“Here is what’s going to happen, gentlemen,” Nadia said as she stood in the meeting room the group of developers who turned out to be responsible for the hacking incident were standing before her their heads bowed and their skins as white as a sheet of paper. Dean sat at the back of the meeting room watching everything. His presence was in case she needs his intervention but now he realized that his intervention wasn’t needed. They didn’t even seem to notice his presence. This is how scared they were of Nadia. He smiled as he watched her lecture them to the point of tears, it was ridiculous to watch, they were grown men, and Nadia wasn’t exactly a big woman. But still, her presence was no joke. Dean was simply glad that this time he wasn’t on the receiving end of her anger. She came into the office all eyes on her. Whispers followed them around about the article but she paid them no mind, she didn’t seem to notice at all and even if she did, Dean had the impression that she wouldn’t
“Nice to meet you, Dean Wess,” Dean said giving the man a business smile as he reached out to shake his hand. Mark Colt, a man in his mid-thirties, elegant, tall, and less full than Dean, Stood up to greet him with a charming disarming smile that didn’t quite reach his golden gaze. “Mark Colt at your service. I am so sorry to reach out at such a critical time but I had to meet you after what happened.” He said making Dean wonder why would he want to reach him. He’d met Mark Colt in the past on one of his business trips to Blue Ridge City. He had tried to offer Dean his company’s services but Dean had been preoccupied then by the sudden cyber attack that almost cost them their database. So he had hurriedly returned to Starlington ending any prospective talk of collaboration. To think that he had been this close to Nadia back then, had he agreed to meet with Mark, he would have had a chance to meet Nadia too. But she would have still been Mark’s fiance back then. Somehow, the though
Nadia took a deep breath and watched from afar as Mark walked down the stairs. He barely changed over the years, the same charm and elegance radiated from him, his disarming innocent smile which made everyone drawn to him, and those brilliant eyes which held a calculating glint that she’d failed to see over the years. He didn’t change at all. He never changes. The same old tricks. Helping out an employee with his documents, smiling at the security guard, and treating the cleaning lady well. Every single one of those gestures was calculated, but he always ended up using the same method. The same facade. And he was going to find out soon that his compelling means are becoming old. He would have to use better trickery if he was going to get to her this time. Not like she was going to let him… Nadia looked down at her phone once again sending a text to Dean that she was in a meeting. Foregoing picking up her laptop, she made her way back to where Kanna was waiting for her in order to w
“Thank you so much for agreeing to chat with us today, Starlington City had been dying to know what is the story behind the two of you. The most successful young CEO in this country and our most eligible bachelor, and his assistant who turned out to be the runaway heiress that everyone had been looking for all these years. Can you tell us how to two of you first met?” The hostess of their interview asked and Nadia smiled at her. “Actually the two of us met the day I had my interview as his new assistant five years ago,” Nadia said. “Right, that was the first time we met. I didn’t know until we started dating that she had changed her name and who she really was,” Dean added and the hostess smiled at them. “I bet you had the shock of a century realizing that one of your employees had been a secret billionaire all along. Although you may have left your father’s fortune behind, from what I heard you were already independent enough from him from the start. I heard that the fortune left b
Nadia silently stepped into her darkened apartment not bothering with the lights as she made her way inside. Dean closed the door behind him, his silence heavy between them. She had been doing her best to look normal in front of Leilah as they chatted in the car but now that they were back alone, she was faced with their earlier conversation. Clenching her fists, she looked back at him. His eyes were absently on the night view from her windows and as his blue gaze shifted to her she could see wariness in them. He was wary of her now. “ I don’t believe I told you this before but, if this is too much for you we can cancel it,” She said and his eyes widened as he looked at her. “What?! Why?” He asked looking at her with confusion. "Then why are you suddenly talking about that person? If you’re regretting this, there is no need for you to talk like that, I will be totally fine on my own. There is no need for you to look for another person to stick me with,” She said but Dean remained s
“Do you really want to hear about it? It’s not much of a story and you guessed most of it,” Nadia insisted and Leilah slapped her on the back making her recoil from the shock. “Come on! We’re here to listen to each other’s troubles if nothing at all,” She insisted. “I wonder where you get that strength from,” Nadia said rubbing her back, Leilah merely laughed at that. “You should go to the gym, I tell you! You and your computer. I swear in your past life you were some kind of computer analyzer or maybe a hacker… No wonder you get along so well with WhiteFlower.” Lailah said Nadia winced inwardly at Leilah’s accurate interpretation. One day, she was going to make a spot-on guess and Nadia is going to slip up and tell her the truth. “I will tell you. It’s not much of a story anyway…” Nadia said with a sigh, resigning herself to telling Leilah the truth. It was all out on the media now anyway and Leilah was going to need to hear this if she was going to manage their public image from
