Lawton's eyes sparkled with triumph as he looked at his dumbfounded landlady with a sly smile on his face. The landlady must have thought he was bluffing at first as he could tell she was completely shocked by the look on her face but decided to give her some time to take it all in. His confidence soared as he looked at the neighbours who glared at him but he couldn't be bothered as he knew they were about to be shocked to their bones once they realized he had bought the entire property. It was all in a matter of minutes as he had to first put the landlady in her place before coming back to them. He felt a wave of satisfaction as he continued to smile, waiting for the landlady to say something to him but she just kept quiet as she continued to stare at her phone. The landlady looked so shocked as she repeatedly continued to stare at her phone not believing Lawton could send her such a huge amount of money. "How is this possible?" She muttered to herself as she refreshed her bank

Lawton stepped through the revolving doors of the company, his sharp eyes scanning the pristine lobby. The air was cool, artificial, like the false sense of security this company had been running on for too long. Everything looked polished on the surface—polite greetings, pristine floors, a buzz of activity that hinted at productivity—but Lawton knew better. This company had been stagnant, coasting on past success for far too long. “Good morning, sir,” the receptionist said with a practised smile. Lawton offered a curt nod, his thoughts already moving ahead to the task at hand. Today wasn’t just another day in the office. Today was the day he had to put the company on notice. Waiting near the elevators was Smithson, his father’s loyal assistant, who had become his de facto guide through the intricacies of running the business. Smithson was a man who commanded respect without demanding it, his calm demeanour masking the years of experience and knowledge he had gained. Lawton had alw

Lawton awoke with a shock, the remnants of his nightmares hanging on him like cobwebs. For a brief while, he forgot where he was, and then the weight of the previous day's events returned. He glanced at the clock; it was early, but his thoughts were already racing. His wife, Amanda, had begged that he eat something before going to the hospital, and he couldn't resist her worried pleadings. She hovered about him, fear on every line of her face, but he reassured her before returning to his mother's side. When Lawton arrived at the hospital, he felt a surge of anxiety. The hospital was alive with activity, in stark contrast to the empty streets he had traversed the night before. Security was tight, as Smithson had stated. He walked by many guards, their eyes bright and attentive, on his approach to his mother's ward. When he walked in, his mother was awake, and her eyes lit up as she saw him. She extended a thin hand, and he gently accepted it, feeling a rush of love. "Hi, Mom," he rep

"Thank you," Amanda said with a gentle smile as sat down before taking in the luxurious ambience of the wealthy and high-class restaurant they were seated in. Barry took his seat as they settled comfortably into their seats under the soft glow of the candlelight which created a warm feeling over the elegant surroundings of their private room. Barry, who was on edge to impress Amanda, sat on the edge of his seat as he leaned towards Amanda who was taken aback by his action. He decided to go straight or rather dive deep into what came into his mind first. “Hey, Amanda,” he called out to her, slowly and a little bit sexually which irritated Amanda. The dinner had not even started but Amanda was starting to feel uncomfortable. “Why don't we order something bountiful to eat? And set the mood right before getting down to business! There is a popular saying that says the strength of within is what you use outside and what can fuel that strength, food! W

"No, I'm not going into your hotel room," Amanda stated with a serious tone. "Infact I think I should leave," She added, as she stood up, Barry immediately walked up to her. "Okay, Let's just have a drink together," He muttered, as Amanda looked at him. "Just one drink," He uttered. "Okay," Amanda said, dropping her bag before sitting down. Barry called out to the waiter who brought a bottle one wine and poured two glasses for the both of them. As Amanda collected the glass of wine, her eyes flickered from the glass of wine in Barry’s hand to his expectant smile. The restaurant’s lighting was soft and warm, almost giving the evening an illusion of comfort. But she felt anything but comfortable. This wasn’t a night out with friends, nor was it a celebration she wanted to be part of. Barry’s intentions were clear, and as much as she wanted to avoid confrontation, she felt the weight of his insistence pressing on her. “Barry, really, I don’t drink,” she said, forcing a polite smile