When the doorbell rang, Zane was already at the door, knowing who it was and when he opened it, Mr. Alfred gave him a small smile.But Zane didn't return it because he was more concerned about the dark brown hair, nerdy-looking guy who was standing behind Mr. Alfred with a briefcase in his hand.“You didn't tell me you were bringing a guest. Emma and I only made breakfast for three.” Zane mumbled as the old man walked into the apartment followed by the guy, leaving the security detail outside.After Mr. Alfred had taken out his cap and coat, putting it on the rack, he then looked at Zane and said, “If I would have told you, then it would have ruined the surprise.”Then he looked at the young man beside him and said, “This is Yoko. He's good with computers and he is an International spy. I get all of my information from him because those on the field report directly to him. He has been with me for years, serving me in the shadows. But now, he's yours.”“Mine?” Zane asked as he raised h
Remembering his last encounter with Nathan, Zane raised a brow at Mr. Parker’s words, leaning back in his chair as he questioned, “Why would you think I am the man to talk to about this?”For a moment, Mr. Parker eyed Yoko, not knowing if he should speak in his presence, but Zane recognized his uncertainty and said, “Go on. He is with me.”“Oh, I see...” Mr. Parker said, looking directly in Zane's eyes. “I think you can help me because of all this... because within less than two months Golden Key Co. was created, and I don't think anyone has broken the record with such accomplishment in your time frame, except for Mr. Alfred, and for that, you got my interest and respect.” Mr. Parker said, looking directly into Zane's eyes.His straightforwardness made Zane chuckle and shake his head slightly, then he replied, “Okay then Mr. Parker, let's hear it.”Nodding, Mr. Parker lifted a file from beneath his arm and handed it to Zane, who took it, opening the cover and glancing briefly at the i
At sharp ten o'clock, Emily knocked on Zane’s office door, and then she stepped into the room, eyeing Yoko before approaching Zane, who immediately guessed why she was there, “Mr. Bradley is here.” “Yes, boss. He just arrived.” Emily added in her professional voice.“Great, let him come in,” Zane said, smiling.With a nod, Emily turned and left the room, shutting the door softly behind her.Turning on his phone screen, Zane stared at Emma's picture and then mumbled, “I wonder how she's doing?”His thoughts were crowded with his concern for Emma until he heard the sound of his office door open again, and immediately, Zane stood to his feet, seeing Mr. Bradley walk into his office.“Good morning, sir!” Zane greeted him as he approached the desk.“Morning, Mr. Grimes. May I sit down?” Mr. Bradley uttered humbly.Immediately, Zane gestured towards the seat across from his desk, saying “Of course. Please have a seat.”Sitting down, Mr. Bradley leaned forward on his elbows and looked str
After ending the call with Terry, Zane looked back at Yoko and was about to speak, when Yoko suddenly took out his phone and dialed Mr. Alfred, and it took one ring, and then the old man's voice came through, “Yoko, what is it,” “There was a hit-and-run incident at Golden key Co. against Zane and me,” Yoko said, his voice humbled with shame at the thought that he properly didn't do his job, “Zane and I are okay. He was smart to push us out of the car's way.”There was a brief silence on the line, and then Mr. Alfred's voice came through a bit annoy, “Zane saved you?”“Yes, boss.”“Did you at least get the license plate number of the car?” Hanging his head low, Yoko hesitated and then said, “No. the vehicle had no license. But Terry and the others chased the person into the T-max mall and lost him.”A sigh left Mr. Alfred's lips and then he said, “I will make some calls. Head to T-max and wait for my response.”Once Mr. Alferd had ended the call with Yoko, he pulled out his phone fro
Facing each other, the security with his baton and teaser, and Yoko along with Zane, the security moved for Zane since he was the one that pissed him off in the first place.But as he was about to attack, Yoko reached for his right wrist, and instantly, Zane caught on to what he was doing, and Zane went for the left hand.Before the security could figure out what they were up to, Zane and Yoko had locked his wrist in their grips, and they dragged him back as he screamed, kicking and punching his legs, trying to bend his hand and use the teaser on Zane, but his wirst was so tightly in Zane’s grip that he couldn't twist it.“You two are going to jail for assaulting me!” The guard shouted as he struggled.Finally, Zane and Yoko pinned him to the wall, and then Yoko shouted, “Who are you working for?”“I am a security guard at T-max, so I work for Mr. Landon.” The guard said, forgetting about the pain in his wrist and looking at Yoko like he was dumb.“He meant, who sent you to attack us
The sound of the apartment door opening got Emma's attention, and immediately, she left her books on the table, walked out of the living room, and met Zane in the hallway.“Hey,” She said softly, “You're back early. How was your first day of work?”Smiling weakly at her, Zane pulled his coat off his shoulder as he said, “I got off work early to pick you up from school, so we can have lunch together, but then a reckless driver almost ran into Yoko and me-”“Oh, my... are you alright?” Emma asked worriedly, placing her hand on Zane's cheek.“Yeah. We were able to jump out of the vehicle's way.” “Thank God,” Taking Zane's coat from his hand, she held onto it as she said, “Do you want me to make something for you to eat?”The tender look of concern in her eyes Made Zane smile softly and then grabbed her by her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, inhaling deeply, “When I saw my life flash before my eyes, you were the part of it that I knew I was going to miss the most if something
