The sound of her ringtone made Genevieve pat the bed, feeling something hard and firm under her palm, and Noah watched her hand feel his body.When she poked her finger into his mouth, he grabbed her wirst, and she chuckled.“You little rascal,” Noah grinned at her, kissing her finger before letting it go, and she raised her eyelids to see him staring at her as if she were a puzzle.Genevieve felt herself blush, but she pushed down the feeling of being so flustered and picked up her phone from the nightstand.“It’s director Esther,” Genevieve mumbled, eyeing Noah before pressing the answer on the phone. “Good morning, Mrs. Kress.” “Your cousin's interview yesterday has put a bad reputation on the series, and a show that was estimated to have a high success rate is now going down due to negative press,” Esther said, sounding more worried than mad.“I am sorry-”“This is not your fault. We forced you to accept the role of Jane, and we still want you to play the part, but we have to appe
As EXAT’s building came into sight, Noah's grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit, and he drove into the parking lot, looking at Genevieve, who sat next to him without saying anything. A moment later, the two walked into the company lobby, and the sight of Genevieve grabbed the employee's attention. “She did such a hideous thing to force her way to the top. Now see where that's gotten her?” One of the employees murmured. Another coworker whispered to him, “I heard that the chairman's wife doesn't like her for what she did to Glenn. It's only been a few days since she signed with the company and looked at the damage she caused.” “Yes, the scandal has taken a toll on the company.” Another employee added, nodding. “It feels like sorcery that Genevieve is still allowed to work with the company.” The whispers and gossip continued to follow the couple everywhere they passed until they got into the elevator and headed for the second floor. When the doors parted, Genevieve and Noa
“Hunter, what’re the statues?” The older fellow asked, sitting behind his office desk as his cold eyes met his right-hand man gaze. “Genevieve's career as an actress is over,” Hunter said, lowering his head to avoid such a dangerous gaze. “Since she lost her role in surviving the end of loving you and her contract with EXAT, she has been living on the low at the new penthouse she bought recently in Cardiff. It looks like this is it for her...” “I guess I won't have to kill her after all.” His boss casually let out. “You are relieved of your duty to watch her until further notice.” Bowing deeply, Hunter stayed that way for a moment and then turned and walked off. ****** Sitting at the table with Mr. and Mrs. Stark, Glenn smiled politely at the couple and said, “Thank you, mother and father, for inviting me over to have breakfast with you guys.” “Of course, dear. You finally got your cast removed. It is something to celebrate over breakfast. Afterward, you and I can go shopping f
The black glass structure of the fifty-foot-long skyscraper was calm until the glass door slide opened. A security ran inside, shouting, “The boss is back! Dean Black is in the parking lot.” Immediately the lobby grew stiff with tension as the employees stood up straight. Their eye stared at the ceiling, and their hands clasped behind their backs. The place grew dead like a graveyard, and no one dared move from their position or blink even when the glass doors slid open again, and Noah stepped into the lobby. His long coat back swished through the air, and his shoes clicked against the floor as he made his way to the elevator with a dark shade on his face. As he walked past his employees, they bowed slightly, greeting, “Good morning, boss.” The cold expression on his face didn't fade as Noah walked across the lobby with Maxwell and other security details. When Noah finally entered the elevator, the mumbling began among his employees. “The lone wolf is back.” One of them whisper
Standing outside of Noah's office, Max felt his phone buzz in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see Mrs. Stark's name blinking on his screen. Immediately, he walked away from the other guards, and then he answered the call, saying, “Good day, madam.” “Max, is my son with you?” Mrs. Stark asked him abruptly. “Yes. He's in a meeting with Author Parker.” “Why?” “I’m not sure, madam.” There was a pause, and Mrs. Stark said, “Find out why and report back to me.” “Yes, Madam,” Max mumbled, looking over his shoulder. After ending the call, he quickly shoved the phone back in his pocket and walked over to his position. ****** When Noah and Mr. Parker finally agreed, the old man woke from his seat with a smile and extended his hand to Noah, saying, “It’s my pleasure doing business and working with you.” “Thank you for entrusting me with work. I promise not to ruin it and disappoint you.” Noah said, taking his hand in his and shaking it. “The final documents will be sent to you th
Walking onto the balcony, Mr. Stark frowned at how disturbed his wife looked as she sat there, staring into nothingness. "What is it now?" Mr. Stark's voice snapped her out of her daze and he saw her eyes flick towards him. "You have been distracted all night, and now, you got that look on your face that I know way too well. Is this about Noah?" "Yes," Mrs. Stark whispered. "Honey," "Do you know that Noah is not legally married to Genevieve, and yet, he's willing to stand by her side and ruin himself-" "He lied?" "Rhodes told me everything yesterday. He's been deceiving us this entire time!" With a hesitant stare, Mr. Stark approached his wife, held her shoulder, and squeezed it, saying, "If that's the case, Noah is not bound to her legally, and yet, he's willing to stand with her. Shouldn't that prove that he truly loves Genevieve?" "What are you saying?" Mrs. Stark stared at him, wide-eyed. "Should we allow that girl to just ruin him and our family's reputation?" "No. But we
