Elise's pov;After closing the store, I messaged Mr Alarcon that I'll be late and turned off the phone. Because I know he's going to flood my notification if I leave it on. I took a cab and headed to Mr Malcolm Hart's office. Mr Alarcon’s father. The reception didn't allow me and asked many questions since I came without any prior notice. After some calls, they allowed me to go to Mr Hart's office. When I entered the cabin, Mr Hart asked me to take a seat and asked, “What is it that you want to talk to me about?”I don't know if Mr Hart knows about Mr Alarcon's other business so I have to be careful with my choice of words. “I'm here to talk about Brian.” I said. He placed the file on the table he was looking into before and asked, “What do you want to talk about him?”“I came to know that Brian's parents passed away in an accident, Sir.”“So?” He asked like he didn't care about it. “If it's possible, I want to know if there are relatives from Brian's mother's side in touch. So tha
Elise's pov;When morning light filtered through the curtains, I roused myself from sleep, feeling the need to escape any potential encounters with Mr. Alarcon. Hurriedly preparing for the day, I quietly slipped out of the house, finding solace in the familiar sights and sounds of my store. As my mind flitted anxiously to Brian, a sense of guilt tugged at me, knowing I hadn't bid him farewell. His peaceful slumber seemed suspended in time, prompting me to depart without disrupting his rest. The bittersweet air of my departure lingered, leaving a void where parting words should have been spoken.Teresa stood before me, her eyes filled with curiosity as she directed her question about my attire. She was already donning a festive elf costume, serving as a stark reminder of the occasion we were celebrating. Across the room, Theo, Morgan, and Harry emerged from the changing room, fully adorned in their respective outfits, adding to the jolly atmosphere that filled the space.In response to
Elise's pov:After Mr. Alarcon departed, I retraced my steps back into the store, the events of our meeting swirling in my mind. As I pondered the interaction, Teresa interrupted my thoughts by tapping gently on my shoulder, her voice calling out softly, "Boss, I'll take off here." Her words resonated in the quiet space as she added, "Let's clean up the remaining tasks tomorrow," before slipping away after a quick change of attire. Following her departure, the store began to empty slowly, with Harry and Morgan bidding their farewells one after the other.Turning to Theo, who had chosen to stay behind, I inquired curiously, "What about you? Why haven't you left yet?"His response was calm and measured, "How could I depart without understanding the events of today?" With a sense of understanding, he settled beside me and continued, "There's a quietness to this moment; you can confide in me, Elise."Caught off guard by his persistence, I hesitated briefly before replying, "What is it tha
Elise's pov;The next morning arrived with a sense of anticipation as I diligently packed all my clothes, neatly folding each item and placing them into my luggage. Emerging from my room, burdened with the weight of my belongings, I saw Brian approaching me eagerly. However, his excitement was halted suddenly as his gaze fixed upon my bulging bag. Caught off guard, I frantically searched for an explanation as Brian, in his innocent curiosity, posed the question, “Are you going on a trip, Elise?”Caught in a moment of hesitation, I began to formulate a response when Mr. Alarcon intervened with his typically blunt demeanor. His concise statement, “No. She's moving out,” cut through the tension with surgical precision. His ability to navigate such situations with smooth assertiveness was evident, though it left me pondering about the isolated existence he seemed to tolerate willingly. I questioned his need for such brusqueness, particularly in his interaction with the ever-inquisitive Br
Elise's pov:When the clock struck ten o'clock, signalling the departure of everyone while I opted to remain, Theo inquisitively, "Why aren't you leaving?" Recollecting my earlier declaration about my intention to stay from the sight of my luggage that morning, I reiterated, "I'm choosing to remain here." Attempting to suggest a change of location, Theo questioned, "Why don't you go to your parents' place?" Firm in my decision, I replied, "I don't want to." Expressing concern, Theo advised, "You can't just sever ties with everyone like that, Elise." Feeling the weight of recent hardships, I let out an exasperated sigh before calmly requesting, "Will you please allow me some peace and solitude for a while? I've been grappling with numerous challenges recently, leaving me devoid of the energy to engage in a debate. So, kindly respect my need for solitude and depart for the night, Theo.”"Before heading to bed, it's always wise to double-check that all the doors are securely locked.
