Fabian's brow creased, remembering that missed call from Loretta."Weird," he muttered.Mikel looked back at him. "Is everything alright, sir?Fabian sent him away with his hand."Let's forget it, Mikel. It is all irrelevant."Mikel nodded and dove into his schedule for cover."Your first meeting is at 9 AM, sir."Fabian nodded, focusing the mind on business matters.The car picked up speed, the mystery of the missed call unsaid.He entered the office, setting his mind on the day's work.Mikel handed him a file containing the vital documents that would come in handy that morning."Anything else I need to know?" Fabian asked, eyes scanning the papers."That's all, sir," Mikel said. "But I did get an update on the Richardson deal."Fabian's eyes are slitted. "What kind of update?""Appears they want to negotiate," Mikel said, his tone unreadable.Fabian held his gaze for a few seconds before refocusing his attention on the documents."Keep me updated."Mikel nodded and stepped aside, le
Fabian and Edward followed Captain Lewis back to the security room, where a bank of monitors displayed various angles of the Unit's surroundings."Let's see the footage," Fabian said, his eyes scanning the screens.Captain Lewis nodded to a technician, who began playing the recording on fast-forward.Loretta's image appeared on screen, walking home, the speed of her pace increasing as she approached her house.Fabian's face contorted as Loretta's screwed up into a hysterical fit, with tears streaming down her face.He shifted in his seat uncomfortably, feeling bad."Forward it to when she arrives home," he ordered low.The technician did, and the tape jumped forward.Loretta's image came on screen again, walking into her house.Minutes passed then the camera picked up a black SUV driving up to the house.Two figures popped out and entered the house.Fabian's jaw clenched."Zoom in, he growled.The technician did so, and the image expanded.The figures moved Loretta's unconscious body
Fabian's mind was a mesh of memories of Maria-it was a rollercoaster of the entangled past, the betrayals, and the bloodshed.He cleared his mind of the emotions, focusing on the present.Maria did not coincidentally show up.She had something to do with Loretta's kidnapping.And De Silva.The phone in Fabian's pocket broke the silence.Mikel."Sir, I found Maria's location," Mikel said, his voice low."Where?" Fabian asked him."Maria De Silva is having dinner at 3 at Echoes Restaurant," Mikel informed him through the phone.Fabian's eyes stuck to the information."Book me a reservation," he said, instructing.There was a brief pause from Mikel."Sir, are you sure? You want to face Maria?"Fabian's smile was cold."A devil has got to face his demons, Mikel. Fix the time and send me the details immediately."He hung up and turned toward the room.Only to find Sandra standing behind him.Her eyes blazed with anger."Maria is back, and you want to go see her?" Sandra spat. "Are you stup
Maria's smile spread. "You were always so careless, Fabian. Back then. You didn't even know you were followed."Fabian frowned."What are you talking about?" he asked.Tasha's heart dropped to her stomach.Had Maria seen her?Fabian sounded genuinely perplexed.But Maria did not flinch."You never suspected a thing," she said, now entertained.Fabian eyes glinted. "Who followed me?"Maria threw her head back and laughed, and the sound sent shivers running down Tasha's spine."Oh, it wasn't me. But someone very. Interested in your activities."Tasha's mind reeled. Who could have followed Fabian? And why?Fabian's face darkened. "Tell me, Maria."Maria's smile beamed. "Maybe later, Fabian. For now. Let's say that you have more enemies than you think."Tasha's hold on her glass tightened, Maria's words lingering in the air.Enemies?What had Fabian gotten himself into?What did she know?The tension between Fabian and Maria crackled through the air like an electric current.Tasha held he
Tasha flung her bag to the floor as anger welled up inside her.She threw herself onto her bed, frustration boiling over."Why?! Why does he get to hurt me like this?!" she shouted, punching her pillow.Downstairs, her parents exchanged worried glances.Her father's face hardened."It's time we paid Fabian a visit."His wife nodded in agreement."Somebody needs to make him understand the pain he's causing our daughter."Tasha's father stood up, determination etched on his face."I'll schedule a meeting with him tomorrow. This ends now."In her room, Tasha lay awake, seething.Fabian's face burned in her mind.She'd make him regret hurting her.Her parents' whispers wafted upstairs.".can't let him continue hurting her."".time to take matters into our own hands."Tasha's eyes narrowed.Would they help her? Or stand in her way? Only time will tell.The night wore on, and Tasha's resolve hardened.Change would arrive one way or another starting tomorrow.The next morning, Tasha ran down
Tasha's eyes flashed, shooting Emma a death glare."Just wait till I get married to Fabian," she spat."Your job will be the last thing you'll lose."With that, Tasha snatched her bag and stormed off.Her heels clicked angrily on the marble floor.She burst through the door, into the scorching sunlight.Tasha yanked open her car door, slamming it shut behind her.The silence of the car enveloped her.Tasha's façade crumbled.Tears welled in her eyes, and frustration and anger surfaced."SSstop, Fabian, making this hard for me!" she cried.Her fists pounded the steering wheel.Why did he need to push her away? Couldn't he see how much she loved him?Tasha's body shook, sobs racking her frame.She had thought their love would last.Now, there was a nagging feeling that it would not work out after all.She had cried like any other woman would, releasing her sadness mixed with desperation.Just then, Tasha's phone buzzed.Ignored.She didn't care; only Fabian's answer counted.And he said
