FamodunOluwasegun

Athena Stanford is a 21-year-old orphan living in the bustling city of New York. She is jobless and lonely, but she catches the eye of Caleb Martin's, a charming and successful businessman. After a whirlwind romance, Caleb confesses his feelings for Athena, and they become a couple.

However, their happiness is short-lived when Caleb develops a nervous problem that requires an expensive operation. Determined to help the man she loves, Athena takes up various jobs to earn money for Caleb's operation. Her journey leads her to the Elite Restaurant, a prestigious establishment owned by the wealthy and powerful Liam Steele.

During her time working at the restaurant, Athena encounters Luke Steele, a notorious playboy known for his perverted interests. Luke becomes infatuated with Athena and starts pursuing her relentlessly, despite her clear rejection of his advances.

One fateful day, Athena stumbles upon a beautiful ruby pendant and impulsively decides to sell it to cover Caleb's medical expenses. Unbeknownst to her, the pendant actually belongs to Liam Steele, who values it dearly. Determined to retrieve his precious possession, Liam seeks out Athena, but rather than taking her as a slave as expected, he becomes intrigued by her resilience and independence.

Meanwhile, the Steele family faces internal turmoil when Logan Steele, Liam' brother, discovers that Luke has betrayed him by sleeping with Logan's fiancée, Jaden Ravenwood. Seeking revenge, Logan sets his sights on Athena, using her as a pawn to inflict pain upon Luke. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Flynn Martin's, and devoted right-hand woman, Sandra Scott, Logan begins a dangerous game of manipulation, which further complicates Athena's life and fuels tensions within the Steele family.

Shadow of deceit

I confronted Amanda as soon as I got back to the headquarters. She was sitting in the living room, looking smug and self-satisfied.

"Amanda, we need to talk," I said, my voice serious.

"What's the matter, Kris? Is something bothering you?" Amanda asked, trying to put on a façade.

"I just want to make sure we're all on the same page here. It's important that we trust each other," I said, hoping my words had an impact.

"Of course, Kris. You know you can always count on me," Amanda responded, trying to sound trustworthy.

"Good. Now, I need to make it clear that we're a team here and that we all have to be upfront with each other. I want you to be honest with me and let me know if there's anything going on that I need to be aware of," I warned her.

"I understand, Kris. You have my word that I won't keep any secrets from you," Amanda promised.

Chapter Thirty One