The morning sunlight filtered through Isabella's bedroom window, signaling the start of a new day. She rose from her bed, the events of the previous night still fresh in her mind. As she prepared for work, her phone buzzed incessantly with missed calls.Curiosity piqued, Isabella retrieved her phone, scrolling through the list of missed calls. The screen revealed a mosaic of names and numbers, including Jessica's persistent attempts to reach her. Isabella, not in the mood for immediate engagement, stowed her phone in her bag, opting to deal with it later.Avoiding the main entrance to her house, Isabella slipped out through the back door. The quiet escape allowed her to sidestep any potential encounters with her mother or brother. The solitude of the morning air enveloped her as she made her way to the car parked nearby.As the engine roared to life, Isabella navigated the familiar streets, the city awakening to the hustle and bustle of another workday. Her mind, however, lingered on
Isabella's revelation hung in the air, creating a momentary tension between her and Ruben. He furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the unexpected twist."Well, she had an affair with my ex, but it's all in the past now," Isabella disclosed, her gaze steady.Ruben's eyes widened in surprise. "What? An affair... how?""That's why he and I broke up," Isabella explained, her voice carrying the weight of past heartbreak. "I didn't know she's, in fact, married. And like I said, it's all in the past now."Ruben, grappling with the newfound information, responded with a mix of disbelief and concern, "This isn't making any sense because I know Elvin very well, and Layla too.""Or maybe she's not the one, then. Maybe someone else," Isabella suggested, her words leaving room for uncertainty."Okay," Ruben said, still processing the revelation. "And look, I will never do anything like that to you.""We'll see," Isabella replied, her guarded response reflecting a lingering skepticism.As the
Amid the sterile scent of the hospital room, Alex's phone pierced the quiet with Layla's call. He picked up, a polite greeting escaping his lips, "Hey, Layla. How are you doing?"Layla's voice, smooth and composed, responded with gratitude, "Very well. Thanks for honoring our invite.""Anytime!" Alex replied, trying to inject a sense of normalcy into the conversation.But Layla had other matters on her mind. "Buddy, we really need to talk. What was that about yesterday?"Alex sighed, the weight of the previous night's events returning. "Layla, I had no idea she was going to be around. Did you know about it?""I'm just as unclear as you. Hope you're good, though. I mean, seeing them together last night must have taken a toll on you," Layla empathized."Oh no, not at all. I'm over that," Alex asserted, although the words held a trace of defensiveness.Layla changed the topic, asking about his whereabouts. "Where are you?""Hospital. Hives," Alex admitted, a tinge of frustration in his v
The fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead as Daniel stormed into the office, his frustration evident. "Becca, I can't stay in the same space with the mole, buddy, it's disgusting," he blurted out, a scowl etched on his face. Becca shot a glance at Alex, an unspoken plea for intervention."Please fix this," Becca implored Alex before abruptly standing up and leaving, her swift departure leaving an uncomfortable silence in the room. Alex, leaning back in his chair, sighed and turned his attention to Daniel."Really, buddy?" Alex questioned, arching an eyebrow. "What's going on?"Daniel shrugged, glancing around as if searching for an escape route. "What? I'm just letting my mind out is all. Have you seen this dude?" he motioned vaguely towards an unsuspecting colleague engrossed in his work.Alex shook his head, "Sit down, we need to talk."Daniel plopped into the chair opposite Alex, his agitation evident. "What about?" he asked, a note of defensiveness in his voice.Alex leaned fo
The day's hustle culminated in Alex wrapping up work and heading toward the sales department to find Bambi. As he approached, the sounds of a heated exchange reached his ears, prompting a frown to crease his forehead. Pushing the door ajar, he witnessed a scene that sent a surge of discomfort through him.Becca's voice, laced with frustration and impatience, echoed through the room as she harshly berated Bambi. "Are you telling me you don't know what columns to put these in? After the instructions given to you by Tony? It's even very obvious. You put the ones marked in blue for the voucher, and the red ones for debits. Are you kidding me? Are you this daft? Oh my goodness, I can't with you right now. I really don't know why he's doing this, why he hired you, dumbass. Don't stress me, and get this shit done, you hear me? Dumbass!"Bambi stood there, visibly mortified, her eyes downcast. She didn't utter a word, merely nodding in acknowledgment as Becca continued her tirade. The weight
After their meal. Bambi, feeling a mix of contentment and curiosity, broke the moment of quiet by asking, "So, what are you off to from here?"Alex grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Just meeting up with my boys. You want to come?"Bambi hesitated, contemplating her schedule, but before she could respond, Alex added with determination, "I'm not taking no for an answer. You're coming with me."A mock exasperation played on Bambi's face as she chuckled, "Oh my goodness, this is probably not a good time.""It is. Come on, let's go," Alex insisted.Bambi sighed in mock defeat, realizing she couldn't resist his persuasion. "Okay."They left the restaurant, and Alex drove them off to Zac's house. The rhythmic hum of the engine provided a soothing backdrop to the city lights as they navigated through the evening.In the midst of the car ride, Alex casually brought up another topic. "By the way, this weekend, we should go to Golden State University. I already spoke to a lecturer about get
After Bambi left, Alex rejoined the group inside. Daniel couldn't help but express his admiration, saying, "Yo, unlike that girl, she's good... plus she's fine. Did you see that ass?"John, with a teasing grin, chimed in, "You have a thing with ladies that have a big butt."Alex rolled his eyes, playfully exasperated. "Okay, enough, you guys. And she doesn't really have the backside like that."Zac couldn't resist adding his own comment. "So you admit you do like women with a fat Kardashian butt, huh?"Alex sighed, knowing he was outnumbered. "Sometimes." The room erupted into laughter.Daniel prodded, "So, give us the tea about last night."Alex leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, I was so surprised and kind of relieved to see her, honestly."Daniel raised an eyebrow, adding a teasing tone, "Both your ex?""Okay, stop," Alex laughed. "You know I'm talking about Isabella."Aaron, genuinely surprised, chimed in, "Isabella was at the party?"Alex confirmed, "Yes, wi
Isabella arrived at the scene, entering the conference room where her uncle and Mama Christina were already in a meeting with her staff. As she stepped in, her uncle's stern voice filled the room, declaring, "Things are going to change around here. Henceforth, you all will be reporting to me."Isabella cleared her throat to signal her presence. Just then, her staff turned their attention to her, greeting her respectfully. Taking charge, she addressed them, "You all should please excuse us." Her staff members immediately started standing up to leave, but her uncle abruptly interrupted, "Did I ask any of you to leave? What insolence!"Mama Christina, sensing the tension, intervened by gently holding her brother's hand to signal for the staff to go.As the staff filed out of the room, leaving her alone with Mama Christina and her uncle, the tense atmosphere hung thick in the air. Her uncle, breaking the silence, admonished her, "I know my brother taught you some morals before he passed,