Dean sped up the car through the city street to arrive at the famous bar where Leilah had told him they were. XX was written with huge golden neon signs and as soon as he stopped his car in front of the door a concierge came up to him. “Mr.Wess,” He greeted with a smile and Dean smiled back at the young man, “Hi, Paul. How are you going tonight?” He asked, “Good, Sir. As always,” The young man answered as he stood back waiting for Dean to get out of his car. “How are exams? I heard you’re swamped these days,” “I bombed a few of them but I think I can manage to graduate thanks to you,” He said with a grin making Dean smile back at him. “Well, good. Otherwise, I won't have anyone to fill that position I had been keeping for you. Give me a call when you’re ready,” He told him with a smile and the young man’s eyes brightened as he nodded. “Keep my car close I will be picking up someone and heading out soon,” he said heading into the building. The manager was waiting for him at the
Nadia opened her eyes to the pounding pain in her head. She groaned shifting in the bed and reached out for her bedside table for her phone. It was still early, she had enough time to get ready for work and leisurely have breakfast. Sitting up, she rummaged through her drawer until she found her glasses. Although she rarely needed them unless she was working, but she found out that she usually has a much easier time with them when she was dealing with a hangover. Looking to the side she noticed the medicine bottle and the water pitcher at the side table and sighed. Dean probably put them there before leaving. She was going to have to talk to him, she had no way how she was going to face him today though. Making her way toward the kitchen, she tied her hair up in a bun ready to tackle her task when she was assaulted by a fragrant smell. Coffee… “Morning, I heard you waking up so I thought you’d want coffee,” And the one making the coffee wearing an apron in her kitchen looking like
Nadia woke up with a start breathing heavily as sweat dampened her temple. Feeling someone shift beside her, she shivered at the whisk of air passing through her damp skin as Dean sat up in bed beside her.“Hey…” he whispered and Nadia sighed covering her face with her palms.“I’m so tired of this…” she said hotly as she tried to suppress the frustration tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks.She felt a blanket being thrown on her shoulders before Dean’s big and warm hands stroked her back slowly soothing away the nerves that had been keeping her body tense.“Come on, lay down…” he said in a soft tone and Nadia followed his command laying against him as he circled his arms around her.His fingers combed through her hair slowly massaging her skull. Her heartbeat was begin in to slowly return to its natural rhythm when he finally spoke again.“Maybe you need to say your goodbyes..” he said slowly.The way Dean spoke and how he acted was becoming their routine. Since her days in t
Three weeks later, "So, how was your last check-up with the doctor?" Nadia asked as she sat at the bedside of the huge man before her.The man chucked and gave her a wry look as if asking her if she was really asking him this question."I should be the one asking you this question, Miss. You're the one who got admitted recently," he said with a smile."Oh, come on, Blake! Mine was just a flesh wound and too much drama. You're the one who was about to cross to the other side for a moment there," She answered with a fake frown.Blake, the man who saved Luke when he was kidnapped, regained consciousness only after Nadia was admitted to the hospital. The first thing the man asked for was his hospitalized daughter and Luke.Nadia had made a vow to herself that she would do her best to protect the man and his daughter no matter what. So once she heard that he was awake, she visited him and they began talking. It turned out that the man wasn't a criminal and that he only did this mission b
Dean raced down the seemingly endless corridor, each step echoing with a sense of dread. This floor had been reserved exclusively for Nadia's penthouse, accessible only with her permission or a special keycard. Yet, Dean knew that Mark had the potential to breach the security. Nadia had been aware of this vulnerability in the system, which was why she'd consented to have a bodyguard with them at all times.But Miller, in his attempt to spring this trap, had incapacitated their bodyguard, leaving them vulnerable just when Mark arrived. As they approached the open door, Dean's heart raced with a mix of fear and determination. Agents ahead of him cautiously entered the room, assessing the situation. When Dean was finally permitted to move forward, the sound that greeted him was heart-wrenching.Nadia's muffled sobs pierced the air, a stark contrast to the chaos within. Mark lay on the ground, his face a grotesque mask of brutality. Nadia was in Karl's arms, her tears flowing uncontrollab
