When Alicia stepped out of the restaurant she felt her chest constrict. She hated what she was feeling. She hated looking like a fool. She hated the glances of everyone who passed by. She wanted to cry but why would she do it on the road? She blamed herself. Why did she for a split second think he was different? How did she go around deceiving herself? Her hope really did make fun of her, didn't it? Since she came in his car she had to get a cab. As she got into the car she called Leslie and Jessica. She needed comfort and they had to be the ones because they were the only ones she could count on. "Hello Girl," Leslie said. Since it was a group call Jessica took note of the brightness that had made its way back to Leslie's voice. She sighed of relief inward. She was glad that it seemed she was better. She would make sure to know what went on later but for now, she was glad she was okay. "I need you guys," Alicia said as her voice cracked from the other side. "Alicia?" Jessica sa
Jessica knocked slightly on the door and pushed it open. She barely entered the study because she was mostly not invited and books were really not her thing. Xavier raised his head to meet her eyes and he smiled. "What brings you here?" he said standing up from behind the huge table that sits pretty at a distance from the door. "Nice room" she comments looking around at the magnificent lined wall with shelves of different structures and types lined with books of all interests. "Is that why you came here?" he asked with a smirk. "No but I like the feel of the room" she comments and moves to sit on one of the sofas. He sits opposite her and waits for her to state her case. She obviously came into the room for a reason. "I just got off the phone with Alicia and she is coming here soon" "You can have guests over, I don't mind," he said as he rubbed his plan together. If she had guests over she would not be too bored. She could have those who would keep her company. He was always bus
Jessica entered the room prepared by the house staff. It was said they got a whisper of what was going on. The room was cozy. She waited outside until Alicia for there and she led her to the room. "I feel so stupid," Alicia said sniffing. She did feel stupid. She was not anti-love but it seemed like her original stance to be an independent woman because she knew if she was to get married she might have to step down from all she loved. How did she think he would be different? "I mean can't I be a woman and shine?" she lamented as Jessica who was beside her kept rubbing her back for comfort. "Being a woman sure is hard isn't it?" she asked faking a laugh as she looked down. She could not control the way the tears kept leaving her eyes. Leslie pushed the door open and saw them sitting in the bed. "What happened? Tell me, tell us" Leslie said removing her coat. Alicia took a deep breath and looked up at her The tears kept coming down her face and then she sniffled. "What is wrong wi
"So here is what we would do, what is bothering us we say it here and now. I mean we are friends so why are we hiding anything from each other?" Jessica said as she sat down. She distributed the ice cream to each of them and Alicia wasted no time to open hers and begin to lick. "Ahh brain freeze," Alicia said tapping the left side of her head. "Let it sit fit a few minutes" Jessica advised. "Why won't you get a brain freeze? Were you ice cream starved before now?" Leslie asked. The three ladies looked at each other and a brief laughter fell out their mouths. The room became dead silent and they all looked away uncomfortably. "I will start first then," Jessica said dripping the bowl onto the small table before them. "I discovered recently that I am falling in love with Xavier. Before you gasp or whisper about it. I just discovered it. These days he has been such a nice and kind person. Not the same person I met at the start of the marriage. He has been considerate. I know I have
"Come on Alicia," Leslie said. "I am sorry," Alicia said pouting. "It just seems like you both have minimal problems when compared to me. I just broke up with my boyfriend of barely a month. Your problem is that you don't know how to confess your feelings" she said turning to Jessica before turning to Leslie "While you, your problem is that you want to have a baby but can't" "I'm not trying to belittle your problems but I wish those were my worries. If the media gets a whiff of us breaking up they will write all sorts of articles blaming me because it has to be the girl's fault every single time" she went on ranting. "I never wanted to break up, I have had that crush on him for a while but we can't even stay together," she said as the tears fell to her cheeks again. She was even shocked at herself. She did not know that her tear ducts produced so many tears. She had been crying for such a long time that she felt a headache coming on. "You'll give yourself a headache," Leslie sa
After Alicia had run to her love Jessica was left with Leslie who looked sad. Jessica assured her that she would soon get pregnant. Leslie left and Jessica decided to make a snack for herself. As she entered the kitchen she met Xavier holding a glass of juice in hand. "Did you talk with Jason?" she asked as she walked to the cupboards to put out what she needed. "He was drunk" "And you did not go to get her?" she asked turning to face him. "I could not locate where he was because he never did tell me. Moreover, I knew he would be alright. He is like a citizen here. Everyone knows him. He will be safe" "I was not worried about his safety. I was worried he needed comforting just like Alicia did" she explained. "Ohh," he said as if he was just learning something new. "Yeah," she replied lazily. "I am going to make some brownies do you want some?" she asked as she pulled out a big glass bowl from the drawer. "Yeah," he said as she took a sip from the glass in his hand. "Do you ne
