“So... it really was your mother,” she said lowly, as if she was finding it difficult to believe that it was really his mother who was the mastermind of all of this.Travis nodded, his jaw clenched. “It all makes sense now. The letters, the trip..everything that happened between us, she was behind it.”Alison exhaled deeply, her fingers running through her hair. “I just... I don’t understand why she hated me so much. I was never disrespectful to her, Travis. I didn’t even get the chance to prove myself to her.”“It was not about you, Alison,” Travis replied, trying to keep his cool. “It was about my mother. My mother has always believed she knows what is best for me. And in her eyes, you didn’t fit the image she had for my future. I guess that was the reason she did this. Only that, I did not think she would go this far.”Alison shook her head. “So, was she right to break us apart without our knowledge? Manipulating us to thinking we were both at fault."“No, it wasn't,” Travis said,
Alison reached the car park, and took out her car key. Just as she was about to enter the car, she sighted Travis heading her way.He was glued to his phone, and Oscar was nowhere to be found. It seemed like he had gone on another of Travis' errands."Travis, hey," she said, stepping in front of him.“Alison?” he said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”“I need to talk to you,” she said, crossing her hands over her chest.He raised an eyebrow, and asked, "what do you want to talk about?" "This," she said, holding up the gold invitation card from earlier.Travis frowned, recognizing the card immediately. He wondered how she got a hold of it, but he pretended not to know anything about it.“What is that?”“You tell me,” Alison shot back. “It is an invitation to an event hosted by the so-called ‘Elite Men.’ And don’t tell me you don’t know anything about it, Travis. The name alone speaks of your world.”He stepped closer, feigning to be confused. “I’ve never seen that before in my li
Travis was mad at his mother for what she did. He could not get it off his mind that his mother had ruined his relationship with Alison. For years, he thought Alison left him. He lived with the fact that Alison dumped him, and even though he had vowed to forget about her, he just couldn't. Not after seeing her that day. The car came to a halt. He stepped on the pedal with full force that, sent him moving forward. He was not at peace. He had not vented enough. He needed to let his mother know that what she did had really hurt him. It felt like he had not said enough. He turned the car around, heading back to the mansion. As he arrived, he stormed into the house.The first person he sighted was his mother. She looked at him, a bit surprised that he came back.She had thought, initially, that he was back to his senses and finally remembered that they had dinner, but then, her assumptions were wrong.She said, "Travis dear. Have you finally come back to your senses? Do you now rememb
**FLASHBACK** Delaney arranged her hair and smoothened her dress. This was one of the many blind dates her parents had arranged for her. This time, she was meeting with Travis Rodrigo. She stood in front of the cafe, which her parents had instructed her driver to take her to. She sighed, shaking her head. The cafe was an exquisite one. Although, today, there were not many people in the cafe. As she stepped in, Delaney spotted Travis immediately. He looked tall from the way he sat. He was calm and full of powerful aura. She sighed once again and walked over to the table. “Delaney, right?” Travis stood as she approached, his voice calm. He had been sent to the cafe by his mother, who was pressurizing him to get married. His parents and Delaney's parents were business partners, and if the two of them were to get married, their business partnership bond would be strengthened. “Yes,” she replied, extending her hand. “You must be Travis.” “Guilty as charged.” He chuckled, pulling
Travis stared at his desk. Reports, charts, and files were neatly arranged in front of him, but his focus was not steady.The image of Delaney..her confession, her voice, her betrayal haunted him for days, but now, it felt like he was already getting over her. He had buried himself in work, determined to prove to himself, and everyone else, that he was more than his setbacks and mistakes.He was ready to prove to his mother and even to Delaney that he could be successful.“Mr. Rodrigo,” his assistant’s voice broke his thoughts, “the quarterly report meeting is about to start.”“I will be there, soon,” Travis replied, his tone calm.The meeting started off with a different atmosphere, but after Travis made his presentation, they all nodded in approval. Their faces were full of smiles, as they applauded him. His recent strategies had led to an unexpected rise in stock prices, causing his name to be on everyone's lips.As the meeting ended, one of the senior executives approached him.
