Chapter 32 – Bryan’s POV The air in the suite’s meeting room seemed to still, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. “Lay her off,” Tony had said, without any explanation or even addressing any situation. He just said it like it was the most natural request in the world. As if I had come all the way from Adams Petroleum and Gas, a 20 minutes journey to discuss personnel changes instead of a multi-million-dollar oil partnership that was supposed to open doors for both our companies. My chair creaked as I leaned back, narrowing my eyes. “Tony,” I said slowly, tasting the weight of his name in my mouth the way you test a coin for authenticity, “I don’t know what history you two have, but Christiana’s employment isn’t your decision to make.” He just sat there in his tailored suit, calm as still water, the kind of calm that made you think there was something dangerous moving beneath the surface. I let my voice drop a notch, colder now. “And the last man who tried to
Chapter 31: The Witch **Bella’s POV** The wine was perfect this afternoon. It was crisp, cold, and expensive enough to taste like victory. The kind of vintage you didn’t just drink; you imagine with it, letting the glass linger in your hand, swirling until it caught the sunlight just so. I sank deeper into the velvet cushions of my armchair, my phone balanced between my fingers, the glow of the screen still haloing the last message I had sent to Christiana. I read it again, slower this time, savoring each word like a piece of chocolate melting against the roof of my mouth. __ *Me: Anyway, I’m enjoying my afternoon in bed with my billionaire husband. Thought you might want to know. He would do anything for me.* __ Mmm. Perfect to make her go mad. I could imagine Christiana’s face going rigid the second her eyes reached the end of that sentence. I could practically see it: the way her lips would press together to stop a tremble, the shallow breath she had take
Chapter 30: Christiana Vs Bella 1 *Christiana’s POV* Bryan’s car had barely turned the corner before the quiet of my apartment wrapped around me like a heavy, unwelcome blanket. I was privileged to be home already from work by 12pm, well, it is well deserved, after all I stayed at work till almost 11 pm warming up my bosses’ bed figuratively. It wasn’t the soft kind of quiet that lets you breathe in my apartment, it was the brittle, restless kind. The kind where every tick of the clock sounds louder, and your mind starts filling in the silence with the things you wish you could forget. What’s that guy up to? I pushed the door shut with my hip, the echo bouncing off the walls like the place was reminding me just how alone I was. The faint smell of lavender from the diffuser I’d left running this morning met me at the threshold, but even that felt off — too sweet, almost cloying, like it was trying too hard to be comforting. I tossed my bag onto the couch, the strap catchi
Chapter 29: Tony Vs. Bryan ** Bryan’s POV** The suite’s meeting room smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive coffee. The kind of understated luxury that told you the rent alone could feed a small town for a year. I knew all this about wealth and poverty because I was once forced to live in poverty. My father was a very 'wise' man. It may not be wise to everybody. At that time, I felt he was being cruel when he punished I and my elder brother, Pascal, by sending us to the seminary school in Chicago for a year, ensured that we suffered and pay for our sins. That was where I had met Bella, when she was eleven. That was my father's own form of discipline, and I would say I am grateful for that because I learnt how to appreciate wealth knowing it is a privilege after that punishment. I stepped into the suite expecting to see Bernard Amazli, the imposing man with the perfect Windsor knot and the kind of handshake that could seal or kill a deal in one squeeze. Inst
Chapter 28 Tony’s POV I stared at the screen, re-reading Christiana’s message as if the words might rearrange themselves into something less alarming. __ Christiana: Hey Baby Tony, are you aware Amazli Oil and Gas wants to collaborate with Adams Petroleum? Well, I don't know if it’s a collaboration, but Bryan sounds hopeful and I’m joining him for the meeting. __ The words landed like a punch to the ribs, knocking the breath out of me. If Christiana was coming along… it would ruin everything. I could see it already, imagining her walking into that meeting, sitting beside Bryan like she belonged there, their eyes meeting over a polished mahogany table while I sat across from them choking down every ounce of rage I had left. Not happening, I wouldn't be able to tell Bryan all that I wanted to tell him. Christiana must not be there. I cursed under my breath, the kind of low, guttural sound that only came when every nerve in my body was pulling taut. My thumb was a
CHAPTER 27 **Christiana’s POV** The question landed like a glass shattering on marble. It was sharp, sudden, impossible to ignore. Ho was I supposed to answer a question like that without shooting myself in the leg? God, grant me wisdom. “What? I just need to know to be sure...” Bryan hesitated, "just to know, you know?" I could see it in his eyes, he was unsure about Bella and he hoped I wouldn't say something that would give him a heart ache. For a heartbeat, I just stared at him, my mind a silent whirl of calculations. My pulse kicked harder, and I willed it to slow, to steady. But his gaze was unflinching. IT made you feel like lying wasn’t just dangerous, it was pointless. I forced a breath, shaping my voice into something light, almost dismissive. “She’s… an old friend. From years back. Five years ago and a little more.” One of his brows ticked upward, the faintest crease forming between them. He didn’t speak, and the silence felt like a test. So I kept g