After Cyrus had left, Mr. Briggs turned to face Zane and then said half-heartedly, “What is it?” “Hit-and-run, seriously?” Zane mumbled, trying to see if he was being hunted by an old enemy or a new one. “Is this how low you have become?”“What are you talking about?”“I am talking about how you hired someone to run over me today, in the parking lot of Golden Key’s.” The dumbfounded look on Mr. Briggs's face was so raw that Zane could tell that he wasn't faking his confusion, and yet, he still couldn't trust his gut.“I never did anything of what you claim.” Mr. Briggs finally said. “Believe it or not, but the last thing I want is your death.”A silent laugh escaped Zane’s lips as he looked at Mr. Briggs, his veins popping on his neck as he continued to chuckle hard without a sound.“Look into my eyes, boy,” Mr. Briggs said in a tone that made Zane take him seriously for the first time in a long time.When Zane locked eyes with him, Mr. Briggs continued, “Do you think Doctor Ben is
The hall grew quiet, and Zane could feel everyone's eyes on him like he was the main course of tonight, but his mind was disturbed by what Mr. Briggs said, and his only thought was, ‘What is the truth?’“Zane, we don’t have to play this stupid game with Cyrus. I can tell that something is bothering you, so can we please just go home?” Emma pleaded in a whisper, holding onto his arm, afraid for her husband’s reputation to get ruin. “Please, Zane.”The desperation in her voice made Zane snap out of his feelings and looked into her eyes, seeing the fear and worry that filled them. Since he hated seeing her like this, the urge to comfort her became too much for Zane to handle, and he gave her a small smile, saying, “Okay... Let’s leave.”“Mr. Grimes, are you not going to say something, or did you just accept my invitation for you and your wife to drink free wine and feel important without you thinking about donating?” Cyrus taunted him again.Taking one last look at the auctioneer, Zane t
Dear Readers, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Your support for my novel has been nothing short of remarkable, and it fills my heart with joy to know that my words have found a place in your lives. Writing a book is a solo labor, but it's in the hands of readers like you that the magic truly happens. You have breathed life into the characters and explored the worlds I have created. It's your enthusiasm, your feedback, and your dedication that keep me inspired to continue writing. I'm humbled by the messages and reviews that you have shared, and I'm deeply touched by the personal connections many of you have made with the story. Your support is a writer's greatest motivation, and I can't thank you enough for being a part of this journey with me. For an author who struggled with their mental health from time to time, as I continue to write and create, please know that it's with you in mind, your support for authors like me is wh
~~~~~*Two years later*~~~~~The sun casts a warm glow through the large windows of Zane's office, creating a serene and inviting ambiance. For a while, Yoko sat nervously on the plush leather couch, his fingers fidgeting with the delicate box hidden in his pocket. Then he stole a glance at Zane, who was engrossed in a stack of paperwork on his desk. Summoning his courage, Yoko cleared his throat, capturing Zane's attention. Zane looked up, his eyes filled with curiosity. Yoko could feel his heartbeat quicken as he slowly withdrew the box from his pocket, holding it delicately in his trembling hands. His palms were clammy.As the pen dropped from his grip, Zane's lips curled into a mischievous smile as he observed Yoko's gesture. Then he teased, leaning back in his chair, his words dripped with playful sarcasm, the glint in his eyes betraying his amusement, "Well, well, Yoko... I knew you were a charmer, but I already have a stunning wife." Chuckling, Yoko narrowed his eyes, and he
A sense of shock washed over Zane like an icy wave as he stood frozen, unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. His eyes widened, fixed on the figure of Jason, whom he had believed to be dead. The turmoil within him intensified as Jason and Deborah stopped just a couple of feet away.Then Jason's eyes bore into Zane's soul, a mix of anger, anguish, and madness swirling within them. Without warning, he tossed a gun towards Zane, the metallic object spinning through the air before landing with a thud at Zane's feet. "Take it!" Jason spat. "It's yours, Zane! Your thirst for revenge has ruined all our lives! So go ahead, pick up the gun, and satisfy your anger! End her!"Looking away from the gun and at his uncle, Zane's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. Confusion clouded his thoughts, and he found himself unable to form a coherent response, and he just stared blankly at Jason.Frustration and desperation radiated from Jason, his face contorted with rage. "Kill th
