LOGINRICHARD The little conference room in my office was already occupied when I walked in that morning.Seven members of the financial committee sat around the polished oval table, each with laptops, reports, and quarterly projections spread before them.I took my usual seat at the head of the table."Good morning, everyone."A chorus of greetings followed.I opened the agenda packet in front of me."Let's get started."The company had entered one of its most ambitious periods in years. Several major research initiatives were advancing simultaneously, and the board wanted detailed financial plans for the next quarter before authorizing additional spending.To my right sat Daniel Foster, the committee chairman.A meticulous man in his early fifties who seemed capable of spotting accounting discrepancies from a mile away.Daniel adjusted his glasses."First item on the agenda," he said. "Project Barbara."The large screen mounted on the wall immediately displayed a presentation.Project Ba
FeliciaI was just a couple of hours into reviewing my research notes when my phone rang.Without looking up, I ignored it.My eyes remained fixed on the interaction chart on my computer screen while I highlighted several observations in a notebook.A few seconds later, the phone rang again.This time I sighed and reached for it.The moment I saw the caller ID, I sat up straighter.Nora.The realtor.I immediately swiped across the screen."Hello, Nora.""Good afternoon, Felicia," she said cheerfully."Good afternoon.""I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."I glanced at the research papers scattered across my desk."Nothing that can't wait.""Wonderful. I think I may have another property you'd like to inspect."My interest sharpened immediately."Oh?""Are you free in about an hour?""Yes, I am.""Perfect."I heard papers rustling on her end."This one is in White Marble Estate."A smile immediately spread across my face.White Marble Estate.I had heard about it countless
FELICIAThe soft morning light filtering through the curtains woke me before my alarm did.For a few seconds, I remained in bed, listening to the quiet stillness surrounding the house. I heard a door close and the faint hum of activity beginning in the house.I stretched carefully before sitting up.Pregnancy had taught me many things.One of them was that moving too quickly in the morning was a terrible idea.After brushing my teeth and changing into exercise clothes, I rolled my birthing ball toward the center of the room."Let's do this."The words came out softly.The baby, fortunately, had remained cooperative lately.My lower back wasn't hurting.My sugar levels were stable.And my energy had been reasonably good.I sat on the birthing ball and began a series of gentle movements my doctor had approved.Slow pelvic circles.Hip rotations.Gentle bouncing.Nothing strenuous.Just enough to keep my body active.After fifteen minutes, I moved on to the resistance bands.I secured on
RICHARDTwo days later, my driver eased the car into the parking lot of one of the city's most exclusive restaurants.I glanced at my watch.12:15 p.m.Fifteen minutes before my meeting with Raymond.The restaurant stood on a quiet corner overlooking a landscaped boulevard lined with palm trees and ornamental shrubs. The building itself wasn't overly extravagant, but everything about it communicated wealth. From the polished stone exterior to the valet attendants standing neatly at the entrance, the place catered to people who valued privacy as much as luxury.My driver stepped out first and came around to open my door."Thank you," I said as I got out.The afternoon air was pleasantly warm.I adjusted my suit jacket and headed toward the entrance.The hostess recognized me immediately."Good afternoon, Dr. Coleman.""Good afternoon."She smiled professionally."Prof. already reserved a table for two. Right this way."A waiter took over and led me through the restaurant.The lunch cro
FELICIA Richard rested both arms against the edge of his desk and looked at me steadily.“You think suing them will complicate things?” he asked.The irritation I sensed in his voice had softened. “Yes,” I answered honestly. “I think it will.”I paused briefly before adding,“And I’m almost certain your board members won’t encourage it either.”A quiet exhale left him.“Yeah… speaking of the board,” he muttered.He ran a hand through his hair slowly, a gesture I was beginning to notice he did whenever something genuinely frustrated him.“It was actually the board chairman, Raymond, who brought the newspaper to my office four days ago to show me.”“I see,” I said quietly.That explained a lot.Not just his anger but the pressure beneath it.Richard wasn’t merely dealing with gossip.He was dealing with institutional scrutiny; corporate image and board politics.The kind of pressure that turned personal matters into business concerns.For a moment, he said nothing. He simply stared ah
RICHARD “What are you going to do about the City Herald report?”Felicia’s voice cut through the silence of my office just as we finished reviewing the interaction chart displayed on my computer screen.I looked away from the monitor slowly.“Oh…” I said. “You’ve read it?”She stood across from my desk holding a blue research folder against her side, her expression calm but observant.“Who hasn’t?” she replied evenly.Fair point.It had been four days since the article came out, and instead of dying down like most media nonsense, it had spread like gasoline fire.Every gossip blog now has its own version.Some were even in more dramatic versions.Outrightly ridiculous!One headline had actually read:“The Billionaire Scientist With Secrets Too Dangerous to Reveal?”Idiots.I leaned back slightly in my chair, studying Felicia for a brief second.Unlike most people who brought up the issue lately, she didn’t look curious.Or entertained.Just analytical.“What do you think I should do
HARRYI tightened my tie slowly, my eyes fixed on my reflection in the mirror.“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath, adjusting the knot just a little more.Everything had to be perfect today.No mistakes.No slip-ups.No second chances.Behind me, the room was quiet…too quiet for a hotel suite tha
FELICIAI didn’t remember how I got home.The drive was a blur…just empty roads and a heavier heart with every passing second. My hands had been tight on the steering wheel the entire time, but my mind… my mind had stayed behind in that office.With him.With the words he threw at me.With the way
FELICIAFor days, I've wallowed in pain. That wasn't the problem, the pregnancy was growing and I was growing even more worried about it.Based on how he treated me the last time, I had avoided him for a whole week, but today, the pain feels thicker.Sooner than I expect, my belly would be bulging
RICHARD I paced around the office endlessly, somehow, my heart was racing faster than I expected, something I couldn't explain. What's really going on? All of a sudden, one random woman walks into my life, claiming I got her pregnant. To make it worse, she was Harry Sterling’s wife; the man I ha







