Se connecterThe death of Franklin was still a fresh mystery, a jagged glass shard in the back of Jonathan’s mind. But Mr. Starkov wasn't interested in mourning; he had already sent another message. The warning was blunt: step away or take the fall for the corpse. Starkov’s man, Yamalenko sent him an audio recording of a conversation between him and the prosecutor.The conversation was nothing but a cage fight. His voice rumbled over the receiver. He didn't just warn the man; he threatened to drag his illicit affair into the bright, ugly light of the morning news.“You know what I am capable of doing Franklin,” Jonathan said. They had been tracking Franklin like an animal, monitoring every call and every step. That was how they got the audio. They hadn't just gotten lucky, they had been haunting him, Poor Franklin.Jonathan sat on the sofa now, arms spread wide across the backrest, claiming a crumbling throne. His mind was a battlefield, searching for a way to kill the ghosts. Evania was still
Evania stared across the table, drumming an impatient rhythm. Yolanda was yawning and checking the mascara on her cheeks. Sophia was on the other end of the round table, watching the little children play across the street while sipping her coffee. The silence was becoming awkward and unbearable, so Elizabeth started to complain.“We've been here for over an hour and there's no sign of them,” she said.Evania stared at Yolanda, whose gaze was fixed on the small railing leading up to the garden where they had gathered. A tall Italian man opened the small gate and walked in. He spread his arms and beamed as soon as they turned toward him. Elizabeth did not look up. The others welcomed him as he sat next to her.“Oh, I thought we were meeting the whole team,” he said, taking a teacup off the tray.Evania glanced over his shoulders, watching the waiter disappear into the cafe as the doors closed. Yolanda tapped her shoulder, bringing her focus back to the group.“Like I said, the video is
Evania stopped at the door. “What assurance do you have?” she asked in a low, calm tone.Jonathan let out a fresh breath, feeling his chest relax. He had waited for that peaceful, calm tone in her voice for a long time.“I told the prosecutor that if he played any more games, the Daily News would release all the evidence of the secret girlfriend he meets at Dom on Sundays,” he answered. His voice was a low murmur echoing in the hallway.“Is that enough to get him to court on Monday?” she questioned, loosening her grip on the door.“Trust me,” he responded.“I already did,” Evania hissed.Her voice died away as she walked inside. Jonathan turned and watched her disappear. He looked at the half-open door, then turned back to his own room. Something crossed his mind, and he turned back again.Surprisingly, the door was still open. He called her name softly, but she didn't respond, so he moved to the door and pushed it gently with his finger. Evania was standing by the couch. Jonathan s
The next day, Yelena woke up to many messages and texts on her phone. Sonia had sent them, expressing her deep disappointment. Sonia was upset that she had not been informed that the Marcus case had been called off. She had tried calling Yelena several times, demanding an explanation, before resorting to messages.Her father was the last line she could not cross. Even though she was working as hard as possible to see Evania fall, she was also smart enough to play the game with some restraint. Yelena grabbed the phone and read through the messages, but her eyes were still heavy with sleep.Her last hope was Dick Dowson. Even though he was a disgusting man, many people on the internet watched and believed him. Dick was the perfect candidate for her smear campaign.She got out of bed, unbothered by Sonia's irritating texts. She unbuttoned her gown and entered the shower. As the water rained down on her, her mind shifted back to Garrett. She remembered the hot kiss that had almost led to
Yelena returned to the office, her visit having gone poorly. She had hoped to unpack all her stress at Garrett's place, but unfortunately, he was not in the mood. He had other plans and wanted to focus on his upcoming tests. Yelena knew this, but she thought he would change his mind when he saw her, as their physical connection was the only anchor of their bond.She rushed back to her office and sat there like an innocent corporate girl. Rania walked in with a file and dropped it on her table. Yelena took the file and opened it. It contained all the notes Sonia had gathered on Marcus’s case, the latest being the details of his bail hearing.“I'll be gone for a while, but don't let anyone inside while I'm away,” Yelena commanded.She dashed down to the parking lot. Sonia watched her from the stairs through the large glass window leading to the balcony. She had never seen Yelena move so freely without her bodyguard, Andre. Yelena paused at the door and looked over the building, Sonia ra
Evania and the crew arrived in Paris a little sooner than she expected. They landed on a private airstrip a few miles from the city center. There was no immediate evidence of the magical city at the old country estate; instead, the area was covered by tall eucalyptus trees. They soon joined a long line of black SUVs that drove them toward the city.Evania lowered the tinted glass window and rested her chin on the frame. The cool, exotic air blew over her face and sent her hair flying back into the vehicle. As they approached the city, she encountered the beautiful chaos of the ancient, classical capital. People rode through the lanes on bicycles, and small white doves played in the alleys.There were many more coffee shops by the roadside than she had seen in London. It was a terrifyingly wonderful experience. At one point, Sophia pointed at an old, monumental church with great art across its walls. The air smelled fresh, sharp, and friendly.The three vehicles parked by a fountain in
Jonathan looked out through the window as their car approached the metallic gate. Geoffrey slowed, his hands steadily twisting the steering wheel. Jonathan watched his fingers scratching the leather. As they reached the parking lot, Geoffrey released the brakes and parked just below a tall block of
“We shouldn't be doing this," Garrett said, turning gaze to her sharp eyes.Yelena smiled, thinking he was just scared, but Garrett didn't blink or show any sign of fear on his face. Instead, he simply confirmed what he had buried deep down in his conflicting heart.“Come on, Garrett, you're being
"I'm sorry Yelena, this can't wait, I'll see you later,” Mrs.Walter said, rushing down the stairs.Mrs. Walter, Elizabeth and Darlene all left the castle at once, Yelena stood at the entryway watching them leave. She walked out of the large entrance, furious and perplexed.“I need to see Garret,” sh
Evania took a deep breath, and stretched her shaking hands to the desk phone, the thought of seeing Jonathan made her stomach wallow. She paused for a second, staring at the handset close to her ear.She then pushed the button and Mrs. Garvey's voice shot through like a speeding bullet, it wasn't th







