Flora felt a mix of nerves and anticipation as Anna and Charles drove her to Defendwise Ventures for her first day at work. As the car passed through the grand iron gates of the company, Flora took her time to admire the company her father had worked so hard to bring to life. The Defendwise Ventures headquarters was an impressive blend of modern design and timeless elegance. The building was a towering structure of glass and steel, reflecting the bright morning sun, with clean lines that gave it a sleek, professional appearance. Large windows covered its entire surface, hinting at the expansive, open spaces within. A lush, manicured garden lined the walkway to the entrance, adding a touch of nature to the otherwise corporate setting.
As the car pulled up to the entrance, Anna brought it to a smooth stop. Flora took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the polished stone walkway. She was dressed in a tailored navy-blue pantsuit that hugged her framFlora felt a mix of nerves and anticipation as Anna and Charles drove her to Defendwise Ventures for her first day at work. As the car passed through the grand iron gates of the company, Flora took her time to admire the company her father had worked so hard to bring to life. The Defendwise Ventures headquarters was an impressive blend of modern design and timeless elegance. The building was a towering structure of glass and steel, reflecting the bright morning sun, with clean lines that gave it a sleek, professional appearance. Large windows covered its entire surface, hinting at the expansive, open spaces within. A lush, manicured garden lined the walkway to the entrance, adding a touch of nature to the otherwise corporate setting. As the car pulled up to the entrance, Anna brought it to a smooth stop. Flora took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the polished stone walkway. She was dressed in a tailored navy-blue pantsuit that hugged her frame jus
Although it was Flora's first day at Defendwise Ventures, she quickly found herself engulfed in a whirlwind of activity. Her morning was entirely occupied by a crash course on the inner workings of the company, courtesy of Sophie. Sophie guided her through the company’s financial books and provided detailed explanations of ongoing projects, past achievements, and future strategies. Flora felt slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information she had to digest, but she was determined to get up to speed as quickly as possible. She was here to prove herself, after all, not just to the board of directors or to Cyprus, but to herself and her father’s legacy.Sophie was a constant presence by Flora's side, flitting around the office like a diligent hummingbird, making sure Flora had everything she needed. Whenever Flora looked up from the reports, there was Sophie, offering a fresh cup of coffee or another stack of files to review. Flora was surprised to find that despite Cyprus's mor
Cyprus led Flora through the expansive corridors of Defendwise Ventures with an air of ownership, his voice carrying easily over the steady hum of office activity. He pointed out various departments and gave a brief rundown of each, from marketing to finance to legal. The company building was a marvel of modern architecture, with high ceilings, sleek glass walls, and open office spaces. Large windows let in streams of natural light, illuminating the vibrant artwork that adorned the walls. As they walked, Flora found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on Cyprus’s words. Her mind was preoccupied with maintaining a safe distance between them, her body tense with unease. She could feel his presence beside her, always a step too close, his gaze lingering on her longer than she liked. Flora’s face remained impassive and stern, a mask of cool professionalism that barely concealed her displeasure. She wasn’t about to let Cyprus see her discomfort. Throughout the tour, Flora
As Damien entered the office, his hand casually tucked into his pocket, Cyprus instinctively took a step away from Flora, his confident demeanor faltering for a moment. Damien's eyes swept across the room, taking in the sleek modern decor. He nodded approvingly and said, “Nice office.”There was a hint of admiration in his voice but his focus quickly shifted back to Flora. Without a word, he closed the distance between them, his eyes locked on hers. Gently tipping her chin up with his fingers, he leaned in and kissed her hard.The kiss was firm and intense, a mix of longing and possession. Flora felt her breath hitch as Damien's lips pressed against hers, his hand moving to cup the back of her head, holding her in place. The taste of him was familiar yet intoxicating, a reminder of how much she'd missed him. Her hands instinctively moved to his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his shirt as he deepened the kiss. Time seemed to slow, and for a brief moment, the rest of
Flora’s heart still raced as she pulled away from Damien, her mind still spinning from the intensity of his kiss. The warmth of his touch lingered on her skin, sending small electric jolts through her body. She glanced towards the office door, half-expecting Cyprus to burst back in with some excuse to interrupt them, but it remained closed. Damien seemed utterly unfazed by the tension in the room moments ago, his grin still in place as he gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Flora’s face.“Surprised to see me?” Damien asked, his voice teasing but soft.“Surprised? That’s an understatement,” Flora replied, still slightly breathless. “What are you doing here?”“I had some business to attend to in the city,” he said with a shrug, his hand finding its way back to her waist. “Thought I’d surprise my girlfriend on her first day at work. Can’t say I’m not glad I did.” His eyes darkened slightly, a playful glint within them.Flora tried to suppress a smile, failin
