Hudson chuckled, watching Jane's retreating figure. "Well, it looks like it's just the three of us for lunch.""I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for the invitation." Cassie said, grinning from ear to ear as her gaze moved between Hudson and "Yeah, it's nice to have a break from our usual routine."As they headed to the restaurant, Hudson asked, "So, any preferences for lunch?"Cassie shrugged. "I'm easy. Surprise us."Annette nodded in agreement. "Same here. As long as it's good, I'm happy."******As they came to a stop in front of a restaurant named Bernard's, Annette immediately recognised it as one of Jane's must go restaurants. The only reason why she hasn't gone already is because it's crazy expensive, so Annette knew Hudson was going all out so she could forgive him. She was angry, but she was grateful to him because he helped her sister out.He was the only reason why she was smiling right now, and she couldn't bring herself to hate him "We're here," Hudson said as he gu

As the rollercoaster slowly came to a halt, Annette let out a relieved sigh, feeling the rush of adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She unclenched her fists, her knuckles white from gripping the safety bar throughout the wild ride.Cassie turned to her with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "How are you feeling, Annette?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.Annette chuckled, her nerves settling now that the ride was over. "Much better now that we're off that crazy thing," she replied, a hint of laughter in her voice.Cassie's laughter bubbled up uncontrollably, and even Hudson, who had been relatively quiet during the ride, joined in with a chuckle. As they made their way out of the rollercoaster's exit, Cassie turned to Hudson and asked, "Where to next?" "It's your choice. What do you want to do next?" Hudson asked with a small smile on his face"Let's go to the food station," Cassie announced with glee as she stared up a Hudson "Lead the way," Hud

Annette stood at the entrance of the private airfield, nervously shifting from one foot to the other as she watched the plane taxiing into position so they could get on board. Her fear of heights gnawed at her, making her heart race and her palms clammy. She glanced at Hudson, and she saw him talking to someone before his gaze moved to her. "Would it be dumb to tell him I'm scared of flying? I have always been scared, but that I was flying with someone I'm acquainted with is different." Annette taught to herself as she avoided Hudson's gaze, and at that moment he knew something was wrong, so he walked up to her. "Are you okay, Annette?" Hudson asked, having noticed her anxious expression.Annette nodded, but her trembling hands betrayed her. "Like I said at the carnival, I'm just... not a big fan of flying," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Annette didn't expect what happened next as he reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "It's going to be okay,

With excitement coursing through her veins, Annette wasted no time in picking up the phone and calling Samuel's number. Each ring felt like an eternity until, finally, he answered."Samuel, it's Annette," she said eagerly, barely able to contain her excitement."Annette, is everything okay?" Samuel's voice was filled with concern."Better than okay! I have some incredible news," Annette exclaimed, her heart pounding with anticipation. "I've just received confirmation that the partners are willing to discuss canceling their agreement with us."There was a brief moment of silence on the other end of the line before Samuel's voice came through, filled with a mixture of relief and joy. "That's fantastic, Annette! You've done it!"Annette couldn't help but grin from ear to ear at Samuel's reaction. His words of encouragement meant the world to her, validating all the hard work and dedication she had poured into this endeavor."Thank you, Samuel," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Annette's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit parking lot, the tension from her argument with Hudson still lingering in the air. Her mind raced with the events of the day, the discussion with the partners, and the argument with Hudson. She couldn't believe how stupid she was to fall for his bullshit again, once an asshole, always an asshole. As she approached Samuel's car, she took a deep breath, hoping to calm her nerves before going to meet Samuel, who always saw through her.As she got to where he was, Samuel was leaning against his car, his expression a mix of concern and understanding as he watched her approach. "Hey, Annette, is everything alright?" he asked softly.Annette nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, today has been a lot. Can we head back to the office? I need to finish up so I can take a well-deserved nap, " she requested, her voice betraying the fatigue she felt."Of course," Samuel replied, opening the door for her and waiting until she settled in before closin