RUBBY'S POV My cheeks finally gave me away; it turned pink the instant he winked at me; thankfully, he was the only one who saw it."I should be the one protecting you, not the other way round," he said as we walked back to our various offices."And who said I was protecting you?" I asked feigning seriousness. "I was only doing the right thing, maintaining peace and order.""Now that's a chaotic way of maintaining peace and order," he smiled. "Just admit that you were protecting me.""You are so full of yourself young man," I tugged at his arm playfully."I like your pink cheeks," he whispered, sending cold shivers down my spine.The moment I got back to my office, I rushed to the email. It sat bold and unread in my inbox. I took a deep breath before clicking on it, my fingers slightly trembling against the mouse.Dear Mr. Wolfe,Your presence is required at the international business summit in Beijing, China, scheduled for January 9th. Please confirm your attendance at your earlies
TRISHA'S POV My vision blurred as I watched Nolan belittle himself before Rubby. Earlier that morning, when he was asked to get coffee for everyone, I felt so ashamed of myself and so angry at Rubby. How she managed to get all the good things kept baffling me. Now she had the position I always wanted, yet she still attracted both men to herself leaving with nothing.Nolan came back inside a few minutes later, fuming. He walked inside the office and sat quietly, but his breathing was hard as though he fought with three able-bodied men.Suddenly I heard a sharp sound.The sharp sound of Nolan’s palm slamming against my desk made me flinch.I looked up, meeting his furious gaze, but I didn’t care. Not when I knew the reason he was furious."What do you want?" I asked, my tone dripping with exhaustion. "You are sitting on my desk, and I need to lock the office; it's time to go home.""What do I want?" He let out a hollow laugh, his eyes blazing with something close to madness. "I should
TRISHA'S POV Morning came faster than I had expected. I spent the day thinking of how to get rid of Rubby without having to stain my hands, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to understand that the only way to completely get rid of her was to kill her. At least that way, Nolan will turn to me for comfort and I would then treat him as I want.Just as I was about to step into the bathroom, my phone buzzed: a text from Nolan. "I'm sorry for yesterday, didn't mean to react the way I did. I miss you."I scoffed at the message before heading to the bathroom. Minutes later, I was on the way to the restaurant looking like a gangster, wearing black pants, a black hoodie and a black cap.Finding a secluded spot, I sat down and waited.I tapped my nails against the table, my patience wearing thin.It had been over an hour, and Mirabelle was still nowhere to be found.My jaw clenched. How dare she make me wait?The dim lighting of the hotel lounge cast long shadows, making the plac
RUBBY'S POV "That was uncalled for," I turned to Alex as I got into his car."What?" He asked feigning ignorance."Why did you drag his cheeks?""Oh, that?" He said and burst out laughing; the driver even joined him; it was contagious, and soon I found myself laughing too."Good night Rubby," He waved as I entered my apartment. I spent that night getting ready for the next day, happy for the opportunity to be at the international conference the next day.The next day, the airport buzzed with life as passengers hurried to their gates, children giggled, and flight attendants gracefully manoeuvred through the crowds. I glanced at Alex, who sat beside me in the lounge, looking oddly tense.I frowned; we hadn't said anything to each other since we arrived.His fingers drummed against his knee, and his eyes darted around as if searching for something or maybe someone.I watched him for a while, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t, which was quite unusual; Alex was never the quiet
ALEXANDER'S POV I smiled when Rubby crawled back to the bed at midnight. She wasn't used to sleeping on the couch, aside from that, it was terribly cold, and the couch was directly in front of the big window.The next morning, I sat on the couch, already dressed and ready for the day, watching Rubby as she mumbled in her sleep.She was curled up on the bed, her brows furrowed as if she were deep in a dream, occasionally grumbling nonsense."Mmm… no, I… that’s mine… don’t touch my—" she muttered, swatting the air.I smirked, she was so cute. But what the hell was she dreaming about?I leaned forward, resting my elbow on my knee, silently replaying last night’s events in my mind.The moment she refused to share the bed, the way she grumbled on the couch, and eventually, how she ended up in bed anyway.She must have frozen to death before coming to such a conclusion. Or who knows, she might not even know when she walked to the bed.I laughed softly; she was a total contrast to Mirabelle
ALEXANDER'S POV "What!" I exclaimed staring at the picture in my hand.I slammed my hand against the nearest desk, my patience running thin."Who took that picture?!" I demanded, my voice echoing through the office.Everyone froze.I could see the fear in their eyes, but no one spoke up."Where did it come from?" I pressed, glaring at the staff whose phone I held. He gripped the edge of the table tightly while bracing for impact. He probably thought I would I would hit him or something."Who had the damn guts to follow us to China just to take a photo?" I roared, yet got no answer.I exhaled sharply, gritting my teeth before storming into my office, my mind running wild.Who the hell would go to such lengths?Was it a rival company trying to damage my reputation?Or someone closer? Someone who wanted me out of the picture?Could it be Mirabelle or Kevin?I paced the room, running through every possibility, but nothing added up. Mirabelle had no time for such, and Kevin would rather s
