Mag-log in“Colder…” her voice came through, low and tense. “Can you handle this? Are you sure this won’t backfire?”“Don’t overthink it,” he replied smoothly.“Anthony has escalated things. You’ve seen the posts… and the video, right?”“Yes.” Calvin’s gaze drifted back to the window, distant. “Let him play.”A pause.Then, quieter.“Cleo is the one holding the cards now. It’s her move.” Calvin added “…Cleo is coming. We’ll talk later,” Katie whispered before the line went dead.Calvin lowered the phone slowly.“Smith.” His tone shifted back to business, composed and precise. “Here’s your Ipad.”Smith stepped forward immediately retrieving it.“Sophia’s latest photoshoot ad—how is the promotion progressing?”“The team is pushing it aggressively,” Smith replied. “By the end of next week, we should see full market impact.”“Good.” Calvin nodded once. “We’ll review it in a meeting. And make sure Cleopatra’s last commercial is included.”“Yes, sir.”Smith turned and quietly exited, the door clickin
A sharp knock shattered the silence.Then another.Relentless. Demanding.Anthony’s jaw tightened, irritation flaring like a struck match. “Who the hell—” he muttered, already striding toward the door. He yanked it open with force.Guinevere stood there, breath slightly uneven, eyes blazing.“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped, pushing past him without waiting for permission. “Has your brain completely fried because you’re chasing after her?”“Guin—”“The internet is practically swearing at you right now,” she cut in, spinning to face him. “Do you have any idea what you’re risking? Your reputation? Your business? And for what—her?”“Shut up and listen.”The sharpness in his voice sliced through the room.Silence fell.Heavy. Suffocating.Anthony dragged a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding into every movement. “She was going to leave,” he said, his voice rough, unsteady. “She was going to leave me again.”Guinevere’s expression flickered.“I messed up,” he continue
Her gaze dropped slowly to his fingers wrapped around her wrist.“Let go.”In an instant, he did as if he had just realized what he’d done.“Cleo, please… just a few minutes.”A pause.The air between them tightened.“…Okay.”“Please. Come with me.”—The gym doors closed behind them.Each step down the corridor grew heavier for them both, the air tightening around them with every passing moment. Staff moved around them, offering polite greetings and practiced smiles, their voices brushing past in fragments but none of it registered. The silence clung to them, suffocating, as though the entire corridor had narrowed into the weight of their shared footsteps.Anthony’s office.The door clicked shut.Too loud.“Please, sit,” he said, gesturing toward the couch as he lowered himself onto it.The couch gave a faint, tired creak beneath her weight.“So,” she said flatly, her voice stripped of warmth, “why do you want to see me?”Anthony inhaled.Hold it.“I’ll be honest… I’m sorry for the w
Katie shook her head quickly. “No… not really.” She exhaled, forcing a faint smile. “You two love each other so much… that’s enough.”Then her expression turned serious. She reached out and took Cleopatra’s hands firmly.“Promise me something,” Katie said softly. “Don’t let Anthony get to you.”Cleopatra met her gaze, steady and unwavering.“I promise.”***The white activewear sets clung to Cleopatra, Sabrina, Helen, and Guinevere like a second skin, sculpting every curve with flawless precision. They stood beside Xander and Culkin, who were dressed in sleek black activewear, the contrast sharp and striking.Under the studio lights, their bodies looked impossibly refined, lean lines, toned silhouettes, effortless allure. Each of them held their pose with quiet confidence, radiating a heat that didn’t need exaggeration.The camera shutter clicked rapidly, capturing every angle, every shift of posture. They didn’t just stand there; they owned the frame, exuding a polished, magnetic pr
Cleopatra tilted her head slightly.“Fan?”Cornell’s smile deepened not forced, but strangely sincere.“Yes,” he said. “Not just a fan. I’d like to be more than that… I want to be your friend. Please, will you permit me?”A brief silence.Then Cleopatra smiled faintly.“Your phone.”Cornell’s eyes lit up. He quickly handed it over.Anthony’s jaw tightened so hard it looked like it might crack. His fist clenched at his side, gaze darkening as it locked onto Cornell like a warning.But Cornell didn’t look away.He met Anthony’s stare head-on still smiling.Unbothered.Unshaken.Almost challenging.“Here,” Cleopatra said, handing the phone back.“Thank you,” Cornell replied softly. “I promise I won’t bother you with messages.”“Just keep to your word,” she said lightly.“I will.”Cornell turned.And walked away.Just as he passed, a man in a face cap was entering the building.Bryan’s fingers moved swiftly across his screen, tapping with precise control as he worked.[Bryan: She just met
“Hey man… are you sure you’re not playing a dangerous game?”Simon’s voice crackled through the phone, low and uneasy.“No,” Calvin replied without hesitation.A pause stretched between them.“And what if something happens between them?” Simon pressed.Calvin’s tone didn’t waver. “Then I’ll break up with her. Completely. I’ll have nothing to do with her ever again.”Simon exhaled sharply. “The guy you planted there… won’t Anthony notice him? You know how sharp he is.”“Bryan is smart,” Calvin said coolly. “He’ll handle it neatly. He’s already managed to tail them all the way to Nadna River.”Simon’s voice spiked. “What? That’s wicked!”“Yeah,” Calvin replied, almost indifferent. “He even sent me pictures, Anthony was about to kiss her. But something in the bushes made a noise and interrupted them.”“…Man,” Simon muttered, stunned. “I don’t even know what to say. Just… brace yourself if it doesn’t go the way you’re hoping.”“It’s fine,” Calvin said quietly. “I’ll accept my fate.”A b
‘Cal…’ he muttered under his breath, and memories he hadn’t dared touch in years surged forward, crashing over him like a river long buried, carrying the ache, the warmth, and the weight of a past he thought he had lost.”“What else can I serve you?” she asked again, a small smile curling at the co
“Now that’s the spirit, girl!” she exclaimed, her voice alive with excitement. “Getting into the spotlight won’t be easy. Start with backstage work for now, while I comb through potential brands. Securing even a few good ones will give your debut a real edge.”“Okay thanks Katie” Moments later, Cl
Cleopatra dragged herself across the rain-soaked earth, mud and water clawing at her as her freezing clothes clung to her skin. Each movement tore a gasp from her throat, exhaustion crushing her with every inch she gained.She bit back the urge to cry out, forcing herself forward through sheer will
Guinevere staggered to her feet, her chest heaving as ragged breaths tore in and out of her lungs. “Why are you just standing there?!” she barked, her voice sharp and frantic. “Go catch her!”Cleopatra moved back again, but loose rocks tumbled into the sea below, forcing her to steady herself immed







