CHAPTER TWO
FLORA'S POVAs I drove towards the office, my mind raced with thoughts of Alexander. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been gnawing at me since he demoted me for having an affair with Bob. I knew I had to confront him, but I didn't want to do it at work. So, when I saw his car pull into his mansion, I knew this was my chance.I took a deep breath and approached the grand entrance. But as I reached out to ring the doorbell, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat.A strange beautiful lady rushed out of the house, colliding with me. She apologized and hurriedly got into her car, leaving me standing there in shock.Who was she? And what was she doing in Alexander's mansion? My mind raced with possibilities. Was she his new lover? Had he brought her here to rub salt in my wounds? I had to find out. But as I tried to make sense of it all, a sudden realization hit me like a ton of bricks.My fingers trembled as I punched in Felix's number, my heart pounding in my chest. "Tell me, Felix," I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Did Alexander hire a new secretary?"A long pause on the other end of the line made my anxiety spike. Finally, Felix spoke. "Yes," he said simply.My stomach dropped like a stone. This was it. The moment I had been dreading. If Alexander had brought in someone new, someone who wasn't loyal to me, then my position at the company was in serious jeopardy.I hung up the phone, my mind racing. I had to act fast. But how? I couldn't let this new secretary get the upper hand. I had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let it all slip away now.Ignoring Alexander's father's calls, I bolted out of the house and into my car. My hands shook on the wheel as I tore through the streets, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't care about traffic laws or the consequences of my actions. All that mattered was getting to the office before it was too late.**********As I pulled up to the company, my heart pounded in my chest as I wondered if I had made a grave mistake. Had I gone too far this time? But I couldn't back down now. Not when everything was on the line.I held my breath as she took a step closer, her eyes narrowing with each passing second. Was she going to attack me?The seconds ticked by like hours as we stood there, locked in a battle of wills. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I braced myself for the worst.And then, just when I thought all hope was lost, she broke into a wicked grin. "Well, well, well,"she said, her voice dripping with malice."Looks like we've got ourselves a little game, don't we?"My heart leapt into my throat as I realized what was happening. She was playing me. But why? And what did she want?I knew I had to stay one step ahead if I wanted to come out on top.With a fierce determination, I snatched the phone from her grasp and hurled it to the ground, shattering it into a million pieces."Have you lost your mind?" she spat, her voice filled with fury.My heart raced as I stared back, unsure of what she was capable of."And do I care?"I sneered, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. But before I could react, her hand flew towards me, connecting with a sharp slap that echoed through the room.My eyes widened in shock as I stumbled back, my cheek stinging with pain."What the hell?"I yelled, my voice rising in anger. But she wasn't finished yet."If that phone doesn't come back to life, you'll regret it,"she threatened, her eyes flashing with fury. Fear crept up inside me as I realized the severity of the situation."You slapped me over a phone that's not even worth 50 bucks?" I spat, my own rage boiling over. But as she stood there, silent and unmoving, I knew that this was far from over.The tension in the room was palpable as she glared at me with fiery eyes."It wasn't your father who gave me the $50,"She hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "And mind you, I worked hard to buy this phone you just smashed. So for peace to reign, give me back my phone or else..."My heart pounded in my chest as I stood my ground, refusing to back down."You don't know who I am," I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper."If you did, you'd be begging for mercy. Once you're on my black list, you're gone forever."She smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes."And you don't know who I am,"she countered."I'm the crazy girl who takes what she wants, and I want your spot at the top."My heart raced as I realized I was in over my head. But I couldn't let her win. "You're a wretched, desperate thief,"I spat."But I won't let you steal what's rightfully mine."Silence hung in the air as we stared each other down. And then, with a smirk, she taunted me."It's all about the company, isn't it? You should have just challenged me from the start."I lunged at her, ready to strike, but the door burst open and Alexander appeared, grabbing me just in time."What kind of foolishness is this, Miss Flora?"My heart was pounding as I stood before Alexander, his voice sending shivers down my spine. I couldn't believe he was speaking to me like this, with such venom in his tone. But as he tended to Miranda, I couldn't help but notice the shattered phone lying on the ground. His eyes flicked to it, then back to me, filled with contempt."Get out of this office now or face the consequences,"he spat.I shot her a menacing look before storming out of the office and yelled, "Be cautious as you are unaware of what's heading your way."CHAPTER SEVENTEENMiranda's POVUpon our return, my grandfather wasted no time in organizing an emergency meeting with the highest stakeholders in the company. To him, this was the first step in preventing the consortium from being ruined by an anonymous person who had sent a threatening letter to my grandfather during our absence.As I stood before the stakeholders, I could feel their eyes fixed on me, awaiting my speech. "Greetings, everyone. I assume you are all aware of the recent change in leadership of this consortium, which has been passed down to me by my grandfather," I began, pausing momentarily to glance at my grandfather, who nodded in encouragement. "Apologies for the delay," I continued, looking around at the stakeholders, my gaze lingering on Alexander, whose eyes were strangely fixated on the floor as if lost in thought. "Mr. Alexander, I urge you to snap out of your daydream and refocus your attention on our important discussion. The growth of the consortium depends
