I took the rest of the day to rest and get warm. Bennett made sure to send warm tea and sandwiches to the room I was instructed to stay in. I still couldn't believe all that had happened with Ellis and his step-mother at the hospital. It was true that there was nothing I could do. Ellis and I weren't married and I had no legal right to stay in the hospital by his side if he didn't want me to. When I was alone and settled down I was able to allow the tears to fill my eyes and spill down my cheeks. None of this could be real. How could it be that Brenda was by Ellis's side and I was now being saved by Bennett Klein? My heart broke as I thought about Ken. After everything he had been through in his short life, how could I tell him that his father didn't remember us? No, there had to be something I could do. Even if we weren't married, there must be a way to convince Ellis that I was his fiancée.In the end I realized that I would have to call home and at least tell my mother what was
**Ellis POVEver since I woke up from the hospital, nothing felt right. It was difficult trying to navigate my life when there was so much I had forgotten. Brenda did her best to help me get my bearings, but still, things just felt off. I was not sure that I wanted to attend this dinner party at the theater. But there were important colleagues and businessmen that I was interested in meeting and getting reacquainted with.I was surprised to find myself relaxing in the atmosphere after we arrived. Everyone was glad to see I had recovered so quickly and was interested in starting business ventures in the area again. However, as soon as Olivia entered the room, I noticed her. She looked stunning in her red dress that hugged her torso and flowed just to her knees. It took some time for her to notice me but once our eyes met it was as if all of the air left my lungs. As I looked at her, everything that Brenda told me about her came to mind and I couldn't help scowling in anger before tur
I had no words for the way I felt after having made Olivia cry like that. No matter how a woman came into my arms, I never ever meant to make her feel like anything other than beautiful and desired. What was going on with me? Why had I let my jealousy of Bennett having her make me be cruel to her? There was no excuse and I would do my best to make it right. When I got myself together, I hurried back to the ballroom and made it into the party to see that the guests were beginning to leave. I hoped Olivia was still there. I looked around the room to see that she stood alone, looking sad and hurt. An uneasy feeling squeezed my chest.I took a deep breath, not sure what I could say to her in the way of an apology. Then Bennett was by her side and I felt a sour taste rise in the back of my throat. He was helping her with her coat. If what Olivia was saying was true and Bennett was forcing her to stay with him, I couldn't let that continue. I shook my head not believing that I was really
The room began to feel as if it was spinning. I blinked several times as I looked at the man and then cleared my throat."Excuse me?" I asked as I regained my composure. "What do you mean? Mr. Peterson hired you to be my driver and he said that I can go anywhere I want?""Yes," the driver clarified. "Would you like to be taken to the airport? Mr. Peterson has also said that he would pay for a one-way ticket for any destination you choose."I thought about Ken and finally getting back home to him. I exhaled in relief and smiled. I missed him so much after everything I'd been through and the complete disaster of the evening. I just wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him how much I loved him. "However," the driver continued. "If you would like to stay nearby, Mr. Peterson has a private residence here that he occasionally uses. He said that, if you want, you are welcome to use it for the time being."I felt my jaw drop open and quickly shut it. I was completely surprised and stunned
**Ellis POVEven I couldn't fully understand what compelled me to help Olivia Richardson that night. But, absolutely nothing had felt right since I left the hospital until I was able to hold her in my arms and claim her. I knew that Brenda would be suspicious of my actions and was prepared to hear her complaints once we were securely in the car.That was one of the many attributes about Brenda I appreciated. She was determined and ambitious but also very discreet. She was the perfect woman, born and raised to marry into a family like the Petersons. She was a great partner and asset to have by my side.I knew she probably meant well by advising me against giving Olivia the time of day. But, I couldn't rule out the possibility that this advice came more from a place of jealousy as well. But, she didn't mention anything about Olivia that night or the next few days. She didn't even talk about the party until she heard the news that I had withdrawn my proposal to the mayor on Midtown and
She felt so light and delicate in my arms as she wrapped her hands around my neck and let me carry her to the bed. "Ellis, I thought you would never come," she sighed. I kissed the top of her head. She moaned as she clung to me. Her scent washed over me, fresh and sweet as if she had recently taken a shower. I buried my face in her neck to breathe her in before carefully lying her on the bed. "Are you alright now? Did your memory come back?" "Shhhh…" I placed my finger on her lips to keep her quiet and lay next to her pulling her into my arms as we kissed each other passionately. Her eyelids became heavy with desire even as she seemed uncertain of what was about to happen next. "Ellis…" she began to speak and I covered her mouth with kisses to keep her quiet. "…do you…?""Please be quiet," I ordered. She closed her eyes, allowing my tongue to slip between her lips and sweep across her mouth. She licked over my tongue with her own and pressed her tongue into my mouth as well. She
