The government invited the three companies picked for the South City Resort project for lunch. They were briefed on the nature of the selection by the representative who spoke after the meal. “The three companies represented here have passed the preliminary stage of the selection. A direct result of some previous works that displayed exceptional talent.” “However, the president has highlighted the need to make the resort soulful, rich in culture, and the peak of tourist attractions in the city. You have been chosen to make some design models for the prestigious South City Resort.”“One of the three designs would be picked and displayed on the national day where the project would be awarded to the winner. Before that day, you are expected to turn in the designs for vetting by the president. Accept my congratulations.”The lunch came to an end, and soon, June was walking out of the place with Lucy. On getting to the car park, they were double-crossed by a black Prado Jeep that seemed
l“You can’t go in there!” Rafael’s secretary's words fell on deaf ears as Carson entered the office, just in time to see his friend popping some pill into his mouth. Carson frowned at the sight. “You have to leave, sir..” The secretary said but stopped at the signal of Rafael’s hand. Carson stood with a taut expression while the secretary retreated. “What are those?” He asked as soon as they were alone. “Painkillers.” Rafael met his eyes, “Is there a reason you are in my office?” Carson was close to hitting his friend. “Wrap up. You need to go to the hospital.” He ended up saying. For two weeks he had tried to get in touch with his friend regarding his diagnosis but Rafael seemed to be evading him. Seeing him pop those pills told him that Rafael was in pain. One of the symptoms of Pancreatic cancer was the stomach and back pain it came with. He also noticed Rafael had lost some weight from the last time they saw him. He couldn’t ascertain if it were a result of the sickness or t
Clarence felt like she’d been slapped. Her smile turned into a frown. “Have you not been trained properly?” She seethed. Luis perked his brow at the woman who came in and had the guts to speak carelessly. He was a second away from lashing out when June stepped into the house, dragging some grocery bags along with her. He immediately turned docile as he cried to June. “Mother! This woman has come to harass me in my home!” June stopped in her tracks at the voice of her baby boy. The upset look on Clarence’s face hadn’t eased up. It seemed to tighten upon sighting June. With Rafael nowhere around, she didn’t need to pretend. “Is this how you raised my sister’s child?” She asked sternly. June smiled at the disrespect in her tone. She turned to Luis. “Oh dear, have you greeted Auntie? Come on, greet her properly.” She urged. Luis displayed his disposition towards Clarence but greeted her nonetheless. “Hello.” Clarence wasn’t satisfied, but she nodded in response. When she took over
Mrs Evelyn was carried off the floor by Rafael while Clarence was dragged out of the floor by Thomas. “Let me go! This is an assault! Let me go!” She cried as the security forcefully dragged her. “You will regret this! I promise! You would regret this!” Her voice soon faded and June was seated by her mother who was laid on the bed by Rafael. “Are you okay? Do I need to call the doctor? Does anywhere hurt?” June was concerned for her mother who did not deserve Clarence’s attack.She was so close to dashing out of the house and giving that wench a proper beating. However, much more than anything, she was concerned about her mother’s well-being. She hadn’t uttered a word since her fall and was beginning to get concerned. Rafael took out his phone to call Carson when Evelyn finally spoke, shocking the entire room. “I’m so sorry, June. I lost it, I lost the evidence.”June was shocked by her mother’s words. “W-what? What did you just say?” “The recording! I went to get the recording of
“What did she just say, Colton?!” April raged as she got up from the floor. “What did she mean by congratulations on selling the company?! Did you lie to her? Did you screw her for money?!” Colton winced at the tone of her voice. “If only you can keep your scrawny voice down for one second, then I could-”April delivered a powerful slap before he could finish his words. Colton couldn’t believe it. He watched her with wide eyes as she vented her anger with words.“My entire life’s work! I gave you a part in the life I built for myself and this is how you pay me?” April’s breath rate increased and she felt her blood boil. “Who is that woman? Who is that wench you slept with? Open that cheating mouth of yours and speak!”Colton was baffled. He cornered her by the side of the room with menacing steps and eyes. “If you dare hit me in the face again, you will be sorry.” April raised her hand to slap him but he caught it in the air. “You bastard! You will regret it! I promise! I will make
April was forced to sign the papers by the men who surrounded her. Colton picked up the paper with a victorious look on his face. “Now that wasn’t hard, was it?” He asked with a vicious smile. April was breathing heavily and sat on the floor. “You are making the worst mistake, " she said in a small voice. “Selling the company will be a loss in the long run. If you are anxious about money, then you shouldn’t sell it.”“Become the CEO. Let others do the work.” She implored, “You don’t need to sell it. Please...Don’t do this.” Colton laughed in her face. “Look at you. Didn’t think you could be so civil.” He tutted as he placed the papers inside a briefcase. “I hate to break it to you, love. But this is a done deal.”“Not to worry, the big buyer who took this off our hands is too busy to care about the companies. I already told you he let me be the acting CEO. Since you are so desperate to let others do the work, you can continue your job managing Lontoc Constructions.”“You get to con
