chapter 4-
The dimly lit office was filled with tension as Yvonne stood nervously in front of her boss’s desk. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened to his harsh words, each one cutting deeper than the last. "You’re worthless, Yvonne," her boss snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "Another month without a single sale. What do you even do here? You’re good for nothing." Yvonne’s face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to muster a response. "Sir, I’ve been trying my best, but the market has been tough lately. If you could just give me one more chance—" "One more chance?" her boss interrupted with a cruel laugh. "You don’t deserve another chance. The only reason you’re still here is because of your pretty face and that body of yours. Maybe if you spent the night with me, I could reconsider." Yvonne’s eyes widened in shock as her boss leered at her, his gaze lingering on her body in a way that made her skin crawl. "What are you talking about?" she stammered, taking a step back. Her boss smirked, leaning back in his chair with a self-satisfied grin. "Don’t act so surprised. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. Ask my secretary how happy she is with me." He turned to the young woman standing by his side, pulling her into a rough kiss that made Yvonne’s stomach churn. The secretary’s expression was blank, her eyes void of any emotion, as if she had resigned herself to this fate. Yvonne’s heart sank as her boss rose from his chair and began to approach her, his intentions clear. She backed away, desperately trying to think of a way out, when suddenly, the door to the office burst open. "Step away from her," came a voice filled with authority and anger. Yvonne’s boss froze, turning to see Matthew standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury. "Who the hell are you?" the boss sneered, his confidence returning as he looked Matthew up and down. "How dare you interrupt me? Do you know who I am?" Yvonne quickly stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Matthew, please, don’t make things worse. I’m sorry, Mr. Henderson, he didn’t mean to—" "Quiet!" Henderson snapped, cutting her off. He turned back to Matthew, his lip curling in disdain. "So, you’re the loser she’s been hanging around with, huh? You look like you can’t even afford a decent set of clothes, and you have the nerve to barge in here and act like a hero?" Matthew’s expression didn’t waver as he met Henderson’s gaze. "I warned you to step away, and I meant it. You’ll regret it if you don’t." Henderson’s eyes gleamed with malice as he stepped closer to Matthew, sizing him up. "Regret it? What are you going to do, boy? You’re nothing. You can’t even afford a decent meal, let alone stand up to me." Matthew remained calm, his voice steady. "You can mock me all you want, but I’m not here to argue. I’m here to protect her. And as for your insults, I could buy a villa if I wanted to." Henderson’s laughter echoed through the office, filled with disbelief and scorn. "A villa? You? You can barely buy yourself a pair of decent shoes, and you think you can buy a villa? You’re even more pathetic than I thought. And if you’re lying, it’s going to cost you." Just as Henderson’s laughter faded, the door swung open again, and Rachel walked in, her new boyfriend, Michael, right behind her. A smug smile played on her lips as she surveyed the scene. "Matthew," Rachel drawled, her tone dripping with condescension, "I heard you were making a scene here. What’s this nonsense about buying a villa? You couldn’t even afford to give me the compensation I deserved, and now you’re making ridiculous claims?" Michael, ever eager to impress Rachel, chimed in. "This guy is a joke. I saw him begging Rachel to marry him, but she dumped him because he couldn’t even take care of her properly. He’s nothing but a black mark on manhood, a loser who’s so desperate he begged to marry someone who was already done with him." Henderson’s eyes lit up with malicious delight as he looked between Matthew and the others. "So this is the great Matthew Donovan, huh? A man who begs at the feet of a woman just to get married? Pathetic. And now you’re here, trying to play the hero for this one? You two poor fools suit each other perfectly." Matthew’s jaw clenched, but he kept his composure. The humiliation stung, but he wasn’t going to let them see him falter. He had learned too much, endured too much, to let their words break him now. "You know what your problem is?" Matthew said, his voice calm but firm. "You judge people by what they look like on the outside. You think just because I’m not wearing a designer suit or driving a fancy car, I’m worthless. But you can’t judge a book by its cover. And I’ll prove it." Henderson crossed his arms, still smirking. "Oh, really? How are you going to do that, Matthew? By buying that villa you were talking about?" Matthew’s eyes locked onto Henderson’s, his gaze unwavering. "Yes. I’ll buy that villa today. And when I do, you’ll see just how wrong