Jessica had the best time cooking with Xavier. She barely cooked with others and this was a great opportunity for her to bond with him. "I am putting this into the oven now" Xavier announced as he held the tray. "Aren't you going to open up the oven door?" he asked. "Ohh," she said as she rushed to open it up for him. "When you said you were putting it in I thought you would do it to the end" "Oh my hands were filled up," he said as he slid the tray in. She let go of the door and it closed. "I will have to clean up now. Thank you for helping me. You can rest now" she said as she turned to the sink. "I helped you make the brownies. I must help clean up too" he said as he followed her. "I guess the CEO does not do a lot in companies these days," she said. She wanted to tease him so bad and she wanted to know why he had not been going to work. When they were newly married he barely made it home. She went days without seeing him. But recently she saw him more times in a day than sh
"You want to impress me? Why would you want to do that?" Jessica asked. She was flustered but was trying her best to keep her cool. The warm water from the tap helped stabilize her body temperature. she wanted to jump around and squeal but she could not do it in front of him. "I don't know, maybe to win your favor. We started on the wrong foot" Xavier said. He was trying his very best to steady his breathing. He wanted to win her favor so badly. It was not like her favor would help him win contracts or have more money but he wanted to always feel comfortable with her. The thought of the divorce scared him so greatly but he was the one who suggested it. She had told him previously that she was not bothered about divorce. What if he was the only one feeling this way about the situation? Why if she accept whatever the situation would be? "You have my favor then" she smiled as she turned to face him. "Oh the aroma is so lovely," Roselle said. Her words broke the staring competition
Hello Guys this is the final chapter. I want to first appreciate everyone who has read this book, who had supported, commented, voted and called me order when I did not update for such a long time. Thank you so much for being such a support in these times. As this work comes to an end I hope you support me in upcoming works. This free Chapter is for you."Joshua we would be late" Aletta screamed from the bottom of the stairs. "Honey are we using our government names now?" Joshua screamed back at her. "Joshua you know I do not like being late for any of these events" Aletta screamed back at him. Altetta paced back and forth at the bottom of the stairs. "You know you should not be screaming while you are this pregnant"Joshua said as he came down the stairs with his daughter in his hands. "If you had come down earlier then I would have had no reason to scream that much" she retorted and he smiled. "It was my little pumpkin here who kept me waiting" Joshua replied as he got to stand b
"I am so happy for you, this is finally happening," Aletta said holding the arms of Jeanne excited."I am excited but also nervous very nervous does anyone have calming pills?" Jeanne said slipping her hands off Aletta's hand and feeling the sweat on her palm."Calm down, it's just you and Thiago, everyone else is just like a rock. I promise you once you get on that altar every of that nervousness would be gone" Aletta continued. "Thank you," Jeanne said sarcastically."Are you nervous because its mu brother? I can help you run away from this right now" Nichole suggested and Alethea rolled her eyes. "Are all sisters this way? This was the same advice you gave Aletta the other day" Alethea said and Jeanne shook her head. "How can I leave, I have been dreaming of this day" Jeanne replied. "Then calm down even though I don't know why you would dream of marrying my brother but we all choose our battles I guess" Nichole shrugged as she sat down."Nichole" Aletta chastised because she k
"You have to get to work" Aletta said rubbing the hand of Joshua gently. They had arrived back from their honeymoon over the weekend and this Monday morning was the first time Joshua was going back to work after the wedding."Can't I just lay down here with you all day?" he said taking out her hand and pulling her down to his level."You kept saying that and prolonged the honeymoon by two weeks,""Call me a criminal for wanting to spend time with my wife, I am getting the feeling that you do not want to spend any time with me" Joshua said opening one eye and giving her a judging look. "Joshua, you know that is not true, so get up now""You are no longer my assistant, you are supposed to be begging me to stay a bit more with you""What makes you think I don't want to do that?" Aletta asked taking his dishevelled morning hair back from his face."Because you keep urging me to get back to work so quickly, it's like you can't wait to get rid of me" Joshua took his head back to the pillow
