Jalen stood motionless, the weight of the cheque still lingering in his hand as though it carried the stench of insult. The paper might as well have been drenched in kerosene for how much it scorched his pride.He stared at Tiana with quiet disbelief, her expression smug, as though she had won some twisted game.His fingers curled tightly around the edge of the cheque, his jaw clenched. For a fleeting moment, his mind played with the idea of striking her; not out of hatred, but because she had crossed a boundary no one ever should.But he held back.It was not just the law that restrained him, but something deeper, something in his upbringing that told him that no matter the provocation, a man should never raise his hand against a woman. If it had been Andrew — Tiana’s older brother, who spoke to him like that, fists would have flown.No doubt.Jalen exhaled deeply, long and slow, before lifting his eyes again. There was something about the finality of the moment that made him feel de

The drive to the evening gala had been long but not unpleasant. They’d made a stop at a suite owned by Sonia’s parents, where they both changed into new attires.The soft hum of classical music filtered through the car speakers as Jalen and Sonia arrived at the grand venue of the event, the city's finest business gathering of the season.As they stepped out of the car, a cool breeze swept past, stirring the sequins on Sonia’s emerald green dress and the crisp edges of Jalen’s black suit.The entrance was already glowing with soft golden lights, welcoming guests of influence and prestige. Jalen was adjusting his cuffs when he noticed Tiana.She stood not too far from the entrance, her arm interlocked with a younger man’s. Her posture was perfect, her smile practiced. But the moment her eyes met his, the mask cracked.Her expression faltered, lips parting in confusion before drawing into a tight frown.What is he doing here? She wondered sharply. How on earth did he get an invitation t

Tiana stood stiffly at the party’s edge, her hands clasped so tightly in front of her that her knuckles had turned white.At her side, Carlos noticed. Of course, he noticed. His hand was warm and strong as he slipped onto her shoulder in a quiet, grounding gesture. “Tiana,” he murmured, voice low enough to barely be heard over the music, “I’ll talk to my father. I’ll plead with him. I’m sure there’s still a way to get your company back on that list.” The luxurious glow of the chandeliers above, the soft trill of the string quartet in the background, the laughter and clinking glasses all blurred together like a cruel joke playing out before her eyes. It felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing the ground was about to vanish beneath her feet but being powerless to stop it.The news had already reached her — first the blow from the Torres company backing out, and now the confirmed cancellation of all pending orders from the Adesins company.The double hit settled heavily on h

Tiana turned to Carlos, her heart bursting with gratitude, her eyes shining with raw, overwhelming relief.Without a second thought, she rushed and hugged him tight, a gesture so humble and full of sincerity that it caught Carlos completely off guard. He blinked, his mouth falling slightly ajar as he stared at her, clearly not expecting such a public display of gratitude.For a split second, Carlos hesitated, a flicker of guilt darting across his face. But it didn't take long for his true nature to surface. Straightening his shoulders arrogantly, Carlos smirked, soaking in the moment like a man who believed he deserved every ounce of praise the world could offer. He tucked one hand into his trouser pocket and raised his chin slightly, as if he were some knight who had rescued a damsel in distress. “Of course,” Carlos said smugly, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. “I made it happen.” Standing nearby, Sonia caught the entire scene unfold. She couldn't help it; a small, knowi

Jalen’s frown deepened, his entire being taut with barely restrained anger as he stood firmly in the grand lobby, surrounded by disdain and hostility thick enough to choke on. His voice was low, steady, yet it cut through the noise around him like a sharp blade. "Is this how a seven-star hotel serves its guests?" There was no shouting, no flailing — just a quiet authority that demanded an answer. But the middle-aged manager only scoffed. His eyes, sharp and arrogant, raked over Jalen’s modest clothes with thinly veiled contempt. "Guest?" the manager echoed, his lips curling into an ugly sneer. "You look like a beggar." The insult cracked through the air, and for a brief second, the entire lobby seemed to pause. Even the fat man and his glamorous date, still lingering nearby, exchanged gleeful smirks. The manager, feeding off the growing tension, barked an order toward one of the young doormen standing stiffly by the entrance. The guards where still hovering around Jalen like a