Leilani inhaled deeply the scent of Lavender that filled the entire room as she strolled in fully.Martha had escorted her to this room after Nicholas had helped Lorenzo to another room.The woman had left after she had told her to settle in her room and that her luggage would be brought in a jiffy.At first, Martha had queried Lorenzo, throwing him a dead glare, asking why he and his wife would use separate bedrooms.“God, we’re newlyweds, Martha. Stop poking your nose,” he groaned.“Which is one of the reasons you should be sharing a room. You are newlyweds!”Leilani knew so well that if it was another person, he would not have taken the question as a joke. No, maybe no one else would even have dared to ask him such a question.They were on a first-name basis too, so it explained that they were really close.She settled on the bed, laid her back, and then breathed out in relief.The room was scenting nice, the sheets were clean, everything was in place and she felt the need to fres
“You look like you have a lot of things to say,” he snapped her out of her thoughts and she shook her head.“No, not really. Just… how about the couple? Ella and…”“John?”“Yeah, John. Are they truly dating?”“Yes.”“And they work here?” She asked, a fleeting glance of critique appearing on her face.“They are good people.”“I never said otherwise,” she defended and he nodded his head in sarcasm.“Your face says otherwise though.”“Come on. It is just that… look at them. They both have tattoos. Both of them. The man has all over his arms and the woman too. I just… I am just thinking how they get to work with you.”“They are good people, and that is all there is to it, trust me. If they were not, you would never meet them here.”She nodded her head, agreeing with him, and then rubbed her palm against her thighs.“You should freshen up. Martha made dinner already, so let’s go eat.”“Hold on, will you keep doing this in front of her too? You two are close and I think it would be hard hid
Leilani, deep down, doubted if she would ever be able to grant the man’s favor.Not only was he even wrong about Lorenzo liking her so much or anything, but she knew she could never do so.He wouldn’t even open up to her. Till now, he had never told her the true reason why he decided to fake his disability and stay with his father.All he said was it was necessary and he was always careful to not go beyond that.Although the man was open to her. No, he made it seem that way.He would tell her to ask him anything and that he would answer but whenever she did, he would answer her in a very curt way.He was hiding more than he was letting her on, and she knew.He was tight-lipped, and would never say more than he was supposed to.For a person who knew literally everything about her, she knew nothing about him.And realizing that this man might forever remain mysterious to her, she breathed out, glanced at him as he had buried his head back in his phone, and then crossed her legs togethe
“What?” she widened her eyes and turned back swiftly to look at him.The man dipped his hand in his pocket, scanned her face for a while, and then chuckled.“What?” She forced a frown.“You acting surprised as if you do not want this.”“How?”“I know you don’t wanna be alone,” he said.She pouted, moaned gently, and then sniffed.“And your eyes have been screaming in different languages that I call you back.”“What?” She laughed unconsciously.“Will you sleep in my room?” He asked again.“Uhm…” she swallowed and picked on her fingers gently.“It is not like I can’t be alone, okay? I just…”“Will you stay in your room then?” He cut her short.“Hey!” She snapped and he laughed.“What?”“I mean… I was still talking.”“My bad. Go on.”“It is not like I don’t wanna stay alone… I just… I mean… I don’t wanna discomfort you though.”“I am not complaining.”She moved over to him, leaving just a few inches between them, and then said, her hands clutched to her chest. “You should have a couch in
Leilani squinted her eyes open gently, and when she realized the sleeping position she was in, she gasped and tried to pull away, but was unable to.Her head was placed gently on his chest and her hand was resting on his neck that she worried he might choke. But both of his hands were gently wrapped around her back that she felt so much at peace. She could feel his hot breath settling on her scalp and when he exhaled deeply, his throat reverberated.She bored her eyes into the man who was still sleeping soundly and then finally released the breath she didn’t know she was holding.This man was so unreal. His facial features, his handsomeness, including his body which was like a rock that she was resting on. Everything about him was so unreal that she could not help but wonder how a person could be so perfect.She glanced at his long lashes, and then his full, symmetrical lips.“Uhm…” The man cleared his throat and then stirred gently, still holding her safely in his arms, so she hurri
“I think my wife is dressing up for the whole of Los Angeles,” Lorenzo breathed out, leaned in his chair comfortably, and then shook his head.“It’s a woman’s thing. She will be out soon,”. Martha chucked.“Martha, she has gone up there to dress up since eleven.”“This is barely twelve, Enzo. You are complaining too much.”“Of course, you would take her side,” he rolled his eyes and then picked up his phone again.Finally, he heard the steps from the stairs and he raised his head hurriedly.The woman smiled softly as she descended the stairs and he tilted his head to watch her properly.She was wearing a wine two piece which top was turtleneck and sleeveless and he loved exactly how she looked.She carried a silver bag and then wore a low-heeled shoe to match, she had not gotten to where he was already, but he could perceive her cologne.“Did I keep you waiting?” She breathed out and then hurried over to him.“You should not run on the stairs,” he grunted.“I thought you would be angr
