Alex, searching for the source of Maria's concern, asked cautiously, "Did Isabella put you up to this?" Maria, with a hint of surprise, replied, "What... no. I haven't even seen her since all this went down." "Okay... looks like she's really moving on," Alex mused, a mixture of emotions playing on his face. Maria reached out, gently holding his hand."You'll be okay," Maria assured him. "Yeah... sure," Alex responded, his tone betraying a touch of skepticism. Maria, sensing his inner turmoil, continued, "So what are you doing here?" Alex explained, "You know, just to cool off some steam." Maria raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but I thought you said you do that with your boys."Alex sighed, "Yeah, most of them are married, so I let them be." "Right. Listen, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," Maria offered. "I know, thanks Maria, you're a good one," Alex acknowledged, appreciating the genuine concern in her words. Maria stood up and hugged him, saying, "And take it easy on the drinks.
Amidst the quiet serenity of the park, Alex, feeling a need to clarify his intentions, insisted, "Look, I just want to be nice to you, is all." Bambi, still processing the unexpected offer, replied cautiously, "Okay, but I don't know you like that."Respecting her hesitation, Alex decided to reveal a bit more about himself. "Okay, you know what, look up REED Group of Company. My dad owns it, and now, I'm the acting CEO. And a position is open for you, if you're interested." Bambi's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and skepticism in her expression. "Who are you?" she questioned.Alex, with a warm smile, revealed, "I'm Alex Fitzgerald." Bambi, realizing the magnitude of the situation, said, "I think I'm gonna have to look you up when I get home." Alex nodded, encouraging her to do so. "You do that." Bambi, feeling overwhelmed, asked, "Okay, but can I at least think about this? It's too much to process right now.""Hey, hey, take your time. You don't have to give me an answer right away,
The morning light filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room where Isabella found herself. The unfamiliar surroundings sparked a momentary confusion as she blinked away sleep, trying to make sense of her location. A serious headache throbbed at her temples, adding to the disorientation.Pushing herself up, Isabella surveyed the room, her gaze taking in the subtle luxury and elegance that hinted at a different environment from her own. She cautiously stepped out of the room, encountering Ruben's maid in the hallway. "Where am I?" she inquired, her voice a mix of bewilderment and concern.The maid, respectful but composed, replied, "Mr. Oscorp's house, ma'am. Do you need me to get you something?" Isabella's eyes widened with realization. Ruben's house? Disbelief and regret flooded her thoughts. "Can I get water?" she requested, needing a moment to collect herself.The maid nodded and hurried off to fulfill Isabella's request. Alone in the hallway, Isabella couldn't fath
As Isabella attempted to find solace in the embrace of sleep, a persistent knock echoed through her room, disrupting the fragile peace she sought. Groaning, she mustered the energy to answer, opening the door to find her mother standing there. "Mum, what's it?" Isabella asked, her voice tinged with a mix of weariness and irritation.Eleanor, unimpressed with her daughter's greeting, entered the room with an air of authority. "Is this how to greet your mother? Rude!" Isabella rolled her eyes but chose not to engage in a morning quarrel. "What do you want, Mum?" Eleanor got straight to the point. "Where did you go last night?"Isabella, quick on her feet, responded, "I slept over at Kia's." Eleanor eyed her daughter with a raised eyebrow. "Wild night, huh?" Isabella, feeling no inclination to share the details, simply replied, "Really wild."Not one to dwell on her daughter's escapades, Eleanor shifted the conversation. "Well, Maria is downstairs to see you." "Maria? What's she doing he
As Alex savored the rich aroma of his morning coffee, the butler entered the kitchen with a respectful greeting. "Morning, boss." "Good morning," Alex replied, taking a sip of his coffee. The butler, with an air of concern, inquired, "How was your night?" "Not bad," Alex responded casually. Sensing a deeper inquiry, the butler continued, "Well, I came to check in on you last night. You were not in your room. Everything okay?""Of course," Alex reassured him, a slight smile on his face. "Had to take care of some things last night." The butler nodded in understanding. "Okay. Your mother wants to speak with you about the company." "Alright," Alex acknowledged. "Tell her I'll join her in a few, and please, be present there." "Very well, sir," the butler replied, then promptly left the kitchen. As Alex took another sip of his coffee, he couldn't help but marvel at the contrast between his current life and the one he had known before.In the elegant living room, Grace, Alex, and the butler
The rain drizzled lightly as Maria approached Zac's house, as she drove in the quiet street. She pulled her coat tighter around her, a futile attempt to shield herself from the damp chill. Frustration marked her face; her attempts to reach Alex had been in vain, his number persistently unreachable.With a determined resolve, Maria reached Zac's doorstep, her knuckles rapping a staccato on the door. The door swung open, revealing Zac's puzzled expression. He seemed genuinely surprised to see her, his eyes widening momentarily before he awkwardly closed the door and promptly reopened it, as if uncertain about his actions.Maria's brow furrowed at the peculiar encounter, and she couldn't help but blurt out, "Hey, what's going on?" The confusion lingered in her voice as Zac, still slightly befuddled, stammered a response, "Hey, umm...sorry, I just...didn't know...umm...you're Alex's in-law, yeah?"Nodding in confirmation, Maria replied, "Yeah, I was here the other day with your friends. R
Maria couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions—relief that Alex was safe and on his way, yet a lingering sense of curiosity about the events that had unfolded. "Is he okay?" she asked, unable to conceal her concern. Zac nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "Yeah, he's on his way here. Said he called the guys too."As the door swung open, revealing a rain-soaked Alex, Zac greeted him with a hearty welcome. Pleasantries exchanged, Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Maria in the room. "Hey, Maria! Good to see you. What are you doing here? Are you two...?" he trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air.Maria, her hands slightly raised in a defensive gesture, responded with a chuckle, "Oh God, no. I mean, he's not bad, but not what you're thinking." Alex nodded, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Right."Curiosity lingering, Maria got straight to the point, "I've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now. Everything okay?" Alex reassured her with a
A heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the pattering rain outside as Daniel, the outspoken one, voiced the collective shock. "Hold on, you mean to tell us you've been lying to us all along?" Alex, his gaze steady, responded, "I didn't lie. I just didn't want this part of me out."Zac, recalling Maria's revelation, interjected, "Maria did mention it when she was here. I said it can't be true." Aaron, catching up on the unfolding drama, queried, "Maria was here?" Zac sighed, "Long story."Daniel, attempting to maintain order, exclaimed, "Guys, hold on! Alex, what other thing did you keep from us about you that we don't know?" Alex's voice, tinged with regret, replied, "This is the only thing, and my ex-wife doesn't know about this either."John chimed in, "So you've been fake with us all along?" Alex defended himself, "Again, guys, I wasn't. I only did it to protect myself." Daniel, seemingly unconvinced, retorted, "Yeah, but we've all been buddies for years now. How ar