AvelineI got out of my car after stopping close to the grocery store, I slammed the door in annoyance. Three months and two days was all that was left for me in my contract with Draven.After that, I would finally smile. Several times, I had wanted to resign but it was not just possible. I was blinded by love when I signed the eight-year contract, and it was said that until your contract expire, you can't resign. I actually thought Draven would love me to this time, but it all faded out; the only thing I saw now was hate…complete hate. "Hey," I turned to see a man who seemed to be in his early thirties. His hair was yellow. My eyes squinted and I gripped my car key tightly. "Do you know me?" He seemed familiar.He shrugged. "No, but I don't think beautiful ladies like you should be lost in thoughts."I was still silent. "You can't deny that can you?" A smile widened his lips and he placed his hands inside his pockets."Well, you don't know what I was thinking about," I turned a
AvelineAfter my discussion with Sabrina, I finally gathered the courage to leave. I'd had enough.Hell, even a fool wouldn't stay as long as I did.My discussion with Sabrina further opened my eyes to the fact that Draven would never come around. He would never look at me the way I desperately wanted him to,He would never sympathize with me if I got hurt the same way he does Emily. He would never look at me with those warm eyes he holds with Emily. I was always going to be at the backstage and I had to make up my mind.It was clear that I had nowhere to go or how to start but it was also very much clear that if I remained, I was going to meet an early demise.I had just three months left to wrap up my contract with Draven and with a mind made up, I returned to the office to finish what I'd started.Going back there, numbing myself to the insults constantly thrown at me, the lies cooked up against me, the irritation I was regarded with, I took it all in and even though it got worse
DravenDraven scoffed, watching Ave leave his office and as her footsteps receded he couldn't help but feel amused. It wasn't the first time she got out of her mind and threatened to leave, and it wasn't the first time she'd left like this. But,As he looked down on the contract agreement signed eight years before, being returned to him, he felt a sting at the probability that she might not return since her contract was indeed over.Looking at the document on his table, he reminisced over her words and I couldn't understand why he felt hurt hearing her reject him.It felt like he'd fallen down a skyscraper and hit his heart on the ground, shattering it to pieces in the process as her rejection sunk in. "Did you see that Ave girl? Storming out of this office like she owns it?" Sophia, his sister barked, storming into his office and effectively disrupting his thoughts."She almost bumped into him as he tried to talk to her, imagine the audacity!" She ranted but he remained calm, his ga
AvelineI'd thought that the man I met at the store would be as vague as he seemed but he was my saviour.After I met him at the store and he asked me why I was out alone, I bit my lower lips, thinking of what response to give to him.Telling him that I just ran from my mate and the city I'd known for all my life to total uncertainty was not a good idea so I broke into tears.Falling on my knees as I cried, he quickly held me up, took me to his place and cooked me a meal. It was the first home-cooked meal I'd had in a long time and I ate it with agility. After my meal, he let me sleep in the guest room, respecting my privacy and not asking me any questions until I was willing to speak. I wondered how someone could be so gentle with a person they barely knew. The next morning, I decided to tell him my rejection story and he listened with rapt attention, something that Draven never did. After I'd finished explaining things to him, he pressed my hands to assure me that everything would
AvelineMy eyes widened in shock and my pupils danced around in my sclera. I gripped my hand tightly. Pregnant? How? I thought I had lost the child so what does he mean by I'm pregnant?!"What… what do you mean by pregnant?" I stuttered in shock and confusion. There was no doubt that I actually lost my child that night so how is this even possible? The doctor closed the distance between us and handed me the paper in his hand and I looked at him for a second. I did not understand a single thing that was happening here. I moved my gaze to the paper and I gasped in shock again. A scan was done and it was discovered that a baby was in me?! He was not lying, after all; he was not. I covered my face with my palms. "How is this even possible?" I muttered in a low tone. I heard an approaching footstep, and I looked up; it was the doctor. "Why did you look surprised ma'am? Haven't you had anything with a man before?" For a moment, I balled my fist. "I had a miscarriage, actually; I t
AvelineThe storm was not over yet, it was something no one needed to tell me. As long as I'm still breathing, I would make any sacrifice for the child in me. As I sat on the couch, my hand gently resting on my stomach, I felt a surge of determination course through my veins. The memory of Sabrina's words echoed in my mind, a poignant reminder of the unwavering commitment I had made to the tiny life growing within me.With my lips pressed together in a resolute line, I steeled myself for the challenges that lay ahead. The weight of responsibility, the uncertainty of the future, and the sheer magnitude of the sacrifices I would need to make all seemed to fade into the background as I focused on the singular truth that drove me forward: I would do everything in my power to give this child the best possible life.My phone rang, and I checked who it was, it was Brad this time, and I picked the call up. "Hey, I'm back." My voice was barely above a whisper. I heard a chuckle from the end
