look, his jaw tight. His phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced at it before ignoring the call. His mind was elsewhere, calculating, preparing.He turned and looked at Leah, concern evident in his eyes.“Sure you’re strong enough to go with them to the airport?” he asked gently, stepping toward her.Leah looked up at him, offering a small but determined smile. “Yeah, I am. Don’t worry.”She knew her body wasn’t in top shape as she was still recovering, but her spirit, her will, wouldn’t let her stay back. Not when the people she loved were being sent into hiding, even temporarily. She had to be there. She needed to see it for herself—that they were safe, that they got on the plane, t
Outside of town, in a secretive, quiet place, a lady was standing; waiting, her arms folded across her chest, her breath coming out in even mists as the evening chilled. The only sounds were the distant calls of birds settling in for the night and the subtle crunch of gravel beneath approaching footsteps.Clara appeared moments later, dressed in dark jeans and a loose sweater, her blonde hair tucked beneath a cap. She moved quickly, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. Her heart was beating fast, but not from fear—at least not entirely. There was something else pulsing through her veins: adrenaline, purpose, the knowledge of what they were about to set in motion.The lady had a striking resemblance with Clara. Their face, height, complexion, everything. They were mirror images. The only difference was that she had sharper edges and a colder aura."Update," the woman said, her tone brisk, as though she wasn’t interested in pleasantries. Even her voice echoed Clara’s, but wit
Morning light came through the curtains, casting soft lines on the walls. Leah woke up, still feeling the effects of the previous night. She lay in bed for a few seconds, enjoying the warmth and Jeremy's gentle breathing—the faint scent of him lingering in the pillows.Slowly, she got up from the bed, careful not to wake him. She yawned as she sat upright, her bare skin kissed by the gentle chill of the room. It was then she realized she was completely naked, her breasts still standing and pointed; sensitively alive, a sweet reminder of how passionately they’d expressed their love just hours ago.Last night had been more than sex. It had been soul meeting soul, a temporary sanctuary from the chaos that constantly clawed at their lives. With Margaret’s evil still echoing through the walls, with betrayal and secrets swirling in every corner of Empire Hub, and possibly Fisher Enterprise, they'd found comfort in the only place that still felt safe: each other.Leah slipped into her silky
Leah had gone with Jeremy to see Ivan. “Please wait for me. Let me go in alone,” she said to Jeremy.“Okay,” Jeremy said without any argument.He trusted Leah so much, more than himself even. She was extremely smart and her gut feelings were usually right.Leah walked in and the warder went to bring Ivan out.Ivan couldn't look at Leah. He bent his head, avoiding her gaze.“Look at me,” Leah said, her tone firm.Ivan didn't look up.“Ivan, look at me, I said!” She sounded authoritative this time.“I can't. I'm too ashamed,” Ivan admitted, crying softly.“You were brainwashed. Big Margaret was very manipulative. I don't blame you, Ivan,” she paused and stretched her hands to his. “I'm getting you out of here, I promise.”Ivan finally raised his head up and looked at her, surprised at her words. She would help him after everything?Leah nodded as if she could hear his thoughts.— — —Jeremy was still being troubled about Clara or Claudia or whoever she was. She was an infiltrator and s
Jeremy was no longer himself. Always lost in thoughts, wondering who that lady, Clara, actually was, and where he'd seen her.Damn! Why couldn't he place the face? He surely had seen her before. The face… It was too familiar.And she wanted to work in his firm as his secretary? He couldn't trust her. No, he couldn't trust anyone. Not after everything they'd been through.His fingers moved reflexively toward the resume she’d left behind. He wanted to show it to Leah. Clara Dane. Age thirty-two. A flawless work history. Multiple firms, stellar recommendations, even a few accolades for administrative excellence. But no matter how pristine the paper trail looked, his instincts screamed that something was off. That woman… he knew her. Or he knew her face, her eyes, or maybe the energy she carried — like a polished blade hidden beneath silk.He snapped out of his daze when Jackson walked in, holding two cups of coffee and humming along to whatever was blasting in his AirPods.“Morning, boss
After Clara left, Jeremy barely waited for the soft click of the front door to fade before grabbing her resume again. His eyes scanned every line thoroughly, every bullet point, searching for something; anything, that didn’t add up.MIT graduate. Former executive assistant at Weston & Lane. Strategic consultant at Silverburn Inc.Everything looked solid. Too solid.And her face, that look. Where had he seen her? Or did she just look like someone he'd seen before? No. He'd seen her somewhere. But where?He stood abruptly and strode down the hall to his office, locking the door behind him. The walls of Empire Hub had always felt like steel, strong, unshakeable. But ever since Big Margaret’s web of betrayal had started to unravel, Jeremy had learned that appearances could be deceiving.He sat at his desk and opened his laptop. A few keystrokes brought up the internal background check system Leah had insisted on installing after the Monica fiasco. He typed in Clara Dane, attached the res