Alessia squirmed in her seat. ‘We did date, but very briefly. We are broken up now. Things are… complicated.’‘Ah, I see.’ Wilda nodded understandingly. ‘I’ve been down that road myself. I understand.’Sensing her discomfort, Wilda changed the topic. ‘Now that you are back to work, I’d like you to continue the interview series…’Half an hour later, Alessia left the chief editor’s office with a thick file and the promise of promotion if she did a good job with her next article.Thrilled, she returned to her cubicle and got down to work.But as soon as she sat down, her phone rang.It was an unfamiliar number.She answered it. ‘Hello, BuzzBeat newsdesk. How may I help you?’‘It’s me,’ a low, husky male voice responded, sounding oddly familiar.‘Oh.’ Alessia’s face fell when she recognised the voice.‘Your boyfriend,’ the voice added.Alessia rolled her eyes.How could he be so presumptuous?‘Sorry, I’ve had quite a few boyfriends in my life. It’s hard to keep track. Can you remind me wh
Veronica slowed and turned around as the stranger approached her.He was a sharp-dressed man, and there was something vaguely familiar about him.With a frown, she pointed at herself and asked, ‘Are you talking to me, sir?’‘Yeah,’ Terence replied as he drew closer. ‘I saw you with Miss Alessia Jansen earlier today. May I ask who she is to you?’Veronica recalled that this was the man who had been walking with Logan moments ago. ‘Who are you to Logan?’‘I’m Mr Wilde’s assistant,’ Terence calmly responded. ‘Are you Miss Jansen’s friend?’Veronica’s irritation flared upon realising that the man before her was associated with Logan.Annoyed, she retorted, ‘Why is it any of your concern?’Terence was surprised by her attitude. ‘Miss, why are you speaking so rudely?’‘I say what I want,’ Veronica shot back. ‘Who are you to care about who I am?’Terence suspected she might be Alessia’s younger sibling, given the resemblance.However, he hadn’t expected her to share her sister’s intimidating
Logan’s brows furrowed deeper, his astonishment evident.Coward?This was the first time anyone had described him in such a manner.How could this be?It was a complete humiliation to him.‘What did you say?’ he asked, his tone icy.Veronica met his cold gaze head-on.‘You’re a coward,’ she stated deliberately, each word sharp and precise. ‘A coward who can’t fight back except with words. Am I wrong?’Logan’s eyes turned frigid, and his anger flared.‘Say that again,’ he ground out through clenched teeth.Veronica sneered, unflinching. ‘What’s the matter? Trying to intimidate me? You coward. If you have the guts, use your fists, and maybe then I’ll respect you as a man.’Logan was left momentarily speechless by her audacity.How did this girl have the nerve to talk to him like this?Terence was equally stunned and stepped forward, his tone stern. ‘Miss Jansen, your language is far too coarse.’‘Punish me, then,’ Veronica challenged, her voice unwavering. ‘Coward, I warn you, if you da
‘Who’s there? What’s happening?’ a man called out.Veronica, her foot pressing down on one man’s face, glanced back and saw several security guards running towards them.She explained, ‘I’m giving these hooligans a lesson.’The security guards were stunned as they took in the scene.Surveying the scene, the guard in the lead said, ‘Arrest them. All three of them. Take them to the police station.’Veronica was astonished.She pointed at herself and asked the security guards, incredulous, ‘You are arresting me as well?’‘Yes, Miss, you need to come with us,’ the security guard replied firmly.‘Why?’‘You’ll find out at the police station,’ the guard responded.Veronica was shocked and bewildered. ‘What’s going on?’No one answered her.‘Fine, then. I’ll change my clothes first,’ Veronica said with a sigh. ‘I can’t go to the police station dressed like this, can I?’Her performance costume was a tight silver dress with sequins, hardly appropriate for a police station visit.‘Miss, you’re
Meanwhile, Logan, waiting outside, had his phone buzz with a call from Heath, setting off his radar for trouble.He reclined in his car seat, coolly instructing Terence to make a detour to the hospital.Then, he decided to give Alessia a ring himself.The clock read half-past five.Alessia had just reached the gate of Nova Heights when Logan’s name flashed on her screen.She eyed the caller ID, recognising it was him, but decided to play the enigmatic card and let it slide.Not one to give up, Logan attempted a second call.Ring, ring, ring—three times it chimed, and still, Alessia kept him at arm’s length.Growing impatient, Logan resorted to texting her.[Logan]: Your sis is at the police station, and Heath’s taking charge.Alessia’s eyes widened upon reading the message.She stared at her phone, as if disbelieving her own eyes.The words demanded a double-take.Without wasting a heartbeat, Alessia dialled Veronica’s number.But Veronica, battling her own guilt, had no intention of
‘Unless I have a reason to care about her well-being,’ Logan said. ‘Such as…she’s the sister of my girlfriend.’Alessia said nothing.‘Is she?’ Logan pressed.Alessia didn’t reply.‘Who am I to you?’ Logan asked again.Alessia found herself speechless once more.Logan couldn’t resist teasing further, ‘If she’s the sister of my girlfriend, one phone call from me, and she’ll be released in five minutes.’Alessia glared at him. ‘Manipulative jerk.’With those words, she spun on her heel and strode towards the police station.Logan seethed with irritation, tempted to drag Alessia back and give her a piece of his mind.It was maddening.First, her sister had called him a coward, and now Alessia labelled him a jerk.They both needed a reality check.Gritting his teeth, Logan followed closely behind Alessia as they entered the station.Alessia couldn’t shake her worry.As soon as she stepped inside, she approached a police officer. ‘Excuse me, is a girl named Veronica Jansen here?’‘Veronica
Alessia answered the call with a quick ‘Hello, Mr Carpenter.’Heath’s voice came through crystal clear on the line. ‘Miss Jansen,’ he said. ‘I’m calling about the guy your sister got into a scrap with. He did take a beating, and his spleen was bleeding. While he wasn’t in dire straits on the way to the police station, things went south during the interrogation. My colleagues rushed him to the hospital, and he had to go under the knife.’Alessia couldn’t hide her surprise.She kept her voice even, knowing Veronica was eavesdropping. ‘I understand, Mr Carpenter. What’s the next move? Tell me, and I’ll handle it.’Heath continued in a softer tone, ‘Alessia, Logan asked Terence to foot the medical bills, but he didn’t want you to know. But I thought you should be in the loop.’Alessia was taken aback, not expecting Logan to play it so low-key.She asked, ‘Why would he do that?’Heath’s response had a touch of warmth. ‘Maybe he realised he was too harsh to you earlier. That’s just his styl
Still in shock, Alessia struggled to comprehend the reality before her.Her eyes remained glued to the screen, disbelief written across her face.Was this real?‘Mummy?’ Milo raised an eyebrow, seeking her attention. ‘Hey, what do you think?’Alessia snapped back to reality. ‘Oh, sorry, baby. What were you saying?’‘You can transfer the money to your account and leave me a grand to keep gaming,’ Milo suggested.Alessia hugged her son tightly, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.She hadn’t known her little boy could rake in so much cash.It certainly solved their immediate problem.‘Milo, I need to borrow some of this, but I’ll pay you back. The rest, I’ll save for you,’ Alessia said.Milo, however, had different plans. ‘No need, Mum. How about we buy a house? This place is just a rental, and if we have the cash, we can get a home of our own. I heard money loses value sitting in the bank.’Hearing her son’s mature suggestion, Alessia’s heart swelled with pride. ‘That’s true.’She