Claire Sanchez will apply as Zekiel Gray's secretary for two reasons.** First, she wants to reclaim her late mother's company, and second, she hopes to see one of her twin sons. Back then, she had no choice but to leave the eldest boy at Zekiel's gate, as raising twins was too difficult, and since the child looked exactly like him—except for the eyes, which he inherited from her—Zekiel took him in and raised him. The twins were the result of a night they never expected—a one-night stand. What will happen when Zekiel finds out that his secretary is the woman he’s been searching for all this time? Especially since he’s certain that the mother of his son, Zayn, is the same woman he was with five years ago?
View MoreCLAIRE
I was half-asleep when I felt the urge to pee, so I stretched on the bed before getting up. But suddenly, I felt something brush against me—and it moved. Then, I felt a warm hand wrap around my waist. My mind snapped awake, and I turned to look beside me, but I winced as a sharp pain shot through my head. What happened? I tried to recall the events until everything came rushing back. "Oh my God!" I whispered under my breath and immediately glanced beside me. There he was—the guy I saw yesterday, shirtless, just like me. I fell back onto the bed, my heart pounding wildly. What do I do?! I just had a one-night stand with a stranger! My God, Claire, what have you done?! I took a deep breath to calm myself before gathering the courage to slowly remove his arm from my waist. I was careful, and thankfully, I succeeded. He stirred slightly, but I quickly slipped away, replacing my spot with a pillow. Then, I felt a dull ache between my thighs. My God! I was a virgin until last night—now I’m not! I wanted to cry, but what could I do? It already happened. I grabbed my clothes and rushed to the bathroom to pee. Afterward, I dressed quickly, afraid he might wake up. Then, I peeked outside the room, confused when I didn’t see any other doors nearby. Wait… is this a VIP room? Does that mean he’s rich? I facepalmed myself. Of course! He’s Dylan’s friend—the best man! And Dylan’s a well-known young businessman, so his friends must be loaded too! --- After the church ceremony, we headed straight to the reception. Bea and Dylan got married in Batangas, her hometown, where we used to hang out often. The reception was held at their beachfront hotel. Bea’s family was wealthy, with hotels and condominiums worldwide. She and her siblings managed the business together. Right now, I was by the beach, avoiding the crowd. The sun was setting, and I planned to join the celebration later at night. I needed a drink—to celebrate my best friend’s wedding and to toast to my own solitude. If you’re wondering about my job—I don’t have one yet. Bea and I just graduated last year. I wanted to study again to become a professional designer. I loved designing dresses. Once the sun disappeared, I decided to head to my room. Bea had given me my own suite here as a graduation gift. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted—said I needed a proper place to stay whenever I visited. I changed into a long black dress that reached my feet. I’m wearing black to a wedding? I laughed to myself. Bea knew I loved black—almost everything I owned was black. She’d even joke that I looked like a witch sometimes. I took the elevator down from the eighth floor. My unit was huge—definitely expensive—but I’d take care of it just like I took care of her. The reception was packed. Dylan came from a prominent business family, and at his young age, he already managed several ventures. Some guests who missed the ceremony had arrived, making the crowd even bigger. I headed straight to the bar counter—Bea knew she’d find me here. "Give me a glass of tequila, please." I grinned at the bartender, who obliged immediately. I downed it in one go, making him wince. I knew it was strong, but who cared? The staff here knew me—Bea always introduced me as one of the "bosses." I ordered more until the world started spinning. "Claire!" I turned and saw Bea smiling at me, arm-in-arm with Dylan. "Hey! The newlyweds are here!" I cheered. "You’re drunk, Claire!" Bea frowned. "No, I’m not! I’m celebrating!" I argued, asking the bartender to back me up. "Ma’am, she’s had five," he said, making Bea sigh. "Love, I think Claire needs to rest," Dylan suggested. "Come on, Claire, I’ll take you to your room," Bea said, grabbing my arm, but I pulled away. "No! We need to celebrate! This is your wedding! My best friend’s wedding! My sister’s wedding!" I took another shot. Bea fell silent at my words. I raised my glass again. "To both of you! I’m so happy for you! But Bea… I’m also sad because now I’ll be alone. But it’s okay! Because I want you to be happy!" I downed the drink and slammed the glass down. When I faced Bea again, she was crying. "Why are you crying? Didn’t I tell you to enjoy your day?" I stumbled toward her, steadying myself. I pinched her cheeks into a smile. "There! Smile, Bea. I’m happy for you. Be happy, okay?" I hugged her tightly, and soon, we were both sobbing. "C-Claire..." We cried for what felt like three minutes before I pulled away. "Enough tears! Our makeup’s ruined!" I laughed, wiping