“Jason, it’s 9 remember?”“Of course babe, I’ll remember. I’ll be there before you know it. Chill out.”I glared at Jason, my boyfriend of six months, my longest relationship ever. Actually, my first relationship ever since I turned seventeen last year. His brown eyes were glued to his phone and he was texting rapidly. Is he even listening to me?“Jason,” I said again, craning my neck to see what had him so engrossed in his phone. He finally looked up, placed his phone on his chest, and smiled. Even after six months I still get butterflies in my belly when he smiles like that. Jason is top ten in our class and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be his girlfriend. “I hope that’s my birthday present you’re picking.”“You’ll see. I’ll be there babe,” he drawled and leaned across the gear to press a kiss to my lips. I grinned foolishly and returned the kiss before getting my bag from the back seat and leaving the car. My friends Lurane and Sophie waited at the entrance of the school in fron
“Oh my God!” I said suddenly.“What?”“I forgot the shoe box in Jason’s car! Shit Mom is going to be so mad! We need to go to Jason’s now!”Sophie cocked a brow. She threw my gown carelessly on my bed. “Why? He is coming, right? He can just bring it along.”“Maybe I can call him.” But after 5 unsuccessful calls, I threw my phone on the bed. “It’s no use. Can you come with me?”I hope he hasn’t forgotten about the dinner?! He did seem a bit distracted this morning so I gotta make sure my boyfriend makes it for my birthday. Also, I was way too distracted by his distraction that I forgot the box of shoes Mom asked me to pick up from the store that morning.“Do I have a choice,” Sophie asked with a roll of her eyes. The side of her lips tilted up.“No, you don’t.” I kissed her cheek. “You are the best.”“Of course I am.”I changed my clothes and wore a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt. Still an hour until dinner, that’s enough time to get Jason, and maybe hang around for a make-out session
Buzzzzzzzz!!!!I slammed the alarm bedside my bed. It clattered to the floor with a dull thud but the alarm kept buzzing.“Arghhhhh, I’m up already!"The lights came on. A small figure stood at my door smiling sleepily at me. His curly black hair was all over the place, and his JJBA pyjama's bottom was lowered on one hip.“Hey baby, come over and give mommy a hug.”My six-year-old son, Nolen, came running into my arms. Yes, I named him after his father. Seven years ago I was a bitter youth, angry and ready to revenge against my best friend and boyfriend’s betrayal. I ran into the arms of my shy neighbor and made my son.I regret that night. I regret the words out of my lips to Nolan. His hurt eyes tormented me ever since and I never got the chance to apologize because he moved before I could finally find the courage to apologize for taking my anger out on him. I never thought I was ready to be a mother until I held little Nolen in my arms. At that moment I knew God was giving me a seco
It can’t be!No. Your eyes are playing tricks with you, I repeated in my head. There is no possible way this ghost from my past would be here in flesh and blood, standing with his hand out to take mine. No fucking way!Nolan Pierce in flesh and blood!Except this wasn’t Nolan Pierce.At least not the one I knew.This person standing in front of me walked out of a GQ magazine or something equivalent. No way the Nolan Pierce I know fills out a suit like this. But here he was in front of me. I remember the green eyes because I see those green eyes every morning, afternoon, and evening in Nolen. Every other thing about him from the chiseled jawline that would most definitely cut glass, to the well-groomed fingers of the hand still stretched out and the tall imposing build belongs to someone else, not the Nolan I know. Who the heck is this handsome 6-foot whatever stranger?!“Get over yourself, Chantelle, and have a seat.”I opened my mouth to speak and found myself stuttering. “Y-yes ma’am
What are the chances that the first person you ever loved, spent days hoping she would notice you someday and speak to you would crush your heart in her pretty hands and come back into your life unexpectedly looking hotter and sexier than ever? Okay, maybe she’s not coming back into my life but running into her and having her plan your engagement party counts as being in your life right?And still as beautiful as ever. I remember the first time I saw her, I was the awkward kid on the block, just moved from another state where I got into trouble in school with a guy who called my mom a whore for not knowing who my father was. I punched his face so hard I nearly broke his skull. After that incident, Mom moved away and found a new school for me and also found a new job for herself. But I was having trouble blending in. I never joined the neighborhood kids in their basketball games on the local court, nor did I attend parties.Even before moving, I preferred being alone. But I saw Chantell
Let’s just say the rest of my day was great. My back was bent and sprained after running to answer all of Penelope’s demands by the time I got home. The smell of Sophie’s fried chicken welcomed me home. A pop song played loudly from the speakers. I sniffed the air appreciatively making my way to the kitchen where Sophie danced in front of the pan with a pair of tongs in her hand.“Under your sexy body,” her off-key voice rose above the music.“Do you mind?” I yelled above the noise. My head pounded.She turned to see me standing at the kitchen door and immediately turned down the volume of the music.“Nice dress. Penelope’s cast away? I thought you were going to sleep over with The Dragon.”I dropped my bag on the counter, kicked off my heels, and picked a piece of chicken from the bunch she had cooling on the rack. It was delicious!“Where’s Nolen?”“In his room. I kept him busy with some comic books. You are welcome.”“Sophie!” I groaned. “He should be doing his assignments…”“Done a
