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Sweat clung to Easton’s forehead as he twisted and turned in his bed, the sheets tangled around him. His breath came in sharp gasps, tears streaking his face as he was pulled deeper into the nightmare that haunted him every night."Mummy, please don't go!" A frightened voice pleaded, echoing in his mind.Easton stood on trembling legs, reaching out to his mother's figure. She was walking away, her steps faltering on the edge of a steep cliff. Her white dress billowed in the wind. "Stop her! Dad, stop her!" Easton, bound in the sand and unable to move, turned desperately to his father, who sat motionless, his face buried in the documents in his hands. No response came. "She's going to fall!" Easton screamed, “Mum! Please stop!” tears streaming down his face.But no one listened. His mother turned to him one last time, her face peaceful, but her eyes filled with sorrow. “I love you so much, my prince. You’ll always be my perfect angel though you’re now so grown.” She whispered in a s
Easton’s hand darted out, and he grabbed the panhandle to steady it. The searing heat burned his palm, and he hissed in pain but held firm, moving the pan off the burner.“Are you out of your mind?” he snapped, as he turned, glaring at her. “You could’ve seriously hurt yourself.”Scarlet stared at him, her anger momentarily forgotten as guilt flared. “You didn’t have to— Your hand, are you okay?”Easton ignored her question, lifted her off the floor, and placed her on the counter on the opposite end. “Stay there,” Easton ordered, his voice softer but still firm. He ran his hand under cold water, then grabbed a mop and soap to clean the oil on the floor.“Wouldn’t it make you happy if I got burned? Why did you save me?” Scarlet asked, her heart still pounding from his touch. “Don’t you hate me that much?” “I do hate you but you’re no use to anyone if you’re burnt.” Easton retorted without looking up.Scarlet watched him but couldn’t help but taunt him, “You know if you hadn’t called m
Scarlet felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Her laughter faded instantly, and she took a step back feeling stupid. What was she doing here having warm moments with a man who hated her and was probably engaged to Jade?“Jade,” Easton said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”Jade’s eyes flickered to Scarlet, her expression flat masking her boiling rage. All she wanted to do was pull out Scarlet’s heart and chop it into tiny pieces but in front of Easton, she had to play nice. “I came to check on you, of course. I didn’t expect to find you entertaining guests so early. Scarlet, isn’t it?”Scarlet snorted, “You didn’t seem to have a problem with your memory the last time we met.” Easton held back a smile at the memory of the video he watched where Scarlet was slapping the shit out of Jade. Jade’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “ Oh pardon me. I had to be sure you know. It’s not every day that you walk into an employee laughing with her boss in his kitchen. But I
“What the hell happened to you?” Melania Voss looked at the sight before her.Jade threw her purse onto the nearest chair and sank into the sofa, bursting into tears. “Easton! He… he’s turning on me! He grabbed me by the throat, humiliated me, and nearly ran me over!” Her makeup was smudged, her hair disheveled, and her throat still ached from Easton’s grip.Her mother, Melania, looked up from the couch, where she sat sipping tea. The elegant woman arched a perfectly groomed brow at the sight of her daughter’s state. She set her tea down with measured grace, her sharp eyes narrowing. “And why exactly would he do that, Jade? What did you say to him? As far as I know, Easton never shows emotions so this is a first.”“I didn’t say anything.” Jade sniffed.“So he just saw you and held you by the throat? That sounds crazy!” Melania leaned back on the couch and placed her leg on top of the other one.Before Jade could respond, her father, James, entered the room, his voice cold and demandi
The atmosphere in Black Enterprises was suffocating that morning. Word spread quickly through the building—Easton Kade Black was in one of his moods, the kind that sent even the bravest employees scurrying away at the mere sound of his footsteps.Kai liked to call it “Code Red” And asked everyone to stay as far away from him as they could. No one was safe and worse off, they had a meeting today.“Should we reschedule the meeting, sir?” Kai asked the moment Easton sat down.“Why?” He asked as if he wasn’t giving out murder vibes.“Thought you were busy and needed time to-”“Just spit it, Kai.” Easton cut him off impatiently.Kai sighed, “Well you’re not in a good mood and you look like shit. Plus whoever is presenting today will do a messy job if you keep up with that glare.” He rumbled it all in one sentence.“That’s bullshit.” Easton responded, “I would never look like shit even if I tried. The meeting goes on as planned.”Kai sighed, “Yes, sir.”Back at the designer’s department, Sc
‘The next morning……Scarlet dragged herself into the office, her exhaustion evident in every step. The faint shadows beneath her eyes spoke of a sleepless night, and her normally glossy hair was swept into a hasty ponytail. Her blouse was slightly wrinkled, and the faint redness around her eyes hinted at tears that she had fought back.She was a strong girl but her walls were cracked and she was barely holding on. Thankfully, Jasmine had a school trip for a week where they would tour around the different parts of the country before schools closed.With a heavy sigh, she opened the door to Easton’s office and found him standing by the large window, his back to the door, staring out at the city skyline. When Scarlet entered, he turned to face her and her tired appearance caught his attention. For a moment, his heart clenched—a flash of concern breaking through his cold exterior. But the thought was fleeting, replaced quickly by the desire to avenge his brother hardening his heart into i
