KYLEI walked out of the house with Damien before me, he didn't acknowledge me at first till I followed him to his car, that was when he stopped and looked back.“What is it, Kyle?" He asked me.“I'm going with you." I declared simply. "What's your concern with what I'm going there to do now?” He asked me back. "I'm going there with you, and that's final.”He was so calm, nothing like what Damien always looks like whenever it comes to an issue concerning the both of us.“It's none of my concern anyway. You'll continue with what you want to do with Eugene once I've handed her the file, just don't disturb me." He said then got into his car.I squeezed my fists tight as anger thrummed through me with what he just said, his mentioning the file made me even more angry, I'm meant to be the one who gets married to Eugene, she's my girlfriend.And how the hell is Eugene the heiress to the Lancaster empire I don't know. She didn't deem it fit to inform me even with how we've been discussing
EUGENE“Uh, can you stay here please, I need to have a conversation with Kyle. When I come back, we can discuss what you came here for." I said to Damien as I got outside.“No problem, just make it quick. I have other things to do." He said and started looking at his phone immediately.I ran out of the house after Kyle, he was about to get into his car when I went to jump before him.“Get out of my way, Eugene." He ordered me.“No, we need to talk," I said, crossing my arm over my chest.“How about you go in there and talk to the person you were talking to before you noticed that I even came with him?” He asked back, almost snapping.“Why are you being this way, Kyle? You should know already that I do most of the things I do for a reason, you should know that there's a reason I was giving him preferential treatment over you in there.” I said."Really? And why were you being that way with him if I may ask." He asked, looking at me with his jaw clenched.“I'm going to get something from
SHAWNA“Mom, are you okay?" Jasper asked me, his voice broke my line of thoughts.“Of course baby, why wouldn't I be? I'm very fine." I squeezed out a smile at him, he looked at me like he knew I was lying."Then why weren't you answering me when I called from the door? Is anything bothering you, mom?”"Come here.” I dragged him to myself and hugged him, I placed a kiss on his hair as I tried to force back the tears that were pricking my eyes."I'm fine, honey. I was just thinking about something concerning work which I'll figure out in no time, you have nothing to worry about.” I assured him."Okay, I trust you.” He smiled at me."So, how has school been with your brother?” Phoebe still can't go to school, for now, she's still healing.“School is fine, all of our classmates are very nice to us, we even made some new friends. Phoebe will like it there." He sounds so certain.“That’s very good, I'm glad you're making new friends there. Now, where's your brother?"“He's with Phoebe." He
SHAWNAI watched them both with my mouth agape, they were both laughing out their butts as though they were saying the funniest thing in the world.“Honestly, I can't wait. She said we'd meet on Monday for the final contract, which would seal the fake deal she doesn't know she just greedily signed." Mr Robert said.“The funniest thing is how eager you said she was to be working with you, we put up some good impression to the outside world though.” the other man laughed.Their laughter was so disgusting that I just wanted to bash their heads together with how much they were deriving joy from another person's misery.“I have to do something," I whispered to Liam.“You want to confront them? You're sure you want to do that?" He asked me back.“I don't have a choice, what they're doing is not good and they need to be called out for it," I said back.“You think they don't know that already? What you're about to do can turn out to be more risky than you'd think, I'd say we should just leave
DAMIEN“Aren't you coming anymore? I've been expecting you." Eugene's voice came on my phone for the umpteenth time this morning.It's safe to say that I've had a not-too-good morning already because her annoying voice was all I kept hearing.“I'm on your street already, you'll see me soon," I said and ended the call.Her call woke me up this morning, she called to tell me that she had drafted out the contract agreement and I had to come pick it up so I could sign.She has been disturbing me ever since I started to think that she's talking about me coming for another thing and not just the contract.Just as I got to her house premises, a familiar car drove past me, it looked like the car of the guy that's always around Shawna, it was even the one of I'm not mistaken.I honked when I got to the big gates of her house which was opened for me almost immediately.I parked my car haphazardly since I won't be spending too much time here anyway.Just as I got out of my car, I saw two guards
SHAWNAI brought down my phone immediately and looked at him with my heart aching like it had just been trampled upon by something really heavy.He was looking at me like I just said the funniest joke of the year.“I'm not joking," I said to him plainly but I doubt that did anything to him.He continued laughing but this time he was more controlled, it wasn't that mocking laughter, it was the one that was just normal.I've never felt more embarrassed, I felt like entering the ground or just hiding away somewhere in shame.“That can't be true, it has to be a joke. Lancaster is just too wild, you didn't even stop at your father's company, you jumped right at Lancaster.” He laughed once more."But I'm not even joking, why would I lie about something like that? Do I look like a liar to you?”He coughed into his hand and cleared his throat, he drank some water to clear his throat too. "I'm not saying you're lying, you're joking. Say something else, just not that, I know that can't be true