you were about me." For a moment, there was silence in the room, broken only by the ticking of a clock on the wall. Then Henderson burst into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. "You’re really something, Donovan. Alright, go ahead. But if you’re lying, you’ll be paying for it dearly." Rachel and Michael exchanged smug glances, convinced that Matthew was bluffing. But Matthew simply pulled out his phone, his fingers moving swiftly as he made a call. The room fell silent as they watched him, their skepticism growing by the second. But Matthew didn’t falter. He spoke briefly into the phone, then hung up and slipped it back into his pocket. "Done," he said simply, turning to face Henderson. "The villa is mine. You can check if you don’t believe me." Henderson’s laughter died in his throat as he stared at Matthew, the confidence slowly draining from his face. "You… you can’t be serious." Matthew’s expression didn’t change. "I told you. Don’t judge a book by its cover." Rachel’s smug smile faltered as she looked at Michael, who was now shifting uncomfortably. "He’s bluffing, right? He has to be." But there was no answer from Michael, only silence as they all waited for the truth to reveal itself. As the minutes ticked by, Matthew stood tall, unshaken by the doubt and disbelief surrounding him. He knew what he had done, and he knew that this was just the beginning. The beginning of a new chapter, a new life where he would no longer be the underdog, no longer the man everyone underestimated. And as the weight of his words settled over the room, Matthew knew that, no matter what happened next, he had already won. He had proven that he was more than they had ever given him credit for. And now, it was time to claim the life he was destined to lead. As the door to the office opened once more, this time to reveal a man in a sharp suit holding a set of keys, Matthew stepped forward to meet him, leaving behind the doubts and the people who had once held him back. This was his moment, and he wasn’t going to let it slip away.CHAPTER 5- The tension in the room was palpable as everyone watched Henderson’s secretary bring up the contract for the villa. The air was thick with anticipation, and a smug smile played on Rachel’s lips as she watched her new boyfriend, Michael, hesitate."The villa is not less than fifty million dollars," Henderson announced, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Matthew? It’s a hefty price for someone like you."Michael shifted uncomfortably, his confidence wavering as the reality of the situation began to sink in. Fifty million dollars was an astronomical amount, far beyond anything he had imagined. But as he glanced over at Matthew, he convinced himself that this was all a bluff. Surely, Matthew would back out at the last moment, saving him from having to make such a large purchase.Yvonne, standing beside Matthew, looked up at him with concern etched across her face. "Matthew, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whispe
CHAPTER 6- The office was buzzing with tension as Henderson, still trying to comprehend the events that had just transpired, looked at his boss with a mix of desperation and confusion.“What did I do wrong?” Henderson asked, his voice shaking slightly. “I thought the card that paid for the house belonged to Mr. Donovan, but he’s just some low-life who couldn’t even scrape together enough money for his ex-girlfriend’s compensation. How could he have bought that villa? It doesn’t make any sense!”His boss, clearly frustrated and still reeling from the realization, shot Henderson a sharp glare. “You’re not listening, Henderson! The problem wasn’t with the payment—it was with who made it. You’ve been barking up the wrong tree this whole time. The payment didn’t come from Rachel’s boyfriend, Michael—it came from Matthew Donovan.”Henderson’s face paled as the truth began to dawn on him. “But… but that’s impossible! It was Rachel’s boyfriend, not Donovan! There’s no way he could afford som
As Matthew stepped out of the office, Yvonne quickly followed him, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. “Matthew,” she called out, catching up to him, “how could you afford such an expensive house? Where did you get the money?”Matthew paused, taking a deep breath before turning to face her. He knew he couldn’t reveal the truth just yet, not when so much was at stake. “It wasn’t me,” he lied smoothly, his voice steady. “It was my boss. He bought the house and used my card to make the purchase. He sent me to buy it on his behalf.”Yvonne’s eyes widened in surprise, relief washing over her face. “Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried about you. Thank you for saving me from the boss. You didn’t have to do that.”Matthew gave her a reassuring smile. “You don’t need to thank me. I couldn’t just stand by and let him treat you that way.”Yvonne nodded, her expression softening as she looked at him with genuine gratitude. “Matthew, maybe it’s better if you pay off the compensation to Ra
