ALEX The conversation I had with the private investigator made me feel a little at ease. With what he had and what he was going to find, I was sure it would be complete and would ruin Sofia's boss. It would teach him some valuable lessons not to mess with people again. You never know who's the right people and the wrong people.Now, he messed with the wrong people and it was time to show him who is the boss. I plan to see him rot in jail. To see him lose all he ever accumulated in the wrong ways.I don't intend to allow him to spend perhaps a day or two, a week or two in police custody, I intend to extend it to a five years minimum and ten years maximum and I will make sure he loses a lot while in jail.I made my way through the office. My head kept on bringing ideas. I have to quickly formulate a plan and begin to coordinate with the team to track down her parents' murderer. I wanted to ensure that those who did this faced the full force of the law and that they would never be able
ALEX "I need you all to keep this tight lipped. I don't want my father to catch wind of the new addition to our team. Is that taken?"The employees exchanged puzzled looks and I could see the questions forming in their minds. I wasn't ready to give them a WHY. They should just take it like I said it. I was the boss and they were my workers. If any of them wanted to defy me, it would be the former head of department.The others wouldn't. The head of the department was someone my father always talked to. He was my father's oldest worker and I knew if anything was to happen which was not in line with my father's rules, he was sure to tell him.And as they nodded, my thoughts were consumed with the potential pitfalls of my father discovering Sofia's hiring. I had to make sure everything went smoothly, and with the employees on board, I hoped I could avoid any unnecessary complications.Damn, I hope. And I hope they are able to get my WHY too. They all knew my father and if there was one
SOFIA It was time to go home. But I wanted to just sleep here.It was the last day at work and I had my laundry to attend to. I wanted to clean the house, make myself a large bowl of soup and read some books.It wasn't like I was tired. I wasn't really working that much, but I felt so stressed particularly today. I always leave home by 7am and I return before 7pm. I don't do much at my workplace. It was just like I went there to have fun. I eventually decided to open my eyes after I closed it for a while. It was cold and I felt empty. As I stretched and yawned, my eyes landed on the beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on my bedside table. They were the ones Alex, my new boss, had given me two nights ago when we went out for dinner. A warm smile spread across my face as I remembered the lovely evening we had spent together.Remembering this, I can't believe that I was smiling. It's like I've known this man forever and the way he came into my life, I felt brand new. He not only help
ALEX "Uhm, there is something.""What?""Can you come over to my house for dinner?"When she had asked me that, I must confess, I had smiled. This was because I knew she had began to fall for me. Like fall for my charm and all, and maybe it's not love, but she was fond of me. It made me happy in an unusual way. This kind of happiness scared me. It wasn't like the evil happiness I've had at the beginning of this whole play. From the beginning, I hated Sofia. The fact that she made me lose possession of the Crow Cartel made me want to waste her like I did to her stepfather. The fact that she ran away made me angrier. I could still feel the impact of my father's words on me. His sharp curse and comparison, his prayer to have my dead brother back. All this made me angry and I was sure that if I had seen Sofia a day after she ran awsy, I would have killed her. The anger would still be fresh in my mind and that resentment would make me strike her with a single blow that would end her lif
SOFIA I wasn't sure how long I've been dreaming. The dream was just like the one of the damsel in distress. In this case, she wasn't in distress, she was calm. She was in a serene environment. She was like Snow white, and that woman was me.I found myself sitting in a serene environment, surrounded by the beauty of nature. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace coursing through my veins. It radiated all through my being and made me feel so alive. This was a dream, and I don't want to wake up from it.And it was all because of one man - the man who entered my life and changed it for the better. He was like a prince, sweeping me off my feet and bringing a sense of calm and tranquillity into my world, giving me that life I always wanted.His presence was like a breath of fresh air, his kindness and compassion shining through in everything he did. He had a way of making even the most chaotic moments feel serene, and for that I was eternally grateful.In his eyes, I found solace. In his wo
SOFIAAlex was visually pulling off my clothes as he stared at me. It wasn't like the perverted type. I kind of love the way he looked at me. It wasn't like the way my boss looked at me. This one was different, this one was filled with a kind of expression that put me in a serene place.I suddenly didn't care what he did to me, or think of me. I was safe in his presence, with him there, I felt I could take on the world whichever way I wanted to. He wasn't embarrassed. The fact that I slept in his arms, cried, and said some things didn't make him feel bad. Instead, he found a way to wrap the whole situation around to make it pleasing. I mean, he had this ability to turn a terrible situation into something that is very bearable and less embarrassing. That was who Alex was and who I was so comfortable with. When he said, “so, Sofia," his eyes twinkled with amusement, "be out quick, okay,” it was this time I understood what it meant to have butterflies roaming in one's stomach. Before,
