Se connecterIrene paced back and forth across the living room with her phone clutched in her hand, checking it every few seconds.But nothing was coming in. Damn, she hated feeling this anxious and she was this way because she made the mistake of hiring a dimwit to carry out a job for her.She grabbed the remote and flipped through channels with her leg bouncing anxiously as she waited for some kind of update, anything to prove that Mrs. Dennis was finally dead.The evening news came on and Irene was about to change the channel when a breaking news banner flashed across the screen."Breaking news from Memorial Hospital where police have arrested a man attempting to gain access to a patient Mrs. Linda Dennis, who is recovering from a severe car accident earlier this week. The suspect was apprehended by the police after Mrs. Dennis's son arrived for a visit and witnessed the man in his mother's room dressed in a doctor's uniform but the son of Mrs Dennis said he knew all the doctors attending to hi
Jeff stood in the empty conference room with his hand still pressed to his cheek where she had slapped him, the sting was fading but the confusion wasn't.He'd caught her to keep her from falling and she'd reacted like he'd attacked her."What the hell". He muttered.For that brief second before she'd pulled away, he had felt her body relax into his and when her hands had gripped his shirt, she had fit against him in a way that felt oddly familiar.Jeff shook his head and dropped his hand, why the hell would she slap him when he was only trying to help her? Why was she always so angry with him?Even saving her is an offense to her, he decided to go to her and maybe apologize for his recent crime of saving her.He left the conference room and took the elevator to the top floor where her office was positioned.Jeff knocked once before pushing the door open.Amber was standing at the window with her back to him, her posture straight and stiff. she had pulled her hair into a ponytail tha
Claire's heels clicked on the marble floor as she arrived at Andersons Corporation headquarters.She was dressed in a tailored black pantsuit that hugged her curves perfectly and commanded attention without saying a word.Her deep red lipstick accentuated her complexion and her hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders.She looked powerful and untouchable and exactly like the woman she had always dreamt of becoming.Solomon walked beside her with a leather portfolio under his arm and when they stepped off the elevator, the whispers started immediately.Today was her first board meeting as majority shareholder and her stomach was in knots but her face gave nothing away.Claire felt every pair of eyes on her as she walked toward the executive conference room.She pushed open the door and the conversations inside died immediately.The entire board was already assembled and waiting for her and Claire's eyes immediately landed on Jeff seated at the far end.Their eyes met for a brief seco
Zane was discharged from the hospital two hours later with nothing more than minor bruises and instructions to rest.Jeff carried him to the car and buckled him in carefully, his hands still shaking slightly from the adrenaline of finding his son in the middle of the street."Where's Mommy?" Zane asked suddenly.Jeff looked around the parking lot and frowned because Irene had been right behind them when they left the examination room but now she was nowhere to be seen."I don't know, buddy. Maybe she went to get something outside, we'll pick her up on our way out."But when Jeff pulled up to the entrance, there was still no sign of her.He tried calling her phone but it went straight to voicemail.Jeff's jaw clenched as he left her a voicenote telling her to go straight home because they are no longer in the hospital.He drove home with Zane dozing in the back seat and by the time they got home, Zane was fully asleep and Jeff carried him upstairs to his bedroom, tucking him in and bru
Jeff stood in his home office staring at the ten million dollars packed neatly into two black duffel bags on his desk.Everything he had worked for reduced to stacks of cash that would disappear in exchange for his son.But Zane would be safe and that was all that mattered.His phone buzzed with a text from the unknown number."5847 Warehouse District, east entrance.Your wife comes alone."Jeff's jaw clenched as he read it again.Irene appeared in the doorway, her face pale and her hands twisting together. "Did they send the location?"Jeff picked up one of the bags and felt the weight of it. "Warehouse District and they want you there in an hour." Jeff replied."Okay, I should be on my way now" she replied quickly, her voice barely a whisper."I'm coming with you." Jeff suddenly announced and Irene paused and spun around."No! You can't do that". Irene snapped barely managing to keep the irritation out of her voice.She took a deep breath and mentally counted to five before facing Je
Jeff stood alone in the hospital hallway staring at the spot where Amber had disappeared.Her words echoed in his head. "I don't hate you, Jeff. I just don't care about you or anything that concerns you."He sighed and stared into space looking like someone who the world had really delt with.He pulled out his phone and checked the time.Damn it, he still hadn't gotten the money for the ransom, what the hell was he supposed to do now?His hands were shaking as he scrolled through his contacts. He started calling old friends but by the time he was through, none of his rich and influential could help him.Did he really have a friend in the first place to start with? He was so messed up.He'd called every investor, every business contact he had and they'd all said the same thing. Not enough time or too much risk. It's funny just how people you think you can trust and rely on will suddenly turn their back on you when you needed them the most. He had made so many mistakes in the past and
The beeping of the hospital monitor came from far away. He was dreaming about the day Claire had first met with his grandfather, that was when he first thought that she was working with his grandfather to get him roped in.It was the day of his birthday and his grandfather had insisted that he thr
"I want a divorce." Jeff announced.The words hung in the air between them and for a moment Irene just stared at him from across the living room like she hadn't heard correctly.He'd walked in the door five minutes ago after checking himself out of the hospital against doctor's orders and his ribs
The video call connected and Howard's face filled the screen looking older and more tired than she remembered but his eyes lit up the moment he saw Adrian."There's my brilliant boy." Howard's voice was warm and full of love and it made Claire's chest ache with how much she'd missed having family.
The water was so cold it burned her lungs and she couldn't breathe and she couldn't see and everything was dark and heavy.She pushed through it anyway because there was someone down there drowning and she had to reach them before it was too late.Her hand found fabric and she grabbed it and pulled







