Bolting the main door in the hall, I abandon my car keys on a nearby stool. I’m exhausted and in great need of a nap. I remember leaving the apartment around five and it’s already eight in the night. The cops did a good job investigating the hell out of me. Turns out filing a report isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially when you have no one to suspect. The apartment is unusually quiet, so I guess Ben must be already in bed. And there’s no sign of Denzel lurking in the shadows as well. “You’re back!” I raise my head to see him leaning against the doorframe of his room with dark bags under his eyes. Speak of the Devil. “Were you thinking of me, Miss West?” He smirks. I try to laugh it off. “What makes you think so?” “You just turned red like a little rose.” He points at my cheeks. If only blushing was under my control. “Fine. I was thinking of you, but guess what? According to a legend, if you think of someone and that person appears before you, it is said to indicate that they
The bodyguard is a man in his early thirties with muscles that can rival a gym trainer who hasn’t had a day off in years. The tech guy imprisoned me and Ben in my room. First, I had a doubt, but now I’m hundred percent sure that Denzel left the two of them here to keep an eye on me. Guess he does know me well. It’s been ten minutes since they’ve left, but the muscular guy hasn’t trained his eyes away from the both of us for a second. If he wasn’t Denzel’s man, I’d be super creeped out. I’ve got to find a way. “Mommy,” Ben nudges at the sleeve of my shirt. “I need to pee.” A bulb glows in my head. “Let’s go then!” I enthusiastically drag Ben to the bathroom when the guy blocks my way. “You heard him, mister. My son needs to use the loo.” I even gesture to him using my pinky finger, but he stands at the threshold, blocking my view. “Step aside.” I try again, but to no avail. His expression is as stoic as a corpse’s. “I believe he can go by himself, ma’am.” His voice is as gru
The moment seems to be frozen in place. I can’t budge from my position at the end of the staircase and my eyes are glued shut. The gunshot still reverberates in my head, but the sound is gradually fading out. Startled hearing the sound of footsteps, my eyelids lift and his face comes into my view. Chiselled jaw, lips thinned in anger, and his electric blue eyes staring into my petrified ones. He crosses the few inches between us in a long stride and grabs my forearm. He drags me behind him upstairs without care or concern. “Stop!” My voice breaks. Is he really a murderer? Did I just witness him kill someone? Will he kill me too, to erase the evidence? He turns around and faces me in a swift move. My arm in his grip hurts. He’s sure to leave his hand imprint on me. “What are you doing here?” He yells at the top of his lungs. His high-pitched tone makes me tremble and turn into a puddle of scared mess. Gone is the calm and easygoing CEO Denzel Flynn and the man who stands before me
Denzel Flynn ****** I’ve just been done with the cops when my phone rings up. At first, I don’t bother to pick it up, but one glance at the caller ID and I don’t hesitate. Bringing the phone next to my ear, I speak out calmly, despite feeling the tug at my heartstrings. Little rose’s harsh words live in my head rent-free. “How have you been?” No reply comes from the other side. I wait patiently until I hear audible sobs in the background. An invisible force fists my heart and panic rises in every corner of my body. “Chloe?” I said, alarmed. Again, no response. “Chloe, can you hear me?” I ask again. Maybe it’s a network issue. Maybe someone else was sobbing in the background and she went away to soothe them. Maybe... “Den...” The sobbing continues in her voice and they only rise louder than before. “Are you at home? I’ll be there soon.” I cut the call after acknowledging a feeble affirmation from her. I spare a glance at the officers arresting the woman and little rose loo
Chloe looks at me, dumbfounded. Her countenance looks similar to a child who was told that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. I can tell she’s having a hard time believing what I just said. None of us thought in our dreams that I’d ever deny her of a wish. But I suppose that’s what you get when you put faith in your sibling with your eyes closed. “Wh-what do you mean?” Her eyes turn glossy and red from all the crying and disbelief shines in them like the moon on a Purnima night. I won’t fall for them anymore. “Do you know who this kid is? About his family and relatives? His name?” “His name is Benjamin, and he’s a fatherless child. After learning about his tragedy, I have a stronger will to take him in.” “Why do you think he needs someone else? Maybe he’s happy with his mother alone.” “C’mon Den! The world is so cruel to orphans. Have you forgotten how we’re treated? Without a father, Ben’s basically an orphan like us!” The rage in her voice propels me to take a step back. However,
Unknown POV ****** The woman watches over the house with an eagle eye. For fear of what happened in the past, she doesn’t dare show her face in the villa as long as Denzel and his lapdog remain inside. She mentally scolds the dumb blond for not giving her a heads-up. If she had been a minute earlier, she would have bumped into him and all of her efforts have been ruined. Of course, she’s planning to approach the young heir of the Flynn’s Enterprise soon. However, the conditions for their first meeting are too specific. Despite her rebellious form, she won’t do anything mischievous and risk shouldering the wrath of Big Fox. As soon as the woman’s predatory gaze falls on the two familiar young men walking out of the villa, she heaves a sigh of relief. However, on closer inspection, she finds one of them wearing a troubled expression and the other shaking with fury. The hair on her neck rises and her body plunges into alert mode. After double-checking that their car has driven off,