"It's nice to see you always running to the rescue of your fiance... But we can't have you going in there ruining our plans yet," Miller said with a smile as he looked at his agents and nodded."Make sure they won't run away," he ordered."Hey! What are you doing!" Keith protested as they surrounded him."You were in on this all along..." Dean said gritting his teeth as he struggled against the agents that were holding his hands back.How had he not seen this?"Wait a minute, What are you talking about?" Miller asked looking at him with a frown."You're acting like nothing is wrong, then why are you standing at the door of our apartment building stopping me from getting inside? Is the agency now supporting Mark, or were you on his side all along and we were the idiots believing you?" Dean asked feeling helplessly frustrated as he pushed back against the men holding him only to be overpowered again."Wait a minute, I think there is a misunderstanding here..." Miller trailed off and Dea
"Dad, call the bodyguards and make sure to keep an eye on Luke!" Dean told his father as he made his way to the front of the house where he parked his car."What's going on?" He asked following him."Mark managed to escape from the police. The first place he would be heading to is where Nadia is. I need to head there right now," Dean explained and his father nodded."Okay, be careful. I will call the police to make their way there too." His father said as he closed Dean's car door after he got in.Dean nodded and started his car starting to back up when the passenger door opened and Keith jumped inside."Think that I would let you go alone this time too?" He asked with a smirk."It's gonna be dangerous," Dean warned."The more reason I need to go with you," Keith insisted, "What are you waiting for?"Dean sighed and backed away from the spot making his way toward the penthouse. He sped through the street his car eating up the road between them. He had never regretted the distance bet
Nadia opened her eyes as she felt someone lean against the bed beside her. Looking up, she found Dean smiling down at her the sunlight streaming through the window making him look as if there was a halo around his head.Groaning, she shidted to her back readying herself to cover her face with the blanket only for him to stop her with both arms."You need to wake up," He said softly."Said the guy who wore me out last night," She retorted with a sigh, "You're way too bright for me to look at, go away,"He chuckled finding her statement funny, even though she wasn't joking."It's already noon, you're going to sleep all day at this rate," He informed her but she simply shook her head stubbornly."I can't move... My muscles are sore," She complained.Dean smiled and leaned down against her pressing a kiss against her neck, right where he left a mark last night."Realy? Even though I went easy on you last night. I was having such a hard time holding back while you called out my name, in mo
"Oh, it's finally here..." Nadia remarked as she walked past Dean at the kitchen counter. He nodded absently as he stared at the test making Nadia wonder for a moment if there was something wrong with it. Leaning over his shoulder, she could see the positive green letters standing out like neon lights in the darkness."It's positive," She stated."Yeah..." He said with a satisfied smile kissing the palm of her hand as he resumed staring at the paper. Nadia smiled shaking her head at the man, he was just way too cute. Ruffling his hair, she resumed walking toward Luke's room to see if he was ready."He should be here anytime now," She informed Dean who nodded again not moving from his spot.Nadia found Luke in a similar state to his father bent over his toy his shoes and socks only half worn."Luke! You're supposed to wear your socks. Our guests will be here any moment," She said with a smile."Who's our guest?" Luke asked as he finished wearing his socks."It's my father..." Nadia s
"You..." Dean took an exasperated breath letting it out slowly..Nadia sat on the couch uncomfortable as she looked away from him. She was readying herself for another scolding when she felt a hand on her head softly patting it. Dean was looking at her with a gentle smile."If this is going to give you some peace of mind then by all means, let them meet. But I don't want you to do it at the expense of your feelings," Dean reassured her."I want Luke to meet him and know that he has a grandfather... But I can't bring myself to trust him. I don't believe that someone can change like that overnight..." She explained.Dean leaned back and she leaned against him snuggling into his arms."I always thought that it was strange that your father seemed to always think that he was the victim. It was as if he felt like he was betrayed by you but in fact it was Kate who was lying to him about you all the time. Perhaps he was never that bad of a person in the first place..." Dean said, then he corr
Standing before the hole in the ground, Nadia was filled with so many thoughts and feelings. One of them was that she was probably a hypocrite standing there wearing black and listening intently to the prayers of a man who knew nothing.Another thought is that... Well... It was sunny. Nadia always had this conception that it never was sunny on funerals, it was always raining or gloomily grey. But no, it wasn't, it was sunny, and flowers were blooming around while butterflies were mating. Burds chirping and most of all... it was warm and pleasant.To sum it up, it was the weather that destroyed her conception of funerals...Nadia watched silently as they started lowering the coffin to the ground. The coffin was made from dark wood. One Kate would have hated. And decorated with white spider lilies. Kate hated white. She always said it wasn't a color. Although she would conveniently wear it whenever she felt like the situation would require from her to add a flare of innocence. Mainly w