Elise's pov:When the clock striked nine o clock, I started getting ready to leave. Theo and Harry was still in the store so I said to them, “Check the doors and lock them before you guys leave.”When Harry gave a thumbs up, theo looked at me with a confused expression on his face and followed me asking, “Aren't you staying here?”“Um… no.”“So you went to your place?”Not again. What if he takes it in a bad way if i say what happened with Mr Alarcon. I'm tired of going through this shit everyday. When the clock struck ten o'clock, signalling the departure of everyone while I opted to remain, Theo inquisitively, "Why aren't you leaving?" Recollecting my earlier declaration about my intention to stay from the sight of my luggage that morning, I reiterated, "I'm choosing to remain here." Attempting to suggest a change of location, Theo questioned, "Why don't you go to your parents' place?" Firm in my decision, I replied, "I don't want to." Expressing concern, Theo advised, "You can
Elise's pov;The next morning, At the dining table, while everyone was having their breakfast quietly, Brian broke the silence by asking, “Elise, when will you come to my school today?”“Today?”“The performance that I'm doing for the Christmas program is today. Did you forget it already?”I shook my head and said, “I do remember. I was just thinking about something else. When will the program start? When should I be there at your school?”“The program will start at 10 am but my part will come by 11am.”“Okay, I'll be there.” And gave a smile at him before getting back to eating. Brian asked Mr Alarcon, “Dad, I'll be waiting for you too.”Mr Alarcon, “I have a meeting today so I'll try to come.”Brian tapped on my hand and said, “Elsie, dad's making an excuse. Ask him to come see my performance.”Instead of talking to Mr Alarcon, I said to Brian, “Don't worry, I'll be there to cheer for you.” and patted his head. When we finished breakfast, he started getting ready for school. In t
Elise pov;At my bakery store, While we're arranging the tables, Jared came to our store asking, “Looks like you decorated the store finally.” He walked around while saying, “Oh, you put up the window display too. It's nice…”Teresa, “Boss, is he really here to praise or tease us?”“Do you still doubt that?” Teresa let out a chuckle and asked, “Doesn't he have a store to look after? Why is he always coming here, boss?”“There's only one word to describe. Jealousy.” And let out a chuckle. Theo talked to him, “Mr Matthews, would you like to see our menu?”Jared replied that he's only here to take a look and went to the Christmas tree. When theo gave a fed up look, I said to him, “Let him be. Don't mind.”Theo gave a stare at me and walked to the bill counter. I walked to him and asked, “How long will you give me this silent treatment?”When he didn't answer, I continued, “What if someone thinks we had a fight? Do you want that?”Theo, “Boss, it's business hours. Let's not talk abou
Elise's pov:Mr. Alarcon's embrace was warm and reassuring as he held me close, his voice gentle yet firm as he uttered words of comfort, urging me to release the burden of guilt that weighed heavily upon my shoulders. "Stop blaming yourself, Elise," he whispered softly, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. He reminded me that dwelling in self-blame would only cause more pain, emphasizing that the past could not define my present or dictate my future. I could sense the depth of his concern as he observed my struggles, his touch tender as he lifted my face to meet his gaze. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" he inquired, genuine curiosity lacing his words. In the midst of our emotional exchange, a single teardrop made its way down Mr. Alarcon's cheek, prompting a surge of surprise within me. "Why are you crying?" I reacted instinctively, moved by the display of vulnerability from someone whom I had always seen as a pillar of strength. His response was unw
Elise's pov:At the bustling bakery store, a sharp-dressed man named Jake Turner caught my eye as he took a seat directly across from me. He exuded an air of sophistication with his tall stature, defined facial features, and sleek black suit, suggesting he had just rushed from a day at the office to meet me. Despite my lack of interest in conversing with him, the curious gazes of onlookers like Theo, Harry, Teresa, and Morgan added to the strange energy surrounding our encounter. To my surprise, even Mr. Alarcon and Brian, whom I had recently discussed this mysterious newcomer with, appeared among the spectators. Teresa, with her usual grace, set down a latte and a delectable strawberry lemon trifle before each of us before mingling with the rest of our acquaintances. Before I could even collect my thoughts on the unexpected turn of events, Jake Turner took the initiative and inquired, "So, you run this place?”With a simple nod, I confirmed his assumption, bracing myself for further
Elise's pov:As I was diligently reviewing the financial records for the past two months, meticulously documenting each expense, my focus was abruptly interrupted by a soft knock on my office door. Theo, my trusted assistant, stood there with a sense of urgency as he whispered, "He's here, boss."Rapidly shutting down my computer and grabbing my phone, I made my way out of my office, the wooden door creaking faintly as I closed it behind me. Mr. Alarcon, a long-time associate, awaited my arrival by the reception counter, his presence commanding attention even in a bustling environment.With a level of composure befitting my leadership role, I turned to Theo, who stood by my side, and issued clear instructions, "Take care of the store in my absence." His response held a trace of friendly banter as he remarked, "This store certainly sees more of the boss than any of us employees."As I gently patted him on the cheek in jest, a light-hearted smile crossed his lips, expressing a mutual un