June sat in the room with Lucy and Joel as they previewed their entry for the South City Resort Project. Since her mother’s return, she felt a lot of joy and worked more efficiently. As a result, the process was sped up. “I think this is the best project I’ve ever seen,” Joel said with a genuine look of awe. “When you pitched the idea, I didn’t think it would come out this good.” “I know right!” Lucy chimed. “If they don’t accept this design, we’ll take on the project ourselves. It’ll be their loss!”“No one with eyes would reject this,” Joel said as he inspected the final draft further. “The thought behind it is so powerful too.” June smiled but refused to let her hopes up. She was finally in a decent place but the last thing she needed was to get her hopes too high. She looked forward to getting the contract but tried to manage her expectations. “Whatever. The showing is in two weeks. I need the design to be in HD. Get the technical team to get to work, I’ll be supervising the f
“Are you so incompetent you decide to steal my design?” June said to April at the car park after their presentation. “I thought you were better than a common thief.”April held her head high, watching June with intent eyes. “What are you talking about? If you are insecure about your presentation, you should return to your benefactor. I know you slept your way into being considered for this deal.”She stepped in her face and whispered, “Between us girls, tell me, how did it feel to sleep with an old man for profits? We all know that’s the only way you could have gotten this far.” Although April wore a confident aura, she was broken inside. Everything had gone wrong with the world as she knew it and it was a matter of time before she drowned in the waves. “I don’t blame you.” June seethed. “For someone who had everything handed over to you, or stolen from someone, it’s hard to believe someone can build something meaningful from their sweat.”April was ticked. “Do not insult me, June.”
Lucy sat in the hotel room, dressed in her blue dress and texting Liam for an answer. When her phone finally rang and Liam displayed on the screen, she excused herself, and stepped out of the room. "I've been texting you for the past thirty minutes!" Lucy whisper-yelled as soon as the line connected. "What's going on? The mother's have been blowing my phone and I think June is already suspecting me.""You can leave the hotel. I arranged a car to take you both to the venue. It's a white limo." Liam said, expertly avoiding Lucy's question. "You still haven't told me what's going on! I deserve to-" Two beeps and the call disconnected. Liam hung up on her. Lucy gritted her teeth, trying to control her anger. She couldn't mess things up. Not today. She would handle him later. Summoning a smile, Lucy returned to the hotel room."We need to leave. Our ride is here." She said and June squinted, raising her head from the document she studied for the past several minutes. "Ride?"Lucy's e
June sat in her office chair when Lucy hurriedly entered her room. "We have to leave!" She said with urgency in her tone.June blinked in confusion. "Why? Is there a problem?""Yes! The president is coming to visit the South City project site with some key investors.""The president has requested you to take them on a tour on site. We don't have much time." June got on her feet, gathering her phone and some other essentials, alongside the project blueprints. "How long do we have?" She asked. "Three hours." Lucy said, "According to the news, you are to get something with the investors before heading to the site.""The president has assigned our makeovers. We need to leave immediately." "Makeovers?" June asked with a frown. "Why would we need makeovers?""We don't have time. I'll explain on the way." Just like that Lucy dragged June out of the office for a makeover. They arrived at a hotel just close to the airport and while June tried to gather her thoughts, the hired team of pro
April got into her hotel room dressed like a man. Her eyes were narrowed in anger as she threw down a lamp from the bedside table. "A surprise wedding, huh?" She gritted, blood burning with anger. "I'll give them a wedding to remember!" April flew into South City in disguise for a secret mission for the Cordel family. After seeing the press around her sister and Rafael's survival as well as her mother taking over the Lontoc and Rivera companies, she sought for an opportunity to come into South City and when the opportunity presented itself, she took it with both hands. However, due to her condition as a wanted person she couldn't go about freely for fear of getting caught as a dupe. The first few days, she spent carrying out her business with her colleagues until she had some free time. She decided to find out what her silly sister was up to and stalked her house only to find out she had long packed away. Apparently, June was living a comfortable life as the wife of Rafael while s
