AURORAI have been receiving a lot of positive comments ever since I gave the world a more determined me.The video gained a wide audience and favoritism and I gained a lot of new followers. I received an invitation from some brands to have a sit down but I would need to have a talk with my board of directors on that.“What's the hold up?” I asked my driver, because we have been stuck in the same position for a while.Carina isn't with me. She had gone ahead to prepare for the meeting. There are a lot of things to do and I want to be a step ahead.“Just the traffic light, ma'am,” he said and concentrated on the road.I took a glance at him and turned to my phone, I connected my earbuds to my phone and opened up the message Katherine sent to me.The message had been previously opened and sex sounds filled my room. It would be weird listening to it out loud in the car with my driver, hence the earbuds.The video opened and her moans filled my ears but that wasn't my focus. It was Jacob,
AURORAI screamed inside my head at the sound of such great news. I could feel my eyes sparkle but I braced myself for another news.“How did you find out?” I asked both Madeline and Carina.“The link to the auction was sent out discreetly,” Carina said.My nose wrinkled, “don't you think that was too easy?” I asked.“No, I don't think so,” Madeline said, “we didn't get the link but other companies with portfolio not even half of ours got it,” I sat on the chair and crossed my legs, “what do you mean?”“I only got the link because a friend sent it to me. I think it was a deliberate act,” she said with an assurance.“You might be right but I have never heard of a CEO selling his own company,’’ I pressed my hands against my cheeks.“Maybe he is trying to cut his losses,” Andre said, “he can see that he can defeat you,”“True,” I frowned, “but I have never known Jacob to back down from a fight,” I said to them.Carina scoffs and I turned to face her, “he's not winning and he knows it,”
JACOBI got to the hallway of the conference room in my company's building. This is the second time I'm feeling anxious to step into a room with people who want to take my job or my company.The first time was when my father announced me CEO, every eyes in the room threw daggers at me, especially my Uncle Evan, who wants the company for himself.I still haven't found out how my computer is being sold on an Auction site. Major stakes have been placed on the company and it is very close to being sold.“Nervous?” I heard Braden's voice beside me.“Like the first time,” I exhaled deeply.“You crushed that effortlessly,” he said, smiling and nodded to the guards to open up the doors.I inhaled and walked in, the boards were all seated. I stood in front of the door with it closed behind me. Braden moved to his seat but I remained where I was.Seeing I wasn't moving, they all stood up from their seats.“Morning, Mr. Crane,” they all greeted me, apart from my Uncle who just stood up.“Good m
AURORAI hit my bed the moment I stepped into my room with Carina right behind me. I haven't said a word since we got here and I think she is starting to worry.“What happened?” She asks, I gave her a look wondering if she wasn't there to see what happened.“What happened is, Jacob hoed his way into getting that contract,’’ I said to her.“There is no way that happened,” she said, looking at me with disbelief.“So you think after all our sleepless nights and knowing what they would put together for their presentation that they somehow beat us?” I asked her.“I don't think that's what happened but you said it yourself Jacob likes to play with the rules except really backed up,” she said.“Well it looks like he is backed against a corner with his company on an auction website,” I said to her.I got up from the bed and walked into my closet. I took off my heels and placed them on the shelves, my low slippers were right underneath it.“I still think he did all that to make you jealous,” s
AURORAI close the door of my car and drove from the ice cream spot at the speed of lightning. I didn't listen to the screams of people, I just needed to get to where I'm going.My heart raced and my mind consumed with Carina's voice. “It's Sophia, she just got, the Mansion was ransacked,” I just needed to get to the mansion, I needed to see it for myself, if my employees were safe and how damaged the building is.I sped through the streets, weaving in and out of traffic, my tires screeching and making a lot of loud noises as I took sharp turns. I didn't care about the danger or the consequences. I just needed to get to where I want to be at the moment.As I drove, my phone kept ringing non stop. It was Carina, trying to reach me, I ignored it. She should know better than to call me whenever I'm driving, especially during an emergency.I finally got to Sophia's mansion and she was standing by the side entrance, I got out of the car and Martin walked towards me.“How bad is it?” I ask
JACOBI watched as she drove off in a car like someone whose house is on fire. How did she know about the auction?What am I even doing, of course she knows about the auction. She probably found out the same way I did, on the website.I didn't even say a word about my company to her, maybe she could help or maybe she is the one behind it. Besides the irresistible attraction I know she has for me I know she has a lot of hate and revenge against me.I got into my car with my ice cream and drove straight to Braden's house. He will have an idea of what we can do.Hopefully, Maria, his wife, doesn't kick me out. I set the ice cream on the passenger seat and drove off. I know I said some nasty things to Aurora during our marriage against ice cream.I just wanted her to think I had a negative thing against it but I love ice cream. The flavor and the sweetness it gives to my tongue bring chills down my spine.I looked at the ice cream and back on the road, my mind filled with how it would ta
