I woke up that morning to the sound of my parents' voices coming from the living room. As I stepped out of my room, I saw a man in a suit standing next to them. It was the same guy from the beach, the one who had tried so hard to impress me and my friends.
"Good morning, Andrea," my mother said with a smile. "This is Mr. Johnson. He's going to be investing in our company and will be our new business partner."I forced a smile and greeted Mr. Johnson, but I couldn't hide my disappointment. I didn't want anything to do with him, especially after the way he had tried to charm me at the beach. But I kept my thoughts to myself and listened as my parents discussed their plans for the future.As they talked, I noticed Mr. Johnson's eyes wandering over to me every now and then. It made me uncomfortable, but I tried my best to ignore him. I just wanted this meeting to be over so I could get on with my day.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my parents finished their discussion with Mr. Johnson and he got up to leave. As he walked towards the door, he turned back to me and smiled."I'll be seeing you around, Andrea," he said, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary.I felt a shiver run down my spine as he left, and I couldn't help but wonder what his intentions were. Was he really just a business partner, or was there something more going on?As soon as he was gone, I turned to my parents with a worried expression."Do you trust him?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.My parents exchanged a glance before my father spoke."He's been recommended by some very reputable people," he said. "We've done our research and we believe he's the right person for the job."I nodded, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I didn't like the way Mr. Johnson had looked at me, and I didn't like the way he had tried to impress me at the beach. It all seemed too calculated, too deliberate.As my parents continued talking about their plans for the future, I tried my best to focus on what they were saying. But my mind kept drifting back to Mr. Johnson and the uneasy feeling he had left me with.I knew I had to be careful around him, but I didn't know how to go about it. All I could do was wait and see what he had planned, and hope that my instincts were wrong.As I sat on the couch, still feeling a little uneasy after the unexpected visit from the business partner, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw that it was Alex calling. My heart skipped a beat as I answered the call."Hey, Andrea, how are you doing?" Alex asked warmly."I'm doing okay, thanks for asking," I replied, trying to sound casual."I was wondering if you're free tonight? I was thinking we could go out and grab some dinner together," Alex said.My heart fluttered at the thought of spending more time with him. "Sure, that sounds great," I replied, trying not to sound too eager."Awesome, I'll pick you up at 7 pm," Alex said before saying goodbye and hanging up.I couldn't believe it – Alex had asked me out on a date! I immediately called my friends to share the news with them."Girl, you better get ready for your date with Mr. Perfect!" Sarah exclaimed."I can't believe it, I'm so nervous!" I replied."Don't be nervous, just be yourself. And make sure to wear something nice," Becky chimed in.I thanked my friends for their advice and hung up the phone, feeling both excited and anxious about my date with Alex later that evening.Alex arrived promptly at 7 pm to pick me up for our date. As I walked out of the house, I noticed that he was wearing a sleek black suit that accentuated his tall, muscular build. He held the door open for me, and we set off to the restaurant he had picked for dinner.During the ride, we talked about a variety of things, from our interests and hobbies to our favorite foods and music. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we had in common, and how easy it was to talk to him.When we arrived at the restaurant, I was blown away by how elegant and sophisticated it looked. We were seated at a cozy table in a corner, and the soft lighting and romantic ambiance made me feel like we were the only two people in the room.The conversation flowed effortlessly, and we laughed and talked for hours over the delicious food and wine. I felt a connection with Alex that I had never felt with anyone else before, and I couldn't help but be drawn to him.As Alex and I were chatting over dinner, suddenly Johnson walked into the restaurant. He spotted us at our table and confidently walked up to us. I could tell he was trying to show off, but in a polite manner, all to make Alex feel belittled."Good evening, Andrea," he said, nodding his head in my direction. "I didn't expect to see you here. Who's your friend?"I could see Alex tensing up beside me, but I smiled politely at Johnson. "This is Alex, he's a friend.""Alex?" Johnson repeated, as if he hadn't heard the name before. "Oh, the cook from that fancy hotel. I didn't realize he was your type, Andrea."I could feel my face turning red with anger. Who did Johnson think he was to belittle Alex like that? "Alex is a great guy," I said firmly, defending him. "And I don't appreciate your insinuations, Johnson."Johnson shrugged, still wearing that arrogant smile on his face. "Just making conversation. Anyway, I have some business to attend to. Have a good evening, Andrea, Alex." He nodded once more and walked away, leaving a tense silence at our table.I could feel Alex's anger as well, but he tried to keep calm. "Who was that guy?" he asked me."That's Johnson, the guy my parents introduced me to this morning," I explained, still feeling frustrated. "He's going to be investing in our family business, so he's trying to make a good impression, I guess."Alex nodded, understanding the situation. "Well, don't let him bother you. You're better than that."I smiled at him, grateful for his words of support. "Thanks, Alex. You're a great friend."We continued our dinner, the conversation turning to more pleasant topics. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Johnson's presence had somehow tainted the evening.Alex and I walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, and the cool night air hit our faces. The stars were shining brightly in the sky, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of calmness as I walked beside him. We talked about everything and nothing, and the conversation just flowed naturally between us.As we got closer to my house, Alex stopped and turned to me. "I had a great time tonight, Andrea. Thank you for coming out with me," he said with a smile.I smiled back at him, feeling my heart race. "I had a great time too, Alex. Thank you for everything."He leaned in and hugged me tightly, and I felt my body relax in his embrace. I hugged him back, and I could feel his warmth against my skin.Just as he was about to enter the taxi, he stopped and turned to me. Our eyes locked, and I could feel the tension between us. I didn't know what to do, but I felt a strong urge to kiss him.Before I knew it, I had rushed forward and pressed my lips against his. At first, he was taken aback, but
