MEETING WITH MR. WILLIAMSI was overwhelmed by the speed at which everything was happening. First, my pregnancy, then I landed a job at the Bradfords' family, and now, I was about to meet the most influential person in the state, and I was ready to lie to him, right to his face. I was frozen in terror and almost backed out at the last minute.Nate came to me the night before, informing me about the stipulated time for the meeting. I could tell she wasn't in her best mood. Has she ever been in a good mood lately? She has always been grumpy ever since this whole contract started. I shouldn't even accustom blame to her, because If I were the one working for her boss, I would have committed suicide by now. Daniel was a problem on his own, with his annoying attitudes, while Carl was worse than a problem!Today, when Nate came to my room to glam me up for the meeting, she had a smile on her face, and looked quite relieved."Someone is smiling today." I teased her, and chuckled a bit."I alw
CARL'S P.O.VWhen Doctor Bryan informed me about her pregnancy, an idea struck me. It felt like heaven decided to bless me. This was my chance to finally get what I wanted, as I would use her pregnancy against her. There was nothing special about this lady though, I was just tired of searching for the perfect match. During the meeting with my dad, a strange feeling overcame me, like a sudden attraction to her, something I have never felt before. I had no idea a woman could have so much calming effect on me by simply placing her palms on my lap. Every lady out there was always willing to throw themselves at my feet, but she, she didn't give a fuck about me. She was a force to be reckoned with, and strong-willed lady who obviously couldn't easily be tamed. Now, I became curious to know everything about her, and I wasn't going to stop until I find out the tiniest detail about her life.I was sure that my father would disapprove of our relationship if he knew that she was under his payro
I was really shaken when Daniel held my arms that way. My body was still trembling from the whole drama, but the one thing I felt glad about was that he wouldn't need me for a while. I decided to use this free time to sneak away from the mansion and head to Aunt Kim's hospital for my first ante-natal appointment.I hailed a taxi on the busy street. The noise from the cars and buses, the blaring horns, the groups of people crossing, the feeling of being hemmed in by the traffic - it all made me feel lightheaded and weak. All I wanted was one day to myself. A few months ago, I was just a young girl, but now I felt so exhausted and alone, trying to navigate the world on my own. "Ma'am. We're here." I heard the driver call out to me. "Thank you," I replied, handing him a wad of notes. I got out from the taxi, and made my way to the hospital gate.I spotted my mum sitting in the waiting room. "Mum!" I cried, rushing over to give her a hug. "What are you doing here again?" I asked."Can't
I woke up in a room filled with sick people. I could smell the sickly-sweet stench of disinfectant and illness, and it made my stomach turn. My head was throbbing, and my vision, blur. I tried to get up from the bed but fell right back on the scratchy sheets. _Why am I even here?_ I tried to recall what happened earlier, but each time a fragment of my memory came back, my head ached badly. I could hear the rhythmic beeping of the machines, the footsteps of the nurses parading the room, voices down the hall, and then the slamming of the door."How does your head feel, good?" A nurse in a white uniform approached me. Her footsteps were so light on the floor, that I almost didn't hear the sound of her shoes on the tiled floor. She checked for my pulse, and asked questions, that I only nodded to. "I will give new sedatives. You will need to rest more." I suddenly had a rush of memories flooding my mind about everything that had transpired today. I remembered the long commute to the hospit
If there was one place I loathed being, it was a club. When I left the hospital, I'd already braced myself for whatever it is, to come, but having to go to a club with my boss was something I didn't want to do, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about that. My mind raced as I imagined the loud music, flashing lights, and sweaty bodies pressed together on the dance floor. I felt my anxiety rising, and I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself.I got to my room, and stared at my reflection on the mirror. Daniel was right, I looked like hell, but why did he have to whisper it, instead of lashing it all out on me. My face looked so pale, and my eyes were red-rimmed and sunken. I couldn't even manage to wear a smile. I felt drained, both physically and emotionally. Taking off my suit, I headed to the bathroom, and slid into the bathtub, the warm water doing little to soothe my body or mind. The headache that had been throbbing since I woke up from the hospital bed had only inten
