All Chapters of WHO IS MALIK HAMPTON?: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
30 chapters
Breakfast and Broken Distance
The next day, Malik was already up in the guest suite of the Roy mansion where he and Sarah lived. He walked down silently on the bed, his back and ribs hurt. As he stood up, he took a shower and changed into plain clothes, then left quietly for the kitchen where his daily work always started. Downstairs in the kitchen was quiet and cool. Malik navigated the familiar, upscale appliances with intense concentration. The steady chopping of vegetables, the sizzling of eggs in butter and deep scent of coffee brewing were elements he could master. He made an uncomplicated yet nutritious breakfast such as light scrambled eggs, toasted specialty bread, carefully sliced fresh fruit and a pot of robust coffee, all placed on a tray. Malik worked silently, wiping counters, ensuring everything was spotless. The physical chores were a balm, a way to quiet the turmoil in his mind. He recalled Sarah last night, after Michelle’s grand exit and the last guests had departed. The way Sarah had leaned
The Cold Ride
The luxury car drives away from the house with Sarah and Evelyn inside. As the gates close, the mood in the car changes from tense to icy. Evelyn fixes her scarf and stares straight ahead, her voice barely above a whisper, but it's menacing."Honestly, Sarah, that scene in the kitchen… it unsettled me.” Evelyn began, her tone dripping with false concern. Sarah, staring out the window at the blurring hedges, felt a knot of tension tighten in her stomach. "What scene, Mother? Malik was just making breakfast." She kept her voice neutral, defensive."Just making breakfast?" Evelyn gave a soft, dismissive chuckle. "Darling, open your eyes. He was hovering. Trying to insert himself into your morning, into your stress. After yesterday’s… performance." She let the word hang, heavy with implication. "It’s manipulative. A calculated display of domesticity designed to make you feel indebted. Or guilty."Sarah turned to look at her mother, frowning. "Guilty? For what? He was beaten, Mother. Bru
At Roy enterprises
Malik stood still in the quiet kitchen after the car drove away. Evelyn's insulting order lingered in the air. He looked at the beautifully arranged plate of food, now a symbol of his subservience. He felt a surge of humiliation and anger, but pushed it down. His mission was to protect Sarah. He carefully packed the food into a high-quality carrier and changed into his street cleaner's uniform. It was his armor, but today it felt like a badge of shame. He grabbed the carrier and left the mansion.As he walked to the Roy Enterprises tower, people glanced at him, noticing the fancy lunch bag in his hands. Malik ignored them, focusing on his task. When he arrived, the lobby was sleek and imposing, with marble floors and security desks. The employees were all dressed up, moving quickly and purposefully. Malik felt out of place in his uniform.He ignored all eyes and quickly approached the reception desk, where a woman named Chloe looked up. Her expression turned cold and disdainful as sh
Wolves in Suits
The marble corner by the elevators felt icy against Malik’s back, colder than the lobby’s air. He stood frozen, clutching the breakfast carrier like a lifeline. His shoulders were heavy and his eyes were downcast. Employees swept past, barely noticing him—except for the sharp glances, the quiet laughs, the stares that made his cheeks burn. In his cleaner uniform, Malik felt invisible yet exposed, wishing he could disappear knowing he didn’t belong."...heard he tried to barge into the CEO’s meeting..." "...security had to drag him out of the lobby like trash..." "...can you believe she married a street sweeper?” "...Michelle Dwelt would never embarrass her like that..."Whispers circled Malik, sharp and unkind. He stared straight at the elevator doors to the conference room, gripping the carrier until his knuckles turned white. Each bruise from Vance’s guards pulsed with the sting of gossip, all carefully stirred up by Evelyn.Malik’s chest tightened as he watched, wishing he c
The Burden of Roy's
The guard’s grip on Malik’s arm tightened, the humming taser in his other hand sounding like a trapped wasp. "Last warning, cleaner," the man hissed. The pain in his ribs was insignificant compared to the churning in his gut as Malik, unmoving, observed Michelle’s closeness to Sarah and Evelyn’s rhythmic tapping. "I’m not leaving until she gets this," he said, lifting the breakfast carrier. The scent of food and the coffee, Sarah’s favorite, felt absurd now. The guard snorted. "Yeah? And what’s in there again, huh? A bomb?" Malik’s jaw tightened. "Just food.""Pathetic, then go and eat it yourself” the other guard muttered, reaching for his radio. Suddenly as the humiliation continued, high heels clicked sharply, slicing through the lobby’s hum. Heads swiveled. Malik didn’t need to see to know; the sudden quiet, the guards’ rigid posture—only one person commanded such respect. Janet Roy appeared in a sleek black pantsuit and, with golden hair, looking like a corporate prin