“You believe I did this to him?” Scarlet turned to Easton in tears. “Do you think that low of me?” She added.She wanted to tell him. How she and Micheal had never even met before but she couldn’t. Not when she didn’t know how he came to the conclusion that she was behind his accident.“You don’t want the answer to that question, trust me.” Easton’s cold voice responded.Scarlet’s heart twisted painfully. He was indeed long gone and the man she thought loved her now despised her. She couldn’t change his mind or explain her way through. “I have to go!” She said as she rushed out of the hospital room. Scarlet’s feet carried her blindly down the hospital corridor, her mind swirling with shock, and guilt, not at only what happened to Micheal but also at what the incident turned Easton too.A cold-hearted man. Was that why he was forced to take the CEO position he hated so much?Scarlet’s heart ached. She realized that he was living in hell and all his worst nightmares were made into one
Sky walked into the office building, her usual bright mood nowhere in sight. She was feeling so low after the hospital visit and even though they were not telling her everything. She knew something wasn’t right. She wanted to call in sick but she had already been away for seven days. Knowing her newly found bestie would be there, she looked forward to seeing her designs. Being with Scarlet always put her in a good mood because watching her design felt like she was closer to her mother who was the best fashion designer in Haybern and beyond. When she reached the office seat Scarlet always occupied, her frown deepened. The desk was empty.Sky looked around hoping she was just grabbing a coffee mug she loved or something so she sat and ten minutes later, there was still nothing!“Where is she?” Sky muttered under her breath. Scarlet was always early, always the first to arrive. The absence gnawed at her. Pulling out her phone, Sky dialed Scarlet’s number. It went straight to voicemail.
“Do you have a hearing problem, Chief?” Easton raised his brow in question.“Ah- Yes- No. No sir.” He chuckled in embarrassment. “It’s just that I didn’t know we had someone who is important to you in our custody. This employee must be extremely hardworking for you to come down here yourself.” The chief grinned but coughed to mask it when he saw that Easton’s face was as cold as ever.The chief gulped as he adjusted his collar, sweat forming on his forehead. “I… uh… I’ll just check the records, sir. What was the name again?”Easton’s eyes narrowed dangerously. His tone was sharp, like a blade slicing through the room. “Scarlet Frost.”The chief blinked, caught off guard. “Scarlet Frost?” he repeated, his voice rising slightly in confusion. “As in... a woman?”Easton’s jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened further. “Yes, Chief. A woman. Do you have a problem with that?”The chief swallowed hard, realizing he had stepped into a minefield. “No, sir. Absolutely not! I’ll have her released
“She's late!” Easton checked his watch for the fifth time, his jaw tightening with every passing second. Scarlet was never late. Although she was annoyingly punctual, she would complain and have a bad temper, but she was never late. Did she change her mind or did something go wrong? Easton couldn’t help but wonder. He pulled out his phone and redialed her number. It rang once, and twice, then went to voicemail. He paced back and forth. Frustration slowly started to build up.“Maybe she forgot,” Kai commented seeing his boss look like he was about to blow the room up.“She had better not.” He growled. He dialed her number again.Kai, pushed his glasses forward as he looked at the cameras. “Still no answer? Maybe the call she received was urgent.” Kai said, making Easton pause to look at him. “What call?” Kai hesitated.“Kai.”“I don't know. When I met her outside, we joked, then she received a call and rushed out.” “And you're only telling me this now because?”“I didn't thi
“Mummy!” Jasmine giggled as she rushed into Scarlet’s arms. Scarlet kneeled down with her arms open as she smiled at her little angel. “Baby, I missed you so much!” Scarlet held her tightly. The school had called her and she thought there was an issue. But all they wanted was for her to pick her daughter up like every parent because they had returned one day before the day they were scheduled to come back.“I missed you too!” Jasmine giggled as Scarlet lifted her off the ground. “Well, how about some shopping? Mummy got paid and would love to get her princess those pretty dresses she has always wanted.” Scarlet smiled with so much warmth in her heart.She was finally able to afford good things for her daughter after struggling all her life, surviving on one poorly prepared meal a day. It was a miracle that Scarlet wasn’t skinny.“Yay! I knew that competition would make our life better.!” Jasmine teased with a smug look as she jumped into the back seat.Scarlet laughed, remembering
