RICHARD'S POVThe cool, calculated air of the conference room was a stark contrast to the storm raging in my heart as I entered. The long, polished table was surrounded by familiar faces. At the head of the table sat the minister, Collins, his presence authoritative yet open. I was here for the business meeting which he had invited me to.Henderson Rhodes, my former partner, was already seated, his surprise at my arrival poorly masked by a quick, insincere smile. "Richard, glad you could join us," the minister greeted, still oblivious to the undercurrents of tension. "Thank you, Minister," I replied, nodding respectfully as I took my place. Henderson wasted no time. "Minister, I feel it's important to clarify that Richard and I are no longer in partnership. His presence here might be... misleading." The room tightened with whispered speculations, the air thick with sudden interest. The minister’s brows knitted in confusion. "Is that so? Richard, you were just discussing the pro
RICHARD'S POVWhen I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted with unexpected fanfare. My employees lined the lobby, clapping and cheering. Balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling, and a table was laden with gifts. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and for a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the glow of their admiration. I felt a swell of pride in my chest, knowing that my recent success was as much a victory for them as it was for me."Thank you, everyone," I said, raising my hands to quiet the crowd. "Your support means the world to me. Let's keep pushing forward and make this year the best one yet!" Their cheers grew louder, and a few of them even started chanting my name. Amidst the celebration, my gaze drifted to the back of the crowd where I spotted two of my staff—Mark and Lisa—standing apart from the rest. Their expressions were stern, their arms crossed, and there was a palpable tension emanating from them. Mark's jaw was clenched tightly, and Lisa's eyes bore into me with
RICHARD'S POVThe smoke still lingered in the air, a bitter reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. The firefighters, their faces smeared with soot and sweat, were wrapping up, hoses coiling like exhausted serpents. My office, once the heart of my operations, now lay in ruins, charred and unrecognizable. The acrid scent of burnt paper and wood stung my nostrils, mingling with the bitter taste of dread in my mouth. "Mr. Richard, most of the documents are gone” a firefighter, his name tag reading 'Johnson,' said, his voice heavy with sympathy. "I'm sorry, man." I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. My mind raced, tallying the losses. Important documents, ownership rights, contracts—Amelia's former company was now in a precarious position. This wasn't just a fire; it was an attack. "Get the security team here," I managed to croak out, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. "I need to know how this happened." Minutes later, the security team assembled in the remnants of my
RICHARD'S POV I was still trying to salvage the files on my desk when my phone buzzed violently in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw the caller ID: Augustus Merrick, the manager of the real estate company where I bought my house from. I frowned, wondering why he'd be calling me at this hour. "Hello, Mr. Merrick," I answered, still half-focused on the stack of partially burnt papers in front of me. "Richard, your house is on fire! We've called the firefighters, but you need to get here right away!" His voice was frantic, every word dripping with urgency and panic. My heart skipped a beat. "What? How? I'll be there in five minutes!" I hung up, my hands trembling as I fumbled for my car keys. It's undoubtedly my worst day yet. The drive was a blur of honking horns and red lights that I ignored. My mind raced faster than the car, filled with dread and disbelief. When I arrived, my house was already engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, and th
RICHARD'S POVThe charred remains of the documents haunted me as I stared at Gregory, his smug grin etched into my mind like a scar that won’t heal. I clenched my fists, feeling the heat rise to my face. "I have the court's backing," I insisted, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation. That was when Gregory stopped and turned back, his laughter filling the room, echoing off the walls like the ghosts of my lost hopes. "Oh, Richard, you poor deluded fool. The judge who handled your case is dead. What proof do you have now? Ashes?" He chuckled again, his eyes gleaming with condescension. I could almost see the ghosts of my dreams, the ones I'd built on acquiring the company, slipping away. "You need to step down, Gregory. Or I'll bring the police into this." His laughter stopped abruptly. He leaned forward, his face inches from mine, his breath hot and reeking of whiskey. "You think the police will help you? They're in my pocket, every last one of them. Do yoursel
RICHARD'S POVThe waiting hall buzzed with a mix of tension and anticipation as we, the aspirants, sat there, clutching our forms. The air was thick with expectation, and the murmur of whispered conversations filled the room. I'd been through many nerve-wracking moments in my life, but this was different. This was the beginning of a new chapter, one I wasn't entirely sure I'd survive. The officials processed our forms with commendable efficiency. One by one, they called out names, and we approached the desk to complete our initial registration. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited. I glanced around, taking in the expressions of the other aspirants. Some wore masks of confidence, while others, like me, betrayed a hint of nervousness. Finally, my name was called. I stepped forward, handed over my form, and watched as the official stamped it with a satisfying thud. The initial registration was done, but the real test was yet to come. We were ushered into another room where the crit
AMELIA'S POVUncle Gregory had launched his campaign on TV without any delay, and in full force too. It was a strategic move, and Greg was a man of swift action. This was our chance to elevate our family to a whole new level, to solidify our place in the city's political landscape. But beneath the surface, a gnawing fear lurked, looming over my thoughts. A fear that Richard, my ex-husband, would once again thwart our plans.Somehow, Richard always managed to make himself a constant thorn in our side. It was as if he had a deity watching over him, ensuring our every misstep. As Gregory's niece, I was deeply invested in his success. I wanted nothing more than to see him win the election, to bring about the change we so desperately needed.I was perched on the edge of the sofa, my eyes glued to the TV screen when Gregory’s campaign ad rolled out. It was flashy, filled with patriotic music and shots of him shaking hands with local folks. I couldn't help but smirk at the way they edited ou
RICHARD'S POVI leaned back in my chair, the remote clutched in my hand like a lifeline. The news anchor’s voice droned on about local politics, but my focus was squarely on the screen. Any minute now, they would show the interview which the news anchor had just mentioned. Amelia’s interview. I knew it was coming, and I knew Gregory would use her against me. Still, the anticipation gnawed at my nerves.I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my breath. The camera cut to a shot of Amelia, her eyes wide and innocent, her lips painted in a demure pink. She looked every bit the part of the victim. I could almost hear Gregory’s coaching in her practiced pauses and the subtle quiver in her voice. “Thank you for speaking with us today, Amelia,” the reporter began, her tone sympathetic, almost conspiratorial. “Can you tell us about your experience with Richard?” Amelia took a deep breath, her eyes glistening as if she were holding back tears. “Richard was never the man he appeared to be,” Amelia