Staring at the enormous wooden door before him, Hunter stared at it with hesitant fear, and then he looked at the magazine in his hand. After a second's contemplation, he lifted his arm to knock, but as soon as his fist hovered over the wood, something stopped him, and he lowered his hand back down. A feeling of unease crept over him, and he was about to turn around and walk away when suddenly, the door opened, and a very tall man emerged from inside. “Boss,” Hunter greeted respectfully, bowing slightly toward him. “What do you have there?” The man asked, raising an eyebrow and gesturing toward the magazine Hunter held. Gazing down at it, Hunter replied, “Genevieve, she made the front cover of Instylist. And now all the news coverage is about her.” “What?!” The man exclaimed loudly, looking outraged, and grabbed the magazine out of Hunter’s hands. “Let me see!” On the front cover was Genevieve, wearing a breathtakingly flowing blue dress that perfectly showed off her beauty.
Both mother and daughter looked at each other questioningly at Mrs. Stark’s sudden change of demeanor, and a sense of worry took over their faces.“I am listening, mother.” Glenn replied solemnly, placing her hand over Mrs. Stark’s.“You know that EXAT is a business, and as a business, we are constantly looking for potential individuals or clients that might benefit our company.” Mrs. Stark began, turning her head away from the pair and staring out the transparent glass door.Of course, mother.” “Recently, your cousin, Genevieve Carnell, had break the record of having one of the most successful come back after her downfall six years ago by making the cover of Instylist Inc, and EXAT plan to endorse her and signed her with us.”It's like a bomb exploded in Glenn's mind, and she felt all her blood turn to ice as she looked at Mrs. Stark, but she knew to play her part and not let the old lady see the side of her that wanted to scream in rage.“Th-at... That... That is amazing, mother.
As Rhodes stood outside the house, his hands resting behind his back, he inhaled the fresh air.And then he heard the front door open and looked back to see Noah approaching him, and then he focused ahead of him.Standing by Rhodes, Noah didn't say a word for a while, but after a time, he looked at him again and asked, “Did my parents send someone to tail me?”“What are you talking about, young master?” Rhodes asked with a concerned expression as he turned his whole body to Noah to lock eyes with him.“On a serious note, don't pretend with me. I need to know if this is their doing or a threat.” “If they did such, I have no idea about it. What happen?” Not saying a word, Noah stared into space, deep in thought, and then said, “Yesterday, when Leo and I were going to pick up Genevieve, I noticed a suspicious black car in the rearview mirror, following us from a safe distance and it tailed us to the airport.”“I will call those at the penthouse and find out if this is a threat or just
Looking Genevieve dead in the eyes, Noah could not tell if she knew exactly what she was saying or if it was a guess, so he tried to look casual and asked, “What are you talking about?”“Before you, it was just Leo and me, fighting against the darkness that clouded our life, and then you met us on that fateful day, and slowly things in our lives started to shift for the better.” Genevieve began, and her eyes started to sparkle as she continued, “I am not complaining. It's just you are one of the best things that ever happened to us.”Secondguessing if he should come clean to her right then and there, Noah mumbled, “I-”“I know it's not literally you doing all of this. But I believe you are behind changes because you are Leo and lucky charm, and you are the antidote to my curse...” Genevieve questioned, biting her lip. “I sound stupid... Don't I? This is real life. Not some fairytale where a charming prince breaks the sleeping princess's curse with a kiss.”Smiling down at Genevieve wi
After the taxi made a stop at Joyful Learning Academy, Genevieve stepped out of the car, hurrying to the entrance of the campus, where she stopped near the main building when she felt someone grab her wrist. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Leo beaming at her, and just then, a lady approached the two, smiling at Genevieve. “Leo is fast on his feet.” She said, looking down at the kid. “I told him to wait at the playground with the others, but when he saw you, he got so eager.” “Leo, next time, you should listen to Miss Lewis and wait, okay?” Genevieve softly scolded, making Leo pout as he looked up at her. “Sorry, Miss Lewis.” He then apologized to the lady, who shook her head and smiled brightly at him. “That's all right. Even so, you are a good kid.” She uttered with a grin. “I should get back to other children.” After his teacher left, Leo held onto his mother's arm, looked around at the gate, and asked, “Where’s uncle Jack?” “He has something important to take care of,
The dinner table was silent, and Genevieve kept staring over at Noah, but his eyes were glued to his food, and the fact that he had been quiet since they got back from the restaurant had her feeling a bit suffocated and anxious. She wasn't the only one who felt the awkward tension... Leo did, and he stared between the two of them for a few minutes before he finally cleared his throat and said in a tone more polite, “I am sorry. I promise not to leave Miss Lewis's side again. I promise.” Snapping out of his thoughts, Noah threw Leo a calm look and asked, “What are you talking about, bud?” “Well, he disobeyed the teacher again and left her side to come over to me when I went to get him,” Genevieve mumbled, seeing Leo pout as he stared at his plate. Trying not to smile and look serious, Noah gazed at him and said, “Bud?” “Are you mad at me?” Leo mumbled, looking down at his lap, where he held his hands together. “Mad is a strong word, buddy. But it would be best if you obeyed you
With her gaze on the page, Genevieve took her time reading through the contract, and then she noticed Noah waking from the bed. After doing a little stretch, he approached her and kissed her on the head, mumbling, “Morning.” “Good morning,” She replied, but her eyes stayed on the paper. “What are you on?” “Reading through the contract. Remember? James wanted me to drop it off today.” Sighing hard, Genevieve rested her head on the document and groaned, “But after what happened to Glenn, I don't know if EXAT would still want to work with me. Honestly, I won't be shocked if they terminate the contract today.” Chuckling, Noah caressed her hair and said, “You'll be fine. Have a little faith.” “Glenn is the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the Stark family.” Genevieve cried, lifting her head to look at him. “And because of me, that happened to her! And it happened in front of Mrs. Stark. Do you think I will get away with that! It already seems like Mrs. Stark hates me.” Seeing a mixture
Resting back in the front seat of the car, Genevieve kept her eyes on the window, watching the street pass by as her mind drifted through the thoughts of how her meeting was going to go with Director James. For a moment, Rhodes stared at the side mirror, growing concerned by the second that the car didn't only follow them when they were dropping Leo to school, but it was now driving after them every turn he made. “Father,” Genevieve mumbled, grabbing his attention from the mirror again, “About Jack...” Withdrawing from the window, Genevieve stared at him and asked, “Do you know where he went?” “He didn't tell you?” Rhodes asked. His tone was laced with surprise. He glanced out of the corner of his eye toward her as she shook her head. “I didn't want to push him this morning, but I guess I am more curious than I thought I was.” “Well, umm, he's still in search of a job. I think he feels guilty living off my pension funds.” A sad smile tugged at Genevieve’s lips as she looked dow
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."