SHAWNAI got to the penthouse and Liam was there, waiting for me just like he said.“What are we going to do now? I don't even know what to do at this point, she fucking threw me out of her house when I went there." I rasped.“She threw you out of the house? I told you that I wanted to go with you but you refused, that lady needs to be put in her place.” Liam said with anger on his face.“That's why we need to get into that event she's organizing, we need to get in. That way, we might get something from the party, it might be one of the shareholders who control the company, I just need to meet someone." I said.“How do we get in then? How about I call the girl grandfather told me is my assistant? Maybe she can help me with something." I suggested.There's still no word from the lawyer and grandfather isn't waking up anytime soon.“You think she'll help?" He asked.“I'll just try." I shrugged and brought out my phone.I scrolled through my contact list for her phone number, i don't rem
DAMIEN“A letter came in for you, Damien," my mom said, handing me a paper that made me frown.I'm not even meant to be here right now, dad just asked me to come to see him for something.“Who is it from?” I asked as I opened it up."I don't know, open it first.” She shrugged and I opened it up to see that it was an invitation letter to an event taking place at Lancaster's grand hall.You're specially invited to the grand ball taking place today, we'd love it if you acknowledged this request and showed up, your presence would be highly appreciated. We apologize for the short notice, thank you. And it has the initials of Eugene at the end of the letter which just means that she's specifically inviting me.“The Lancaster Grand Hall? It has to be a very big event." Mom said as she looked into the letter with me."Yes, but I'm not going,” I mumbled, pocketing the letter."Did I just hear someone say something about the Lancaster event?” I rolled my eyes when I saw Dad come up to us.He c
PHOEBEMy whole body was sore. My dress was torn, my wrists burned from the ropes, and my eyes stung from crying. I was huddled in a corner of that cold, dark room, shivering as the last of the men ran out like rats. One second, they were setting up cameras, saying the most disgusting things, and the next, they were gone. Just like that.It made no sense. None of it did. Why would they leave me? What scared them off?I was too weak to stand, too confused to think straight. My head was pounding, and I could still feel whatever they had drugged me with swirling through my system. My heart was racing so fast I could barely catch my breath. My legs were pulled to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, as if I could make myself disappear if I just curled up small enough.And then I heard footsteps.Fast. Heavy. Coming closer.My eyes shot to the door.I froze.My heart shot to my throat.Were they back?Did they forget something?Were they going to finish what they started?I couldn’t
RAMONI stood in that hotel lobby staring at the manager as if he'd just announced a death. Maybe he had. Because knowing Phoebe had been taken right from under my nose felt exactly like that, like something had died inside me."She was in your care!" I shouted. "She was supposed to wait for me here!""Mr. Ramon," the manager said nervously, "we thought it was authorized…""By whom? My uncle?" I spat. "You took her because my uncle said so? Did she look like she wanted to leave? Did you even ask her that?"No answer. Just that sick, silent guilt on their faces.I didn't waste another second. I turned on my heel, stormed out of the hotel, jumped into my car, and sped straight to Richard's estate. My hands gripped the wheel so hard they ached. My mind was a storm, rage, fear, regret. I kept seeing her face in my head, her smile, the way she had trusted me. And now...She was gone.When I got to the mansion, the guards at the gate crossed their arms."Sir, Mr. Richard said not to let you
RAMONI was dead tired by the time we finished the meeting at the company. My shirt clung to my back, and my head was pounding from all the numbers and back-to-back discussions. All I wanted was to check my phone and unwind, maybe see if Phoebe had texted.I reached into my pocket. Empty.My heart skipped.I checked the table, the chair, and even under the folder I’d used. Nothing.“Where the hell is my phone?” I muttered.My uncle, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “Lose something?”“My phone. I had it before we came here.”He shrugged. “Maybe you dropped it at the house.”I didn’t like how quick he was to answer.Still, I forced a calm nod and stood up. “I’ll go check.”The ride back to his place felt like it took forever. My mind was racing. Phoebe. Had she called? Texted? What if something was wrong? My gut wouldn’t calm down.When I got to the house, I tore through every room I had been in earlier. The living room. The guest room. Even the damn kitchen. Nothing.My uncle
PHOEBEThe hotel was breathtaking, with marble floors, chandeliers sparkling like stars, a scent of roses, and money hanging in the air. My heels clicked softly as I followed the receptionist, who wore a perfectly polite smile. My coat was still wrapped tightly around me, hiding the dress Winnie helped me pick out. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves.“He’ll be with you shortly,” the receptionist said sweetly, opening a suite door for me. “Please, get comfortable. There are refreshments inside. Make yourself at home.”I gave a shy nod. “Thank you.”The door shut behind me.The suite was luxurious, with soft couches, a large table with drinks and fruit, and dim romantic lighting. I let out a small breath. “Wow…”I walked slowly to the table, brushing my fingers along the glass rim of a wine glass. Red wine. A chill ran up my spine, and I shook it off. Maybe he asked them to pour it before he arrived. Maybe this was his way of setting the mood.I pulled out my phone.
