Bruno knew his mother was upset, he had to do something to make her calm down.As he went out of his office, he reached out to his mother's office. He pushed it open, and bowed, walking towards her."Mother, how about we go out and eat? Let's focus more on the success of the project, because once I am able to get them to pull this through, then we are guaranteed about the success of the project."Margaret glanced at him, knowing fully when that he was only trying to calm her down."I'm busy, just get a drink from the wine cabinet," she said, waving her hand off.He chuckled, and walked to the cabinet, picking up a wine with less alcoholic percentage.He took the glasses and set them on the table, opening the lid of the bottle.Carefully, he poured the wine into the two glasses and then set it down."Cheers to a successful project," he said, raising his glass for a toast.His mother glanced at him for a couple of seconds, before raising her glass for a toast.The two glasses clicked, m
Margaret sat in the back of her black SUV, scrolling through her phone. She was engrossed in a series of photos from last year's women’s conference, and she wondered what she would wear for this year's women's conference.“Maybe a luxurious yellow dress,” she thought, mentally picturing how it would look on her and how everyone would praise her for her outfit.She glanced up and saw a black Roll-Royce, one car she admired but was only available in limited slots. Her heart skipped a beat, as she kept staring at it, her mind daydreaming out of reality.Suddenly, the car jolted forward, and Margaret was thrown back against the back seat. The driver cursed under his breath, as he turned to her.“Sorry, ma’am! Just a little bump!” he said, looking away immediately.“What do you mean a bump?” Margaret snapped, widening her eyes. “What did you hit?”As the driver reversed a bit, Margaret tilted her head to the side to see the side of the car she was admiring now dented. Even her car had a sc
It was finally the day for the employees' party. Alison had arranged everything perfectly well, so much that no one suspected anything.The employees were even happy seeing that the CEO decided to give them a break from work and allow them to relax.Alison stood at the entrance of the hall, her expression mixed with anxiety and anticipation. Everything seemed normal, and for some reason, she started to doubt herself, wondering if what she was doing was right or going to even work. Anyway, the party was just beginning. She just had to observe everyone around and not lose focus.Although she could not interrogate the employees, she had checked their resumes and there was just a particular person her instinct was gnawing at.Melissa.She was a junior staff in the production department.“Can I get you a drink, Ms. Harper?” Clara asked, interrupting her thoughts.Alison did not want to get distracted by anything or anyone. Her eyes were still fixed on the employees gathered together.She
Alison knew that the restroom was not a safe place for them to have this conversation. She held Melissa by the hand and went to the balcony. “Melissa,” Alison said, lowering her voice as they moved to a quieter area on the balcony, “we need to talk now. Who is Marcus? And why are they paying your mother’s hospital bills?”Melissa’s eyes darted around, her body shaking. “I told you, I don’t know who they are. I just… I can’t risk losing my job here or putting my mom in danger.”Alison understood that she was just afraid, so she did not mind taking it calmly with her. “You are putting yourself in danger, Melissa. If you are involved with people who are doing illegal things, this is only going to end badly. You need to be honest with me. Do you trust me?""You are a lawyer. What if you report me to the CEO and have me arrested?" She mouthed."If I wanted to report you to the CEO, I would have recorded your call. I am really here to help you, but I need you to help me too."Melissa could
Melissa took out her phone from the bag and opened it. She swiped to the call log, but the number was not there. It was not visible on her end, which was surprising to her.Alison smiled, "he used a burner phone and installed a disposable or temporary number. He hid the number from your logs. We can't track him that way, except on the day when he calls you." Alison explained.Melissa was beginning to understand the intensity of what she was getting her hands into, and she wished she was lucky to get out of it."What do we do?" She asked Alison, who was already thinking of a way.The door opened, and a nurse walked in disrupting her thoughts."Hello," she greeted, bowing slightly.She was holding a tray and a syringe inside with a little bottle that had a tag, which Alison could not read because she was standing afar.The nurse held the syringe out and injected it into the drip bag.“Excuse me,” Alison called out, stepping forward. The nurse glanced at her, a look of annoyance flashin
“Hello, it’s me, Marcus. You wanted to know about Rodrigo Internationals, right?”“Yes, that’s right. Is it in chaos like I hoped?” the tall man asked, leaning on the swivel chair with his leg crossed over the other.He had a glass in his hand, as he took a sip of the alcohol, anticipating the news.There was a pause, and Marcus responded. “Actually, no. They are holding a party tonight. Everything seems fine on their end. It is not what you expected. I don't think it worked out.”“Damn it!” he cursed, slamming the glass against the wall, as they broke into many pieces. “This can’t be happening. I need this to work. He won't be able to focus on the trial if he is distracted by the internal chaos. What the hell went wrong? Didn't you promise to handle this?"“I’m sorry, boss. But there is nothing I can do for now. I need to lay low and wait for more updates. You need to find another angle, too, just in case this one doesn't work out. The trial is in a few days.”The man exhaled sharply