“Bye, mommy. Bye Aunty Sophie.”“Bye baby,” I waved at Nolen for the third time and finally forced myself to stop adjusting his uniform and let him go join his friends.“Get in the car,” Sophie called out to me. “You will be late for work.”I waited until Nolen and his friends were in the custody of their teacher before joining her. She had left her car at home and chosen to be my chauffeur today since it was her day off. Also, Penelope had sent an email to prepare me for the tedious work of organizing and decorating awaiting me today so I knew that I may work late and leave with Penelope after work.To be honest, a bit of Sophie’s reckless driving is what I need to take my mind off my life’s complications right now. Nolan, Lurane, and Mom. If Mom was here I bet would take one long look at me and know something is bothering me. She always had that knack for knowing such things. The last thing I want is an interrogation from her.25 minutes later Sophie drifted into the parking lot of t
“Dude you are even more romantic than the rest of us. Lurane is not going to expect this.”I nodded to Paul’s words, my best friend and part business associate. He has a business of his own that he built from the ground up, so he’s not what you’ll call a born elite. But to be fair I envy his ease and lack of ‘inheritance’ burden. I wonder who he would have been married off to if he was among the elites. Luckily, he has been spared that unpleasantness by fate. We met in business school. Paul had an uncle who thought he was too smart for regular college and had used all the resources at his disposal to send him to one of the best schools.We attended a debate on Capitalism and Communism, had different views, and became close friends ever since. Even though he is treated as an outcast among the heirs and heiresses of old money, he doesn’t care and he attends whatever events he wants to without being encumbered with scheming mothers and fathers trying to leech off him in the name of marria
Epilogue.“3…2…1!”The rope was cut and the doors of Cocoland were thrown open. Cheers erupted from the guests gathered in front of the building.Sophie, Penny, Paul, Fiona and everyone else who was a friend was clapped and cheered. Nolen was running wildly between everyone’s legs and was the first to enter the building.Yolanda clapped and hugged me cheering.“We did it!” She shrieked and kissed my cheek.Mom was next. She nearly lifted me off the floor as she hugged me close to her enormous breasts. “I am so proud of you, baby!” She searched for Yolanda and hugged her close too. “And you too. Look at you. My girls have wrong into women,” she cried. “I am so proud of you. I know your dad is too.”I felt Yolanda’s eyes on me and I realized she was watching to see if I would break down again but I didn’t. Instead, I responded to Mom’s comment with a smile.“Yes, he is.”We made our way into the building and I almost swooned. I still can’t believe that this – this belongs to me.Cocolan
Coco’s POVBy the time we got to Nolan’s house Paul and Penny were throwing a little celebration for Nolen’s homecoming. I met Penny at the door and she was all smiles and tears when she hugged me.“Oh my God, Coco, I was so distraught to hear about what happened. I’m so glad you got your son back.”I basked in her hug but not for too long. Enough with my self-pity, time for a new change and I gladly accepted that change by detaching myself from Penny with a smile. Sophie was right behind me and as soon as I stepped back from Penny, Sophie invited herself in, doing anything to avoid the dragon lady.“Thank you.”She understood my haste and pointed toward the kitchen where Paul was coming out with a bottle of wine to share with her.He lit up when he saw me and hugged me briefly. “Nolan is in the kitchen. He hasn’t let Nolen out of his sight since.”I sure as well won’t be letting my son out of my sight ever again, either. My heart was racing in my chest as I left Paul and went into th
Coco’s POVSophie and I were barreling through the streets in her car heading toward Nolen’s school. We had taken 2 wrong exits twice in our haste but eventually, we found our way.Sophie was driving and she looked over at me to make sure I was alright. I smiled at her to assure her that I had my emotions under control. A look in the mirror told me that I may have my emotions under control but my physical appearance was anything but that. I looked like something a mouse dragged out of a hole. How possible is it to lose so much weight in only approximately 48 hours?I had forgotten to eat throughout those hours, only wine and some water from Sophie’s kitchen kept me alive. Sophie had forced a hot dog and a bottle of water into my hands, encouraging me to eat it since, in her own words I ‘won’t want to scare Nolen looking like the grim reaper.’ I was finally able to eat a few bites even though I could barely taste a thing.We were nearly there when my phone began to ring. And when I pul
