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“Why won't Gemma talk to me,” Logan sighed.Staring at him, Derek could only shake his head.“Logan,” he called out to his almost disoriented best friend.Logan looked in his direction.“I'm happy my wife turned out to be your sister. You know all this while, I was worried she was really related to those vile people she called her family…Even though I'm not too pleased that she still has to deal with the vile woman who tormented her all her life, I'm still elated she has you ....”“She has me, Derek. But she won't talk to me. She specifically told me she wants to have nothing to do with me. When all I want is to connect with her. We're siblings, Derek. We've been apart for so long. When I heard she was my sister, I was prepared to push our differences aside and patch things up, but her, she….”“Have you ever stopped to consider how Gemma must be feeling?”“I do consider her feelings, Derek…”“You don't, believe me when I say that…You all just shoved the news on her face and then, boom
Sylvia was seated next to Elena dreaming of how she was going to use the little piece of news she got about Elena to finally bring Gemma to her side.Seated there, the door was suddenly pushed open and Max walked in with some men by his side. “Are you sleeping, instead of keeping a close watch on my daughter?” He asked, on seeing Sylvia's closed eyes.His words made her eyes snap open.“I'm awake,” she mumbled.The sight of the men next to Max piqued her curiosity. As far as she knows, Max moved around with security only when his life was being threatened.“Was anyone after his life?” She couldn't help but wonder.“Wait, did he find out about who Hughes really is? Oh, lord, it was meant to be a secret. We haven't achieved anything. If he found out this way, he would really do something to ruin us again!” Sylvia was visibly shaken.She has lived with Max for years and knows exactly how vicious the man can be. The only person he cared about was Elena. Any other person was just dust in h
The photo shoot didn't take a lot of time as Gemma seemed to know exactly what to do. Even the photographer who had expected her to mess up the shoot, considering how this was her first modeling shoot, was surprised at how perfect she was at it.The truth was that Elena never wanted to be a model. Gemma was actually the first person who decided to pursue a modeling career. Back then, she'd practice poses and walks of various famous models each time she found time and hoped that one day, she would become like them. Her dream was stolen when Elena found out about it. She threw a tantrum when the opportunity for Gemma to showcase her talent came. It happened that the model for a product they were about to launch back then, got a better offer from their rival company and bailed out on them at the last minute. Arranging for a new model was challenging and worse, the company couldn't adjourn the launch date as it had already been announced to the public.Gemma, seeing this as an opportunity
“What do you want, Andrea?” Gemma asked.Andrea sighed and took a step closer to her.“I want your peace, Gemma…”Gemma was taken aback. This was by no means what she was expecting to hear.“My peace?” She asked.“Yes. I've known you since I've been able to tell right apart from wrong, Gemma. The person I'm seeing right now is not the Gemma I've known all my life. It just feels like someone took over you…You…you are suddenly ruthless and scary, Gemma. It scares me…”“Andrea…” Gemma tried to talk but was cut off.“Did you see that look you gave me when I told you I needed something from you? It was as if you felt like I was about to exploit you. You were never like this before, Gemma…You've changed too much,” Andrea complained, taking Gemma's hand into hers.Gemma could not deny that everything she said was true, so she sighed and bowed her head.“Change is constant in humans,” she finally mumbled.“Yes, it is. But you're scaring and pushing me away. I don't even know if we're still fri
“What did you get?” Gemma asked, finally letting go of Derek.“Tasty food,” Derek said, wiggling his eyebrows.“Derek!” Gemma called out, wondering if Derek's brain was getting damaged.“Yes, baby. Don't worry, I brought enough to fill your mouth,” Derek said, looking at her and flashing her an innocent smile.At his words, Gemma quickly stepped aside.“I don't know who you are. You're on your own,” she shook her head.“You'll still get into my car with me,” Derek winked at her.“What is wrong with you?” Gemma was blushing and laughing.“You, sweetheart,” Derek once again flirted.“Oh, boy,” Gemma's face was nearly overheating from all the blushing.“I brought a car with a tinted glass. You must be so proud of me,” Derek laughed the moment they got to his car.“That's it, Derek. I'm eating in my office!” Gemma announced.“What? I brought the car with tinted windows so you can have privacy while eating…”Gemma gave him a suspicious look.“You still need purification, don't you? Your min
“Are you sure you want to stay here?” Derek asked for the hundredth time.“I've been staying here since I started working here, Derek. What are you so worried about?” Gemma glared at him.“This place is creepy,” Derek complained.Gemma's office was isolated from other offices. It wasn't part of any department or anything. It rather seemed like an abandoned storage room.“Back in the day, it was nothing like this, Derek. It was worse and creepier but I stayed in it. What makes you think I can't stay here, now that it's even better looking?” Gemma raised a brow at him.“I'm just saying…”“Or you don't want to help lift that cupboard,” Gemma gave Derek a side glance.“Hold on, are you afraid of roaches?” She laughed.“Are there roaches here?” Derek's eyes were wild as twin bulbs.“Oh, look at this. Atlanta's most eligible man is afraid of roaches,” Gemma laughed.“I'm not afraid of them,” Derek defended himself.“Oh, really,” Gemma was hearing none of it.“I've never seen or had to deal w
