DAMIEN I saw them come out of the building and instantly regretted coming out of my car at this point too. The last thing I want to do is talk to Eugene right now. “Damien!" She yelled out my name before I could avoid them, making me cuss it. Her mother turned too but Eugene walked towards me, making her mother come forward too. “What are you doing here?" Eugene asked when she got to me, I wanted to give a snarky comment that whatever I was looking for was none of her business but for the sake of her mother, I swallowed it. “I'm here to see someone,” I replied, trying as much as possible to not sound rude or anything. "Good afternoon, Damien.” Her mother greeted me herself. I didn't know if she was being normal or just because it's me but I answered since she's older and wasn't raised to be rude to anyone. "Good afternoon, ma'am. How's the family?” I asked her politely, pocketing my hands. "We’re all fine, you know, apart from the little setbacks we're experiencing in the
EUGENE I watched as Damien drove away, the window of his car was tinted so I couldn't see him at all, the only thing I saw was the dark window till the car joined the busy road. “What's that about? You didn't have to lie that much, Eugene. I even thought you'd let him know that you were joking before he left, but you didn't, you played on.” My mom said beside me. "I'm doing this for us, Mom. If the heiress doesn't want to be known, I might as well make use of the opportunity to get what we want for a little while." I shrugged. “No, you're not. We'll only end up in a bitter mess if you continue with this. The Lancaster empire isn't just something you can play with, we'll just get ourselves in a deeper mess." She said. "Why are you scared, Mom? This would be so fun, and even helpful to us.” I chuckled and turned around to go into the building back but she dragged me back, stopping me from going in. "No, we're going home now. I'm sure we'll figure something out with your dad,
SHAWNA “Have you seen how beautiful the new boss is? She's so pretty and just what you'd expect the CEO to look like, and her dress sense? Very nice!" One of the employees said to me as I walked into the office building. Did anyone publish anything about me already? But the more I walked further into the building, I realized that no one even seemed to notice me. Surely, if they had seen me, they'd have at least noticed that I was the person they were talking about, right? “She's currently sealing a deal too, I'm sure she must be hardworking and full of luck to have signed a deal on her first day." Another one said the person she was talking to urgently walked off, leaving me alone with her. I stopped by the lady who just said that I have a lot of questions to ask her already. The moment I stopped by her and she looked at me like trash, I knew instantly that there was a problem, she didn't look like she had seen my face. Who then is this new CEO they're talking about?
SHAWNA I was dragged outside till I got to where Liam was waiting for me, he ran towards me and the men immediately. He however didn't get to us before I was let go. “What the fuck is going on? Why are you being treated this way? And you two, keep your filthy hands to yourselves!" Liam growled. The guys went in after throwing a glare our way, Liam turned to look at me and when he saw tears gathered in my eyes, he ran towards those men with a balled-up fist. "Liam, don't,” I mumbled quietly, he was just about to hit them when I said that so he stopped, he'd have complicated issues further if he did that because it's just us against them. "What's going on, Shawna? What happened?” Liam asked me. "Let's get into the car first, my head is banging.” He led me into his car immediately. I told my driver to leave us alone and go home as I planned on going somewhere with Liam before. “I saw Eugene inside with her mother, she's impersonating me." I summarized it to Liam. “What? How's
SHAWNAPanic took over my entire form as I ran over to the bed with a kind of speed I didn't know I had in me, I got to him in a millisecond.His face was so relaxed that one would think he was sleeping or something, but he was not responsive, he was just stiff.“Help! Help me!!" I yelled out when he didn't respond to me at all, my heart started beating wildly as I tried to wake him up.The door was pushed open and Liam ran in with two workers from the house. They ran towards the bed immediately with shocks on their faces too.“I don't know what happened, he just started coughing all of a sudden while talking to me.” I rambled and Liam and that other guy who's a worker here carried him upstairs. I took the IV behind them as he was taken into the car.Liam sat in the driver's seat while I sat in the back seat with grandfather, I kept checking him and realized that he had just a weak pulse.It's really weak, but it's there. I looked up in an attempt to urge Liam to go faster then I real
SHAWNA“So we don't know when he'll wake up." The doctor said to me, but my eyes were glued to the television, my throat was dry and no word seemed to come out.“Are you listening to me, ma'am?" The doctor said as he tapped me gently.“Yes, I am. Nothing can be done till he wakes up right?" I asked and he nodded, my mind wasn't even in what I was saying anymore.“Yes, we'll keep you posted as time goes on. We'll let you know as soon as he makes any improvements, but for now, nothing can just be done."I didn't even know when he left, all I saw was Liam coming towards me, he stood before me then his arms wrapped around me slowly."What do we do now?” He asked me, his voice felt so far from me even though he was before me.“I honestly don't know. It's now online, now everyone thinks she's the heiress, it's on the news now for f*ck’s sake!" I yelled with angry tears rolling down my face.The numbness in me before turned into anger almost immediately. The fact that it's now on the news me
DAMIENI watched as she left with the guy, my fists balled up subconsciously. I envisioned myself pummeling that same fist into his face with how tight their hands were.They entered the car and they drove off, I looked at the car till it left the premises, and that was when the suppressed groin left my mouth.I came back to have some words with Eugene, only for me to get here and to see her leaving. I wanted to go after her car when I saw Shawna, I didn't even think twice before I asked Roger to drive in.Then she ended up angry at me, I don't even know what I can do to make her talk to me at least at this point, it's like she gets angry at the mere sight of me now.“Drive me to my father's house, he has been blowing up my phone," I said to Roger as I got back into the car.“Copied." He mumbled then put the car into drive immediately then pulled out of the premises.“That was Shawna, right? What's she doing in Lancaster corporations?" Roger asked as the car joined the highway."Yes,
EUGENE“You do know that everything we've done will eventually catch up with us, Mr Bryan will eventually wake up, and he'll know that he didn't make you the heiress." Mom said as we drove home."Yes, but we'll get what we want in the end. If most of the investors even like me, he might end up making me the heiress." “But for now, let's just enjoy the moment, everyone now knows me as the current heiress of the Lancaster's empire, it feels too good to be true." I chuckled, using my hand to fan myself.Mom smirked too, but I could still see worry lurking in her eyes and her shoulders weren't relaxed either.“Mom, just calm down. Trust me this time around, we'll come out victorious this time around.” I assured her."Let's just hope. What was Shawna saying back then anyway?” Mom changed the topic."Trash, just like she is,” I stated."She's going crazy, first she came into the conference room and declared herself as the heiress, then she called you an imposter, isn't it funny?” she said.
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