Elise's pov;When morning light filtered through the curtains, I roused myself from sleep, feeling the need to escape any potential encounters with Mr. Alarcon. Hurriedly preparing for the day, I quietly slipped out of the house, finding solace in the familiar sights and sounds of my store. As my mind flitted anxiously to Brian, a sense of guilt tugged at me, knowing I hadn't bid him farewell. His peaceful slumber seemed suspended in time, prompting me to depart without disrupting his rest. The bittersweet air of my departure lingered, leaving a void where parting words should have been spoken.Teresa stood before me, her eyes filled with curiosity as she directed her question about my attire. She was already donning a festive elf costume, serving as a stark reminder of the occasion we were celebrating. Across the room, Theo, Morgan, and Harry emerged from the changing room, fully adorned in their respective outfits, adding to the jolly atmosphere that filled the space.In response to
Elise's pov;I came to Mr Alarcon house at 8 pm because we cleared out some stuff for decorations. When I came to the house, I saw Mr Alarcon and Brian eating at the dining table. Wasn't it too soon for dinner time? According to Mr Alarcon's rules. Brian yelled, “Emily, be quick. Let's have dinner together.”After seeing them together, I said, “It's alright. I ate out with my friends.” And I headed upstairs to my room in order to not disturb them. I dropped down on the bed as I stared at the ceiling above me. Mr Alarcon told me he'll help me but how am I going to ask him? And how should I do it? Should we make another deal? It's not a big amount to make a deal though. Let's just think of it as a loan and borrow from him. I feel hungry. I should have at least eaten the brownies which Teresa made at the store. I can't even go down stairs since Mr Alarcon and Brian are having their dinner. I sprang up from the bed and took my wallet and went downstairs. I said to Mr Alarcon, “I'm mee
Elise's pov;When I woke up, I was in the hospital bed this time. The white ceiling and the antiseptic smell surrounded me and when I lifted my head, I saw Mr Alarcon on his phone. After seeing me, he hung up on whoever he was on the call and asked me, “How do you feel now?”Why is he acting like he care about me? “What happened to me?” I asked as I sat straight on the bed. “I'll call the doctor.” And walked out of the room. The door opened and Mr Alarcon walked in along with the doctor. The doctor asked me, “When did you had your last meal?”“Morning.”“So that means you skipped lunch and dinner?”When I gave him a nod, he continued, “Skipping meals will make your blood sugar levels to drop that's why you fainted.” “I'll prescribe supplement tablets for you. You can take them after your meal. But avoid taking them in empty stomach.”Mr Alarcon asked the doctor, “Can I take her home then?”“Yeah, you can discharge her now.” And the doctor left. Mr Alarcon said, “I'll finish the d
Elise's pov:pov;When I entered the office, I saw the models who had been chosen for the work, so I went to them and sat next to them. Owen walked into the room as he yelled into the phone, "Last time when you were caught, it was hard to get rid of that reporter. Don't make a mess as much as you want to -" he stopped for a moment when he saw us staring at him and continued on the phone, "Come to the office in ten minutes." And hung up on whoever he was talking to. He smiled at us and said, "Excuse me. I will briefly introduce TA company's rules because most of them are new here. There are three rules you must follow when working with us. First, do not promote other products while working with us. Second, you cannot work for another company until your contract with us ends. Third, if you are in a romantic relationship, wait until the contract is over. That's all for today. Did you all sign the contract?" As we nodded in unison, he said, "Sweet. Thanks for coming, guys. And one more t
Elise's pov;Mike, "I think I made a decent decision in keeping him here.""What?"While he was handing me the meal in the service area, Olivia called him back to the kitchen. What made him say that?I served the food to the customers after bringing it out of the kitchen. The couple who received the food from me, both laughed and glanced at me. Is it my imagination or are they laughing at me?Emily brought me to the counter and said, "I know you were married recently and have a great husband, but do you have to flaunt it like this?" "How many times do I have to advise you not to refer to him in that manner?"She put her hand on my neck and whispered, "Listen to me, Do you want all of our customers to know what a wonderful night you had?""What!?"I dashed to the restroom to see what it was. When I looked at my neck, I thought, "A hickey?" Can he really do this to me? Now I see why everyone was staring at me. I'm humiliated. I'll start by changing my shirt.When I exited the restroom
Elise's pov;After Mr Martinez made a call, The police arrived and then arrested them and left while some remained behind to investigate what had occurred.When they investigated me, I told them what happened in the office. They began investigating Mr Martinez after my turn was finished."They forgot to ask you a question," Big Brother said as he approached me."What?""They didn't question you about why you were on the second floor in the middle of the night when your room was on the first.""I… I couldn't sleep so I wandered around…""Mr Johnson, come here!" said Mr Martinez.Big brother said, "I'll ask you once more. Prepare yourself." And then he left.Should I tell Big Brother about what I was doing in Mr Martinez's office? What if he stopped me from looking into the thing I was looking for? What if he tells me to stop?I have a doubt about Olivia. This isn't retaliation, but I can't let Olivia go free after what she did to my mother.The following day,In Mr. Martinez's office,