Aurora's Point Of View "I want to see the full status tables for the Schaffner, Vitton, and Remington projects on my desk by twelve. You're also going to do a mock board presentation of the Xenon and Papadaskis account in the conference room by four. I do not have to remind you of the company's data analysis as well as the rebranding project...."I never thought he'd stop. For the past month, that had been his routine—Throwing in task after task my way, each more irritating than the last. Just as Mary told me, he made it his expedition to make my stay a living hell. I didn't even have a breathing space whether in the office or at home.But no matter what he threw my way, I faced it head-on and was sometimes ahead of it."Is there anything else, Sir?"As always, he looked me straight in the eye, trying to see if I would for once shrivel under his gaze or cower in fear like the other employees. But I didn't. I held his gaze with my chin up and shoulders high. He always had an intrigued
Aurora's Point Of View I arrived at the company, and immediately, I rushed in like a madwoman. I was an hour late for the presentation, and I couldn't curse Mr. Gomez enough for all the turmoil he had put me through.If he hadn't requested coffee in the city, everything would've gone smoothly. In my defense, that was all he ever wanted. He wanted to stress the living hell out of me and see me fall so he'd use that as an excuse to get rid of me.Inside the office, I frantically tried to gather my things while balancing the cups of coffee in my hand. I was disheveled, with my hair messy and my blouse wrinkled with coffee stains on it. That was all thanks to my ex-husband.Fumbling with my phone and laptop, I tried to pull up the mock board presentation I was supposed to present. I felt stressed and overwhelmed, knowing that I was late and unprepared. I had also kept the boss waiting.He wasn't in his office when I arrived, so I guessed he'd be waiting in the conference room. With that
Aurora's Point Of ViewEntering the police precinct, my heart raced, and my hands trembled. What had happened was shaking me to the core, and I couldn't shake it off. Since it wasn't the first time he tried to take advantage of me, I decided to file a report.The receptionist directed me to an officer who escorted me to a private room. "My name is Aurora Williams, I work at Gomez Enterprise."I narrated everything that happened, my voice trembling as I relived the experience. The officer took notes diligently, assuring me that they would take the report seriously. Relief washed over me, but fear lingered. What would happen next? As I headed back home, my mind raced with thoughts and emotions. I had just reported my boss and feared the consequences. What about my job? After everything, I doubted I'd keep it, and that left me worried about supporting myself and my family.Taking a deep breath, I alighted from the cab and started walking towards the front door. The house was quiet, indic
Aurora's Point Of ViewWorking in the coffee shop seemed more stressful than working for the obnoxious Mr. Gomez. I moved from table to table, taking orders and delivering them. There was no space to breathe or time to rest. I guess the only thing I'm grateful for here is the fact that there was no one here trying to sexually assault me. Though Mr. Mark keeps sending glances my way but thankfully, he hasn't approached me and I hope he doesn't. "Table five, Aurora!" Dori yelled and I quickly went to table five to take their order. I prayed fervently that the clock said 4p.m so I can clock out. But time was passing by so slowly that I began to wonder if the Moon goddess was testing my patience. After what seemed like forever, it was finally 4p.m. I clocked out and I went ahead to get my kids from school. They were so happy when they saw me. "Mummy!" They squealed happily, throwing themselves in my arms. "I thought Nana was coming." Eloise said. "Well I finished early from work so I
Ricardo's Point Of View"Come on, kids! We're gonna be late for school."Aurora yelled from inside and I took a deep breath, smoothing my tie - a nervous tic. I was not this apprehensive when I returned after running away from home for three months. I was sixteen then and my dad wasn't the most loving out there. I knew I would probably be beaten to death but I was not an ounce scared of what was waiting for me at the other side of the door but here I was, smoothening my tie nervously because I was about to face a woman. A mere woman. I glanced at my reflection in the glass window and nodded in approval. I had worn my best suit, and another pair of fine, expensive shoes made in Italy. I glanced at the bouquet in my hands. I picked roses because it reminded me of her rosy cheeks whenever she smiled. I had sent one over to her the previous day and the poor flower was lying beside her door, fucking withered and abandoned. It was probably a bad idea to bring another flower in person but
Eduardo's Point Of ViewThe atmosphere in the casino was electric, with the hum of conversation and the clink of glasses. The air was thick with the smell of expensive cologne and cigar smoke, as men and women gambled. They always had a talent for burying their problems underneath velvet tables in the casino while they pissed away their fortunes with ridiculous bets over the top of them.Inside the exclusive VIP lounge, I sat with a warm glass of whiskey in my hand. Usually, I would have been out with the others, enjoying the games and entertainment but I wasn't. And it was all because of a certain ex-wife. No matter how I tried, I couldn't seem to stop thinking about the flowers. About the possibility of her seeing someone else. I groaned at the thought and scoffed. So what if she was seeing someone else? What has that got to do with me? She can fuck around for all I care. It wasn't my business. "Looks like Mr. Alpha is lost in thoughts." On hearing the familiar voice, I furrowed
