For some reason, Monica’s drama is extending longer than I thought 🤧
The sun was just beginning to rise as I sat at my kitchen table, a cup of coffee growing cold in front of me. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest since yesterday. Adrian’s explanation about the corporate sabotage incident had left me with more questions than answers. I trusted him, but how much of his world was I willing to accept?I absently swirled the coffee in my mug, replaying our conversation over and over in my mind. Adrian had seemed genuinely remorseful, but there was a hardness to his words, a resolve that made me wonder if he truly regretted his actions or if he was simply pragmatic about the lengths he’d go to secure his position.My phone buzzed on the table, pulling me from my thoughts. It was Grace, her timing impeccable as always.“Hey, Bella! How’s the world of billionaires treating you this morning?” she chirped.I couldn’t help but smile at her cheerful tone. “Hey, Grace. It’s...complicated. Can I call you later? I’ve got a lot on my min
I watched as he answered the call, his tone tense and guarded. The conversation was brief, but it was clear that something significant had happened.When he hung up, Adrian turned to me, his face grim. “There’s been another development. We need to act fast.”I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation settle on my shoulders. As much as I wanted to trust Adrian, the shadows of doubt loomed large. And as we moved forward, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something that could change everything.Adrian’s POV The morning light cast a golden glow over the buildings, but I could barely appreciate it. My mind was consumed with thoughts of the latest attack from Monica. The public fallout was severe, and I had to find a way to mitigate the damage.I heard Bella’s voice in my head, her words from yesterday echoing like a refrain. “But where do we draw the line, Adrian?” Her voice, filled with concern and doubt, was a stark reminder of the delicate balance I had to ma
The day started with the usual chaos, a flurry of emails and phone calls, the weight of a multi-billion dollar empire pressing down on my shoulders. But today, there was an added layer of tension, an unwelcome disturbance that had been gnawing at me since my mother’s call yesterday. Oliver was coming back.I sat in my office, staring at the city skyline, the endless stretch of glass and steel that represented my dominion. Yet, for all its beauty, today it felt like a cage. I couldn't help but think of the years of animosity and silent competition that had defined my relationship with my brother.My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my reverie. A text from Lucas.**Lucas:** “Oliver’s flight just landed. He’ll be here in an hour.”I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The last thing I needed was another power struggle, especially now. I glanced at the clock. One hour to prepare for a confrontation I had been avoiding for years.I decided to distract myself by reviewing the Sterling d
Bella's POV The morning was crisp and clear as I made my way to the Langston Tech building, the towering skyscrapers of Meridian City reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling array of colors. Today felt different. The air seemed charged with a mix of anticipation and unease. Adrian had mentioned a significant meeting, but I had no idea what to expect.I stepped into the elevator, the sleek chrome walls and ambient lighting a stark contrast to the tumultuous thoughts in my head. My outfit, carefully chosen, consisted of a royal blue pencil skirt paired with a white silk blouse and a tailored blazer. Professional yet approachable, a look that exuded confidence even if I didn’t entirely feel it.As I walked into my office, I was greeted by the usual hum of activity. Diana gave me a brief nod, her expression neutral as she handed me a stack of reports. "Good morning, Bella. Adrian is expecting you in his office.""Thanks, Diana," I replied, giving her a polite smile.I took a deep breath and
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and project updates. Despite my best efforts to concentrate, Diana’s warning kept replaying in my mind. There was something about her tone that suggested more than just professional jealousy. It felt personal.The next morning, I awoke with a sense of determination. I dressed with care, opting for a soft lavender blouse paired with a charcoal grey pencil skirt and nude heels. I pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail, hoping the polished look would bolster my confidence. Today, I was going to face whatever came my way head-on.When I arrived at Langston Tech, the office was already buzzing with activity. I exchanged polite greetings with my colleagues and made my way to my office, only to find a large bouquet of lilies and roses waiting on my desk. Attached was a small card that read, “For your dedication and hard work. - Adrian.”I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. It was a thoughtful gesture, and I couldn’t help but appreci