Even though Genevieve had spent the morning meticulously preparing for Mrs. Stark's visit, making sure everything was spotless and the meal was perfect and been rehearsing in her mind how to handle the meeting, attempting to steel herself for any possible confrontation, the moment two o'clock arrived, she held her breath, still nervous as she was earlier.All three men sat in the living room, watching as she paced about anxiously. She looked like a nervous rabbit who had gotten locked in her own cage. Her cheeks were pink from the exercise and her eyes were wide with fear.Just then, the door buzzed, and her breath caught, almost choking her. She could only stand there, motionless."I will get it," Noah said, waking from his seat."No!" Genevieve suddenly nodded, looking at him. "We should all go together and greet her at the door to show our respect."Moments later, everyone gathered at the front door, and Noah opened it because Genevieve was way too nervous to even breathe.The door
Unable to take another step, Leo stood frozen, listening to the muffled yet stern words exchanged between Mrs. Stark and Noah. The words stung his young ears, and his innocent eyes began to well up with tears. He couldn't understand the full extent of the conversation, but he sensed the tension in the air, so he listened further. From beyond the door, Mrs. Stark's voice continued, carrying a tone of authority and disappointment, "You've been playing a dangerous game. You've allowed this charade to go on long enough, and it's not fair to Genevieve and Leo. You need to end this now before it gets out of hand." "I know what I'm doing. I can handle this. We'll sort it out." Noah's voice responded, quieter but with an underlying anger. There was a pause, and then Mrs. Stark's reply was sharp, "You will soon get engaged to Glenn, for heaven's sake. You can't continue this deceitful act with Genevieve and Leo. It's time to end this farce and be with the woman you're supposed to marry." Af
Max's eyes widened at Noah's command, but he nodded without hesitation. “Understood, sir,” he replied, already mentally preparing the necessary security measures. Noah's expression softened briefly. “Thanks, Max. Your discretion is appreciated as always.”Max offered a small, respectful nod before hurrying off to carry out his orders. Noah watched him go, a wave of hesitation washing over him.With one last glance towards the guest suite, Noah headed out of the mansion. He climbed into his car and drove towards the airport. As he navigated through the city streets, his mind raced with thoughts of the confrontation ahead.The airport was bustling with the usual activity when Noah arrived. He parked his car in a strategic location, ensuring he had a clear view of the terminal entrance. He checked his watch, noting that Hunter’s flight was due to land any minute.Noah’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. It was from one of his men, confirming that Hunter had landed and was making hi
Noah’s heart hammered in his chest as he turned back to Genevieve, her words echoing in his mind. "Hunter... why do I feel like I’ve heard that name before?" “What do you mean, Genevieve?” Noah asked, his voice low but urgent. He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for any hint of recognition. “Have you heard about Hunter before? Do you know something?”Genevieve’s gaze flickered away, a shadow of something unreadable passing over her face. She shook her head slightly, biting her lower lip. “It’s nothing, Noah. Just... a feeling. I can’t explain it.”Noah wanted to press her, to demand answers, but he saw the resolute set of her jaw and knew she wouldn’t budge. He let out a frustrated sigh but didn’t push further. “Alright,” he said softly, his tone gentler now. “But if you remember anything, anything at all, promise me you’ll tell me. This guy has been tailing you from since I can remember, and his coming here can not be a coincident.”She nodded, her eyes meeting his with a
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city, Noah made his way through the bustling streets toward Genevieve's hotel. He had donned a simple disguise—a pair of dark glasses, a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, and a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face—enough to conceal his identity from casual observers.Arriving at the hotel, Noah hesitated for a moment before steeling himself and striding purposefully toward the entrance. The lobby was dimly lit, the soft murmur of conversation blending with the gentle hum of the air conditioning. Noah kept his head down, avoiding eye contact as he made his way to the elevator.Pressing the button for Genevieve's floor, Noah felt a surge of nervous energy coursing through him. When he reached her floor, Noah stepped out into the hallway and made his way to her door. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the handle before finally summoning the courage to knock.The sound echoed through t
