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The evening had gone better than Jennifer had expected. Andrew had been nothing but kind, respectful, and charming throughout dinner. His stories about his struggles finding a partner resonated with her more than she’d anticipated, and she found herself intrigued by him in a way she hadn’t been with anyone since Frank. It was unexpected, but also comforting.“You know,” Andrew said as they finished their dessert, leaning back in his chair with a smile, “I never thought dating would be so difficult. For someone in my position, people often assume I have it easy. But honestly, it’s been hard to find someone who’s not interested in me for my money or family name.”Jennifer nodded, understanding more than she cared to admit. “I can imagine. It must be exhausting, trying to figure out if people like you for who you are or what you have.”“It is,” Andrew agreed. “But tonight, it doesn’t feel like that. You’ve been… refreshing, Jennifer. I feel like I can just be myself around you.”Jennifer
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"Why did you follow us, Eddie? Do you really think Jennifer can't handle herself?" Andrew's voice was calm but tinged with frustration as they stood outside the restaurant, away from Jennifer, who was still shaken from the attack.Eddie ran his hand through his hair, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "It's not that I don't trust her," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the ground. "It's just... I can't stop thinking about what happened with Frank. I should have protected him, and now he's gone."Andrew’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Frank’s death wasn’t your fault, Eddie. You know that, right? It wasn’t something you could have predicted.”Eddie’s fists clenched tightly at his sides. “I was there, Andrew. I should’ve done something—anything—to stop it. But I didn’t. I didn’t react in time, and Frank died because of me. Jennifer… she lost him because of me.”Andrew stepped closer, placing a hand on Eddie's shoulder. “I understand the guilt you're carrying, but following Jennifer around like
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Eddie walked back to the car with Andrew, his mind still spinning from their conversation. The idea of Jennifer moving in with Andrew was something he never would have imagined just days ago. But tonight had opened his eyes to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, it could be good for her.They found Jennifer standing by the car, her arms crossed as she waited for them. Her eyes immediately narrowed as she saw them approaching. “What were you two talking about?” she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.Eddie and Andrew exchanged a quick glance before Eddie spoke. “We were just talking about tonight,” Eddie said, trying to keep his voice casual. “And about what’s next.”Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘what’s next’?”Andrew stepped forward, his tone gentle. “Jennifer, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you’ve been going through. I want to h
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Eddie left the warehouse with the weight of the killing pressing down on him. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the act he had just committed was physically binding him to the ground. The streets of New York were still buzzing with life as they always were, completely unaware of the fact that one more man had been snuffed out, his life ended in the shadows. Eddie was no stranger to violence, but this felt different. It was personal in a way he couldn’t fully understand, not just because of Frank but because of what it said about him, about the man he had become.The subway ride back to his apartment was a blur. He kept his head down, staring at the patterns of dirt and grime on the floor. The city moved around him, passengers entering and exiting, the noise a dull hum in his ears. A mother struggled to keep her child in her seat a few rows down, an old man tapped his cane nervously as he waited for his stop, and teenagers laughed, completely oblivious to the world around the
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Eddie stood on the porch long after Jennifer and Andrew’s car disappeared from view. The fading sound of the engine echoed in his mind as he struggled to grasp the reality of his sister leaving, even if just temporarily. It was the first real step Jennifer had taken since Frank’s death, and Eddie was proud of her—though a knot of worry twisted in his stomach. As Eddie finally turned to go back inside the house, the emptiness hit him harder than expected. The house had been quiet since Frank’s passing, but knowing Jennifer was somewhere within those walls had been his small source of comfort. Now, with her gone, it felt like he was alone with his thoughts—and those thoughts were relentless.He couldn’t shake the nagging guilt about Frank. Despite the many reassurances from others, Eddie couldn’t let go of the idea that Frank’s death was somehow his fault. It had been a fluke accident, a terrible twist of fate, but Eddie had been there. He had seen it happen, powerless to stop it. And