#### Bella’s PerspectiveThe weight of Diana's words lingered in my mind as I made my way to the archives. Langston Tech's archive room was a labyrinth of old files and documents, a place where history was both preserved and forgotten. I had always found solace in the quiet, dusty corners of libraries and archives, and today, I hoped to uncover something that would shed light on Adrian’s business dealings.As I stepped into the room, I was surprised to find Oliver already there, sifting through a stack of old files. He looked up and gave me a warm smile.“Hey, Bella. What brings you to the archives?” he asked, his tone light and welcoming.“I’m looking for information on past business deals,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to understand more about Langston Tech’s history.”Oliver’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I can help with that. What specifically are you looking for?”I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. “I’m trying to learn more about the ea
Bella’s PerspectiveAdrian's confession weighed heavily on my mind as I left his office. The revelation about our fathers’ partnership added a new dimension to everything I thought I knew about Adrian and our connection. There was a mix of apprehension and curiosity churning inside me, and I needed to process it all.As I walked back to my office, I spotted Grace leaning against my desk, flipping through a magazine. She looked up as I entered, her eyes bright with curiosity.“Hey, Bella. What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, her tone light but concerned.I managed a weak smile. “It’s a long story. How about we grab a coffee, and I’ll fill you in?”Grace nodded eagerly, and we made our way to the small café on the ground floor of the Langston Tech building. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and the quiet hum of conversations provided a comforting backdrop as we settled into a corner booth.“So, what’s the scoop?” Grace asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.I
Adrian’s PerspectiveThe tension in the air was thick as I walked through the glass-paneled halls of Langston Tech. My mind buzzed with everything that had unfolded recently — the connection between our fathers that Bella uncovered, Oliver's return, and the ever-looming presence of Monica Tate. But despite the storm swirling around me, I had to maintain control. My employees, my team — they all looked to me as the figurehead, the one who kept everything running smoothly.Langston Tech had always been an empire, but lately, cracks were starting to form beneath its sleek, pristine surface.My office loomed ahead like a sanctuary — my refuge. The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed a breathtaking view of the city, the sun reflecting off the skyscrapers in the distance. The world outside seemed calm, unaware of the chaos simmering just below the surface of this building.As I entered my office, Lucas was already there, waiting by my desk with his usual cool professionalism. His suit was shar
After everything that had happened over the last few weeks—the tension, the danger, the revelations—Adrian and Bella both needed a break. The office was no longer a sanctuary, not with all the lingering uncertainty. And so, Adrian finally made the suggestion: "Let’s go to the estate this weekend. Just you and me. We need a change of scenery."Bella had agreed, not because she needed convincing but because she too was yearning for a bit of peace. Still, there was something she couldn’t shake off. She had invited Grace to join them. Her younger sister had been a source of lightness in the midst of all the darkness. Besides, Grace had a way of cutting through the tension and making everything feel less complicated.When they arrived at the Langston estate, Bella couldn’t help but marvel at the sprawling grounds. The estate was nestled on the outskirts of the city, hidden from prying eyes. From the moment the gates opened, it was clear how expansive the property was—lush gardens, manicure
Langston Enterprises was quieter than usual, but not because the tension had faded. In fact, it was just the opposite.The air practically buzzed with anticipation.Everyone was pretending everything was normal. The departments operated as usual. Meetings were scheduled, presentations were given, and the coffee machine ran nonstop. But beneath the surface, a silent war was brewing—one that only a select few were aware of.Marcus Whitmore was the target. And the bait had been perfectly set.Adrian stood in his office, arms crossed, watching the monitors mounted discreetly in a corner of his private conference room. Each screen displayed live feeds from strategically placed cameras in the server wing of the company—the very place Marcus would try to breach.Bella entered the room, her heels clicking softly against the hardwood floor. She wore an all-black fitted pantsuit, sleek and commanding. A sharp contrast from her usual soft colors—but it matched the mood perfectly. Her laptop was
Third Person POV**The storm had passed—at least, on the outside. Langston Enterprises was back to its usual hum the following day, but beneath the polished exterior, tension brewed.Adrian sat at the head of the strategy table, a silent figure of control and restraint. His dark suit was sharp, as always, and his face gave nothing away. On the surface, the meeting was about logistics—but Adrian’s thoughts were elsewhere.Lucas had requested a private word.And that wasn’t something Adrian could easily ignore.After the board had dispersed, and Bella left for a scheduled call, Lucas stepped back into the room, quietly closing the door behind him. The silence hung between them until Adrian leaned back, arms folded across his chest.“Let me guess,” Adrian said dryly. “You’re here to deliver more shade during someone else’s presentation?”Lucas smirked faintly. “You always did hate surprises.”Adrian’s expression didn’t change. “Start talking.”Lucas exhaled, stepping toward the glass wal
