“What did I do?” Anna asked immediately, feigning innocence.“Don’t act like you don’t know what you have done!” Mr. Blackwood said in between gritted teeth. “Why did you bring him here?”“Who? Jimmy?” Anna asked, still playing dumb.“Today is supposed to be my one special day, and yet you bring him here. Why Anna?” he queried, trying to contain the anger within him.“Okay chill,” she said with wide eyes, clearly surprised by his reaction and low-key scared as well. “First of all, the invitation says plus one…”Not letting her complete the statement, he cut in immediately. “True. However I expected that you will come with your best friend.”“If you wanted Jenny here, maybe you should have just sent her an invite.” Anna blurted.“Don’t change the narrative, this isn’t about Jennifer, I am only trying to make a point. If I knew you would bring Jimmy here, I would have warned you against it. But it didn’t cross my mind for one second that you could do something so silly. Tell me Anna, di
“Dave?” Maria Forbes called, looking all emotional like she would tear up at the sight of her son. She was finally standing less than one feet away from him after all these years.“What are you doing here, Mom?” Mr. Blackwood asked with a cold expression, the shock had quickly been replaced with solemnness, probably a poker face to hide his true emotions.“A… A friend invited me, she said it was a work partner’s birthday, I didn’t know it was you.” Maria Forbes replied.Mr. Blackwood scoffed and shook his head, finding her response funny. “You really didn’t think I would buy that, did you? I am no longer eighteen, mom, but you are still terrible at lying. You hate parties, you only attend them if they are a family function.” He uttered.Mrs. Maria Forbes Chuckled. “Maybe that is why my spirit was accepting of the invitation, because it was family, you can change the last name but you can't change the blood.”“Drop it already, Mom!” Mr. Blackwood growled as usual. The low growls had co
Mr. Blackwood is standing on the balcony at the left side of his building, it was on the second floor and from there, he could look out to the sprawling landscape of the estate and beyond. He was feeling broken at the moment, he had done his very best to avoid this moment, right from the day he found out that she was searching for him.He was not a man that cared for emotions or feelings, but today was different, he actually wanted to have a good day, but everyone seems to be against that. Why did she have to show up today of all days?Mr. Blackwood heard footsteps approaching and he sighed, not wanting to look back. He could soon feel the person standing at the entrance of the balcony by his right and he grasped the metal frames, wondering why she wouldn’t let him be.“So this is your favorite spot?” her feminine voice broke the silence from behind.“How did you find me?” he asked in a cold voice, still not turning to look at her.“I tracked your scent like a werewolf,” she chuckled
Anna walked down to the Grand hall where she met Jimmy, he looked worried as she approached him. “Hey stranger.” She smiled at him.“Babe, where did you go?” he asked in a worried voice.“To use the bathroom, I told you.” Anna replied with a convincing smile; trying to act normal was difficult for her, because what if she was overselling the lie?“Yeah, but it has been almost an hour. I got worried and asked one of the maids to find you but she returned and said you were not in the guest restroom.” Jimmy said to her.“Yeah…” Anna bit her lips hesitantly, trying to come up with a quick response. The thing about lying is that when you tell one lie, you will need to tell more lies to defend the first lie, and if you are not smart enough, you will get lost in your own lies.“The hallways!” she suddenly said with wide eyes.“The hallways?” Jimmy asked with furrowed eyebrows. “What about them? And I called you twice but you didn’t answer, you had me all worked up.”“There are so many hallwa
“I know, and I have lived with that guilt for the past twelve years. Your father was very angry that day, I thought he was just trying to scare you into changing, I never really thought he would abandon you there. When I found out that meant it, I pleaded on your behalf but he would not hear me out, he threatened to throw me out if I dared to bring you back, I was terrified and knowing your father, you know I had reasons to be scared.”“Wow! So you care more about your husband’s wrath than your son’s life? I could expect such a monstrous act from father, but not from you.”“Please hear me out, Dave. I…”“Don’t call me that! Dave is dead, he died in Los Angeles, I am Maxwell, Maxwell Blackwood!!” he corrected her in a rage.“I know you are angry, but please listen to me. I am sorry for doing nothing, I thought your father would be calm in an hour or two and acting up right there was not only going to get me thrown out with you, it isn’t worth it. I love you, Dave but what happens to yo
Anna sat there in confusion, a lot of thoughts racing through her mind. She was reluctant but she finally made the choice; with a nervous smile, she took Maxwell’s hand and stood up. She tried not to look at Jimmy as Mr. Blackwood led her into the middle of the stage.He gently placed one of his hands on her waist, while holding up her arm with the other hand. “Watch and learn, Miss Owl. Put your hand on my shoulder.” He requested with a cunning smile.Anna groaned as she did as he said, “You know you didn’t have to do this,” she whispered to him as they began to move in rhythm.“Careful or you might miss a step, follow my lead.” He said and he grabbed firmer and her body involuntarily jumped.“You think you are sleek right? I was here with someone, you didn’t have to do this.”“Miss Owl, you could have just said no, remember you are not here as my employee so you owe me nothing,” he chuckled at her, the sarcasm in his voice very obvious.Anna scoffs and rolls her eyes at him, she tri
Annabel frowned and her heart skipped. “Okay, it scares me when conversations start like that, but do tell…”He smiled and was about to speak but then he caught sight of his mother signaling to him from the door, it seemed like she was about to leave.“Please give me a minute,” Maxwell said as he ended the dance and Anna sighed in relief. They both walked off the dance floor and then he left her behind.Maxwell walked up to his mother, she was standing alone but he knew she must have her security waiting for her around the corner. “Mother… are you leaving?”“Yes Son, sorry to disturb you, but it is getting late and your father won't have dinner unless served by me,” she replied with a small smile.“Mr. Forbes is never going to change, is he?” Maxwell scoffed.“Not everyone gets a redemption arc in life, but don’t worry about that. Dave… I can’t describe to you how proud I am of what you have accomplished here. I always knew you were destined for greatness but such power attracts the w
I sat there staring at Jimmy with lips apart, fear gripping me. What am I supposed to say? Should I lie to him? or just admit the truth and deal with what follows.“Jimmy…” I tried to speak, deciding within me to reveal the truth.“Wait!” he suddenly halted and then he sighed and looked away. “I know, you must be mad at me for asking such a question, I don’t know what I was thinking. You don’t have to answer that, it was very wrong of me to question your character after everything that we have been together, please pardon me.”I heaved a sigh of relief, even though I felt bad that he saw me as a saint while I was really not. Maybe it was for the best that this secret remained safe with me, but for how long would I be able to keep it a secret?“It is alright, Jimmy.” I said in a soft tone, “Let's just forget about it.”He nodded and looked away. There was silence between us for a while and then he looked my way again. “Anna, we are good, right?”I replied with a nod, but deep down I wa