LOGINHe held back the anger. I could see it in the way his jaw tightened and his hands clenched at his sides. But Adrian forced a calm expression onto his face and spoke to me like we were old business acquaintances. “Elena,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “Did you receive my team’s emails? I would love to have an audience with you. Even ten minutes of your time could help us both.” I looked him straight in the eyes. “I got the emails. But I’m not interested. If you really wanted a professional meeting, you wouldn’t have stalked my worker. Leave now, Adrian.” Adrian’s eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn’t expected me to speak to him like that. He took a small step forward, but the security guards moved at the same time, raising their hands again to stop him. “I apologize for the way I approached Clara,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “It was a misunderstanding. I only wanted to talk. Please, Elena. The Laurent company is going through a difficult time. Your insights cou
Adrian turned around at the sound of the receptionist’s respectful greeting. His eyes landed on Clara walking side by side with Aisha near the exit. She was dressed neatly in a simple but professional outfit, carrying a small bag, looking nothing like the frightened maid he remembered from the mansion. For a moment, he wasn’t sure. Then recognition hit him hard.“Clara?” he called out, his voice deep and commanding, cutting through the quiet studio.Clara froze mid-step. Her head snapped toward the sound. When she saw Adrian standing there in his dark suit, tall and imposing, her face went pale. Panic flooded her eyes. Without a word, she turned and ran. She pushed past Aisha, who looked confused, and bolted straight out the front door.“Clara!” Adrian shouted, but she didn’t stop.She ran into the street, waving desperately at the first taxi she saw. The driver pulled over quickly. Clara jumped in, slamming the door behind her.“Go!” she gasped. “Please, just drive!”The taxi sped aw
I stepped off the plane feeling the familiar weight of exhaustion settle into my bones. The flight back had been long, but my mind had been busier than the engines. I had secured the deal in Southeast Asia, the new suppliers would give Lumina an edge we desperately needed. Yet as I walked through the airport terminal pulling my suitcase, all I could think about was my children. My phone buzzed as I reached the arrivals area. A new email from the Laurent Group. I opened it quickly.Dear Miss Voss,We understand you have been busy. We respectfully request even a short meeting at your convenience. The Laurent family would be grateful for any insights you can share. Please consider this request seriously.I closed the email without replying. They were persistent. Too persistent. I slipped the phone back into my bag and continued walking.Another notification came through. It was a text from Nathan.‘Adrian called me last night. Asked if I still talk to Serena. I hung up on him. Be carefu
The boardroom at Laurent Global was heavy with tension. The long mahogany table was covered with reports, charts, and half-empty coffee cups. Ten men and three women sat around it, their faces grim. Victor Laurent sat at the head, his fingers drumming restlessly on the polished wood. Adrian stood by the window, arms crossed, staring out at the city skyline as if the answers were written there.One of the senior executives cleared his throat. “Our market value has dropped another twelve percent this week. Three major investors have pulled out completely. They cited ‘instability in family leadership’ as the reason.”Another director added, “The wedding scandal is still trending. Videos from that day are everywhere. Partnerships we were close to finalizing have been put on hold or canceled. Two suppliers in Asia have already switched to Hale Corporation. They don’t want to be associated with us right now.”Victor’s face turned red. He slammed his hand on the table. “We were number one! N
I stepped out of the meeting room in Singapore with a quiet smile on my face. The deal was done. After three long days of presentations, factory visits, and late-night negotiations, the supplier had agreed to exclusive rights for Lumina. Their organic dyes and rare natural fibers were exactly what I needed for the next collection. The contract gave us priority for the next two years at a price that still left good profit margins. I shook hands with the owner one last time.“Thank you for trusting us,” I said. “This partnership will be good for both sides.”He smiled warmly. “We believe in your vision, Miss Voss. Your brand stands for something real. We are happy to grow together.”I left the building feeling lighter than I had in weeks. The trip had been worth it. Lumina was expanding again, this time with materials that would make our products truly unique. I called Emma immediately as I walked to the car.“The deal is signed,” I told her. “Everything went better than expected. I’ll
Emma kept her face calm and professional even though her heart was racing. She had recognized Adrian’s mother the moment she stepped into the studio. The older woman carried herself with the same cold authority Emma remembered from the mansion. For the sake of the watching staff, Emma refused to show any discomfort. Leading by bad example was not how Lumina operated.“Good morning,” Emma said politely, extending her hand. “I’m Emma, the manager. How may I help you today?”Adrian’s mother shook her hand briefly, her grip firm. “I saw your collection online. I’m interested in a particular design, the midnight blue scarf with the silver thread pattern. Do you have it in stock?”Emma nodded without hesitation. “Yes, we do. It’s one of our signature pieces. The silver threading is hand-stitched and uses sustainable metallic fibers. How many would you like to purchase?”They moved to a quiet meeting corner. Emma spread out sample books and fabric swatches on the table. Adrian’s mother sat w
I stared at the message on the burner phone for what felt like hours.“This is Nathan. Clara gave me your number. I’m glad you’re safe. Tell me where you are. I can help you.”My thumb hovered over the reply button, but I couldn’t press it. What if it wasn’t really him? What if Adrian had Clara? Wh
Several weeks had passed since I escaped the mansion.I haven't heard from Clara in a long time, I really hope she's ok and she hasn't been caught. I didn't know what Adrian was planning or whether I should still be trying to run. But for the meantime I was still free.That freedom came with a hea
After several days, I haven't heard from Clara on how things are going in the mansion until today, the burner phone heavy in my hands. The room smelled of stale smoke and cheap cleaner. Emma was asleep on the couch, her breathing steady, she wasn't going to be going to work today. It was her day of
I sat cross-legged on a small bed in the cabin, the small lamp casting a weak yellow light over the scattered papers. Emma has gone to work and doesn't usually come back till it gets dark. The room was quiet except for the distant sound of traffic on the highway. My hands trembled as I picked up th