PHOEBEI slammed the front door a little harder than I meant to when I got home.Winnie looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. "Whoa. Somebody’s in a mood. What's wrong, sunshine?"I dropped my bag by the door and flopped onto the armchair with a loud sigh. "It’s Ramon," I said, pouting like a child.Winnie immediately perked up. "Ramon? Spill. What happened?!"I buried my face in my hands for a second before looking up at her. "We kissed. Like... really kissed. It was amazing. He kissed me like he needed me to breathe or something."Winnie squealed, hugging a throw pillow. "Oh my God! Finally!""Yeah, it was incredible," I mumbled, my cheeks heating up. "But right after that, he got a call. Emergency at home. He had to leave. Just like that."Winnie’s face softened. "Oh, babe...""I know he had no choice," I said quickly, fiddling with a loose thread on the armrest. "But... it sucks. I’m losing my mind over him, Winnie. I’m slowly going crazy. I want him so bad it hurts."Winn
PHOEBERamon’s eyes burned into me like I was the only thing he could see. I felt my cheeks heat up under his stare, and I shifted awkwardly on my feet.“Phoebe,” he said, his voice low and rough, “I want all of you…every part of you. I’m not afraid of being with you. I’m just... trying to restrain myself.”My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. Then I swallowed hard and said, "I want all of you, too, Ramon. I’m not scared."Something snapped between us.Ramon closed the space in a single, hungry heartbeat, grabbing me again and crashing his mouth onto mine. This kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was rough, fierce, almost desperate, like he had been starving, and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.His lips crushed against mine, demanding and urgent. I could feel the heat pouring off his body as he kissed me like he needed me more than air. His hand slid up, fingers threading into the hair at the nape of my neck, then wrapping
RAMONI tossed and turned all night. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t sleep. My mind kept racing, full of everything Uncle Richard had said... and Phoebe. Always Phoebe.I was falling for her. Hard. It scared the hell out of me, but it also felt so right. I didn’t just like her, I needed her. Every smile, every look, every word she said stuck in my head like glue.When morning came, I dragged myself out of bed, showered, and dressed like a man on a mission. I didn’t even think twice. I was going to see her. I had to.No more running. No more hiding.When I got to the worksite, she was there already, sorting through some papers, looking so focused and beautiful that it made my heart twist. She looked up and blinked like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing."Ramon?" she said, her voice small but full of surprise. "I thought... I thought you weren’t going to be available anymore."I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling awkward and stupid all at once. "Yeah, about that. I’m
WINNIEWinnie stared at me like I had just grown two heads. "What do you mean you don't know if Ramon likes you enough to be intimate?" she asked, her eyes wide.I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling small and stupid. "I don’t know, Win. Maybe... maybe he’s just not that into me. Maybe he sees me like a kid or something."Winnie shook her head fast. "No way. Anyone with eyes can see Ramon is crazy about you, Phoebe. Seriously. He looks at you like you hung the moon!"I smiled a little, but it didn’t reach my heart. "Then why is he so hesitant? Why does he always back away when things get... close?"Winnie opened her mouth to say something, then paused. Her face changed slowly, like she was putting puzzle pieces together."Wait a second..." she said carefully. "Have you guys ever... you know... done it?"I looked down at my lap, my face burning. "No," I whispered.Winnie’s mouth fell open. "Wait. You mean... never?"I nodded, feeling like I was about to sink into the floor."And he kn
RAMONI stood in the garden, massaging my temples and trying to figure out what just happened. I hated seeing Phoebe hurt. I hated that I was the reason for that look in her eyes, the one that made my chest ache. I wanted to run after her, fix it, explain everything better.I had just taken a step toward the house when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Billy and Jasper coming out. Great. Just what I needed right now.They stood there awkwardly for a second before Billy cleared his throat."Hey, man," he said, not meeting my eyes. "We, uh... we just wanted to say sorry."I blinked, surprised. "Sorry?"Jasper shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. For looking down on you. We didn't know... well, we didn't know you were who you are."I sighed, not really wanting to have this conversation. "It's fine," I muttered, even though it really wasn't."But," Billy added quickly, "we still think you're hiding something. And honestly... we don’t think you're worthy of our sister."Tha