**TWO MONTHS LATER**For the past few months, I had been stressed to the max. I was balancing my job, secretly visiting my family, and attending my ante-natal appointments. My last ultra scan, Zara left me with stern warnings. She also gave me multi vitamins. Aunt Kim kept complaining on how I was looking so worn out, while mum simply told me to quit my job. I had been working myself to the bone to please my boss, but it never seemed to be enough. I barely saw Carl anymore, and when we did see each other, it was purely a coincidence. He just stares at me skeptically, and then move away. One thing I was grateful about, was the fact, no one had noticed anything, and Mr. Williams hasn't requested of I and Carl's presence, neither of that of my mum. I haven't even had the luxury to inform my family that I'd finally agreed to date Carl Bradford. I rarely saw Nate either, even though we apparently live in the same house. I had been busy running errands for my boss, doing endless paperwork
I was startled by the sound of a knock, which brought me out of my thoughts. I walked over to the door, placed my hand on the knob, and hesitated for a moment, before I slowly turned the knob and pulled open the door.The hallway was empty, aside from a small piece of paper that laid at my feet. I picked it up, and read through it. The note was written in a neat, legible handwriting. "Meet me now. Carl."I scanned the hallway again for any sign of the person who must have left the note, but there was no one. Why had Carl suddenly requested for my presence, which he hasn't done ever since the meeting with his dad.Why send a note when Nate could have delivered the message to me in person? I ripped the note into pieces, and threw it into the waste bin in my room. I stood in front of the mirror, and stared at my reflection, then started styling my hair, which I haven't done in a while. Infact, for the past months, I haven't bothered with my appearance, but now Carl requested my presence
I opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the harsh light of the hospital room. My vision was blurry, and I felt a heaviness in my head, as if I'd been drugged. I looked around, taking in the sterile white walls, the beeping machines, and the smell of disinfectant. A man in a white coat stood at the end of the bed, his face serious as he watched me. I also noticed another man standing next to the guy on a lab coat. He was tall and well-built, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. As he gazed at me, I felt a sense of recognition, but I couldn't quite place him. Then, it hit me!, Carl Bradford. His eyes were fixed on me, and his face was etched with worry. What was Carl doing here? A million question raced through my mind, but I was too dazed to speak. I couldn't even recall why I was brought here. I hated hospitals, but lately I have been waking up in one."You are awake." The man on white coat said. "How are you feeling?" I quickly recognized him to be Doctor Bryan.I struggled to
In the dimly lit garage, Carl swung open the passenger door, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I felt a rush of adrenaline as he urged me to get in, his words tumbling out in a persuasive whisper. My heart raced like a wild animal, making it hard to catch my breath. I fired questions at him, but he just smiled at me, his silence only adding to the mystery. He slid into the driver's seat, and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and we sped off into the darkness, the tires screeching in protest. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the crunch of gravel beneath the wheels, leaving a trail of dust in our wake.As we drove, I glanced at the road, my mind racing with thoughts about my boss's schedule. "I have to go out with my boss by 10 PM. Are we going to be back before then?" I asked, my voice almost lost in the breeze of the night. Carl's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You won't be back today," he responded, his voice low and hu
CARL AND MR. WILLIAMS Carl meets with his father in his room. Mr. Williams' face was etched with a deep frown as Carl explained the situation of Khloe mum's illness. "She's too sick to meet with you, unless you're willing to visit her in the hospital," Carl said, knowing full well that his father would not agree to the suggestion. One thing, he and his dad had in common was the strong aversion to hospitals, the antiseptic smell and sterile atmosphere grating on their nerves. "What exactly is wrong with her?" Mr. Williams asked, his eyes peering out from behind his glasses, his voice laced with concern."She has a heart problem, and I think a kidney problem too." Carl responded."She is your future wife's mother, why don't you just fly her to the best surgeons." His father suggested."Yes, you are right. I would be discussing this with Khloe today." Carl responded. Mr. Williams still had no idea that his son's girlfriend actually works in his house, and under his payroll. Ca
MR. WILLIAMS P.O.VI stood before the sleek, silver vault in my suave, dimly lit bedroom. The soft, golden light of the bedside lamp cast a warm glow on the simple, yet elegant document that lay before me. It was a contract, one that had bound me to a promise I made years ago. I was dressed in a comfortable, yet stylish outfit - a crisp, white linen shirt, paired with dark pants, and a pair of my favorite slides. As I gazed at the document, my mind wandered back to the happy memories of my wife. Her bright, radiant smile and infectious laughter filled my thoughts. We were once so happy, so full of life and love. But then, something changed. A secret, one that I had kept hidden for so long, began to tear us apart.I shut the vault, and made my way to the bed, collapsing onto the soft, feathered duvet. My eyes closed, and my mind drifted back to the past, to the moments that had led me to this point. The memories came flooding back, like a bittersweet tidal wave, crashing against the s
