De Silva tugged the duvet from her clutches.Tasha's heart sank and her body quivered as it dawned on her how precarious a situation she was in. Yes, there was an unnatural glint in De Silva's eyes.His intention couldn't have been plainer. Yet, Tasha's legs refused to budge.But his eyes did not release the rebellion there. Silent resignation washed over her as Tasha climbed onto the bed.De Silva's lips twisted. "Good girl," he whispered.His eyes raked down her insulting caress. Tasha lay open, helpless.And yet, still, which way he would go remained in the balance. The ticking silence was heavy with portent. Tasha's fate still clung in the balance, out at the mercy of de Silva's every whim and fancy. De Silva's gaze stayed transfixed upon Tasha's quivering form. His smile grew endless, increasing with her every sense of fear. *** Pressing his gaze steadily on hers, he moved closer. Her heart was racing with anticipation while waiting for his further move. "Undress," he commanded
Fabian went to the window and looked out into the city's skyline, his mind racing with possibilities. Was De Silva's next move a threat or an opportunity?He turned to his desk and looked around the room. On his desk was a photo of Loretta. Suddenly, guilty and worried feelings jabbed him inside. Where was she? Was she safe? Fabian's determination hardened. What was whatever it took, he would find her.It buzzed again. Emma's voice was heard over the intercom: "Sir, your car is ready. The board meeting is in 30 minutes." Fabian nodded to himself. This was the time to face the unknown.He reached for his briefcase and headed out the door. The meeting would say more, but he was ready for anything that might come up.As he entered the boardroom, faces turned to him; a look of concern etched on their features. The chairman, Mr. Jenkins, stood. "Fabian, thank you for coming. We have a critical situation.""What is it?" Fabian asked.Mr. Jenkins hesitated. "De Silva's made a move. He's acqu
Fabian turned to Emma and spoke in a low tone."Emma, the personal touch is what we have to do. Get to know their wives, their interests."Emma nodded, knowing full well. "Sir, you want me to…"Fabian smiled. "Make friends. Send them corporate gifts, courtesy of our sponsored brands."Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of gifts, sir?"Fabian recollected himself to a backward lean. "Give them exclusive discounts on all our affiliated brands. Make them feel well taken care of."Emma jotted down notes. "Specifically, sir?Fabian thought for a second. "For Mrs. Thompson, a free VIP package in our Bali resort, and 20 percent off all the luxury items from our fashion house."Emma nodded."For Mrs. Lee, a personalized shopping experience in our flagship store, with a 30 percent discount on all high-end jewels."Fabian went further to say, "And to their families, a special privilege to use our business class services exclusively, right from priority reservations to 'A' class restaura
The eyes of Mikel shone bright with great meaning, a secret they both kept.Fabian never used that illegal money to enrich himself; instead, he gave it out in secret, for charitable purposes.In rebellion against his family's legacy.A silent protest against the dirty deal which had been made with the Martinez family.Mikel knew too well just how dicey Fabian's actions were, keeping this from his mother Sandra.One mistake would be disastrous.The Martinez family was an added layer of class.Tasha Martinez had been promised to Fabian families' business merger forged upon it.Fabian was a pity, Mikel knew because he was doomed to live by others' whims.So much passion and power, hemmed in by duty and illusions.Mikel was not under the employment of Fabian, but he had been the latter's biggest and most trustworthy acolyte because of the bond between the two bonds of trust and secret sharing.He had sworn to save Fabian no matter what."Sir, Plan Eclipse will be successfully carried out,
She flashed her eyes at him in indignation."Isn't this what you wanted?" Fabian taunted, the sarcasm welling up in his tone. "To marry me?"Anger had contorted her face."Oh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" she spat.Fabian sat back, cold."Well, I did!" Tasha snarled, growing louder. "You're just making me see that I'm wrong, but I don't care. You'll marry me, whether you like it or not. You have no choice."Fabian snorted."I don't need to remind you that I am not threatened," he said in a very even and low tone.Tasha laughed brittly."Threatened? You ought to be. My family will ruin you if you don't comply."Fabian's eyes seemed to narrow further as he said in a voice laced with disdain, "Your family Martinez family-known for their unsavory tactics."Tasha's gaze broke, but she recovered."Oh, yes, they will stop at nothing," she warned.He stepped closer, his eyes blazing intensely into hers."I'm not afraid," he said with his non-negating voice.The color bleached from Tasha
Fabian's eyes flashed and the red sting of her slap marked his cheek."My fault?" he repeated low and deadly.Tasha sobbed, tears cascading unchecked down her face."You never cared! You never loved me!" she wailed.Fabian didn't blink."Love?" he spat back. "This was a business arrangement.You betrayed me.Now, you'll pay."Tasha's sobs grew louder."You're heartless!" she shrieked.Fabian didn't bat an eyelid. "I do what needs to be done," he said.Without warning, Fabian slammed Tasha against the wall."Talk," he commanded.In an instant, Tasha's defiance collapsed."De Silva promised me power," she stammered.Fabian's eyes slit further."What did you give him?"Tasha's voice barely reached decibel levels."Information…about your philanthropy…your secrets."Fabian's face blackened."You'll tell me everything," he snarled.Tasha nodded, cowed.And Fabian knew at all costs, he would find out.Fabian's grip on her arms loosened as Tasha tore open her sleeves, revealing a scar that s
She buried her face into her mother's shoulder.Sandra's eyes went to Fabian.Shock and accusation wrestled within them.Fabian's jaw clenched.He knew what she thought.He failed Tasha.Again.Sandra went to him, her voice low."What happened, Fabian?"Fabian didn't look away from Tasha. "De Silva's men," he replied crisply.Sandra's eyes went wide. "And Tasha?"Fabian's face contorted. "She got hurt."Sandra paled. "Oh, Fabian."The police officer questioning Tasha cut in."Ma'am, can you tell us what happened?Tasha raised her head, a stream of tears wetting her face."They kidnapped me. tortured me."Mrs. Martinez gasped in the night.Mr. Martinez's face clouded in anger."We'll press charges," he promised.Fabian's gaze stuck on Tasha; he would see De Silva paid for what he'd done.Fabian's tone was low and dangerous."There is no need for charges. De Silva is not human. He is a demon."Tasha's mother frowned fire in her eyes."So now you care?" she spat."This is all on you! Wha
Edward's eyes widened incredulously."Why are you asking me where my daughter is? She was kidnapped?"Fabian snorted."Kidnapped? Or you're hiding her. This is just a game to you, right?"Edward stepped backward, his palms up in defeat."No, Fabian, I swear! I don't know where she is!"Fabian's patience snapped.He shot into the air twice.The echoes of the shots reverberated throughout the slum district.Edward bent, shaking."Do you want me to ask again?" Fabian growled.Edward's voice hobbled."I-I don't know. But I was told to bring Loretta to him."Fabian's eyes narrowed."Who told you?"Edward stammered, coyly."I-I was paid.to take her. but she tried to escape. Like I told her."Fabian's grip on his gun tightened."Continue."The words began to spill out of Edward."She escaped, but I knew she'd be out soon. So when I heard you kicked her out. I came to get her. But she was gone.already."Fabian's eyes blazed."Somebody took her?"Edward nodded in urgency."Yes! I don't know wh
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