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"I came here for revenge for my brother, you evil man!, you killed my brother, my only brother" The man blurted out. Everyone gasped in shock.. Stella was not an exception, she had indeed heard dark things about the CEO, but never knew they were true, now she understood the warnings of that man she bumped into earlier today. Raven laughed sarcastically "so you wanna help your dead big brother out, someone tell me this is a little joke" He laughed out evily. "Like what the fuck!" He continued as he pulled the trigger. The man fell to the floor immediately - dead. No one could even make a single noise, no one wanted to die too.. Some dared to whisper, but with the lowest vowel possible.. Stella couldn't speak, she was dumbfounded. Want to read more? Tap on read now to explore,...
Los Angeles, California.
2008, September 1st.
Stella opened her eyes slowly, as the alarm clock kept ringing loudly...
She yawned and got off the bed...
It was 5:00am, and a Monday morning to be precise...
She had a job interview today, and wanted to make a good impression by getting to the company as early as 7:00am.
Filled with strength, she rushed to the bathroom to take her shower..
Afterwards, she got her neatly ironed, sexy ladies office dress...
Prepared of course by her best friend and roomie, Ivy Mason.
They had been friends since she came to the US, when she was 19..
And since that day on they have been best of friends...
She looked at her still sleeping friend, snoring like a gorilla...
Then she hit her slightly with a pillow,
"Get up sleepy head, don't you have a job interview today too?"
Ivy yawned, and sat up on the bed, with sleepy eyes..
"Huh...did you make me a peanut butter sandwich, grandma"
"What the....who's your grandma?"
Stella laughed on the top of her lungs and hit her again, with more force this time...
To wake her up from her dream...
"Quit sleeping!, you lazy girl, it's time to go to work, or you might not get the job, I really need mine, so please get up"
"Oh Lord, what time is it"
Ivy jolted, when Stella talked about her job interview.
"Relax, it's just 5:00am"
Stella pointed to the wall clock..
"Oh sorry, it's 5:15am"
She corrected..
"Let's dress up quickly, go have your bath, I'll wait for you downstairs"
Ivy got up immediately, and dashed into the bathroom, like a little squirrel..
Stella chuckled slightly, and then she dressed up quickly...
She went downstairs to prepare breakfast of boiled eggs and salad....
Minutes later, Ivy came down, and had a sour look on her face when she found out what Stella had prepared for breakfast.
"Stella, why this again?, i will literally die if you continue feeding me this"
She said crying like a baby..
"Well, that's a good reason for us to get our big butts on an office chair, unless.., this would be our breakfast, lunch and dinner"
Stella replied rationally...
"God forbid that..., I reject that"
Ivy replied, with disgust, she didn't feel much joy eating salad and eggs all day.
"Well then, eat up!, Cuz action speaks louder than words"
"So how about our transportation fee, I haven't got a dime"
"I got some money from Steven, we talked last night"
Stella answered, looking a bit frustrated.
"Really!, You are still with that loser?, Girl I might not know what it means to be in a long distance relationship right now, but all I know is that, you really need to get yourself a better man girl"
Ivy took a sip of her cold water, and continued,
"I mean you are such a beautiful lady, young and tender, you should go with someone who would take you to be something, not someone who would choose his ex over you many times"
"I mean, we both know that he cheats on you with her"
"You are twenty six, girl take good care of yourself"
"Am here for you ok!"
Ivy held Stella's hands, as Stella began to cry, tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"It's ok, it will all be fine, let's eat quick so we won't miss the train"
Stella cleaned up her tears, and the duo ate as quickly as they could..
Then they got out of their apartment, and locked the door..
Then they headed to the subway.
They got to the subway, bought their train tickets and sat down on their seats.
Stella got off the train as soon as it arrived at the hospital and then she waved goodbye to Ivy who waved back.
She then turned back towards the hospital and walked in through the gates. Smiling broadly she walked through the small hallway to the hospital lobby.
"I'm here to see the patient in ward 209 please." Stella said to the attendant on the desk.
"Are you a relative?" The attendant asked.
"Yes, I am!" Stella replied. She waited patiently for the attendant's reply.
"What's your name, ma'am?" The attendant asked after looking down at a booklet.
"I'm Stella Banks." She replied with a polite smile.
The attendant checked the booklet again for confirmation. "Okay, you can go now, ma'am." She said once she confirmed that Stella was really a relative of the patient.
"Thanks so much!" Stella replied and headed straight away to ward 209.
She knocked slightly on the door and opened it when she heard the sickly but beautiful voice of her old grandmother.
"Come in!" The old lady said.
"Grandma!" Stella screamed out and fell by the side of her grandmother's sick bed.
"Stella, my baby girl. How are you doing?" The old lady said with her hand on Stella's head.
"I have missed you so much, grandma. I thought you died." Stella cried out. She cried in her grandmother's arms and wished to be with her forever, but she herself knew it wasn't possible as her grandmother's death was around the corner.
But still, she didn't want to think about it. All she wanted was someone she could lean on to. Although Ivy was her full support, she still needed a relative as a comforter, and her grandmother was the only living relative she had - well, that is the only one who really cared.
