All Chapters of Beyond The Surface : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

It was Saturday already, and I had a mountain of tasks ahead of me. First on the list was my hairstylist, followed by the makeup artist. I rolled out of bed around 10 AM, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. After a quick shower, I splashed on some fragrant body lotion that always made me feel fresh. I whipped up a quick breakfast, a smoothie loaded with fruits, before diving into some documents that needed my attention. My hairstylist wouldn’t arrive until 1 PM, leaving me with a bit of time to strategize for the launch of Pourle’s products. As I scrolled through my phone, a headline caught my eye: “Isabella Accepts Position as Ambassador for Queenk Cosmetic Company.” A chill ran down my spine. Queenk was an international brand, known for its luxurious products, and they had been competing with Pourle in the market. They had entered the Madea market two years ago and were making strides, but they hadn’t quite matched Pourle’s reputation yet. I clicked on the video, and there

I stepped out of my car, taking a deep breath. “Maya, you can do this,” I whispered to myself, clutching my purse tightly. As I looked around, I noticed a security guard approaching. He greeted me with a polite nod and I handed him my keys before heading toward the entrance of the banquet hall. The banquet was being held at the Presidential Hotel, the most luxurious venue in Madea and the ambiance was nothing short of breathtaking. As I walked in, I saw several people making their way inside. Glancing at my wristwatch, I realized it was already 8:30 PM , an hour and a half late. I had planned to arrive on time but now I knew I would have to stay longer than intended. Holding the edge of my dress, I made my way to the line, my heart racing. Standing there, I could feel the weight of eyes turning toward me, staring and assessing. I tried to ignore it, pretending not to notice. Being a CEO came with its own set of challenges and this was one of them. I hated large gatherings, yet here

I nodded, appreciating their advice. “Thanks for the advice.”i said Just then, a young girl approached us. She was wearing a pink shirt gown with a slightly nervous expression. “Hello, everyone she greeted waving at us. Are you Maya?” she asked, looking directly at me. “Yes,” I replied, curious. “Mr. Mike wants you to meet him at the poolside,” she said. I rolled my eyes internally. “What does Mike want now?” I thought but I didn’t voice my annoyance. “Alright,” I said instead The twins exchanged glances, chuckling and giving me a look that suggested they were in on something. “Come on, you guys should stop,” I said, laughing as I waved goodbye. “We said nothing!” they protested, their laughter echoing after me. As I followed the girl through the crowd, I could sense eyes on me again. I turned briefly to see Isabella staring at me, a smirk plastered on her face. I ignored her, focusing on the girl who was leading me to Mike. We arrived at the swimming pool are

“Maya, Maya!” I heard someone call, pulling me back to reality. I looked up to see Alex still standing outside the car, his head bent inside. “Are you okay? I’ve been calling you for a minute now and you just blanked out.” Confusion flickered in his eyes and I could see the concern etched on his face.“Damn, it was just an imagination,” I cursed under my breath. “No wonder it was too good to be true.” “Oh, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile as I got out of the car. I had just escaped death and here I was, lost in thoughts I shouldn’t be having. What was wrong with me? I pinched myself to ensure this was reality and not another figment of my imagination.“When I found you, the door to the pool was locked,” he said as we walked toward my house. I looked up at him, trying to process what this might mean. “Someone locked it on purpose,” he stated, his tone grave.A chill ran down my spine. Who would be so wicked as to want me dead? Who had I offended, and how did they know I couldn’t

The shrill ring of the home telephone jolted me awake, slicing through the haze of sleep. Who could be calling at such an early hour? I groggily reached for my phone on the bedside table. “Morning, Maya speaking,” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep as the line connected.“Maya! Maya!” The urgency in my mother’s voice sent a shockwave through me. Instantly, the remnants of my dreams vanished, replaced by a surge of concern.“Mum, talk to me. Is everything okay?” I asked, forcing myself to sit up straight, a sense of dread creeping into my gut.“I’ve been calling you! Where is your phone?” she replied, her voice trembling with anxiety.“Mom, my phone fell into the pool yesterday,” I explained, trying to keep my voice steady, though the knot in my stomach tightened.“Are you crying? What’s wrong?” I could hear her voice quivering and my heart sank further.“Maya, it’s your father. He collapsed when coming out of the bathroom yesterday."she said, her sobs breaking through the li