When stars align

tled

to be happy for his grand

k to her about his father's decision. "Granny

concerned. "What problem is it

with some spoilt brat, even with the full knowledg

him intently. "What's her

stion. "Not you too, grandm

gain. "Just answer

. "She's middle

another question. "

s a director and owns a small event decorating company which she

his head. "You mean she'

s granny. She doesn't even know my

words. "What do you mean she doesn't k

rted talking. She thinks I'm just a regular guy, and that the only source of incom

en that means she's not a good digger

. "Yes,you're righ

you have to fight for your love"

s and kissed her. "I wi

otioning him to do the same. "Let

Okay granny,but let me go ge

er we meet on our way to the spa,cmon it

and followed he

THAT E

xury Lounge

and crystal decanters. Soft jazz hums in the background. A f

, sips from a tumbler of scotch. His demeanor is smoot

ly 60's, old money elegance wrapped in a tailored suit. He's a man

have always danced in the same circles. Galas, fundraisers, legacy board

t, not collide. But I must admit, I've been curious. Yo

ame. "Fair. I respect that about you-straight to the point. I'm h

led and nodded

d, setting his glass

a . Both ambitious. Both burdened with legacy. I believe... we could give them something powerful.

s narrow. "A contract marriage? Victor,

ones that last. You and I both know love is volatile. But strategy? That b

ine, watching Ger

to ask him. "And w

aughter is brilliant-headstrong, like my Julian. Together, they could be

as fast as a

again. "And you th

me around. Youth resists until it sees the adva

lifts his g

ONT'D). "To

ates, then cl

he deal... whatev

Gerrard carefully-because he

ard Mans

tside, but inside, the fire glows warm. Bookshelves line

ractically buzzing with self-satisfaction. The door creaks open, and his

study uninterested."Yo

widely. "It is. Co

od moods usually mean some

ou bought another yacht, just name it af

er. "No yachts. Something

her to sit. She

philus Dennis tonight. I really didn't expect to meet him at the event today, and coi

ical. " is it what

is shoulder. " yes it I

nks in

t like her dreams had come true. " I

her. " I also didn't

's because I said you we

her. " that's nice daddy, I

o is tell your mom about it all and then you go get better skincare and more e

. " on my way" she said

The Savio

riend, he was just a regular guy-funny, kind, ambitious, but in no way would she have

d the way she treated him purely as she felt without

names or brands. She loved her job at the company where she worked as the strategy d

and there was no way he w

ackground and won't be mad at him, he knew he couldn't keep it for too lo

t a bad dream, he didn't wan

s brain, he thought about calling his elder bro

call Jasmine, he needed a

*

solve. Anna sits at her desk, tapping a pen against her lip. She contacts

eiver. "Hello Cleo" sh

a minute. "Isn't this Br

ou got it right

ou remembered me

scrolling through my google contacts so I got

worry I'm coming back home for

t in country X,I'm in

"You didn't come b

prised. "You're a

ded . "Y

information. "Where are you,

in a hotel,it's very popular for

!,I'm also there,I'm in apartm

y, I just heard you scre

tment and Cleo does the same and

. "I missed you so much

"I missed you too,cr

and dragged cleop

ll the topic shifted to her relationship crisis a

said. "I'll help you for free,bu

ed her head in approval. "I'

and pouted. "Ohh I

f you do,then get to work and I'll be your

d said. "I've missed you s

d, eyes sharp, scrolling through social media on h

Bernard', her Daddy's rich, family's traditional, and she

and reads ove

he did." Wow. She really *thi

ah, well. Let's re

want her to know what she's walking into. She deserves to k

e go *surgical*. Make her uncomfortable enough to question

flicker. An

stigate Emmanuel's father. "Could you help me inves

"Yeah, I met him at a ga

the match, but so he knows his son's been playing two sides. If this fiancée is suc

we can't get to their house

. He's just a shareholder. Why t

t tell me you don't know that he ow

s. "Own a company? Exp

she decided to burst the bubble. "Seems like your sweet

s a shareholder and he also is at the com

ion,his father owns the company and a

mean Emmanuel has been lyi

red about him,he doesn't like people knowing he's a Denni

e you trying to c

ttended the same school as him,so it means the whole marriage thin

large spender. "No wonder,he'

at her. "N

I'm done being th

respectful conversation. No drama, just facts. Meanwhile, I slide into Miss Claudia's DMs-kindl

nstigating this marriage thing, then she'

ob... maybe she backs out herself when I message

m together. "I'm not doing this to win him b

gain. "And it

g hug. "I missed you so much, God

ght. "Don't forge

you so much, that's why I'll order for some food fi

estie" she replied while doing a triumphant dance.

ith smiles. "Let's c

d her head negatively. "I want to g

ke wine glasses, sealing the deal. Revenge w

9: Win

tably at a private corner table, dressed sharply in a charcoal-gray suit. Across from him sat Claudia , dre

touched

, casually reaching across the table to brush imagina

ffered a t

ng to scroll through her phone. In reality, she was recording the whole interaction-every fake giggle,

A live feed of the video w

to An

n full swing. She's got the

ed the screen with narrowed eyes,

esperate,*"

nough to make the picture look intimate. "Smile

to edit it with a glittery heart filter, his jaw tensed. He wanted to leave

phone bu

nna

"Love brunch with my almost." L

r mimosa, and casually tag

phone buzzed. Her eyes f

ghtly-just enough to ca

eyes

ss in a silent toast,

had won Jasmine over,but she could

l and whispered, "It's nice when people

aining the irritation in his heart towers the fli

staging a photoshoot since you sat down

ltered. Just

Jasmine phon

nna

y there. Let's see h

e way Anna was playing the game, by letting the enemy think she has the

*

he owns the world. She rushed to her f

ing patiently for her to spill the beans. But Claudia was fu

ather took a deep breath. "You're fina

... I have an alliance with someone who hates Brianna,

That's beautiful, keep it up daugh

u see the pictures online?. She helped with

t it. "You have a great choice

as going to burst, then her ph

hone happily. "She's the

happiness. "Pick up and let'

llo darling, do you like the pictures from today?". Jasmin

ed with smiles. "Of course

osts about you and even create a fan base. All you have to do is always find

ith the proposal. Her father nodded positively to it. And she replied her too

one call. "I know a particular one, but I h

t it. "What about I call you later

then" she replied and waited f

company Jasmine proposed. "Even of things turn out badly or Emmanuel gets to

her's hand. "You

other

Anna. "What next,p

collapsing due to spreading fake rumors and offer them what they can't

safer side. I'll use a new phone and a fake sim,then all the

but she thought it was Claudia. "Y

the bathroom. "I'll call you later..... I want to pee." Cleo got up and Jasmine saw her,but the ca

if she saw me, we could st

rehead. "Whateve