It was some minutes to 4 am, and I was laying on my bed, thinking of how my life has come to be. Today was the set to be the wedding, but I could not say for sure if I was ready for it or not. I had been so sleepless that I have been rolling on my bed since the night before.Ever since the argument with Grandma Maggie and I had asked her to leave the house, I had been feeling bad since. I believed she would not leave the house, and I hoped she did not. I only used that as a threat so she could tell my father to leave, but I hoped she got the cue.I sighed as my mind drifted to the fight I had with Susie the night before when she stormed into my room.Flashback."Dang!" Susie exclaimed as she hit her palm on my room door and it went ajar. I eyed her from my bed, giving her a face that was asking her what was the meaning of what she had just done. She walked further inside without closing the door behind her.Susie was fond of coming into my room and not closing the door, despite her me
"Hello? Hello, lady? Are you okay?" I could hear the faint voices from my phone, coming from the guy from the other side of the phone. He must have heard me scream and was probably worried about me, but I was too shocked to pick up the phone and reply to him."Oh my God, oh my God," I kept on saying to myself as I recalled what the guy had just told me. Where was she traveling to that time of the night anyway? She was not actually leaving the house because I said she should, was she?My door went ajar and Susie and the lady maid rushed in, followed by Zach. As I turned on my bed to look at them, I wondered why they all came into my room without knocking. Only then did I recall how loud I had shouted some minutes back."What happened, ma'am?" The lady maid asked as she rushed to meet me. She was the first of them to speak."Why did you scream, Hailey? Is everything okay?" Zach followed, as he walked to the front of my bed, a look of sincere concern on his face.Susie on the other hand
I was expecting an uproar from them all, and I was not surprised when I got it."Are you nuts?" Brenda asked immediately. Sometimes, I wonder if this woman has no human feelings, because ever since I got to their house, she has never been nice to me aside from the time she was to appear in front of the media and she faked it all. "Today is your wedding, Hailey, and you want to go see your grandma?""Is the wedding more important than her grandmother? The woman that brought her up to what she is today?" Susie asked and scoffed. "Many times you act like you have no human feelings, and I am not surprised as to why your son is not any different from you. That is why he carries women here and there and plays them too.""What the fuck, Susie?" Xavier asked, as he dropped the fork he was using to eat on his plate and turned to face her. "What is your problem with me, young lady?""Everything is my problem with you, young man. You and your mother treat my best friend like dirt! And she is her
"Language, Duncan.""Your grandma is dead? What the hell happened?! And how did you know? Are you back here?" He asked on and on."Just quit with the questions and let me speak.""Okay?""I received a call earlier this morning, and I was told she was involved in a car accident while travelling to a nearby town. Since no one is around to claim her body, this is where you come in. I need your help." I finished and sighed."Uhm, okay?""Could you please go to the hospital for me and just let them know she is your relation or something. And whatever procedure they tell you to do, just do it and when I'm back, I'll take it from there." I said, which sounded more like I was pleading with him.And yes, I was."Alright."I was not expecting that. I did not expect him to agree that easily, but I was not going to tell him that, so he would not change his mind."Thank you." I simply said. "Oh, and yes," I started as I remembered something else. "I will ask the person that called me to inform me
I kissed him back. I wanted this so badly at the time, and even though it was not from the right person, I let him do it anyway, and I enjoyed it while it lasted.He then traced his hands on my face as he pushed my hair behind my face. Then, I looked him in the eyes and almost immediately, he locked lips with me again. It came as a shock to me at first, so I immediately pulled out of the kiss to stare at him."What?" He asked. "Are you—" And without waiting for him to finish his sentence, I locked my lips on his again as we began to devour each other.We both immediately shut our eyes as we felt the softness of each other's lips. We pressed our foreheads against each other as our lips moved in sync, our tongues taking action in the process.Xavier gave out a soft moan with his hoarse voice as I raised my hand to the back of his neck, then sliding it slowly into his hair.He bit my upper lip and I moaned out his name. Then, his lips travelled down my neck from my lips and his height di
"Hailey!" That was the umpteenth time I zoned out today at this particular spot, and here again I was, with someone calling me back to life.I blinked angrily, as I widened my eyes in panic mode, taking in my surroundings once again. I had been pulled out of my thoughts by my groom, Xavier.He was the one that shouted my name earlier. My eyes stared at the man dressed in a white tuxedo and I swallowed, taking my eyes off him again to look around.We were in the church already, and standing in front of the altar before us—me and my handsome groom—was a priest. There was a crowd in the audience, and many of them were staring at me. I could have sworn that some were glaring at me with murder in their eyes.Why? I was getting married to the man of their dreams. I was sure if they were given guns or daggers, they would not hesitate to have me dead at any opportunity possible. But little did they know that even I was not happy about this thing we were doing, calling it a wedding."Hailey, a