I was packed just a few blocks down her house and Bob was strapping a button microphone on his shirt.Paul still had that doubtful look on his face and I bet if I wasn’t right there in the car he would have thrown himself at Bob and beaten him within an inch of his life. That’s just the kind of friend he is. My enemies are his and he will always have my back.“Are you sure about this?” He whispered.“I just have to,” I whispered back.Bob cleared his throat from the backseat and I looked up at him through the rearview mirror. He didn’t look too pleased but then again Bob is never pleased. He handed a small device to me and pointed to a button. “Once the red light begins to flash press that button and it will begin to record.” His stare turned direct. “I don’t care whether or not you trust me, Pierce and you know that. But for your sake and that of your son, I hope this plan works.”“I hope so too just…just play your part.”He nodded and with one last look at Paul he opened the door an
Coco’s POVI sat down with Sophie for a long time and honestly, I wanted to remain silent while crying my eyes out and looking very ugly. Sophie, ever supportive, remained by my wait and waited for me to gather myself together.I don’t know how long we stayed the way we were but at some point, my eyes were too dry to cry anymore and I snatched a tissue from the box in front of me and blew my nose. When I snuck a glance up at Sophie her face was drawn with concern.I threw the tissue aside, hugged myself, and moved back so that I was resting my shoulders against the couch.“I should have a master class in foolishness,” I said in a croaked voice.Sophie was brutal with her response. “Self-pity. Is that really your defense against your foolishness?”I looked up at her shocked at the hardness in her voice. She still looked concerned for me but there was a brutal honesty etched in her face, one that I am sure that she has held back from me until this day.“You let this man into your home k
Nolan’s POV. I glared at her with all the hatred I could muster. Behind this angelic face was a monster. “Nolan, come on, we are past this aren’t we?” I glared at her through blurred eyes. “Come on, Nolan,” Lurane said bending one hip so that she could rest one hand on it. “You don’t have to treat me like an enemy. We used to be…” “Whatever we were ended long ago. I want you to leave!” “You look like hell, Nolan,” she said nonchalantly even though I just made it clear that I didn’t want her around me. “You used to look a lot better when you were with me. Don’t you want to go back to the way we were?” I narrowed my eyes at her remaining at the door to block her entry into my house. “Lurane, you claim you have nothing to do with my son yet here you are just a day after, desperately trying to throw yourself at me.” “A woman has got to be resourceful. Life goes on, Nolan, with or without your son.” I fought the urge to reach out and grab her throat and she saw my struggle. She lo
Coco’s POV“What the hell are you doing here?!”Jason held up his hand. “I am not here to fight, Chantelle. Good morning.”“Keep your greeting some place hairy where the sun don't shine!”Jason’s eyes shone with humor. “I don’t know, you might want to take a look.”Groaning, I reached for the door, stepped back, and started to swing it shut when he held it open and held his other hand up. I pushed but he was much stronger and his eyes turned pleading.“Please, l-let me start over. This wasn’t how I wanted this to happen. Look, I know you don’t trust me and you would rather see me in hell –““Good, now fuck off!”“Chantelle!” his voice was forceful, then his voice dropped and he added softly, “You look like hell.”Against my better judgment, my shoulders slumped and my guards dropped as tears pooled in my eyes again. Jason saw this and walked in slowly, his hand reaching out from me. When I shied away from him, his hand dropped to the side and he sighed.“I heard about what happened. I
Nolan’s POVI sat in the bar nursing a glass of scotch, one of several that I had tossed down my throat in the darkness of the private lounge. I had a bottle in front of me and it was almost empty.At this time I was no longer just pleasantly tipsy, I was teetering off the edge of being very drunk to my eyeballs.Being in the private lounge gave me privacy but bits of music and noise seeped in from the main area. At least it was still quiet enough to leave me to my thoughts. And thoughts were back to those of a lanky teenager trying hard to accept that I was no longer a weird kid but the heir to an empire. That was not an easy pill to swallow but I still had to deal with the stigma of being the son of a murderer.But I am more than that and I continued to repeat it to myself. That’s probably why I have too much scotch to bury those memories deep enough so that they will never hunt me again.I know Chantelle is hurt but so am I and it’s unfair to…I struggled to suppress another sob. T
“That doesn’t sound like the Nolan I know, baby. He is a good man and always has been. He loves you…”“But this is going to affect him negatively,” I cried. “His public image is ruined because of me and…”“You don’t Nolan well if you think he cares about that kind of stuff over his family,” Mom argued heatedly and desperately wanted to believe her but right now it felt as though the whole world was crashing on my head and there was nothing I could do about it.Mom didn’t stop there, she continued to defend Nolan’s honor. “Nolen is his child too, remember? We are women and we are emotional and Nolan would be the same too if he were in your shoes, which he is. You have to call him, Coco, this is a hurdle you both need to cross together.”I sniffed. “Okay, mom.”And right as I was about to hang up the doorbell rang and my heart beat sped. I walked quietly to the door and opened it and Nolan immediately swept in and pulled me into a hug.I collapsed in his embrace, clinging tightly to him