Back When It Burned
Author: Storybygloria
last update2025-08-06 13:13:46

The drive to the other side of town lasted five hours. Xavier looked at Amber in the passenger seat, she had dozed off somewhere between his rant about a new business idea. But he didn’t mind, he’d kept talking anyway.

He could have asked someone else to drive them, but he wanted this quiet. This secrecy. His staff were too new to trust, and Amber… she was the only one who had earned it.

He turned into the parking lot and killed the engine. Then leaned over and gave her a gentle nudge.

She stirred, stretched lazily in her seat. “Are we there already?” she asked, yawning, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“You slept well? Have you been overworking yourself at the café again? I’ve told you to leave that job. I have more than enough now. I could set you up with something. You know that, right?”

Amber smiled, still half-asleep. “I know. I’ve never doubted it. But can we talk about that later, please?” She glanced out the tinted window. “Wait—where are we?”

“A shelter home. For boys.”

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Latest Chapter

  • A Meeting of Smiles and Daggers

    Amber’s heels clicked softly against the marbled floor as she climbed up the stairs of Xavier’s home, her stride confident but unhurried. Her thoughts were already on the conversation she had come here to have, her mind rehearsing and discarding different approaches.She was halfway to the study when a voice smooth, female, and unfamiliar cut across the hallway. “You might want to slow down.”Amber turned her head and found herself looking at a woman leaning casually against the pillar, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She was immaculately put together in a fitted beige dress, understated gold jewelry, and an elegance that felt calculated. “Xavier’s in a meeting,” the woman continued, straightening. “You’ll have to wait outside. “Amber, isn’t it?” the woman asked, smiling with a kind of elegance that didn’t reach her eyes.Amber arched a brow, her gaze taking in the woman’s posture, her expensive perfume, and the air of entitlement in her tone. “And you must be the Prime Ministe

  • The Thunderous Slap

    Lisa’s heels cracked against the marble driveway like gunshots, each step sharpened by the rage burning through her chest. She didn’t stop to admire the pristine facade of the private villa, the one Antonio swore was “for business retreats.” She knew exactly what kind of business he conducted here.Two of Antonio’s men stepped forward the moment she reached the entrance. “Ma'am,” one started, holding up a hand, “you can’t–” “Move.” Her voice cut sharp like glass. “Sir Antonio’s busy. And he gave us orders not to let anyone in. Especially you. We are sorry ma'am.” “I said, move!” Lisa shoved past him with a force that surprised even herself, sending his arm swinging uselessly in the air. The second guard hesitated, but one look at her eyes, blazing, unblinking, and he stepped aside.She pushed open the heavy door without knocking, and the first thing she saw was a girl.The girl was draped across the cream leather sofa in nothing but one of Antonio’s shirts, legs tucked undern

  • From Bubbles to Trouble

    Lisa walked in with Rosa, Cathy, and Jess trailing behind, the four of them immediately catching the attention of the sales staff. Within minutes, a sharply dressed attendant appeared with a tray of champagne flutes, the golden bubbles catching the store lights like liquid diamonds. “Only the best for our VIP clients,” the attendant said smoothly, offering Lisa the first glass.Lisa smiled with the ease of someone used to such treatment and accepted. “Well, ladies, if you shop with me, you shop in style.”Jess muttered something under her breath but took the glass anyway. “You know,” Lisa began casually, swirling the champagne in her glass as though she were on a talk show, “I’ve been thinking… maybe it’s time to change my car.”Rosa’s head popped up from behind a rack of blouses. “Change? But Lisa, you only just got that Maserati last year.”Lisa gave a light shrug, as if Maseratis were things one could toss aside like last season’s shoes. “Exactly. It’s practically vintage by no

  • Between the Lines

    Amber froze in the doorway, eyes darting between the two men. Her lips curved into a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “So… you two have met,” she said lightly, stepping inside and setting her bag down on the console table. “Yes,” Matteo replied with a faint smirk, his gaze flicking to Xavier, then back to Amber. “We’ve been… acquainted for the past twenty minutes.”Xavier’s tone was cooler. “Enough to know you had company. I thought maybe I came to the wrong place at first.”Amber chuckled awkwardly, “You know my place long enough to end up at the wrong house, Xavier.” “I could come back later If you're busy,” Xavier said, his eyes narrowing just slightly. “But you didn’t mention you had… visitors.”Amber shrugged off her coat and walked toward the kitchen counter. “Matteo isn’t just a visitor, Xavier. He’s family. Having him over doesn’t mean I can’t have other people over too.” “Family?” Xavier echoed, his voice low, skeptical. “Funny. You’ve never spoken about

  • Two Worlds Collide

    A sleek, jet-black Maserati was parked in front of Amber’s building. Not just any Maserati, the newest model, the kind that screamed old money and whispered untouchable. Xavier frowned, Amber didn’t drive this car. None of her friends, as far as he knew, did either. She wasn’t the type to flaunt wealth through possessions at least not in a way that drew this much attention. So whose car was it? And why was it parked here, in front of her place?He killed the engine of his car but didn’t immediately step out. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, watching the building as though the car’s owner might suddenly appear. Nothing. Finally, he got out, locking his car with a sharp click. His footsteps on the stone path sounded louder than usual as he climbed the stairs to Amber’s apartment. Each step seemed to drag, heavy with questions he wasn’t ready to answer.When he reached her door, he pressed the bell. It swung open far quicker than expected, but it wasn’t Amber standing there. “Uh…”

  • Get it done

    Xavier sat behind his broad oak desk, the warm light from the floor-to-ceiling windows catching the edges of his whiskey glass. Across from him, his lawyer Jeff lounged in a leather armchair like he owned the place, while Clifford, his business strategist, leaned forward with a neatly organized folder.They were deep into discussions about a new venture, one Xavier was determined would pull in wealthy foreign partners. Clifford cleared his throat, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I must say, Mr. Brown is very pleased with our arrangements so far. Though, I’m still baffled at how quickly he abandoned his nearly closed deal with Antonio DeLuca.”Jeff chuckled, the sound edged with mockery. “Baffled? I’m shocked he’s still breathing. We all know how Antonio reacts when someone pulls out at the last minute. The man’s reputation is built on dishing out brutal punishment to his offenders.”Xavier’s mouth curved into a faint smile as he swirled the whiskey in his glass. “Gentlemen… tha

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