"Quite easy, James." All heads turned from Vincent to Matilda who got off her seat, an air of confidence all around her. The question was about something their competitor had which they didn't. From the looks of it, they had already had a meeting with Broadway Enterprise before this particular one with F and A, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of their proposal. James was aware that Vincent would be interested in his activities, and as such, he'd distracted him from looking further at his day-to-day dealings by frolicking with women, while he gave an audience to their rival party. Finding nothing fishy in his dealings, Vincent had ordered his men to quit monitoring James' activities. "While it is true that this idea and approach is novel, and hasn't been tested yet, and would therefore need tons of investment, it is no doubt the best we need if we're concerned about skyrocketing our target audience. In F and A, we've put this into consideration and that's exactl

I wasn’t a fan of physical contact at night and had often not even shared the bed with my deceased wife. Not that she would have ever dreamed of wanting to have me close at night. She never bothered to hide her reluctance to have me near her, least of all when we slept together—unless there was something that she wanted from me.Matilda had asked for my closeness and I’d denied her.The early morning light illuminated her puffy face. Her lashes stuck to her skin with dried tears. She was close, had moved closer in sleep until we were almost touching. I felt the unreasonable desire to touch her—and not in a sexual way. Propped up on my elbow, I watched her peaceful sleep. As with many nights before, Lisa ’s blood-covered body had haunted my dreams. I hardly ever dreamed about the people I’d killed, and yet my dead wife still filled my nights.Matilda stirred, lips parting in a soft sigh. I pushed myself up and swung my legs out of bed, turning my back to her.The bed shifted. I

I walked into the modern, silver-gray meeting room, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and polished leather wafting through the air. The cityscape sparkled seen from the tall windows, a clear indication of the competitive environment I lived in.As I sat down at the shiny mahogany table, I was met with a series of hellos and confident handshakes. The investors, made up of experienced professionals and eager beginners, looked at me with a calculating focus that caused my stomach to tense."Felix , nice to finally meet you face to face," the main investor Marcus said, with his smile just as sleek as his custom suit. "We've been told wonderful things about your... entrepreneurial mindset."I grinned, my thoughts quickly evolving with the significance of this encounter. They desired a portion of my empire, a stake in the profitable transactions and high-risk dealings that had established my reputation in the business realm.While the conversation continued, the atmosphere in the room beca

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vast expanse of our large X territory. It was a warm and pleasant day, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the surrounding trees. Myself and the rest of the maids of the bustled about, our hands and feet moving in a coordinated dance as we diligently attended to various various tasks.Ava had organized a small party with some of her friends in her room the previous night, drinking themselves to stupor. I had the thankless task of cleaning up their mess the next morning, while she stepped out with them.“Make sure it's as clean as it was before the party,” she had instructed me before leaving. “Everything must sparkle before I return,” she added, wielding an air of authority.Damn it!It just felt like I was being punished for another person's mistakes! Well, not that I had a choice.I quickly got on with my job. Luckily, I had the strength to undertake them, leaving me with the freedom to observe the diligent work of

The early morning air was thick with a chilling mist that hung low among the trees, casting an ethereal glow over the sprawling estate. The scent of dew-kissed grass clung to the breeze, a hint of freshness tingling against the senses. The sky, adorned with hues of lavender and tangerine, promised the arrival of a new day, filled with secrets waiting to unfold.In the heart of this picturesque scene, within the grand manor that stood tall and imposing, I sent for Puertelas, the leader of the maids.“She must return with you,” I sternly said to the guard.The atmosphere crackled with urgency as I eagerly awaited Puertelas' arrival, my mind consumed by a mixture of curiosity and concern.I had no idea if sending for her was the best thing to do, but I knew I had to start from somewhere.Moments later, the door creaked open, and Puertelas entered, her typically composed face marred by a troubled expression. Her eyes widened with surprise and worry as they met my unwavering stare. The air