CHAPTER 50 ZYLIAH’S POV I rapped lightly on the door, locking eyes with a bodyguard who was pretending not to watch my every move. I looked away, paying attention to the closed door before me. I gave another rap. "You can use the doorbell, miss," the bodyguard advised. "Oh." I felt a little embarrassed. I didn't even see the doorbell. I pressed it. Many times. Before someone finally opened. A maid in her thirties. Early thirties, I think. "Hello, miss," she greeted politely, but there was no trace of a smile. "Hi. I'm here to see Mr. Delson." She studied my appearance. "His son doesn’t live here. He only visits now and then.” I frowned. Why would she assume who I was here to see? "I'm actually here to see the father. Not the son.” "Oh." A frown appeared, her dark brown eyes noticeably judgy. "Do you have an appointment?" "Yes. Go tell him Zyliah is here to see him." I was beginning to get irritated by her. Was she a maid or his wife? "Zyliah who?" she probed further. I
CHAPTER 49 ZYLIAH’S POV "It's such a lovely afternoon." Discussions about Claire forgotten, Grandma Charlotte visibly relaxed in the chair, leaning back to make herself more comfortable. "Yes, it is," I said, absentmindedly watching the kids play with floaters. I wanted to call them in before they caught a cold, but I didn't have the heart to ruin their fun. Plus, it gave me time for myself. I was going to make sure they bathed with warm water when they were done. "How's it going?" she asked, her tone hinting exactly at what I thought it was. My next response was a shrug. "To be honest, I don't think it's going to go the way you planned.” "Don't give up." She frowned a little—not out of annoyance or anger, just something reflexive. "Why don't you tell Claire? I mean, they've clearly known each other for years." "Yet no change from him? If anything, he got worse. I didn't even know about her until a few days ago. I know my grandson, Zyliah. When he loves, he loves loud. Dote
CHAPTER 48ZYLIAH’S POV"When will the documents be ready?" I asked, taking a sip of the mocktail I’d mixed myself while listening to Julia Fawn, the realtor I’d once planned to buy a house through.I’d already explained my living situation and how unlikely it was that I would be buying a home now. She’d understand.To make up for the change, I asked her to find me a large building instead and explained my plan to open a new branch here.After a long, heartfelt conversation with my best friends, they advised me to keep the company running in Fidelston—the city I had left Greenvylle for—and focus on opening a new branch here instead.And I agreed with them. So I was opening a new one here, something I would manage myself until I could find someone capable—someone who could take over so I’d have more time for my boys.With Julia’s help, I’d just bought a new building, though the documents were still being finalized."Soon, ma'am." "Alright. You've been a big help so far, Julie. Thank
CHAPTER 47 MARTINO’S POV I was in my private study when the telephone rang. I didn’t waste time picking it up—I already had a strong hunch who might be calling—and put it on loudspeaker. "Hello?" "Good afternoon, Mr. Delson." The familiar voice of my 'little birdie' echoed in the quiet of my study. "Hang on. I'm coming." I stood up and walked to check if the door was locked. Once I confirmed it was locked, and with the walls being soundproof, I felt confident no one could overhear. I returned to my chair. "Any update?" I got straight to the point, reaching into the top drawer of my desk for my cigar and lighter. I lit a fresh stick and puffed smoke as I listened, being fed information. A new woman, named Claire, showed up at the house today with a five-year-old daughter. Turns out Mr. Williams Jr. has another child—with her.” "Claire who? Did you get a surname?" "I think I heard Grandma Charlotte introduce her to Zyliah as Claire Bermout." "Alright." I made a
CHAPTER 46ZYLIAH’S POVOur faces were still so close I could feel his warm breath fanning my face, and though his hands had stopped shaking my shoulders, they were still resting right there.Our eyes stayed locked on each other, and it was as though we could no longer understand whatever it was that kept brewing between us.I wanted to move back, to put space between us, but something had me rooted to the spot. Maybe it was pride, one that didn’t want him to even begin to feel like he’d actually won this ridiculous little war.And he wasn’t moving either—it could’ve just been plain old stubbornness on his part.A knock sounded. I heard it, and I guessed he heard it too, but neither of us was ready to move from our spot."Am I interrupting something?"The voice finally got us to move away from each other, and my gaze shifted toward the door.Claire. A bit of confusion creased her brows.“What are you doing here, Claire?” His tone was gruff, still holding anger—or whatever was left of
CHAPTER 45ANTHONY SMITH’S POV"Where's the client? Did you not inform him of the meeting?" I swallowed down the lump of apprehension, trying to drown the real reason my potential client wasn't here yet."He… he backed out at the last minute. Says we have to provide records of the company’s successful innovations from the last five years," my secretary, Penelope, said.I opened my mouth but shut it immediately. There was nothing to say. I truly had nothing to say.Without another word, I left her behind and walked into my office.Anger and more apprehension clawed at me viciously. My spacious, air-conditioned office felt small and cramped—hot and uncomfortable.I was on the verge of losing it all. All my years of hard work were about to go down the drain. For the past five years, instead of gaining clients and making real profits, all I had to show were losses—money and clients both.Sabrina had played an awful part in these clients leaving. She couldn't hold on to any of them, nor co