The after party was held at a different venue. But before that, I was to go back to the hotel they rented for us, and get changed from the white floral wedding dress to the one they prepared for the after party.Xavier has also left the church, but in another car. Susie was the only one with me since she was my best lady for that day and she was to be with me all through to assist and for other reasons.The maid lady was at the hotel already, so she would be the one helping me get dressed and prepare for the after-party.The limousine that drove us was quiet as the driver drove it. Just Susie and I were inside, together with the driver in the front, who was minding his business as he drove. Susie on the other hand was with her phone, her earphones in her ears.No one needed to tell me that this was the right time to speak to her and apologize if I was going to. But I thought of all possible ways to start the conversation, and I just could not figure out the best way to. I just sat the
Again, Susie and I couldn't finish our discussion before we had to hurriedly dress up and prepare for the after party.The ride back was also quiet, because this time, she had her earphones on and was listening to music with them. I just sat there thinking of how much my life was falling apart. When we arrived there, Xavier was already waiting for us outside."And why did you not go in?" I asked him after he complained of us arriving late. He went further to tell me that he regretted not having the phone numbers of either of us, so he had to wait and keep watching the gates till he sighted the limousine."Weddings after parties don't work like that, dummy!" He snapped and dragged my hand, which came to me unexpectedly and we rushed to the front of the hall."Could you hold me more gently!" I snapped, but did tried as much to make sure he was the only one that heard that.The media and several reporters were present at the venue, and the clicks of their cameras at us showed they were
"Aww you look so beautiful," Laura commented, dabbing her eyes with a napkin as she pretended to cry. I laughed and twirled in my Cinderella wedding dress, feeling every bit like a Princess.Susie pouted, sitting on my bed and rolling her eyes. It had been a month since Xavier had dropped in on my launch day. We were finally getting married. A real marriage. I was super excited. Finally, Xavier and I would be together without the influence of the people or his mother. It was thrilling. It seemed that I was finally having my dream life. And it had been a long time coming. After all the betrayal, hurt, heartbreak and pain I had to endure. I deserved this. I deserved a happily ever after. And I was going to cling onto it forever. Susie however seemed less excited than I did. Which was quite understandable. "Aww, are you still sad that I'll be going for the honeymoon?" I teased and she huffed at my words. "Do you guys have to go that far? Who's going to do the accounts? You know numb
"When will you go to the Cafe?" He asked, his hands still doing crazy things on my skin. "Uhm... In an hour." I murmured sliding my hands under my breasts to prop them up further into his touch. "We've got time." He said, capturing my lips again, this time for an even deeper kiss. He tasted familiar. His kisses were hot and filled with so much passion, I thought I would combust. Hanging on to him tightly, I moaned as he slipped his tongue into mine, stroking and clashing with mine several times. "I need you," I whispered between kisses as we broke apart to catch our breaths at intervals. "We can't go too far baby," he hummed, lifting me up by the waist until my legs were wrapped around his. Striding towards my bed, he lowered himself to the bed, sitting with me on his lap. "Why not?" I protested, taking hold of my shirt and dragging it off. Xavier's breath hitched at the sight of my babies encased in a lacy black bra. "Oh Hailey," he murmured, unclipping the underwear behind m
"What?" I exclaimed, trying to wrap my head around what was happening right in front of me. Xavier smiled, his hands covered mine and he held them between us, holding my eyes. "I love you," He said again. "I don't want to let you go. I cannot do so. I tried this past month," he chuckled. "Let's just say more women would love my head on a pike right now." "But you... You always... You never..." I was a rambling mess at this point.His smile turned sad. "I know." He kissed my hands gently. "And I'll spend every day of my life making atonement for all I have said and done to you Hailey, only if you allow me to." "We're not married anymore. You don't have to do this to pacify me-""Technically, we are still married. I haven't divorced you yet." He grinned. "I could divorce you." Xavier chuckled and pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me. "And then I'll marry you all over again." "Don't get cocky. I haven't said yes." I snapped, sinking into the warmth of his body despit