my face before turning to Dylan. "Hey, Dylan! If you ever make my best friend cry, you’ll have to deal with me, got it?!" "Don’t worry, Claire. I’ll take care of her. I’ll never make her cry," he promised. I smiled and nodded. "Alright, I’ll leave you two now. I’m drunk—enjoy your night, newlyweds!" I staggered away, not heading upstairs just yet. Instead, I went to the beach and collapsed onto the sand, crying into my knees. I’m happy for Bea—really. But the loneliness hurts more. I knew she’d always be there, but things were different now. She had a husband. I couldn’t just barge into their lives anymore. I cried until I felt numb. "Why are you crying?" A voice startled me. I turned but couldn’t see anyone—it was too dark. "W-Who’s there?" "You’re drunk." I laughed. "No—I just had a few drinks." Should I run? What if he’s dangerous? Stupid Claire, this is why you shouldn’t drink! "Let’s go. I’ll take you to your room." I looked at him again. He seemed nice—maybe I was overreacting. "Sure, please. I am drunk." He offered his hand, and I took it, but my legs gave out, and we both tumbled down. I landed on top of him, and in the dim light, I finally saw his face. It was the guy from earlier—Dylan’s best man! "You’re handsome," I slurred, grinning. He shook his head. "Get up now, woman." I didn’t move. The world spun, and I rested my head on his chest, hearing his rapid heartbeat. "W-Why is your heart beating so fast?" "G-Get up..." He sounded strained. Was I that heavy? When the dizziness faded, I lifted my head and stared at his lips. I don’t know what came over me, but I leaned in and kissed him. What started as a simple kiss deepened as he cupped my head, pulling me closer. I didn’t resist—it felt too good. Somehow, we ended up on a soft bed, our clothes discarded, our bodies tangled together in heat. --- I’M IN BIG TROUBLE! Now I remember everything from last night. What if he brags about this to his rich friends? Ugh, Claire, you idiot! You just became another notch on some wealthy guy’s belt! Furious, I stormed into the elevator, ignoring the soreness between my thighs. Once inside my room, I leaned against the door and tugged my hair in frustration. "Stupid, Claire! You gave your virginity to some rich guy who’s probably had dozens of women! And you made the first move!" I flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. What if he hunts me down? What if I get pregnant?! "Oh my God!" I shot up in panic. My period just ended—sht! Did he even… Ugh, I was too drunk to remember! I slumped onto the carpeted floor, pulling my hair again. I need a plan! If I am pregnant, I’ll keep the baby—it’s my fault. But I’ll never tell him. I won’t let my child be treated like some rich man’s mistake. Wait, why am I assuming I’m pregnant?! It’s my ovulation week! I needed to delete the CCTV footage. I wore a fitted black dress last night—I’d erase any trace of me. Just as I stood up, something caught my eye. "What’s this? A note?" I picked up the letter on the side table. "Dear Claire, I know you’ll read this. Meet me at the breakfast area—we need to talk. We won’t leave the country until I speak with you. I’m so sorry, Claire. I love you. Love, Bea" My eyes widened. Bea hasn’t left?! They were supposed to fly to Paris last night for their honeymoon! Why is she apologizing? What does she want to talk about? "Oh my God!" I covered my mouth. Did I say too much last night? I remembered now—before ending up in that guy’s arms, I told Bea I was lonely. Ugh, Claire, you emotional drunk! I quickly changed clothes (no dresses—what if that guy wakes up and sees me?) and headed out. But first—the CCTV room. "Kuya," I called the guard, who immediately stood at attention. "Ms. Claire! It’s you!" "Can you ask a housekeeper to clean my room? I’ll wait here—I got drunk last night and made a mess." He chuckled and agreed. Once he left, I tampered with the system. Thankfully, I was a quick learner. "Deleted." I smirked, dusting off my hands. Then, I noticed a separate CCTV feed—the VIP room. Sht! Did the guard see me leave? My eyes then landed on the breakfast area. Bea’s still here! With Dylan! How long has she been waiting?! "Ms. Claire, it’s done," the guard returned. "Kuya, has Bea been there long?" "Since the breakfast area opened, ma’am." I winced. She must be worried sick because of what I said last night! Did she postpone her honeymoon?! "Thanks, Kuya." I rushed out, heading straight to the breakfast area.“Sorry, Zoey, my dear. Because of me, you and your brother got separated.”Zoey stopped crying silently as they quietly ran away from that place. When she glanced back at Farrah, she saw the sorrowful expression on her face.“G-Grandma Farrah, it’s not your fault. I’m sorry I’m still crying, but I’m just worried about Kuya and Clarence. Especially since Kuya got shot.”Farrah fell silent at Zoey’s words. Truthfully, she really blamed herself—if she hadn’t been with them, Clarence would have been the one with Zoey instead of her. Her grandson was in the middle of the fight while she was running away, escaping.She couldn’t hold back her tears either, but she froze when Zoey suddenly stopped. To her shock, three armed men stood in front of them, guns pointed straight at them. Zoey immediately pushed Farrah behind her.“Stay behind me, Grandma,” Zoey whispered firmly, gripping the old woman’s hand tightly.“Boss, there’s someone here!”Zoey tensed at the man’s words. She heard footsteps
