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That possessive psycho! Elizabeth huffed in indignation as she added the chunks of the cut up bistecca alla fiorentina on top of the rice and tomato sauce in the flask. Sprinkling parsley on it, she left it open and hurried for her room. She was going to be late if she didn't get a move on it. The subway waited for no man! Taking one last look at her white silk shirt tucked into her black, straight skirt in the mirror, she quickly threw on her light brown chesterfield coat and leopard print heels, then picked up her bag and hurried back to the kitchen. Covering the flask and gently placing it in a tote bag, she put in a tissue wrapped plastic spoon and retrieved the bottle of orange juice from the fridge, then turned off the lights and headed out the door, hastily locking it behind her. She powered down the stairs and was on the road in record time. She was about to turn down the corner when she heard,"Excuse me?"She turned and found a man with salt and pepper hair smiling at her.
She was curled up on the couch, sobbing into her large sweater with eyes trained on the tv when a knock came. Why couldn't everybody leave her alone?! She planned on ignoring it till whomever it was went away, but the thought of it being either Sherlie or Colby caused her to get off the couch and reluctantly trudge to the door. She pulled it open and came face to face with a chest. Not Sherlie. She rose her head and saw his ocean blue eyes. Not Colby, either. She watched his brows furrow in concern and drew her lower lip into her mouth. The mood changes that came with her monthly cycle was an instrument of shame, that was for sure. There she stood, fighting off a torrent of tears for something she wouldn't have thought of for more than a few minutes on a normal day. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?" Why did he sound so gentle? He was more than fine with making her feel low a few hours ago. "Nothing," she bit out, not meaning to sound so snarky, but also proud that she didn't sound shaky.H
"You know Christ?""I do.""Who helped him carry the cross?""A man called Simon. Simon of Cyrene.""Who is our savior?""Jesus Christ.""He is the almighty, yes?""Yes.""But even he needed help... Because he was made flesh. Flesh cannot survive on its own. When you pray to God to assist you, he answers and sends you help in the form of man. I needed help when I lost my Benjamin. I refused it, but I needed it. I drowned in guilt. I thought I had robbed my family of a very much loved child, and I drowned in guilt again because I knew that my state of guilt was killing my husband and Brandon. After so long, I felt like I needed to do something right. I needed to come out of that stupor. For my family. For me. And to do that, I had to accept their help. For every time Brandon sat with me and I accepted my child's shoulder, he was helping me see what my guilt didn't let me see... I saw that my family still needed me. Someone as guilty as me. The least I could do was step up. For everytim
"Yeah. I've been keeping her company, that's it. She was only in my bed yesterday because after the gala we attended together, I decided to crash at a hotel and she followed. When she knocked on my door with red eyes and a wet face and begged to sleep with me, I agreed. I was only offering whatever comfort I could. I was only woken up by Beth's call. Nothing in-between.""Nothing happened?" Sherlie asked after a long minute of silence."Nothing happened."With how strong, unwavering and calm he sounded, he gave off an air of sincerity. But..."Brandon, if you are lying to me...""Sherlie, If Megan and I were having sex, I won't lie about it. I won't lie about sex."She knew that was true. Brandon wasn't loudmouthed about such things, but he didn't hide it, either. "That's sex. Have you ever kissed her? I know that Beth and you are not together anymore, but-""Sherlie, as far as I am concerned, Elizabeth is my woman. Elizabeth. Not Megan, not anyone else. Elizabeth.""But you said tha
Byron suddenly clapped and jumped off his chair. "I knew it! No one knows my old boy better, I tell ya!" He hollered to whomever bothered to listen. Returning back into his chair to meet the amused face of Brandon, he let out a calming breath and confessed,"I never thought I'd see the day.""What day?""The day a woman humbled you.""And you know i'm humbled, how?""The fact that you were already delivering a heavy speech earlier on what she is, what she isn't and what I should and shouldn't regard her as isn't reason enough?"Brandon rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, you have made your point. Anything else?""Brand?" Brandon caught the gleam in Byron's eyes. The one that spoke of numerous years of experience. "Yes, dad?" "Nothing good comes easy. Remember that."Brandon nodded once, holding eye contact with his father. "I will.""Whatever ride life takes you on... Enjoy it while it lasts, but never let go of what really matters. You have made me so proud, Brandon Oscar Wade. So proud
"Oh." Her head fell back against his chest and she didn't fight it, and neither did he. His hand continued patting her back like she was his child."He was such an energetic kid. Always wanting to be where the action was, even though he was as shy as they came."That caught her attention. She looked up at him, gobsmacked."Brandon was shy?"She watched him nod, a nostalgic smile on his face. "He was." He then looked down at her. "Is he still shy?"Having not expected that question, Beth blinked, startled. "Uhm... I- I don't know, Byron. He's your child.""He's your man."Her eyelids fluttered. A telltale smug smile lined his lips before he turned his head back to the sky. She rose an affronted and amused brow. He had just wanted to see her shaken, hadn't he?"He broke out of his shy phase when he was fifteen. He is still a bit reserved, though."Beth's head was moving up and down in agreement before she even knew it. "How he broke out of it, it was in the funniest way.""How?" She co
Beth woke up to the blaring of her phone. As the events of a few hours ago barraged into her mind, she hurried for her phone and answered. "Hello?" "His family wants to press charges. They claim assault," Frederico's voice hit her ears. Her heart jumped. "Assault? What?! He assaulted me!" "That's why the Wades are fighting back." "Oh my goodness." She ran shaky hands down her face. "Frederico, he touched me inappropriately. I didn't do anything wrong by defending myself, did I?" "No, but his family has power. But, so does Brandon." Her heart stilled. "Does he know?" Her voice came out in a whisper. "Turn on the tv," was all Frederico said. With dread licking at her heels, she dashed out of her room, her eyes quickly scanning over Sherlie's, Brian's and Colby's pensive faces before turning the the tv. Her face was pasted all over it. The news of what had happened at the function was what was being broadcasted. 'It has been reported that Benedict Rutherford, son of the owner o
Elizabeth blinked and blinked again."What?"She felt like there was a haze over her eyes. "I-is it because I haven't been to work in a long time? You told me to stay till the heat died down and-""Elizabeth, it's not that--""-and you even refused to have me work from home. I don't get-- what did I do?""Nothing." She watched him fully turn to face her and for the first time, saw regret flash through his eyes. "You didn't do anything.""So?!" She bit out, desperate for an answer. Lola whined from behind Beth's room door. "What, then? What happened?""I just--""Business happened." Beth's wide eyes flew to the intruder and she frowned, confused and suddenly feeling cornered. Her eyes darted between them. When the alarm bells in her head went from ringing to clanging, she rose slowly."Why are you here, Valentina?" Caldwell growled, his voice carrying hints of subdued anger. With an oh so confident smirk on her face, Valentina Williams slowly spun around in a circle, eyes examining