Emmeline walked out of the office, her legs feeling like jelly beneath her skirt. To her surprise, Zavian came up behind her and put his arm around her waist in a gentlemanly fashion.She trembled visibly but didn't dare utter a word of protest as they walked that way down to the staircase.Taehyung looked up from his phone when the two descend the staircase and his eyes narrowed slightly at their closeness. "What did you two talk about without us?"Zavian’s arm remained possessively around Emmeline's waist. She could feel the heat of his palm through the thin fabric of her blouse."We were planning what to do after dinner." She said calmly."I suggested drinking games, but Taehyung objected because everyone has to go to work tomorrow, and you all should be fine.” Minnie piped up, sounding frustrated.This is where Richard felt the need to stick his nose into the matter, as usual.He scoffed loudly, puffing out his chest. "A little drink won't hurt if a person's alcohol tolerance is s
Zavian was slouched back in the plush leather chair at the head of the massive glass conference table.His legs were crossed elegantly in an almost effeminate way that somehow only amplified his aura of supreme power and dominance.A loaded Desert Eagle pistol sat on the glass tabletop in front of him, the chunky black metal weapon seeming almost comically out of place amid the sleek modern decor, yet ready to dole out death at any slight provocation.The air in the spacious room was thick with tension as the quivering Managing Director filled Zavian in on all the shady backdoor deals, embezzlement schemes and under-the-table payoffs a few of the directors and major shareholders had been carrying out behind his back.The losses to Blackthorn industries were easily in the tens of billions, but that didn't even put a dent in Zavian's personal net worth.The Blackthorn family fortune was more than most small countries combined."S-Sir, we have uncovered evidence of the several directors
Zavian didn’t utter a word. He remembered all too vividly the blatant lie Yuna had spun at last night's dinner about how they had fallen in love at university.The truth about how Zavian had become entangled with Yuna couldn't have been more different from her sugary delusions.She had manipulated…essentially seduced her way into his life years ago by lying that they had some profound soul bond and connection.Yuna was the only woman who had ever gotten remotely close to Zavian at the time, and she took full advantage of this by slowly pushing herself into his life and personal circle with her exotic beauty and innocent appearance.Zavian had never felt that bond Yuna swore they shared and never thought he would.He had only given in to her insistence about their relationship after a near-death experience where she happened to save his life from an assassination attempt and somehow ended up in his bed. And then he was forced to marry her.For years after that, he had lived with the de
The atmosphere in the Blake manor was thick with tension. Every family member present was gathered in the cavernous living room, huddled together in uneasy silence as fear etched deep lines into their faces.The lavish space that was usually a showcase of wealth and power with its crystal chandeliers and priceless artwork, now felt more like a cage.Dozens of men with sharp black suits and earpieces surrounded the manor like guards, taking up positions around it with their weapons clenched in their hands.Their eyes constantly scanned for threats, ready to neutralize any danger that dared to breach the front door without hesitation.The heavy oak doors carved with the Blake family crest might as well have been an impenetrable vault for all the good it would do them now.They had received credible intel from one of their most trusted sources that the master of chaos himself – the notorious Zavian Blackthorn – was coming for them. And when Zavian Blackthorn had someone in his sights, th
Old Master Blake felt the room spinning around him as Zavian Blackthorn's towering, menacing presence invaded the sanctity of the Blake family manor.The notorious, handsome man moved with grace, his aura of danger and brutality radiating outward in suffocating waves.Zavian's cold, pitiless gaze swept over the scene of utter carnage surrounding him - the bodies of the fallen Blake security troops lay in fast-growing puddles of blood, while the broken remnants of precious relics and antiques were strewn about like discarded waste.His lips quirked upwards in a disdainful smirk as though he found perverse amusement in the devastation he had unleashed.Sam, Ryan's hotheaded father, had been frozen in stunned disbelief by the turn of events.He could only gape in shock as Zavian's disciplined strike team ruthlessly cut down the Blake bodyguards with chilling efficiency. But the sight of the devil himself striding through the ruined doorway like a conquering warlord jolted Sam into franti
Old man Blake felt the weight of his years, of a lifetime of hopes and dreams crashing down on him with suffocating finality as he stared at the numbered seconds ticking away his future, his legacy and his very life's worth.A future that stretched out before him now seemed cold, bleak, and empty of everything he had devoted his existence to building.He scratched his signature across the indicated line, forever signing away his controlling interest in the Blake Enterprises. He felt a piece of his entire soul wither and die at that moment.Luca swooped forward like a carrion bird. He snatched up the signed contract and retreated to the shadows once more.Zavian rose from his usurped throne in one graceful movement.He took a moment to meticulously brush away some invisible speck of dirt from the immaculate fabric of his tailored suit before leveling the broken old man with a look of supreme indifference."A pleasure doing business with you," he intoned blandly as if commenting on a ro
The full scope of Zavian's takeover became evident as the days stretched into a week.Board meetings at Blake Enterprises became tense affairs, with Zavian's representatives slowly but surely asserting control over every aspect of the company.Old Master Blake watched helplessly as decades of carefully cultivated business relationships and strategies were dismantled or repurposed to serve Zavian's interests.The family itself was not spared from the upheaval. Melina was unable to bear the memories that haunted the Blake manor. She left for Europe, taking her and Sam's young children with her.Thomas threw himself into his work, desperately trying to salvage what he could of the family's business interests.Jessica retreated into a world of charity galas and social events, using her philanthropic efforts as a shield against the pain of her brother's loss.And through it all, Old Master Blake found himself increasingly isolated like a relic of a bygone era.He spent long hours in his st
Emmeline stood alone in the locker room early the next morning, psyching herself up for her first workout.She changed into her exercise attire of a fitted black racerback tank top that hugged her curves in all the right places, paired with a set of skimpy gray shorts that showcased her toned legs to perfection.She felt a twinge of self-consciousness as she observed her reflection in the full-length mirror. It had been a while since she'd worked out in such a public setting, and the thought of all those strangers' eyes on her was mildly unsettling.Emmeline took a deep, fortifying breath, squared her shoulders and strode out to the main gym floor with as much confidence as she could muster.The sound of equipment in motion and the occasional grunt of exertion from other gym patrons filled the air.Emmeline scanned the area somewhat awkwardly with each passing second. She felt increasingly out of place.Just as a sigh of despair was about to escape her lips, her gaze landed on a strik