He stepped in, wordless, his hands rose to frame her face. Tasha felt the electric spark of heat when his mouth crashed down onto hers, sending a kiss roaring through her soul. The taste of him was intoxicating, and she felt herself drowning in him.He drew back an inch, his eyes locked with hers. "Take me," he whispered, the words low, sultry.Tasha's boldness flared from the alcohol, from the moment. Reaching out, her hands explored his body, touching the warmth of his skin. He was responding in kind, his roving hands on her back tugging her close against him.His lips deepened, pressing their bodies together as they lost themselves in each other. Tasha's hands slipped lower, under his shirt, over the smooth skin of his back. He gasped, the sound sending a thrill through her as she felt herself harden against him.He pulled away, eyes dark with desire as he looked down at her. "I want you," he said, thick with need.A wave of possessiveness washed over her as her hands found their w
Tasha woke with sunbeams dancing across her face. She had a pounding headache from all the liquor she had consumed yesterday evening. She squinted around the unfamiliar room, trying to recall how she ended up there. Everything seemed vague except for the frenzied night of passion with some man."Fabian?!, " she called out, and nobody answered her."Where am I?" she stammered out in confusion. Immediately, the door opened and a maid walked in carrying chicken soup on a tray."The boss will see you soon," the maid said with decorum.Tasha's heart was racing. "Boss?" she muttered under her breath, puzzled. This was not the way things were supposed to go.Tasha turned to the maid, furrowing her brow. "Who's in charge?" she asked urgently. But the maid stared at her with a blank expression before turning and leaving the room silently.As the door closed behind her, a tall figure stepped into the room. Tasha's heart started to pound in her chest."I can see you're finally awake," he said, h
Chapter 163Weeks filled with anxiety and unsolved conundrums, deception, and intrigues had passed. The search for Loretta however had shifted into overdrive for Fabian in a dangerously obsessive manner. Each piece of information brought him closer to a revelation but still, every single one of them failed to prepare him for what would come.On a chilly autumn day, Fabian received a telephone call from an unknown caller. His heart raced as he picked up the call, fully aware that this could be the call he had been anxiously waiting for.“Fabian”, the voice on the other end sounded slightly familiar. It was the detective that he had hired to help him after Edward went missing. “We have a situation. We have located Loretta.”Fabian felt his heart race when a small house at the edge of the city came through after the address had been given. Without thinking, he took his keys and dashed to the door. The trip was a haze, all of it filled with thoughts of Loretta. What did they do to her? Wh
As he rode, memories came flooding his mind and brought him back to that time when all he was was Maria's assistant lingering in the shadows of her ambitions. He could remember how he would sit for hours on end and watch her enchant and flirt with Fabian; hear her laughter echo down the halls of their office.He had seen the moment of fate when Maria was wrapped in Fabian's arms, her eyes sparkling with delight, accepting him as her boyfriend. In that instant, Lucas felt jealousy mixed with frustration; how could she not see what Fabian was? He knew there was something wrong with the man she idolized depth of darkness behind the polished surface.Maria, you need to be careful," Lucas had warned her, his voice edged with concern as he faced her the next day. "I've seen the way he operates. He's not who he seems."But she had brushed him off, dismissing his worries with a wave of her hand. "You're just jealous because you're not in the spotlight, Lucas. Fabian is a powerful man. You can
As he walked down the streets of the city, he felt a surge of invincibility take over his body. He felt that no one could touch him after all, he had eliminated one of his major threats. Edward's absence would leave a huge hole, and Lucas intended to fill this vacuum with his ambition.He reached a secluded area, parked his car, and sat for a minute or so to collect his thoughts. He had to think now. Edward was out of the way; next came keeping Loretta in his grasp. She was the only way he could use both Fabian and Tasha to his advantage, and he wasn't going to let her get away from him.He whipped out his cell phone and sent a text to Maria. "Let's meet. We need to discuss the next move." In a second, he received a response: "Where?""The warehouse. I'll be there in 20."Lucas wheeled the car around and headed in the direction of the warehouse, his mind racing with possibilities. Loretta, he thought, considering how they might use her in their scheme. To be sure, she was a chip to be
