LISTOWEL’S POVIt’s been two days since the kiss-that-wasn’t-a-kiss wrecked everything.Two days since the world flipped on its head and dragged my name through the gutter.Two days since Emily’s crocodile tears and that damn video turned me into a villain overnight.And now, I sat in the boardroom of a company I built from the bones of my own sacrifice, surrounded by vultures dressed in expensive suits. My name no longer felt safe in anyone’s mouth.Not even in my brothers James and Daniel’s mouth. Grandma sat across the long mahogany table, her lips drawn into a straight line. We’ve not talked to each other since morning because of our altercation yesterday. Since I refused to marry that snake; Emily, she had motioned to the executive to go ahead with my impeachment. The expression on her face was unreadable. She was neither sad nor happy, the only thing she constantly did was adjust her glasses. The room buzzed with whispers and murmurs as the executives whom I had toasted with,
LISTOWEL’S POVThe sun was barely up, but I was already seated behind my desk at the office, the weight of everything happening pressing down on me. Every employee at my company who passed by my office window wore the same expression; tight-lipped, wide-eyed, awkwardly pretending not to be staring at me. I didn’t need confirmation. I knew they’d seen the video circulating. A soft hesitant knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts. The door creaked open after which Kevin poked his head in. “Good Morning, sir.” He greeeted.“Come in.” I simply instructed.He stepped inside, closing the door carefully behind him like he was afraid the glass might shatter under the pressure of whatever he was about to say. I could feel his discomfort from across the room. He stood there, arms stiff at his sides, then adjusted his tie and cleared his throat.“Well?” I said, finally locking gaze with him.Kevin flinched like I’d barked at him. “Uh… I just wanted to check on you, sir. I—I mean, I su
Madam Gordon’s POVA deep silence had engulfed the mansion tonight. It wasn't the kind of silence that allowed you to sleep peacefully but the kind that would creep under your skin and forbid you from having a peaceful rest. I sat up on my bed, my hands slightly trembling as I took my phone to call Emily one more time. I've been restless ever since I saw those damn headlines. Listowel’s name was splashed everywhere, which, in the normal sense, I should have gotten used to by now. But no. This time it was different. Listowel’s name mostly trend whenever he accomplished something or secured big deals so I'm not really used to people tearing him apart on the internet. Especially for something as ridiculous as this.“Just one more call,” I whispered to myself. “If she doesn’t answer this time, I’ll try again in the morning.”I keyed in her number before dialing. The line went through immediately. It rang for a few seconds before she answered.“Hello?” she was the first to speak.“Emily
MADAM GORDON’S POV I tried Emily’s number for the third time, pressing the call button with trembling fingers. The silence that followed each ring only deepened the tight knot forming in my chest. She had put her phone on voicemail so my attempt to reach her for the past thirty minutes were all in vain. I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. I know Listowel will never do such a thing. And Emily herself too seems like a nice person the last time we met. I’m finding it hard to believe that she will accuse my grandson of this. That's why I’ve been calling her persistently. I needed to at least hear what she had to say before I made any move. I let out a long, heavy sigh before I dropped my phone on the table. I stepped out into my garden, hoping to escape the suffocating mansion. Slowly inhaling the gentle breeze, I couldn't help but, wonder why it's been so hard to get my grandson a wife. All I want is to leave the family company in the right hands before I die.
EMILY’S POVI’ve never liked Listowel Gordon. Not in high school. Not in college. And definitely not in this lifetime. I’ve always hated how he lived like the world belonged to him. I hate how even though you don’t hear him talk much, he’s known everywhere. I hate that most successful people are constantly compared to him, even though he’s had everything on a silver platter since birth. And more than anything I hate how he did my mentor, Wendy. Wendy has been someone I’ve been admiring since childhood. I love how resilient and gorgeous she is. I witnessed how hard she worked to become this big of a model only for Listowel to destroy her career in a blink. So yeah, I don’t think I like Listowel. Never will I. And I certainly didn’t think it was funny when Madam Gordon invited me to have a blind date with him.“Listowel?” I had discreetly laughed on the phone when she first mentioned it. “You mean the Listowel Gordon?”“Yes, my darling,” Madam Gordon had said cheerfully. “He’s sing
LISTOWEL’S POVAs I approached my car, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and before I could say anything, someone pulled me into a passionate kiss.My eyes shot open wide, my heart racing as thoughts of Melissa filled my mind. For a moment, I thought it was her so I almost leaned in to kiss back. Only for me to pull my head away from her as her scent filled my nostrils. It wasn't Melissa. In fact, my Lisa doesn't smell like this.“What the hell are you doing, Emily?” I exclaimed, pushing her away.She smirked. “I thought you might change your mind.”I shook my head. “ Change my mind from what? Don't you have any manners?! Get away from—”Before I could finish, she lunged forward, pressing her lips against mine again. I struggled, trying to push her away without hurting her, but she held on tightly.“Let go!” I shouted, managing to break free.In the scuffle, I accidentally bit her lip. She yelped, stepping back with full-blown tears streaming down her face.“You monster!