LOGIN“Autumn, where are you?” I heard him repeat the question. I was sweating bullets under his scrutiny. His words were controlled, but I knew he was seconds away from doing something rash. I wondered if he would be right here, forcing me to resign before I even started.“Chloe told me you disappeared when you two went shopping. Nobody has been able to reach you; your location was turned off as well,” he added.His words made me realize he didn't actually know where I had been. I could use this to my advantage if I executed it properly.“I went to the hospital,” I said, trying to make my voice sound as tired as possible to disguise my nerves. “I felt some cramps and decided to go check it out. I switched off my phone so I could rest for a bit,” I explained weakly. I caught the cab driver staring at me in the rearview mirror and quickly looked away.Sighing, he finally asked, “Are you okay?”The former anger had finally dissipated. He sounded worried, even. “Where are you now?” he asked fo
After waiting a few hours for Sebastian's reply, I finally got something. He asked for my resume so he could set up an interview. That was what I was currently doing—getting ready to prove myself.“Good morning,” Sebastian said when I picked up the phone. He sounded happy.“You sound happy,” I pointed out.“Why wouldn’t I be?” he said with a laugh. “The talent I’ve been scouting finally agreed.”“Well, you were convincing,” I said, finishing the last details of my attire. “I hope you get a bonus for this, Mr. Recruiter,” I teased.“Don’t worry about that,” he waved me off. “Just focus on nailing this interview. It’s at 10 o'clock.” With that, he hung up.I jumped into the shower, focusing on making sure I was chic and presentable. I was the only one at home with the domestic staff; Finn was in school and Eric had gone to work, making it easier for me to leave. I didn't want Eric knowing about this yet. He was a jealous man, and I would tell him another time.I got dressed in a blouse
I had finally made up my mind to contact Sebastian regarding the position he pitched to me. After what Eric said about me minding my own business regarding his family affairs, it just reaffirmed my deep-seated insecurity: I would never be considered a full Kingston, even if I was married to the man and bore his children. To them, I was an outsider playing a part.I took out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I pulled up the number he had left on his business card.‘Hey Sebastian, it’s me, Autumn. I am contacting you regarding your offer.’ I hit send before I could talk myself out of it. I tried to get my mind off it, but the anxiety settled in my chest like lead. I wanted to be accepted, yet I was skeptical. With my background and everything that had happened, there was always the possibility I wouldn't be enough.Knock! Knock!The sound made me jump. “Come in,” I said, looking toward the door.A maid walked in, heading straight for the laundry basket to gather the clothes for
Eleanor’s POV The boardroom was packed. Shareholders and directors from every department sat around the long mahogany table, but Eleanor was the one at the head of it. She felt euphoric. This was the first board meeting where she would finally showcase her capability, proving to the shareholders why she was a better fit than Eric. She was going to show them exactly why kicking him out as CEO was the wisest decision they had ever made. Part of her was thankful Eric hadn't attended; she would have been pissed just seeing his face. But another part of her wished he were there, just so she could rub this project in his face. This is my time to shine, she thought with a smirk, watching the assistant prepare the presentation. “…Gross income revenue is estimated to be at least 10 billion in the first year of operations,” Eleanor announced, pressing a button. A diagram flashed on the screen showing the projected percentages. A few silent nods of acknowledgment went around the room. In this
i had dived headfirst into research for this new role. Even though I knew I wanted to apply for the position Sebastian mentioned, I still needed to gather more knowledge. I wanted to be my own person again, especially after the humiliation I suffered two nights ago.Currently, Eric and I were at a stalemate. We were in a silent war with each other, both living under the same roof but miles apart. He was probably hoping that I would crumble and beg for his attention, but I refused to give him that satisfaction. The only person I was interested in interacting with was my son.For some reason, Chloe was also giving me the cold shoulder. I guessed she was choosing to support her uncle in this fight. It hurt, but it made me realize a harsh truth: even if Eric and I were to separate someday, she wouldn't choose me. She would stay on his side. I accepted the fact that, in this massive house, my son was the only real family I had left.“Eat your peas, honey,” I said to Finn as he grumbled at
“Chloe, have a seat,” I said, offering her the available chair next to me. “Mr. Woods and I were just discussing work.” I tried my best to ease the sudden tension vibrating between them.Sebastian retracted his hand after Chloe pointedly refused to shake it. She didn't even look at him; she just turned to me with a frozen expression. “Uncle was looking for you,” she uttered coldly.“Well, I am here. Tell him I am seated right here,” I told her. She gave a nod before walking off. I watched her back disappear into the crowd, my mind racing. What was that about?“Did you do something to her?” I asked Sebastian as soon as I faced him again.“No, this is my first time meeting Miss Kingston,” he said with a shrug, his blue eyes unreadable. “Now, back to your theories,” he said, steering the conversation away from the awkwardness.“The involvement of technology is still a slow process, with people still labeling it as destructive,” I said, picking up the thread. “Rightfully so, after all tho
THE WEDDING VENUE - AFTERMATHThe day ended,with a slow, agonizing evacuation. The guests scuttled away like rats fleeing a sinking ship, whispering behind their hands, clutching their expensive gift bags as if they were compensation for the trauma they had just witnessed.The botanical garden, onc
Silence overtook the entire garden. It was a heavy, suffocating silence, the kind that usually precedes a natural disaster. The birds seemed to stop singing; even the wind died down, as if nature itself was holding its breath to witness the carnage."Rebecca, how dare you say such things at a ti
THE SUNROOM"Autumn Martins?" someone murmured, testing the name on their tongue like it was a piece of spoiled fruit."Who the hell is Autumn Martins?" another cousin asked, looking around the room as if the answer might be written on the expensive wall lined with intricate paints."Uncle, this mu
We talked late into the night, the television long since forgotten. The conversation had drifted from the disaster of the wedding to safer, quieter topics—Finn’s new school, the security protocols for the house, the logistics of living under siege. I yawned, a jaw-cracking sound that I couldn't su