JACOBI opened up my eyes and she was here anymore.“Aurora! Aurora! Aurora!!!!” I felt a heavy splash of water on my body.“Huh, she's not here,” I could hear the smug in Maria's voice.“What the hell are you doing dreaming about a woman sent to prison?” Sounded rather pissed at me. I guess she is a fan of Aurora.“I didn't…” I thought about telling her more but there is no use arguing with Maria especially now that she is pregnant.“You should let her go, or things are going to get nasty,” she said and maybe she was right. Especially with Katherine not leaving my life.I nodded at her and she took the plate from the table, “you love her,” she said.“I don't know,” I stammered, “if I love her now why didn't I love her before,’’ I said to her.“Because sometimes you men like to be challenged and a powerful woman does that,” she said, it sounded like I'm getting a lesson.*But Katherine is a powerful woman,” I didn't realize what I had said until it kept out.Maria busted out laughing,
KATHERINEI watched as he took her away in his arms and she smiled. I'm guessing just for the show. Nobody knows apart from this inner circle that they have been married before.That's the leverage I have been holding against Jacob for the past five years and If they somehow get together again. I will lose everything, that's for sure.I can't let that happen. I have come too far to let Aurora take everything away from me again. I defeated her once and I will do it again.I watched as Maria chatted with Braden and a man that could be the target. Even when Aurora disappeared it took a while for Jacob to see me. He always ended up in Braden's house despite Maria's dislike of him.Aurora's laughter room and everyone smiled at the sound of it. What Jacob is saying to her, that is making her smile and giggle.He didn't say a word to me when I entered the building and stood by his side. I did a lot of things to look this beautiful for him and he still doesn't regard me.I gave myself a good
AURORAI have been in a moving vehicle for the better part of ten hours. Wherever my captors are taking me, they don't seem to have an idea what they are doing.This can't be LeVert, he won't make such a mistake by hiring amateurs, even if he is doing it by himself. He has enough experience to do it right.Suddenly the vehicle stopped moving, the back of the vehicle opened and I was brought out. One of them was about to speak when the other one shut him up without speaking.I kept my mouth shut, I need to be brave, for myself and for my family. My wedding is in a few hours along with Carina's and there is no way I'm missing it.They tied the blindfold around my eyes even tighter, causing the darkness to engulf me.The rough fabric of the blindfold pressed harder against my eyes, sending a jolt of sharp pain across my temples. Darkness was absolute now, not just the absence of sight but the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. I tried to focus on my breathing, forcing myself to s
JACOB“I can't believe you are getting married!” Braden slammed into me. Trying to ruffle me up a little.“Says the married man,” Andre said to him. It's funny how we are all friends now and we have Aurora to thank for that. She brought all of us together. That's my future wife.“What are you smiling about?” Grey asked me.“You better not be thinking about my sister in some certain way in front of me,” Martin said and we all laughed.I have asked all of them to be mine and Andre best men including Michael, Ryan and Clay. Liam insisted on being the DJ for the service. Right now we are having our bachelor party and having loads of fun. “Thank you for allowing Aurora to do this with Carina,” I said to Andre holding his shoulder.“Are you kidding, Carina will have my head if I don't agree, plus we get to give the world the wedding of the year,” he said and I smiled.“Good man,” I shook his hands and walked towards Grey. “Hey bro,” he turned around and placed his phone in his pocket.“Th
AURORAONE YEAR LATER“What about this?” I walked out of my closet in a black gown filled with diamonds and a white off shoulder handle.“Perfect,” Carina squeaked. I rolled my eyes and walked deeper into the room.“People see me on this, they might think tonight is my rehearsal dinner,” I said to the soon to be bride.“Oh come on, you are the chief bridesmaid, you are meant to dress as elegant as the bride,” Aubrey said, adding her own wisdom to the situation.“Well, apart from that, I will think you guys are just playing dress up with me for me to impress Jacob,” I said to them and they both laughed.“Why are you laughing?” I asked them.“Nothing, just remembering how you blunted out I love you to him,” Carina said, still laughing. I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my blushing face.“Aubrey smirked, “Oh Aurora, you were so abstract about it. It feels like you have been bottling that emotion.”“Maybe I was. I guess my body moved before my mind,” I said to her.“And your timing couldn'
