She pulled her hand away so roughly that she hit me with the back of her hand. Several people gasped, so I knew we had attracted the customer's attention in the dining room. I had to be careful that no one recognized us. "After interrupting our conversation, you dare to demand my time to talk to you?" She spoke with her eyes staring at me sharply. "I don't want to talk to someone who has no ethics like you. Bailey failed to educate his two daughters!" "Please, leave us alone," I said to Mrs. Madden. "O-okay." She quickly drank the contents of her cup, then picked up her bag and walked past me behind my back. "I'll see you later, ma'am." I patiently waited for her to sit down. Once she relented, I sat down in front of her. The waiter asked me for my order, so I mentioned a special package on the menu. I could have them pack it for me to take home later. "I know you're active in social activities, but you've never had direct contact with the people you help." I started the conversat
[Blaze] "I'm sorry, Mr. Knightley. We did our best, but he had chosen another candidate." Kyle gulped in fear, afraid of my response after hearing that bad news. "We lost meant we didn't do our best." I looked at him in the eyes. "It's the first defeat I have ever suffered since I started this company. Where did we do wrong?" He only bowed his head, looking at whatever was on my desk. Of course, he didn't know the answer because, besides me, he was also surprised by this final result. We'd been trying to get along with the target for over three months, doing everything we could to gain his sympathy, but we'd failed. I had been eyeing the company for so long to get a place in Las Vegas. After winning New York, that city was my next target. There were tons of people who visited the place every year. It was a perfect location for a hospitality business. I didn't have much budget to open a new building or buy an old hotel for sale, so I started by buying shares of the biggest hotel th
Time seemed to stop when I realized the woman's presence by my side was in danger. I shielded her as much as I could with my body so that neither the flames nor the car shards would hurt her. I should have realized sooner what that sound meant. We must have been out of range of the explosion. The atmosphere around us was suddenly as bright as daylight because of the explosion. The temperature around us was so hot that I didn't dare check the state of my backside. I hugged Heather, who got down on the pavement by my side. It wasn't long before there were shouts of people calling to put out the fire. Only then did I dare to turn my head and see several men running while carrying fire extinguishers. I puffed out when I saw every glass in the flower shop shattered. I hoped she insured the car and building. "Heather, are you okay?" I loosened my embrace and checked on her. From the looks of it, she wasn't hurt or exposed to the flames. I managed to protect her. But her body was shaking
[Heather] Hot. I felt so hot. I forced myself to open my eyes. I saw fire surrounded me. I quickly sat up and looked around. I couldn't see anything except fire. I called for my sister because her bedroom was right beside mine. Hearing no answer, I called my mom and dad. I was so scared there was no one around me. Where was my family? Why didn't they come? Couldn’t they hear my screams? Did Dad and Mom abandon me? No, they wouldn't. They loved me. Darcy would have told them I was still here. "Daddy! Mommy!" I called as loud as I could. "Help me! Darcy! Help me!" My chest felt tight, and I started coughing from the thickening smoke. I could only cry, shouting for them until I lost my voice. Attempting to get out of bed, my foot burned as my sole touched the floor. So I stayed on the bed. I didn't know what was happening but knew I was in my room. I sobbed and prayed to God to help me. My teacher would be mad at me if I didn't go to school and submit our craft assignment. "Heather,
"Where are we going?" I looked at the road his driver chose. I had no idea where he was heading. I was both curious and worried to find out who had ordered people to put a bomb in my car. Trying to get back on my feet for a year, I hadn't offended anyone. Apart from Blaze, of course. But he was a specific case. I knew he wouldn't end my life, no matter how painful my retaliation for his actions might be. After all, I was careful to choose my missions so that my life wouldn't be in danger. Then, who had I offended that he intended to take my life? I thought hard but couldn't find the answer. Mr. Madden couldn't have done this. He didn't have much money to pay people to hurt me. My problem with Mrs. Channing was over, so we had no tension. My relationship with the customers was perfect. No one had a problem with their order. "What are we doing here?" I asked, looking at our destination. Instead of answering, Blaze got out of the car. I sighed loudly and followed him. Therefore, I r
Darcy took a surprised breath. "Yo-you?" I pulled away, but the man wrapped his arms even tighter around my waist. I raised my head to ensure I hadn't misidentified the person I had hit. Sure enough. The man with the seductive thick lips and perfect Greek nose was here. His sharp eyes stared at my sister coldly, without emotion. It was a very contrasting sight when I recalled the events of more than a year ago in this house. He lovingly looked at Darcy as if no other woman he had ever cared for. "It's good I don't need to interrupt the dinner. I've come to pick Heather up." He looked at me. "Come on. James is waiting." His hand on my waist urged me to follow him. I looked at him and Darcy in turn. What happened between them that their relationship was this cold? Didn't they love each other enough to divorce their respective spouses? "You did this on purpose, didn't you?" accused Darcy, who finally recovered from her shock. "You coming here to pick up Heather is your way of making
"No," he replied after hearing my answer."Then, I won't give you my shares." I casually stuffed scrambled eggs into my mouth while raising my eyebrows at him."You can put up any price. That's an offer no hotelier would make," he said again, half-coaxing."I don't need the money.""You've been dreaming of opening a branch of your flower shop. Things have been delayed because your shop burned down a year ago. Are you sure you don't need the money?" he challenged.I had dreamed of opening a branch because I couldn't handle flower orders from just one shop. Moreover, there were so many orders from out of the city that I had to turn them down due to limited personnel and facilities.But I could still wait by raising money slowly. The stock was pricey, and I'd be foolish to give it away for free. The thing was, I had another target I was aiming for by doing this."I am. Let me know if you change your mind." I took a big bite of the ham sandwich while looking at him triumphantly. Finally,
[Blaze] I woke up that morning due to the heat. I quickly took the painkillers given to me by the medical staff the previous day. I was so busy, and work was piling up that there was no time to be sick. Realizing she wasn't lying on the bed, I didn't look for her. She must have been surprised to wake up in this place, in a stranger's house. That was a good thing. Her leaving meant she had recovered from the shock. My not waking up must have been because of the medicine I took. Poor woman. A memory of an incident that happened years ago triggered by the explosion of her car. We never slept together. So, I didn't know if she ever had nightmares. But after last night's restless sleep, the fire that broke out in their house must have traumatized her. "Stop by the flower shop, James. Let's take her to the police station," I ordered my driver. "Yes, sir," he replied obediently. "How are your wedding preparations going?" I asked casually. "It's going well, sir. Everything is in order.