Eddie sat in the dimly lit room, the amber glow of the setting sun casting long shadows against the walls. He held a half-empty bottle of wine in his hand, his fingers loosely gripping the neck as he stared at the liquid swirling inside. His thoughts were a tangled mess, a constant loop of Frank’s death, the lies he had told Jennifer, and the looming presence of Axton and Agatha. The wine wasn’t helping, but it dulled the sharp edges of his guilt and confusion, at least temporarily.His phone buzzed on the table in front of him, the screen lighting up with Jennifer’s name. It was a call from her — but it wasn’t her voice he was worried about hearing. Jennifer had been trying to get in touch with Frank, unaware of the devastating truth that Eddie was keeping from her. Every time her name appeared on the screen, it was a painful reminder of the lie he was living.Without thinking, Eddie reached for the phone and immediately rejected the call, his heart heavy with the weight of his decep
Eddie stepped off the plane in Paris, feeling the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. The city was as breathtaking as always, but he could barely take in the sights. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Jennifer, Frank, and the lies he had spun to keep everything from unraveling. He had hoped that this trip would bring him some clarity, some way to navigate the storm he was in. But as he headed to Agatha’s apartment, an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.Agatha had always been a mysterious figure in his life, a mix of sophistication and danger that had drawn him in from the start. She was powerful, connected, and had a way of making problems disappear. But she was also unpredictable, and Eddie knew better than to trust her fully. Still, he had no other choice. If anyone could help him clean up the mess with Frank and Axton, it was her.When Eddie arrived at Agatha’s luxurious penthouse, he was greeted by her personal assistant, who led him to the grand living room. The ro
Eddie's hand hovered over his phone, thumb inches away from dialing the police. The adrenaline pulsed through his veins as the realization of Agatha’s betrayal weighed heavily on his chest. Every instinct screamed at him to act, to call the authorities and end this nightmare once and for all. Agatha had crossed a line, and there was no going back.But before he could press the button, Agatha, lounging calmly on the couch as if they were discussing trivial matters, chuckled darkly. She reached for the remote on the coffee table with casual grace, as though she had anticipated his every move. Without saying a word, she pressed play on a video she had already queued up.The large flat-screen on the wall flickered to life, and Eddie's breath caught in his throat.The video showed a dimly lit room — one Eddie recognized immediately. It was the private office where he and Agatha had met several months ago. In the video, Eddie sat across from her, both of them deep in conversation. His voice
Eddie left Agatha’s apartment with a heavy heart, feeling the weight of his decision bearing down on him. The streets outside were quiet, with only the occasional passing car or the distant sound of footsteps echoing down the alley. The city felt cold and unforgiving, much like Agatha herself. The deal he had just made haunted him; it wasn’t just about losing the company—it was about losing his identity, his values, and his connection to his father’s legacy.As Eddie walked, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He stopped and pulled it out, half expecting it to be another taunting message from Agatha. But it wasn’t. It was Jennifer.**Jennifer:** “Eddie, where are you? I need to talk.”The message made his heart sink even further. How could he face her now? How could he look her in the eye, knowing he had lied to her about Frank, knowing he had just agreed to hand over everything their father had built to a woman who had orchestrated Frank’s death and now controlled him completely?He hesi
Eddie stormed through the dimly lit alley, his mind racing as he headed straight for Axton’s hideout. The thought of confronting the man who had killed Frank gnawed at his insides, filling him with anger and dread. How could Axton have made such a reckless move? Frank was supposed to be alive, at least long enough for Eddie to settle things with him and Jennifer.Eddie clenched his fists as he reached the worn, metal door of the warehouse where Axton operated. He pounded on it furiously, demanding to be let in. Moments later, a burly guard opened the door just enough to peer out at him.“What do you want?” the guard asked, his voice cold.“I’m here to see Axton,” Eddie growled, his anger barely contained. “Let me in.”The guard eyed him suspiciously but eventually stepped aside, allowing Eddie to push his way into the dimly lit interior. The stench of oil and smoke filled the air, and the sound of clinking metal echoed from deep within the warehouse. Eddie didn’t care about any of tha
Eddie stared at Axton, his thoughts a whirlwind of frustration, guilt, and mounting fear. He had been trapped in a web of lies and deceit, and every step he took seemed to pull him deeper. But Axton had crossed a line, and Eddie wasn’t sure how he could clean up the mess without destroying himself in the process.Axton stood there, arms crossed, his face cold and calculating. “You’ll deal with Jennifer? And how exactly are you going to do that? You’ve lied to her so many times already, Eddie. She’s bound to find out soon.”Eddie clenched his jaw, trying to steady his breathing. “I’ll handle it,” he said through gritted teeth. “But you need to back off. This is between me and Jennifer now. You’ve already done enough.”Axton raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You really think you can fix this? You’re in too deep, Eddie. You don’t have the co
Eddie stared at his phone, Agatha’s chilling words still ringing in his ears. The wine glass sat untouched on the table beside him, his hand trembling as he ran it through his hair. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one darker than the last. Agatha had played him perfectly—he had walked right into her trap, and now she had the leverage to destroy him. The video. The damning evidence that could ruin everything.For a moment, Eddie considered calling the police anyway, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Agatha wasn’t bluffing, and if that video got out, it wouldn’t just be him that suffered—his family, his company, everything he’d worked for would be obliterated. He couldn’t let that happen. But what could he do?His thoughts were interrupted by another buzz from his phone. It was Jennifer. He hadn’t spoken to her since the incident with Frank, and just seeing her name sent a wave of guilt crashing over him. How co
Eddie leaned back in his chair, trying to control the storm of emotions swirling inside him. His victory over Agatha was tenuous at best, and he knew it. She was dangerous, and even though he’d managed to outmaneuver her for the moment, he couldn’t let his guard down. There was still so much at stake—his family, the company, Jennifer—and Agatha wouldn’t hesitate to strike again if she saw an opportunity.Agatha swirled her wine glass in her hand, her lips pursed as if deep in thought. The atmosphere between them had shifted from tension to something more volatile, like two predators circling each other, waiting for the other to show weakness. Eddie knew he had to keep control of the conversation.“I’m glad you see reason,” Eddie said, his voice cool, though his heart was still pounding. “Now, let’s talk about how we’re going to fix this mess.”Agatha took a slow sip of her wine before settin