It was the fourth and final day of the meeting, which also doubled as the most anticipated and filled moment of the meeting. The grand ballroom had been redecorated for this event and was abuzz with excitement as the crème de la crème of the business world gathered for the annual Business Excellence Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. One would know that this was indeed an awards ceremony that was worthy of being the talk of the town; everything was top-notch. The media presence at the ceremony was impressive, with a diverse range of outlets and journalists invited to cover the event. The list included leading dailies of national newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal; industry-specific business publications like Forbes, Fortune, and Bloomberg Businessweek had a strong presence; and digital media outlets like CNBC and Reuters were also in attendance. Regional newspapers and business journals from the host city and its environs we

The hall was resplendent in a warm, celebratory ambience, elegantly set for the prestigious award celebration. The walls, adorned with golden accents, gleamed in the soft light, while the polished marble floor shimmered like a canvas of elegance. Round tables, covered in crisp white linens, were arranged throughout the hall, each one adorned with a stunning floral centrepiece that added a pop of colour to the sophisticated setting. The chairs, upholstered in rich velvet, were positioned with precision, inviting guests to linger and mingle. A grand stage, adorned with a gleaming podium and a majestic backdrop, stood proudly at the front of the hall, awaiting speeches on the award. The lighting was dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere, with spotlights strategically placed to highlight the award recipients and guest speakers. The walls were beautified with sleek, modern displays showcasing the achievements and contributions of the Black Bricks entire team, who were indeed the awar

Despite it not being the first time that Lana would be thrown such a question, this was definitely the most special. She couldn’t control her tears as they flowed down their cheeks, and she tried to choke them back. She suddenly felt a buildup of heat all over her body, despite the high-efficiency air conditioning machines in the event centre at full blast. Cameron was still kneeling down in front of her, and the crowd was already screaming. Their shouts echoed through her system and reverberated around the room, bouncing through her skull. Right in front of her was the best man in the world; he treated her like there was no other girl in the whole wide world, and if there was a chance to finally have a life with him, she would take it. With all the courage and composure she could muster, she muttered her yes in the loudest way possible, even though it was barely audible to her, and stretched her hand to receive the ring. Without thinking, the guy who was holding the microphone b

Andre had been properly disgraced at the award-giving ceremony, or, as he should put it, improperly disgraced. He paced around in his room, shaken by what he had just seen. He tried to get it all together and ordered the strongest bottle of alcohol from the cellars downstairs. Alcohol wasn’t going to solve anything, he knew, but he still wanted it. He needed something to just get it off his chest. His own awards ceremony had been the previous day, and here he was, sulking over the matter. He ignored the cup that came with the drink and instead took a swig from the bottle, downing half of it in one go. Cameron and Lana, with their little friends, had hurt his ego, and he was surely going to pay them back. He looked at the naked, sleeping secretary on his bed and suddenly became irritated at her sight. He tried to remember what had transpired between them, and the disgust on his face deepened. Andre tapped her lightly; it was time to go. “Good morning, sunshine.” She yawned, stretc

When he was sure that the house was deserted except for the two of them in the sitting room, Marcus moved closer to Andre, bringing out another big brown envelope from beneath his coat. He handed it over to Andre and spoke in a fake tone. “My digging has brought me close to the answer. While she was working immediately after she left, she had a baby. Babies, actually; it was twins.” Andre looked at him in surprise. His suspicion was actually true; Lana was already seeing Cameron when they were together. “How was she able to instantly get a job at Black Bricks with a degree she had abandoned?” “My findings indicate that she didn’t get to work at Black Bricks until two years later. She worked multiple shifts at a restaurant owned by a recorded Darby of no other name and at a bar owned by an Elan. She worked them together until she resigned from Elan after she was harassed.” “Harassed? How?” He felt surprised at how he still felt so concerned after all this time. “A customer reput