SOFIA I still stood for a while as he apologised. Somehow, it made me feel like he was my husband. That felt good and bad at the same time. I was beginning to see Alex as more than just my boss and my friend. So many imaginations running in my head. I've thought about what it would look and feel like as a mother, but I haven't thought about how it would feel like living with a husband.And this time, I imagined Alex to be my husband. He is my boss, and also my friend. How would it feel like being married to him?I pictured us spending lazy Sunday mornings sipping coffee on the porch, discussing our plans for the day. We'd go for hikes in the mountains, laughing and joking as we navigated the trails. We would do what he loves and what I love. We would cook dinner together, share stories of our day as we chopped vegetables and seasoned the meat. In my mind, it all seemed so effortless and natural, as if we were meant to be together in every way.I thought of what sex would be like. Th
SOFIA If it was a kiss on my lips...Damn! If it was a kiss on my lips, I would literally scream, this wasn’t supposed to be, but it was great if it could be and not change at all. I kept thinking about the simple kiss. Why was I still thinking about it? It was just a light touch that could be easily dismissed, yet it carried a deeper meaning beneath the surface, well, it was just like that with me. Not to Alex, I suppose.I still thought about the more intimate kisses, like those on the lips or neck. The neck kisses was on another level entirely. Once upon a time, I called kissing 'irritating'. Those smooching things and the rest were irritating and disgusting to me. But then, they could be a powerful expression of love, desire, or even dominance. They could create a deep connection between two people, bringing two people closer together and igniting a fire that’s hard to extinguish.I considered the kisses on other parts of the body, like the hands or forehead. These tender gestu
ALEX Manchester was different…Manchester was blissful…The air in Manchester was very clear; till I could feel it suffocate me. But then I knew one day, I would put an end to all of this. I was living the life that I wanted here. Away from Blake and his Cartel, his mob and the killers and the snare and everything. I had used the money I had to start up something and I would be going back to hockey soon. It was what gave me utmost confidence. And I wouldn’t toss it away. She still didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I took it upon myself to stalk her in a healthy manner. I was there when she left for work and I was there when she was back. It was one thing that gave me joy, it gave me this push. I knew that one day, she would hear me out and would forgive me. I made a conscious effort to respect her space. It was hard to process that fact and I wanted to give her time but then one day, I would make sure I walk up to her again. Everyday, I couldn’t deny the pull she had o
SOFIA Manchester…I got dressed and sighed when I was done dressing. This used to be worn with a happy smile, now, my heart was filled with sadness, regret and disappointment. It wasn’t anger anymore. It was something else. I left the house, the crisp autumn air nipping at my cheeks as I made my way down the street. The familiar sights and sounds of my neighbourhood seemed to fade into the background as I focused on the task at hand: preparing for my move to Manchester.I came back home to prepare. It was now or never. Another day here and I would commit suicide. This was the place my parents were killed, this was the place Olivia had been arrested. Too many bad memories and damn, I can’t stay here any longer. I brought out my clothes and the new bags I bought when I went out. It was now or never at all. I packed my clothes into the bag, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of sadness and nervousness as I did this. I was going to England, leaving behind everything that had once been fami
SOFIAI could still dream. This time, I was dreaming about being alone in a field of roses, where everything was filled with tranquillity and warmth. I found myself standing in a vast field of roses, their sweet fragrance filling the air and soothing my mind. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the landscape. The vibrant colours of the flowers seemed to stretch on endlessly, creating a mesmerising sea of reds, pinks, and whites.It felt so good to be here. So damn good. I forgot all I was thinking about. I forget the sorrows that were now in my life. I forgot how things had been so bad. I was calm. I was content. I was enough. As I walked through the field, I felt a sense of peace and tranquillity washing over me. It made me feel like I was in heaven. This was a pleasure. Absolute pleasure. Amidst the sea of roses, I caught sight of a figure in the distance. This was supposed to be my world, my dream. As I approached the figure, I realised it was my mother, wear