“You can't be serious! I'm your damned father, young lady!” Hughes exclaimed.“And I'm your abandoned daughter, old man,” Gemma deadpanned, turning around to leave the office.“Every single thing I did was for you, you dumb child!” Nathaniel yelled, walking around the table and rushing over to Gemma.Gemma paused on hearing his words and turned around.“You mean for your selfish interest?” She raised a brow.“You think I went into hiding for years just for this? You think I went into hiding just to be treated like this by my child?” Nathaniel was furious.“I'm not your child. And you going into hiding has nothing to do with me. It was for your own selfish interest. Congratulations, you've gotten back your position. Enjoy it while it lasts…” Saying this, she turned around and headed straight for the door.“I birthed you Gemma and I won't let you walk over me!” Nathaniel growled at her.Gemma didn't bother turning around and simply pushed the door open, just before she walked out the off
“You have to leave, Gemma. I can't let you deal with my family while I'm this unstable. Please, baby…” Derek said aloud.His words hurt Gemma, she was hurt so badly that she couldn't suppress her tears.“I'm your wife, Derek. You're hurting. I'm supposed to be right next to you,” she insisted.“You can't deal with those people in there…”“I'm here for you, not for them!” Gemma was now more upset than worried.“You don't know them, Gemma. They'll prey on you. I'm not in the right frame of kind to defend…”“Just say you don't want me next to you,” Gemma cut him off.“Gemma, I….” Derek tried to talk but was cut off by Gemma.“You're hurting, I get it. But pushing me away won't make you hurt less… since you want me gone so badly, I'll leave…” she shrugged and turned around to walk away.“Go with her, Logan,” she heard Derek say and then she scoffed.“Why the heck should he go with me? Do I look like a baby to you? Do I look like I need protection!” Gemma slammed, turning around and glaring
ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATER “Gemgem!” “Gemgem!! What's taking you so long in there!!” Derek yelled from inside their bedroom. Gemma was inside the bathroom and was taking too long to get done and come outside. “Mom, daddy and I will leave without you!” Little Melina shouted from Derek's arms. “Mummy!!” She yelled yet again. Derek didn't bother trying to call out to Gemma again. Since Melina had taken over, he knew Gemma would be out in a minute or two, she doesn't joke with their little princess. “Dad, go check what mummy is doing in there…I'll go check if Aunt Esther is ready,” Melina said, getting off Derek's arms. She ran over to the door and just before she ran out, she suddenly halted. “Dad, don't waste any time in there, get mommy and meet us downstairs,” Melina warned. “Emmm….that's exactly what I'm going in there to do, I'm already dressed up,” Derek smiled at her. “Good, cause I don't want you two doing adult things in there, it takes way too much time,” Melin
“Congratulations, sweetheart!” Derek smiled broadly, proudly patting Gemma's head. It was though his words brought sudden realization on the faces of the executives. Those in favour of Gemma had proud smiles on their faces, while those against her murmured in dissatisfaction. “Congratulations!” Logan quickly hugged Gemma, also smiling broadly. “Thank you, big bro,” she laughed. “Say that again!” Derek said aloud, not minding the presence of other people in the room or the fact that they were live on air. “Big bro,” Gemma laughed. Logan smiled broadly, winking at Derek. “Hear that?” He raised a brow. Derek laughed, shaking his head. But then he was very happy. Gemma didn't have just him, she has Logan and Victor too. “Where is Victor?” He asked the moment he recalled that Victor was supposed to be up here. “He is having a party with the reporters downstairs,” Gemma laughed, recalling how they ditched him barely an hour ago. “You devils!” Victor's loud voice rang. “You left
“The person we've all been waiting for is finally here. Let's begin,” Derek announced.Inside the meeting room, seated around the enormous table were the executive members of the company with voting rights.“The entire country is curious about what is going on here right now, to keep the company's prestiges and reputation, I suggest we air the voting live,” Derek spoke.His words were met with both acceptance and rejection and soon the meeting room became noisy with everyone debating his suggestion aloud.Gemma stepped further into the meeting room, taking a stand right next to the vacant CEO seat.“We will air the voting!” She announced loudly, bringing the stop to the arguments.Most of the executives began to murmur in displeasure.“I won't have a woman tell us what to do?” One of the executives openly expressed his displeasure.“A woman you say,” Gemma didn't bother hiding her own displeasure.“Mr. Darlington, what are the qualities of a great CEO?” Gemma threw an unexpected quest