At the accusation, Edward's face darkened as his mind raced to concoct this verbal assault by Lucas. "And what exactly do you think I did? I was trying to protect my family, just like you should be."Lucas tightened his fists in growing frustration. "Protecting your family? By disappearing? If you knew something about Loretta's whereabouts, you should have come forward. You have no idea what I've gone through trying to find her!Believe me, I know precisely what it's like to be helpless," Edward replied in a low-intense voice. "But you don't know the whole story. I couldn't come forward. Not yet."Lucas stepped closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "Then tell me the story. What's going on? Where's Loretta?Edward cast a look backward toward the house as if to weigh in his mind just how much he wanted to involve Lucas with the fact. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke. "I was taken captive, but I was able to escape. Those who abducted Loretta are still on the loose, keeping my ev
Maria's eyes flashed at him as her gaze narrowed. "I'm not obsessed. I just know how things work in this world. Tasha doesn't stand a chance against someone like me. I know his weaknesses. I know what he needs.""Is that why you're trying to bring her down? Because you think you can step in and show him what a real partner looks like?" Lucas asked, intrigued.Maria shrugged, and much of her confidence returned. "Exactly, I'm just helping him see the light. Tasha is just a pretty face, a distraction. I'll make sure he realizes that."Lucas watched her, impressed yet cautious. "You know this could backfire, right? If you push too hard, you might end up pushing him away for good."Not a chance," Maria shot back. "I know how to play my cards right. While Tasha's busy playing the perfect wife, I'll be working behind the scenes, turning his head. I will make Fabian remember who he is truly meant to be with."Lucas shook his head, feeling a mix of admiration and trepidation in his chest. "Ju
Maria crossed her arms, leaning in closer, a smug look on her face. "I'm just making an observation. It's just amazing to see how fast somebody can change their tune once they snag a rich husband. Isn't it, Lucas?"Lucas gave Tasha a worried look as if to say he didn't want to be part of this. Tasha drew in a deep breath, attempting to keep calm. "You don't know anything about me, Maria. This isn't about Fabian or the money. It's about being loyal to the people I care about. Something you wouldn't understand."Maria stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, please, spare me the moral high ground. You're not some saint just because you put a ring on it. Do you think marrying him makes you untouchable? I wouldn't be so sure.""Enough!" Tasha snapped, firm in her tone. "You need to stop with the petty jealousy and move on. Your constant need to undermine me is getting old.Jealousy? That's what you think this is?" Maria laughed again, her tone hard, unyielding. "I am just looking after the
She pulled her phone out and opened the contacts list before peering at the number of Lucas once again. She dialed his number and let it ring a few times before he finally picked up, his tone tired but alert. "Tasha? Is everything okay?"Not exactly," she replied, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I just spoke with De Silva, and he certainly made it clear that he's not letting go of our past. I need to know if you have any leads on Loretta. He's becoming a problem, and I can't afford to have him interfering.Lucas squirmed in his chair. "I've been doing some work trying to locate Loretta, but she's vanished into thin air. I'll keep searching; it's not concrete at this moment."Tasha felt a sense of doom. "We can't let him know we're working together. If he finds this out, he might screw everything up.I know, Lucas said his voice grave. I'm keeping a low profile, doing my best. For now, just focus on Fabian; he is your priority.I can't just sit around and wait. De Silva is unpredicta
Tasha set the glass down, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I don't know what you mean," she said, her voice steady, though her insides were in turmoil.He smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You've always been a good liar, Tasha. But remember… I can always tell."Her breath caught, but she hastily masked the fear with a small, nervous-sounding laugh. "There is nothing to tell, De Silva. I'm just… adjusting to everything. You know how stressful things have been."He raised an eyebrow. His fingers brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that felt more possessive than affectionate. "Stress, huh?Tasha nodded, conscious of the weight of his scrutiny. She needed to be cool, needed to make him believe all was right with her world. But sitting as close as she was to him, feeling the heat emanating from his body and the intensity of his gaze, she wondered how much longer she could play the facade before he uncovered her betrayal.De Silva leaned back, taking the glass from
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a deep sigh. "We have to be smart about this, Tasha. If De Silva's onto us, we need to figure out our next step, fast."Tasha pressed her fingers to her temples, the weight of the situation closing in around her. "You think I don't know that? I can't afford to slip up again, especially with him watching my every move."."We need to keep calm and stay according to plan," Lucas finally said, his voice much more even now. "He doesn't have proof as yet, just suspicions. We'll keep everything low-key for some time; make it appear as if all is business as usual. We still have leverage De Silva doesn't know about our deal with Vinnie."Tasha tightened her jaw. "What if Vinnie talks? What if he gets scared and tells De Silva everything?"Lucas was silent for a moment before his voice dropped to a low octave. "If it comes down to it… we'll have to take Vinnie out before he gets the chance to open his mouth."Tasha's stomach churned at