The cab came to a stop in front of Kristal’s parents mansion. He shoved his hand into his pocket, producing his wallet while thanking the gods for not driving the woman in his own car and plucking out a chunk of notes. He slapped the cash in the driver’s hand and told him to wait near the gigantic gate. Kristal stared at him, a slow grin spreading on her face.“If I’d known, that’s what it takes to get you into my parent’s place…”“Shut up, Kristal. I need to say goodbye to your Nana. This is not about you. This is not about our past. This is not about our deal, and especially not about us because there is no ‘us’ anymore. I hope you know that.”“Fine, but please don't mention Patrick. They didn't know that he was back. Please.”“Deal. But no mentioning of you helping me with your family’s share. Is that clear?”“Okay.”Half an hour later, Zander was back in the cab, his mood hitting an all-time low. Kristal’s grandmother wasn’t awake. Kristal’s parents—while happy to see me—were also
Zander had no business butting into her life more than she had allowed him to, more than she had willingly shared with him. Elvie didn’t share this with anyone. There was a reason why she’d never told him about her debt or her family life. Not even about how her parents treated her before, like how her dad used to hurt and abuse the hell out of her until she couldn't walk, or like how her mother verbally assaulted her.Her blood froze in her veins. No. There was no way. Still, she needed to ask, just to be sure.“Do you... do you know about my brother’s situation?”Zander got up from his chair, grabbing his pea coat and sliding into it.“I need another cup of coffee for this conversation. Walk with me, wife.”Elvie followed behind him. His broad shoulders were big enough to carry the entire world. He gestured for me to get into the elevator before him, and the minute the doors closed behind them, he turned to him.“You know about my brother, don’t you?”"Obviously, I know everything a
She did. She got Zander, the mother of all leads. “Kristal’s father, did what?” Bella sprayed her coffee all over her iPad in the conference room. Elvie was an ambitious little wife. She managed the workload of two people. And she wasn't even a reporter; she was an accountant, but she did get the lead. Whenever anyone had a contact or a lead they didn’t want to chase—whether they were too lazy, too busy, or simply unsure if it would result in a dead end—they threw it her way. “My sources had leaked Kristal’s father's compromising emails.” Elvie nodded, typing away on her laptop. “Now people are saying that the old man knew, and they were meant to be leaked. If it’s true, it’s a game-changer. Right?” “How on earth did you have a source? Is this your payback? I mean, surely, Kristal is a bitch who took your husband before, but really?” Bella raised her brow. “Are we children here? I am not that stupid; we are professional, Bella, Jesus!” “How do we find out?” Gerald scratched his
“Touch yourself, wife.” She did as she moaned. Elvie was a lioness at work and a lamb in bed, the perfect combination for a predator like Zander. He wanted to fight her when they were in the office and fuck her when they were anywhere else. But it was the in-between part that worried him. Because he wanted to monopolise every second of her life, even when they weren’t doing either. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “Zander,” he corrected. “Call me by my name. Tell me what you want me to do.” “I want you to screw me.” She whimpered into her own shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut, her orgasm brewing, making her legs shake. He wished he wasn’t such a bastard in this moment. “Stop.” But he was. “W-what?” she stuttered, still masturbating with the sprayer head. Zander was so hard now that he could barely think clearly. All his blood had rushed to his shaft, and if someone had asked him for his own name, he’d have had trouble answering. “Stop right now.” A raspy growl slithered between his lips
One day, Elvie noticed Joey’s face was no longer the same pale shade as the bathroom wall.He was going through something called adoptive cell transfer therapy. The treatments were invasive and uncomfortable after he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but every time he came back to the mansion, he smiled bigger than the last time. He was still weak. He was still grey. But he no longer spoke like he was ready to die but too ashamed to let go of life because he knew how much she needed him, and that made her heart soar. Even after what he’d done, Joey was still her family. Her brother.They spent more and more time out of the mansion with Thea—short trips around the block, arm in arm, admiring the festival of colours as the garden burst into full-blown summer. Green leaves rustled above their heads, and barefoot children ran around the neighbourhood, pointing the park’s hoses at each other and spreading wild laughter like confetti. Flowers unfurled in their sleepy beds on the edges of
Zander threw the phone into Elvie’s hands. It was fully charged and ready to be used. It should have made her happy, but it didn’t. She enjoyed having sex with him and butting heads with him in the newsroom, but what was the point of all this? Love might not be on the cards for him, but she was getting more attached, setting herself up to get hurt more than she already was.“Open the glove compartment,” he said, still staring at the busy road ahead.And yet again, Elvie had the feeling that he knew exactly what she was thinking. She opened the glove compartment. “What am I looking for?”“Just open it.”She patted the mostly empty space, her hand coming to rest on the familiar shape of her old iPod. She yanked it out and squeaked. Her precious iPod, with the thousands of songs she’d collected over the years, was back in her hand, and it felt glorious.“Did someone find it at your old mansion?” she turned to him.“Yes. I did. The night you bailed on me.”Elvie frowned. “Why did you neve
Zander grumbled between deep breaths, “I need myrevenge. II need it. Some bastard masterminds the death of my parents! Matheo fucked myex-wife,e and my friend betrayed me! Those bastards used me! Damn it!”Elvie halted, “Yes. I heard. Many, many times. So what if they did?” She cut him off, balling her hands into fists. "They did something wrong, which doesn’t give you the right to do something even worse.” She pushed his chest.Jesus Christ—what was I doing? She thought to herself.“Matheo was the one who sent Patrick to Asia. He was the one who insisted we keep it from Kristal and keep them apart. Insisted we keep it from my parents, knowing it'd disappoint them. But somehow their death is my fault?” he yelled in her face, as if she were the one accusing him. “Fuck. That.”“Stop the blame game, Zander. Every relationship you touch wilts. Every connection you make perishes. I don’t want to burn. I want to flourish. I deserve to bloom.”“Elvie—”"No, Zander. I know you hated the perso
That day, Elvie made sure she avoided Zander in the newsroom. He was business as usual, taking Matheo and a few other men to lunch and then disappearing in and out of the fifteenth floor for meetings all day. When she got back home, she was in no mood to fix something fresh. Her brother, however, had been eating a lot healthier since the experimental programme had begun. They sent him special meals to complement his treatment. Elvie untied her rain jacket and threw it on the couch after she started hot water on the stovetop. She kicked her shoes into the hallway, played with Thea for about an hour, and gave the nanny her break.“Joey?” She called.She checked the living room, balcony, garden, pool, and then his bedroom. He wasn’t there. Groaning in frustration, she texted him: Joey, where TF R U? When will you learn to give a girl a heads-up when you’re gone? I’m worried.And selfishly, she inwardly bit out. Having him around was convenient. She looked after him and reported to Zander