~Another Day~Andrès stepped out of the front door of his estate, the morning sun casting long shadows across the driveway. His sleek black car idled nearby, the driver already holding the door open. He adjusted the cuff of his shirt and slid into the backseat, nodding to the driver."Hospital," he said simply, pulling his phone from his pocket.The ride was quiet, the hum of the engine and the blaring of impatient drivers the only sound as they wove through the city streets. Andrès tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, though his mind was elsewhere. When they pulled into the hospital parking lot, he stepped out before the driver could circle around to open the door for him.Inside, the sterile scent of disinfectant hit him immediately, sharp and familiar. He approached the reception desk, his polished shoes clicking against the tiled floor."Joyce Mayers," he said to the receptionist, his voice low but firm.The woman looked up, clearly rec
~Sensational~Andrés drove through the quiet streets leading to his estate, the day's events playing on a loop in his mind. The long driveway, lined with trimmed hedges and bright garden lights, came into view. His estate was massive, with tall iron gates that opened smoothly as his car approached. It was the kind of place that screamed wealth and power, but to Andrés, it was just home.Pulling up to the front steps, he sat in the car for a moment, staring at the grand double doors. He usually felt relief when he got home, but tonight, a strange unease crept over him. Shaking it off, he stepped out, his shoes clicking softly against the stone driveway.The staff were already waiting. The butler opened the door for him, giving a polite nod. "Good evening, sir. Would you like dinner served now?""Not yet, Marcel. I need a moment," Andrés said, walking past him into the house. The place was spotless as always, every piece of furniture perfectly in place. The silence inside was heavy, bro
~In Cold Blood~Finally, the man behind the hit and Run of Joyce was caught. He was strapped to a chair in a hidden location. The warehouse was dimly lit, with a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension as Mateo, Andrés's most trusted bodyguard, stood near a restrained man tied to a metal chair. The man's face was bruised, his clothes disheveled from a scuffle during his capture.The sound of Andrés's car screeching to a halt outside echoed through the building. Moments later, the heavy door swung open, and Andrés strode in, his expression cold and calculating."Is this him?" Andrés asked, his voice low and sharp."Yes, boss," Mateo replied, stepping aside to reveal the man.Andrés studied the man in silence for a moment, his hands in his pockets. The man avoided his gaze, his head hanging low."What's your name?" Andrés asked, his tone eerily calm.The man didn't respond."I asked you a question," Andrés said, stepping closer.
~I'm Sorry~Her brows furrowed as she looked up at him. "You keep saying that, but you're not giving me any reason to stop worrying.""I don't owe you a reason," he said, though his words lacked the bite they might have carried in other circumstances. "You're my employee, Joyce, not my keeper."The words stung, and he seemed to notice because he sighed and added, "Look, I'll be fine. Go to bed. You've had a long day."She hesitated, her mind racing with questions she knew he wouldn't answer. Finally, she took a step back, her expression guarded."Fine," she said quietly. "But if you're in some kind of trouble-""I'm not," he interrupted. "Now, goodnight."He turned and walked toward the staircase, leaving her standing in the living room.Joyce watched him go, her eyes drifting back to the faint stain on his collar. Something wasn't right. She could feel it. But as much as she wanted to press further, she knew he wouldn't budge.She sank back onto the couch, her mind swirling with poss
~The Hit~The evening had arrived, and the air buzzed with anticipation as Andrés and Joyce prepared to head to the grand launch of the new company. The event was being held at an opulent hotel ballroom in the heart of the city, the perfect venue to mark such a significant milestone. Every detail had been meticulously planned, from the décor to the guest list, and tonight promised to be unforgettable.Joyce stood in her room, smoothing out the sleek black gown she'd chosen for the evening. Its modest yet elegant design complemented her figure, and she paired it with a simple silver necklace. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, ensuring every strand of hair was in place. Tonight wasn't just about Andrés; she wanted to make a good impression, too.Downstairs, Andrés waited, already dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. He stood by the living room window, checking his watch. His usually composed demeanor showed a flicker of nerves as
~Not All That Glitters is Gold~"Damn it, Andrès!" Emilia yelled at her husband in a fury. "What is this, Emilia? What are you getting so worked up about?" Andrès inquired, his voice tinged with confusion. "Are you actually slow? Or are you just pretending to be slow? She spat, with no remorse. "I am neither, but I need you to explain what this is about." Andrès requested. "Oh, Sweet Lord..." Emilia became frustrated and rubbed her tempo. "My friends always go shopping for nice things and take vacations with their husbands." Here I am, being mocked at every chance they get for being so broke and sticking to your sorry ass." She nagged. Andrès understood why she was fighting after hearing what she said, but he still did not get her point. She seemed to be trying to insinuate something, but she had not quite nailed it. Her nagging eventually became an echo in the room, but he still needed her to relax and understand him. He needed her to understand that not everything that gl