The Strategic Partnership Unfolds
The conference room doors clicked shut behind Sarah, sealing Malik out. Through the narrow glass panel, he watched as the players took their positions. Michelle sits at the head of the table while his hands spread over a sleek presentation folder. Evelyn glides to Sarah’s side like a shadow and Janet lounges in a seat usually reserved for senior executives, her smirk sharp enough to cut glass. The guards had loosened their grip, assuming Malik would slink away, but they were mistaken. Malik edged closer, pressing against the wall just outside the door, trying hard to hear from inside. >>> Michelle’s voice, smooth as aged whiskey, filled the room. "Gentlemen, let’s begin. What we’re proposing isn’t just a merger—it’s a revolution." A holographic projection on the table showcased Dwelt Industries’ wide-ranging assets: Singapore ports, Zurich technology labs, and a global security branch spanning twelve nations.Sarah sat upright, scrolling her fingers i
The Devil's Bargain
The car ride home was heavy with silence. Sarah stared out the window while her fingers were tapping restlessly against her knee. As the car sped through the blurred city lights, she was lost in thought, remembering Michelle’s calculating smile and Janet’s cruel taunts from the boardroom. Malik kept his eyes on the road, but he could feel the tension radiating from her. He knew why she was quiet. Knew the weight pressing down on her shoulders. And yet, he waited, giving her a chance to decide if she wanted to share. After ten minutes of suffocating silence, he finally spoke. "You’re grinding your teeth."Sarah blinked, startled. "What?""You always do that when you’re stressed or you start reorganizing your purse like it’s a matter of national security." Malik said lightly, shooting her a sideways glance.A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "I do not." She exclaimed. “You definitely do. Last time, you alphabetized your lipsticks mid-board meeting.”“Hahaha” Sarah laughe
Unspoken Alarms
Over the Roy estate, the moon hung low, its pearly light softened by the drifting clouds. Malik sat in the garden with his elbows on his knees and a quiet storm brew beneath his composed features. He hadn't slept. He couldn't, not after what he'd heard. Silently, he pulled out his phone and hit play."...Then we remind her what happens to those who cross Dwelt."Michelle's voice was smooth, casual, like it was just business."Roy Enterprises. And I want to be the one who helps you win, Sarah."Janet's voice, manipulative and eager.The audio clipped off. Malik stared at the screen and his thumb hovering over the send button. He could text it anonymously to Sarah. Or email. Maybe even send it to the board.But what if she didn't believe it? Or worse—thought it was a desperate, jealous move? No. He'd talk to her face to face.Malik sighed and finally stood. The weight of the night pressed heavy on his shoulders. Inside, he moved quietly up the stairs, passing familiar walls lined with
The Interception
Malik sat in the living room staring at the window, thinking about the way forward. He glanced back at the TV again, displaying the news, playing quietly with the headlines; Roy Enterprises to finalize a deal with Dwelt Industries today.His eyes narrowed. "It has to stop today," he muttered, standing suddenly.He reached for the small black flash drive he had already prepared. Proof that Sarah was being deceived by the people she trusted most.He thought of bursting into the boardroom, slamming his palm against the polished oak table and pressing play. But Sarah's words still echoed in his mind:"Please, Malik. Don’t come to the office again. Not in those clothes. It hurts more than it helps."No, barging in would only make her defensive. She would see rebellion instead of protection.Malik grabbed his phone, thinking he could used outsider's help to see the flash delivered. "Hello, is this MetroSwift Courier Services? I need a same-hour delivery. Yes, it's urgent. Must be delivered
The Signature That Sealed the Storm
Malik paced the small living room unease, the clock ticking louder than it should have. His fingers trembled slightly as he refreshed the tracking app again, even though the delivery guy had already called to confirm the drop-off."Yeah, boss, I delivered it to the front desk. Said it's urgent,you can rest easy." The courier said cheerily. Malik exhaled slowly. "Thank you," he' whispered, sinking into the couch as if the weight on his chest had been lifted.Back at Roy Enterprises, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. Sarah sat at the long boardroom table, and the signature page of the contract was in front of her. Henderson, Larsen, Evelyn, Michelle, and Janet were all seated, and all eyes fixed on her.Michelle leaned forward, sliding the fountain pen toward her. "You’ve reviewed the revisions. Roy keeps sixty, Dwelt takes forty. I believe this is what you wanted."Sarah nodded, but her eyes weren’t on the document. They were on Michelle. His smile was confident, disarmi