RUBBY'S POV I lay awake throughout the night, staring at the ceiling. I knew already that danger was imminent, but what could I do if not wait?Whoever it was took a perfect shot, yet I couldn't shake off the feeling that Alex had something to do with it.Minutes later, I stared at my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I watched it ring. It was Alex.I hesitated at first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear his voice, not when I already knew what he was going to say. But still, I picked up."Rubby," he said, his voice was lower than usual, laced with something that sounded like guilt.I closed my eyes, bracing myself."What now, Alex?" I whispered, trying to keep my emotions in check."I just received a message from the International Business Regulatory Board," he said. "They’ve set up a five-man panel. They’re investigating the scandal, and…"I could hear the hesitation in his voice, the part he didn’t want to say."And?" I pushed.He kept silent for a second, then exhaled sharply."Y
ALEXANDER'S POV I chased after the taxi, hoping that the impossible would happen. Maybe I would run faster than the car and catch up with them, or disappear to reappear inside the car.My feet pounded against the pavement, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I kept running after the taxi, knowing quite well that it was an impossible mission."Rubby!" I shouted, desperation gripping me like a vice, but the car sped off, leaving a cloud of dust and my worst fears behind.I stopped and placed my hands on my knees while my chest heaved deeply.She was gone, I thought to myself.A cold fear settled in my gut.I had just won her a few days ago, now this! Was this nature's way of saying we had nothing to do with each other? What if she never comes back? What if she decides to leave without looking back?I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands and dialled her number.It rang twice before she picked up."What do you want, Alex?"Her voice was hoarse, filled with raw pain."Rubby, please. Ju
RUBBY'S POV Hours after I had run out of the company, I sat at a bar taking shots of hot drink, wishing everything would pass away; when my eyes caught the television, the news headline had changed- missing company's equipment after the seductive personal assistant escapes the parliament.What! I exclaimed first I was accused of seducing Alex; now it's missing equipment? I looked around, to be sure no one recognised me, thankfully there were not many people in the bar, quietly I stepped out and waved down a taxi. "Where ma'am?""Anywhere, just go."I don't know how long he drove, but when he got uncomfortable, he stopped."I can't go further ma'am," he announced."Uhm," I mumbled something meaningless and stepped out.As though even fate was against me, immediately he drove off, rain poured mercilessly, each drop like a dagger against my skin.I broke into a run with no direction in mind; my breath came in ragged gasps as I ran, my legs heavy, my heart hammering.I could barely see
ALEXANDER'S POV Kevin! It made sense now; the bastard had been dating her secretly, which explains the reason he sent her the photo of me and Rubby kissing that day.I bit my teeth and turned to Trisha."You are fired, go to the company and return every company's property in your possession.""No sir, please, I....., doo... not...I'm sorry sir," Trisha’s stammering voice faded behind me as I stormed out of the hospital, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palm.I didn’t stop, not even for a second, I had no time for her pathetic excuses and pleas. The truth was unfolding faster than I could process, and I needed answers.I swung open my car door, slid in, and hit the gas. My driver had called me twice, and I wasn't ready to return it, at least not yet.My mind pounded against my chest as I drove, Kevin, that sly bastard. I had really been a fool, a big fool.I had known Kevin to be a dickhead, but I underestimated him; he was worse than an asshole to have secretly
ALEXANDER'S POV My eyes widened in shock as I kept staring at the screen; I tightened my grip on Trisha’s phone so badly that my knuckles turned white.It wasn’t the picture of me and Rubby as I wished, it was something worse, something completely out of the box.It was Mirabelle, with another man. Whoever the man was had his arms wrapped around her and their lips were pressed together.But that wasn’t what made my stomach churn. That wasn't my headache at all; Mirabelle was free to do whatever she chose; she was no longer mine.What shook me to my bone marrow was the earrings she wore. A distinctive, customized heirloom. Pure gold, one that belonged to my mother.The same earring she had been searching for for months.What! I exclaimed, how the hell did Mirabelle get it?"Continue with the search," I said to the IT manager, "release them when you are done." With Trisha's phone still in my possession, I quickly stepped out and headed to my car, without alerting my driver.A storm of
