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Darius didn’t look up as Melissa entered his office. “You asked for her contact,” she said, placing a small note on his desk. Darius’s eyes moved to it. Selina’s number. For a brief second, he simply stared at it. “You don’t usually cross that line,” Melissa added quietly.Darius picked up the paper. Melissa looked at him for a moment, then nodded and walked out without saying a word. The door shut quietly behind her. Darius leaned back in his chair, still holding the number. Then, without overthinking it, he dialed her number.Selina was gently settling Stormy into sleep when her phone suddenly rang. She looked at the screen, an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, she finally answered. “Hello?” She heard a familiar voice on the other end. “It’s Darius.” She sat up straighter, startled. “Sir—” “Take tomorrow off,” he cut in. She blinked in surprise. “A day off?”“Yes.”“I'm okay; I can go to work” “You fainted." "I'm fine now." "No, you’re not,” he replied softly. "You need to re
Darius leaned in a bit. "Let’s not waste any more time." His fingers gently tapped the desk as he asked, "Tell me everything you know about what happened on the stairs." Juliana slightly furrowed her brow. "Nothing” she replied. "I only heard that Selina slipped.”Melissa let out a quiet breath, almost like a scoff. Juliana glanced at her briefly before returning her gaze to Darius. “I don’t see why I’m being questioned,” she added. Darius didn’t react right away. Instead, he reached for something on his desk. A piece of paper. He slid it toward her. “Look at it.” Juliana’s hand moved slowly as she picked it up. The moment her eyes landed on the image, her heart skipped a beat. It was blurry. But clear enough.She stood beside the stairwell, her fingers gripping the page slightly. She managed a small laugh. "This?" she asked softly. "I walk that hallway almost every day." Darius kept his gaze fixed on her face. "You were there minutes before the incident." "That doesn't prove anything.
After confirming that the baby was okay, Selina finally allowed herself to breathe but her relief didn’t last long because something else hit her immediately.Stormy.Her eyes snapped open.“My phone…, where’s my phone?” Darius reached for the small table beside her bed and picked it up.“Malissa gave your phone to me.”He gave it to her.Selina took it quickly, her fingers slightly trembling as she unlocked the screen, the moment it lit up, her heart sank.Missed several calls, all from the same person.Mercy. (Stormy babysitter)"Oh no…" Selina murmured.She quickly hit the call button and raised the phone to her ear, It rang once, twice, then…“Selina! Where are you?” Mercy’s voice came through immediately, filled with worry.“I’m so sorry,” Selina said quickly. “I’m so, so sorry Mercy.”“What happened? I’ve been calling you since yesterday!” Selina swallowed.“I… I had an accident at work,” she explained. “I lost consciousness and they brought me to the hospital.” There was a brief
The hallway outside the executive offices was unusually quiet that morning, Juliana walked slowly down the corridor, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. In her hand was a small bottle she had taken from the maintenance storage room earlier that day.Her expression stayed calm, almost bored. But inside her mind, a storm of thoughts roared. Selina. Just thinking about the name made her jaw clench.Selina had no idea what she had walked into when she entered King International. She had no idea how long Juliana had worked beside Darius, how many years she had invested in this company and in him.And yet, somehow, in just a few weeks, that quiet woman claimed a place Juliana had waited years for. Worse still, she was carrying his child. Juliana’s grip tightened slightly around the bottle.“No,” she murmured under her breath. “That won’t happen.”After carefully spreading it with a tissue, Juliana stood up once more. Her heart began to beat more quickly. One slip. It
The city lights gently reflected on the windshield as Darius carefully navigated through the quiet streets. It was quite late, and most offices had already closed for the day, leaving the roads calmer than usual. Despite the peaceful surroundings, his mind remained restless.His fingers gently gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter. The soft warmth of the alcohol still lingered in his system, easing the sharp edges of the long day, yet it couldn't do much to calm the storm raging inside his mind.He exhaled slowly.The unwavering determination in her eyes caught him off guard, reflecting a strength few could understand. Many in her position might have reacted with panic, begged for help, or tried to exploit the situation. Yet, Selina chose a different path; she gently pushed him away, illustrating her resilience and inner resolve.Juliana’s voice echoed in his mind. "Women like her always seek ways to secure their futures." Darius’s jaw clenched tightly.He was certain it was untrue
The office floor had become quiet as most employees had already left for the evening, their footsteps fading into the distance towards the elevators. Only the faint glow of desk lamps and the low hum of computers persisted. Darius King’s office remained dimly lit, the glow of the city beyond casting shadows inside. He stood by the vast glass window, a glass of whiskey loosely gripped in his hand. He couldn’t recall exactly when he poured the first drink, let alone the second or third. What stayed with him was the relentless weight of his conversation with Selina. Weaving the glass just so, he watched the amber liquid swirl, trapped in thoughts he couldn’t shake. “I’m not letting you take responsibility for the baby.” Her voice echoed again. Sharp, Defensive, Almost angry. He took a cautious sip, barely noticing the alcohol's burn in his throat. Without exerting any effort, he had managed billion-dollar agreements. He had to deal with vicious board members and combative rivals. Bu