CHAPTER SIXTEENMIRANDA'S POVAs we left the Hale mansion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. My mind was reeling with everything we had just learned - the blood magic, the murders, the Hales' twisted sense of justice. It was all so overwhelming, and I didn't know what to do next.Alexander's hand was warm in mine as we walked back to the castle. I could sense his own turmoil, but he remained silent as we made our way through the streets.When we finally arrived at the castle, we were greeted by a familiar face - Henry, my grandfather's trusted advisor."Miranda, Alexander," he said, his face grave. "We need to talk."I nodded, my heart pounding with fear. Had the Hales already taken action against us? Were we in danger?Henry led us to a private room, away from prying eyes and ears. As we sat down, he spoke again."I've been doing some digging," he said, his voice low. "And I've uncovered some disturbing information about the Hales."My heart leapt at the words. "What kind o
CHAPTER FIFTEENALEXANDER'S POVAs the masked figure disappeared into the night, I knew that our quest for the truth had just become even more dangerous. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. Who was that person, and what did they want?I turned to Miranda, who was trembling with fear. "Are you okay?" I asked, taking her into my arms.She nodded, her face pale with shock. "I just can't believe this is happening. It's like we're in the middle of a nightmare.""I know," I said, holding her tightly. "But we can't give up now. We have to keep fighting, no matter the cost."Miranda looked up at me, her eyes filled with determination. "You're right," she said. "We can't let this stop us. We have to find the truth, no matter what."I nodded, feeling a sense of pride and admiration for her bravery. "We'll do it together," I said, taking her hand. "No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."As we made our way back inside, I couldn't help but feel a sense
CHAPTER FOURTEENMIRANDA'S POVAs I left Alexander's mansion, tears streamed down my face and my heart felt heavy with uncertainty. I knew I needed answers, no matter the cost. Determined to find them, I decided to pay Jackson another visit.Upon finding Jackson, I could tell he was startled by my grim expression. I spoke with a steady voice, "I've been to see Alexander. I told him I needed answers about my parents' deaths, and that I intend to find the truth."Jackson's eyes widened as he apologized, "I may have spoken out of turn, Miranda. I apologize for upsetting you with what I said."I interrupted him, "Don't apologize. I deserved to know. I want to know everything - what you know about how my parents died, and how the Hale family is involved."Jackson hesitated, his face filled with conflicting emotions. Finally, he nodded and said, "Come inside. I'll tell you what I know. But promise me - you must keep an open and objective mind. The truth may be hard to believe."As I followe
CHAPTER THIRTEEN MIRANDA'S POVMy heart pounds in my chest as I make my way through the dimly lit corridors of the old mansion. Shadows dance on the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that matches the turmoil in my mind. I can't shake off Jackson's words about my parents' death, somehow linked to Alexander's parents. Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, I've resolved to confront Alexander head-on.Accompanied by two guards, we head straight to Alexander's mansion and find him in the study, poring over old books and documents. The room is filled with the scent of aged leather and dust. My footsteps falter as I enter, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination."Alexander," I call out, my voice echoing in the silence. "We need to talk."Alexander glances up from his work, his piercing blue eyes meeting my gaze. There's a flicker of surprise in his expression, quickly replaced by a guarded look. He closes the book he had been reading and leans back in his
CHAPTER TWELVEMIRANDA'S POVAs I stood in the dimly lit room, my heart raced with anticipation and fear. My eyes were locked with Alexander and I could feel a thick tension hanging in the air. The atmosphere was suffocating, and my senses were on high alert. Despite the conflicts that threatened to tear us apart, I couldn't deny the magnetic pull I felt towards Alexander.Our love had blossomed against all odds, but secrets had woven a tangled web around us. I knew that there was more to Alexander's act towards Jackson than met the eye. His eyes fueled my curiosity and deepened the conflict within me. I couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding.As Alexander spoke, his voice was strained with a mixture of longing and regret. "I never meant for things to get this complicated," he said. "But there are things I can't tell you, Miranda. It's for your own safety."His words only added to the confusion and fear that I felt. How could I ignore the warnings when my heart yearned for him? I