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... "Take a sit, can I offer you something to drink?" Autumn asked as she left her coat and bag by the door while the bodyguard went upstairs. "No, thank you I'm alright," I say as I sit down on the couch as she joins me, she stares at me wide-eyed, pressing her lips together almost nervous waiting for me to speak. "I'm sorry I just find it strange you wanted to talk to me when we don't even know each other." "I don't even know where to start." I scratch my forehead while trying to find the right words to begin. "I find it easier to start from the beginning." She says and I smile briefly before the seriousness of the situation erases the smile off my face and exchanges it with a stiff one. "Then I guess I should start thirty years ago when your mother left your father without telling him she was pregnant with you." Now it was her face that went stiff for a moment before her eyebrows lifted and her mouth slightly parted. "What are you saying? Where is this coming from?" Au
Alex's POV I woke up and reached for my phone to turn off my alarm and threw it under my pillow to allow myself an extra five minutes of sleep. It's only when I feel the warmth of the sun on my face that I slowly open my eyes and stare into the seeling before finally managing to sit up. Ever since I allowed Enzo to take my painting for the exhibition he is having soon I've been full of tension to the point I almost backed down yet Enzo wouldn't allow it. He believes in my work, he believes in me. I drag my hand under the pillow and pull out my phone. Adam called. I didn't hear it yesterday but I'm not sure if I would have answered even if I did. Distance is good, out of sight out of mind. It's moments like this that hurt when the mention of him comes out of the blue and it feels like getting punched into the stomach so hard that all air escapes your lungs. "Alex!" Sasha says as he knocks on the door at the same time he opens them. "Sasha, opening the door and then knocking def
I didn't want to go downstairs just jet, Uncle Richard was surely sharing his story and learning about hers. They need time, they deserve time especially after so much has already been lost. ... "Come on you two, I want to go see my niece." Mom scolded us mainly because Sasha was sitting on his tablet. "Mom, she is here. She isn't going anywhere." He says as he turns it off and sets it aside ready to go downstairs. "Now where is my niece? Let me see her?" Mom said as she came into the living room, Sasha and I following behind her. "Autumn, meet your aunt Eloise, and your cousins Alex and Sasha." Uncle Richard got up to introduce us and she got up as well. Autumn was beautiful, and she seemed like a woman of high manners and class. She offered her hand to my mother but she instead pulled her in for a hug. "Let me see you." Mom said as she took a step back to look as she pulled her to stand straight. "You are definitely one of us, you may look like your mother but the eyes are
Adam's POV "It seems like you handled pretty much everything while I was gone. The question is when did you find time to sleep?" I said to Sasha as we sat in the meeting room while I was going through the papers and he was writing on the laptop. "I got a new assistant, to be honest, I gave her a lot of your work trying to break her and make her quit but she actually managed to do it all." Now that was strange, Sasha taking that much work into something that wasn't planted on a screen in front of him. "Why would you wanna make her quit, why not just fire her?" Sasha looks away from the laptop for a second and shakes his head. "She said she doesn't fear a challenge and how she can manage anything I throw her way." He says as he chuckles. I can't believe he just chuckled. "I wanted to prove her wrong." He returns to his usual tone. "But instead she proved you wrong." I laugh but he shushes me. "Who said I was done?" "Sasha, based on what I'm seeing here it seems like you have a
... "Wait, you need to tell me more about that crush you have on my cousin." "It's not a crush, I'm falling in love." I'm not there yet, so to speak but I know that with time and if she gives me a chance I will be able to let myself love her. "But why? After being single for years, why now? What has changed?" Sasha asks. And now that he asks, I dont think I have an answer. But people always say that this kind of things dont always have an explanation. "It just happened, and there is just this feeling I have within me that Autumn is going to lead me to my happines." ... I went home and showered, changed, and entered the driveway at the same time as Sasha. "Right on time." He says as he closes his car door and I get out of mine. "It's good to see that despite your dedication to work you still make time for family obligations." If Sasha could live in his office he would. "Please, if I were to miss this I would never hear the end of it. Mom called my office three times
