Mark woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing. He reached over to his nightstand and saw Sergei's name flashing on the screen. He answered, his voice still husky from sleep. "What is it, Sergei?" Sergei's voice was firm and urgent. "Boss, we have a situation. News reporters are heading your way. They know about Elena coming back to your house." Mark sat up in bed, his mind racing. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. "How did they find out?" Sergei's response was grim. "I don't know, but we need to take precautions. I advise you to stay inside and not come out for the day." Mark snorted, his voice laced with amusement. "Don't be ridiculous, big guy. You know that's highly impossible. I have a business to run." Sergei's silence on the other end of the line was palpable. Mark could almost hear him thinking. Finally, Mark spoke up, his tone thoughtful. "I'll have to think smart.” The line went dead, and Mark tossed his phone aside. He swung his legs over the side of
Sergei called Mark's phone when he arrived at the tea house. Mark answered, and with a quick "I'm outside," he stepped out of the building. The sleek black mini-van, one of his father's many vehicles he had thought was useless, sat curbside, its door sliding open with a soft hiss. Mark climbed into the first row of seats, muttering under his breath, "Guess this car will serve a purpose after all." Sergei greeted him with a crisp "Morning, boss," as he pulled away from the curb, expertly navigating the vehicle through the crowded streets. Mark settled in, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as they left the suspicious duo and the chaos behind. Sergei handed Mark a drawstring bag containing the clothes he had requested, and then steered the car away from the curb. As they merged into the flow of traffic, Sergei caught Mark's eyes in the rearview mirror and asked, "Where to, boss?" Mark replied, "Igloo Commercial building. It's on 81st street." Sergei's eyebrow arched in surprise
When he arrived at David's office, Mark asked with a hint of amusement, "How are the rest of the board taking my rude affront on their fragile ego from the last meeting?" David chuckled. "They're still nursing their wounds. The board chairman has even threatened to leave with his shares in the company." Mark laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "That's nothing. If Baumerman wants to leave, he can leave. His measly seven percent will barely shake the company." David agreed, "I see your point, but what if the others leave as well? It could be a mass exodus, Mark." Mark shrugged nonchalantly, his confidence unwavering. "My father owns eighty percent of the shares in the company, twenty of which secretly belong to me until I'm ready to take the reins. If they pull out their shares, I'll simply buy them back, no questions asked." David's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the plan. "How do you intend to do that, Mark? You know as well as I do that buying back shares on that scale
Elena sat in her room, still sulking over the suffocating restrictions Mark had placed on her. She felt like she was living in a prison, with no privacy and constantly walking on eggshells. She regretted hurting Mark in the past and wished she had been wiser at the time. As she sat there, she couldn't help but think about the extreme measures she had to take that morning just to have a bath. Covering up all the windows and doors, even hanging blankets over the shower cubicle, just to feel somewhat secure. It was humiliating. She sighed and stood up, knowing she had to face her reality. She opened her door and, as expected, a guard was standing in the hallway, his face expressionless as he watched her. Elena rolled her eyes and proceeded down the stairs, feeling like a prisoner under house arrest. She could feel the heat of the guard's eyes on her back as she walked away, his gaze piercing and unyielding. Elena felt a surge of frustration and resentment, wondering how long it would
Mark stood in the emptying lobby of David's office building, impatiently waiting for Johnson to arrive with his car, when his phone rang. He took it out, and there was a hint of irritation in his voice as he asked, "Who's this?" "Boss, I'm Mensah. I'm on your security detail. There's been a little incident at the house, boss." Mark rolled his eyes, wondering what that had to do with the fact that he was being kept waiting. "Is that the reason why I'm yet to see neither Johnson nor my car? Look, if this is about Elena, it can wait till I get home." Mensah said, "About Johnson, sir, he's in a bad way." Mark impatiently asked, "What do you mean in a bad way? What's wrong with my car?" Mensah said, "There was an explosive device tagged to the car. Nearly claimed Johnson's life, but we're taking him to the hospital. We hope he makes it, boss." Mark's mind was reeling from the information. "Wait, slow down. There was an explosion?" His mind struggled to register what he had heard. "Me
Mark had left David in the room and stepped out into the hallway, his mind set on getting his father discharged from the hospital. "I need to speak with a doctor immediately. I'm moving my father home," he told the nurse firmly. The nurse protested weakly, "But he needs some more time to heal." Mark cut her off decisively, "It's not up for discussion. My father leaves here tonight." The doctor hurried in, looking concerned. "Mr. Darius Junior, I'm not sure checking your father out so early is going to be good for his recovery process. His wounds are still healing," he said, his voice laced with worry. Mark stood firm, his resolve unwavering. "He's fine enough to leave. You may send a nurse along with us tonight. I'll make arrangements for a doctor to commence home treatment, starting from tomorrow morning. But he's done here." The doctor sighed resignedly. "I guess we can't change your mind then." With a small smile, he turned to Gabriel and said, "You were my favorite patient."
Jennet snuggled deeper into Charlie's embrace, feeling loved and wanted once more after Gabriel's harsh rejection. Her conscience whispered reminders of her past mistakes, trying to cheat Gabriel's son out of his inheritance. Who wouldn't be furious about that? Charlie's gentle kiss on the small side of her neck sent shivers down her spine, distracting her from her guilt. Charlie was unrecognizable from the man she remembered. His touch was now laced with newfound finesse, his bedroom skills honed to perfection. Jennet fell deeply in love with the man he had become. She felt a sense of wisdom in her choice to make love without protection, silently praying to every feminine deity that she would be blessed with fertility, hoping to bind Charlie closer to her with a child. Charlie gazed into Jennet's eyes, his voice filled with sincerity. "I love you, Jenny." She smiled, her heart skipping a beat. "I love you too." He flipped her over, his lips meeting hers in a gentle kiss. Then, he
Mark walked into David's office, the door closing behind him with a soft click. David, seated behind his desk, greeted him with a warm smile. "Top of the morning to you, Mark." Mark nodded, his expression serious, and took a seat across from David. David leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "You really surprised me with your move on Bennet's building, Mark. I didn't think you had it in you." Mark's lips curled into a hint of a smile. "Told you I had some good tricks up my sleeves." His expression turned somber, and he sighed heavily. "I've just returned from the hospital. My driver, Johnson, will live, so the doctor says." David nodded sympathetically. "That's good news, Mark. I'm glad to hear it." David's voice brought Mark back to reality. "Speaking of payments, I reached out to your secretary's family. They weren't entirely cooperative and vowed not to have anything to do with you or your family, ever again." Mark's gaze dropped to his feet, his express