Naomi West ****** I arrive at the cafe in my neighbourhood after receiving Myra’s text. It’s been a while since we got together and chatted like old times, so we decided to make up for it today. I was the one to approach her, of course. With Ben being with her kids and husband at home and Denzel being out of state, I guessed it’d help kill my boredom. He left a day ago and I’m already out of ways to indulge myself without getting bored. It’s one of my flaws. I get fed up quite easily. Of course, with a bit of determination, I could stay at my apartment and write the next chapter of my novel. Yet here I am, leisurely scrolling through the reels on Instagram—laughing at silly cat videos and relating to the miserable life of a full-time author and sometimes googling the meaning of random words. “You’re early.” I lift my view from the phone screen and stare at my high school friend. Yes, Myra and I’ve been friends since high school. She’s the only one I’ve been in contact with eve
“Please tell me you’re not wearing that.” Myra claps her palms in front of her, keeping them glued together and silently praying. I shoot her an annoyed look. “You’ve long past the privilege of playing the judge. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even have to put up with this.” I do a twirl in front of the mirror. Honestly, I have put more effort on my dressing while dropping off Ben to kindergarten than today. I’m wearing mom jeans and a dark green turtleneck top with sneakers. Still it’s not as ugly as I wanted it to be. “It’s not bad, but it’s too casual for a date. Why can’t you wear the red halter dress I gifted you on your last birthday?” I spin around on my shoes, giving her another smug look. “Is that another advice I hear?” She pouts, puffing her lips out like a pufferfish. “I’m already offering to babysit Ben despite my tight schedule, just so you can have fun without worrying.” “Oh, Myra, I’m so grateful to you. How would i possibly spend a day without your undying de
I have been feeling guilty towards Marcus all night. Even though I made that Devil sleep on the couch and didn’t spare him a single glance this morning, my heart weighs heavy when I think of Marcus and how unfair I’ve been to him.Which is why the first thing I did in the morning was to schedule a meeting with him. I wanted to take Ben out as well, but Denzel probably knew about my intention and ended the discussion before it even came up.On the plus side, at least Marcus and I’ll be able to have a conversation like proper responsible grownups—on the downside, I won’t have any shield to hide behind.The bell jingles on the cafe’s door, warning us about a new presence. I look up and notice Marcus walking up to my table. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to smile.“Marcus, hey.” I speak, but even my tone sounds too monotonous. He nods, acknowledging my presence, but doesn’t speak up.Gathering courage, I say. “About last night. I’m truly sorry. Had I known beforehand, I would’ve d
Naomi West******“Let’s go Ben. Time for bed.” I intentionally don’t yell out my plans for tonight when I call for Ben. Denzel has been playing the role of a jealous and offended husband ever since we mentioned Marcus’s name this morning. It’ll only blow his head if he were to know what we’re going to do now.Ben finishes his dinner early and discards the dishes in the sink before running to his bedroom. With one more lookout for Denzel—still refusing to budge from the sofa and watching Frozen 2—I slip inside Ben’s room.He’s already sitting up on the bed under the covers when I enter. He excitedly looks at me as I approach my side of his bed and take out my phone.“Quick. Before daddy gets too weird.” He whispers, acting as if we’re kids watching a movie after curfew.I open my contacts and video call Marcus. I hand the phone to Ben as we wait patiently for Marcus to pick up. After three rings, he eventually does, but it changes to voice call.“Is it a bad time?” I ask, desperately
Unknown POV******Layla Kingsley stares dumbfounded at what she’s just discovered. After spending many weeks in isolation, plotting and planning and fearing for her life, it’s like she just hit a jackpot.But she never entered in the lottery, which is why the sight before her, the crucial piece of information, also gives her chills.This is it. This can change her whole life.She takes out her phone to capture this shocking moment. She continuously taps on the photo icon to take pictures from multiple angles.With a lingering look at the truth she’s just discovered, she walks away before anyone notices her presence. She laughs as she takes the street to her apartment. She’s been in so much pressure for the last few weeks, trying to come up with desperate measures to find something on the Flynn’s. But it’s been a pain in the butt with blondie and Davenport not picking up her calls. After her last meeting with Chloe, she made it clear that she wanted to come clean in front of her dea
