Melissa slowly regained consciousness, realizing she was still in the same room where she had awoken earlier. The throbbing headache had eased slightly, but her memory remained blank, unable to recall anything from the previous night. She cautiously examined her body and discovered she was no longer wearing the bathrobe but instead adorned in a modest red dress."Don't worry, the maid changed your clothes," a familiar voice reassured her. Melissa looked up and saw Jeremy seated on a white sofa across the room. His striking eyes held a mix of intensity and curiosity as they focused on her."How did I end up here?" she inquired, her voice tinged with confusion."You seriously don't remember anything?" Jeremy asked, amusement dancing in his eyes."If I did, I wouldn't be asking you, would I?" Melissa responded, her irritation apparent.Jeremy cleared his throat, taken aback by her boldness. It was a rare occurrence for someone to speak to him in such a manner. Normally, such insolence w
Jeremy stormed into his study, his face etched with fury. The audacity! After subjecting him to such turmoil last night, she had the nerve to speak to him however she pleased. What had he expected, though? He pondered, massaging his temples."Whoa, you look like a thunderstorm. Are we in danger?" Steve remarked as he and Tony entered the study.Jeremy turned towards them, his anger palpable. "What are you guys doing here?" he demanded."We came to discuss business. We asked Thomas to inform you of our arrival, but he said you were preoccupied upstairs. Is everything alright?" Tony inquired, extending a glass of Scotch to Jeremy.Jeremy accepted the glass, swiftly downing its contents in a single gulp. "Slow down, buddy. I'm sure you can handle whatever is bothering you," Steve advised, concerned."Quiet, Steve. Tony, go on," Jeremy commanded."Well, we find ourselves in quite a predicament," Tony began."What's wrong?" Jeremy interjected, his interest piqued."One of our esteemed clie
Gregory Adams stepped into SiTech, his first visit to the renowned establishment. He had always held an eager curiosity to meet its enigmatic owner, as his foolish son had spoken so highly of the man, praising his genius and warning against underestimating him. As Gregory entered, a sharply dressed figure in a sleek black suit approached him, gesturing silently for him to follow.Together, they entered the elevator, ascending to the top floor in silence. It was only then, when they reached their destination, that the suited man turned to face Gregory, delivering a subtle warning. "He is waiting for you inside. I advise caution with your words."Gregory couldn't help but scoff inwardly. Did this man have any inkling of the individual he was addressing? If anything, caution should be exercised in addressing someone of his own stature. Undeterred, Gregory strode into the office.Inside, a man sat behind the desk, draped in a black suit. His formidable presence exuded an aura that could s
"We come to you now with breaking news. Owner and founder of the Adams association, Gregory Adams, was found dead this morning. Witnesses say he had died naturally and..." Jeremy switched off the TV, the news report serving as a stark reminder of the inevitable. He placed the remote on the table before him and reclined on the sofa, his posture radiating a sense of dominance. Yet, his almond-shaped eyes betrayed a hidden turmoil within.Just then, Lucas, Jeremy's trusted right-hand man, entered the room dressed in black. He glanced at Jeremy, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, questioning the presence of the visitor. "Sir, he's here," Lucas informed, silently pondering the significance of this meeting."Let him in," Jeremy replied, and a young man walked in, donning a friendly smile as he approached the sofa where Jeremy sat. "May I sit?" the man asked, and Jeremy nodded in assent.The man took a seat opposite Jeremy, initiating the conversation. "Thank you," he began, a touch of gratit
Melissa exchanged a knowing smile with Tommy. This marked the fourth time he had deliberately spilled coffee on her, attempting to provoke a reaction. However, Melissa maintained her composure, flashing her customary smile and wordlessly making her way into Sasha Arts Studio.As an artist, Melissa's position at Sasha Arts Studio was delicate. The scales of her professional life hung in a precarious balance. Any misstep or loss of equilibrium could jeopardize the new life she had painstakingly built, something she was determined to protect.Ignoring Tommy's antics as she had done on previous occasions, Melissa gracefully entered the ladies' room to freshen up. Melissa Williams was an ex-convict charged with an accidental murder three years ago. After serving her time, she was now striving to embrace a new life and leave her past behind.Emerging from the restroom, her efforts to remove the coffee stain evident, Melissa caught the sound of someone calling her name. "Melissa."She turne
"Do you think he'll agree to it?" Steve inquired."Absolutely. It's an enticing deal. Why would he pass on it?" Tony confidently responded.Steve furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Couldn't we have chosen a more impressive location for the meeting?""Jeremy rarely leaves his house, so I thought an enchanting evening at an art exhibition would be a refreshing change for him," explained Tony."Refreshing?" Steve scoffed. "How is an art exhibition refreshing? It's just a gathering of pretentious individuals staring at paintings, trying to decipher abstract concepts that nobody truly comprehends.""Just because it may not be your cup of tea, Steve, doesn't mean others won't find it engaging," Tony retorted, his attention focused on navigating the road. They were en route to Jeremy's Estate on the outskirts of the city.Steve and Tony were among the handful of close friends Jeremy had. Steve possessed an exuberant and outgoing personality, while Tony emanated a calm and composed demea
Melissa had everything ready for the party, thanks to the helpful staff members Sasha had hired. It seemed that the woman didn't dislike her as much as she initially thought. Just as Melissa was immersed in her preparations, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She retrieved it and saw Nicky's name on the caller ID. Curious, she answered the call."Hey Nicky, what's up?" Melissa greeted her friend."Where are you??" Nicky's voice came urgently from the other end of the line."I'm at work, as I told you this morning. You know I have to make sure everything is ready before tonight's party.""Yeah, I know that, and that's why I'm calling. Remember, you were supposed to meet me and Sam to pick out a dress for the party," Nicole reminded her, excitement evident in her voice."Well, just pick one for me. I still have to supervise some things over here.""Alright, but don't blame me if I choose something you don't like," Nicky giggled mischievously.Before Melissa could say anything else, Nicky
Sam marveled at the beauty of the dress but eventually voiced her concern, "We can't afford this, Nicky."Nicky, however, was determined. "Well, I've been saving up for something truly important, and I think this is it. We're definitely getting this one." She turned to Rachel, her resolve evident.Rachel nodded understandingly. "Alright then, I'll get everything ready for you."*****Jeremy settled into the passenger seat of the sleek black Rolls Royce Phantom parked in front of the estate. Dressed in a splendid royal blue suit that perfectly showcased his physique, he was ready for the party."How long will this take?" Jeremy asked, his voice tinged with impatience."Probably a couple of hours, maybe three," Tony replied."Three whole hours? God, that'll be torture," Steve groaned as he opened the other door of the Rolls Royce."What are you doing?" Jeremy asked, his tone casual."I'm getting in," Steve replied, momentarily puzzled by the question."Get out," Jeremy stated matter-of-