After my recovery from the hospital, I decided to rent a new office space in the city to conduct my business. It was a little bit of a headache trying to juggle what was going on in New York with the new business ventures I was looking into in Boston. It didn't help that Olivia's beautiful face was also on my mind nonstop. I still was not sure what to make of her. I couldn't forget the way she threw my credit card back at me as if I'd offended her. No woman has ever done that before. It was only fortunate that she seemed to be so very responsive to my touch. Maybe just as responsive as I am to hers. This was different and new. Part of me liked it but there was another part of me that felt the danger of not being completely in control of myself around Olivia. Everything about her was unexpected, a mystery or a surprise that I couldn't get enough of. "Ellis," Brenda called my name before knocking on the office door and interrupting my thoughts. I cursed under my breath and then cleare
*Olivia*"Ellis, I just don't feel good about whatever this is that is going on between us. Do you like this sneaking around behind Brenda's back? You want to creep here in the middle of the night to see me then creep back home before dawn to make her happy?" I looked at him for his reaction but he just stood still and remained silent. My heart sank. Even though he was trying, the man standing in front of me was just no longer the Ellis I fell in love with. "Eventually you will have to make a choice, Ellis. You will have to make it before your wedding day. Because if you put a ring on another woman's finger it will be too late for us and our family. I'm not saying you have to marry me. What I am saying is that I want more than this. I want you to choose me." Ellis remained quiet and unresponsive as I scooted from the bed and adjusted my clothes. He reached out for me but I sidestepped him and grabbed my robe from the end of the bed. "I never signed up to be the other woman or any
Ellis POVI sat in the executive chair in the office, getting work done as well as I could under the circumstances. Even with the new legal troubles, some things never changed. “And tell them if they don’t they will have to answer to me,” I said. “Got it,” my project manager, William, said, looking a little shaken. Handling contractors came with the job, and was mostly a matter of patience, and being commanding. Much the same as handling a child having a tantrum. I relaxed a little as the call went away, taking more of the immediate problems with it. There were other problems hanging over my head that I didn’t like to think about. A little annoyed and very tired I loosen my tie, which had come to feel like a noose. After the house arrest, theoretical as it might have been, I hardly wore one anymore.I felt Olivia’s absence in my chest, like a weight. One I tried to lighten with another drink. Sipping lightly from the tumbler of rum, careful not to get drunk. I wanted to be alert
**Olivia POVI woke up still groggy, the world going from a dark blur to a light blur. Everything that had happened slowly rearranged itself in my mind.Pain came back along with the memories, if in a reduced form. With a wince, my head turned just right, and I saw Ellis seated by the bed, where he’d always been before getting arrested and would always be if I had anything to say about it.Ellis looked troubled, something I rarely saw. He was always so capable and in control of himself if not the situation. I reached out to him instinctively, and Ellis took it tenderly.“Can you be here?”“Of course,” he said.“No, I mean your house arrest.”“That is taken care of. Even if it wasn’t, I think this counts as compassionate grounds.”I relaxed a little, letting out a breath. Then I remembered what happened with the baby.“How is she?” I asked.He squeezed my hand, letting me know something was wrong, no matter what he might say.“She will be fine,” he said, “I’ll take you to the NICU to se
**Olivia POVI’d always heard bad things about hospital food. Fortunately, this proved not to be true. Everything Amber brought was great. I started to feel stronger just from the diet alone.If it wasn’t for hospital policy, I probably could have walked on our twice daily outings onto the hospital grounds. The baby seemed better too, moving even more than before.I started to suspect Nurse Anderson might have cooked the meals at home and smuggled them onto the hospital plates.I was near the end of my bacon and eggs, when a familiar face peeked in through the door.“Mom!?” I asked, more delighted to see her than I had words to say.“Hey, baby.”Mom came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, like she used to do when I was little and feeling sick.“Me or her?” I asked, patting my belly.“Both of you, really,” mom said with a rare smile.Mom put her hand on my belly and felt it as the baby moved again.