Morgan's point of view Today was supposed to be a happy day, and the nursery was supposed to be a place of peace, a space where Marrissa and I could dream about the life we were building together. Instead, it ended up being the exact opposite.I stomped out of the room, my heart pounding harder than it should have. My head hurts and I could not control my anger. I could still hear Marrissa’s voice of pain, the sharp sound kept ringing in my ears. I really did not mean to yell at her. I made a promise to myself never to shout at her again, but goddamn it, the woman made me scared and angry all at the same time. Marrissa is stubborn, so stubborn it made me want to shake some sense into her. She did too much, always pushing herself like she was not carrying our child, like she was not risking her health with every careless step. And what for? To prove what point exactly? To show me she did not need help from anyone, or to prove that she is an independent woman? I ran a hand through
Marrissa's point of view My hand stretched out to the door handle, and for some reason I did not understand,I became apprehensive, something in me told me not to open the door."Morgan," I called softly, hesitating for a split second before pushing the door open. Before my fingers could move, the door opened wide from the inside. Every muscle in my body tensed up as my eyes met the person standing in front of me.Farrow stood there, leaning against the door like she owned the place. She wore red lingerie, and the way her body was exposed and the way she smiled told me there was more to what meets the eyes.She did not look surprised. If anything, she looked amused. "Hey, Marrissa. You are back." She said in a joyful tone,like there was something we were celebrating.I didn’t respond, I couldn't because I didn’t even know what to say. My eyes moved past her, looking toward the study. The air was thick with the scent of her perfume, the kind that lingered long after someone had
Morgan's point of viewI knew everything was wrong the moment I opened my eyes.First, I noticed I was half-naked, and I did not remember removing my clothes at any time.Second, the scent in the room felt odd. It was not mine. It was not Marrissa’s, either. No. This was a scent I recognized but never wanted near me. It was Farrow's.I sat up quickly. I didn't mind the pain in my head, what bothered me was why Farrow's scent was all over me.I knew when she came into my study.She had knocked softly, stepping inside before I even acknowledged her. I had been too lost in my thoughts. My mind was replaying the look in Marrissa’s eyes when she walked away from me earlier that day. "Is everything alright? I heard Marrissa's voice earlier and she didn't sound happy and then I saw her walk out angrily," she had said. "Is everything okay between you two? Is there something I can do to help?"I did not even look at her before yelling at her to Get out.The audacity of her to show up, acting
Morgan's point of view The dim glow of the bar did little to reduce the storm inside me even for a bit. I tilted my glass, watching the amber liquid swirl before downing it in one gulp. It burned my throat, but not enough to drown out the frustration biting me at my chest. "Ring, ring, ring."For the fifth time in ten minutes, my phone vibrated on the counter. It was Marrissa. I scoffed, shaking my head. “Oh, now she notices I’m gone. Now I’m worth talking to.” I gritted my teeth, tapping my fingers against the glass before signaling the bartender for another shot. He hesitated, eyeing me cautiously. "Are you okay, Morgan?" I sighed , not even sure how to answer that question. Before I could find the words, my phone buzzed again, but this time, it was a different number. “This must be Andre,” I whispered.I chuckle, flipping my phone over, I hold down the power button. My phone screen darkened, cutting off the ringing and switching off. “They can all go to hell for a
Marrissa's point of view “Open the damn gate,” Andre yelled to the men at the gate.“Sir….. ma… the gate is locked from the outside,” one of Morgan's men replied.“What? What the hell does that mean?” I asked in panic.“Calm down Marrissa,” Andre said, making me sit down.“I think Sir Morgan locked the gate from the outside.”“He fucking did what?” “Is there another way outside this estate?”“Only one emergency gate and only Mr Morgan knows the code to open the gate.”“Fuck fuck fuck, call your boss, everyone, call him right now, His wife needs medical attention.”I can't believe Morgan would do this, in fact, I felt ashamed my husband could be this callous.If he wasn't happy to see Andre, why didn't he say something?I had invited Andre here because I felt uneasy and I didn't want to tell Morgan, not yet and when Andre called me and said he was in the neighborhood, I begged him to come in.And truth be told, his presence had helped change my mood, but while we were talking, I sudd
Morgan's point of view I drove up to my mansion but did not get out of the car. The engine hummed softly beneath my hands, the glow of the headlights cutting through the early morning darkness. But I just sat there, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the front gates like they were some kind of prison bars. I knew I should go inside, but I could not.No, I was not scared,but I was tired. Tired of the many fights and quarrels.By now, Marrissa was definitely furious. She could be hurt too. Truth is, I don't think I could handle another fight. Not tonight. My head hurts so badly and it may explode if I stress myself any further.And God knows that if I see Andre I inside, I might actually lose it. The thought of him standing in my house, acting like he belonged there, like he had a right to Marrissa’s time and attention, made my blood boil. I sighed sharply and raked a hand through my hair. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready for her anger. For the look in her eyes th