SOFIABut then I had so many what ifs left in me…What if everything had not been like this? What if I had just not found out about the cottage and all? I guess Olivia would have killed me. She would surely win this time around and then she would put an end to the existence of the Griffins.If only Olivia hadn’t found out what really happened, if she didn’t know who our parents were and if nothing had ever even happened before. I sighed heavily. What would have become of my life and that of Olivia’s? I kept thinking about this and it kept playing in my head till I could no longer imagine what life would have been if everything hadn’t started from Olivia finding out that our parents were bloody murderers. I wanted to look up and gaze out the window at the world outside, but Alex was right beside me. He had this look of remorse and that was the last thing I needed right now. In that instant, I couldn’t help but ponder the age-old adage, “ignorance is bliss.” How true those words seeme
SOFIASomehow, a sad song came into my mind. I was humming the song and somehow, it made me feel so good. I then began to ask myself some questions. What if my parents were still alive? What if Jake hadn’t cheated on me? What if Olivia grew up nice and well groomed? What if? The answer was that I wouldn’t have met Alex. And before that, I wouldn’t know who Ronaldo was and my parents wouldn’t have been divorced. It was a whole lot to take in but I knew that I would heal. No matter how hard and difficult it was, I would heal. Nice and steady. I went back inside and saw Alex with the inspector. They were talking and I just went to my room. I needed some time alone, some time to sink all this in and know what next to do with my life right now. I could hear Alex talking with the inspector. “I will come by later. If you need anything, let me know.”“All right. Take care of her.” The inspector told him. “Yes.”‘Take care of her?’ I scoffed. How can I be fine with the devil? The real d
SOFIAI hadn’t wanted to keep crying when the police came but each word, sentence and action of Olivia kept replying in my head like a broken tape and the tears just wouldn’t stop. I then asked myself, how did we come to this? Olivia was a happy child, she was loved by happy parents, it got to the point of being jealous because of the way our parents favoured her over me. But then when I grew up and tried to relive those days, I saw that our parents loved us equally. Yes, they were murderers, and yes they were members of a notorious mafia mob that had killed a lot of people and destroyed so many lives. In that sense, they should be ruthless, in that sense they should have raised us with a knife taped to the tip of their tongues.With them, we were fed love on a silver spoon in a golden plate, we weren’t made to get love by licking it off knives. Not just any knife, a knife that wasn’t embroidered and was just insignificant to mankind. No, our parents fed us love and overfilled us
OLIVIAI watched them panic when I had reached for the only weapon I think could put an end to my misery. I planned to kill to myself and then kill Sofia and her boyfriend. She was asking too many questions that reminded me of the past. It reminded me of the faces of the murderers I referred to as my parents. Particularly seeing her. I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror in a while. I couldn’t dare to do that. I knew I would see the reflection of those terrible people in me, I hated them so much that if I saw them in my face, I would surely scar myself. It was better to die than to live with their imprint visible on my body. And then Sofia? She had everything good coming her way. Even though Ronaldo didn’t treat her well, he still thought about her and even went as far as wanting her to be married to a rich son of the mafia. No matter the maltreatment, I knew she would enjoy her married life. Ronaldo didn’t think of me when the son of the mafia came. He didn’t at all and damn,
ALEXI watched the two sisters battle words. All this while I was just looking at them, it felt like I wasn’t even in the room. They kept throwing words at each other and made me feel completely invisible. And thinking about this, I just couldn’t see Anthony and I having the same batter and swearing at each other like this. It was something I couldn’t ever picture. Not that I was scared, I stopped being afraid of Anthony when I left home and since then, there was nothing that would make me scared of him ever again. Anthony and I can’t even have a physical conversation, the last time we had talked, it was during a family dinner. That was the day my father had announced that he was giving the cartel to Anthony. I remembered that day like I was in it. I hadn’t wanted to come but I had no choice, I just had too. Ever since I left home, I just cut ties with them but then I had too. The dinner was scheduled a few days before my mother’s birthday. I just had to go. I told myself I would f
SOFIA “Why did everything change?”Tears continued to cascade down my cheeks, a testament to the shattered dreams and broken promises that plagued our relationship. The person I once knew had morphed into a stranger, driven by darkness and pain.Olivia had become a woman I used to know. She scared me now. Everything she had said was surprising, it made me feel stupid. I had thought she changed because of the death of our parents. Then she was withdrawn, she threw herself to Ronaldo like he was her saviour. And to me, she treated me like trash. I had thought she wanted to take away all the grief in her by being mean to me, but I was wrong, she had just been thinking of ways to extinguish me from the world she was creating. “When did everything change, Olivia?”“It will further change if you disappear.” She answered. “And then the very day I found out about what our parents were, I knew I couldn’t tell you, I just knew I had to carry out this mission myself.”I just looked at her, it