I woke up the next morning feeling both happy and nervous from the previous night's events. I quickly got dressed and grabbed my school bag, ready to leave for the day. As I was about to leave the house, I overheard my parents arguing in hushed tones about Johnson. I tried to ignore them and left for school, but their words kept ringing in my head.The day at school went by quickly, and I was looking forward to going back home to rest. Getting home, I noticed a car parked near to our driver way, As I pulled up to the driveway, I could see Johnson standing in front of my house, deep in conversation with my parents. My heart sank as I wondered what they were talking about. I parked my car and walked over to them, trying to seem casual."Hi Johnson, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to hide my concern."Hello there, sweetie," he said with a smirk. "Just having a little chat with your parents. Why don't you come over here and join us?"I walked over, feeling uneasy. My parents l
After the wedding, Johnson's controlling behavior intensified. He forbade me from going out without his permission, and I was no longer allowed to see my friends or attend school. He insisted that my only job was to take care of him and our home.I tried to resist his control, but he always found a way to manipulate me into submission. He would remind me of the deal he made with my parents and threatened to reveal their secret if I didn't comply with his demands. I felt trapped and helpless, with no escape from his grasp.Our arguments became frequent, and our home was filled with tension and fear. I tried to reason with him and make him see reason, but he was always one step ahead of me. He would twist my words and make me doubt myself, making me feel like I was the one in the wrong.I longed for the days when I was free to make my own decisions, to see my friends and pursue my dreams. But those days were long gone, and I was stuck in a life that I didn't choose.As I reflect on my p
As I was discussing my situation with Alex, my phone rang. It was Johnson. He was furious and threatened to break the deal he made with my parents and reveal their secret to the police, which would put them in jail. I was shaken and didn't know what to do. After Johnson hung up, Alex giggled and smiled romantically. He told me to relax and not worry about Johnson's threats. I was surprised by his confidence and wondered if he had a plan. I asked him, "How can you be so sure that Johnson won't do anything?"Alex's smile faded slightly as he said, "I know things about Johnson that you don't. His father is a drug lord, and he has connections with the police and politicians in several countries. He can snitch on anyone under him, and they will be arrested. Johnson's father is a very powerful man, and Johnson is just a small pawn in his game."I was shocked and scared by what Alex had just told me. I asked him, "How do you know all this about Johnson's father?"Alex didn't give me a clear
I went back to Alex's apartment that evening, pretending as if I knew nothing about what Sarah had told me. As soon as Alex saw me, he quickly hugged me and asked why I had left without telling him."I'm sorry, I just had to run some errands," I lied, trying to act normal.Alex looked relieved and then asked if I wanted anything to eat. I declined, saying that I just wanted to rest for a bit.As we sat on the couch, I couldn't help but feel guilty for deceiving him. I had to find out more about his meeting with his uncle, so I asked him about it."How did it go with your uncle?" I asked casually.Alex looked at me with a hint of hesitation before replying, "It went well. He promised to help us out with the issue."I nodded, trying to hide my suspicions. "That's great news," I said, trying to sound as genuine as possible.Alex then started talking about his uncle's connections and how he could make things happen. As he spoke, I couldn't help but wonder if his uncle was really who he sa
When Sarah arrived at my place the next morning, I was eager to hear what she had to say. As we hugged, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and safety with her. We sat in my room as Sarah pulled out her laptop, and my heart raced as she began to type in login details."Check this out," Sarah said as she gestured to the laptop screen. "This is Alex."My heart sank as I saw what was on the screen. I felt dazed and confused, not knowing what to say or think. Sarah's question echoed in my mind: "What could Alex be up to?"I was upset that Alex was keeping secrets from me, and yet I didn't have a clear picture of what was going on. As Sarah left that afternoon, my phone rang and I hesitated for a moment before answering. It was Alex."Hey, what's up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and pretend like I didn't know."I was checking in to know if you're good," Alex said. "I hope you're fine?"I pretended that everything was okay, and we made plans for dinner that evening. As I h
As I struggled to free myself from the ropes that bound my wrists, Johnson started to talk about Alex. My heart raced with fear as I wondered what he knew about him."So you won't be with me because of him," Johnson chuckled, as if he knew a secret that I didn't."Who?" I asked, trying to hide the trembling in my voice."Your little boyfriend, of course," Johnson replied, a sly grin forming on his face.I felt a knot form in my stomach as Johnson revealed details about Alex's true identity. He told me about how Alex was involved in criminal activities and how he was using me to get to Johnson.I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Alex I knew was kind, caring, and always looked out for me. How could he be involved in something so sinister?As I tried to process this new information, Johnson continued to taunt me. He told me how I was just a pawn in their game and how Alex would eventually betray me.I felt tears streaming down my face as I realized how foolish I had been. I had p
Alex took a deep breath before he began to speak, his voice carrying a heavy weight of emotions. "Andrea, my father was a ruthless man. He owned an underground trading market, had a network of hackers working for him, and held stakes in several companies and hotels, including the one you were working at when we met."He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Before my father died, he had been involved in a bitter rivalry with another powerful figure in the same line of work. When I told one of my father's hackers to help me get some information about Johnson after you married him, I found out that he was the son of my father's biggest rival."listened intently as Alex spoke, feeling a mix of shock and confusion. It was hard to believe that my ex-husband was the son of such a powerful and dangerous man."But that doesn't explain why Johnson kidnapped me," I said, trying to make sense of the situation.Alex took a deep breath before he continued, "I was the one