Morgan's point of view The hall outside the doctor’s office felt colder than the rest of the hospital. Everywhere smelled like antiseptic and I hated it.My hands curled into fists at my sides as I stood there, trying to prepare myself for what I already knew in my gut was bad news. I turned the knob and stepped inside. Dr. Patel looked up from his desk, his face lined with exhaustion. His eyes that were usually sharp now looked sad and that alone made my heart heavy. “Hello, doctor.” I greeted, my voice came out rough. “Hey, Morgan.” I noticed his tone was careful. “How are you holding up?” I nearly laughed. How the hell did he think I was doing? “What happened?” I demanded, cutting through whatever small talk he was trying to offer. “Where is my wife? How’s my child?” Dr. Patel sighed and gestured for me to sit, but I didn’t move. “Calm down, Morgan,” he said gently. I clenched my jaw. “Just tell me what happened.” He hesitated. “First, you need to know that we d
Marrissa's point of view I woke up to a cruel, suffocating silence. My body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and something far worse, emptiness and grief. My hands moved instinctively to my stomach, my fingers trembling as they pressed against the fabric of my hospital gown. My stomach was flat. “No…” I whispered.I pressed harder, desperately searching for the familiar swell of my belly, but it was gone. Tears blurred my vision as I turned my head, my heart pounding in my chest. Maybe…maybe this was all a mistake. Maybe the doctors had been wrong. Maybe my baby was here, safe, waiting for me in a cradle nearby. I forced my eyes open and looked around, searching the sterile room, hoping to hear the soft cry of my child. But I saw nothing. I heard nothing. The doctor’s words slammed into me all over again. "I'm sorry… We did everything we could… But the baby didn’t make it." "No… No, no, no, no..” I cried. My voice cracked, the sound barely a whisper as my che
Marrissa's point of view I stood outside the shimmering glass doors of the executive conference room with my heart pounding in my chest like it was trying to escape. Behind those doors was a panel of investors, each one a name I had memorized from the dossier Mr. Adrian handed me just yesterday. The Echelon Project. A multi-million-dollar initiative that could reshape tech-integrated education.“You’ve got this,” Samira whispered beside me, nudging my arm. She had tagged along under the pretense of delivering tea, but I knew she was really there to support me. My ride-or-die bestie.I took one deep breath. Then I walked in.Thirty-seven minutes later, I came out looking like I had fought a war and somehow survived. My hands trembled, but my voice had not cracked once. I answered every question, deflected the skepticism, and even got to make them laugh.“How did it go?” Samira asked, practically vibrating with excitement.“I think…” I exhaled, blinking. “I think I killed it.”“YES!”
Marrissa's point of view After my meeting with Mr. Adrian, something inside me shifted.I was not going to cry in the bathrooms anymore. I was not going to let Bianca or anyone run me out.If they wanted a show? I would give them the best damn performance they had ever seen.Samira found me later in the break room, still gripping my coffee cup like a weapon."You look like you are about to commit a felony," she said brightly."Felony?" I echoed, smiling thinly. "More like... a strategic takedown."She slid into the seat across from me, her eyebrows raised."God, I love it when you get scary," she said, laughing. "Tell me everything."And I did.I told her how I would start saving backup files on a separate drive in a hidden folder labeled Birthday Party Clowns. No one would ever check that one. I told her how I would place subtle marks on my original documents. I would use things only I would recognize and if they were tampered with, I would realize immediately.I explained how
Marrissa's point of view Daniel told me to continue working on the Echelon project even thoughno results had come about who would really lead the project.“There's no harm in being prepared,” he said and I agreed.He agreed to assist me in the best way he could and today we were supposed to have a meeting.Well, yes iIt was supposed to be a quick meeting.Just me and Daniel. We were supposed to finalize a section of the Echelon project before the weekend.Instead, it turned into three hours of gisting and snacking. There were two pizza boxes, and one playlist full of 90s hits blasting through the empty office.At some point, I realized we were laughing more than working."I swear," Daniel said between bites of cold pizza, "half of all the good architect are just surviving the ridiculous clients.""Oh, you mean the lady who wanted her lobby made entirely out of glass? Including the floor?" I asked, grinning.Daniel shuddered dramatically. "I tell you."We both laughed.And then — Th