Alison panicked, seeing how the car swayed left and right with no particular direction. She was a bit relieved because no car was on the road as, at that time, his car was moving carelessly.Alison’s heart raced as she hailed a cab, turning to the passenger's seat. “Please, I need to get to my friend’s car!” she pointed to Travis' car swerving dangerously.“Hang on!” the cab driver shouted as he hit the gas pedal. “What happened?”“His car is malfunctioning!” Alison replied. “I think someone tampered with it. We have to get to him before it is too late!”The driver nodded. “I will do my best. Just hold on!”The man stepped on the accelerator and sped towards Travis' car.“Please, go faster!” she pleaded, gripping the seat as they drove. “I’m trying!” he said, gripping the steering wheel tightly.“Travis!” she shouted, “Stop the car!” But he could not hear her at all.She had only noticed the flat tire, but she did not know his car brakes had been tampered with, as well.The more he
Alison stood by Travis’s hospital bed in silence. She was glad that she was able to save him in time. Now, she realized even more how intense the trial was and how whoever it was wanted him dead.She turned to Travis, whose eyes were now close. He was exhausted from the incident that almost took his life. Of course, he needed to rest.She opened her phone and called Oscar. As soon as he picked up, she immediately went straight to the point."Hi, Oscar. Mr. Rodrigo needs your attention immediately. Come to Medic Hospital, ward number 34." Immediately the call hung up, she turned to Travis.“I’ve called Oscar,” Alison said. “He will be here soon.”Travis’s eyes flicked to her, his gaze resting on her.“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice dry and hoarse."Sit up," she said to him, passing him a bottle of water.“Mr. Rodrigo!” Oscar exclaimed, striding to the bed. “Jeeze, are you okay? What happened?”Travis shook his head slightly. “I don’t remember much,” he admitted, not wanting to th
The energy in the room was a radiation of coldness in its most toxic form. And although they were quite a number of people in the room, the silence was such that if a pin dropped to the floor, the sound would be loud and clear enough for everyone to hear.“Lord Castro… what do we do next?” A man finally asked, breaking the silence. “Raquel was supposed to take over this great clan once you're gone.”A much older man, dressed in all black, and holding a cigarette in his right hand shook his head, and the room tensed up in anticipation as they waited for him to speak. “And who says I'm leaving anytime soon?”“My lord, Marco is right, now that your only heiress is gone, what becomes of the Clan, and the ones responsible for her death?” Another man, dressed in all black as well, asked. “The lawyer, and her husband… you spent years avenging the deaths of your cartel members, and Raquel in question was your daughter and…”“That's enough!” Lord Castro yelled, hitting his palm against the ta
**FIVE YEARS LATER***Time flies, huh??Quite a popular yet true phrase…It has been five years since everything, yes… everything!Raquel was later confirmed dead, and buried almost immediately. Alison took a couple of months to heal completely, life moved on, and went back to normal.Travis Rodrigo got cleared off all the charges of his involvement with illegal drug trafficking, leveled against him.Alan Rodrigo successfully got a divorce from Delaney, giving her the opportunity to go back to the streets where she truly belonged…Or maybe not..And Karen, well… let's just say she opened her heart to Oscar, despite all the teasing and mock bullying, and that was probably the best decision she's ever made.Bruno Francisco already completed his jail term and was finally free to live his life, but where was he even going to start from? He lost Alison, his conglomerate, his son and his mum was still in jail, all because of one dumb decision.Despite the fact that everything seemed to have
Travis' hopeful gaze lingered on Alison as he waited for her to say something.What did she mean by she was ahead of him on this one? And the look she had in her eyes was one he took a lot of time to understand.Whenever she knew a secret or had a surprise planned out, that was the exact same expression.“It depends on you… what do you want to hear?” she shrugged and sat upright, so did he.“I want to hear everything Alison, the whole plan.” He insisted and she nodded.“We are going to be needing Uncle Carlos' help on this one.” She started. “I have been keeping tabs on Raquel, and I'm glad she is still here in Chicago. Apparently not yet aware that we know about all of her stupid deeds.”As She spoke, his gaze drifted off, picturing her words clearly. “And since she doesn't know that we are aware of her atrocities, I'm pretty sure she's out there living her normal life.”“Exactly, she doesn't even have any reason to suspect that anyone knows about her sins, since she was smart enough
