“I appreciate the thought, Mrs. Hodgson.”Leah nodded kindly. “But I’m a divorcee with nointention of remarrying anytime soon. I’d only waste you and your son’s time in that regard.”“Oh, never! So what if you’ve divorced? You’re still a gorgeous, strong young woman, far more formidable than many other women your age!”Celia’s cheeks grew hot with embarrassment and anger upon hearing this. She shot Leah a hateful glare, feeling like a fading star beside a bright sun. With Leah around, nothing else evershone.Leah and Josh soon left in the golf cart, leaving the Moore’s to their mess.“Well, Ezra, I take it you’d understand if we call this partnership quits. There will be betteropportunities in the future.” Orlander nodded at Ezra, then quickly left with his wife.If he insisted on giving Ezra this project, nothing good would come. His entire reputation mightbe dragged through the dirt.Meanwhile, while Ezra was getting a headache trying to resolve the current situation, he turned a
“Don’t cross the line,Eugene.”Ezra yelled, slamming his hand on the desk.“Business is business, Dad. Keep the personal things out of it. That’s what you’ve always taught me.”Eugene languidly leaned into his chair, expression calm.“You’re greedy, that’s what you are! Haven’t you had enough? What should have been my eldest son’s post was given to you already, yet now you still want to aim for the board? Why don’t you just swap in as President yourself?” Ezra roared.Eugene sneered, shooting his father a cold glare. “Haven’t you benefited more from me being in my current position? Ever since I was young, you have set a price on every single thing I wanted to attain.You know full well why I’m in the CEO’s chair today, so why act like the innocent victim here?We’re the only ones in this room. Don’t you get tired of putting on this act?”Ezra was left red–faced and speechless.“Me as VP, in exchange for the company’s salvation from a serious crisis. It’s your choice.”Eugene stood up from
Eugene ended up meeting Brad in a newly opened club in the City.Brad’s tables were filled with all kinds of wine.He held one right now, belting out his lungs to “Live or Let Die.”Eugene reclined on the luxurious sofa with a shot of whisky in hand. He looked like some sullen adonis, exuding a strong, potent air even in the dim surroundings of the room.“So live and let die!” Brad yelled into the microphone.It was nearly enough for Eugene to crush his shot glass into pieces.If he had known Brad for two years less, he wouldn’t be sitting here keeping the loser company or enduring this torture.Eugene took a painful swallow of his whiskey.“My man! Burp!” Brad called, heaving a loud burp before falling onto the couch beside Eugene.He reached out to hook an arm around his friend’s shoulders, asking, “How was my singing? Terrific,yes?”Eugene frowned and moved away, making Brad fall flat on his face on the sofa. “You’re terrific if you were a donkey in heat.”“Bloody hell, did you get
“You really are Little Bastard.”Leah cackled joyfully.The man smiled, the coldness in his eyes dissipating instantly. He tucked his glasses back,reminiscing on the nickname he had been called so long ago.Even his father stopped calling him that years ago. Yet Leah was still the same old as before, unrestrained and always doing whatever she pleased.“You’re as beautiful as ever, even after fifteen years, Leah.”“Hehe…You’re not bad yourself!”Leah grinned, patting his cheek.The man’s smile deepened. He did not shy away from her touch. Now, this was the Leah he’d always remembered.She covered her mouth, burping once again. This time, her knees started shaking. She was unable to hold herself up any longer.The man smirked and lifted her into his arms right away, feet off the floor.“Hey, put me down!” Leah cried, wriggling away from his grasp like a feisty kitten. Her burgundy-red dress made the nicest contrast with her pale, milky skin.Feeling a sudden desire to toy with her, the m
Jameson froze on the spot, his heart clenching painfully for a brief second.Leah was fuming so hard her cheeks had gone flushed again. She glared at Eugene, yelling, “How low are you stooping now, Eugene? Let me go now! I am not going anywhere with you!”Eugene let her scream and pull, never letting go throughout. He felt like nothing more mattered in this world right now besides taking Leah away from this place, from this stranger.Seeing her being in a room alone with the stranger, having drank so much, was unbearable for him. He never expected Leah to be capable of something like this.“Let me go,Eugene, right–ah!”Eugene bent down and lifted her over his shoulder, hand locking on her waist as he marched straight for the door.“Put me down, you jacka–I’m gonna throw up.”Leah cried, beating at his shoulder with all her might.Her stomach was churning so badly. She was going to retch at any time.“I’m not stopping you.” Eugene eyed her sternly and continued walking on, not even a hi
Leah walked back to her VIP room. She was sober, and her good mood had dissipated.What kind of coincidence was she experiencing to be able to meet Eugene here, of all places?Maybe she should get a lucky charm or something to keep her from this shitty luck.Just then, a pair of warm hands wrapped around her arm.Leah looked at who it was and smiled when she saw it was Fabiola. “I’m… I’m okay,Fab.”“Was that…Was that your ex–husband, sis?” Fabiola asked curiously.“Mhm.”“Wow! He’s so hot!” Fabiola’s eyes were wide with admiration. “I thought Jason,Tre,Marcel, and Liam were handsome already. I didn’t expect anyone else to be able to top them.Your ex has that kind of striking hotness, like a beach model or something. Is he really just a company CEO and not some kind of superstar?”Leah cupped her forehead, scowling, “Striking hotness, my ass…He’s not even an oven.”“No wonder Mom said he was hotter than Chris Hemsworth! I didn’t believe her at first, because she has had a crush on the
“Calm down? Calm down?I don’t even know if my daughter will survive the night! She has shed tears and blood for you,Eugene. She might not even live to see another day! Don’t tell me to calm down!”Maria screamed.She continued, “If you didn’t love my Jessie, then why did you lie to her? Why did you pro mise you would marry her? My Jessie is too sweet a girl. When you wanted to kill yourself all those years ago, she rescued you! How could you do this to her? Have you no heart?”Eugene’s heart ached dully. Those dark memories flooded his chest and mind, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Those memories consumed his thoughts until they were all he could think about.***************Leah had been sent to the hospital tohave her wound bandaged up, thanks to Jameson Schmidt.She had asked Josh to stay back and look after Fabiola. She was concerned that Fabiola would be frightened by the sight of her injury.Meanwhile,Fabiola kept blaming herself for her sister’s accident, making J
Leah was seeing someone else now.Eugene clutched his chest, wondering why the pain was so intense. It felt as if someone had carved a hole behind his ribs.It was only at this moment that the realization of their divorce struck him like a freight train of bricks.When Josh saw Leah and Jameson emerge from the elevator in the underground parking lot, he hurried over. “Ms. King! How’s the injury?”“All taken care of. What about our attacker?”“I’ve had someone escort him back home,undercover. He’s currently at our private headquarters. There’s no way he can escape,”Josh whispered to her.“Great!We’re going to have loads of fun for the next few days.”Leah grinned devilishly.Josh nodded.”Whenever you’re ready, Ms. King.”“Wait for me by the car. I want to talk to the guy first.”Leah then turned back to Jameson.Jameson gazed steadily at her, leaning against his sleek Bentley like a marble Adonis.“You’ve seen my relationship with Mr. Moore. It’s more complicated than I’d like.”Leah smil