DANIEL'S P.O.V I realized that caution was crucial in my quest to outdo my brother, as Carl seemed to be gaining the upper hand. I needed to tread carefully to avoid raising suspicions and refrain from confrontations with my brother, opting instead for a more subtle approach. I reached for my phone and sent a discreet message to Nate, requesting a meeting outside the house at 12 P.M. She vehemently agreed to the meeting without telling me how her boss might need her to be around. Nate's sudden cooperation with me was equally unsettling but then, I wasn't going to win this fight without her. As I sat at RESTON Restaurant, my eyes fixed on my watch, mesmerized by the ticking seconds and minutes creeping towards our appointed hour. Time seemed to slow, and I felt like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And then, without warning, Nate appeared before me, her presence announced only by the soft creak of the chair as she sat down. Her sudden arrival caught me off guard,
KHLOE'S P.O.VI knew sneaking out of the mansion without my boss's permission was a grave mistake, but my mother's dire condition had left me no choice. I had to see her, and Carl had equally given me the courage to do so. I didn't even get a chance to speak with her, since she was asleep through out my stay in the hospital. But then, Carl's unexpected kindness had been a balm to my soul. He'd not only driven me to the hospital, but also taken Aunt Kim out, giving her a little opportunity to breathe in fresh air. Her smile when they returned was so beautiful, and I felt a pang of gratitude towards Carl that sent shivers down my spine. The flutter in my chest, the longing to be near him, it all came flooding back.Yet, my thoughts soon snapped back to my boss, who I knew would obviously still be pissed at me. I needed to face him now, to apologize and beg for mercy. My heart raced at the uncertainty of meeting him this morning - would I get fired, or perhaps receive more slaps on my f
As I sat on the ground, with my hand on my face, the headlights of Carl's car illuminated the dark driveway. He leapt out of the vehicle, his long strides devouring the distance between us. His face was a picture of fury, his eyes blazing like embers. "Don't tell me Daniel did this to you!!" he thundered, his voice like a crack of lightning that shook the air. "Where is Daniel?!!!!"I gestured weakly towards the club's back door, and Carl seemed to expand with rage, his chest heaving like a bellows. He looked like a knight ready to charge into battle, but I stopped him with a frail hand, my voice barely above a whisper, as I groaned in pain, "Please, Carl, just take me home."The anger in his eyes still simmered, like he was about to bring the whole world down. But as our gazes met, the anger eventually gave way to a softness I'd never seen before. He scooped me up from the ground with a tender strength, like I weighed nothing. He settled me into the back seat. Then, he rounded the ca
"Meet me at Roosevelt Club," Daniel's voice thundered through the phone, his tone devoid of warmth. The silence that followed was deafening, leaving me with a sense of agitation that made my heart race.Carl's eyes, filled with concern, locked onto mine. "What did he say?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle. I relayed Daniel's curt message, and Carl's eyebrows furrowed in inquiry. "Why do you think he wants to meet you there?" he asked with curiosity written all over his face.I shrugged, my shoulders trembling slightly. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Carl's eyes seemed to bore into my soul. "I'll go with you," he offered, his voice firm and resolute. His eyes, filled with a deep empathy, seemed to say, 'I'm here for you, no matter what.' I felt a lump form in my throat, touched by his unwavering support."Thanks, Carl," I replied, my voice cracking slightly. "But I think you should head back home. I need to face Daniel alone." My words were laced with
I felt someone's warm touch on my shoulder blade, and I turned to see Aunt Kim's radiant smile and a shopping bag clutched in her hand. The brief break from the hospital's antiseptic aura had worked wonders on her countenance, replacing her earlier tears with a vibrant glow. As she held out the bag, her eyes sparkled with kindness. "We got your favorite ice cream, sweetie!" The cold, creamy treat was a welcome balm for my frazzled nerves. I mouthed a silent "thank you" as I savored the sweet delight.My gaze wandered, searching for Carl, and Aunt Kim nodded toward the parking lot. "He is in the car, waiting for you. I think you should leave now." She planted a kiss on my forehead. As I turned back to my mother's still form, my mind snapped back to the present, and reality hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes locked onto her motionless figure, and my heart ached with worry. A quick glance at my phone revealed the time - 6:30 pm - and a string of missed calls from Daniel, each one a rem
The drive to the hospital was a grueling ordeal, a far cry from a smooth and peaceful journey. We found ourselves stuck in a seemingly endless traffic jam, with cars honking incessantly as frustrated drivers tried to navigate through the chaos. The cacophony of horns and revving engines was a stark contrast to the sense of urgency that drove us forward.As we inched along the congested road, I repeatedly tried calling Aunt Kim's number, only to be greeted by her voicemail each time. Fortunately, I had managed to get the name of the hospital during our last conversation, if not, we would have been completely stranded. The tension was obvious, the air thick with unease, as we navigated the chaotic roads. Despite the cool air blowing from the vents, I felt a trickle of sweat trace down my spine, my heart racing with every honk and swerve. Suddenly, a reckless driver veered into our lane, threatening to collide with Carl's car. My breath caught in my throat as Carl expertly swer