~The Offer~The air was crisp and birds chirped around, their melodies wearing through the morning.Andrès stirred awake as his alarm rang, breaking the dawn of day. He got up from the bed and had a quick shower in preparation for the start of a new day.In a few minutes, he was done with his bath and hastily dressed up for work. His favorite part of the day was dressing up and going to work. After getting dressed, he wasted no time in leaving the house. As soon as he got out of his apartment, he hailed a taxi and told him the location of his office. The drive to work was a very smooth one and in about thirty minutes, he got to work.The second he arrived at work, he headed into the office in anticipation of seeing Emilia inside the office.He pushed the elevator button to the top floor, in less than a minute, the elevator dinged and he made his way out. He looked around to see if Emilia was around but he felt disappointed when the only person he saw was Gael.He made his way to G
~Fury~Don Simon fixed his gaze on him and a tired smile played on his lips, "sit" Andrès walked back into the office and sat down on the chair opposite Don Simon."I am not getting any younger Andrès, and I have had an unhealthy eating habit in my younger years. I will be going for a heart surgery and the chances of me coming back is very slim. My survival rate is 50/50. As you are well aware, I have no family at all. I love you like a son which is why i will transfer the ownership of the company to you and put it in your name. I will also_"Andrès instantly felt a lump in his throat, "No, you can't do that. I am not worth it." Andrès interrupted Don Simon."That is your low self esteem speaking, you deserve everything good in life. Better than this in fact. Not to debate on this, just see it as you keeping it for me. Take care of it, nurture it. Then you can give it back when I return." Don Simon suggested.Andrès still felt uncomfortable with that. He loves his boss so much and in
~The Hit~The evening had arrived, and the air buzzed with anticipation as Andrés and Joyce prepared to head to the grand launch of the new company. The event was being held at an opulent hotel ballroom in the heart of the city, the perfect venue to mark such a significant milestone. Every detail had been meticulously planned, from the décor to the guest list, and tonight promised to be unforgettable.Joyce stood in her room, smoothing out the sleek black gown she'd chosen for the evening. Its modest yet elegant design complemented her figure, and she paired it with a simple silver necklace. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, ensuring every strand of hair was in place. Tonight wasn't just about Andrés; she wanted to make a good impression, too.Downstairs, Andrés waited, already dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. He stood by the living room window, checking his watch. His usually composed demeanor showed a flicker of nerves as
~I'm Sorry~Her brows furrowed as she looked up at him. "You keep saying that, but you're not giving me any reason to stop worrying.""I don't owe you a reason," he said, though his words lacked the bite they might have carried in other circumstances. "You're my employee, Joyce, not my keeper."The words stung, and he seemed to notice because he sighed and added, "Look, I'll be fine. Go to bed. You've had a long day."She hesitated, her mind racing with questions she knew he wouldn't answer. Finally, she took a step back, her expression guarded."Fine," she said quietly. "But if you're in some kind of trouble-""I'm not," he interrupted. "Now, goodnight."He turned and walked toward the staircase, leaving her standing in the living room.Joyce watched him go, her eyes drifting back to the faint stain on his collar. Something wasn't right. She could feel it. But as much as she wanted to press further, she knew he wouldn't budge.She sank back onto the couch, her mind swirling with poss
~In Cold Blood~Finally, the man behind the hit and Run of Joyce was caught. He was strapped to a chair in a hidden location. The warehouse was dimly lit, with a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension as Mateo, Andrés's most trusted bodyguard, stood near a restrained man tied to a metal chair. The man's face was bruised, his clothes disheveled from a scuffle during his capture.The sound of Andrés's car screeching to a halt outside echoed through the building. Moments later, the heavy door swung open, and Andrés strode in, his expression cold and calculating."Is this him?" Andrés asked, his voice low and sharp."Yes, boss," Mateo replied, stepping aside to reveal the man.Andrés studied the man in silence for a moment, his hands in his pockets. The man avoided his gaze, his head hanging low."What's your name?" Andrés asked, his tone eerily calm.The man didn't respond."I asked you a question," Andrés said, stepping closer.
