Seth was also speechless, and he could not believe he had just done that. His phone lay on the table in front of him with the light still on, but it appeared that the lights in the room had been turned off. He had closed a chapter of a real and meaningful relationship with Emma. He’d thought of her perhaps loved her in some measure but it was not sufficient. He tried to avoid her image but his mind persisted to bring him back to her, no matter how much he tried to resist.Suddenly, the doorbell rang. It made Seth come out of his reverie. He got up from his seat, walked to the door and wiped his face.When he opened it, he saw Christian standing right in front of him with no clear emotion on his face.“What do you want?” Seth asked, and the tone he used was a lot more severe than he had wanted it to sound.Christian raised an eyebrow. “Is this a bad time? You look like hell.”Seth let out a bitter laugh. “Couldn’t be a better time. What do

Phoebe gazed at him, her eyes begging his face to tell her the truth in what he said. But she didn’t withdraw her hand and she also did not surrender to him just yet.“I don’t know, Seth,” she whispered. “I just… I need time.”Seth nodded, his heart heavy but he knew that she was right. “You can take as much time as you want, Phoebe.” I’m not going anywhere.”It was the first time that Phoebe smiled after she sat down and the smile was a tiny and feeble one, but at least she smiled.“Thank you,” she said softly.They remained there is silence for quite some time now, the air wiped clean of tension and any doubts that were present before. This is where there are so many things yet to be discussed, so many things that have to be solved. But for the first time in a long time, there was hope.It was therefore after the conversation with Seth that Phoebe left the café with her mind made up and her heart in such a mess. It has shaken her to the core because it was stating something sincere,

Phoebe sighed deeply to regain her composure and to try and clear her head. Each second of the previous night seemed to be a part of a puzzle that was trying to break away and not fit into place. Memories of the bar, Marlin and the sudden appearance of Christian went round her head but everything was rather blurry. The only thing she could remember was the feeling of betrayal.Marlin, she said to herself, her heart racing once more. She had given him her trust once, or at least thought he was not a threat. But last night, something had changed. The way he looked at her, touched her wasn't a concern. It was predatory.She came into her bathroom and washed her face in cold water, looking at herself in the mirror. What her reflection portrayed to the public was a woman who appeared to have been through a lot more than just a night of binge drinking. She looked pale with red rimmed eyes that were filled with worry. She put on a towel and attempted to regulate her breaths.Her phone rang o

Phoebe sighed, and she knew that there was some truth in the words that Sarah had said. Healing wasn’t going to happen instantly and challenging Marlin seemed dreadful but she was not alone. She had people Christian and Sarah by her side ready to help her through the confusion, betrayal and emotional roller coaster.Christian nodded firmly, getting up from the chair. “You can tell me something, I will just let you talk.” I will come back later to see you Phoebe. Do not feel that you are the only one like this, you are not the only one.”“Thank you,” she whispered as he got up, the air of relief coming over the room. She realized that Christian’s presence would always be the safety she needed, whether she still had mixed feelings about him or not.As soon as the door closed on Christian, Phoebe looked at Sarah, and managed a small, exhausted smile. “It was like I was in the middle of a movie and I don’t even know where to begin.”Sarah looked at her gently and with empathy. It’s good t

Phoebe’s heart was pounding, her hands were wet and she was looking at the phone in her hand. Sarah tried to shake her out of her daze by taking her hand and holding it tightly. “Phoebe, focus. Christian needs to know everything. Marlin is clearly psychotic – this is no longer a business rivalry anymore. He’s out for blood.”Phoebe nodded, dialing Christian with a shivering hand, and then the phone was ringing in the quiet. She had no time to waste.“Christian,” she exclaimed the moment he said, “Yes, Marlin just called me.” He’she’s planning something big, something worse. He said that the explosion was only the first step.”Christian’s voice was clipped, “What did he actually say?”Phoebe passed the conversation, she was crying as she told Marlin’s threats, and the words he said to Seth, that he has everything to lose.“Oh no,” Christian muttered under his breath. “He’s becoming more dangerous than we anticipated he would.” We need to act now.”“Is Seth safe?” Phoebe asked, the anxi