She raised up her head to look directly at her grandmother's eyes. "You won't die okay, grandma." She said trying hard to stop her tears from pouring out again.
Her grandmother hated to see her cry and she knew it, so she always tried to be strong even in the toughest situations.
Since her parents died things have been so hard for her, but still she stayed strong and determined not letting anything stop her from achieving her goals in life.
Her mother once told her, 'Never let anything stop you from achieving your goals in life, not even my death.'
She didn't really understand her mother's words because she was still a little girl of five years.
But the older she grew, the better she understood her mother's words. So while she leaved with the Carringtons she adapted her mother's advise and stayed strong till she successful escaped from their traps.
She then got a visa to the united state of America through the help of a friend she met at a cafe back in Nairobi, her home town. A place where she had both nightmares and blissful moments.
Life in the United States was a little hard as she had no supporter exactly, until Steven reached out to her and helped her through college.
She met ivy when she was in her first year in college and she decided to be roomies since her and Ivy both had something in common - they were both orphans.
Ivy was from Canada but moved to Los Angeles (LA) for college. She was the exact opposite of Stella, slay and crazy. Stella was used to being quiet and silently intelligent. They both got paired for a music project and that was when Stella told ivy of her housing problems.
She couldn't stay with Steven as he wasn't staying in California instead he stayed in New York for business. So she had no where to stay and didn't want to stay all alone in an apartment.
She smiled bitterly and said to her grandmother, "Grandmom, I wish I could see my mother again, and maybe glance at my father for the last time before they both died. I so hate my uncle for this. And I wish him death forever." Her eyes turned darker and darker with every word.
"Don't say that, my dear." Her grandmother's eyes began to water. Her daughter's death was the reason she was in this state. She had stroke immediately she heard the news of her daughter's death.
She pulled Stella closer for an embrace and let down hertrars slowly and quietly. She didn't want her granddaughter crying anymore so she didn't want her to hear or see her tears.
"I'll get going now, grandma. I've got an interview. Pray for me okay!" Stella said and stood up to leave.
"I will, my dear. And good luck!" Her grandmother replied. She had cleaned up her tears before Stella stood up.
Stella leaned down to peek her grandmother and walked over to the door. "Bye, grandma." She said before walking out of the ward.
"Bye, my dear." Her grandmother replied. She sighed and frowned slightly at the pain she felt - in her heart and in her soul.
Her soul was leaving her slowly, but she didn't want to go until when she knew that her only granddaughter was safe and sound.
...
Stella stood in front of the large company building - Rave industries.
She walked in, an she met with the receptionist..
"Hii.., um.. am here for the job application of a personal assistant"
"Oh..ok hold on, let me get to the boss's secretary.."
She picked up a telephone, and dialed a three digit number..
After two minutes, she hanged up and turned to Stella.
"You can wait in the waiting room with the others"
She pointed to a room filled with people...
Stella could only let out a sign...
What if she didn't get the job?
What then would she do?, She asked herself.
She walked in, and was given a number- 256.
Wow..!, number 256, that was so much, just for a job of a personal assistant, she thought.
Although, she had heard that the minimum pay of employees in the Rave industries was not below three thousand dollars..
That was a lot of money, and she needed every bit of it...
She wasn't going to give up, never in this life time.
Finally it came her turn...
She walked into the large office ,which had a few business looking men, looking like they could deavor you at any second.
A stunning looking man in a black business suit and black shinny skin, cleared his throat.
Then, the questions followed,
"What's your name ma'am" His voice made him sound so much like a very young man in his twenties. He had a beautiful smile on his face that eased Stella's fears and anxiety.
"Stella Banks, sir" Stella replied.
"Age?" He asked the second question.
"Twenty six, sir" Stella replied immediately.
"Degree?" Then the third followed.
"First class" she said boldly.
"Languages you speak perfectly?" He asked the forth.
"French, Japanese, Chinese, English, some Nigerian languages, and Spanish." Stella answered, full of Hope.
"Ok! So what course did you study" the man asked the fifth question.
"Business and international relations" she replied with full courage
"Okay..."
The man said, as he noted down every information..
"So what makes you think you can carry out this job?" He looked straight at Stella, when he asked this question, and crossed his legs, resting his back on his chair.
"I feel that all I need is to be a good listener, being social, and lastly being punctual, and I am positive that I am all of that, sir"
Stella replied with full determination, and boldness..
"I like your confidence young lady"
He said as he collected notes from the other men in the room....
Then he continued,
"You are hired, you start tomorrow, congratulations"
He said with a smile...
Stella couldn't hide her excitement, she almost screamed..
"Oh my God..., Thank you so much sir"
"It okay, you just have to be punctual and obedient, so the boss likes you"
"Yes I will be, sir, thanks again sir"
Stella ran out of the room happily, she couldn't withstand her happiness, the joy was to the brim.
Out of over five hundred people, she was chosen.
This was evidence that anything could happen.
Dancing happily, she got a taxi to the night cafe where she works.
She couldn't wait to tell Ivy how her job interview turned out.
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The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
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