CHAPTER 7 (ALINA POV)My fingers brushed the phone just as the screen began to glow again.But this time, it wasn’t the caller ID that made my stomach drop it was the message that flashed message before the ringtone cut it off:“Georgina Base’s name is spelled wrong on the 5-foot banner. It’s already been delivered. We need to talk. Boss.”Oh God.My eyes widened. I had rushed that order yesterday. Tried to stay focused, but my brain had been so scrambled.Now it had caught up with me.My father was still waiting for me to answer. His eyes had not moved a bit Clara bent her head ever so slightly, as if smelling fear.The ringtone rang out again louder, sharper, like it was mocking me now.How the hell did I mess up that name?I could still picture the sheet I had glanced over, that moment when I second-guessed the spelling… and shrugged it off.Mistake.And now my boss had found it. The client had seen it.And she was calling me.My thumb hovered over the screen.Maybe I shoul
CHAPTER 8(DAMIEN POV) I sped down the open lane, one hand gripping the wheel too tightly, the other adjusting the collar of my coat like it could somehow stop the heat at the back of my neck.“The message I had recieved back there”It arrived just as a vibration in my pocket, a flash on my phone’s screen.But the meaning words….I was still trying to make sense of it.“It’s begun. Breach confirmed.”I…didn’t tell that lady what it meant.Alina…I I mean I couldn’t.I could of course see the flash of confusion in her eyes the moment, I stood up so suddenly. She tried asking what it was, but…but I couldn't afford to waste any more time.All I could do was reach for my wallet with urgent anxious fingers as I slid several bills onto the table and told her in the same manner that I had to go.But she had refused, shaking her to say,I don’t want your money,” or something that sounded like that.i do not know for sure, what I was expecting to hear but certainly wasn't that, and oops s
(Alina’s POV)What she asked hd made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.I turned slowly,And then I saw her.Leaning against the hallway wall, arms folded, one perfectly arched brow lifted.She was in high-waisted jeans and a fitted maroon top, her glossy curls falling around her shoulders.It was my step sister Clara.Of course it was her.My mouth parted slightly, but no words came out.My heart thudded hard against my ribcage.All I could do for the first few seconds was stare with my frame frozen in the dim light.“What…” I finally managed to whisper as my hand gripped the strap of my purse.“What are you doing here?”Clara did not answer immediately.She Just gave the kind of smirk that wasn’t full amusement it was curiosity mixed with accusation.Then came the pause. A long, loaded silence. How the hell did she know I went out?And not just that, but that it had been with a man.Did she somehow know who he was?Or worse still everything that had happened between us,?M
CHAPTER 6(ALINA’s POV)The sharp curse that left Damian's lips made me blink twice.He was still staring at his phone, the light from the screen casting a glow on a part of his face.I studied him quietly.His brows had drawn together in a sharp crease. The muscle at the side of his neck was twitching.“Damian…?” I called softly, leaning forward.But before I could get the full question out, he was already on his feet.Just like that.His chair scraped lightly against the floor.There was a brief silence, and then I slowly stood to join him too, more out of reflex than intention.He didn’t speak at first, just glanced down at his phone again still looking distracted.“I’m… so, so sorry,” he said finally,“I just got an alert. Something urgent. I might have to end this abruptly.”His eyes shifted as if checking the space around us for someone or something.Then they landed back on me.I could feel my confusion deepening at this point. I was trying to read him, but his walls had go
CHAPTER 5(DAMIAN POV)About two hours later, my car purred softly as I navigated through the quiet residential neighborhood Alina had directed me to.The houses in the area were quite modest, lined with small lawns, and occasional rusted mailboxes.Alina’s house itself was humble, its white paint was fading.Their garden had a few blooming flowers scattered among overgrown grass.It was a far cry from the opulence I was used to, and for some reason, it made me feel even more out of place.As I turned off the ignition, I immediately noticeda figure emerging from inside the house, stepping out onto the porch. My heart jolted as I looked closer, my brows lifting in recongnition.It was Alina.She walked with this air of quiet confidence, Her hair was neatly combed,Her simple yet elegant blouse was paired with fitted jeans making her natural beauty more obvious.She was even prettier than I had imagined with my drunken eyes.“Damian,” I murmured to myself, I was at loss for actu
CHAPTER 4(DAMIAN POV)I was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my bedroom,My hands absently buttoning my shirt while staring back at my dull reflection.In the following second, my phone trembled on my hand, I stopped to glance at the screen. The name flashing on it, was Victor, my personal secretary.I swiped to answer, lifting the phone to my ear.“Victor,”I called, my voice low but steady.“Morning sir,” Victor greeted.“I’ve just spoken with the legal team. The hostile takeover attempt by Ashcroft Holdings is more aggressive than we anticipated. They’ve managed to sway two of the board members Keller and Stokes.”I stiffened, my hand pausing mid-button. “Keller and Stokes? I expected Keller to cave, but Stokes…”My voice ttrailed off, my free hand running through my hair.“So what’s their angle now?”“Money, of course,”Victor intoned bitterly.“Ashcroft promised them lucrative buyouts. We’re trying to pull them back, but it’s going to cost us.”I exhaled s