Hunter’s heart pounded in his chest as he dashed out of the office, the echo of his boss's enraged voice still ringing in his ears. He fumbled with his phone, nearly dropping it as he opened the travel app to book a flight. His fingers moved frantically across the screen, selecting the earliest available departure."Please, please, please..." he muttered under his breath, watching the spinning wheel of the app processing his request. Finally, the confirmation screen appeared. "Yes!" he whispered, relief flooding through him as he saw the details: a flight to the city where Genevieve's production was taking place, leaving in two hours.Hunter grabbed his coat and briefcase, racing down the hall toward the exit. He pushed through the revolving doors and into the bustling street, hailing a cab with a frantic wave. A yellow taxi screeched to a halt beside him, and he jumped in."To the airport, please! As fast as you can!" he instructed the driver, his voice breathless.The driver nodded
Glenn reluctantly reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Mrs. Stark's number. Each ring felt like an eternity, the weight of her mother's expectations bearing down on her with every passing second."Hello, Glenn. What can I do for you?" Mrs. Stark's voice was calm and professional, but there was an underlying tension that Glenn couldn't ignore."Mrs. Stark, it's me, Glenn. I... I wanted to talk to you about the situation with FoxZ and... and the role," Glenn stammered, her words faltering as she struggled to find the right way to phrase her request.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Mrs. Stark responded, her tone cautious. "I understand, Glenn. Believe me, I wish there was more I could do to help. But given the circumstances..."Glenn's heart sank at Mrs. Stark's words, the reality of her situation crashing down on her with brutal force. "So, there's no chance of me getting back on the cast? Not even in a different production or wi
The plane ride back home felt like an eternity for Glenn. She sat in her seat, staring out the window, lost in thought. She couldn't shake off the events of the past few days—the confrontation with Noah, and the humiliation at the resort.As the plane landed and the passengers began to disembark, Glenn gathered her belongings and made her way through the airport. She hailed a cab and settled in for the ride home. The familiar sights of her town passing by felt both comforting and suffocating. She couldn't wait to be back in her own space, away from prying eyes and judgmental whispers.When she arrived home, she was relieved to find the house empty except for the maid."Young Miss, you are here?" the maid asked, her voice filled with surprise and concern.Glenn's mood, already sour from her encounter with her mother, turned even darker. She snapped at the maid, her words sharp and biting. "Of course, I'm here. Where else would I be?"The maid flinched at Glenn's tone, taken aback by her
As Noah and Rhodes sauntered away from the pool area, the tension hung thick around them, akin to the lingering resonance of an unresolved chord in a somber melody. Each step seemed weighed down by the weight of the confrontation they had just left behind.Rhodes's phone vibrated in his pocket, disrupting the heavy silence. Hastily retrieving it, he checked the caller ID before answering, his voice pitched low, betraying the gravity of the situation."Hello?" Rhodes's response was clipped, betraying a sense of urgency."Rhodes, it's Smith. We've got the footage," came the voice on the other end, crisp and professional.Rhodes's brows shot up in surprise. "Everything?""Yeah, our guy was in the right place at the right time. We've got everything, clear as day," Smith replied confidently.Rhodes nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "Alright, send it over."Ending the call, Rhodes turned towards Noah, a mix of curiosity and caution etched across his features. "Boss, what's the pla
For the longest, Rhodes stood outside Noah's hotel room, his knuckles hovering over the door, hesitating for a moment before he finally knocked. The door opened, revealing Noah, who was dressed in a simple white wrinkled t-shirt and faded jeans, a stark contrast to his usual sharp suits. With a faint smile, Rhodes raised an eyebrow, surprised by Noah's attire. "Boss, you're looking... casual," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Noah chuckled, stepping aside to let Rhodes in. "I figured we're going incognito today. Can't have anyone recognizing us," he said, closing the door behind Rhodes. "Is everything ready?" Noah asked, getting straight to the point. Locking eyes with his sudden dark ones, Rhodes nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, boss. The arrangements have been made. We're all set." Noah leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face. "Good. I want everything to go smoothly today." Rhodes nodded again, understanding the importance of the task at hand. "Don't wo
The morning sun filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Glenn's room. She wakes up to the insistent ringing of her phone.Groaning, she reaches over and sees her mother's name flashing on the screen. She debates letting it go to voicemail but knows her mother won't give up easily.Reluctantly, Glenn answers. "Hello?""Glenn, finally!" Mrs. Carrell's voice is sharp, cutting through the early morning calm. "I've been calling and calling. Why haven't you been answering?"Glenn rubs her eyes, trying to wake up fully. "Sorry, Mom. I was sleeping. What's up?""What's up? What's up is that I just saw the news. Genevieve is still leading the production, and you're nowhere to be seen. What have you been doing all this time?"Glenn sighs, already feeling the weight of her mother's disappointment. "I'm handling it, Mom. Don't worry.""Handling it? For three months, Glenn! You keep saying the same thing, but nothing changes. I'm starting to think you don't know what you're doing."