"I am glad to have finally seen you." Alison wanted to roll her eyes, but she kept her cool. "You asked to meet with me, Ms. Rodrigo. Is anything the matter?" Alison's tone was polite, but guarded, and for a moment he watched the older woman's mile drop, before she regained composure. "Pardon my manners Alison," Mrs. Rodrigo said, gesturing for Alison to sit down. "And yes, there's something I want to discuss with you." Alison sat down, her eyes fixed warily on the older woman. "I know we didn't exactly get off on the right foot in the past," the woman started. "But for the sake of Travis, please let's put everything behind us and move on " The air around them suddenly thickened, as Alison wondered where the conversation was headed. Of course, she was not a fool. A part of her knew that beneath the surface, Mrs. Rodrigo still harbored the same disdain towards her...and nothing changed over the years. "I didn't like you when you first started dating Travis. I mean...your backgr
Alison stood outside the small bakery, the address scribbled on a piece of paper clutched in her hand, like a piece of treasure being hidden from crazy folks.The letters she had obtained relating to the three elite men had led her to this unassuming location. She took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities.Originally, she wouldn't go to this extent for a client, but Travis was more than a client, and although she tried to get her mind away, it kept drifting back to him and all their beautiful memories…The stolen kisses, the whispers which usually sounded as a subtle reminder that she was destined for exploits, their movie dates, although against his wish. Every memory of Travis she had was beautiful, and for that reason she was going to do anything to get him out of the mess he was in.As she pushed open the door of the bakery, a bell above it rang out, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through her nostrils, momentarily making Alison forget the reason she was t
Alison's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape..more like a distraction. But the thugs had her surrounded, their eyes gleaming with hostility.What were the chances she would successfully get out of there unharmed?"I...I don't have an entrance number," she stammered, trying to sound confident despite the fear creeping up her spine.The thugs exchanged skeptical glances, their faces slowly twisting into snarls. "You're not opposed to being here then," one of the growls took a step closer to Alison. "I didn't want to be here, I swear" she whispered, deciding to make an excuse as to why she was there..and maybe, just maybe they'd let her off the hook. "I wanted to ease myself.""Down here" another one scoffed. "Whatever happened to all the restrooms upstairs?"Alison's heartbeat accelerated as she tried to think of a way to figure the situation, as she backed away from the thugs, her eyes darting around the room for an escape. But before she could make her move, one of t
The moment he sighted Alison walk out of the room looking like a ghost, better still, a frame of her former self, Travis' eyes widened in shock, so did his mouth. There was not any way he would have believe that his Alison would lose so much weight and life in just a matter of twenty one days. Her collar bones were glaring, deep enough to hold water in them. Her eyes were red, and so was her face… a testament to the tears she had to shed and the pain she'd gone through.Alison on the other hand, kept staring at him, although at first she didn't want to admit it, he was looking so haggard and unkept, his hair was messy and his moustache was starting to grow wild.Only twenty-one days apart did this to the couple, who would have thought so.Still standing apart, the couple kept staring at each other, with so many words running through their minds, yet no one was uttering any words.Who would?Travis who was articulating his thoughts and thinking of the perfect way to get Alison's for
After so much hesitation, Travis finally planted a soft knock, on the door of Megan's apartment.“Who is it? How can I help you?” He heard Megan's soft voice ring from inside, and moved back slightly.As sounds of footsteps approached and grew louder, so did Travis’ heartbeats. What if she sends him away rudely?Alison must have told her about everything that happened, so how was he going to face her now?“Who is it, yo …” Megan's voice stopped halfway as she sighted Travis standing by the door, looking pale.“Y..you're here,” she said, obviously shocked. “I never thought you'd stop by.”“I'm sorry, I swear, I'm really sorry.” He said and Megan folded her arms under her chest.“What do you want? Why are you here?” “Aunt Megan, please… I need your help, don't say no, I beg of you.” He pleaded. “A lot happened, and I really need to speak with Alison.”“Well… sorry to disappoint you, but Alison is not here.” Megan shrugged and turned to go in, but Travis held onto her hand, with guilt
Travis tried to trail Raquel, but she was nowhere to be found, apparently she had already gone too far.“Fuck!!” He groaned in annoyance, punching his steering and screaming his lungs out. “I've lost everything!”Before he could stop himself, tears began slipping down his eyes. He got to the side of the road and parked.“Why did I let it get to this point?” He asked himself, ruffling his hair in frustration and crying out. “Now she has gotten what she wanted and is nowhere to be found.”He tried to calm himself down but it just was not working out.‘why not just head home, hopefully you would meet her and explain everything.’ His subconscious mind suggested and Travis shook his head.“I fucked up already, what explanation is going to make sense to her?” He muttered, his eyes already red from crying and his fists bruised.Eventually, he decided to drive home, not knowing exactly what to expect, but hoping for the best nevertheless.The drive was rough, with Travis growing more emotiona