... I took out my phone and was about to walk towards the door when I heard steps coming down the stairs, I looked up thinking it was Autumn coming back but to my surprise it was Alex. She disappeared earlier and was now changed into a tight black dress that came just above her knees, thin shoulder straps, her hair tossed over one shoulder, jacket in hand, but what caught my eye more than anything was the red lipstick on her lush lips. "Alex, are you going somewhere?" My God what a stupid question. "Yes, Enzo should come and pick me up any moment now." Enzo again. "I thought you canceled your planes." "Only rescheduled," Alex says as she takes a look at her phone. This is not how she usually acts, she isn't one of those people glued to her phone. She is all about capturing the moment yet ever since I came back things have been somehow different. "Can I ask you something?" She asks. "Of course, anything," I say. "The woman you like... is it Autumn?" At first, I wondered
Alex's POV I knew it even before he said it, just the way he was looking at her was enough for me to know she was the one. It almost feels like a bad joke. Out of all the women there were, he picked the one who would share the roof with me. "Alex, are you alright?" Enzo asks me and I turn from the window to look at him. "Yes, why do you ask?" "Probably because you haven't heard a word I said for the last twenty minutes of our drive. Not to mention the hurry in which you left your house." I left because if I stayed in front of Adam for a minute longer I would have actually cried. When everything is lost, pride is one thing I would like to keep. "Sorry, I've spaced out for a moment. What were you saying?" "I was telling you that I finally found a perfect location for the exhibition, and I have a date. But it seems like you have other worries on your mind right now." What I have is an arriving existential crisis on my hands. "How about we talk about it over some hard liquor,
... "What can I get for you guys?" A bartender at the bar asked us as the floor was vibrating from the loud music coming from the nightclub underneath us. It was an entire building dedicated to the fine entertainment of Hampton's most distinctive youth and this rooftop area had the extreme VIP list, it was definitely not a place where you would get an entry with money, no no. Last names were the only thing that could get you over the threshold and my name was amongst the first on the list. "One old fashioned, and for the lady..." Enzo said as he waited for me to finish the order. "Same." I wasn't much of a drinker but God knows I could use one. "Coming right up." The bartender said as he moved back and started preparing the drinks while Enzo looked around the place. "Do you like it? It was the first place that came to mind." Only because since a lot of my friends got married for some reason, as if life ended there, they stopped going out to places like this and I already had a
Sasha lets him fall into one of our Victorian chairs while Adam and I stand in front of him like parents who are about to scoll their child. But this talk was very necessary, for the sake of our sibling bond and their friendship.I glance at Adam, silently asking him if he’s ready for this. His calm smile reassures me. He’s been patient, waiting for this moment to happen, but I know it’s not easy for him either."Sasha," I start, my voice steady but firm, "we need to have a real talk about all this because Adam isn’t some phase or fling. He’s serious, and I am too. And I need you to accept that. Not just for me, but for us...all of us.""So, let me get this straight," he says, finally breaking the silence, his voice low. "You two have been sneaking around behind my back, hiding this whole thing, and now suddenly I’m supposed to just accept it? What was all that about, huh?"Adam shifts next to me, his hand resting lightly on my back, but I can feel the muscles in his shoulders tense up
...That night... "...so now we are not only friends and brothers-in-law but I had the privilege of being his best man. What he and Autumn have is special, anyone can see that, and all I can say is that I wish them both happiness. Also Autumn I'd like to ask your permission to take him out this Friday to play ball." Anthony jokes as he finishes his best man speech. I once heard of a so-called bromance Domenic and Anthony had pretty much ever since they met each other. Summer said she found it endearing. "As long as Summer gave you permission to go." Autumn hits Anthony with a comeback. "But Friday is a no-go, we have a Lamaze class," Autumn says as she touches Domenic's shoulder. "But you are free to join us," She added to which I started connecting the dots. Why Summer looked somewhat green on her face, why she didn't eat and why would she go to a Lamaze class... "That's a great idea." Summer says and Anthony looks at her strangely. "Why would we go to a Lamaze class?" He asks an
Alex's POV I woke up with a smile on my face as the light of the day shined over my face. Despite the cold, I wrapped myself into a blanket and sat in the corner of my balcony, breathing in the familiar salty ocean air. I used to sit here and watch over the driveway, waiting for Adam's car to drive in, and while everything seemed the same, everything had changed. Now, we were together, dreaming about a future and enjoying the present. A day I once dreaded would never come was now here and the happines set in my chest could be painted in a million colours. I smiled to myself, thinking about how far I’d come. How we had come. With Adam, I had learned to be whole. I closed my eyes, letting the wind brush across my face, and took a deep breath. The salty air mixed with the faint scent of coffee surrounded me too and I suddenly opened my eyes to meet Mrs.Henrdics standing at the balcony door with coffee in hand. "Good morning." She says as she walks over to me and hands me to warm cup.
