Mag-log inWhat Tiara DidELENA didn't get the news until Dr. Karen burst into her office while she was working on a project with a junior staff. Elena humbly excused the staff because she saw the look of excitement on her face, and she smiled back slightly."You seem a little happy." Elena began as Dr. Karen sat across from her."You just got exonerated and the internet is even apologizing to you..." She paused to take a deep breath. "And not only that but Lunaris Tech have put out an apology and are offering you a higher position now."Elena was almost amazed by that, but she held herself back. "And how did these all happen? You're keeping me in suspense..." She was already taking out her phone from her bag."I just saw the video."Elena didn't look up from the screen on her phone as she turned on the WiFi. "Which video?""Your cousin, what's her name? Uh... Tiara? She did a lives stream and it's been viewed three million times in four hours." Karen closed the door. "The one where she just adm
An AttemptTHE parking garage was quiet when Elena stepped out of her car. She had been coming earlier than usual lately because the office was peaceful before everyone else arrived. She didn't receive any phone calls and literally had no interruptions, which was what she needed on the new project she was working on. If the project sailed through successfully, she was going to put the company on the A class of tech companies, meaning the company would be on par with Lunaris Tech with this one project.Her heels clicked against the concrete, the sound echoing off the walls of the parking garage. She was halfway to the elevator when she heard the footsteps behind her. When she turned, Marcus was already too close. His hand went around her neck before she could scream. His fingers pressed into her throat, cutting off air, cutting off sound."Don't fight," he whispered. "Just sleep. That's all. Just sleep."She clawed at his hand. Her nails dragged across his skin, but didn't let go. The
Your PriceIN an apartment at the outskirts of the city, the room was filled with the smell of smoke and alcohol. Marcus sat on the couch in yesterday's clothes, a cigarette burning between his fingers, a woman he didn't remember inviting asleep on the other end of the cushions. The television was on, but he wasn't watching it. He was just smoking and thinking about Elara.His phone buzzed, distracting him from his thoughts about how she was actively destroying him.He looked at the screen on his phone and saw a message from a number he didn't recognize. The ID had no name, just strings of numbers. At first, he was going to ignore the message, thinking it was the police calling for further investigation. But when his eyes scanned the message on his screen, he quickly snatched the phone from the bed.*All dealings terminated. Assets withdrawn by end of week. Consider yourself fortunate we aren't taking further action.*Marcus stared at the message and his hands started shaking. No. Th
Chapter 128In His OfficeEAMON was reviewing the files of his company, while waiting impatiently for his personal investigator to bring him news of whatever Elena was doing, when the intercom buzzed and his assistant's line was heard over the speaker."Mr. Valerius, there are visitors for you. They are insistent but your schedule says you have no appointment with them.""Who?""They said to tell you it's about the Luxembourg account."Eamon's hand stopped moving as his blood ran cold. That term was only used when the Krix organization were about to do something really dangerous, and Eamon's mind could only fly to one person. Elena. He took out his phone immediately and texted his security team and Dr. Karen to make sure that Elena was protected at all cost, and when he was certain that they had all gotten the message, he responded to his assistant to let them in.*The door opened. Vera walked in first, composed, immaculate, the same sharp smile she always wore. Behind her came a man
A Bargain.TIARA arrived at exactly ten in the morning, and Elena couldn't help the easily smile that slid over over her face. Elena watched her through the glass door before buzzing her in. She looked worse than she had at the mall. Thinner and paler, in a way that even sleep could not fix."Hey..." She began softly, "Please, sit and make yourself comfortable."Tiara sat with her hands were folded in her lap. Her eyes kept moving around the office towards the window, the bookshelf, the photograph of Evan on the desk."I'm not going to hurt you," Elena noted her uneasiness."I know.""Do you?"Tiara looked at her. "You could have destroyed me months ago if you wanted to, but you didn't.""I was busy." Elena shrugged. "Divorce proceedings, custody cases, and work. I've had a lot on my plate.""And how about now when you're the CEO of this big company?" Tiara's voice was quiet. "I know you, Elena. I grew up with you. You don't do anything without a reason."Elena leaned back in her cha
EmptyTHE shop was empty again for the third time this week, and it was just Wednesday. All the hope she thought she had to pay the landlord by the end of the week were dashed. Women walked past the shop day by day... Young women with money, time, and hair that needed to be made, but none of them paused in front of her shop. Even her faithful customers turned up their nose before walking past her shop, as if she'd done.Three days now and not a single customer.She pressed her hand to her stomach. The bump was small still, easy to hide, but she felt it every morning. The nausea. The weight. The thing growing inside her that Marcus had called a problem."Get rid of it," he had said. "We can't afford a baby right now."But he could afford the car, the apartment, the nights out that she wasn't invited to anymore. Her phone sat on the counter. There were no messages, no calls, and even her mother had stopped answering two weeks ago."You slept with your cousin's husband," her mother had s
Gentle EncouragementTHE soft golden light of early evening filtered through the curtains when Evan stirred. He yawned, stretching his small arms above his head before swinging his legs off the bed.“Mom?” he called softly as he padded toward the kitchen.Elena was there, stirring a pot gently on t
Shadows and LightMARCUS’S laughter echoed in the dimly lit gambling lounge, clinking glasses and the roar of slot machines forming a chaotic symphony around him. Cigarette smoke curled lazily toward the low ceiling, and the scent of cheap whiskey filled the room. He leaned back in his chair, swirl
Stealing Things ELENA went to work the next day with a fresh smile on her face for the first time in a really long while. It seemed like most of her problems had already been half solved."Hello Martha... Hi Clinton..." She waved at them as she skipped towards her office.She didn't care about the
A Can Of Worms."YOU can't trust her, Eamon. Vera knows she's been talking to you. Marcus knows that too." Elena tried to warn him as he pulled away from her and began walking towards the door in hurried but measured steps.Elena stood there feeling vulnerable, like she had just opened a part of he







