“Follow me,” a husky voice commanded from behind. John’s eyes sharpened as he remembered the speaker—a burly figure with a prominent scar running from temple to jawline, a distinctive feature of Brad’s guard. John was sure they had encountered before, this man was always a shadow at Brad’s side, a silent guardian in their covert operations.The man led John through a labyrinthine pathway, dimly lit and lined with obscure doorways that hinted at concealed activities. Two imposing guards stood sentinel at the entrance to another room, their presence imposing and their gaze scrutinizing as John approached with his escort. They exchanged a terse nod with the man accompanying John before reluctantly stepping aside to allow them passage. John felt a surge of adrenaline as he passed between the guards, their silent scrutiny intensifying the weight of uncertainty that gripped him. What lay beyond this threshold? Was this a calculated move by Brad, or a perilous trap waiting to ensnare him?
“What am I supposed to do?” John’s voice quivered with shock, his brows furrowing deeply as if struggling to comprehend. His eyes widened in disbelief, as though he had misheard Brad’s words. Brad, standing opposite him, held a cup of amber liquid in his hand, the condensation trickling down the sides, unnoticed in the tense air between them. “I said, we have to eliminate Stephanie as soon as possible,” Brad repeated, his tone now tinged with an unsettling confidence that sent a shiver down John’s spine.John’s mind reeled at the proposition, unable to reconcile the reality of Brad’s words with his own principles. “You must be joking,” John finally managed, his voice strained with incredulity. He fixed Brad with an intense stare, searching for any sign that this was all a twisted prank. Brad’s smile in response was calm, almost serene, a stark contrast to the gravity of his words. There was no way John could entertain the notion of ending Stephanie’s life, no matter how deep his animo
Brad met John's gaze with a knowing smile, a calculated pause stretching the tension between them. With deliberate grace, he rose from his seat, the leather creaking softly beneath him as he stretched his arms above his head, a subtle flex of muscles hinting at a quiet confidence. Pacing across the room, he settled into another plush couch directly opposite John, crossing his legs and fixing his gaze squarely upon him. The silence that followed grew dense, each second pregnant with unspoken implications.Fixing his gaze on John, Brad leaned forward slightly, his expression serious yet tinged with a trace of intrigue. Both men regarded each other with furrowed brows, the weight of unvoiced intentions lingering heavily in the air. John’s jaw clenched involuntarily, his eyes narrowing with a mix of scrutiny and resolve."The reason I summoned you," Brad began, his voice resonating with a deliberate weight as he spoke, "is because the team has reached a big decision. It’s unanimous."John
John returned home, and he couldn’t stop thinking about all that Brad had told him. Each word Brad had said echoed in his mind, stirring a storm of anxiety and confusion. He sat on his creaky bed, its old springs groaning under his weight, and thought about the flash drive that Brad had spoken about. The room was dim, with a single flickering bulb casting long shadows on the peeling wallpaper. He wondered where the flash drive could be hidden because the last time he checked Stephanie’s vault, he didn’t see any flash drive. “What could even be in the flash drive?” he thought to himself, the question swirling in his mind like the incessant hum of a fly. His thoughts were a tangled mess, each one vying for attention but providing no answers. Another big thing that confused him was the certainty if Brad was truly being transparent with him or if he was just trying to use him and tag all the crimes on him. The doubt gnawed at him, an insidious whisper in the back of his mind, casting
John finally handed his phone to Modelisa, albeit reluctantly. He didn’t want her to create a bigger scene or suspect him even more than she already did. His fingers lingered for a moment longer on the device, a lifeline slipping through his grasp. The tension in the air was palpable, each second stretching out painfully, like the slow drip of water in a silent room, each drop amplifying the quiet dread that enveloped him. “Good,” Modelisa nodded with a stern smile as she took the phone. Her eyes, sharp and unforgiving, bore into him, and John felt a shiver run down his spine. It was as if her gaze could pierce through his very soul, unraveling his deepest secrets with just a glance. The room felt colder, the air heavy with unspoken accusations. John’s heart pounded wildly as Modelisa stared at the screen, her expression unreadable. He wondered what had driven her to come to his room so early, demanding his phone with such urgency. Anxiety coursed through him as Modelisa continued to
“He is just my friend,” Joshua stammered, his heart pounding so violently it threatened to escape his chest. His eyes remained fixed on the phone, its screen glowing with Modelisa’s scrutinizing gaze. “I mean, she is just my friend,” he hurriedly corrected himself, swallowing hard against the knot of saliva that seemed to constrict his throat. Modelisa stood silently, her presence looming large as she observed him with intense interest. Her eyes, sharp and predatory, tracked every twitch of Joshua’s nervous frame. A soft smile curled on her lips, sending a chill down Joshua’s spine. It was a smile that held promises of secrets uncovered and intentions exposed. “It seems you’re quite confused about your friend’s gender,” she remarked, her voice dripping with thinly veiled mockery and disdain. “It was a slip of the tongue,” Joshua replied, his voice strained as he fought to maintain composure. Beneath the calm facade, his mind raced with scenarios of what could happen if Modelisa probe
“What did you just do, Jay?” Mrs. Henshaw flared at Joshua, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. We returned home after the unveiling of the new branch and the tension was high. I stood beside Joshua and saw everyone’s faces turn red and ready to devour me. Emma’s voice quivered with rage as she spoke. “I cannot believe you would make such a big mistake, Joshua. And to do it behind our backs! We had to find out along with everyone else? How could you, Joshua? How could you make this woman co-CEO in the company that Father built with his blood, sweat, and tears? Really, Joshua? Really?” Her words were like knives, each one cutting deeper than the last. Joshua stood silently, his face a mask of calm amidst the storm. It was as if he had expected this backlash and had already steeled himself against it. His eyes, though, betrayed a flicker of sadness as he looked at his family, the people he loved, now turning against hi
“What are you talking about?” Modelisa dimmed her eyes at John. There was a flash of both confusion and worry on her face, like storm clouds gathering before a thunderstorm. Her brows furrowed, creating deep creases, and her lips trembled ever so slightly, betraying the turmoil within her. “You think I am the one plotting against Stephanie, that I am trying to use her, that I want revenge and am taking advantage of her, but then you fail to see the real threat,” John spat with so much confidence that it reverberated in the room. His voice was low and gravelly, each word dripping with intensity. His eyes bore into hers, unyielding, as if trying to pierce through the layers of her doubt. It was the right moment for the hit and pressure, and he sure wasn’t going to allow his chance to slip. “You mean Jeffery?” Modelisa said, narrowing her eyes. Wrinkles formed on her forehead like the ripples on a disturbed pond, her expression hardening as she tried to comprehend his words. The n