The hum of the taxi’s engine was steady, a comforting backdrop to Sarah’s swirling thoughts.She leaned back into the slightly worn seat, the faint scent of upholstery cleaner mingling with city air wafting in through the open window.Her heart still raced with the adrenaline of her session at Margaret’s studio.The sketches had come to life in her hands, transforming from ideas into prototypes that carried the weight of her dreams.Her mind replayed every moment, Margaret’s approving nods, the way her hands worked swiftly yet delicately, and the glowing feedback she had received.For a brief moment, Sarah allowed herself to imagine the Paris Fashion Week showcase.The bright lights, the applause, the thrill of seeing her designs worn by elegant models on the runway, it felt like the culmination of everything she had worked for in secret.She could almost hear the hum of approval from an enraptured crowd.But as the taxi rolled over a bump, jolting her slightly, reality came crashing
Swallowing her rising panic, Sarah hurried back toward the mall entrance.If William wasn’t inside, then maybe he had gone looking for her outside. She pushed through the heavy glass doors, the cool air hitting her like a slap.The parking lot was still and eerily quiet compared to the mall’s bustle. William’s car was exactly where it had been, unchanged. But the sight of it now felt more ominous than reassuring.She stood there for a moment, unsure of her next move.Should she wait by the car and hope he returned?Or should she try to find a security guard and ask for help?Her hands clenched into fists as frustration bubbled up.She had always been resourceful, but this situation felt different. It wasn’t just her own safety she had to consider, it was the secrets she carried, the life she was building, and the consequences if anyone found out the truth.Sarah took a deep breath, steadying herself. If William didn’t show up soon, she would hail another taxi and head home.She could
Sarah’s breath caught in her throat as she stood at the top of the stairs, the muffled voices growing clearer.Her legs felt leaden, but curiosity and a gnawing sense of unease propelled her forward.She descended quietly, her bare feet barely making a sound on the carpeted steps.As she reached the main floor, she noticed that the voices were coming from somewhere deeper within the house, somewhere hidden.Her pulse quickened when she spotted a slightly ajar door near the back of the kitchen. A soft light spilled out from behind it, illuminating the otherwise dim hallway.Taking a deep breath, Sarah slipped through the doorway and found herself at the top of a narrow staircase leading down.The air grew cooler with each step, and the sound of voices became sharper, echoing faintly in the confined space.She descended cautiously, her hand brushing against the cool, stone walls for support.At the bottom of the stairs, she came to a heavy, reinforced door, which stood slightly ajar.Th
``Sarah stood in the center of the quiet living room, her heart pounding like a drum.She had barely made it back inside the hall, her thoughts a whirlwind of anxiety and dread.She clasped her trembling hands together, trying to steady her breathing.The events of the day had drained her, and now she was faced with the most daunting task yet, explaining her disappearance.What could she say?The truth was out of the question.Admitting she had gone to see Margaret Windsor would raise too many questions, questions she wasn’t ready to answer.And claiming she had been at the mall would crumble under the slightest scrutiny, especially since William had no doubt already reported the situation to Alexander.Her thoughts raced, trying to piece together a plausible story, but before she could settle on anything, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.Alexander.He emerged from the hallway, his face a storm of emotions, relief, anger, worry, all colliding at once.His usually
William looked at the case and the keys, his throat working as he struggled to find the right words. "Thank you," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what to say.""You don’t have to say anything," Alexander said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Just keep being the dependable man I’ve always trusted. And... take a vacation, William. You’ve earned it."William nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing as he reached for the keys and the file.He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Sir, I only have one request.""What is it?" Alexander asked."Take care of Mrs. Blake," William said earnestly. "She’s... she’s a special woman. Don’t let anything happen to her."Alexander’s expression softened, and he nodded. "I will. You have my word."As William left the basement, the weight of guilt began to lift from Alexander’s chest.He watched his assistant go, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.He turned to the guard. "Dismiss every
Alexander lingered by the doorway after their brief conversation, his hand resting on the polished wood of the frame.His sharp gaze lingered on Sarah for a moment longer than usual, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features before he cleared his throat.“I’ll be in the study,” he said finally, his voice steady, though tinged with an undercurrent she couldn’t quite place. “There’s a lot to prepare if the jewelry division is going to make an impression at Paris Fashion Week.”Sarah stiffened at the mention of Paris Fashion Week, the weight of her secret bearing down on her again.She forced a smile, nodding as she wrapped her towel more securely around herself.“That’s exciting,” she said lightly, though her tone betrayed the anxiety bubbling under the surface. “You’ll do great, I’m sure.”Alexander quirked an eyebrow, as if he could sense the forced enthusiasm in her voice, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he nodded.“You should rest,” he added, his tone softening slightl