Without hesitation, I pushed the door open and stormed in. The scene before me was a surprised Xavier, lying on his bed with his hand wrapped around his junk. Holy smokes.My cheeks flamed up and I murmured a quick "Sorry," before turning to run out of the room. "Close the door Hailey," came his calm voice before I could slip out. "I'm covered, you can look now." Ashamed of my thoughts and actions, because who barges into someone's privacy thinking horrid things about them, I turned around slowly. "I'm sorry," I grumbled. "I heard sounds, I thought..." That you were balls deep in some woman? Bah, if I said that, he would probably laugh his head off."You thought?" Xavier urged, rising suddenly and I yelped in surprise. "I won't cover up if you don't tell me what you thought, Hailey." The deep timbre of his voice when he called my name had my thighs clenching with need. He was just a few meters away from me. Unclad. We were alone. The realization came with torrents of desire fl
Whatever it was that the two men had said to each other, nobody knew. And I doubted anyone would ever know. All we knew was Walter threw a punch at Xavier and even though he had been able to dodge it in time, there was no way Xavier Lowell would let it slide. He threw one at Walter's jaw in return. And a brawl broke out. "Oh shit," Susie cussed. "I'm guessing that means we can go out now," I murmured and raced out of the cafe. "Stop it right now!" The men, however, pig heads that they were, continued fighting as if I wasn't screaming my guts out, running from the other side of the road. "Stop it right now!" I yelled again when I reached them, trying to pry Xavier from pounding Walter's head to bits. "Xavier! Xavier stop it! Please!" But something had possessed Xavier and it seemed it wouldn't let go. For someone who had always cared what the people would think, he was acting quite recklessly. I latched onto his arm, tugging at it. "You're causing a scene!"That got him to let go
My world turned upside down and for a minute I just stared at him confused about how to react. Did he need me? What the hell was happening at the moment?! It better not be a prank. Fuck it, prank or not, I had work to do and he had to get out of here. So instead of swooning and falling at his feet, I opted for a second option.I laughed and shook my head. "Okay, seriously, why are you here?" Hurt slashed across his face and I was taken aback. I had never seen him look so vulnerable before and it was unsettling. He's pretending. A voice in my head whispered. You know he is. I knew. I did. But that didn't make me feel any better. Why would he need to pretend? "I..." A shadow fell on his face and he shook his head. The vulnerable look in his eyes was gone and replaced with the amused expression he always wore around me. I wasn't sure which one made me hurt worse.Taking a few steps back, he surveyed the kitchen and clasped his hands behind his back. "I just wanted to see. The news
"Sir!" I hissed, not wanting to yell because I didn't want to call people's attention to us. One paparazzi was already too much to handle. If all of them came to the counter, my first launch day would all be in the mud. The man in the hoodie stopped trying to get in through the side door. And then he lifted his head, staring me in the face with familiar dark blue eyes that grazed my entire body and sent me into freeze mode. "Xavier," I whispered, blinking rapidly to be sure he wasn't an apparition. Xavier stood before me, dressed in a hoodie and cargo pants. The last clothing I would ever imagine he would wear in public. It seemed he didn't want people to recognize him. "Let me in Hailey." He murmured. Susie gasped behind me when she heard his voice and shook her head. "Don't you dare! Go fuck yourself, Xavier." He ignored her, his eyes holding mine and sending my brain into overdrive. What was he doing here? He was not supposed to be anywhere near me! He was supposed to be in V
I eyed the crowd that had formed outside the cafe from the glass walls warily glanced back at Susie and mouthed "Oh my God." We stood in the cafe, setting the tables and getting ready for the launch which was in twelve minutes! To say I was nervous was an understatement. This was a huge deal for me. For Laura and Susie too. And it did not help that ever since I had stepped out of the house without the blonde wig, half the people we met on the road recognized me. One of them must have tipped off the paparazzi because that would explain how there were so many people with cameras and recorders, eagerly waiting. "I'm screwed," I told Susie and she shrugged beside me. "You knew this would happen." She said, I glared at her. "That doesn't mean I can't be nervous about it! Everyone will have questions! I can't handle a crowd that big!" She grinned and slid an arm over my shoulders. "You're not alone, woman. We got you. Look and you got Walter too." I looked in the direction she was tip
It was barely morning when I stumbled into Susie's car, my face stricken with tears. The sun had just begun to rise, lighting up the sky slowly. I slammed the door close and thankfully, Susie asked no questions. She simply drove out of Xavier's townhouse and sped down the road. Placing a hand over my mouth, I sobbed furiously, my head leaning against the window. It wasn't supposed to hurt so much. Leaving him finally. It wasn't supposed to feel like a part of me had been torn away and left behind with the many miles that increased between us. I closed my eyes as I recalled when I had woken up. It was my phone ringing somewhere in the house. I hadn't the slightest clue where I was at first but Xavier's peaceful snores and his heavy arm around me reminded me quickly. It had taken quite a while to slip away from the bed without awakening him and at first, I hadn't even been able to walk properly. Even now as I sat in the car, I was so sore. The caller had been Susie. We had planned th