After hearing me utter the name of the man who killed Rodrigo Santos, they placed their tumblers on top of Damien's desk and filed out of the office. Ethan glanced at Damien before following after them, no doubt to accompany them outside.Now, Damien and I are alone in his office.He crushes his cigarette against his crystal ashtray. He looks up at me briefly, and it makes me nervous. I don't know what else he could possibly want from me."If that's all, Mr. Keller—""Are you sure the man who killed Rodrigo and Thomas is named Trevor?"I frown. This again? He's starting to make me question my hearing abilities. Yes, the shorter bald man called him Trevor. "Yes, I'm sure.""You didn't hear a surname, perhaps?""They only mentioned the Browns."Damien nods, but it doesn't feel like he's listening to me. I don't know what's wrong with him. He lights another cigarette. "I should've killed that fuck when I had the chance. Ethan was right, he's always right."I don't think he's talking to m
Malcolm glances at the picture. He raises his brows. Trevor is pleased with himself. He's managed to stun everyone in the room. Now, they'll think twice before they laugh at him again. "You were right, who would've guessed?"Danny takes the photograph from Malcolm. They discarded the frame long ago. Her picture has been passing around for the last half hour. "Are you sure it's her, Trevor?"Trevor crosses his arms. "So I'm blind now?""It's her," Malcolm confirms. "I saw her with my own eyes. Trevy asked me if I recognized her, but hell. I said no. I never saw that photograph before, and how would I have guessed?""And you found this in the basement?""Yes."Nate says, "This is too fucked up to be real. There's been a mistake, there has to.""No, no," Malcolm wags his finger. "Trevor is good with faces, we all know that. And I'm telling you it's her. Besides, this was amongst the old shit in the basement.""How is that possible?" Danny wonders aloud.Trevor doesn't care about the hows
We've been in this car for too long.The sun is starting to set and every part of my body is numb. These men are literally squeezing the light out of me. We got here about four hours ago. It's a large single-storey building, painted white. When we first got here, there were no cars around. But slowly, it's starting to get packed and a lot of cars park beside ours. So this is a parking lot, but what are they all doing here? Everyone keeps going inside, but I have no idea what this place could be.I manage to spy a woman wearing sparkly lingerie walk by the car. So, this must be some kind of club, but what are we doing here exactly and why are we waiting in the car? Why did he bring me along? This feels a lot like waiting. Damien is calm, though, and he hasn't said a word since we got here.My phone vibrates occasionally, but I ignore it. It could either be my mother or Sam, and there's no way I can talk to either one of them in here. The air conditioning is on, but I'm sweating. It's p
Yara leaves his office.He's confident that he made the right decision. She hasn't been around that long, but she's proving to be as loyal and useful as her cousin. There aren't a lot of people like her in his employ; no one is unquestionably loyal anymore. Everyone comes with a price tag. He rarely trusts employees; in fact, the only one he trusts is Nora, who worked for his father for years, but she isn't as efficient anymore and for weeks she's been complaining about needing 'a damn break'. The Huxley girl—Yara—is the only suitable candidate at the moment. Besides, he's done his research on her, some background check, and everything he saw pleased him immensely.He knows Ethan and Theo will be against his decision.Neither of them like her, for some reason, but like and trust are two completely different things. He doesn't need likeable people on his side, he needs people he can rely on. She's been through enough and has never thought of quitting.She's never left the small town sh
Sam called earlier. I have to meet Devon today. He's out of the hospital and has moved to a new apartment. Someone will pick me up and take me there later today. That's all I was told.I've already informed Sam about my promotion and he was more than pleased, but there's something else he isn't telling me. I could hear it in his voice when he told me that there's something we have to talk about tonight. Something urgent, I suppose.I start working as a secretary today. I don't have to wear the uniform, I can wear whatever I like. I don't know the first thing about filing or even what I'm actually going to do, but I guess I'll find out. The good thing is, Nora gave me a few tips last week. I even spent an hour with her, just watching her make calls and type letters. Yes, she types the letters. Ethan hands it to her on a piece of paper and she types the symbols down. Which means I'll be doing it from here on out.It's a perfect opportunity to decipher them.Maybe looking at them every d
The next day, there's another letter waiting for me. I make a copy and type it up. I can't stop thinking about my conversation with Devon last night. I wasn't lying when I said I'd do whatever it takes, though I am a little afraid. I know how bad things can get, and I don't want to be caught in another crossfire. Luck runs out, Aaron told me that when he was arrested."Luck runs out, little sis," he leaned closer to the glass. "That's what happened to me. Wrong place, wrong time. You can't score all the time without the universe conspiring against you. It will eventually. It's a downright envious bitch."I'll never forget his words. In fact, every life lesson he's ever taught me is permanently engraved in my mind. I print out the letter, fold it, put it into an envelope and seal it. Someone will come to pick it up. Yesterday, it was a man in his late thirties. I've never seen him around here before, and he was clearly expecting to see Nora instead of me. He grabbed the letter withou
