Natalie’s car came to a slow stop in front of the sprawling, ivy-clad house that her Uncle Scott and Aunt Nina's called home. The evening sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawn, but the sight that once filled her with comfort now brought a bitter taste to her mouth. She stepped out, slamming the door harder than she intended, and stormed up the stone path to the front door.The door creaked open before she could knock. Aunt Nina’s face appeared, all delicate lines and soft concern, but Natalie didn’t miss the flicker of surprise—or was it guilt?—in her eyes.“Natalie, darling, we weren’t expecting you,” Aunt Nina said, her voice tentative.“Clearly,” Natalie replied, her tone sharp. She brushed past her aunt and entered the hallway, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings with a new, unforgiving light.Uncle Scott appeared from the study, his reading glasses perched on his nose. “Natalie, what a surprise,” he said, attempting a smile, but it faltered as he caught sight of
Natalie stood outside Dario’s office, her heart pounding in her chest. The hallway was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity in the building reduced to a distant murmur. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind a dozen times, but now that she was here, facing the heavy wooden door that separated her from Dario, the gravity of what she was about to do weighed heavily on her.Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open without knocking. Dario was seated behind his sleek mahogany desk, his gaze focused on the papers in front of him. He looked up, his expression flickering with mild surprise before settling into a guarded neutrality.“Natalie,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”Natalie didn’t bother with pleasantries. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a deliberate click. “We need to talk, Dario.”Dario’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. “About what? I thought we already discussed everything at the hou
“Master, You have a guest”A frown appears on Hardin's face. He wasn't expecting anyone. “Who is it?”“It's Nat!”Hardin looks up from the table where he’s been reviewing documents. His face is a mix of surprise and concern as he sees Natalie. He gestures for her to sit down."Natalie, what are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you”Natalie sighs taking a seat and making herself comfortable. "I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing. I know what Dario did to you, and I want to help. As a journalist, I have resources and connections that could be invaluable."Hardin’s expression hardens. He leans back in his chair, studying Natalie with a skeptical gaze. "I appreciate your offer, but this is dangerous. Dario has powerful connections, and getting involved could put you in harm’s way. You don’t know what you’re dealing with."Natalie leans forward. "That’s exactly why I want to help. I have access to information and a platform to expose Dario’s crimes. I’ve already started digging in
Jane's house is elegant but quiet, far from the prying eyes of the world. Jane has always liked it that way. A place to keep secrets. Tonight, the warm glow of the lamps is dimmed by the tension in the air. Jane isn’t expecting company, and when the doorbell rings, she hesitates, her hand pausing mid-reach. She peeks through the window and sees an unfamiliar figure standing outside—a man, well-dressed, sharp. Someone who doesn’t belong in her world.With a sigh, she opens the door cautiously, her eyes narrowing at the stranger."Who the hell are you?”"Jane, right? We’ve never met, but I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Dario."Jane stiffens, her grip tightening on the door. She doesn’t trust men who appear unannounced, especially not ones who know her name without introduction."I don’t know you. What do you want?"Dario steps forward slightly, his gaze calm but calculating. He knows he’s walking into unknown territory, but he’s confident. Too confident.“I’m not here to cause trouble.
The evening sky is turning dark, and Hardin is rushing to his next meeting, one that could be crucial for the future of his company. His car is giving him trouble, so he flags down a taxi and hops inside, feeling the pressure of being late. "Weston Avenue, please. I need to be there soon."The driver nods without a word, pulling the car smoothly into the street. Hardin leans back, glancing at his phone to check the time and sending a quick message to the investor. A few minutes pass, and he notices the car is taking an unexpected turn.Hardin frowns. "This isn’t the right way."The driver doesn't respond, the car continuing down an unfamiliar road. The city lights start to fade, replaced by empty streets and abandoned buildings. Unease begins to creep into Hardin’s mind. He leans forward, trying to make eye contact in the rearview mirror.Hardin speaks more firmly. "You’re going the wrong way."Still no response. Hardin’s pulse frowns as the taxi moves deeper into a deserted area.
“Sir you have a visitor”Dario is behind his desk, absorbed in some documents when Jane walks in. Her sudden appearance catches him by surprise.Dario looks surprised. “Jane? What brings you here?"Jane takes a seat. “Dario. We need to talk."Dario motions for her to continue, his curiosity evident. He was a bit surprised she had figured out where he worked. "Alright, what’s this about?"“After our last meeting, I noticed something troubling. I saw a suspicious car parked near my place. It drove off quickly when I approached”Dario’s expression shifts from surprise to concern. He leans forward, his focus sharpening.“A strange car? That’s serious. It means someone could be monitoring us and might interfere with our plans."Jane nods. "Exactly. It’s made me realize that we might have a bigger problem. Someone could be trying to sabotage our efforts."Dario’s mind races as he processes the information. He stands up, walking around his desk to stand in front of Jane.“If someone’s
Dario is sitting at his desk, going through some documents when the door suddenly swings open with a loud bang. Karina storms in, her face flushed with fury and frustration."Dario! We need to talk. Now!"Dario barely looks up from his papers, clearly annoyed by the intrusion, but the tone in Karina's voice is unmistakable. He sets down his pen slowly, leaning back in his chair.Dario coldly replies. “You know, you could knock first. I’m in the middle of something."Karina ignores him, pacing the length of the room with her arms crossed tightly across her chest. Her high heels click angrily against the floor, the sound echoing in the spacious office.Karina spits her words. “This is more important than whatever you're doing right now. Do you have any idea what just happened?"Dario raises an eyebrow, though he maintains his calm demeanor. He’s seen his wife like this before, but something about the way she’s pacing makes him realize it’s serious.What did Hardin do this time? "Alri
It’s the morning of the long-anticipated relaunch of his project after Hardin had ruined the first one. This was Dario’s chance to redeem himself. Dario stands by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the bustling city below. He wears an expensive tailored suit, exuding confidence. His entire focus has been on this day—everything was supposed to be perfect and he hoped Hardin wouldn't ruin it again for him. Suddenly, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floors catches his attention. His secretary, Evans, rushes in, his face pale and tight with urgency. He clutches a tablet, the glow of the screen reflecting his worried expression.Evans swallows nervously. "Mr. Scott, there’s a situation."Dario turns to face him, his eyebrow raised, clearly displeased with her abrupt entrance.Dario speaks coldly. "What is it, Evans? Can’t you see I’m preparing for the launch?"Evans takes a deep breath before continuing, his voice laced with apprehension. "It's about Hardin... He