Novels by delosreyesmauri

Vere and Ronnie were cruising down the road, heading to a restaurant to unwind after a busy week. The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over the city streets. But suddenly, without warning, Vere jerked the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the side. He let out a long, weary sigh, his face clouded with thoughts that seemed too heavy to carry alone. Ronnie, who had been quietly gazing out the window, was taken aback by the sudden stop. He turned to look at his friend sitting in the driver's seat, concern etched across his face."Mr. Wayne, are you okay?" Ronnie asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.Vere didn't respond immediately. He stared straight ahead, his hands still gripping the steering wheel tightly. After a long pause, he sighed again, this time deeper, more resigned."I'm confused," Vere muttered, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "I don't know where to start."Ronnie furrowed his brows, clearly puzzled. "Ha? What do you mean?" he asked, tryin

But before Vere took any steps outside, he abruptly halted. Hastily, he ascended to the mansion's second floor, entering his room to retrieve the gun. Swiftly returning to the screen where they observed the parked car near the mansion, Vere continued monitoring the situation."Mr. Wayne, hold off on using the gun, especially if you're not sure who these people near the mansion are," Ronnie advised, his tone conveying concern.Vere glanced at Ronnie, acknowledging his words. "Yes, Ronnie. Thank you. I'm just really cautious in these situations, given past experiences," Vere explained, his eyes reflecting a sense of vigilance.Ronnie, understanding Vere's heightened state, nodded in agreement. He empathized with Vere's wariness, comprehending why he was on high alert.As they continued observing the screen, Vere kept a watchful eye on the parked vehicle, his instincts on edge. The uncertainty and the possibility of a threat lingered in the air, intensifying Vere's vigilance and wariness

On that night, Vere drifted off while waiting for Olivia's text. The next morning, he was roused from slumber by the persistent ringing of his cell phone. Rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes, he answered with a hint of grogginess."Hey, Olivia, I was worried about you!" Vere started, concern evident in his voice."I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne, oh, hahaha, Wayne, I mean," Olivia replied, her voice tinged with inebriation."Are you... drunk?" Vere inquired, noting the telltale signs in her speech."Yeah, friends invited me to a birthday party," Olivia explained.Without skipping a beat, Vere dove into the purpose of his call: "I need you to know about Mr. Smith. He's going to sell his company.""Seriously?" Olivia's tone shifted to seriousness."Yes, and that's why I've been trying to reach you," Vere continued. "I've decided to buy his company.""This is the happiest news I've heard from you!" Olivia exclaimed, her enthusiasm apparent. "So, okay, what are you waiting for? Grab it!"Vere felt

A few had boarded their respective vehicles and left. Vere waited a few minutes before driving towards the mansion. As he entered, he hurried to the CCTV screen to check and see who the visitors outside were. Despite scrutinizing the CCTV footage, the faces of the unfamiliar men didn't ring a bell. Vere was at a loss trying to identify these unexpected visitors loitering outside the mansion's gate.After reviewing the footage, Vere dialed Olivia. During their conversation, he mentioned the visitors, but Olivia denied knowing them, expressing her surprise at their unexpected arrival."Olivia, did you recognize those men in the video that I sent you?" Vere asked, concerned about lacing his voice."No, Mr. Wayne, I have no idea who they are. I wasn't expecting any visitors today or later as I am focusing on my business here in California," Olivia responded, her tone mirroring Vere's unease."This is puzzling. They didn't seem like delivery or service personnel," Vere pondered aloud, his

"You?" Crystal, Ronnie's visitor, exclaimed upon seeing Vere. Vere met her gaze and courteously greeted her, "Good afternoon, ma'am."Ronnie, taken aback by Crystal's arrival and the interaction between her and Vere, introduced them. "Ah, Crystal, this is Mr. Wayne, the one I told you about who saved me."Crystal's voice lowered as she acknowledged Vere, "Hello, Mr. Wayne. Nice to meet you for the second time around."Ronnie, slightly confused by their familiarity, inquired, "Oh, you know each other?"Vere nodded, maintaining his composure. "Yes, we've met before," he confirmed, careful not to reveal too much about their previous encounter.In that moment, despite sensing Crystal's apparent displeasure, Vere knew he had to remain composed, disregarding any impressions she might hold. Unbeknownst to them, the individuals they once knew were now in the presence of Vere, bearing a different face and name, yet still the same person.Vere felt a pang in his heart, realizing the company of

At that moment, when Vere turned to face Ronnie, he hugged him, stunned by the stark contrast in Ronnie's appearance from when he last saw him during rehab. Ronnie then invited Vere to his apartment. However, Vere kept his identity hidden due to his altered appearance."Mr. Wayne, thank you so much for saving my life." Ronnie expressed his gratitude.Vere glanced at Ronnie, smiling softly. "It's okay; don't thank me. I owe you a lot."Ronnie was taken aback and confused by Vere's words. "Owe? What do you mean?"Realizing his slip, Vere quickly recovered. "Uhmm, I meant you're welcome. Sorry, I remembered my friend; his name is the same as yours," he explained, smiling warmly at Ronnie."Ah, okay, hahaha," Ronnie chuckled, though a hint of curiosity lingered in his eyes.Despite Vere's attempt to redirect the conversation, Ronnie seemed intrigued by the slip-up. Nevertheless, they shared a light moment, both laughing at the easy camaraderie they shared.Later, as they conversed in Ronn