"It's me brother." Denera answered from behind the door.Jason heaved a sigh, placing the remote on the table in front of him.The duo outside interpreted the silence as a consent to enter.Pushing the door open, Denera stepped into the office and locked the door behind her. She was draped in an elegant, figure-hugging emerald silk dress that shimmered with every movement. The dress, cut just above the knee, featured a plunging neckline and delicate gold embroidery along the hem. Paired with strappy stilettos and understated diamond earrings, her outfit exuded a perfect blend of sophistication and allure. The Lockwood siblings were all about the Elite lifestyle.She walked over to her brother and sat on one of the chairs across the table."That's new." Jason began as she settled into her chair."Whatever do you mean brother?" Denera asked, feigning ignorance to what her brother was insinuating."You'd always go over there and seat on the cushions" Jason answered, pointing to one of
"I have something I need to show you." Alex answered."What is it?" The distorted voice questioned."I'm sorry it's not something that can be discussed through the phone.""Very well, I'll send you a location. Be there in the next 30 minutes. You know better than to double cross us." The voice warned, it's voice so scary Alex's throat dried up."I'll be there. Thank you." Alex said and dropped the call.Immediately the call dropped, the phone made a notification sound and Alex clicked it, revealing it to be the location.Without wasting time, Alex rushed out of the slum, heading for the meetup destination. Since he had no means of transportation, he had to beg his legs to carry him as fast as they could.***It was a chill day at Majestic Skies Building. The halls were not that crowdy as few people walked to and fro in the halls. A soft classical music played from the speakers, coupled with the strong air conditioner, further giving the atmosphere a chill vibe.Rachel sat at her desk,
"Is history about to repeat itself?" He secretly hoped that would not be the case. "Is everything alright sir?" The driver asked, looking at the Old Man through the rear view mirror."Everything is fine. Concentrate on the road." The Old Man answered. He turned his face and gazed through the window, his mind drifting away with different thoughts.***Ethan appeared from the staircase with a file bag in his hand, greeted by the laughter of Paul and Rachel who were oblivious to their boss's arrival."Care to let me in on the joke?" Ethan asked as he got closer to them, making the duo lose composure."Nothing boss, just regular work stuff." Paul came to the rescue."Regular work stuff huh?" Ethan asked with an eyebrow raised."Anyways, give this to the finance team and tell them to tailor the budget to fit the readjustment that I've made." Ethan said, pointing the file bag in his hand to Rachel. "At once sir." Rachel said, standing up immediately and collecting the file bag from her bo
"You're late." The distorted voice echoed from one of the SUVs, sending a huge wave of fear down Alex's body, so much so he began to shake a little bit."I...I know... I'm sor...sorry." Alex stammered. "I had to get here by foot." He added in his defense.The door of the SUVs and 4 men in total came out, all dressed in complete black mercenary clothes, with their faces covered, save for their eyes."You know how precious we take our time." One of the men stepped forward and spoke. His voice distorted due to the mic attached to his throat."I apologize, what I have to show you will make it worth your time, I promise." Alex said, reaching his hand into his pocket.The sudden movement, made the men bring out their guns and cocked it pointing at Alex."Hey hey it's just my phone, it's just my phone." Alex shouted in fear, his two hands in the air"Slowly." The man in front commanded, their guns still aimed at Alex."Okay...okay." Alex obeyed and slowly dipped his hand into his pocket and
He had to think of something, and he had to think fast!Time was running out and he knew the longer he delayed the more difficult it would be to succeed.***Gerald gym is a sleek blend of luxury and cutting-edge technology. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, offering panoramic views of the city skyline. The walls are adorned with motivational art and mirrors that create an illusion of infinite space.State-of-the-art equipment, from smart treadmills to high-tech resistance machines, is arranged in meticulous rows, each piece polished to perfection. In one corner, a custom-designed Pilates reformer and a set of handcrafted wooden kettlebells await, blending functionality with elegance.A spacious yoga area, complete with plush mats and ambient lighting, invites moments of calm and flexibility training. Nearby, a juice bar stocked with fresh, organic refreshments provides the perfect post-workout boost. The gym exudes an atmosphere of determination and dis
"I'll have my driver drop you off." Jason added. "Now leave." He ordered.With complete shock and confusion, the young lady picked her clothes from the floor, put them on and headed for the door.Jason's sudden switch still remained a mystery to her. "Was it something she said?" She wondered as she took a final look back at him before exiting the door finally.Once she was out of the room finally, Jason slammed his hand on the pillow beside him."How dare her!" He said to himself. "Putting my name in the same sentence with that glorified peasant." He added, his eyebrows furrowed in a frown.Heaving a sigh, he stood up from the bed and headed into the shower. He wasn't going to let anyone ruin this mood. After all, he knew exactly how to bring Ethan down.***As the day of the commencement of the Monument Project drew nearer, tension filled the air as each house positioned itself mainly against Ethan and Sandra but also against each other.***"Yes thank you for coming." Ethan greeted,
Sandra held her gaze steadily. "Risk can lead to great rewards, but also great losses. It's a fine line to walk." The air between them thickened as the tension grew. She wasn't going to back down from whenever Denera was playing at."True," Denera conceded, her tone velvety smooth. "But those who master the art of balance often find themselves in positions of unparalleled power."Sandra raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And do you consider yourself a master of balance, Denera?"A slow smile spread across her lips. "I prefer to think of myself as a connoisseur of opportunity. Speaking of which, I couldn't help but notice the moves you've made, concerning the Monument project. Quite the undertaking.""Thank you. It's been a long time in the making.""Yes, and such endeavors often attract... interest from various parties. Some might see it as a threat to their own ambitions."Sandra eyes narrowed slightly, the underlying meaning clear. "Are you suggesting I should be concerned?"
"Do you know who sent them?" Ethan asked, looking at Sandra and the driver."It was Denera." Sandra answered."Denera Lockwood?" Ethan asked to be sure."Without a doubt." Sandra replied."How can you be sure she's the one? It could have been anyone else." Ethan laid out his reluctancy to believe what Sandra said."Trust me Ethan, she's the one behind this." Sandra said, her eyes locked into Earth's own as if communicating with him in another plane."Very well then, we all need to be more careful" Ethan said after a while. "It's obvious the other Houses will go to any length to make sure we're off the project and that it's given to them instead." He added."There's no going back. We proceed as planned Ethan." Sandra said.Ethan gave her surprised look. Wasn't she the one who was almost a victim of an attack and kidnap? How can she be unfazed and ready to fire on?"If the Houses sense weakness from us, it will give them the drive to attack us more. We can't afford to show fear." Sandra