Naomi West******I’m not mad. I’m not second-guessing my life choices at the moment. I’m only fuming with an uncontrollable amount of disappointment, hiding all of my viciousness behind a polite smile.I watch, standing in a corner as my dad empties my mom’s stuff from Denzel’s old room. He wasn’t exactly a cheerful lad when he found out that his wife has been living in a man’s room all this while, but one look at my face and he knows to keep his mouth shut about it.He only has himself to blame for what his wife has been through.But like myself, my mom isn’t one to hold grudges. My mom and dad had been MIA on me for three days since she went away with him and they only arrived this morning, that too, to fetch her things.I haven’t made peace with the fact that she’s so easily forgiven him, but who am I to judge, right? I can only bite my tongue and swallow my words for their happiness.“Did you eat a whole lemon for breakfast? Why do you look so sour?” My mom playfully bumps into m
Denzel Flynn******I never imagined Naomi’s father to run away like that. When I learned about his fleeing from the receptionist, it was bad enough. But when I overheard Mrs. West telling about their intimate moment from the night before to Naomi, it was a blow to my face.I’d warned myself to not get emotionally involved, but I end up being a part of this big drama, anyway. I guess that’s a package deal that comes with having a family.Mrs. West was not in high spirits after I broke the news to her but she was willing to spend the remaining days in the resort for the sake of our efforts. Even though we decided to stay and have fun, most of her time was invested in Naomi’s and Ben’s health.It was a nightmare to be short. If I exclude the morning picnics near the lake and occasional dinners and outing, we spent the last two days locked in our rooms.Now, it’s the seventh day, and we’re on our way to the court so little rose’s parents can finalize their divorce.The air inside the car
“Achoo!” I sneeze and snort, hugging the blanket close to myself early in the morning. It appears as though last night’s fun is catching up with me.“Achoo!” Ben sneezes beside me. I drape my blanket over him and pull him closer. At one point last night, he successfully washed his head in the chilly rain while I was too engrossed thinking about what his daddy said.Thinking about Denzel, my face heats up and I bury my head in my lap. Because of the Ben’s presence, I successfully avoided him last night.But what now?I think my thoughts summon the Devil as he enters our room. I try to act cool despite having a whole zoo running around in my stomach. No matter how hard I try, though, my face would always look like a blushing tomato.'I love you too.'His words resonate in my head and despite the huge, red warning signs, I feel myself surrounded by the dense fog created by his words. “Achoo!” Ben and I sneeze at once, struggling with a runny nose.Denzel raises an eyebrow and stares at
Naomi West******My parents kept to themselves all day, ignoring me, Denzel and even Ben at every turn at every corner. Denzel and I tried really hard to spy on them from a distance all afternoon, but everything seemed as normal as possible. It really struck a nerve in me when my dad shot me a warning look from his table during lunch when he spot me hiding behind tree pots.In the evening, when I refused to budge from my place, Denzel carried me away, claiming that I’ve developed an obsession with spying on my parents.It’s not that. Can you really blame a daughter for being curious? And it’s not like I’m hiding under their bed or something—now that’d be a scandal.After Denzel carried me away from my mission, he brought me back to the lakeside at sunset. Ben was already waiting for us near the water. It looks like he’s fallen in love with the environment here. Upon further inspection, I also find a cloth placed on the sand a little away from the water with an enormous basket on to
Denzel Flynn******I turn back to little rose to give her my undivided attention. Her fingers are fidgeting on the table to busy herself. Her mind keeps wandering to the door her parents and Ben disappeared into a while ago.“I thought you were a gold digger,” Little rose’s eyes flash at me with such intensity that burned my face. She’s indeed confused at my words and holds back her temper.“Like one of those women who deliberately spoils a rich man’s suit in hopes of getting close to him. But then again, I thought spoiling someone’s coat and putting them in a hospital are quite different matters.”She’s looking at me with an eyebrow raised.“All in all, I didn’t have a very first clear good impression of you, so I wanted to know you better before I could judge you.”I lean into the space between us with my arms resting on the table. She looks intimidated by the gesture, but in a good way. “Would you like to know how I feel about you right now?”Her cheeks flush and she immediately
Naomi West ******The soft rays from sun kisses my skin, melting my insides and compelling me to sleep. I had a sandwich earlier, but both Denzel and my dad restricted me from touching the wine. And whilst the three adults drank wine, I had to accompany Ben with a glass of orange juice.Serves me right, though. I don't recall much from yesterday. Everything is a blurry image after I drank the two glasses of wine. Even though I had my suspicions, Denzel assured me that the wine was a bit old and nothing else.However, I don't blame myself for passing out, since my dad came back last evening and promised to stay with us until the end of the week. Being overjoyed, I prepared everything this morning and here we are, sitting on the grass under the sun as one happy family."Ben don't wander too close to the water!" Denzel yells over my shoulder. Ben looks back at his father, smiles and walks further into the lake.I want to laugh so hard but I stifle it. I don't need to hurt Denzel's pride