As Cole drove back to the hotel, I was the one silently staring outside the window as tiny strands of my hair escaped from the hair scrunchie and blew fiercely.My head was filled with a lot of thoughts, from the near kiss at the arcade to seeing those two together but only one stood out and constantly rang in my brain: Everything had been planned. My first instinct when we finally separated from the others was to tell Cole about what I had seen, but when he started to drive off, my mouth suddenly clamped shut.I was torn between bursting into a loud scream and feeling relieved, but when my eyes became misty and threatened to leak out tears, I hastily rubbed at them and batted my eyelashes furiously.Dave was not worthy of my tears.I began to reminisce on how it all happened, meeting him at the library by 'chance' and to think Kiera had arrived two days later with her baby. The both of them took advantage of the fact that Cole once had a sexual relationship with her, and used it to a
The first thing I saw when my eyes blinked open were small ripples forming in the blue water outside the window. I blinked my eyes again and instantly sat up to look around me. I remembered falling asleep on the couch as I waited for Cole to finish talking with his security team but here I was, in the room alone by morning.There was no sign that Cole slept in the room or that he was even in the suite, but the bedroom door was open so I wore the fuzzy slippers that the hotel had given us on our first day here and padded int the sitting room.I saw Cole sitting down on the couch, his head bent over it as he snored softly so I quietly walked over to him. His hands were splayed across the head of the couch and his eyes were slightly open, and I felt tempted to take a picture of him. Luckily, my phone was in my pyjamas so I quickly took a photo of him, smiling quietly as his mouth opened slightly.After that, I walked back into the room to freshen up and by the time I was done, Cole was a
While Cole filled in his security team on the next step, I got dressed for an outing with him. He was quite ecstatic about getting rid of Kiera so he offered for us to go out and celebrate. Where we were going, I did not know, but as long as there was food and a bit of fun, count me in.I quickly messaged Kath about the latest update and she responded immediately to congratulate us on the near victory, but a small part of me could not but feel skeptical. What if they realized what we were onto, and they outsmarted us? I shared this fear with her and she used a voice note to try to assure me that everything would turn out okay.I accepted her advice and looked at myself one more time in the mirror. My dark hair was free today and the natural waves cascaded down my back, complimenting the blue summer dress I was putting on. Large sunglasses were on the top of my head, just behind my centre bangs and I smiled at my reflection and instantly took a picture.As I started to do a video, Cole
Cole brought us to a small dock where a single medium-sized boat stood waiting for us as well as a captain who slightly doffed his hat when he saw us approaching.Before I could ask what was happening, Cole stepped into the boat and held out a hand to me. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me into it, as the captain started the engine and soon, we sped away from the land and into the blue water seemingly leading nowhere in particular.I briefly watched as a guy dressed in uniform came to whisper quietly to Cole before disappearing down into what I presumed was the kitchen area or something. I gave Cole a curious glance but he just put a hand for me to wait so I looked arounf us as the boat moved slowly across the water.Tiny strips of land surrounded us, with most of them having water bungalows on top of them which were occupied by people, while the other smaller parts of land were covered with thick trees and shrubs. Subconsciously I twirled around with my eyes wide open, as I stared a
I looked up at him in shock and dropped my plate. "What do you mean by that?"He turned over to look at me. "Liza, I didn't just pick you randomly, or because I had no other option. It was a calculated decision," he explained shortly but I folded my arms and sat forward on the chair, prompting him to continue.He took another gulp out of the bottle and continued, "I wanted someone who could make me look good, and be ready for a no strings attached relationship and that wasn't you but..I also needed a person who wouldn't talk, and to make sure, I put a price you couldn't refuse. You want the money too much." He chuckled and sat down on the couch again, grinning to himself.I angrily grabbed the bottle from his hands and this time, he did not stop me. I was tempted to take a swig of the wine, which I now knew was alcoholic, but a part of me also felt like pouring it on his head. But I needed to hear something first, so I leaned towards him and asked."Why could I not make you look good
The ride back to the hotel was quiet and Cole and I just stared out of our individual windows. One time, I saw the driver looking at us with a curious expession before he caught my eyes in the mirror and quickly looked away. I did not blame the man though, we had seemed so chatty on the way to the the docks and he had even been smiling at our jokes. But oh well…Immediately we got to the hotel, both of us silently separated into our individual rooms and instantly, I fell on the bed as my eyes became misty with tears. This time, I sniffed loudly and allowed them to fall down my cheek even as I tried to figure out why I was crying.I should not have been surprised with what Cole said, neither should I have expected more. A guy like him did not fall for a girl like me, maybe in movies but in real life, no matter the circumstances surrounding them–men like Cole only went for educated, sexy women who would look good beside him.I walked over to the full length mirror and stared at my image