“Are you sure you don’t want me in here with you?” He asked her carefully and she shook her head.They were already at the hospital, in the doctor's office when he asked her.Leilani had pleaded that he excused them while the doctor attended to her alone.“Yes, please,” she answered, her eyes pleading with him.She knew he could suddenly decide to be stubborn by insisting on waiting with her.“I think it would be better to attend to her alone also. It would help to assess her situation carefully, sir.”He stared at the woman for a while and then turned to look at Leilani. “Alright then, I will be with Nicholas while you are here, so if you need me, just place a call through, okay?”“Sure.”He looked at the doctor again, nodded his head at her, and then wheeled out of the office.After standing in front of the door for a while, he turned around and then made his way to the elevator.___“You really came!” Nicholas exclaimed as soon as the man wheeled in.“Why are you surprised?”“Beca
“I bet that woman thinks she is married to the most gentlest, and reserved man the country has ever known.”“You talk as though I am not,” Lorenzo snapped his brows together.“Because you are not! I am your best friend and yet, I still find you mysterious and unpredictable sometimes!”“How so?”“Are you really asking me? I had assumed that you would handle Jonathan and his family first, but you are starting from her bullies from when she was still a teen?”“Listen, my friend,” Lorenzo leaned forward.“Jonathan and his family will be receiving the same dose just as my family, because there is really not much difference between them. And do you wanna know what is more fun?”“What?”“The fact that Jonathan works for me. He works at one of my companies, do you know?”“Yeah, BENZO. I know.”“Exactly. He doesn’t even know that I own the company he would die for… and at the same time, he has started to embezzle some funds.”“What?!” Nicholas widened his eyes.“He is embezzling funds?!”“Yes.
“M… Mess? Me? I… I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he stuttered, struggling to catch his breath.“Let go of him, Enzo,” Aaron sighed.“Speak up, Shane,” he ignored and said instead.“Y… you are choking me!” he cried out. “Talk then,” Lorenzo shrugged.“I didn’t do…” he coughed.At that moment, Arthur moved over to them and then grabbed Lorenzo’s wrist.“If you apply any more force, you will be choking your brother to death and not me. So, just let go and tell him to speak up.”“But he didn’t do anything!” Arthur snapped.“Talk, Shane.”“I… will. Just let go!” Lorenzo released his grip from the man’s neck and then took a step back as he collapsed to the floor and started to cough rather dramatically.“I didn’t even strangle him that much,” he hissed and then settled on the couch.“What are you doing this for, son? He is your brother,” Aaron breathed out in confusion.“Shane, are you okay?” Agnes knelt behind him and started to pat his back.“Shane, go on,” Lorenzo breathed o
“Lorenzo!” Aaron hollered and then rushed towards the man.“I was just coming to see you!” He knelt down and then touched his legs gently like there were thorns around it which was preventing him from touching them well.But Lorenzo didn’t stand still, he walked past his father gently and then approached Shane, his face as hard as rock.“W… why are you coming in my direction?” Shane stuttered, moving backward.“Hi, brother,” Lorenzo tilted his head.“Someone stop this psycho from moving closer to me!” He snapped.“Why? Are you scared of me?” He asked when Shane’s back touched the wall, and he covered the space between them.“W… what are you doing?”Lorenzo tugged his lips into a smirk and then moved his hands from his pockets.“I know, brother.”“K… know what?” He asked, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead.“I know what you did,” he said, ever calmly.Shane swallowed the lump in his throat and then hurriedly wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.He was bluffing.He didn't
“I have things to take care of today. I will resume at the company tomorrow,” Lorenzo said as he buttoned up his wrist, his phone on loudspeaker and then dropped it on the table in front of him.“What do I do?”“You should get things in order. We are both resuming tomorrow. Release an official statement that I will be resuming tomorrow. Sort out the interview proposal that you must have received and pick up the best of them. You can do that much, right?”“Yes, sir.”“Good.”“Sir, how about the issue with Shane? You have not…”He cleared his throat, picked up his phone, and then glanced at his wife, who was still sleeping peacefully in the bed.“I will sort that out.”“When? We can’t let this drag out. We have all the evidence to apprehend him and…”“I will sort it out, David,” he cut him short and couldn’t miss the deep sigh he gave.“Don’t worry. I have it under control.”“Do you need me to go with you when you’re going?”Lorenzo chuckled and then shook his head like the man was goin