"How is Autumn?" Eloise asks us as soon as we walk in leaving her cup of tea on the living room table."She is alright, as is the baby. They are gonna keep her overnight. Domenic stayed behind but I think Richard and Sasha will go home soon." I say as her eyes travel to the spot where Alex and I are holding hands when my mother comes to stand by Eloise. The smile on her face told me everything I needed to know."So... the two of you..." Eloise gestures between Alex and me. "How long has this been going on?" She asks."A while now," Alex says. "And before you start, it was my idea to keep it a secret. I didn't want our families involved before we were sure of where this was going." "I think that was very sensible of you." My mother says as she joins the conversation. "So now that you are sharing the news does it mean it's official?" "But they didn't share the news, they were discovered in a secret. There is a clear distinction." Eloise says.Alex laughs softly at Eloise’s comment, squ
"How is she? Can I see her?" Domenic asks as he jumps to get to him before everyone else. "Miss Cromwell is fine, she and the baby girl are stable. Her blood pressure went up which caused her to faint. I'm going to recommend bed rest until the baby gets here to avoid any possible complications." The doctor says and one could see and feel the worry melt off of our backs. "Did you talk to her? Did she remember anything? Is that why she had the crisis?" Richard asked as I stepped back and took Alex to my side wrapping my hand around her, keeping her close. Perhaps it wasn't the right moment but being able to hold her in public gave me a sense of power I never had before. "We talked for a brief moment and she described to me what happened, all the excitement of the wedding and the events that happened after took a toll on her, but she remains not remembering the past." We listen as the doctor talks and Alex smiles. We didn't care about the memories so much anymore. Autumn was alright
"What happened?" Richard yells as he runs to Autumn's side, almost crushing down at the site of her unconscious body in Domenic's hands. "I'm so sorry... I didn't think..." Rachel said as she watched what her words caused. "What did you do?" Richard asks her with fury in his eyes but Rachel only stares at Autumn in shock while Leo does the best he can to hold on to her. "Help is on its way!" Alex yells as she comes back and sticks to my side. Her hands are cold as they slip into mine. I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the situation that was in front of us with both Autumn and Sasha. "Dont wait. Get her in the car and drive to the hospital. I'll go with you and make sure they take good care of her." My dad says as he helps Richard stand up and move away from Autumn. Domenic lifts her in the air, and her veil falls down onto the floor. The sight was heartbreaking, this day turned out to be everything but perfect. First Alice, now this. I just hope it doesn't get any wo
Miguel jumps at Alice, grabbing her hand while the other guy manages to take the gun from her, ultimately pinning her to the ground when Alex pulls me back as the rest of the family gets up and gathers up at the front. “Let go of me, I'm not done yet!” Alice yells as she struggles to free herself but to no use as Miguel ties her hand to her back. “It's over Alice, it's finally over. You won't be able to hurt us ever again.” Domenic says as he presses Autumn to his side while Miguel lifts Alice, her hands pinned at her back. “Take her to the security room and call the police. She won't escape this time, not on my watch.” Richard says while rubbing Autumn's shoulder, trying to make sure she is ok. She look pale, shook but somewhat alright. She held onto Domenic the same way Alex didn't let go of my hand all this time. “He is lying to you, everyone is…” Alice says but Miguel drags her away. She was trying to do damage to the last second she could use. So much haterade in such a s
I always found weddings to be beautiful, yet this one was special. This was about my friend, someone who I knew would always be in my life, but I somehow knew that from the day I met her. Now sitting here, watching the smile on her face as she stared at the face of her loved one, the man she chose yet again despite every odd, despite not knowing the past. A path she chose solely based on what she felt within herself, and that was love. I had my doubts about it, I had my doubts about Domenic... the things I knew about their past, the things I didn't share with anyone else, not Alex, not Richard... I saw the regret in his eyes, I saw the pain but I also saw the love... and I wish them happiness. The same one I wished for myself and the woman who was sitting next to me right now. My love. My Alex. Today wasn't just the start of a new life for Autumn, this was also the day that meant something big for Alex and me. This was the day we would finally stop hiding. The day everyone would final
"Adam, where the hell were you? We are going to be late and you still haven't changed." Mom yells at me as soon as I step through the door. "I had some business to take care of. Dont worry I'll be ready in time." "Business, on a day like this one." Mom asks, her nad on her hip and eyebrow raised scepticly. "You look great by the way, where is Dad? You should go check he doesn't get something on his suit before we have to leave... I'll go shower now, bye." I manage to ramble up and run upstairs to get ready. Luck had it that Rosie had already got my clothes ready and waiting for me on the bed so I showered, got my hair ready, and got dressed just as a text came for me letting me know Derek was booked and taken care of. One more reason to party. ... "See, there was no reason for all that rushing. I had plenty of time to finish my meal." Dad said as we got out of the car at the Cromwell mention. It’s the perfect place for a wedding...grand, romantic, and more than enough to make an