“Where did that come from?!” Hero exclaimed in shock, clutching his neck as if he had been the one stabbed there.“He almost stabbed you with it earlier,” Zekiel said with a grin, especially when he saw Dylan and Hero frozen in place.He approached his wife and kissed her on the cheek.“So, you’re the only one who can make him confess,” Zekiel said, embracing her from behind.The other personnel present couldn’t help but admire them. Claire’s skill and fierceness hadn’t faded at all—in fact, she was even more terrifying now than their former boss, Zekiel.“If I hadn’t done anything, we would’ve known their whereabouts from the start. Since we’re about to return to Spain, we need to head there first. I’m sure Clarence is also in the same place as the twins.”TIME PASSED QUICKLY, and the next day, they traveled to Spain. Their family, including Mother Lucing, joined them since Clark and Francine’s wedding was approaching.The wedding couldn’t be postponed—too many people were already an
Francine went to Clarence’s room, intending to invite him to play. She knew her son would be bored since he now had his own room, and both she and Clark had been busy preparing for their upcoming wedding. But panic set in when she couldn’t find him there—even the maid had no idea where he was.“Clarence is missing!” she screamed as she burst into Clark’s office, where he was discussing politics with his father.Chaos erupted in the palace. Stefan took charge, instructing the maids and staff to prevent the news from leaking.With Zayne and Zoey already missing, if the public found out that Clarence—the future king—had also disappeared, panic would spread. The royal family was no longer safe.Stefan summoned his former loyal knight, Fin, along with his wife, Kaithy. Quinn also arrived at the palace with their three-year-old daughter, Queeny. They helped search for Clarence, but there was no trace of him.That’s when Quinn suggested informing Zekiel’s group. Timothy himself called his fr
Zekiel and Claire were busy with their respective tasks inside Zekiel’s office at Gray Company. The two of them were currently managing their business while also having given Dylan and Hero orders regarding the disappearance of the twins and the spreading rumors about their absence.Many had concerns and were curious about what had happened, especially since the missing children were the Princess’s heirs and the wealthiest individuals in the world. Claire had come up with an alternative idea—just yesterday, she had devised a way to make people believe the twins were simply away rather than in danger or that the royal family was collapsing.Since those who attended the twins’ graduation knew they hadn’t been present, they used that as an excuse for their disappearance. The public narrative was that the twins were upset and that their parents had been neglectful.They didn’t care what others thought of them, knowing full well that their supporters understood they were busy people."Hell
Zoey jolted awake as she felt the cold floor beneath her. A sharp pain throbbed at the back of her neck as she sat up, but with it came the return of her memories. Tears immediately streamed down her face, and she clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.They had trusted Phil. They followed him, believing every word he said—only for him to stab them in the back.His words echoed in her mind—how he claimed to know where Francine’s mother was. Now, she wondered if their aunt’s mother was even alive or if he had just deceived them.The gunshot wound—likely staged—was all part of his scheme. The realization made her cry harder, reminding her of the text message she had received. That stranger had been right: Phil was a traitor!Zoey stopped crying when she remembered her brother. She finally looked around and realized she was in a cell. The area was dark, the only light coming from the hallway, barely reaching the edges where she was confined."B-brother… Brother! Brother Zayne!"
“ARGHH!”The twins froze in battle when they heard Phil’s weak groan.“Uncle Phil!” Zoey immediately rushed to Phil, who had already been grazed by a bullet in his side.“I-I’m okay… we need to leave this place.”Zoey glanced at her brother to figure out what to do. Zayne finished off one of their approaching enemies before turning to them.“He’s right, Zoey. There are more of them coming! Grab our gear—we’ll hold them off!”Zoey nodded at Zayne, though she hesitated at first, especially since Phil was injured. But as her brother said, she quickly gathered their scattered camping bags. She handed Zayne his bag and slung hers and Phil’s over her shoulder.“Ready!”Her shout earned nods from the two. Zoey moved to shield Phil, blocking him from potential gunfire.“I’ve got this, Zoey! Get Uncle Phil to safety!” Zayne yelled, and Zoey nodded in agreement.They couldn’t let him get hurt again—in this situation, they only had each other to rely on. Zoey didn’t realize how far she’d gotten
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments