CHAPTER 86The board members had been waiting. Some of them aimlessly scrolling through their laptops while some tapped their pens on the table and chewed on their inner cheek.The usual Monday morning meeting was to be held but Caleb had not yet arrived, and they couldn't proceed without him.Xavier saw a perfect opportunity, and when thirty gruelling minutes had finally passed, he stood and called their attention."I'm sure we all must be tired of waiting. Mr Lockwood hasn't informed us of his location and I doubt we can wait any longer. I personally have a lot to attend to, so how about we kickstart the meeting and fill him in when he arrives later?" "I think we should wait a few minutes more," Mr James suggested."How about a vote then? Those in favor of us starting please raise your hands."Five of the eight members raised their hand. "Let's flow with the majority then, shall we?" Xavier smiled at James who just looked away.He pulled out his chair and walked around to one end
CHAPTER 87Bianca kept her ears to her room door for over twenty minutes, listening for any sound or movement outside the door.She held the bottle in her hands a little shakily as she stood by the door.Jeffery was at a corner of the room, strapped to his stroller and playing with a toy.After she had listened for a while and didn't hear any sounds, she was convinced that Rose was in her room, probably taking her afternoon nap and Lilian was also in her room, reading a book.She inhaled deeply to calm her nerves and boost her confidence before turning the handle of the door slowly.She cringed when the door creaked a little but she didn't stop. When the door was wide enough for her to pass, she tiptoed slowly to the other part of the hallway where Caleb and Jane's bedroom was.She took out their room key she had duplicated a few days back without Caleb's knowledge and slid it into the keyhole, turning the handle slowly, blood pumping through her ears as she did so.She was careful n
CHAPTER 88Caleb spent most of his hours staring in Jane's direction. With her barely speaking, the office was unusually quiet, which did no good to the tension he was already feeling inside. The only sound that could be heard was the whirring of the air conditioner.He returned his gaze to the mail he had been composing and blinked at the screen, trying hard to mentally retrieve whatever it was he wanted to write earlier, but it was futile, he had lost his train of thought.He sighed and shut down the screen, giving Jane yet another glance. He missed her badly, her voice, her smile, her banter. And he knew that he would give anything to get her back again."Jane," he called.He saw her close her eyes briefly and exhale before replying. "Yeah?""Please bring the financial report for last month."Jane searched for the file and walked towards him."Here," she said and dropped the file on his desk but did not look up at him."Thank you," he said with a smile. She nodded and returned to h
CHAPTER 89Caleb's eyes widened with shock.Why was Stella standing in his doorway?And why did she have all those alarmingly large bags behind her?He looked her over, noticing the short, skimpy satin dress she wore. "What are you doing here, Stella?""That's not a very nice way to say nice to meet you, but I'll accept it," Stella shrugged and began to roll her bags in."Woah, woah, hang on. What's all this?" Caleb asked with annoyance."Oh, hasn't Rose told you yet?" Stella looked towards Rose who swallowed hard and slightly raised a brow. Stella had definitely not told her of her coming and she had no idea how to play along. She had not even told her about Jane's return and she didn't want to think of how Stella would react to the news. She swallowed hard and then began to shake her head."No, Stella, I haven't told him yet. Maybe it's better you do so yourself," she let out a nervous smile.Stella then moved towards Caleb with a pouty look."Oh, Caleb, I'm sorry I hadn't informe
CHAPTER 90Saying nothing, Jane quickly turned into Caleb's arms and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Her whole body was now totally drenched in the rain and she shuddered at the cold."It's okay, come on," Caleb said as he wrapped his arm around her and helped her to the door. He mouthed a thank you to Lilian who smiled in response.Stella was still standing in the living room with her bags around her and when she saw Caleb help Jane up the stairs and into the room, she watched them with an envious frown."I don't know what your plans are, Stella, but they're going to fail," Lilian said to Stella and eyed her up."Don't be so paranoid, Lilian, I have no ulterior motives," Stella retorted."Just don't cross my path," Lilian replied and headed to her own room."When were you going to tell me that Jane was back here?" Stella whispered to Rose when everyone had gone."I was going to, but I didn't find the right time.""Right time?" Stella frowned. "Do you know how badly this has ruine
CHAPTER 91"Mom, it's just not possible, I'm sorry," Caleb said to his mom for the hundredth time."Take some time at least to think about it, Caleb. She needs our help as well," Rose replied."There's nothing to think about again, mom. I nearly lost Jane again because of her and I don't think I can risk that happening again.""Just do it for my sake, Caleb, this one time," Rose held his hands and gave him the pleading look that she knew he found difficult to resist."Mom, it's not the best decision. Jane wouldn't like it.""Jane has nothing to do with this!" Rose snapped. "You've conceded to what she wants for an irritatingly long time. But Stella has been with us for years now, don't you remember how much you used to love her?""That was years ago, mom. She broke my trust, and you're not even trying to see the situation from my perspective.""I know that mistakes happen, but right now all she needs is a good company around her that would love and care for her until she gets over her
CHAPTER 92"Is it something I wasn't doing right? Was it something I said? I don't think I've pissed him off in a long while, and I don't remember when we had a heated conversation. So what could the problem actually be?!" Abigail ranted, pacing up and down in Diane's living room.Diane, who was struggling so hard to focus on the TV sighed."Maybe he's just not feeling it anymore," she said with a shrug."Not feeling it? That's absurd!" Abigail rolled her eyes. "We were so close to each other even when he was married. He was so into me and that's why it's very confusing that everything has gone south and he's now obsessed with her.""Well have you tried my suggestion to get rid of his ex-wife?" Diane asked."I've thought hard about it, trust me, but it doesn't seem workable and I could be putting myself at a huge risk. She's living with her husband and she's too protected, I couldn't come up with anything helpful. Besides, Caleb would kill me if he found out I laid a hand on her.""Ca
CHAPTER 93The previous night had been blissful. And even though Jane had refused his proposal that they go out for dinner, Caleb knew that a lot of tension between them had dissolved.It was the morning of a beautiful sunny Friday, and Caleb did not want to move from his position with Jane huddled around him. It was the closest they had come in weeks and he didn't want the moment to end.He stroked her messy hair gently as he thought deeply about Stella's stay.Jane stirred and groaned, and the sound alone sent signals through his system.He watched with a smile as she slowly opened her eyes. "Awake so soon?" He asked quietly.She looked up at him through her lashes and then quickly jerked away from his body, as if it was wrong for them to stay that way. Caleb frowned at her reaction."What time is it?" She asked."A few minutes after nine o'clock. Why?""Shit!" Jane landed down on the pillow and put her arm over her eyes. "I overslept.""Yeah, you tend to do that whenever you're in