Pacing around the patio, Tangie’s eyes fleeted repeatedly across her phone’s screen. She was waiting for him, waiting because he had told her to. It was almost midnight and Archer was yet to be back from work, ignoring her calls, stirring a gnawing worry in her.She slumped on the lawn couch fighting off the sense of devastation and panic that had enveloped her.She had meticulously prepared dinner. She had prepared lunch too thinking he’d be back then.Unexpectedly, her phone shattered the gloomy mood with a soft ring, she jumped, startled by the unexpected noise.Glancing at her phone, she realized it was her father.She wondered what could be so urgent that couldn’t wait till morning. Without hesitation, she answered the call.“Tangie, dear. Can I speak to Archer? I need to ask him something.”“What is it, dad? Is it about work?” Tangie asked, curiosity dripping in her tone.“Yes, it's about Sterling Group…”Before Tangie could mention Archer’s absence, she was stopped by the sou
Tangie’s heart raced as she met his cold glare. "I am so sorry..." she quivered, her voice barely audible. I just thought I could do something nice..." She explained, shrinking in size as she did so."All you have to do is stay in your room and avoid me as much as you can."We are to be married in a month. Let's at least have a meal together.""Well, food is not my problem. I can't find the time to eat with you.""Am I asking for too much? You brought me here, what was your plan? I made mine clear to you. I want to know the man I am marrying and you agreed.""We haven't sat together for five minutes in forty-eight hours. I don't even know your middle name, you're so mysterious that I find myself looking around to be sure I'm not being watched."Archer’s stern voice softened, replaced with curiosity, his eyes narrowing at once,"Do you feel like you've been followed recently? Did you go anywhere?""I… I stopped by the office for some documents, then to get groceries, to the car wash.”
It is said that when facing adversaries, it is better to attack than to be defensive. Archer had no intention to be any of that. He wasn’t going to attack or defend. He was simply going to be the CEO of Sterling Group. Confidently striding through the entrance of the large building, his aura commanded attention as he made his way into the building. As he walked past his employees, he couldn’t help but notice their scrutinizing look on him. In fact, the air was unfurling with a subtle tension that he hadn’t noticed before.Archer gave a half-smile as if to say he acknowledged their piercing gazes. He continued into the elevator, ignoring the people who were struck by his assertive dominance. The elevator beeped open, and the metal doors screeched apart, revealing Celestine in the hallway, waiting with a stack of papers in hand.“Good morning, Mr President,” he said.“Call me Archer, please” Archer replied.“I couldn’t even if I wanted to…” Celestine interjected, presenting him with
Being a Dullvan wasn’t as rosy as it seemed, and nobody knew that except the Sullivans themselves. Their family was not one guided by love or emotions. They were simply bound by duty. The duty of upholding the family name and whatever decision was made was for the greater good of the family, just like her engagement to Archer Williams. She raised her head from the table and the room felt claustrophobic.Tangie sprang to her feet and headed for the door.Holding the doorknob replayed the fragments of their embarrassing tea incident and she cringed. “What was I thinking going to pull a door with full hands.”She pulled the door open and came to face with Luke, the kind man who helped her this morning.Tangie stopped as he got closer.“Miss Sullivan, ma’am” Luke greeted, Tangie shot him a soft smile and averted her gaze. “Am I shy or embarrassed?” She wondered. Glancing at him, she noticed the tray in his hand.“What do you have there?” She asked.“Coconut water…” Luke replied, “It’s
In the dimly lit study where Tangie and Archer stood breaths away from each other. Tangie’s gaze flickered to Archer and caught a flare of jealousy etched into his brooding face.Her pulse quickened, and a rush of excitement stirred a thrilling flutter within her, but she quickly dismissed such thoughts."Don't be ridiculous, Tangie" she chided herself softly, attempting to abate her fluttery. "You seem upset, do you want to talk about it?" her voice soft and gentle, echoed like a soothing melody in the dark."I'm not upset," Archer replied tersely."But you left abruptly…”"I lost my appetite" he interjected, trying hard to conceal the turmoil of emotions brewing within him.Tangie stepped backward, and a feeling of disappointment crept over her."I will leave now..." She grumbled, "You can go back to work. I’m sorry I disturbed"Before she could walk away, Archer closed the gap between them, grabbing her arm.Startled by his unexpected action, she tripped and stumbled into his arms
Celestine's calls became Archer's most frequent. He was delving deeper into the affairs of Sterling Groups, reporting the company's day-to-day suspicious activities to him. Despite these, Archer kept the intensifying threats he was getting to himself.In fact, the only person who was aware of the texts was a man named Mr Dunni Freeman, his secret investigator and he was the reason Archer paced the large gardens of his house this late in the evening, awaiting his call.For days, Tangie deliberately avoided him. Even though they were in the same house, he barely saw her. Of course, he had snapped at her because he was jealous but he didn't expect her reaction either. "Why did she cry?!" He asked himself for the nth time.Archer had thought to apologize the next day, but the fact that he received different anonymous messages kept his mind occupied and distorted that one day seemed into two days until he had lost count.Frustratingly, he couldn't tell if the messages were threats or ca
"Tha...that is not what I need," Tangie stammered. Archer's question was unexpected and outrageous."Why would I want you to leave home?" She said in a small hesitant voice.Archer exhaled softly before saying, "I just thought you were uncomfortable...""...since that night" he added.Tangie moved to speak but Archer cut her in, "I'm sorry," he breathed out. "I've been going through a lot at work... And that day, I heard what happened and I raced back home to see you, but you were with Luke..." He paused and slowly glanced at her. "I'm sorry I was rude to ..."He was silenced by soft, wet lips amidst the sentence.Archer widened his eyes in surprise, then gradually, softened. Softened into her lips, he melted in her arms and all his frustrations disappeared. He was completely immersed in that moment of intimacy. Unexpectedly, as if Tangie had just woken up, she startled out of the kiss.Archer's heart sank with disappointment, he wanted more. He was yearning for her.Three years of
The next day, Archer woke up on a table in the study with documents scattered everywhere.He widened his eyes, driving away his drowsiness only to realize that Tangie was no longer with him.The previous night, she offered to help him decipher the list and find more details about Maverick Jr. "I was probably still asleep when she left," he said apologetically.His whole body felt sick from lack of rest, while his upper body ached badly from the bad sleeping position.Archer stood up to stretch. He paused instantly, taken aback by the sight of Tangie on the floor, fast asleep. Her thick brown hair covered most of her face, leaving out her pink lips and her nicely structured jawline.Images of those lips on his flashed through his mind.Archer went still.Then unconsciously, he dropped to his knees and gently brushed off the hair on her face. As he did so, Tangie's full face surface, her long lashes gracefully resting upon her eyelids made him wonder if they were natural.After a while