RENEE “Have you considered what to do with the gifts?” My busy hands froze. I turned to face Nicole with a raised brow, dropping the hairbrush I held on the dressing table. “What do you mean?” “You heard me, Renee. What plans do you have for the gifts? The flowers and the greeting card. Are you going to call him? You realize Robert is sending you these things, right?” “I am aware.” I said, annoyed.“Why don't you call him? Remember you never thanked him for the ones he sent you in Miami? He was hurt because you never called.”“I know, I know, I know! I called him last night.” I exclaimed a little too sharply as I continued, “I dialed his number, the one I’d been keeping, but it didn't go through. So I'm confused, Nicole, and I'm not sure what to do.”I returned my gaze to my best friend, expressing my concerns, and her brow furrowed. I could tell she was concerned about me.She wanted what was best for me, and I wanted to do the right thing too, but it was all too complicated.“T
ROBERTWas I a creep? A weird stalker? An obsessed man in love with a woman who barely knew it?Per se, I wasn’t necessarily a creep, nor was I weird, but I was stalking Renee, and I was madly obsessed with her too.As I watched her get into the cab, her eyes darting about in fright, my chest tightened.I didn’t want her to be afraid of me, and I knew by now she’d know it was me sending the gifts.If she were sharp enough, she’d have recognized my cursive handwriting in the notes I sent to her, and with my R initials engraved at the bottom, I’d surely given myself away.Even though I wanted to be mysterious, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, as I didn’t want her lashing out at me when we met again.Smirking, I closed my eyes briefly, my head falling back to the car’s headrest as I thought about how she’d looked today.She was so stunning in her waitress uniform, and my dick twitched remembering that.Luckily for me, the restaurant where she worked was lined with windows,
RENEE“Girl, I’ll be damned if this man doesn’t love you. Just look at the gifts. Oh girl, I say you’ve hit the jackpot with this one.”Staring mindlessly at the couple art notebook Robert gifted me and the lone tulip flower attached to the wrapped package, I didn’t say a word as Nicole went on and on.Another cryptic note was attached to the presents, but I wasn’t ready to read it.Instead, I stared blankly at everything sprawled out on the bed. I rubbed my forehead, unsure of what to do.“Aren’t you going to say anything? Damn, look at this. So romantic and sensual. He imagined both of you when he bought this.” Nicole said, picking up the art book. “The pictures are out of this world, though the gift is strange. Robert Clarke is very thoughtful. I’ll give him that.”“You think?” I mumbled, staring at the picture Nicole showed me, and my eyes glazed over the sensual black-and-white art.It was a drawing of a naked silhouetted man and woman in bed, tangled with the sheets. The man ha
ROBERT “Excuse me, Mr. Bradley.” I raised a finger, stepping back from the estate manager I was talking to. I walked away, bringing the ringing phone to my ear.“Any news, Natasha?” I queried sharply, not liking that her call interrupted a critical discussion.“Good day to you, sir.”“Good day, Natasha. Now get on with why you called. Is there anything important you want to tell me?” I interjected sharply, not wanting any of my time wasted. Luckily, she got the hint.“No, not at all, sir. I wanted to let you know that I got your mail last night, and I don’t understand what you asked me to do. I mean I—”“What don’t you understand?”“You said I should… As you said, aren’t you coming back to New York in a week?”Ignoring her last question, I said, “I told you to transfer most of the work files to my mail. Compile the list of everything I left, and send them to me. I’ll attend to them here and work at the Orlando office until further notice. Now, do you understand?”“What? I mean, sir.
RENEERobert sent me gifts again. This time the delivery included a sizable flower bouquet, an expensive Richart Chocolate box, and another note.In the note, he wrote that he missed me. And as Nicole had predicted, he sent the remaining numbers.To be precise, four numbers were written on the back of the card he’d sent, and I couldn’t help but wonder again what this man was up to.If he was in Orlando, why hadn’t he approached me yet? He knew my location. He knew where I worked. So why this cat-and-mouse game? Was he afraid I’d lash out at him? Is that why he’d chosen to watch me from afar or taunt me like this?Yes! I’d lash out at him for being a creep and watching me like he had some power over me. He’d also turned me into an emotional jumble. But then…“Oh, Christ.” I mumbled, placing my hands on my stomach as I continued to think.I was more than confused, and as I lay flat on my bed, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, I knew I had to talk to him. I had to call him and tal
ROBERT “Good morning, Mr. Clarke.” As I entered the premises, the staff and employees at my Orlando office greeted me enthusiastically. I respectfully responded as I went from the reception to my office, my hands waving with a broad smile.The office set aside for me was roomy and precisely as I liked it. Similar to my office in New York, this one was opulent, with minimalist art hanging from the walls, a large desk with a laptop, and a few other items I needed. The office featured a spare bathroom and changing area, and as I looked around, I reminded myself to ask Mark to fill the wardrobe with some new, crisp clothes.I turned my head away from the changing area and turned to look at the office's beautiful glass doors and balcony. My lips spread into a grin.I always loved to hang out on balconies, because I cherished them so much. Perhaps in the late afternoon while sipping alcohol and gazing at a cityscape or structure. I treasured the activity because it gave me solace. I
RENEE“I'm coming.” I yelled as I dashed to the door to see who was knocking. “Are you certain it wasn't coming from the other apartment?” Nicole yelled behind me as I rushed to the sitting room, but I ignored her. I was eager to find out who the person was. Something told me Robert had finally sent me some gifts. With a smile, I dashed to the front door, taking hold of the knob and twisting it open to find... nobody! “Huh?” I muttered, my head poking into the corridor when I noticed someone standing at my neighbor's door.The knock had not come from here, as Nicole had suggested and my shoulders slumped. “Hello…” The blonde-haired man staring back at me waved, and I waved back, mumbling some inaudible greeting as I gently shut our door. “Not again...” I humped, disappointment filling me, and I didn't like it. It had been four days since Robert sent me a gift, and I was going insane. I rushed every time there was a knock on my door, full of anticipation. But I always returned
ROBERT My smile widened when I heard Renee cough on the other end of the phone. Of course, I'd affected her. She was surprised to hear my voice. Damn! She’d called. My plan had worked, and she’d succumbed to the urge to check in on me via phone just like I’d planned. My whole day was made with just her voice. I'd been busy earlier, glancing through my laptop, when my phone had vibrated with an incoming call. At first, I'd been unsure who the number belonged to, and knowing how I was avoiding Amanda's call, I'd been hesitant to heed the call.But after the second attempt, my subconscious urged me to answer. I swiped the answer button and froze for a second when I heard her minty sultry voice. 'Hello...' was followed by a gasp and murmurs from the background, and it clicked immediately. Renee called. She'd finally called, and my heart lifted with a broad smile appearing on my face. Fuck! This woman! She still had me wrapped around her finger even all these days. It’d been almo
ROBERTI watched as the officers led Amanda out of the courtroom, her shackled hands clasped behind her back and her head hanging low. She looked broken. Defeated. And whereas she'd walked in confidently earlier, flashing a smug grin at me, now her feet dragged, and she didn't dare to look up. She couldn't, though, not after all that’d happened. Seeing her like this, knowing she finally got her karma, a bitter satisfaction curled in my chest.Finally, she got what she deserved. After the chaos, the wreck—the way she'd torn through my life, Renee's, and so many others—she would finally pay. This was her end. Her retribution. And it was brutal, yes, but it was also entirely fitting. "Yes," I breathed out, an invisible weight, one I'd carried for far too long, lifting from my chest. "Damn, I feel good," I murmured under my breath, and a smile formed on my lips.God! I couldn't wait to get home to Renee. I couldn't wait to tell her it was all over. That we’d won, and Amanda would ne
Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky. ~•~AMANDA TWO MONTHS LATER Typically, a day begins when the clock strikes midnight, and the seconds tick.For some, it begins at seven a.m. or earlier. But today, my day began when the courthouse doors swung open and the bailiff ushered me and my lawyer into the courtroom. As we walked in, a hushed murmur rippled through the room, and for a moment, my stomach clenched—not in nervousness, but in anticipation. Which was strange given my crimes.Any prisoner convicted of murder would probably feel fear. Fear of their impending punishment, fear of the unknown consequences of their actions, fear of being executed. They'd also feel guilty, combine that with a sense of helplessness, and voila!But see, I wasn't just any prisoner. I was Amanda Clarke, and I feared no one. I feared nothing. As a convict who'd hired the best defense attorney in the country—my lawyer's record was pristine wi
RENEE "Look who's getting out of these four bleached walls today!" Nicole squealed with delight the moment she entered the room. She ran toward me, arms outstretched. "I'm so happy, Renee." She sniffled. "So fucking happy." "As am I," I said, hugging her with all my strength. "Where's Mom?" I asked. "She's at home, er, the mansion, preparing for your arrival," Nicole said. "I suspect you're going to eat a lot today, my friend," she added, and I laughed. "I can only imagine." I groaned and let go of her when Robert and the nurse assigned to check me out of the hospital arrived. She pushed a wheelchair into the room, signaling it was time for me to leave. As Robert turned to greet Nicole, the nurse, a petite young lady, attended to me. She introduced herself, asked a few questions, provided some healthcare instructions, and then it was time to fill out the discharge paperwork, which Robert quickly took charge of. As usual, he wasn’t letting me lift a finger. It’d been