I frown. His question catches me off-guard, I wasn't expecting this to be the first words out of his mouth. "Mr. Keller invited me.""Which Keller? I don't remember inviting you."I feign confusion. No, scratch that. I am confused. "I wouldn't be here without an invitation.""I'm not so sure about that." He looks a my dress, really looks at it. I gulp the pit forming in my throat down and try to look elsewhere. Elizabeth is still glaring at me from across the room. Her hair is slightly disheveled, and her gown is lopsided. She really has to take care of those, she's making it obvious that she was with someone. "Were you in the staff room just now?"My heart sinks, but I raise a brow. "In the staff room? No, not at all.""You sure? Because I'm certain I saw a flash of green just now." He touches the hem of my dress and I'm now covered in goosebumps. "Were you on your phone, perhaps?"I turn sharply in the other direction so that he takes his hands off me. I fix a gaze at him. "I alread
I know exactly what I have to do. I sent the picture to Devon and he gave me the go ahead late last night. That single picture could destabilize the Kellers, and that's precisely what I'm aiming for. Because of work, I won't have the time to print it, but Devon promised to get someone to do it for me. I'll get it during lunch in a nearby café, but I have no idea of who will be delivering it. He didn't tell me, so it can't be him. Besides, he still isn't healed. I'm running out of time. I only have three weeks left and I don't even know if that picture will have the effect that I want it to have. If everything goes well, Ethan will be out of the company and there'll be some chaos, because he takes care of all the finances, or so I've heard. I'm unsure of this logic, but Devon is in agreement with everything, and he was the one who told me to get proof of their affair. If Devon thinks it's right, then that's what should be done. I choose to wear a black pencil skirt and a beige blous
Six months have passed.They've been peaceful and for the most part, quiet. Tremendously busy, but I'm used to that part now. Working alongside Damien is the best part about it. I get to be with him all day and make sure that he isn't exerting himself. He has a lot more work now; he had to take over Ethan's duties. Theo helps, but there are certain things only Damien can handle. When Ethan was here, he took care of it, but he's been gone for half a year and there's no one capable enough to replace him. I think that deep down, Damien doesn't want anyone to take over Ethan's job, but he'll never admit it out loud. I help him whenever I can. There's a lot I still don't understand, but I'll get there.It's only a matter of time.He doesn't ever ask me to go home when there are people coming over to meet with him. We never talked about what happened with Ash, but it changed a lot of things. I gained some respect after I killed him. I see it in the way people look at me whenever we're at so
I help him peel his blazer off.This day has been mentally exhausting for him. He rarely leaves the office early, but I'm glad he did today. I'm glad, because at least we have the whole day ahead of us. It's going to be just the two of us. Theo rarely comes here, she prefers to stay in the city. It's closer to everything else. I love it here, because it feels like we're all alone in the world. I stare out the window and all I see is the vast sky, green hills, nature. I don't even see the guards surrounding the house. They're invisible to me.It's peaceful here, and breathtakingly beautiful. It's home. I understand why Damien is so attached to this place. It's not simply because he grew up here. I feel safe, here, untouchable. The first time I was here, I felt like an intruder. Our relationship was so different back then, I can't help but marvel at how everything is so different now. I never would have guessed that we'd end up here, closer than ever, madly in love. We've come a long wa
Today's an important day.I've been on edge all morning. Damien has called for a Keller family meeting. We're all going to be there, including Ethan and Penelope.He announced that there'd be a meeting only last night during dinner, and he asked Theo to give Ethan a call. I was startled by the news and so was she. He didn't tell me what he'll say to Ethan, but we can guess what it is. He wants closure. Ethan owns a third of everything, and that matter needs to be resolved. I doubt that Damien will allow him to return to the company. I just don't see it happening. Ethan himself never mentioned it to Theo, not that he'd dare to.Theo told me that he's out of the hospital. She said he hasn't left the country yet because he wants to see Damien first. Damien, however, wanted nothing to do with him until yesterday. He's asked after him, but he didn't want to see him. He's still hurt by what Ethan did to us, his betrayal is a wound that will never quite heal for him. And if it ever does, it'