AvelineFor months of working in this place, life has taught me a lot of lessons. I got rejected about eight times before settling for a job with lesser pay, but even at that, I was insulted a lot of times. There were times when I would want to yell and times when I would want to shove a pen into one of their eyes, but I just held back all the time. Every Saturday, I visit the doctor and he keeps singing a particular anthem to me time and time again. He would say: reduce your work stress so it would not affect your child, you can even stop work if you have to. In the midst of those struggles, I was most grateful to Brad and Sabrina, who kept on calling me day after day. "You need to do some training because you are not even qualified to work here you twat!" I gasped in shock when he barked in a rude tone. Another one of the customers dragged the item he bought from me in an angry way. "I'm sorry, I had to make sure the money was complete before handing it to you, and since it w
AvelineI settled for a bag of chips and a cold milk from the fridge. I was so tired and famished and I felt like if I didn't satisfy my hunger at this moment, I'd join my ancestors with the moon goddess. I couldn't tell if it was the growing child in my womb or the stress and frustration from work, but I felt like I could eat a full house. Munching on the chips like I'd stolen them and gulping the milk with satisfaction, I found myself thinking about Draven.What he would be doing by that time, if he was still with Emily if Sophie was still as sassy as before and if they'd found someone else to continue their evil on..A sad smile crossed my face and I shook my head in regret of the many years I'd spent wasting off with Draven, working like a slave and treated like one indeed but not receiving any reward in return.Speaking of rewards, I was supposed to receive a hundred thousand dollars after the contract was completed but I didn't have the mind to tell him about it.Hell, I was to
Aveline I heaved a sigh when I got to the office. Certain that Draven and some people from his company would be inside already, waiting for me courtesy of the stern condition I gave them the last time.Thinking back to it, it felt like I was a little too harsh, but one reminder about the worse he'd done to me, I shoved the guilty thoughts away.Nodding slightly to the bows of the staff at the door, I walked past them into the hall that led to the meeting room.Mr Kade stood at the entrance of the meeting room. "Good day ma, trust you had a good night rest?" He asked but I could hear the impatience in his voice."I slept alright Kade. Are they in already?" I answered, referring to the reason behind his tension."Yes ma, they've been here for thirty minutes at the very least." He replied, looking worried."Very well then." I replied, wanting to make my way into the meeting room but he step ahead of me, stopping me in my tracks."Is there something wrong?" I inquired, with a firm voice
Aveline Shifting my attention to the audience who waited for me to speak, I began, reflecting on how far I'd come but not forgetting about the business struggles the city had to face over the years. Working with Draven for years has helped keep me conversant with the business world and all the happenings in it. So even when I was away for three years, I knew the development in the business world. After my speech, as the applause rose in the crowd, I saw Draven walk back into the hall, but this time around, without Emily. I didn't want to think about the many different reasons why she didn't follow him back in. Maybe he sent her back home, or maybe he told her he didn't want her for the rest of the occasion. I didn't know but one thing I knew was that I was glad. I was glad she didn't return with him. I was glad he sent her away for a change.Happy with the turnouts of events. I got to my feet and headed towards the door.Darting my eyes to where Draven sat, I saw him talking to s
AveAcknowledging the moderator on the stage with a wave of hands, I smiled brightly at the congregation that cheered at the mention of my name, and also at the lady who had suddenly gone pale.Emily. She looked like she'd seen a ghost or was probably in a nightmare. With a confused face, she looked around the hall, trying to comprehend the strange news that was dished.The moderator continued to acknowledge more prominent people in the meeting but Emily didn't move an inch from where she sat. Her gaze pinned on me.After years of seeing her, I knew that she was going to be at the conference and a part of me was anxious about seeing her. Thinking about the possible outcome of our meeting.Thinking about how pretty she would probably be looking especially as someone who hadn't gone through the kind of stress I did these past few years. But seeing her that day, I knew that there was no way I could be compared to her. She looked basic. And I was just not about basics anymore. The event
