Semua Bab The "EX" Factor : Bab 91 - Bab 100

Tyler slammed the conference room door behind him, sending reverberations through the office's quiet hallways. His chest heaved as he leaned against the wall, placing his hands against his temples. The meeting with Smith Corporation had been disastrous. Every word exchanged seemed like another brick crumbling from the flimsy wall that held his firm together. The Hartwell family. The Hartwells were circling like vultures, and Tyler's stomach churned at Smith Corp.'s shaky commitment to their alliance. He could feel the weight of each decision on his shoulders. If they lost the Smith deal, it would cause a domino effect, and he wasn't sure RindCorp would survive. His phone buzzed in his pocket, so he took it out, expecting a message from Ben. Instead, there was an email with a synopsis of their present financial situation. Tyler opened it, but the figures blurred together, leaving him unable to focus. He exhaled sharply, his throat tightening as frustration clawed at him. "Mr

I extended my arms above my head, wincing as my back protested the hours I'd spent crouched over my laptop. The quiet hum of the city filtered through the window, a constant reminder of the life that still thrived beyond Ann's apartment. The room was dim save for the brightness of my screen and the digital clock in the corner, which read 12:43 AM. My workspace was chaotic, with half-empty coffee cups, sticky notes with reminders, and a stack of sketches that needed to be finalized for an upcoming gallery assignment. I needed a distraction. The option was to let my thoughts drift back to Tyler. To Julia. Hello to everyone. God, I had been willing to give him another chance. Despite his aunt's harsh remarks and the mountains of baggage between us, I was prepared to try. But he'd shattered that fragile relationship with a truth I couldn't ignore: he was still sleeping with her. The notion twisted in my chest, harsh and cruel. I shook my head and concentrated on the image, r

When I answered Daniel's call, his warm voice immediately relieved some of the tension in my chest. "Samantha," he said smoothly. "I was hoping you'd be free for dinner tonight." Dinner? I paused, looking at my desk, which was stacked with paperwork. However, burying myself in work hasn't done much to quiet the noise in my head lately. "Dinner sounds great," I remarked, my tone lighter than I felt. "Perfect," he responded. "I'm in the Juniper Room. It's calm and private... one of my favorites. Do you want me to come pick you up? The offer caught me off surprise; it was a simple but considerate gesture. "Oh, no, it's fine," I responded immediately. "I am still at the gallery, but I will drive myself. "I need the drive anyway." There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his tone curious. “You sure everything’s okay?” “Absolutely,” I lied, forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see me. “Just been a long day, that’s all.” He didn’t push, thankfully, and aft

"Caleb, could you please stop randomly visiting my gallery," I hissed, barely able to keep the anger out of my voice as I turned to face him. His presence loomed in the doorway, hands carelessly tucked into his coat pockets as if he deserved to be there."I've already told you we were done. I no longer want anything to do with you. "Do you not understand that?" My remarks came out faster than I wanted, but I was done with his games.Caleb inclined his head slightly, a sarcastic smirk creeping over his lips. "You don't mean that, Samantha.""Yes, I do." I took a step back, crossed my arms to stabilize myself. "What we had is over. Stop showing up uninvited. Stop phoning me. "Just... stop."He laughed quietly, sending shivers up my spine. "Unfortunately, I don't take orders, especially not from you."His sudden shift in tone was subtle but noticeable. The charm he had always relied on had vanished, replaced by something darker.I swallowed, attempting to hold my ground. "This is not h

The grand ballroom shimmered under the glow of crystal chandeliers, the sound of champagne flutes clinking and murmured conversation filling the air. Samantha stood near the gallery's exhibit, her sleek black gown hugging her frame as she nodded politely to the guests admiring her work. Tonight was supposed to be about her achievements, a celebration of how far she’d come. But the unease brewing in her chest said otherwise. “Breathe, Sam,” Ann whispered beside her, leaning in with a teasing grin. “You’ve already got half the room in awe. Just enjoy it.” Samantha managed a small smile, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “Easier said than done.” “Relax. I’m here for moral support. Plus, there’s an open bar,” Ann added with a wink before sauntering off. Samantha turned her attention back to a potential buyer in front of her, plastering on a professional smile. She was mid-conversation when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the entrance. Daniel. Her heart gav