“But… Benzo is not one common name. I mean, I have heard it quite a lot in the past but I can’t quite remember where,” Leilani said as she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in the bathroom robe.“Oh… yeah.”“What? You wanna say something?” She asked as she settled in front of the dressing table and then pulled forward her facial care routine.“Actually,” he started and sat upright.“What?” Leilani glanced at him through the mirror.“He works at my company.”“Who?”“Jonathan.”She parted her lips and then drew her brows together.“What?!”“So, the thing is, he works at my company. He recently got promoted to an executive, in fact.”“Lorenzo?”“I know what you’re thinking,” he raised his hands.“Trust me, you don’t.”“I have many companies to my name, you know? There’s Benzo electronics, pharmaceuticals, Architecture, mall… and a few like that, and he happens to work in one of them, Benzo Electronics.”“Why? I mean… why do you let him work for you?”“He has been a staff at the compan
“B… brother is Benzo?!” Mia exclaimed as she stopped in front of Leilani and then took her hands in hers.“That makes the two of us. I’m excited,” she sucked her teeth.“What? You… you didn’t know about it?” She asked, raising her brows.“I am finding out for the first time tonight just like every other person,” she shrugged.“B… but…” Mia cleared her throat.“Maybe he has his reasons for…”“Don’t take his side, Martha!”Mia and Leilani snapped.“Good, he’s coming. He has a lot of…”Leilani snatched her hands from Mia and then smacked, “I will head inside first.”Mia, with her mouth opened agape watched as the lady walked away and then shook her head.“She is so pissed.”“He should have told her, at least.”Mia creased her brows at Martha and then chuckled, “Were you not just taking his side?” “I just needed to make her calm down, of course.”“I think you only made it worse.”Lorenzo rushed to them and then panted, “Why didn’t you stop her?!”“Why should I?” “You are so…”“You are t
Arthur didn’t know he had staggered backward and the panicked murmurs from the others had snapped him back to reality.“Y… you…”He pointed his index finger at Lorenzo who looked really unbothered as he turned to look at his security team.“Are you ready, sir?” David asked, and he nodded his head.The men formed a proper barricade, and then began to push through the crowd, with Lorenzo, his wife and Nicholas trailing slowly with them.They kept waking, ignoring the crowds while Lorenzo moved over to Leilani, and then took her hand gently in his.She raised her head to look at him, sighed and he nodded his head at her, smiling softly.When the security team stopped moving, they stopped too and David who was leading moved over to him.“There are so many paparazzi outside,” he whispered in his ear.“Really?”“Yes. Literally all media companies are here.”He looked down at Leilani again and then leaned down, “Are you good?”“Yes.”“How about the back exit?” He asked David.“It is jammed t
“I am Lorenzo Byers, and I am the founder of the BENZO group of companies.”Agnes choked on the water she was drinking as she stood up gently from the couch with Aaron opposite her.“That is…”She coughed out loud, dropping the glass cup in her hand and not minding the way it shattered to the ground. She hit her chest and then coughed again.“That is…”“Lorenzo?” Aaron whispered, and then removed his medicated glasses from his eyes as if that was going to help him to see clearer.“That is Lorenzo?!” Agnes hollered and then widened her eyes.They had both settled in front of the Television to watch the event as they had hoped that Arthur would be receiving an award that night.“He is… Benzo?”“He can… walk?”Agnes and Aaron stuttered respectively.“This is wrong. There must be an error somewhere,” Agnes shook her head.But, Aaron’s reaction was different.He staggered to the big screen, touched it, and trailed his fingers down his son’s supposed legs.“He is standing!” He cried out an
David shook his head as his boss wouldn’t stop laughing and then shook his head.“Sir.”Lorenzo smacked and then exhaled. “All along… it was him.”“Boss.”“We suspected someone from the house, did we not?”“Yes, but certainly not Shane.”Lorenzo nodded his head in agreement and then dropped his head on the headrest, his eyes closed.He might have actually imagined it to be anyone, but never Shane.He thought he knew the man.He was reckless and sassy, but certainly not the type to commit arson or murder.Well, in the past.He had just assumed the man to be a jester as he used to derive joy in making fun of his condition by coming up with numerous ironies just to insult him.But never in his whole life had he thought that Shane would go as far as wanting to kill his own wife.“Boss.”“Yes?” He opened his eyes and then sat upright.“What do we do?”“Where is he?”“He is in the hall also,” he answered.Lorenzo nodded his head and then chuckled.“Give me your orders. What do you want me t
“Is that not… Enzo’s wife?”Shane chuckled dryly as he leaned in his seat and then nudged his brother gently.Arthur took his hand from the woman who sat beside him and then turned to look in the direction Shane pointed at.“No way.”“Look there. She is sitting with Nicholas.”Arthur squinted his brows and when he confirmed that it was truly the woman, he chuckled and then hissed.“Who is that?” The woman, Emily asked.Emily was his girlfriend and he had hoped that after the event was over, he would take her home and introduce her to his family.“Lorenzo’s wife.”“Your stepbrother?” She asked and he nodded his head.“Woah, she’s pretty,” she sucked her teeth.“I don’t see it.”“She is so pretty. She looks better in person.”“Whatever,” he rolled his eyes and then turned to look at Shane.“Why is she here though?”“Perhaps… She came out to cheer for Nicholas? No one needs to be told, we know he’s getting an award tonight again.”For the past five years, Nicholas had been receiving awar