Flora ate her lunch distractedly, her thoughts still swirling with the excitement of Damien's visit. The taste of her meal barely registered as she replayed their earlier encounter in her mind. Just as she took another bite, her phone buzzed on the desk beside her. She glanced at it, and her breath caught when she saw the notification from Facebook. Janice had accepted her friend request.For a moment, Flora just stared at the screen, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. A mix of emotions washed over her—relief, anticipation, and a touch of elation. She hadn’t expected Janice to accept so quickly. This was her chance to uncover the truth. Not only had Janice accepted her friend request, but she had also sent a message.Curious, Flora set her lunch aside and opened the message. Her eyes scanned the text, and her heart began to beat faster. The message from Janice was smug and cryptic: “I wondered how long it would take for you to reach out to me. I have all the answers you’re desperately
As Flora stepped outside of the building, Damien was already waiting by his car, leaning casually against his door with a grin that lit up his entire face. The moment he saw her, his grin widened, and he strode over to her , wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss. Flora melted into the kiss, her hands gripping onto his shoulders for dear life. Damien's lips were soft yet demanding, and she felt a familiar heat pool in her belly.His kiss stirred something in her, awakening a desire she hadn't realized she'd been holding back all day. For a brief moment, she considered skipping the dinner altogether, dragging Damien to the nearest hotel, and letting their pent up passion take over. But she quickly reined in her thoughts, reminding herself of where they were. Knowing Damien, he had likely reserved a table at one of the most exclusive spots in town and she didn't want to waste the opportunity to sit and talk with him. To simply be with hi
Several hours later, Flora was awakened from a peaceful slumber by the shrill notification sound of her phone. Groggily, she raised her head from Damien’s chest, where she had fallen asleep, and tried to pinpoint where the noise was coming from. Damien remained asleep, his breathing deep and even, undisturbed by the noise. Flora’s eyes scanned the darkened hotel room, adjusting slowly to the dim light filtering through the curtains from the street outside. She realized her phone was still in her bag, which had been hastily thrown into a corner when she and Damien first entered the room. The notification sound had stopped, and for a moment, Flora was tempted to forget about it and lull herself back to sleep, her head resting on Damien’s warm chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. But then she remembered the possibility that the notification could be a response from Janice. The thought jolted her fully awake, urging her to check her phone.Reluctantly, Flora
Hello everyone, Ena here! Phew, this has been quite a journey. I can hardly believe that we've reached the end of this story together. What started as a simple idea has grown into something so much more, and that’s all thanks to you readers and your support. Thank you for sticking with me and I'm grateful to every single one of you. Though we’re closing this chapter, I hope this isn’t goodbye. I have more stories to tell, and I’d love to share them with you. I'll be back soon with an even better book. Until next time 💛 All my love, Ena Starr.
Two Weeks Later The evening had settled into a comfortable warmth as Flora parked her car in the driveway of Damien’s estate. The sky was a gentle gradient of fading sunset hues, a perfect close to what had been a long but fulfilling day with Eva. They had been going over the offers from several publishing houses and TV studios, that wanted to monetize Flora's experience with Alice and Janice. It had been exhausting, but there was a sense of peace that came with knowing everything with Alice was truly over. Justice had been served, and Flora was finally free. With a content sigh, she gathered her things, pushing open the front door. The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint rustle of the breeze outside and the distant clinking of glass from the kitchen. A cozy warmth greeted her, the familiar scent of home wrapping her in comfort as she stepped inside. "Hello?" she called out softly, slipping off her shoes and setting
Flora’s breath caught in her throat, but she held her composure, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She cast a glance across the courtroom and met Alice’s eyes. There was no fire in them, no anger or hatred. Only resignation. This was her fate, sealed and unchangeable. Alice would spend the rest of her life in jail. There would be no escape, no return to the life she once knew. She would die there, alone. The judge then turned her attention to Janice, who sat trembling in her seat. “As for Janice Holden,” the judge said, her tone unwavering, “for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and for the misuse of her professional authority as a nurse, resulting in the death of Vera Wicks, this court finds the defendant guilty.” Janice sobbed openly as the judge delivered her sentence: twenty-five years to life, with the possibility of parole only after serving the minimum term. But even with parole, Janice would never fully escape her crimes.