"Mom don't cry again, you might get a serious headache at this rate," Aletta said rubbing the back of her mother while in a hug. The entire wedding was over already and the whole family was seeing the couple off as they were going directly to the airport for their honeymoon. "Come on, at this rate they might miss their flight" Leon said trying to pull Eunice off her daughter. She had been bawling the entire ceremony, if someone saw her they would think it was a sad occasion. "My daughter," Eunice said as she finally pulled away and took a step back. "I am so happy and so proud of you because you managed or find love for yourself even after everything" Eunice sniffled and smiled. "Thank you, Mom," Aletta said with a smile. "You better get going now" Jessica said stepping forward."We are on our way now" Joshua said pulling open the door and gesturing for Aletta to get in."Call us when you get there" Jessica called after the shut door."Do not call us" Xavier said as if he was giv
"I was always unsure about how I felt about you, You were always around me, taking care of me and I felt anxious whenever you were out of sight. A little secret that was the reason I always made you work overtime even when it was not necessary" Joshua said and there was a burst of small laughter across the room.They were both standing in from of the priest and altar but they had decided to take their custom written vows there. Joshua cleared his throat and looked up from his paper to stare at Aletta whose eyes never left his face. He flashed a small warm mile to her and she returned it."I never realized my feelings for you until you made that drunken confession that night that caused us to go into a relationship. I had always thought about marriage but for me, it was the only way for me to make children that would take over the company one day, being with you makes me so excited to think of waking up every morning with you by my side, I think of planting kisses on your lips and spend
"Are you feeling nervous?" Alethea asked Aletta who was sitting in the waiting room with her shaky hands. "Yes I am, who wouldn't be?" Aletta asked as she closed her eyes to steady her breath. "I mean you are very right, who would like to marry my annoying brother, as much as I would like to call you my sister in law I can help you escape if you wish to" Jeanne chimed in. "Thank you so much for the suggestion, I am nervous about this and not rethinking my decision. I can't wait to be married to him" Aletta said as her eyes shot open. "Ew" Jeanne said as she gaged. " What do you see in him?" she added as she picked at her nails. "Everything I want to see" Aletta added. "Jeanne stop trying to put ideas in her head" Jessica cautioned coming towards them. "What did I do?" Jeanne whined."I heard what you said" Jessica replied giving Jeanne a warning look. Jesica knew that her daughter was playing around but she did not want Aletta taking any of the words to heart. "I know I have s
"Mom's boyfriend would be here soon," Alethea said as she dropped the dish in her hand to the table. "I can not believe that I am being made to meet my mom's boyfriend at her age" "What I can not believe is that she can't order out but is making us to make food for him"Alethea whined as she moved back to the kitchen."What is even more crazy is that she is in a relationship again" Aletta exclaimed as she moved behind Alethea. "Don't get me wrong I guess I am glad she is finding love again" "Same here, if she is happy then there is no issue. Love is in the air" Aleteha added coming back to the table "So why don't you have anyone to share the love with?" Aletta asked. They were making the last trip from the kitchen to the table. "Says you? Who told you that I do not have someone to share this love with?" Alethea said dragging out her sentence and a weird smile climbing her face."Alethea you are hiding something from me" Aletta said going to clutch her sister's hand. "Spill now" sh
Aletta and Joshua tried to reach Anette and Richard but it was as if they had fallen off the radar. "At least we tried" Aletta said as she set down the phone to the table. "Happy now?" Joshua asked and she nodded. "I guess I have to get going now" she said taking up her phone from the table."Where to? You just got here" Joshua was sad because they had finalized her resignation and she had not been around him like he wanted her to be. He was happy regardless that she was doing what she loved. "I have to go finalize things with HR on hiring your new assistant and then I have to go shopping with your mom and sister" Aletta explained. "Can we at least have dinner together?" Joshua asked and started expressing shock when he saw the expression on her face. "We can not? I barely see you anymore these days" he whined like a child who was cheated of having any ice cream. "I am having dinner with my family, mom is introducing her boyfriend to us today and honestly, I love spending time wi
"Did you hear about Anette?" Aletta asked as she pushed the jar of pickles into the hands of Joshua. They had picked a date for the wedding and it was in three weeks. They were having one of the date nights where they stayed back home and cooked for each other. "What happened to her?" Joshua asked. Anette shook her head in bewilderment, how could this man be so oblivious to everything happening around him?"Have you seen her in a while?" Aletta asked. She wanted to know how much he did not know. "Well, since that day she came to our house, I did not think much of it when I did not see her again," Joshua said truthfully before taking off the lid of the jar. "But you know she called off her wedding and left the country so abruptly with Richard?" Aletta asked hoping that he at least knew about that fact. Yes, Anette did hurt them all but it would be too mean to not care about her when she had sincerely apologized."Maybe they did not want the wedding again?" Joshua asked shrugging. Al