Inside the jewelry division, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the tension between them.Designers bustled about with sketches and prototypes, their excitement for the Paris Fashion Week project evident.Alexander greeted a few key figures with a nod but didn’t linger for small talk, his focus laser sharp.Sarah tried to engage with the team, her natural curiosity drawing her to the intricate designs on display. But she couldn’t shake the feeling of Alexander’s eyes on her, watching her with an intensity that felt more like scrutiny than admiration.As the morning stretched on, his clipped tone and cold demeanor became harder to ignore.Every time she tried to speak with him, his responses were curt, his body language rigid.By lunchtime, Sarah couldn’t take it any longer.She found Alexander in his office, sitting behind his desk with his wheelchair parked neatly beneath it. He looked up when she entered, his gaze guarded.“We need to talk,” she said firmly, closing the door beh
The Paris Fashion Week loomed on the horizon, and the tension at the Blake Group was palpable.Elise, the lead designer with an icy demeanor and an obvious disdain for Sarah, had her designs chosen as the company’s submission.It was a major milestone for the jewelry division, one that carried the weight of Alexander’s ambitions to reclaim his CEO title.The entire office buzzed with preparations, and Sarah, despite her lower position, found herself drawn into the flurry of activity.As the day ended, Sarah wrapped up her tasks, her mind preoccupied with the secret she had been guarding so carefully.The pieces for her Mountain Rose collection were ready, and Margaret had assured her that the Paris Fashion Week stage would give her brand the visibility it needed. Yet, guilt pressed heavily on her chest.She hadn’t told Alexander about her designs, or her mentor. As much as she wanted to trust him, the fear of jeopardizing his plans for the Blake Group held her back.That evening, as t
The tension in the boardroom had reached its peak, the air thick with unspoken threats and veiled warnings.Alexander had spent the last hour going back and forth with Gerald, neither of them willing to back down.But he had wasted enough time.Straightening in his wheelchair, he adjusted the cuffs of his suit with deliberate precision before shooting Gerald one last cold glance. “You’ve dragged this on long enough,” he said icily. “But make no mistake, Uncle, your time is running out.”Gerald smirked, leaning back in his chair. “We’ll see about that.”Alexander didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. With a sharp turn, he wheeled out of the boardroom, his expression unreadable as the directors exchanged uneasy glances behind him.The moment he entered his office, his phone buzzed in his pocket.He fished it out, glancing at the caller ID, Raven.His jaw tightened as he answered. “Talk.”“She’s been arrested,” Raven’s voice came through, calm but edged with urgency.The words
Sarah reached over and placed a hand on Raven’s arm.“It’s fine,” she murmured.Raven’s fingers flexed against the steering wheel.She clearly didn’t agree, but after a long moment, she gave a short nod.Sarah turned back to the officer, her voice firm. “Alright. We’ll cooperate.”Slowly, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.Raven followed, her movements precise, controlled. Even though she hadn’t drawn a weapon, there was something about the way she carried herself that made the officers hesitate.As if they knew deep down that they weren’t just dealing with ordinary women.“Your keys,” the second officer said, holding out his hand to Raven.She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, slipping the McLaren’s keys into his palm.Sarah glanced around. There were only two officers present, but she knew better than to think they were alone. More were likely stationed nearby, watching, waiting.Raven stood close, her presence a quiet but undeniable shield.“This is bullshit,”
Raven hesitated, her jaw tightening. For a split second, Sarah saw something flicker across her face, pain, regret, something deeper than words could explain.But then, just as quickly, it was gone.“I had my reasons.”Sarah had no idea why, but something about that answer made her trust Raven more than if she had given a rehearsed response.She exhaled slowly, nodding. “Alright, then. Welcome to the chaos that is my life.”Raven’s lips lifted into an almost smirk. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Blake. I specialize in chaos.”Sarah let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Well, you’ve come to the right place then.”Raven moved swiftly, drove her car around the McLaren into the house and asked Sarah to step down.Stepping around the front of the McLaren, she slid into the driver’s seat with practiced ease.Sarah barely had time to blink before the woman had adjusted the mirrors, opened the passenger seat for her, started the engine, and pulled out onto the road as if she had been driving for her