Bianca's point of view I saw everything and I was not only irritated,I was angry.Who the fuck does she think she is. She came in as a freaking newbie and now,she was leading a project I had been working my ass to lead.What the hell did she do to Mr Adrian?I saw the easy smile he always gave her.The way even Daniel lingered by the doorway after her presentation, scribbling notes furiously, his gaze locked on Marrissa like she was some kind of prodigy.It made my stomach twist.Everything about her annoyed me . Her wide eyes and modest outfits and fake humility. She walks about like she had no idea she had just snagged the biggest project in the company. The Echelon Account. My project. At least, it was supposed to be mine.And now, she was everyone's favorite.Including Mr Rodes actually came to the company just to say “Marrissa’s proposal was refreshing. I’m excited to have her work here."Excited?She barely knew which floor the printers were on.After everything I had done, aft
Marrissa's point of view Later that afternoon, my badge beeped me into the sleek, glass-walled conference room. The long table was already packed with managers, strategists, and consultants. And, of course, Bianca was sitting, looking at me like a hawk, her legs were crossed and she was tapping a pen against her notepad with surgical precision.I gulped. Samira gave me a thumbs-up from behind a frosted partition.At exactly one o'clock, Mr. Adrian, Mr Allen and Mrs Spencer walked in. They were all calm and composed,but the room snapped to attention like they carried gravity in their pockets."Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "this is Marrissa and I picked her as the lead on Echelon. We will be hearing her make a presentation as well as Bianca and at the end, we will decide who will really lead the project."There were murmurs in the room . Some looked at me with raised eyebrows and someone even coughed.I opened my folder with trembling hands and began explaining my initial idea
Marrissa's point of view I barely made it home before my phone buzzed again.Samira:> Emergency. > Celebration required. > Meet us at ‘The Olive Lounge by 7:30 sharp. > Dress cute but comfy. Boss Babe orders.I didn’t even bother arguing. Samira had basically dragged me into their circle at full speed with no brakes and honestly, I like it.I threw on a pair of skinny jeans, a soft rose-pink blouse, and some ankle boots that made me feel vaguely fashionable, and by 7:20, Samira was honking outside like a maniac."You are ate!" she yelled as I climbed into the car."You are early!" I shot back.Liana and Tasha were already seated at the backseat, waving like overexcited puppies."You look so CUTE!" Liana squealed."She understood the assignment," Tasha said approvingly, high-fiving me.Samira drove away from the curb like she was auditioning for ‘Fast and Furious: The Suburban Edition’."We have ONE mission tonight," she declared with shining eyes."Survive your driving?" I s
Marrissa's point of view I did say I was on fire yesterday right. Well, there was nothing hot in me right now as I stood in front of Me Adria, trying not to crumble to the ground."Miss Marrissa, I had not been hundred percent truthful to you and I think I should now."My stomach twisted.“What is he about to say?” I thought to myself."I didn't give you the entire information because I didn't want you scared or overwhelmed."My legs began to shake, suddenly too weak to carry the weight of my body."May I sit please?” I asked weakly."Oh please, do take your seat, “ he said, gesturing to a chair across from him.I sat down and placed my shaky hands on my lap.I didn't know why,but I was worried he wanted to say something bad. His nt facial expression didn't even make it any better.He wasn't smiling."First, I want to commend you again for your work so far, you have been incredibly good, but…. I'm afraid there is more to do"."You will be attending a meeting this afternoon with top e
Marrissa's point of view I spent Sunday indoors, preparing mentally and physically for tomorrow's work activities.Monday came and I dressed smartly for work. Today, I will attend my first core planning meeting.The Core Planning Team meeting was held on the thirty-fifth floor — the floor with actual glass walls, leather chairs, and a skyline view that made you feel both inspired and slightly nauseous at the same time.I held my new badge so tightly it nearly left an imprint on my palm.Samira had tried to coach me on the elevator ride up:"Okay, listen," she said in a hushed voice. You are brilliant, but you are also new to this. Some of those people there have been here for years. They are not going to throw you a party, Marrissa. Just... smile. Be polite. And don’t let Karen corner you."I frowned. " Who is Karen?"Samira widened her eyes. "You will know when you see her."Great. Cryptic warnings and mystery enemies. “This was fine,” I whispered.The elevator dinged, and w
Marrissa's point of view I woke up the next day with sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my room. The noise of the city outside was a comforting reminder that I was in a new place.It was Saturday. A day to relax.I stretched lazily on the bed, feeling the softness of the sheets against my skin. The air smelled faintly of lavender from the diffuser I had set up the night before.Deciding to make the most of the day, I slipped into comfortable clothes and tied my hair up. I put on some upbeat music—something with a rhythm that made cleaning feel less like a chore and more like a party. As the melodies filled the apartment, I moved from room to room, dusting, organizing, and tidying up.An hour into my cleaning spree, my phone buzzed with a notification. I wiped my hands on a towel and picked it up.It was a message from a hidden number: “How are you faring?”I stared at the screen, puzzled.“Who could this be?” Could it be Molly or Andre? But why use