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Eddie paced back and forth in his living room, a nagging feeling creeping over him since he hadn’t heard from Jennifer all day. His phone buzzed on the table, and he snatched it up, hoping it was his sister.It wasn’t.Andrew’s name flashed across the screen.“Andrew,” Eddie answered, his voice tight with suspicion. “Where are you and Jennifer? She was supposed to go to the mall with you.”There was a pause on the other end before Andrew’s calm voice replied, “Change of plans. We’re not going to the mall anymore.”Eddie’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Where are you going?”“We’re on our way to the airport,” Andrew said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. Eddie’s heart pounded in his chest. “The airport? What the hell, Andrew? What are you talking about?”Andrew sighed, and Eddie could hear the hum of the car engine in the background. “Look, Eddie, Jennifer’s been struggling. She needs a break, and I thought it would be good for her to get away from all the noise. I
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"Jennifer, are you sure you want to do this?" Eddie's voice was steady, but his eyes were full of concern as he stood in the doorway of her room. "I know you're trying to move on, but running away with Andrew isn’t the answer."Jennifer sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her shirt. "Eddie, it’s not about running away. It’s about finding peace. You don’t understand how suffocating it’s been for me here."Eddie took a step inside, leaning against the doorframe. "I get it, I really do. Losing Frank hit you hard, but disappearing with Andrew, someone you barely know? That’s not going to make the pain go away."Jennifer shook her head. "He’s offering me an escape. A break from all the memories. Maybe it’s what I need to finally let go of Frank."Eddie sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. "I just don’t trust him, Jen. There’s something about Andrew that feels… off. I don’t want you getting hurt again."Jennifer stood up, frustration bubbling in her che
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Andrew watched Jennifer run toward the car, her decision clear as she fumbled with her phone. His face twisted in frustration, his mind racing. He had spent weeks meticulously planning this, gaining her trust, making her think he was her escape. And now, Eddie had ruined everything. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, clenching his fists. Jennifer had already stepped away, halfway across the tarmac, but Andrew wasn’t ready to let this go so easily. With determined steps, he caught up to her, his voice low but urgent as he reached out to grab her arm. "Jennifer, wait."Jennifer stopped, startled, but didn’t turn around immediately. She seemed to wrestle with herself, not quite pulling away from him yet. Andrew took that as a sign to keep going."Just listen to me," Andrew urged, trying to soften his tone. "You don’t have to believe anything Eddie says. He’s trying to confuse you, make you doubt your own decisions."Jennifer shook her head, her voice barely above a whis
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- SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE
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“Eddie, you need to think this through,” his secretary, Lisa, urged as she shuffled through papers on his desk. “Keeping your distance from Agatha might not be the best strategy right now.”Eddie leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. “You don’t understand. I can’t afford to get too close to her, not after everything that’s happened.”“Look, I get it. But you’ve already agreed to help her with her family’s company. If you cut ties now, it’ll look suspicious,” Lisa replied, raising an eyebrow.Eddie sighed heavily. “It was a mistake to agree to that in the first place. I should have never involved myself in her family’s business.”“Eddie, this is a complicated situation. You know Agatha needs your support,” Lisa pressed, her voice steady. “She’s promised to start fresh, to make this work. You can’t just back out.”“Her promises don’t mean anything if it jeopardizes my own company,” Eddie countered, his voice rising slightly. “I have to think about my future, my business. I can’
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“Eddie!” Jennifer called out as she stepped into the house, her heart racing.Eddie emerged from the kitchen, looking worn out and a little worried. “You’re back! How was your trip?”“It was beautiful, but… we need to talk,” Jennifer said, struggling to keep her voice steady.“Talk about what?” Eddie asked, leaning against the kitchen counter, sensing the tension in the air.“Andrew… he wants to marry me,” Jennifer blurted out, the words escaping before she could rein them in.Eddie’s brow furrowed. “What? You’ve got to be kidding me. You just got back from a vacation! Why would you even consider that?”“I know it sounds crazy, but he’s serious. He wants me to leave everything and be with him,” she replied, panic rising in her chest.“Leave everything? Jennifer, are you really thinking about this? What about us?” Eddie’s voice rose slightly, betraying his frustration.“I’m not saying I will! I just… I need time to figure things out,” she stammered, trying to make sense of her feelings.