AURORA“Okay, alright. Be safe,” I said and hanged up the call.“Is everything alright?” Carina asked me. I looked at her with my puffy eyes. I can't believe I asked her to move her wedding date all because of LeVert. I feel so sad and heartbroken.“No, don't do that,” she said, hugging me. “Everything will work out. We just need to protect Anna and Mary and we all will be safe.”“But your wedding…”“Can wait,” Andre said, standing beside her. “We all need to be together right now.” He took my hands and I nodded.“Okay,” I exhaled, wiping my face with my other hand. “Let's do this then.”“The girls are pulling up,” Aubrey said to me. We raced towards the car to stop the paparazzi from taking pictures of them.“How come there are so many paparazzi?” Madeline asked as we moved through the crowd.“LeVert probably called them here to witness whatever he had planned,” I said to her.We finally got to the car and help Linda protect the girls from the cameras.“Aunt Aurora,” Anna and Mary hu
JACOB“What does Christina has to do with any of these?” I asked her.“I'm sure you heard from your stepbrother, Grey?” She asked.“Lara, what are you doing?” Aurora asked her. “Grey is not to be trusted.”“I was the one who told Grey to meet with you,” she said looking at me. “He is trying to make amends. You should let him.” I looked at Aurora, who just shrugged her shoulders.“So what about Christina?” Amy asked, standing in front of her. “You can't just drop a bombshell like that and not say anything to it.”“I was getting to it,” she handed her USB drive to Liam, “here, input it to the system,” Liam looks at me hesitant to do it. “Do it Liam,” I nodded.”A lot of files displayed on the bug screen. “These are all of the operations I could find that can be linked to LeVert, including serial killing of high profile women.” “Which one involves my step mom?” I asked, and a more detailed document displayed on the screen.“Wait,” Aurora scoffed. “You have this much evidence and LeVert
JACOBI kept pacing around, it's been almost two hours since Aurora left and she isn't back yet.“Martin is with her,” Madeline said to me, “he won't let anything happen to her.”“But if he can't,” I said and she looked confused. “Whatever is going on is beyond his power,” she sighed and shook her head.“Hey, you have to think good thoughts bro,” Amy said, holding my shoulder. “Aurora didn't come this far to give up or jeopardize everything.”“She is right, J,” Braden whispered, standing beside me. “You have to be able to trust Aurora, trust that she knows what she is doing,” he said and scoffed, “because she has been doing this long before she returned back to her life.”“I just want to protect her, want to keep her safe,” I said to him.“I know bro, but she got this and you know it.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, even though every fiber of my being screamed to go after her. Braden was right, though. Aurora had proven time and again that she could handle herself.
AURORA“Thought I would recognize you?” I asked her.“Hoped,” she said, jerking her hands from Martin who was still looking shocked.“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked her with gritted teeth.“I don't know, hiding from my brother,” she said and I scoffed.“You are not that bumped into me,” I said to her. “You were at the precinct.”“No, you only saw me at the precinct when I came out, not before,” she said and I looked at Martin.“I will prove it to you,” she said and I turned to her.“How?” I asked, folding my hands. She tried to move but Martin stopped her. “Let her go, Martin. She knows she needs us,” Captain Marlow scoffed and walked deeper into the room.“Here,” she placed a material over her head and I could see the face of the woman we saw in the CCTV camera video.“Unbelievable,” I whispered. “Have you seen something like this before?” I asked Martin.“Heard of it but haven't seen one this real,” he said as Captain Marlow took it off.“Spent almost all the money I co
AURORA“You know he is just scared for you,” Martin turned around in the car and said to me.“If you are referring to Jacob then don't. I don't need a lecture right now,” I said and he sighed.“He just wants to protect,” I glared at him and he raised his hands in defense. “That's all I'm going to say,” he turned around facing the traffic.“I have been on my own for a while, I can handle myself,” I said out loud.“I thought you guys have moved past that?” Martin asked me.“Move past what?” I asked, feeling confused.“Move past what he did almost ten years ago?” He asked and I sighed.“We have but he has to know that I didn't have him or you protecting me then and I was still able to survive Copper and being kidnapped,” I said to him.“I get that but he is here now and from the look of things he wants to protect you at all cost.”“Why do you think I brought Michael with us?” I asked and Micheal smiled. “At least Michael can report to him if anything happens.”“We are here, Miss Aurora,”
AURORA“Hey,” I kissed Jacob on the lips as I took off my jacket.“I miss you,” he said, kissing my neck. I bit my lips smiling.“I know but we have work to do,” I pushed him slightly and walked over to the workstation he had set up in his penthouse.“Are you sure this place is secure?” Martin asked him as he walked in.“Yes, nobody knows about this place, not even Christina,” he said and I sighed.“Does Grey know about this place?” I asked him, for a while he has been having a blind spot when it comes to his step brother.“Jacob?” I called his name when I noticed he was hesitant to answer the question.“Yes he does,” he said and I dropped my hands loudly against my laps.“Why would you do such a thing? Grey is not to be trusted,” I said to him.“Look, Grey might have done a lot of things in the past but he helped us back in my airport.”“Or he brought you there to set you up along with Martin,” Braden said.“I agree with Braden,” Amy said and Jacob glared at her.“Don't do that, they