Deceiving Dimitri

el's

all that was present in the room. A dozen pairs of eyes broadened, taking th

trawberry cake in the middle; a customized candle shaped as the numbers seventy-six centered the

dling around a flushed Lauren who, even at this age, looked

er," Ben urged, bouncing his frail body as much as

lked backwards a few feet and ang

o another round of happy birthday songs while I took my desire

ntil her soft eyes drove to me. "Hazel, what're you doing there, dearie? Co

the pictures," Joseph offer

the crowd. The smile radiating off of Lauren's face, showed

if I'll be here to celebrate my next birthday, but I'll die in peace, knowing yo

g at least a hundred years with all these wonderful oompa loompas wishing for you," I said with a giggle and lifted her hand containing the cake, ligh

, and one by one everyone delivered theirs. When it was my time

e eyes around watched curiously, holding their breath. They were definitely going to be

ed book was out, frowns formed in every forehead. Ey

, two

. A lone tear escaped my eyes, and my heart fluttered with heavenly bliss to see these elderly people so happy. I had taken weeks inserting pictures that I had

e, and I looked up at Joseph, his eyes held the sam

s hunched shoulders and sighed. "I'

us your burden, eh?" His hand ru

air was left on his head. It was our thing since we

rds the crowd. "Oh look, it's a pi

was the one man who liked to come off as the cool, composed guy, never showing a flaw. But at my younger age, I had be

t in laughter. "H

but so did he, limping behind m

kid? Ye can't '

d challenged me," I

Apparently, everyone feared Joseph except me

t it felt like my heartbeat stopped as I rushed to him

my shoulder, and his pained expression t

cked me, and my eyes shut

ing wen

ond p

conds

im smirking, and his hand landed on my back but

om cleared, and everyone erupted

too, old man.

ot how to even smile, my heart poured with warmth. I felt com

d and marched out of the room, down the hallway to the reception area, my eyes widening. A group of men forayed inside, b

before me. "Hazel, you stay behind." He pulled out h

violent now," a familiar voice spoke,

d of security walked through the door, his

e did

veins. Pushing Jeremy out of my way, I stalked forward.

hings. Then I directed my enraged gaze to the suited ma

ncess. Boss's order. Hav

talking about? This is

the perfect venue fo

drowned into the deepest pit of the ocean. He couldn't do this to me, to my mother, to these people. This is the place we held the closest to our he

ng to the exit but stopped and inclined my head to the side, fear still gripping my heart. "Ryan, if one hair on their body is harmed, y

eeing me, the guard greeted and opened the door. Greeting him back, I climbed up the elevator to

ou can't go in there

, I barged inside, my nostril's fumi

me, two widened and one pissed

d to stop he

n and the secretary, and the

se and strolled around his desk. "Looks

ly sent me to Canada. That time I wasn't mature enough for the world to defer against his decis

n't do

ament, I can do

she could write her will, regarding her pro

the center of the city, it will be th

here will those people go? They

to escort your friends out of my property," he spoke in a tone

a resort there, where would those elderly people go? On the streets? My heart pounded in my chest like it would come out of my mouth. I had to

n thin air. "No. You know the loss my business is going through because

rolled out of my tongue so low even

arched.

fists. "I will do anything you ask if y

nly grew. "

ng. I was in a panicked trance, and al

know." The evil smirk occupying his face hinted of a storm coming my way. That

o my breath. "What do

leaned down. "I want you

"What inf

he King

ore than a hundred successful hotels, motels and resorts around the world, whereas

imself a glass of wine. "Their plans, their strategie

t? H

ompany, of course. You

nickname. "Th-T

der it one. Rather it's a fa

my father,

o watch your attitude if you want to keep

the only way, I could do this. I'd have to do this for

smirk playing on his lips only indicate

mation without being on an important one." W

nt position," he uttered, taking a sip

he possibly arrange tha

ri Kin

to the size of

*

vents and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictit

*