Meanwhile, inside the Blake Group's towering skyscraper, the tension in the boardroom was thick enough to cut with a knife.Alexander, seated in his wheelchair, exuded an icy authority that countered Gerald’s smug confidence.They had been going back and forth for nearly an hour, each man refusing to yield an inch.Gerald wanted to strip him of control, to reduce him to a mere figurehead, but Alexander had built too much, fought too hard to let that happen.“You seem very confident in your little schemes, Uncle,” Alexander drawled, his voice deceptively calm, but his steel blue gaze was piercing. “But tell me, when has taking something from me ever ended well for you?”Gerald smirked, adjusting the gold cufflinks on his sleeve. “Confidence is one thing, Alexander. Reality is another.”Alexander let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Reality?” He leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the mahogany table. “Let’s talk about reality. The reality where you had me shot and still fai
Meanwhile, as these thoughts consumed him, Liam found himself at a high end bar in downtown Manhattan, whiskey in hand, the low hum of music surrounding him.A brunette with a body that could turn heads slid into the seat next to him, her sultry smile laced with invitation.“Mind if I join you?” she purred, running manicured fingers along the rim of her martini glass.Liam barely glanced at her.He had done this before. Tried to force himself to feel something, anything, for someone else.She placed a hand on his forearm, leaning in slightly.That’s when it happened.The instant wave of disgust that rolled through him.He pulled back as if burned, jaw tightening as he exhaled sharply. “Not interested.”The woman blinked, clearly taken aback by his cold dismissal. But Liam didn’t care.He threw back the rest of his whiskey and signaled for the bill.Enough was enough.He wasn’t going to lie to himself anymore.Sarah Miller,Sarah Blake, was the only woman who had ever made him feel this
A little while later, freshly showered and dressed in a comfortable yet stylish ensemble, Sarah made her way downstairs.The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of breakfast.She stepped into the grand living area, spotting two of Alexander’s men stationed near the entrance.“Where’s Alexander?” she asked, running a hand through her still damp hair.One of the guards, a tall, broad shouldered man, inclined his head respectfully. “He left for the office earlier this morning, Mrs. Blake.”Sarah blinked. “The office?”“Yes, ma’am. The Blake Group headquarters.”Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms. “And he didn’t bother waking me up?”He hesitated. “Mr. Blake instructed us not to disturb you.”Sarah let out an irritated sigh, throwing her hands up. “Of course he did! That man wears me out to the point of exhaustion and then just sneaks off like some kind of business ninja?”The guards wisely remained silent.Sarah placed a hand on her hip, muttering under her
Gerald’s eyes darkened, but before he could respond, Alexander turned his attention to the rest of the board.“I built this company alongside my father before any of you had a say in its future. I bled for this empire, sacrificed more than any of you could ever understand. And you think I’ll sit back while you try to erase me?” He scoffed. “Think again.”A thick silence followed, the weight of his words pressing against every individual in the room.Then, in a voice sharp as a blade, Alexander added, “Remove me from my position, and I promise you this, you won’t just be dealing with a man in a wheelchair. You’ll be dealing with the one person in this company who knows exactly where all the skeletons are buried.”A flicker of unease passed through a few directors’ expressions.Gerald narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “Is that a threat?”Alexander’s smirk was slow, deliberate. “No, Uncle. It’s a warning.”For the first time that morning, Gerald had
Gerald adjusted the cuffs of his crisp suit, his sharp eyes scanning the well manicured gardens of his estate as his convoy prepared for departure.He exhaled slowly, suppressing the anger that simmered beneath his carefully constructed facade.Marcus’s capture had thrown a wrench in his operations, and now, with Alexander likely moving against him, he needed to reinforce his control before cracks formed in his empire.He stepped out of his grand foyer, the clicking of his polished shoes echoing as he descended the steps toward his awaiting car.His security detail moved like shadows around him, silent, precise, lethal.Their presence was a necessity, now more than ever.“Any new word from the men at the Blake residence?” Gerald asked, sliding into the back seat of his armored vehicle.The door shut with a heavy thud, enclosing him in a bubble of calculated power.One of his top enforcers, sat in the passenger seat ahead of him, his dark eyes meeting Gerald’s in the rearview mirror. “
The younger officer shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, we...”“You have no evidence,” Alexander interrupted coldly. “No footage. No proof. Just the word of two women who have every reason to want to harm my wife. So tell me, officers, what exactly gives you the authority to drag her out of bed for something you can’t even substantiate?”The older officer cleared his throat again, clearly choosing his words carefully. “This is just procedure, Mr. Blake. If Mrs. Blake cooperates, it will make things easier...”“I don’t think you understand,” Alexander said, taking a slow step forward.The power in his presence was suffocating, his dark eyes cutting into them with an intensity that left no room for argument. “There will be no cooperation because there is no case. If you have a legitimate warrant, you can present it to my lawyers. Until then, this conversation is over.”His words were final, leaving no room for debate.The officers exchanged a glance, both clearly unnerved by the sheer force of