Gemma and Victor were quick to get into Logan's car. Logan didn't bother saying a word and got into the driver's seat. And sped off to Braun's company. Soon, the trio arrived at the company which had already been overtaken by reporters, the number of reporters in front of the company was very overwhelming. The moment Gemma stepped out of Logan's car, they all rushed over to her. “You said your husband was putting on a show here, there is no sign of life out here,” one of the reporters said. “Did you lie to get us away from Ferguson's residence?” Another asked. “You deceived us, Mrs. Ferguson, how are we to believe a word you said on the national television today?” Another asked. “That's my husband's car over there,” Gemma pointed in the direction of a black Veyron. “How sure are we that that's his car. We all saw his car get crushed by a Mack truck barely an hour ago,” another person countered. “Are you blind or simply don't want to check the plate number?” Logan who had just
“Where is Derek Ferguson and his wife?” One of the reporters asked aloud.To Logan, the question didn't matter. The fact that Derek and Gemma were not inside the crushed car, made his heart leap with joy. It meant they were probably safe somewhere and to him, that's the best news.“I can find them later,” he told himself.Finally looking away from the car, his eyes met some of the press who were gathered around the Mack truck. Victor seemed to be the centre of attention, making Logan rush over to know what was going on.Due to his display for madness earlier, the press easily cleared the way for him to get up the truck. Once he got up, he saw Victor dealing out punches to a nearly lifeless James.“That’s enough, Victor,” he grabbed Victor's shoulder and pulled him away from James.“The police are here, they'll do the needful. Let him go,” he kept pulling a pissed off Victor.His words were met with a scoff from James.“Who did you do that for?” Logan glared at James.“You,” the fool r
Elena, whom Mr. Brown had dragged back home with him, was awakened by the noisy shattering of what seemed like glass in the early hours of the new day. She was tired and worn out from the previous night's strenuous activities Mr. Brown put her through. Dragging herself out of his bed, she found her way down the stairs, limping. After getting discharged, her father had failed to win against Mr. Brown and then the man took her home with him. Since then, she hasn't had a single day of rest. She was forced to share his bed with him, she was forced to do all sorts of things in bed with a man old enough to be her father. And it was all because of Gemma. She blamed Gemma for her predicament. If Gemma hadn't pushed her to the wall, she wouldn't have gone to the damn club that day and wouldn't have been married to the old monster. She cursed Gemma for her fate. Few weeks ago, when Gemma came to the hospital and acted like she wanted them to become really good and close sisters, she hated it,
Gemma took an extra hour to answer the series of questions the news anchor had for her. The truth was that after waking up to a new life, she knew she had to do something to deal with the people that messed with her. Appearing harmful only by her spoken words was the only way to keep them off her back. It was the only way she could dig out their dirty, rotten and disgusting secrets and affairs without them having any knowledge of it. When she woke up to a new life, she had started with James, gathering evidence of every single thing he had done to her. The evidence she submitted for his assault on her was from years ago. She had placed a video recorder on her room that day for fear of James eventually having his way with her. She had taken that recording to show Sylvia and Max that James was serious about having his way with her. But then after she complained to Sylvia about it the second time and she brushed it off as nothing, she had set the recording aside. She never knew it would
Daniel and Victor walked out the Motel and stood right out there, watching drag her luggage across the street. Once she was out of sight, Logan turned to Victor. “You did put the tracker on her, right?” He asked and Victor nodded. “We have to call Derek and update him,” Victor mumbled. “Not yet. We never planned on taking care of Daniel with him. Let's just speak to him later,” Logan told him. Victor, who had already pulled out his phone, sighed, nodding in understanding. “It's still 5am, I doubt he would even be awake now,” Victor muttered, about to press the power button to turn off his phone. But then, a notification popped up on his phone. “Look,” he tapped Logan. Logan, who was very invested in getting things done and done for all, didn't bother looking down at his phone, thinking it was one of his silly jokes. “It's Gemma,” Victor said in utter disbelief. That instant, Logan snatched the phone from him. Victor sighed and stood just next to him watching Gemma who was live
“Andrea said she met Rachel at Dalking street. Which means she is somewhere around there. That bitch isn’t wise enough to plan a full proof operation…” Victor was saying but was cut off by Logan.“I know all this, Victor. Where is Rachel right now?” he asked.“I don’t have her exact location but she should be in any hotel around Dalking street or that area. Rachel is in debt right now. That’s probably why she is in the slums…Dalking street is in the slums. She should be in any cheap hotel or motel around there…” Victor responded.“Well then, let's start with the cheapest one,” Logan suggested.Getting into Logan's car, the duo drove till they came to a stop at a public parking lot. The both knew it was probably not safe to take an exotic looking car into the slum. They would end up bringing unwarranted attention to themselves.Once they got out of the car, they found their way into the alleyway that led to slums. Both never said a word to each other again and simply focused on the tas