ROBERTShe was awake.God, she was awake.I couldn't believe it, but as my legs carried me across the room and toward her, yes, Renee was awake. She was alive. She was conscious. And she was looking at me with teary brown eyes, muttering my name repeatedly. As I reached her bedside in a flash, and despite the doctor's warnings to take things easy, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her hard. Tight. Bone crushingly. The tears dropped faster than ever, and I cried. I sobbed. I turned into a blubbering mess, not caring about the doctor or nurses in the room. I just let the fucking grief out because it was about damn time. "Oh, God... Oh, Renee..." I mumbled, my voice breaking as I buried my face in her hair. "I... I thought you wouldn't make it. I thought I had lost you forever." My body shook violently as I spoke, but it didn’t stop my arms from tightening around her. I wanted to permanently hold her close. To never, ever let go of her."You didn't lose me." She whispered, her v
RENEE My dreams were a blur. I saw everything and nothing. I remembered everything and nothing. There was sunshine, and there was rain. There was light, and there was darkness. It was all so beautiful, but so terrifying. It was like time stopped, and I could do nothing about it. Everything felt surreal and I couldn't make sense of it. But then, suddenly… a feeling overtook me—a familiar feeling. The feeling of being alive. Of being whole. Of being complete. There was no more pain, blurry dreams, distorted visions, or anything else. There was only peace. And that peace woke me up. That peace made me move. That peace snapped me from my trance. Eyes fluttering open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. Then white walls and curtains. I blinked several times to orient myself to where I was, but the room appeared unfamiliar. It looked like… a hospital room. But why would I be there? I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to the sunlight streaming through
‘You’re my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you… please don’t take my sunshine away.’The sky really was grey, almost black in its intensity. It looked like a storm could burst out at any moment and unleash its wrath on anything within sight. But he didn't care. Robert. He just stood in the field of daisies, arms crossed, staring up at the gray sky as if it were the most wondrous thing in the world. And he was singing. Singing with that bassy, beautiful voice of his. The one Renee had fallen for. That made her heart skip a beat and sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach. ‘When the sky is dark, and the clouds are thick, I will keep you warm through the rain. And I will always be with you through the wind and snow. I love you. I love you. I love you.’He kept singing, his voice carrying through the air and reverberating throughout the field, causing even the smallest flowers to sway gently to his me
ROBERT“…bad news, Robert. You need to get here. Renee… She was drugged. Or poisoned. I…I'm not sure, but she fainted. She’s in a critical condition, and her life is hanging on by a thread…”Nicole's words swarmed and raced in my mind like angry gnats as I rushed past the hospital's reception, the busy ER nurses and medics, and through the bustling hospital corridors to the VIP room reserved exclusively for the Clarke household.I could hear my heart thumping steadily, but the agony was nothing compared to the million terrifying thoughts flying through my mind. Every thought brought me back to that single word. Drugged. Or was it…Poisoned?Renee had been poisoned. Fuck no!This couldn’t be real. What I’d heard on the phone earlier wasn’t true, neither was this situation. It was a prank. Maybe someone, Nicole or Renee herself, was pulling a cruel joke on me.Yes. That’s it. And by the heavens, my woman was okay. She was at the mansion, and the party was still in full swing. She wasn’t
O, how the mighty fall! With ruin upon ruin, heap’d, and vengeance answer’d upon vengeance. ~ John Milton, Paradise Lost.~•~AMANDA“I didn't pay you thousands to stop at every fucking checkpoint, Mister.” I seethed, gritting my teeth in anger, as the driver pulled to a stop at another police roadblock, this one much busier than the other two we passed.“I have to fucking stop, missus.” He looked over his shoulder at me, scowling. “Either this or my cab is confiscated, and I'm fined. I damn well can't afford that, even with the scraps you're paying. So do me a favor, stop being a whiny bitch, and shut up.”My mouth flew open in surprise, and for a few seconds, all I could see were spots, my cheeks flaming with rage. What the fuck?Did this good-for-nothing asshole just call me a whiny bitch? And did he call the 2,000 extra dollars scraps? Scraps? The fuck!I almost laughed at the irony of my situation. Almost.Take deep breaths, Amanda. Deep… deep… deep fucking breaths, I told myself
RENEEI’d heard “congratulations” a million times tonight, and my ears were still buzzing from it all.Most were from people I barely knew—Robert's acquaintances and business associates—and I was grateful that they at least seemed genuine about it.Their words were kind and, for the most part, calmed my ruffled nerves, but they weren't enough to dispel the lingering fear that’d settled over me like a cloak all evening. There was a nagging voice in my head. A small whisper kept telling me that something bad would happen tonight. That danger was lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Sometimes, I worried that my pregnancy hormones were to blame and whether it was affecting my mental health. But no, it couldn't be. The growing child inside me did not cause my feelings of paranoia and continual dread.Instead, it had everything to do with what this party stood for. I mean, I'd had this feeling ever since Dylan came into the suite to talk, and then Robert had this elabora