Serena's Point Of ViewI stirred and sighed softly, deluding to be asleep. Finally, he was back. I had waited for two and a half hours and it felt like ages. But I wasn't one to complain. Besides, I had always wanted to get inside his room, just to see the kind of world he shared with Aurora and to feel the kind of things they felt together. I finally got the chance and would never let it go to waste. I came to visit my mother-in-law to be this evening and like always, she assured me that her son would fall in love with me eventually. I told her I needed Eduardo to look at me differently and I kinda slipped it in that I would love to surprise him when he came. Fortunately, she suggested that I waited in his room and surprise Eduardo when he returned from work. "Serena," he called out and even though his voice was cold, I yearned for him to call my name again. On hearing his voice, I stirred again and forced myself to a sitting position. "You're back," I said, yawning. "And you'r
Aurora's Point Of ViewI looked at the flowers outside my door and sighed. They seemed to be increasing every day with lots of cards and gifts. My house looks like a fucking flower shop with the big bouquets of different flowers circling my house. At first, he stuck with just rose flowers but for the past week, he had decided to be dynamic and bring varieties. Aside from that, Mr. Gomez was now a regular and significant customer at the coffee shop. Whenever he stopped by, he bought coffee for everyone. He's been making Mr. Mark's day for the past week. Why couldn't he just leave me the hell alone? He wouldn't just accept defeat and let me breathe on peace. I thought the police would give him a restraining order after I reported him but they did nothing. He was too powerful to be touched, they said. Bunch of shitheads! They are being paid by our tax and they still kiss up to the rich assholes' asses. "Mummy, what are we going to do about the flowers?" Eloise asked as she played with
Aurora’s Point of ViewNana's birthday party was a success to say the least. She was so touched and she wouldn't stop saying thank you. Two days passed and things were back to usual. Eduardo called me in the morning to invite me to a coffee shop. He said we needed to talk. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me what he wanted to talk about. I knew instinctively. The coffee shop was warm and cozy, with the soft hum of chatter and the comforting smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. I sat across from Eduardo, stirring my latte absentmindedly, wondering why I felt so restless. We spoke about the usual things—work, the kids, even Nana’s party. The conversation flowed naturally, but I could sense an underlying tension. Eduardo’s expression shifted as he leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. “What’s next for us, Aurora?” he asked quietly, his eyes searching mine. I froze, unsure how to respond. “What do you mean?” I asked, stalling for time. He sighed, h
Aurora’s Point of ViewThree months had passed, and life had finally settled into a rhythm. My business wasn’t booming like some overnight success story, but it was steady. Profitable. Enough to keep me busy and give me a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in years.One of the unused rooms in the house had transformed into my work sanctuary. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with packaging supplies, raw materials, and finished products ready for shipment. My desk was cluttered but organized—a system that made sense to me, if no one else.It was fulfilling, but hard. Nana helped as much as she could, but she had her own responsibilities. Julie was swamped with work, and even Eduardo only came by occasionally. As for Ricardo, he’d been gone for a month on a project abroad.I told myself I didn’t think about him much. It was easier that way.But deep down, I missed him. The way he made me laugh when I was too tired to care about anything, how he believed in me even when I doubted myself. The
Aurora's Point Of View I shut the front door behind me, pressing my back against the cool wood as I tried to steady my breathing. My lips tingled, and my heart raced, but not from exertion. Ricardo’s kiss lingered in my mind, and no matter how much I tried to shake it off, the memory wouldn’t leave.“What are you doing, Aurora?” I whispered to myself, running a hand through my hair.The house was eerily quiet without Eloise and Dexter, who were already asleep. I’d hoped for a peaceful evening to focus on my work, but peace was the last thing I felt. I walked into the living room, my gaze landing on the vision board propped against the wall.It was filled with fragments of the life I wanted to build - pictures of smiling families, career aspirations, quotes about strength and independence. All of it was meant to guide me, to remind me of who I was becoming.But now, I felt adrift.***The days blurred into weeks.Between the kids, work on my new venture, and occasional check-ins with
