LAYLA SATURDAY The blinds are down. Thank fuck. My room light burns, surely the sun will be scorching. There’s a piece of paper on my bedside table, my phone holds it down and it falls to the floor while I grab my cell. Hopefully, it’s not important. I have a few missed calls, messages, and emails. I can use the weekend excuse to shove them all away. I need a hot bath, and coffee, then I intend to sleep some more. My other hand is clamped on something, so when I turn around and see a plain shirt, I’m hit with nausea. I recall the night before, most of it. Bella left, and I heard the door close in the middle of the night. Disgusting behavior. All on my end. With the alcohol worn off, my feelings are bare. But it's at the brim, and now I feel nothing. Completely numb. There’s a war raging within me, but on the outside, I’m a mask of an enigma. Just a regular Saturday here. **** FREYA “I pay you too much to have these for updates.” Giselle looked around, conscious of where we

LAYLAReporters. News vans. I came to him. I started driving, taking turns, and here I was. Smith industries.I wasn't the only one. The news was spreading quickly. It was merely 4 p.m. and the whole place was still buzzing. Security was handling the situation but Aiden wasn't out. Neither was just father.I had clearance to go in, up to his office, and glance at Giselle at her desk who paid no attention to my movements engrossed in her world.Now I was at his door, listening for sounds at the other side. Silence. Did he go home? Pacing in the office? Sleeping? Was he on the phone with her?Making flight arrangements?I wouldn't know until I got behind those doors, so I did.He left it open, one push and it bulged.His name hung in my throat as I slid inside, softly edging the door shut.And there he was. Hands plopped on each side of his face, head nestled between his legs. Either he was deep in thoughts, or too unbothered to check who had walked in.Then there was a scuffle, he adjus

LAYLA TUESDAY"Hey, movies are about to start. Are you okay in there?"Drew. I squeezed the knob, twitching it to open then hesitating.If we both disappear, Freya would know something's up. I need to stay calm. It's the only way.No more springing into action. "Just nothing sad. I think I plugged the toilet, I'll be out in a minute."I cringed visibly, flushing the toilet for added measure."Oh, if you need any help. Just let me know""I will."Once he was out of earshot, I dialed his number. What I should've done so long ago. "Hey."I palmed my face, the back of my head hitting the door as I listened to the soft sigh leaving his lips."Where are you?""Penthouse."I heard a strain, something that sounded awfully like zips."Oh. Have you spoken with Bella?""Not necessarily. You're with her?""Uh, yeah. Drew's here too.""That's good."I couldn't mention Freya either. I didn't miss the edge of the tone. The one that believes there's no one with him."Aiden.""I'm going to Californi

AIDENI've completely lost my mind. It's an oval room with seats circulated round it, each seat occupied by men and women who could collaborate and turn against me, take away what I've worked half my life for, destroy my professional career, yet in this moment I find it all insignificant. I can't bring myself to express anger or beg them not to turn to the enemies. I had a dossier from my father on the hotspots. Howard Keller, Sarah Conner and Rivera Marine, they had turned, or were on the brink. That leaves 7 share holders. It's not so much the numbers, but they key players. Two of them will stand with my father, they're too terrified to do otherwise, those two would have one each on their team that makes four slightly guaranteed support from whatever gets thrown at me.The remaining three could swing either way, but if two of them swing towards Tristan, the other will most definitely follow. There isn't a tie breaker here, it's win or lose. Their eager eyes bore into mine, but I