~Sensational~Andrés drove through the quiet streets leading to his estate, the day's events playing on a loop in his mind. The long driveway, lined with trimmed hedges and bright garden lights, came into view. His estate was massive, with tall iron gates that opened smoothly as his car approached. It was the kind of place that screamed wealth and power, but to Andrés, it was just home.Pulling up to the front steps, he sat in the car for a moment, staring at the grand double doors. He usually felt relief when he got home, but tonight, a strange unease crept over him. Shaking it off, he stepped out, his shoes clicking softly against the stone driveway.The staff were already waiting. The butler opened the door for him, giving a polite nod. "Good evening, sir. Would you like dinner served now?""Not yet, Marcel. I need a moment," Andrés said, walking past him into the house. The place was spotless as always, every piece of furniture perfectly in place. The silence inside was heavy, bro
~Another Day~Andrès stepped out of the front door of his estate, the morning sun casting long shadows across the driveway. His sleek black car idled nearby, the driver already holding the door open. He adjusted the cuff of his shirt and slid into the backseat, nodding to the driver."Hospital," he said simply, pulling his phone from his pocket.The ride was quiet, the hum of the engine and the blaring of impatient drivers the only sound as they wove through the city streets. Andrès tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, though his mind was elsewhere. When they pulled into the hospital parking lot, he stepped out before the driver could circle around to open the door for him.Inside, the sterile scent of disinfectant hit him immediately, sharp and familiar. He approached the reception desk, his polished shoes clicking against the tiled floor."Joyce Mayers," he said to the receptionist, his voice low but firm.The woman looked up, clearly rec
~Stay With Me~The next morning, Andrès walked briskly down the sterile white halls of the hospital, his shoes echoing against the polished floor. He was anxious to see Joyce-hoping she was doing better already and eager to speak with her face-to-face.When he reached her room, he knocked softly and then entered, finding her sitting up in bed, looking much more alert than the day before. She glanced up at him with a faint smile."You look better," he said with a hint of relief, moving closer to her bed. "How are you feeling?""Like I've been hit by a truck," Joyce replied, managing a chuckle. "But honestly, a lot better than yesterday. They've been giving me enough medication to make sure I'm not in too much pain."He nodded, pleased to hear it. "Good. I didn't sleep much last night, worrying about you."Joyce raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise passing across her face. "I didn't realize I was that important."Andrès hesitated, then cleared his throat. "Joyce, someone clearly tar
~Cryptic Message~As Andrès drove home, trying to focus on the road while his mind raced with plans for revenge, his phone buzzed. Glancing down, he saw an anonymous text message lighting up the screen. The words made his blood run cold:"I hope you listen now."He gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling a surge of anger and indignation. This message was no coincidence; it was a direct taunt from whoever had orchestrated the hit-and-run that put Joyce in the hospital. They wanted him to know they weren't afraid, that they were willing to cross lines to get what they wanted-and they expected him to bend under the pressure.But they had made a grave error.Andrès pulled over to the side of the road, his mind racing. He quickly scanned the message, analyzing each word, trying to find any hidden clues. "Listen now." What was it they wanted him to understand, or submit to? The message was cryptic, but one thing was clear-they were sending him a warning. And by involving Joyce, they'd c
~Hit and Run~Less than an hour after Joyce left his office, Andrès's phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw an unknown number, but something in his gut told him to pick up. The voice on the other end-a calm yet urgent tone-introduced themselves as a nurse at the nearby hospital, informing him that Joyce had been involved in a hit-and-run and was listed as critical. They'd called him as her emergency contact.For a moment, he froze, processing the words. Hit-and-run. Critical condition. The meaning of those words were scary, and then suddenly, he was moving-grabbing his keys and rushing out the door, not bothering to tell his guards or even lock up behind him. He didn't think twice. In that moment, nothing mattered except getting to her.The drive to the hospital was a blur, each red light and obstacle on the road adding to his growing frustration. His mind raced with questions. Who would do this? Why now? And most importantly-was she going to be okay?After what felt like an eter
~Nothing to Find~Andrès hung up the phone, the call with Carlos still lingering in his mind, leaving him slightly annoyed. But rather than letting it occupy his thoughts, he decided to set it aside. Carlos could say what he wanted, but Andrès had his own path to carve out, and he wasn't about to let anyone-family or otherwise-dictate his way of running things.With a quick shake of his head, he refocused and picked up his phone, calling his Pa to track down Joyce. After a few moments, Pa confirmed she was on her way. Andrès leaned back in his chair, letting his mind wander briefly as he waited. He'd asked Joyce to dig into Carlos's background, and he was eager to hear what she'd uncovered. Carlos seemed to pop into his life out of nowhere, and while he was supposedly family, Andrès knew better than to accept anyone's word without proof.A light knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and Joyce stepped in. Joyce had a way of handling things that put him at ease, but she also had a