“Hello, little one, it’s Grandma.”I was surprised to hear her use the term. Something
**Ellis POVI paced the hallway, resisting the urge to hit something. The control I showed in most situations was carefully built up over years. There were times I worried about Ken and his potential impulse control. Then again his mother was so patient and gentle, except when truly riled, it could be her genetics that might win out. I went to the door again, just to see if I could hear what was being said. The wood was too thick and all I could hear was muffled hums. “You know you could just go in right? You’re on the list.”Spinning on my heel, resisting the urge to yell in fright, I saw Nurse Anderson with a food tray. “I can’t actually.”“Why? Is the door locked?” she asked, testing the knob. “Yes, but that is not the biggest problem.” “Oh, how so?” Nurse Anderson asked. “It was locked from the inside,” I said.“Yes, that is how it works.” “By someone else, on purpose I mean.” “Who?” “Some Fed, I think he said his name was Smiley.” “Agent Smiley?” Nurse An
**Olivia POV Ken came out of nowhere. The only warning of his arrival, an excited shout echoed down the hall. He still hadn’t got the hang of his ‘inside voice.’ Like a shot he was in the room, shattering the quiet solitude. I couldn’t have been happier. Kevin was more subtle, coming in behind and waiting to be beckoned before coming forward. There was something about hospitals that made him less than comfortable. “Mommy,” Ken cried, up on the bed like a shot. “Hey, baby,” I said, as he took me in a near-choking hug. “Hi,” Kevin said, quietly, keeping his wheelchair near the door.. “Get over here,” I said. Kevin came up beside the bed, not needing to be told twice. From my bed I hugged Ken and held Kevin’s hand tightly, tears started to roll with little choice. “Mommy?” Ken asked. “Happy tears, baby,” I said. “Oh.” The room felt smaller all of the sudden and all I wanted to do was go outside with my boys. Pressing the button to page her, Amber appeared in no
**Olivia POV Day came again even as I was sitting on the plane back to New York. It had been a dream, and Ellis was still there, looking deeply worried. “How are you doing?” he asked with a smile that once melted me. “Fine and only getting better. As soon as the doctor gives me the all clear I’m going home with Ken.” “Ken is at home,” Ellis said. “Not your home, my home,” I said. I could see the words cut deep, and almost felt sorry for him. Second thoughts were just coming up when the doctor came in, his expression grim.I instinctively reached for Ellis’s hand. Bad news no doubt on the horizon. “It can’t be that bad,” Ellis and I blurted at once. “It can actually,” the doctor said, looking at the chart. “How so?” Ellis butted in. It didn’t really concern him anymore, but he was the sort to think he needed to be the center of attention in any situation. He must have been a joy at funerals. “You are severely dehydrated, Mrs. Peterson. The amniotic fluid is mu
**Ellis POVI held her hand in the back of the ambulance, never letting her go again if I had anything to do about it. I had gotten far too close to losing her. “We’ll be there soon,” I said, minding the volume. She flinched at the smallest noise if it was unexpected. God only knew what the sick f*cks had done to her, and it was best not to think about it. Anytime I did, the urge to kill them rose. I didn't want to kill Carl, no matter how much of a f*ck up he was.No matter what he did he was still my son. People like us had other ways to deal with our kids when they got off the track. Military service was one popular option, as well as “career opportunities” in another country. Olivia stayed silent, her head lolling to the left before she closed her eyes. “Everyone is excited to see you again,’ I tried, “especially Ken and Kevin.”Olivia winched at the mention of their names. It was probably a touchy subject, after she’d been away for so long, not sure if she’d ever get ba
**Olivia POV“How are you doing, honey?” I asked, rubbing my belly. The baby didn’t move, but she could have been asleep. Apparently, they did that a lot. Resting up for the rest of their life. Bethany and Carl were down there for a few hours. Mostly quiet but with the occasional argument. Things shifted and I heard steps coming towards the attic. I held my breath hoping everything would be okay. I wasn’t sure I’d done the lock up right, and hoped they wouldn’t notice if they came back. It would be an obvious sign of what I’d done, and the punishment could be awful. There was no telling what Bethany might do. She could be merciful and just break my ankles. Or my wrists, to stop me from getting the lock picked again. It would make Ellis really mad, but it didn’t sound like they were planning to stay around, after everything. The clock clicked open, making me flinch and the baby move. I nearly cried to feel her again but had to hold it together. If we were going to get out of
**Olivia POVI felt a thrilling chill run over my body and the baby moved in response, celebrating in my womb. The door was open and we were close to freedom. I rubbed my belly, calming her down. I would need all my focus for the next part. Carl and Bethany could have been back at any time, and I had to be gone before then if there was going to be any chance of getting back to the boys and Ellis tonight. I cracked the door open slowly and I listened to the deafening silence. All was dark but I could just make out the staircase below the door. There was no light from below, so I had to try to get down blind. A little at a time, always sure to hold something, down I climbed. Getting one foot down on the stairs and then the other. Holding the sides of the steps in a death-grip, I finally reached solid ground. The floorboards down below creaking like the ones up above. There was another door at the base of the steps and my heart sank to think that I might have to work to pick another l