Third Person POV**Langston Enterprises buzzed with the mid-morning hum of productivity. The sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long, sharp shadows across the polished marble floor. Employees bustled around in quiet efficiency, the sound of heels clicking and keyboards tapping creating a low corporate symphony.Bella entered the office that morning feeling refreshed from the double date the night before. Her tailored tan suit and soft cream blouse gave her a professional yet calm appearance, her hair swept into a clean knot. She held a coffee in one hand and a folder tucked under the other arm, already making mental notes about her next pitch meeting with the design and tech teams.She hadn’t taken more than three steps into the executive corridor before she saw him.Lucas.The moment their eyes met, his lips curled into that familiar smug grin that always bordered on condescending. He leaned casually against the wall near the elevator, in a sleek gray suit tha
The boardroom at Langston Enterprises had been filled with the soft clicks of pens, murmured agreements, and the occasional sound of someone shifting in their seat. It was a quarterly strategy update, and though it had started like every other—formal, intense, and immaculately structured—there was something noticeably different in the air.Maybe it was the way Adrian kept subtly glancing at Bella across the table, a faint softness undercutting his usual steel-edged composure. Or perhaps it was how Diana no longer looked like she was suppressing an eye roll every time Oliver made a comment—because now, she actually smiled.As the final slides flicked across the large screen and the meeting drew to a close, Oliver leaned toward Adrian and whispered, “You’re unusually chipper today. Did you take up yoga or something?”Adrian shot him a deadpan look. “I had a good espresso.”“Must’ve been made with love,” Oliver muttered with a teasing grin, nodding toward Bella, who was already packing u
The following days at the Langston estate were painted in warm hues of laughter, quiet conversations, and subtle glances. Life was finding its rhythm again. But for Oliver and Diana, everything suddenly felt… different.Not uncomfortable. Not rushed. Just different — like stepping into a space they hadn’t dared explore for too long.Oliver strolled into the conservatory early that afternoon, where golden light filtered through high arched windows and bathed the lush plants in a soft, romantic glow. The room smelled faintly of lavender and citrus from the fresh blossoms along the edges, and a gentle classical piece drifted through the air from the antique speakers tucked between the ferns.And there she was.Diana Monroe.Sitting on the tufted bench in the corner, an open legal folder on her lap, her glasses perched delicately on her nose. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a low bun, and she wore a simple, elegant cream dress that hugged her figure like it had been tailored with her
**Third Person POV**The Langston estate had quieted down in recent weeks, its halls no longer echoing with the tension of crisis and whispered strategy meetings. With Monica finally behind bars and the tech empire stable once again, the family could breathe — for the first time in a long time. But even in the stillness, something stirred beneath the surface. Something gentler. More complicated.Oliver Langston leaned against the marble island in the family’s secondary kitchen — the cozier one, tucked away from the grandeur of the main space. A slice of lemon cake dangled between his fingers, and crumbs dusted the front of his faded jeans. His hair was a little too wild, his shirt a little too wrinkled, and his grin — as usual — far too smug.Across from him, Diana Monroe sat with perfect posture, her silk blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, not a hair out of place. She stirred her tea quietly, eyes fixed on the amber swirls dancing in her cup.“You know,” Oliver began, “I’ve noticed y
The courthouse was buzzing, reporters clustered outside the heavy wooden doors like moths to flame. Cameras flashed, microphones extended toward anyone who even looked like they had something to say. But inside the Langston Enterprise boardroom-turned-war room, silence reigned.Adrian stood by the window, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the chaos on the news screen. The live broadcast showed Monica being escorted into the courthouse, her expression unreadable behind large sunglasses and an expensive blazer that screamed defiance.Bella sat on the couch, her laptop open in front of her, though she hadn't typed anything for the past ten minutes. She was watching Adrian instead—studying the sharp cut of his jaw, the way tension rolled through his body like waves. He’d barely spoken that morning, save for the briefest exchange over coffee.The past few weeks had been war.But they’d finally won.The evidence Bella had uncovered—along with Oliver’s unexpected yet brilliant te
**Bella’s POV**The warmth of the morning sun streamed across the kitchen table, golden rays spilling through the tall windows of Adrian’s penthouse. I watched as steam rose from my tea, curling in the air like whispers of the thoughts I couldn't quite silence.Even though Monica was behind bars, even though her networks were unraveling piece by piece, it still felt like we were holding our breath.The calm after a storm wasn’t always peaceful. Sometimes, it was eerily quiet—like the world was waiting for something else to go wrong.Adrian stood by the stove, sleeves rolled to his elbows, flipping pancakes like a seasoned pro. It was such a domestic sight that I almost laughed. The man who once ran international meetings from helicopters now took pride in making breakfast from scratch.He glanced over his shoulder, catching my gaze. “You’re staring again.”I shrugged, sipping my tea. “It’s not every day I see you act like a responsible adult.”He smirked, placing a stack of fluffy pan