The next few days blurred together, filled with a whirlwind of action and emotion as Flora set the final stage for justice. Filing the formal report against Alice was both cathartic and devastating, but it was something Flora knew she had to do. This was the final step in a journey that had begun when her life was torn apart by betrayal, and now, she was finally fighting back. Alice was arrested almost immediately after Flora's report, and to everyone's surprise, she didn’t resist. For the first time in their long and painful history, she didn’t fight back. There were no screaming matches, no attempts to manipulate or twist the situation in her favor, no venomous remarks hurled in Flora’s direction. Instead, Alice turned herself over with an unsettling calm, submitting a written confession detailing her involvement in both the death of Flora’s mother and the accident that had left her father a prisoner in his own mind. Flora knew Alice’s cooperation wasn’t born
A chill ran down her spine, and she stammered out the first question that came to mind. “Olivia…are you—”Before she could finish, Olivia let out a bitter laugh, the sound filled with a weight of sorrow and exhaustion. It wasn’t a happy laugh, but one of disbelief at her own situation.“Yes, I’m pregnant,” Olivia confirmed softly, cutting off Flora’s stumbling attempt to find the right words. She rubbed her palm lightly over her stomach as if to comfort herself more than anything else. “And before you ask, it’s Cyprus’s.”Flora’s breath caught in her throat. Cyprus. Of course it was his. Her mind flew to that one disastrous night that Olivia had had with the arrogant vice president of Defendwise Ventures.“Olivia…” Flora whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “What are you going to do?”The question hung in the air like a fragile thread, and for a moment, Olivia seemed lost, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the supermarket, beyond the immediate rea
Olivia’s face was puffy, her eyes rimmed red and swollen from crying. She looked utterly devastated, her usual composed demeanor shattered. Her bottom lip quivered as she attempted a smile, but it was weak, trembling at the edges. "Flora," Olivia whispered, her voice cracking. Flora stepped forward, unsure whether to close the distance between them or keep some space. She could see the exhaustion written across Olivia’s features, the turmoil swirling behind her eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of what had brought them here pressing down on both of them. Olivia broke the silence first, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I didn’t know.” She choked on the words, shaking her head as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t know what my mother was capable of. I swear to you, Flora, I didn’t know any of it.” Flora stood still, absorbing Olivia’s words. She wanted to believe her. Desperately. But the betrayal of the past day,
The buzzing of Flora’s phone startled her out of her thoughts. It was Olivia. The message read:“Can you meet me in thirty minutes? There's a small 24-hour supermarket called "Pinegrove Market" not far from the estate. I’ll be there. Please, Flora, I really need to talk.”Flora’s pulse quickened as she read the message. Thirty minutes? She glanced at the clock. It was late, and while her body still ached with exhaustion, the urgency in Olivia’s words cut through any hesitation. Something in her gut told her this couldn’t wait. Without overthinking it, she typed a quick reply:“I’ll be there.”She stood up from the couch, assessing her loose pants and short-sleeved top. They would have to do for such an impromptu meeting. She padded quietly upstairs, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet of Damien’s home. He was fast asleep, one arm draped over his eyes, his breathing steady and calm. Flora felt a pang of guilt for slipping out, but she had to do this. Bending dow
Just as the words left Eva’s mouth, the kitchen door opened, and Damien stepped inside. He looked at Flora, his gaze soft and warm, and without a word, he crossed the room and kissed her gently on the temple. “Eva’s already started drafting the court papers,” he said, finishing Eva’s sentence. His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, as though they were discussing something far less monumental.Flora blinked, still processing everything. “Has Alice made a move since we left the estate?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.Damien shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I think she knows this is the end for her.”The weight of his words settled over the room, and for a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of the stew bubbling on the stove and Whiskerton’s contented purring. Flora exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over her.That night, after dinner had been cleared away and Catarina and Eva had gone off to bed, Flora sat alone on the couch in t
Flora blinked, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She knew who had orchestrated this—who had called Catarina and Eva, who had made sure that when Flora woke up, she wouldn’t be alone. It had to be Damien. He had seen how close she was to breaking, how much she needed the people around her now. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Flora looked between Catarina and Eva, her lips trembling with a bittersweet smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for coming.” Catarina patted her cheek affectionately. “You’re stuck with us now,” she said with a soft almost motherly smile, before turning back to the stove to finish serving the stew. “Now, sit down and eat before you collapse. I made your favorite.” Flora’s stomach growled again in response, and she let out a soft laugh. Their presence, combined with the savory aroma of the stew, filled the room with a sense of comfort that Flora hadn’t realised she'd been craving .