Lemar walked across the hotel grounds toward the playground. The sun was setting, casting golden rays over the scene, and the sound of children’s laughter filled the air. He couldn’t help but smile at the hotel’s effort to make the space child-friendly.
Ahead, he spotted Samantha on a swing, her legs stretched high and her face glowing with pure joy. Maya stood nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the little girl.
The moment Samantha saw Lemar, her face lit up. She waved excitedly.
“Rek!” she shouted, her voice full of happiness.
Lemar waved back and quickened his pace, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. By the time he reached the swing, Samantha’s grin had only widened.
“Hey, Sam! I can see how happy you are,” Lemar said, crouching to meet her eye level.
“Yes! But it’s more fun when someone pushes me,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Maya stepped
By the time Lemar’s last meeting ended, it was well past his usual closing hours. He was drained, mentally and physically.As he drove back to his hotel, his thoughts drifted to the CCTV camera he had installed in his office that morning. He couldn’t help but wonder if Flavier had returned at any point.The moment he stepped into his suite, he ignored his tired body long enough to check the feed from the security camera. It didn’t take long for his suspicions to be confirmed. Flavier had indeed come back to remove the bug. Finally, Lemar had the proof he needed to expose him.Although he had suspected Flavier all along, seeing the evidence of his betrayal made his blood boil. He forced himself to calm down so he could think clearly, stripping off his clothes as he headed for the bathroom.The hot water cascading over him did little to wash away the anger, but it allowed him to focus. Instead of dwelling on the betrayal, he reminded himse
Tyrra sat at her desk in the spacious office of Empowered Magazine, fingers hovering over the keyboard as she tried, and failed, to focus on the article she was editing.Although her promotion wasn’t official yet, she still had to interview Lemar, the final criterion, she was acting as editor-in-chief, a role that came with more responsibilities than she had expected. Deadlines loomed, articles demanded attention, and her to-do list seemed endless.Still, no matter how hard she tried to focus, her thoughts kept drifting back to Lemar. She found herself staring at her phone, half-expecting a call or a message from him. She knew there was no reason to expect one, yet hope refused to let go.Get it together, Tyrra, she scolded herself silently, shaking her head as if that could clear her mind. You have work to do.She forced her attention back to the article on her screen, determined to concentrate. Just as she began to settle, her phone rang,
Grace wore a satisfied smile as she drove toward the Golden Lotus Restaurant, where she was meeting Mrs. Domino for lunch. Flavier had arranged the meeting, now that Mrs. Domino had decided Grace would be her daughter-in-law.She still could hardly believe their plan was finally falling into place. Soon, she would be married to Lemar Domino, just as she and Flavier had plotted.But as thoughts of their scheme crossed her mind, her smile faltered and was replaced by a scowl. Their attempt to have Tyrra fired had failed. Lemar seemed to trust Tyrra more than they had anticipated and was actively seeking ways to prove her innocence.The fact that Tyrra was still in the picture, aware of her and Flavier’s relationship, made Grace uneasy. They had agreed to keep their communications to phone calls, but Tyrra remained a threat, one that could expose them and ruin everything.How could she get rid of Tyrra? Grace wondered, her mind racing. She prided herse
Tyrra stared blankly at the document on her computer screen, but the words blurred into nothing. Her mind refused to focus, crowded with thoughts she couldn’t tame. The most frustrating of all was the ache in her chest, the unmistakable longing for Lemar.No matter how often she tried to reason with herself, listing every reason she couldn’t be with him, it didn’t work. Her thoughts kept drifting back to him, his teasing, his challenges, the way he pushed her to make choices she’d never imagined.She remembered the way he held her gaze with those piercing blue eyes, the subtle brush of his fingers against hers, and most vividly, the way he had made love to her just days ago, forcing her to forget the rest of the world. The attraction between them was undeniable, a magnetic pull she couldn’t fight, even as she knew it was reckless.“Too much is going on, Evie. You shouldn’t be thinking about him,” she murmured to he
The next day, Lemar arrived at his office earlier than usual, his mind focused on a single objective: installing a security camera.Flavier’s behavior the night before had been telling. His eagerness to know why Lemar believed Tyrra wasn’t behind the scandal made it clear that he assumed Lemar hadn’t discovered the bug yet. Lemar was certain that now Flavier had succeeded in turning him away from Tyrra, he would soon return to remove the bug and erase all evidence of foul play.He couldn’t let that happen. He needed definitive proof, proof he could present to his parents without question, the kind that would make Flavier’s treachery undeniable. His conversation with Flavier the previous night had confirmed Tyrra’s suspicions: Flavier and Grace were up to something. If he could show his parents what they were planning, the whole picture would fall into place.As soon as he entered his office, Lemar temporarily deactivated the b
When Flavier arrived at the hotel lounge, he spotted Lemar sitting at a corner table, nursing a drink. He walked over, trying to appear casual.Lemar looked up, smiled, and took a sip from his glass, his expression friendly.Flavier slid into the seat opposite him, glancing at Lemar to gauge his mood. “What’s up? Why are you here drinking alone?” he asked, feigning concern.Lemar shrugged, taking another sip. “Just clearing my head. It’s been a long day,” he said easily.Flavier’s eyes flicked toward him. “Why were you at my office earlier?” he asked, trying to keep his tone casual while hiding the tension underneath.Lemar let a moment pass, his fingers running through his hair. He’d already phoned his secretary earlier to confirm Flavier had been in his office, the day he told Tyrra about his adoption, and that confirmed his suspicions.“I wanted to see if you were still mad