Aurora's Point Of ViewThe afternoon stretched lazily into early evening as Ricardo and I worked at his dining table, the space cluttered with sticky notes, sketches of designs, and beads scattered across every available surface. My eyes burned from staring at my notes, and my fingers ached from stringing beads into different patterns. I leaned back in my chair with a groan, stretching my arms above my head. “I’m exhausted,” I admitted, dropping my hands to my lap. “If I see one more bead, I might scream.” Ricardo glanced at me, smirking as he shut his laptop. “You’re calling it quits already? We’re just getting started.” “Ricardo, I’ve been staring at beads for hours,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “I need a break.” He laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Fine, fine. How about we unwind a little? I’ve got some tequila in the kitchen.” I arched an eyebrow. “Tequila? You’re trying to kill me now?” “Only a little,” he teased, standing up. “I’ll grab the glasses. Stay put.” I got
Aurora's Point Of View It was Dexter’s idea, of course. My son had a way of bringing people together, even when the adults in his life were determined to stay in their separate corners. “You’ve been working too hard, Mom,” he’d said, his voice full of authority for a five-year-old. “We need a day for all of us. Me, Ellie, you, and Dad. And Uncle Ricardo can come too! My friend said her mama and daddy go out together all the time!"At first, I balked at the idea. Spending a whole day with Eduardo, Ricardo, and the kids in the same space? It sounded like a recipe for awkwardness. But Dexter was insistent, and when Eloise chimed in with a quiet, “It could be nice, Mom,” I caved. So, here we were, standing in the middle of the city park on a sunny Saturday, my nerves jangling as Eduardo unloaded a picnic basket from the back of his car. Ricardo stood a few feet away, holding a soccer ball and trying to coax Dexter into teaching him “the rules of football.” “Uncle Ricardo is being emba
Aurora's Point Of View The sun filtered through my window as I sat at my desk, notebook open and pen in hand. The page stared back at me, blank as always. I sighed, resting my chin on my hand. I had been at this for weeks - trying to figure out what I liked, what I wanted, who I was outside of Eduardo and everything else. The buzz of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen to see Ricardo’s message: “Morning, explorer. Time for your next adventure. Dress comfy—I’m picking you up in an hour.”I smiled despite myself. Ricardo had a way of dragging me out of my head and into the world. “Where are we going this time?” I texted back. “You’ll see. Trust me.”***An hour later, Ricardo pulled up outside my house, his car as loud and attention-grabbing as his personality. I slid into the passenger seat, eyeing the mischievous grin on his face. “You’re going to love this one,” he said, shifting the car into drive. “Is it another cooking class?” I asked, trying to gu
The morning sunlight poured softly through the curtains, painting streaks of gold on the walls. I sat on the couch with my coffee, my notebook open on my lap. The pages were a chaotic mix of scribbled ideas, crossed-out plans, and even a few doodles from Eloise. Progress, I told myself, even if it felt painfully slow. The sound of small footsteps echoed down the hallway, pulling me from my thoughts. A second later, Dexter appeared in his pajamas, his hair sticking up like he’d been wrestling with his pillow all night. It was Saturday so I get to spend the whole day with my babies today. “Good morning, Mommy,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he climbed onto the couch beside me. “Good morning, love.” I kissed his messy curls and set my coffee down. “Where’s Eloise?” I asked, wrapping my arm around his small frame. “She’s still sleeping,” Dexter said, snuggling closer. I smiled, resting my chin lightly on his head. Moments like these felt like an anchor, grounding me in t
Aurora's Point Of ViewRicardo turned sharply when I called out his name, his dark brows raising in surprise. “Yeah?” For a moment, I froze, the weight of my impulsive request catching up to me. My mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, I stared at him, my mind running wild with the thought of what I had *wanted* to say. “Did you say something?” Ricardo asked, his voice pulling me out of my stupor. He snapped his fingers lightly, a teasing gesture meant to catch my attention. “I...” My voice faltered, and I quickly shook my head. “No, nothing.” He frowned, studying me for a moment as if he could see through my half-hearted denial. “You sure? You looked like you wanted to say something.” I felt my cheeks heat up under his gaze. *I thought I said it out loud,* I realized, my heart pounding at the sheer embarrassment of it all. “No, really,” I insisted, forcing a tight smile. “I was just... I thought I heard something, but it’s nothing. You should go.” Ricardo didn’t look c
Aurora's Point Of ViewThe café was quieter than usual, the muted hum of soft jazz filling the background. I sat by the window, tracing patterns on the condensation that formed on my coffee cup. I’d been staring at Eduardo’s text for hours, my thumb hovering over my phone, unsure of whether I was ready for this conversation. "I’m sorry. I want to talk." His words were simple, but the weight they carried felt suffocating.After much thought and deliberation, I had agreed to meet him. But now, sitting in the quiet of the cafe, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face him... really face him. I glanced at my wristwatch - thirty minutes past five. He said to meet here at 5.30. The door opened with a soft jingle, and Eduardo stepped in. His eyes scanned the room before locking onto mine. There was a look of hesitation on his face, something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Maybe it was guilt, maybe it was regret... either way, it made my stomach twist.He approached slowly, like he wasn’t sure wh