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Eddie leaned back in his chair, staring out the window as he waited for Agatha to arrive. The morning sun filtered through the glass, casting shadows across his desk, but the warmth offered little comfort. His mind raced with possibilities, scenarios of how this confrontation would play out. He could almost hear the tension humming in the air, a warning that things were about to get messy.When Agatha finally entered, she was all business, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. Her expression was calm, but Eddie noticed a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, perhaps, or anticipation.“Eddie,” she greeted, her tone cool. “You wanted to see me?”“Have a seat,” he replied, gesturing to the chair across from him. He needed to maintain control, to keep the upper hand in this conversation.Agatha sat down, her posture elegant, but there was a slight tension in her shoulders. “What’s this about?”“Let’s not pretend, Agatha. You know exactly why I wanted to talk to yo
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"Eddie, calm down. You're jumping to conclusions." Agatha’s voice was smooth, too smooth for Eddie’s liking. She sat across from him, legs crossed, sipping her tea as if the world wasn’t on fire.Eddie clenched his fists, barely able to control his rising anger. His office felt smaller, suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on him. “Calm down? Agatha, one of my subsidiaries just got shut down for a violation, and it happens to be the one your man, Charles, oversees. You expect me to believe that’s just a coincidence?”Agatha didn’t even flinch. She set her cup down delicately, her sharp eyes meeting his. “I understand your frustration, Eddie. But accusing me without evidence won’t solve your problem. Charles has been nothing but loyal, and whatever happened at that company was not my doing. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”Eddie’s jaw tightened. “You think this is about emotions? Agatha, I’ve been in this business long enough to know when something stinks. I j
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"Jennifer, you need a break. We've both been working nonstop, and honestly, I think a vacation would do us both some good." Andrew's voice was steady but held a hint of concern as they sat across from each other in the quiet corner of a café.Jennifer stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her mind elsewhere. "I don’t know if I’m ready to go anywhere, Andrew. There’s too much going on, and I can’t just leave. Especially with everything at the office." She sighed, the weight of Frank's death still lingering in her voice, even though she had started to heal.Andrew leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "You can't keep burying yourself in work, Jen. It's not healthy. You’ve been carrying a lot on your shoulders, and I get it. But you need to take care of yourself too. Just a few days away. Let’s go somewhere quiet, where you don’t have to think about business or Frank for a while."Jennifer hesitated, chewing her lip. She knew Andrew was right, but the thought of leaving everything beh
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“Grace, I need to know exactly what’s going on,” Eddie demanded, pacing around his office. His voice was sharp, filled with frustration. “We can’t afford any more surprises, and this Wilford situation has already cost us enough.”Grace, sitting calmly across from him, nodded. “I understand, Mr. Cameron. I’ve already started pulling reports from the other subsidiaries. But, honestly, I think we need to have a bigger conversation about oversight. This isn’t just about Wilford anymore.”Eddie stopped pacing and turned to face her. “What do you mean?”She handed him a folder. “I’ve been digging, and there are minor discrepancies in a few other subsidiaries as well. It’s not at the level of Wilford, but it’s enough to raise concerns.”Eddie flipped through the documents, his brow furrowing deeper with each page. “How did this happen under my watch? I had systems in place, checks and balances—how did we miss all of this?”Grace gave him a sympathetic look. “Honestly, I think the company has
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Eddie sat at his desk, staring at the numbers on the financial report in front of him. His heart sank as he scanned the figures again, hoping he had somehow misread the data. But there was no mistaking it—his company had taken a sharp hit, and the numbers reflected a significant loss.“This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered to himself, furrowing his brow. He quickly picked up his phone and dialed his personal secretary, Grace.Moments later, Grace appeared at the door, clipboard in hand, her face calm as ever. She was always efficient, always on top of everything, and Eddie trusted her implicitly. But today, something felt off, and he needed answers.“Grace,” he said, his voice sharp with urgency. “What’s going on with the numbers? Our revenues have dropped drastically. I need you to dig into this and find out where the problem lies.”Grace nodded, her fingers already flying over her tablet as she pulled up the latest data. “I’ll get to it right away, Mr. Cameron. I’ll have a detailed
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Eddie paced back and forth in his office, his phone gripped tightly in his hand. He had just read Jennifer’s text: *"We’re heading to Aruba. I’ll be fine, Eddie. Don’t worry."* His gut told him something was off, but he didn’t want to overreact—at least not yet.He opened his contacts, his thumb hovering over a few trusted names. Maybe he could ask one of them to keep an eye on Jennifer while she was away. But before he could make a decision, Agatha appeared at the doorway, her presence calm and poised.“Eddie, what’s going on?” Agatha’s voice was smooth, almost soothing. She noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his phone like it was the last tether holding him together. Eddie exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Jennifer just texted me. She’s heading to Aruba with Andrew. Something feels… wrong.”Agatha raised an eyebrow, stepping further into the room. “Aruba? With Andrew? That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?” Her voice had a lilt of casualness, a
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Andrew watched Jennifer run toward the car, her decision clear as she fumbled with her phone. His face twisted in frustration, his mind racing. He had spent weeks meticulously planning this, gaining her trust, making her think he was her escape. And now, Eddie had ruined everything. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, clenching his fists. Jennifer had already stepped away, halfway across the tarmac, but Andrew wasn’t ready to let this go so easily. With determined steps, he caught up to her, his voice low but urgent as he reached out to grab her arm. "Jennifer, wait."Jennifer stopped, startled, but didn’t turn around immediately. She seemed to wrestle with herself, not quite pulling away from him yet. Andrew took that as a sign to keep going."Just listen to me," Andrew urged, trying to soften his tone. "You don’t have to believe anything Eddie says. He’s trying to confuse you, make you doubt your own decisions."Jennifer shook her head, her voice barely above a whis