"You are going to be an older brother." June said to a young Luis during dinner a few weeks later. The entire family gathered for a small dinner. Evelyn, Lucy, and Carson were present alongside Mrs Beatrice who celebrated the wonderful news. "I'll be a grandmother!" Mrs Evelyn cried, "I'm so happy for you, my child."The evening was a cozy one as they all congratulated the couple on the news. "You are finally getting all the good things you deserve." Lucy said, "I'm so happy for you."The night was not over as June decided to add another joyful news to the equation. It was her mother's wedding anniversary and she hoped to brighten the day with some good news for Mrs Evelyn. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me." June said in a speech, "I want to use this medium to appreciate everyone for your intense support."She turned to Mrs Evelyn. "You've been the best mother to me, helping me through the hardest part of my life.""Child...""I just want to thank you. I am in a hap
The next few months were a slow recovery for Mrs Beatrice with the support and love of her family. With the constant reassurance and love of Rafael, and the entire family, she was gradually becoming stronger which was good news for the extended family who were finally in unity. Rafael returned to work and in a matter of three months, Ambrose Corporation was able to make a startling profit of over seven hundred billion, quickly retaking their position as one of the top corporations in the world. June was not left to the side, JL Architectures were making waves with the new South City project up and running and the public support. June and Rafael made their relationship public, garnering the support of the masses who followed, adored and loved the powerful couple. The news raved about how they survived the ghastly accident, their journey as a couple and their unconditional love for each other. Everything progressed well and on Luis's birthday, his parents and family showered him w
June woke up to soft kisses from Rafael who lay beside her. She smiled in her sleep as she blinked awake."Rafe-" She swooned, palming his face with a Loving gaze. "Hey, Wifey." He mused, "Good morning."Rafael proceeded to lavish kisses on her face, going in for her lips but she tactically avoided him. "I need to brush my teeth!" She said when he continued trying to kiss her on the lips. "I don't care-" Rafael mused. "Now let me kiss you." He demanded softly and she shook her head. The next second, June slipped away from the bed, successfully evading his kisses and giggling when her husband wore a duped expression. "I promise you can kiss me for as long as you want," she said, "Right after I freshen up." June hopped into the shower after taking care of her business, and halfway through it, the door opened and Rafael joined her inside. "Rafe-" June's eyes widened when she saw him walk in naked with his hard member in full display. "I'm only trying to freshen up too," Rafael mu
Liam returned to the Fernando estate and went to the dungeons where Lydia Cordel, the wife of the Late Andre Cordel was being held. "I was wondering when I'd finally see you," Lydia said as soon as she saw him at her gate. "I thought we were partners?""Do not forget your position, woman." Liam's voice was cold and aloof as he took on the aura of the cold mafia don he was. "Your life is a gift that could be taken at any time. You are advised to treasure it well." "If you wanted me dead I should be dead by now," Lydia said purposefully. "And I'm not dead.""Yet." Liam finished in a gritty tone. One of his men brought him a seat and he sat right in front of Lydia's cell, which was better than most since it had a bed and she received health care. "Tell me the truth and I might consider letting you keep your gift of life." He pulled off his black shades. "Did you or did you not kill your husband?""I did." She answered without skipping a beat. "And why would you do that?""Because he
June and Rafael spent their days together. It was like an unofficial vacation and honeymoon. Rafael made good progress on his health with June around to love and supervise him. Everything felt surreal for the love birds who had been apart for so long. One day, the doctor came in with good news, stating that Rafael was ready to leave the hospital, and scheduling him on weekly appointments to monitor his progress. June could barely hide her happy tears. It felt like everything was falling right into place. Although Rafael's legs were not strong, they were on the right path and she believed that in due time, he would learn to use his legs again. "I want to be discharged today," Rafael told the doctor, interlacing his fingers with June who sat by his bed smiling happily. "I can't spend a day more in this hospital." June laughed at the desperation in Rafael's voice. It's been a few rough weeks since she moved into the hospital with Rafael constantly trying to make love to her. They h
It was the early hours of the day and June was fast asleep when her phone started ringing. Having slept in from her busy night, she silenced the call and turned over, hoping to get some extra sleep before returning to Rafael's mansion. The phone started ringing again, disturbing not just her but Luis who turned in his sleep, disturbed by the noise. This time, June silenced the call, got up from bed, and headed out the balcony to answer the call. The phone stopped ringing before she could pick up and started ringing within a few seconds. It was Carson."You better have a good reason for calling me this early in the morning," June said once the call was connected, irritated from having her sleep disturbed. The line was flat. She could hear breathing but there was nothing. She removed the phone from her ears and checked if it was still active."Hello?" June said when she was certain the call was still connected. "Good morning, wifey." June stiffened upon hearing a gruff masculine