I'm afraid of opening the door.I've been standing here for a full minute with my heart in my throat. My hand is on the knob, ready. I can't bring myself to turn it, though, simply because I know that Damien's on the other side. There's a lot we need to talk about, so much in fact that I wouldn't know where to start.I hold my breath and close my eyes. I've been standing out here for too long. I remind myself that he's my husband, he's the man I love, and we'll get through this. We'd get through anything together. I've been in a far worse position before. This time, I was actually focusing on the well-being of our family.I open the door slowly.Only the bedside lamp is on. I see him right away; he's seated on the couch across his bed. He's staring out the window with a distant look in his eyes. I take a few steps towards him, my eyes on his handsome face. My heart's thumping against my chest. I'm overcome with emotion, but I put a hamper on them for now. He's a little pale, I notice
Amelia's going to hate him for this, but that's okay, because he doesn't plan on ever seeing her again.He means it this time. He's done with this shit. He had his chance, he fucked it up a hundred years ago. It's time to get over it. If there was ever a part of him that thought he'd get a chance with her, that part of him died a while back. She loves Damien Keller. He lost her a long time ago. That doesn't necessarily mean that he's content with the outcome, but he'll admit defeat. Staying here is slowly killing him.She's going to be alright. Leaving her back there was a dick move, sure, but he stands by what he said to her; when everyone finds out that she did it, there will be no revenge. He helped her along the way, but no one needs to know that. The Huntingtons won't dream of touching her, especially when the truth about Damien comes out. It would be an entirely different story with him.He glances at his watch. Five more minutes in there and he'd miss his flight. He can't miss
I've never been so glad to see him in all my life."Devon," I say, the word a gasp. "How did you—"He doesn't let me finish. "Did he hurt you? Are you hurt?"I shake my head. "No, but how did you—""I'll explain later," he assures me. "Right now, we've got to get this asshole tied to that chair. Quickly, before he wakes up. Bring that chair over there. I have rope under the bed."I grab it and Devon grabs a duffel bag from under the bed. He opens it and fishes out rope and a couple of knives. He's been lying under the bed the entire time. It's clear that he planned this thoroughly.He didn't abandon me. He said he'd help me kill Ash and here he is. I tell him, "I thought you weren't going to show up. I thought you tricked me.""I don't blame you for assuming the worst," he says, looking up at me. His eyes are glinting with mischief and something else, something I won't dare name. He points at my gun. "You know how to use that thing?"I stare at it. "Yes."He's watching me intently. "A
It's quarter to midnight.The clock is ticking and my heart is racing. I'm ready, my small gun is hidden in my underwear. I've made sure to wear an extra tight pair just for the occasion. The dress is scarlet and flowy, perfect for tonight.I'm waiting for him in the lobby. This time, I'm early. It makes me feel more in control of the situation even though that's far from the truth. I take a small sip of champagne and look back at the entrance. My heart's in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. I have to remain cool, though. There's a lot at stake.Everything depends on this."Anything else?" the bartender asks me while pouring someone else a drink. I shake my head, I can't even speak at a time like this.I'm taking another sip of champagne when I finally spot him. There are two men walking behind him. He's saying something to them as he looks around. For me, no doubt. I fix my gaze on him and hold my breath as I wait for him to see me. He doesn't, which is fairly disappointin
"Leave," Damien says to the nurse. She scurries out of the room as soon as he mutters the word.He's in a terrible mood and he doesn't want anyone around him. He has finally moved from that awful, desolate place and he's home. He made sure that they didn't change any decorations. They lost a lot of antiques and furniture that was in their family for decades, but he's made sure that everything else remained the same. He's sure that he'll recover in no time here, he already feels better. He's not in bed, he's sitting on the sofa beside his bed. He's supposed to be resting, but he's done enough of that.He can't sleep when he's worried sick about Amelia.The fact that no one gives him any news is a bad sign as it is. They're hiding something from him, he can feel it. The last time he spoke to her, she told him that she wasn't going to turn back, that she'd go ahead with the plan. He has no idea of what her plan might be, but he knows it won't be anything he'll agree with. He wonders if p
I can't stop chewing my thumbnail.I force myself to put my hand down. I'm in agony; I don't know what to do and I'm running out of time. I'm supposed to be meeting Ash tonight. This was supposed to end it all, according to Devon, but he let Ethan go so what happens now? The only reason why I'm agreeing to everything is because of him. It isn't, but that's what Ash thinks. Am I still expected to show up? Why would he do this?I can't figure it out.I wish I had a way of contacting Devon to let him know that everything went to shit, but I don't have his number. I don't know where he's currently residing. I don't think I'll be seeing him anytime soon; tonight, maybe but not earlier. In the meantime, what do I do? I can't ask anyone's advice. My family is against me entirely. Theo probably thinks that our negotiations with Ash have come to an abrupt end, but she doesn't know half of it. I'm planning on killing him once and for all, I made a promise to myself that I would.For Damien.I h