“What the hell is going on here?” Alison yelled in shock, and Raquel got off Travis thighs, deciding to play the victim.“Sweetheart, what is she still doing here? I thought you said you were no longer with her?” Raquel asked Travis, pointing at Alison and crying. “I should never have trusted you again in the first place.”“Alison, I swear I can explain.” Travis whispered getting off the couch and swiftly going over to hold Alison.“Don't touch me!” She snapped, slapping his hands off her. “I should have known that this is what you were up to when you suddenly woke up and created the idea that you were going to work from home.”“Cupcake, it's not what you think.” He said going on his knees. “I promise you, I was actually working from home.”“It can even be what I think, but what I saw Travis… this bitch was straddling you and you didn't even push her off, what is she even doing here? And what does she mean by you said we'd broken up?” Alison asked, feeling her feet grow cold then she
The notion that ‘time flies’ had never made more sense to Alison. Just like yesterday, she was fighting to get her son back, then she lost him, and now three months had passed already. She had finally embraced the fact that her Theo was gone and she was never going to see him again. Deep down, she was grateful to Travis, who had always been her knight in shining armor, walking her through every single stage of grief. She finally opened her heart to Karen, Megan and Carlos, letting them comfort her. Although Alison never believed the saying that ‘time heals’ she'd a testament to that. “You're awake?” Travis muttered with a small smile as Alison tried to sit upright. “How was your night?” “It was good, I mean… I slept well,” she replied and smiled back at him. Her gaze caught the time on her clock and she gasped. “It's 8am, already? I have to get to the office.” She said and swiftly got out of bed. “Wait, you're resuming, already? You sure you are ready?” Travis asked, with
“I can't keep watching her do that to herself.” Travis murmured, as he sipped from his drink at the bar. “It's been more than two weeks already, and she is still refusing to talk to or see anybody.”Oscar sighed and then patted Travis’s back softly. “You've got this boss. Although Miss Alison needs som time alone, you should be by her side, comfort her and and reassure her that you're always going to be by her side and she hasn't lost her only reason to live.”“I had no idea you were really good with advice.” Travis chuckled lightly, and took a sip of his drink. “She's extremely vulnerable at this moment, and I am too…it's difficult consoling her, when she keeps blaming herself for everything that has happened.”“The more reason you have to be there for her, help her get rid of the emotional trauma.” He said, his expression unreadable. “It's better that way, so she doesn't feel like she's alone.”“I'll try to do that, and I hope she'd finally agree to go out. I can't watch her in that
Tears, pains, guilt, regrets and sorrows suddenly redefined Alison. It has already been a week since Theo's death, but to her it was no more that yesterday.Words of encouragement came in through one ear and went out through the other, leaving her drowning in despair and a walking shadow of her former self.“Where did I go wrong?” She asked no one in particular, as she sat alone in the room Theo spent his last week in. “Why do forces seem to be standing against my happiness? One moment, I'm at the verge of achieving my dreams, and the next minute, it's like everything has been turned upside down.”Travis who had been watching her from the door which was slightly ajar, shook his head in pity.“For how long will you keep doing this to yourself?” He finally asked. Alison didn't flinch despite how sudden his voice came, neither did she react, she just remained motionless, holding tightly onto Theo's bloodstained clothes, as if they were going to disappear if she let them go.She had ins
After running over Theo, the person behind the wheels smirked triumphantly and drove off without bothering to wait.When he had gotten to a reasonable distance away from them, he pulled the mask over his face revealing Spider.“Too bad, the little boy had to pay for the sins of his parents.” He repeated Raquel's words from the last time and then dialed her number.She answered on the first ring.“Hey spider, what's good? Did you succeed?” She asked, panic obvious in her voice.“You don't trust me?” He asked proudly. “To think that they made things easier for me, I didn't have to trail or…”“You're saying the kid is dead already, right?” Raquel cut him off impatiently. “Not yet, but with the level of harm I caused, I doubt he will survive it.” He reported.“Are you already on your way back here?” Raquel asked, and he could hear a hint of disdain in her voice.“Why asking?” He asked back.“Don't come back to the Cartel yet. Those people are smart enough, they would have you trailed and
**ONE WEEK LATER**“Travis, do you think I am a bad mother?” Alison asked, one morning before breakfast. She was seated before her mirror, staring at her expression, while Travis sat on the bed behind her, working on his laptop.“Where is this coming from?” He asked, clearly shocked by her question. “This is not about Theo, is it?”“It's him, and I just can't help it.” She muttered, then a tear slid down her eyes. “He does not seem happy, I have tried my best.”“He will come around very soon, it's not so easy moving away, and then blending in with new people just immediately, try to understand him.” Travis explained, keeping his laptop aside.“It's been a whole week already, Travis! I spent years praying for the day when he would finally be by my side, and call me mom without interruption. I longed to hold him in my arms and play with him…” she chocked on her tears, swallowing the bile that rose to her throat. “And now that I finally got the chance to do so, he isn't even happy.”“Hav