My ears perked up at his announcement and when he walked into my room, I went to stand beside him."How?" I asked and he played an audio clip from his security head for me to listen to. Apparently, after Cole suggested our plans to them, they planted an audio chip in a package and sent it to their flat, under the guise of winning at an event. Fortunately, Dave and Kiera believed the ploy and after some moments, someone in Cole's team made a fake call to her claiming to be me.After that, it was easy to get the evidence since both of them had launched into a full blown topic about us which had been recorded and sent straight to Cole's email. I bounced my legs in delight, eager to move past the both of them but more about anything, I wanted to know what those criminals said about me."I want to hear what they said about me...us." The statement tumbled out of my lips, before I realized that Cole would also be listening to whatever they said about me too. But no matter, I would still be l
We arrived at the apartment complex under thirty minutes, and the first thing hat irked me about the place was the musty smell that surrounded it. For such an averagely maintained building, the surroundings were very demeaning with candy wraps scattered around and stale wraps of food on the sides of the building.Cole put a handkerchief to his nose and albeit reluctantly, we stepped out of the car with his security team right behind us. They were all expecting a confrontation, and though I guessed it would not come to the use of force, I was glad that they were with us.We walked closer towards the building and saw a woman sitting at one corner of it. She was clothed in what looked like a hospital gown while three small children lay on a mat beside her, and when she noticed us, she stretched out a blackened hand and I froze.I dipped a hand into my purse to offer her some money, but Cole held my hand and shook his head as he motioned to one of his men. The guy brought out a few dollar
Eliza's PovMonths had passed since that fateful night, a night filled with terror and despair, but also with courage and resilience. Our lives had been forever changed by the events that unfolded, and yet, somehow, we found a way to heal and move forward.Evelyn was locked away in a high-security facility, paying for her crimes. The legal battle that followed was arduous, but justice prevailed, and we were able to gain custody of the children. Riel and the twins, Mia and Liam, went through a difficult period of adjustment, but with the love and support of our family, they began to heal.As for Cole and me, our bond grew stronger through the trials we faced together. We learned to lean on each other and trust in the power of our love. The scars of that night were a constant reminder of our strength and resilience. We vowed to protect our family at all costs and cherish every moment we had together.In the aftermath, we sought therapy to help us navigate the emotional trauma we had end
ELIZABETH The phone rang.I turned and tossed as I was the only one awake at the moment, with Cole snoring peacefully close to where I was.He needed it. He had been a good boy doing all the work all night long, I groaned as I got out of bed making my way all naked to where the phone of the cabin."Can you pick that up please." Cole grunted in his sleep.Last night had been a hell of a night, and we've done several things all night till daybreak. It all started with the couples bonfire night —As the last day's event , guess we had too much of the local brewed drink of the South Africans.Could it be termed as?Reconciliation sex? It was far more than that.It was the One month of getting back together with Cole and all we've done during those times was literally fuck all day.We were like new couples who couldn't take our eyes and urge off each other.It was all we did more so it was the reason why we had taken the trip.Olivia had been there first to look at it then had sent the lin
COLE.THE best decision I had ever made in my life was getting rid of Evelyn and that of course was after the Dna test came out negative.Guess Eliza was shocked when my doctor gave out the evidence, I was not the father of Sarah but in a way I felt concern for her well-being.Just like Adrian who was sitting close to Eliza and been in Riel life.I had been jealous for a while seeing them together but then I had taken my mind off it by looking at the face of the judge.It was all going in my favor, there was maids and guards all there to tell the court of how Evelyn had been toxic all this while.All of a sudden, it became a two-way case with me battling for the custody of two children.An Alpha man in every sense…It was funny that Evelyn was only starting to love her child after she found out that she has a part of my finances willed to her name but that had been a trap at my end.Women like Evelyn deserved to be in rehabilitation or even worse hell."Is that all or there are still