ALEXANDER'S POV I chased after the taxi, hoping that the impossible would happen. Maybe I would run faster than the car and catch up with them, or disappear to reappear inside the car.My feet pounded against the pavement, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I kept running after the taxi, knowing quite well that it was an impossible mission."Rubby!" I shouted, desperation gripping me like a vice, but the car sped off, leaving a cloud of dust and my worst fears behind.I stopped and placed my hands on my knees while my chest heaved deeply.She was gone, I thought to myself.A cold fear settled in my gut.I had just won her a few days ago, now this! Was this nature's way of saying we had nothing to do with each other? What if she never comes back? What if she decides to leave without looking back?I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands and dialled her number.It rang twice before she picked up."What do you want, Alex?"Her voice was hoarse, filled with raw pain."Rubby, please. Ju
RUBBY'S POV I lay awake throughout the night, staring at the ceiling. I knew already that danger was imminent, but what could I do if not wait?Whoever it was took a perfect shot, yet I couldn't shake off the feeling that Alex had something to do with it.Minutes later, I stared at my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I watched it ring. It was Alex.I hesitated at first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear his voice, not when I already knew what he was going to say. But still, I picked up."Rubby," he said, his voice was lower than usual, laced with something that sounded like guilt.I closed my eyes, bracing myself."What now, Alex?" I whispered, trying to keep my emotions in check."I just received a message from the International Business Regulatory Board," he said. "They’ve set up a five-man panel. They’re investigating the scandal, and…"I could hear the hesitation in his voice, the part he didn’t want to say."And?" I pushed.He kept silent for a second, then exhaled sharply."Y
ALEXANDER'S POV "What!" I exclaimed staring at the picture in my hand.I slammed my hand against the nearest desk, my patience running thin."Who took that picture?!" I demanded, my voice echoing through the office.Everyone froze.I could see the fear in their eyes, but no one spoke up."Where did it come from?" I pressed, glaring at the staff whose phone I held. He gripped the edge of the table tightly while bracing for impact. He probably thought I would I would hit him or something."Who had the damn guts to follow us to China just to take a photo?" I roared, yet got no answer.I exhaled sharply, gritting my teeth before storming into my office, my mind running wild.Who the hell would go to such lengths?Was it a rival company trying to damage my reputation?Or someone closer? Someone who wanted me out of the picture?Could it be Mirabelle or Kevin?I paced the room, running through every possibility, but nothing added up. Mirabelle had no time for such, and Kevin would rather s
ALEXANDER'S POV I smiled when Rubby crawled back to the bed at midnight. She wasn't used to sleeping on the couch, aside from that, it was terribly cold, and the couch was directly in front of the big window.The next morning, I sat on the couch, already dressed and ready for the day, watching Rubby as she mumbled in her sleep.She was curled up on the bed, her brows furrowed as if she were deep in a dream, occasionally grumbling nonsense."Mmm… no, I… that’s mine… don’t touch my—" she muttered, swatting the air.I smirked, she was so cute. But what the hell was she dreaming about?I leaned forward, resting my elbow on my knee, silently replaying last night’s events in my mind.The moment she refused to share the bed, the way she grumbled on the couch, and eventually, how she ended up in bed anyway.She must have frozen to death before coming to such a conclusion. Or who knows, she might not even know when she walked to the bed.I laughed softly; she was a total contrast to Mirabelle
RUBBY'S POV "That was uncalled for," I turned to Alex as I got into his car."What?" He asked feigning ignorance."Why did you drag his cheeks?""Oh, that?" He said and burst out laughing; the driver even joined him; it was contagious, and soon I found myself laughing too."Good night Rubby," He waved as I entered my apartment. I spent that night getting ready for the next day, happy for the opportunity to be at the international conference the next day.The next day, the airport buzzed with life as passengers hurried to their gates, children giggled, and flight attendants gracefully manoeuvred through the crowds. I glanced at Alex, who sat beside me in the lounge, looking oddly tense.I frowned; we hadn't said anything to each other since we arrived.His fingers drummed against his knee, and his eyes darted around as if searching for something or maybe someone.I watched him for a while, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t, which was quite unusual; Alex was never the quiet
TRISHA'S POV Morning came faster than I had expected. I spent the day thinking of how to get rid of Rubby without having to stain my hands, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to understand that the only way to completely get rid of her was to kill her. At least that way, Nolan will turn to me for comfort and I would then treat him as I want.Just as I was about to step into the bathroom, my phone buzzed: a text from Nolan. "I'm sorry for yesterday, didn't mean to react the way I did. I miss you."I scoffed at the message before heading to the bathroom. Minutes later, I was on the way to the restaurant looking like a gangster, wearing black pants, a black hoodie and a black cap.Finding a secluded spot, I sat down and waited.I tapped my nails against the table, my patience wearing thin.It had been over an hour, and Mirabelle was still nowhere to be found.My jaw clenched. How dare she make me wait?The dim lighting of the hotel lounge cast long shadows, making the plac