chapter 8- The tension in the air was palpable as Matthew Donovan stood at the entrance of his newly acquired villa, watching the confrontation between the guards and the intruders—Rachel, his ex-girlfriend, and Kevin, her brother. The guards, who had been a silent but imposing presence until now, suddenly moved with purpose, catching Kevin by the arm and firmly blocking Rachel’s path.“Let go of me!” Kevin barked, struggling against the iron grip of the guard. Rachel, her face a mix of shock and fury, tried to yank her arm free from another guard's hold.“This house doesn’t belong to you,” the lead guard said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable authority. “It belongs to Mr. Donovan. You have no right to be here, and if you don’t leave immediately, you won’t have legs to walk out on.”Rachel’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Kevin’s expression darkened with a mix of fear and anger. “You think you can scare us?” Kevin spat. “I’ll call up the security head of this locality! He’
CHAPTER 9- The next morning, Matthew woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing incessantly on his bedside table. Groggily, he reached for it, squinting at the screen as he saw the name of his assistant, Lexi, flashing across it. He answered the call, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.“Good morning, Mr. Donovan,” Lexi’s voice came through, professional yet warm. “I hope I didn’t wake you too early, but I wanted to inform you that everything is set for tonight’s party. It will be the official announcement that your family’s exile is over, and the beginning of your journey to build your business empire.”Matthew’s heart quickened at the news. He had been preparing for this moment, but now that it was finally here, the reality of it all was sinking in. The Donovan name, once revered and respected, was about to be restored to its former glory. And he, Matthew Donovan, would be the one to lead it into the future.“Thank you, Lexi,” he replied, his voice steady. “I’ll be there tonight.”As t
**Chapter 10** The aftermath of the explosion had left the grand ballroom in ruins. The once opulent space, adorned with chandeliers and intricate décor, was now unrecognizable, covered in debris and the remnants of shattered glass. The pungent smell of smoke lingered in the air, mixing with the acrid scent of fear that clung to the guests. Emergency responders had arrived swiftly, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow over the devastation. The lively chatter and music that once filled the room were replaced by the sounds of sirens, the cries of the injured, and the hushed whispers of those trying to make sense of the chaos. Matthew Donovan and Yvonne had managed to escape the immediate danger, but the night was far from over. They had sought refuge in a nearby alley, away from the scene of destruction. The narrow passageway was dimly lit, the shadows stretching ominously across the brick walls. The night air was crisp, and the adrenaline was still coursing through Matthew’s ve
**Chapter 11**The city’s skyline loomed in the distance as Matthew, Yvonne, and Lexi drove through the night, their breaths visible in the chill of early morning. The tension inside the car was palpable, each of them lost in their own thoughts about what awaited them. Victor Marlowe’s name was a dark cloud hanging over their mission, and the stakes had never been higher.As they approached Marlowe’s office building—a sleek, modern structure towering over the surrounding buildings—Matthew’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. He could feel the weight of the night’s events pressing on him, but his resolve remained unwavering. This confrontation could reveal the mastermind behind the attack and bring him one step closer to reclaiming his life and business.They parked and exited the car, their footsteps echoing in the empty street as they made their way to the building’s entrance. The grandeur of the lobby was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind, its polished floors and
**Chapter 12**The morning light was harsh against the polished surfaces of Matthew's office, illuminating the exhaustion etched into his features. The weight of the previous night’s encounter with Victor Marlowe had settled heavily on him, amplifying his sense of urgency. With Marlowe's threat looming, Matthew had no choice but to confront the chaos head-on.Yvonne and Lexi were already there, their faces mirroring the same determination that fueled Matthew. The three of them were about to delve deeper into Marlowe's plans, and the stakes had never been higher. Lexi had been tirelessly searching through Marlowe’s financial records, while Yvonne focused on gathering information from her network of contacts.“I’ve got something,” Lexi announced, her voice trembling slightly from both fatigue and adrenaline. She handed Matthew a thick folder filled with printed documents. “These are Marlowe’s recent transactions. I think they could lead us to his next move.”Matthew flipped through the