Her gaze drifted back to the designs, each one more beautiful than the last. The room felt sacred, a tribute to a woman she didn’t know but suddenly felt deeply connected to. But as she stepped into the room further, she noticed a pattern she had seen before but couldn’t remember where. “Easton… I don’t know what to say. This… this is beyond words.”“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You’re the first person I’ve shown this to. I thought… maybe you’d get inspired. I know how much pressure I’ve put you through by throwing this show in your hands..”Her heart softened at his admission, melting the icy wall she’d built around herself after everything they had been through. For a moment, she forgot the tension between them, the arguments, and the pain of their past. She saw a side of him she hadn’t seen in years—one that reminded her of the man she once knew.The man she was hopelessly in love with.Scarlet shook her head, her voice full of emotion. “I don’
“I don’t think being here is a good thing after what just happened.” Scarlet pointed out as she stood in front of Easton.“After what happened?” He asked like he wasn’t present when the chaos was unfolding. Scarlet was about to respond when he cut her off. “Don’t tell me you were offended.” He smirked, “What we had wasn’t a relationship. So I wouldn’t exactly call you my ex.” “What?”“You seem to have a hearing problem lately. Remind Kai to connect you to our doctor. Now come, " he said as he began walking towards the door, but Scarlet remained glued to where she was standing.“Haha. Very funny. You should consider being a part-time comedian. Your jokes are getting better by the day.” Scarlet rolled her eyes.Easton paused. Turning to face her, “Let’s go. Or do you want me to take you on my shoulder?”“You wouldn’t fucking dare.” Scarlet stepped back.“What a foul mouth for a lady,” Easton said, his brows meeting.“What? You can curse and I can’t?” Scarlet raised an eyebrow, “I mean
“Miss Frost is not my ex. I have taste Sky, don't insult me.” Easton said in a cold voice making everyone choke.“Then how do you explain what Jade just said?” Sky fumed. Everyone was quiet and holding their breaths as they watched the scene unfold. Easton placed his hands in his pockets, looking as unbothered as ever, “Jade is delusional from the pain of seeing Micheal remain in that state for five years, so when she heard that I put Scarlet in charge, she assumed she was my ex. Which is ridiculous, not that it's any of your business. ” Easton explained coolly turning to face a pale Jade who knew she had fucked up. “He’s lying! She is the gold-digging slut from five years ago.” Jade fumed. “Kai, take care of this. Miss Frost proceed as earlier discussed,” Easton said and walked away. The security detail walked in to escort Jade out. Her face was red in anger as she walked out. “This isn't over!” she spat, walking away. Scarlet stood frozen on the spot. She should have felt r
Jade stormed into Easton’s office like a hurricane, her heels clicking sharply against the pristine floor. Her fury radiated off her in waves, and the tension in the room thickened as Easton glanced up from his desk, his face cold and impassive.He watched as she stomped in, without bothering to knock, and crossed her arms on her chest. “Easton, how could you?” Jade seethed, her breath laboring. She knew how much he loved his mother. If the show turned out to be successful, Scarlet would have the world on her side. “You gave her the lead? After everything that’s happened? After what she’s done?”Easton leaned back in his chair, exuding a calm that only seemed to infuriate her further. “It's funny how you delude yourself into thinking you have a say in this company or decisions I make,” he replied, his voice a cutting edge of ice. "It must be painful living in delusion all the time.”What?” Jade’s voice cracked as her anger boiled over. “This is about more than just business, Easto
“That is sexual harassment!” Scarlet moved back and crossed her arms on her chest in protection. Easton’s chest vibrated in a chuckle as he stepped closer, a playful glint in his eyes that she hadn’t seen in a very long time. “You’re dirty-minded Scarlet Frost.” He whispered as he stepped closer. Scarlet panicked and was about to walk away when he grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the wall knocking all the air out of her lungs.They were so close that a basic thing like getting air in the lungs turned to hard labor. “Are you scared of me? Or are you scared of what you’d let me do to you?” The smirk stretched on his lips. “Dream on.” Scarlet sneeered which only made Easton’s smirk go wider.He reached for her sweater and began unbuttoning the buttons one by one. Slowly.“Easton…” Scarlet’s voice croaked.“Shhhh…” Easton placed his forefinger on her lips. The kiss they shared a few weeks back flashed before his eyes like a damn reminder.He slowly traced her bottom lip while lookin
“What are you talking about?” A confused Scarlet frowned. Victoria scoffed and stepped into her space, fighting the urge to smack her but she knew it was against the work ethic and would get her fired.“Viky, what have you worked up?” Her colleague asked.“I went to collect the design theme from Amanda but guess what, I’m not the lead designer in this project. Scarlet is! How is that possible?” Victoria fumed. “Technically, she’s more talented than you so that shouldn’t be a shocker,” Sky commented.“Scarlet, is this true?” Grace stepped in, the room which was empty suddenly became full and all eyes were on her. Scarlet had no idea what they were talking about because unlike them who had a pretty good night's sleep, she was kidnapped and fighting for her life. “What project are you talking about?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion and exhaustion.Victoria scoffed, stepping into Scarlet’s space, her frustration barely contained. “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she