Alison smiled widely settling onto a long couch, with Travis by her side, and her gaze darting around the room, to the happy faces of her guests - unexpected guests actually.Forgiveness felt exciting, it made her feel lighter, like a heavy weight just got lifted off her shoulder.“This has to be the most underrated pill.” She whispered, snuggling closer to Travis.“What's that?” He asked, staring in her eyes, with his arms wrapped around her.“Forgiveness.” She responded, and broke off their eye contact, allowing her gaze wander off. “You know, when I got Bruno arrested alongside his mother, and gained custody over my son… it did not feel this satisfying.”Oscar and Karen stopped their conversation and had their entire attention fixed on the couple, who were just starting to reinkindle their love.“I felt thirsty, like there was so much more I was missing out on.” She continued. “You know that feeling when you have already gotten everything you always wanted, and yet it was not as sa
The moment he sighted Alison walk out of the room looking like a ghost, better still, a frame of her former self, Travis' eyes widened in shock, so did his mouth. There was not any way he would have believe that his Alison would lose so much weight and life in just a matter of twenty one days. Her collar bones were glaring, deep enough to hold water in them. Her eyes were red, and so was her face… a testament to the tears she had to shed and the pain she'd gone through.Alison on the other hand, kept staring at him, although at first she didn't want to admit it, he was looking so haggard and unkept, his hair was messy and his moustache was starting to grow wild.Only twenty-one days apart did this to the couple, who would have thought so.Still standing apart, the couple kept staring at each other, with so many words running through their minds, yet no one was uttering any words.Who would?Travis who was articulating his thoughts and thinking of the perfect way to get Alison's for
After so much hesitation, Travis finally planted a soft knock, on the door of Megan's apartment.“Who is it? How can I help you?” He heard Megan's soft voice ring from inside, and moved back slightly.As sounds of footsteps approached and grew louder, so did Travis’ heartbeats. What if she sends him away rudely?Alison must have told her about everything that happened, so how was he going to face her now?“Who is it, yo …” Megan's voice stopped halfway as she sighted Travis standing by the door, looking pale.“Y..you're here,” she said, obviously shocked. “I never thought you'd stop by.”“I'm sorry, I swear, I'm really sorry.” He said and Megan folded her arms under her chest.“What do you want? Why are you here?” “Aunt Megan, please… I need your help, don't say no, I beg of you.” He pleaded. “A lot happened, and I really need to speak with Alison.”“Well… sorry to disappoint you, but Alison is not here.” Megan shrugged and turned to go in, but Travis held onto her hand, with guilt
Travis tried to trail Raquel, but she was nowhere to be found, apparently she had already gone too far.“Fuck!!” He groaned in annoyance, punching his steering and screaming his lungs out. “I've lost everything!”Before he could stop himself, tears began slipping down his eyes. He got to the side of the road and parked.“Why did I let it get to this point?” He asked himself, ruffling his hair in frustration and crying out. “Now she has gotten what she wanted and is nowhere to be found.”He tried to calm himself down but it just was not working out.‘why not just head home, hopefully you would meet her and explain everything.’ His subconscious mind suggested and Travis shook his head.“I fucked up already, what explanation is going to make sense to her?” He muttered, his eyes already red from crying and his fists bruised.Eventually, he decided to drive home, not knowing exactly what to expect, but hoping for the best nevertheless.The drive was rough, with Travis growing more emotiona
“What the hell is going on here?” Alison yelled in shock, and Raquel got off Travis thighs, deciding to play the victim.“Sweetheart, what is she still doing here? I thought you said you were no longer with her?” Raquel asked Travis, pointing at Alison and crying. “I should never have trusted you again in the first place.”“Alison, I swear I can explain.” Travis whispered getting off the couch and swiftly going over to hold Alison.“Don't touch me!” She snapped, slapping his hands off her. “I should have known that this is what you were up to when you suddenly woke up and created the idea that you were going to work from home.”“Cupcake, it's not what you think.” He said going on his knees. “I promise you, I was actually working from home.”“It can even be what I think, but what I saw Travis… this bitch was straddling you and you didn't even push her off, what is she even doing here? And what does she mean by you said we'd broken up?” Alison asked, feeling her feet grow cold then she
The notion that ‘time flies’ had never made more sense to Alison. Just like yesterday, she was fighting to get her son back, then she lost him, and now three months had passed already. She had finally embraced the fact that her Theo was gone and she was never going to see him again. Deep down, she was grateful to Travis, who had always been her knight in shining armor, walking her through every single stage of grief. She finally opened her heart to Karen, Megan and Carlos, letting them comfort her. Although Alison never believed the saying that ‘time heals’ she'd a testament to that. “You're awake?” Travis muttered with a small smile as Alison tried to sit upright. “How was your night?” “It was good, I mean… I slept well,” she replied and smiled back at him. Her gaze caught the time on her clock and she gasped. “It's 8am, already? I have to get to the office.” She said and swiftly got out of bed. “Wait, you're resuming, already? You sure you are ready?” Travis asked, with