After shutting the door, Zane's footsteps echoed through the grand hallway of the mansion. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, thoughts crashing into each other with relentless force. All he could focus on was the heaviness in his chest, the weight of the day's events bearing down upon him.As he made his way further into the mansion, Zane's eyes darted around, avoiding the gazes of the staff who lined the corridors, silently going about their duties. Both Emma and Damon were sitting in the living room, and when she saw Zane, walking through the doorway, she woke from her seat and rushed to him.His grip tightened around her waist as he pressed a kiss to her lips, letting it linger there for several seconds before pulling back slightly. "Are you okay?" Emma asked, concerned.With a forced smile, he nodded and said, "Yes. I'm fine." The way Zane refused to meet her eyes caught Damon's attention, and he watched his son carefully, trying to figure out what was going on in his boy's
The sun crept over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow through the curtains of the small bedroom, and Emma stirred in her sleep, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly awoke. Rolling onto her side, she found Zane lying next to her. His eyes were open, but they were distant, lost in thoughts that refused to let him be."Zane," she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep. She reached out and brushed her fingers across his cheek, gently coaxing him to turn his gaze toward her.With a weak smile, he turned to face her, his eyes filled with shadows, and she traced the lines on Zane's face with her fingers, trying to read his emotions. "You are hurting because of his death, aren't you?" she asked softly.Shutting his eyes, Zane let out a deep sigh, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his emotions. "I don't know, Emma," he replied, his voice barely a whisper. "Leon and I were never close, never got along. But now, knowing he's gone, there's this void that I can't exp
With a look of madness in her eyes, satisfied that she had gotten her wish and murdered Zane, Deborah suddenly turned the gun on both men.Before they could react, she fired several shots, and they died as the bullets pierced their chests, each of them falling lifeless to the ground.Looking up at Zane, lying motionless, Deborah chuckled to herself, and then she quickly walked over to him."I hope you and your mother rot in hell." She whispered, reaching for the bag and yanked it off his head.Immediately, her hand started trembling as tears welled up in her eyes, and she picked him off the ground, resting his head on her lap, and whispered, "My beautiful baby boy...!! My child! Leon, please open your eyes! Leon, Mommy is sorry, open your eyes, please. I beg you ..." Her voice cracked as tears rolled down her cheeks."No! no, no, no!... No, Leon! Please! I need you! I love you! Wake up! Open your eyes!" She screamed hysterically, hugging Leon tight as tears streamed down her cheeks u
The hospital room was filled with silent tension as Belinda and Emma cautiously entered. Their eyes immediately fell upon Zane, who was sitting by the bed, his head resting on the mattress. Yoko, who had been keeping a watchful eye on him, glanced up at the sound of their arrival. Placing his hand to his lip, he whispered, "Shh-shh... Since we got to the hospital yesterday, he just fell asleep." But just as the words left Yoko's lips, Zane's eyes fluttered open, and he sat up, his gaze fixated on the two ladies standing before him. There was a mixture of relief and weariness in his eyes, and a faint smile crossed his lips. Unable to contain her emotions, Emma stepped forward and enveloped Zane in a tight hug, her arms wrapped around his neck. Her voice, barely a whisper, trembled with concern, "How are you hanging in?" As his weary gaze met Emma's, Zane managed a small smile. "I am just glad that this idiot is fine," he replied, his voice laced with a touch of humor, but his e
At the count of eight, the tension in the atmosphere reached its peak. Each second seemed to stretch out endlessly, as Leon sat behind the wheel, his finger itching to pull the trigger. "9!" Zane shouted, raising his hand to signal his men. "And..."But as the count reached "10!" Leon's pent-up rage exploded. In a split second, he burst out of the car, his hand gripping the gun tightly. He aimed directly at Zane's head, his eyes wild with a murderous intent.Time seemed to slow down as Yoko reacted instinctively. He leaped in front of Zane, covering his boss with his own body. The bullet tore through the air, finding its way into Yoko's arm, tearing to his skin and blood oozed out.Pain seared through Yoko's body, but he barely registered it. His sole focus was protecting Zane, even at the cost of his own life. He gritted his teeth, feeling the impact of the bullet as he absorbed the blow.In that instant, the atmosphere erupted with chaos. The crack of the gun reverberated through t
In the midst of the tense silence, Zane sat at the head of a long mahogany table, his gaze steady as he surveyed the board members of NewEra as everyone waited for him to speak.Taking a deep breath, Zane began, his voice strong and his eyes bored into them one after the other, "Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today to address the mistakes of my past and to offer my unwavering dedication to the revival of NewEra. I know that I have gone against this company countless times, but from this day forward, I promise to use my knowledge and skills to help rebuild what was once the lifeblood of this organization."His words hung in the silence, and Zane's gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each board member, their expression still that of fear."I owe this to my late mother," Zane continued. "Her life was taken so this place can get built, and it is my duty, as her son, to honor her legacy and ensure that NewEra rises from the ashes."A hushed silence filled the room as