AvelineI held Kade by his wrist and dragged him to a corner in the huge room. "What do you mean by Draven Harrington?"He slowly removed my hand from his wrist and smiled. "You kept on refusing to meet with his company, why?"My hands were across my chest and I sighed, Kade's gaze still fixed on me, he was obviously waiting for an answer. An answer that he might never get. "It's been three years Ms Nova," he smoothed his hair by pushing it backward slowly. "Three years." "Are you sure it's three?" I let out a light chuckle. He heaved a frustrated sigh. "Yes, three. They are not as successful as they used to be about four to five years ago but we can benefit from them also." I sat by the edge of the long table in the meeting room and my eyes were fixed on the floor. "I thought they said I was able to do nothing without the help of those bitches." I felt my finger going into my palm. "What did you say?" Kade pulled me out of my thoughts and I just lifted the corner of my lips. "U
AvelineSlowly, I turned to the woman but her gaze was not even on me. She packed the trays and other items before turning to take her leave. "Thank you, ma'am," I managed to voice out, and she turned to me. "You're welcome," she spoke in a calm tone. With that, she took her leave from the room after she and Lucas exchanged a smile. "How did I get here?" My face was etched with worry. I looked at the child in my hands; she had fallen asleep. Lucas walked further into the room with his hands in his pocket and he sat down on a metal chair close to the bed. "Did you have any idea where you were before I came to save you?" "I do remember that I was surrounded by some thugs," my words were slow but steady. "I passed out…too quick."He nodded slowly. "You were unconscious when I found you." "How did you know where I was?" My curiosity piqued the more I threw questions at him. "Were you tailing me?"A silent chuckle escaped his lips and he brought out his phone before handing it to me
AvelineMy eyes widened and a gasp escaped my lips. This was not the time I was supposed to give birth, not in this kind of situation…not in this kind of place…not even in the midst of these bastards. I swiftly turned my face sideways; even after they saw the water rolling down my legs, they still had an indifferent look on their faces. "Trust me we don't give a fuck about what is happening to you right now," it came from my left side, and I turned to him. He seemed like their boss if we were to place them by their body size. His eyes were deadly, so was his face, and he had a scar just under his right eye. "Yeah, we don't!" Another one from my right-hand side barked. I was surrounded. 'What…what do you think we should do?' I heard my wolf stutter. She could not hide her fear. Neither could I, but there was nothing I could do; I didn't know what might happen to the baby if I messed up, so I just stood in a particular spot. "Please," I was barely able to find my voice but they
Aveline "You look beautiful." He remarked, taking a seat opposite me."What will you like? The cheeseburger here bangs. I recommend that." He said, looking back at the menu.I was still trying to recover from him pulling out the chair for me before he hit me with a compliment I'd only heard from my friend for the past nine years."So, what are you doing now? Did you get a job elsewhere?" He asked after we placed our orders."Nothing yet, for now, it's hard getting a job around here with this big bump," I said, laughing at myself but he wasn't amused.I could see the sympathetic look on his face."Is there anything you'd like to do?" He asked again, making me lose the smile on my face.Thinking about all the dreams and plans I'd had before finding out that I was still pregnant, it felt like a bad memory but I shrugged it off."I wanted to own my own business, my empire. Satisfying the needs of the public while making enough money in the process." I replied with a distant smile on my f
AvelineThe next day, I woke up with hunger from not eating as well as I should have the previous day.Pushing myself to my feet, I slowly made my way to the kitchen I searched for anything I could munch on before going to the supermarket and I thanked the stars for one apple left in the fridge.Munching on the apple with relish, I changed from my pajamas and brushed my teeth before going grocery shopping and, the baby shower photos.I got thinking about what Sabrina said to me the previous day and she was right. I let my bad experiences cloud the beautiful gift I'd been given was one that would hurt me in the future.I felt the baby move and I smiled to myself, it must've heard my thoughts and agreed with my resolve to leave the past behind and move forward starting now.After a few minutes of walking to the grocery store, I got there and went shopping. Picking up a cart, I strolled down each role in search of what would be needed to keep me going for at least a month and by the time
AvelineI settled for a bag of chips and a cold milk from the fridge. I was so tired and famished and I felt like if I didn't satisfy my hunger at this moment, I'd join my ancestors with the moon goddess. I couldn't tell if it was the growing child in my womb or the stress and frustration from work, but I felt like I could eat a full house. Munching on the chips like I'd stolen them and gulping the milk with satisfaction, I found myself thinking about Draven.What he would be doing by that time, if he was still with Emily if Sophie was still as sassy as before and if they'd found someone else to continue their evil on..A sad smile crossed my face and I shook my head in regret of the many years I'd spent wasting off with Draven, working like a slave and treated like one indeed but not receiving any reward in return.Speaking of rewards, I was supposed to receive a hundred thousand dollars after the contract was completed but I didn't have the mind to tell him about it.Hell, I was to