ELIZABETHGoosebumps…It was a day to the trial and that seemed to be what took over all or most of my mind, I didn't know how to deal with all of the pressure.Work that week had been hectic, yet at the same time it had been distracting enough that it kept me afloat all this while, it had been the main reason I had not wallowed In what could be the decision made by the court.The wind found its way past my body feeling it with smoothness but left my soul bare, dark and inexpressive.I was out at the mall, smiling at the door man that held the door while I stood looking past the opened door with two bags in my head.As my gaze shifted to the second car, a convertible, where a tall, handsome man was alighting, dressed in rolled up top and faded jeans. I reeled back in shock as he turned towards where I was with Cole slipping out of my lips silently.Disbelief fought with unmistakable recognition, I was barely ten minutes from my house and of all the malls in the whole of the city, h
ELIZABETHWe were always in pursuit of perfection and after getting it all, what else?The need for Perfection was by far the greatest flaw of any man and I found myself succumbing to the same fate.I have gotten the revenge I had spent the last five years of my life looking for but still had no satisfaction—It was all like vanity.To make matters worse Riel had incessantly been talking about his father, in a way it seemed like the two had a bond I couldn't quite describe almost as though they were meant to be with each other all this long while.It was the main reason I had moved out of the hotel and gotten a place, I couldn't just live a life where I kept looking over my shoulders if Cole would pop in anytime and demand for his child.Suddenly, it was starting to look like the game had turned against me and I was the one at the end of everything all, I was the one that was mocked by fate.Over the next few weeks, I worked very hard at blocking Cole out of my consciousness, and
ELIZABETH.It calls for celebration right?The thought of how Cole would feel hearing that I had taken this from him at the last moment brought a smirk to my face.It took me five years, five good years and finally I could say that I had gotten a revenge that was worthwhile.He had rang them in my presence and they had given him the news.A part of me felt a kind of sympathy for the man that had been my husband and who was definitely the father of my child but soon the expression and sick feeling gave room for the grudges I had against him.I was half home and was giving Evelyn the gossip of how everything went when she informed me that she was no longer at the suite but was now at her place.Apparently, she got a call from the office and since she couldn't leave him behind she had gone with him to her place."Why do I have a feeling you just want to see me?" I asked.She scoffed ." Just get your ass here."Change of plans…I thought to myself as I turned the car three-sixty degrees a
COLE "What!"My car came to an abrupt stop on the road, I thought I was done hearing bad news and this popped up out of nowhere.I couldn't think about the possibility of this happening,I couldn't think about me losing the deal and if it was happening that way it was starting to look like Karma was all out to get me.I swerved my car in a complete U turn and headed straight back for the company driving crazilyStill running the thought in my mind, In a way it was hard to believe everything he was telling me, as I couldn't quite place it around my mind.The more I thought about it, the more I saw reasons not to.I rang the company while driving through the highway like quite an insane person. The only memories that kept going through my mind were two.The first had something to do with getting there as fast as I could and the other was a warning thought about how fast I was driving.This shouldn't even be happening, I had outbidded the least person by a whole lot.They picked after r
ELIZABETHImagine the shock.I stood there looking at the prospective bidders and there — Right there was Cole's name.A smirk crawled across so fast as the speed of light, you wouldn't have caught a glimpse of it if you didn't look.One thing I have gotten to know about my Ex husband was he went for only deals that were deemed necessary and important. If he was going for this it meant it was quite as important.It could mean only one thing…The thought of the implications passed through my mind.There was a need for me to know, a need for me to know how important this was to me."Do you have any idea of how important this deal would be to him?" I turned to Annabelle—My lawyer."You mean you don't know?" She looked at me puzzled.The look she gave me was as though I didn't know what was going on …What looked to be trending.If it was, it got me wondering Olivia didn't mention it to me-"Know what?" I looked at her expressing the same emotions that was right they're still on her face.
ELIZABETH There was only one way to explain how blissful a home is and the truth is there was nothing like home?Could there have been anything more?Certainly not as the best part of any entity was getting back home after staying away for so long.No matter how one looked at it… it turned out to be that home is where the heart is .That was the case with my mind all through the trip back home to start. I didn't know what to expect when I got home, whether good or bad.Five years had not been a short while and it was easy to see that a lot had changed during those long while.All through this while I had been far away from home and had probably missed the concept of what a good home could be but the moment my plane landed in the track I could see everything again.The probabilities were high and I could tell everything from the moment we walked through the airport hallway pulling out bags.From a frantic Riel excited to have a feel of the city to myself that didn't know how to take