"Hm, I just came to check up on her sir. I was about leaving." Khole managed to respond, trying to hide her fear soot doesn't seem like she was doing something wrong.Jayden scrutinized every corners of the room before, looking back at her and took a quick glance at Jessica who was still on the bed. "Wake her up, other maids are awake, why is she still sleeping?" He said and turned to leave but suddenly stopped. "Also, let her know I would be having some visitors tonight, she should get ready to attend to them." He slammed the door loudly, which caused Jessica to jump out of the bed, looking confused and shocked, wondering what was going on."What's happening? Is Jayden in a bad mood again? Was that a gun shot?x She asked, looking around. "Calm down" Khole said, laughing out loud. When she was sure Jessica was fully awake and back to her senses, she passed Jayden's information to her and began to head towards the door. "See you later!" She shouted."Thank you, Khole. I will freshen
Thousands of thoughts ran through Jessica's mind as she struggled to free herself from Jayden but he had overpowered her and all her efforts were in vain. She thought of giving him a hard kick in his groin which seemed to be the only way she can be freed. "What if it only gets him more angry?" She thought inwardly."Look at me!" Jayden commanded."Let me go" She replied."I see you aren't ready to corporate.""Just let me go, I have no business with you neither do you." Jessica shouted."You dare to shout at me?" Jayden asked her with a calm voice but his facial expression was different. His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, his muscles tensed radiating tension which sent shivers down Jessica's spine. It quickly occurred to her that she and Jayden weren't how they used to be before, she was now a normal maid and not the mother of his unborn child he used to love anymore. "I'm sorry I shouted at you, I didn't mean it." She said immediately, looking away while feeling hopeless still be
Eva stood motionlessly, looking at Jayden who face was cold. His face turned a deep, mottled red and his eyebrows arched with hot blood running through this vein. She could see how angry he was to see her a d she wondered if Lillian had given her false information, just to make her come here and die. "That witch told me, he doesn't know anything about the death of his child and I can lie to him. My mission isn't complete if Jayden isn't destroyed." She said to herself inwardly, avoiding to look at Jayden as he got nearer."What are you doing here?" Jayden asked again.He turned this time, heading to his drawer and Eva needed no one to tell her what he was going to get. As she stood frozen, her eyes wide with terror, the color drained from her face, leaving behind a pale, ghostly complexion. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and her hands trembled like leaves in an autumn breeze. She couldn't help but think of Lillian who might have probably lied to her, just to get revenge beca
Jessica ignored Eva and kept on walking, the last thing she wanted is a banter or and exchange of words with Eva. She increased her pace walking hurriedly to the kitchen in order to figure out what to prepare for Jayden and his guests by evening. She couldn't bother or care less about Eva or anything she had to say."I'm talking to you Jessica, you proud maid. Who would have imagined?" She said mocking while trying to meet up with her. Immediately she got close to Jessica, she grabbed her hands and pulled closer. "I'm talking to you Jessica, I see you must have grown wings and lack respect " Eva told her."Let go of me Eva, while I'm letting you to.," Jessica said to her, trying to pull her arms from her tight grasp."Or what? Huh? If I don't let you go what would you do? Beat me or kill me?" She asked, shaking her arms."Kill you? That would be great. I will take revenge for the death of my child you and you crew killed. Shockingly, Eva laughed out loud, letting go of Jessica arm a
For a second, Lillian got scared with Hailey sudden change of attitude. She barely know anything about her and wouldn't want to involve in a fight with her or exchange words either. At that moment, Jessica walked into the kitchen, carrying the a bowl of tomatoes on her hand. "Jessica, lead this new maid to the maids room." Lillian instructed."But, you can obviously see I am" "Shut up! I don't want to hear any but, just do as I say." Lillian shouted at her. Jessica wasn't in the mood to argue nor exchange words, she turned to Hailey who was suddenly smiling again, like her smiling switch was turned on again. "Hi, I'm Hailey." She said smiling, revealing her white set of teeth."Jessica." "Hmm, You are Jessica." Hailey said with her eyes open as she kept on smiling."Yes." Jessica responded and chuckled as she began to walk. "Come on, let's go""My room is room 1" Hailey said to her."Room 1?" Lillian asked, laughing profusely. "Well , that's my room and there is no way that's your
Hailey walked away boiling in anger as she headed to the Kitchen, hoping to find Lillian and tell her about Khole. The moment she got into the kitchen, the aroma from the food Jessica was cooking hit her nose and she suddenly forgot how angry she was, besides Lillian was in the kitchen."Hi Jessica, what are you preparing?" Hailey asked with a wide smile on her face as she got nearer."Jayden's favourite dish, Pasta. He has some visitors this evening and asked me to prepare something really good." Jessica responded with a smile stirring the pasta one last time before finally putting off the cooker."That's really nice, the aroma from this food is everything. I can tell it taste really good even though I haven't eaten it " Hailey said, patting her shoulder. "You must be tired." "You can imagine." Jessica responded. "Well it almost time and they might be here anytime soon, I would go and set the table now, would you like to assist me?" "I would love to but I wanted to use this evening
Hailey was in shock by how rude Jayden was. She expected any behaviour from him because Eva had told her a lot about him and how ruthless he can be. She knew she was going to have a physical encounter with him one way or the other but she didn't expect it to be on her first day.She left the living room with a frown on her face, feeling so embarrassed. "He demands that you do it yourself Jessica." Hailey told Jessica without looking at her the moment she stepped into the kitchen. "He said that?" Jessica asked surprisingly."Well, yes he did." She responded angrily which could be easy detected from her tone."I guess people have to learn the hard way." Khole said, smiling profusely and withholding the laugh threatening to burst out."You think this is funny?" Hailey asked, moving closer to her slowly."No! Not here, Not now please." Jessica immediately said to them, pushing Hailey backwards as she took a few step forward but stopped.She took in a deep breath with her two eyes closed,
Jessica came into the dining room with Hailey and Khole. The aroma of freshly cooked pasta wafted as they entered making their mouth watering but they didn't want to show it and kept on discussing among themselves which got Jayden angry. "Why can't they keep shut? Can't they see someone is before them?" He said inwardly, staring at each of them one after the other but none of them noticed the look on his face.Jessica carried a large, steaming hot serving pasta, adorned with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a few fresh basil leaves. The eight men seated around the table looked up from their conversations, the moment she placed it on the table with their their faces lighting up with anticipation."Sorry for the delay." She said and they only nodded their heads in unison like they wear being controlled or were suddenly dumb.As Jessica began to serve the pasta, the men watched with interest. She expertly twirled the pasta onto each plate, adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a driz
One evening, after Ethan had been tucked into bed, his soft snores drifting through the house, Jayden and Jessica sat on the terrace overlooking their garden. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the manicured lawns and blooming flowers. A comfortable silence settled between them, a silence filled with love and contentment.Jayden took Jessica’s hand in his, his fingers intertwining with hers. He looked at her, his eyes filled with love and a hint of something else, contemplating.“Jessica,” he began, his voice low and thoughtful. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about.”Jessica squeezed his hand gently. “What is it, Jayden?”He took a deep breath. “Ethan, he’s going to grow up so fast. He deserves a normal life, Jessica. A life without...without the shadows.”Jessica knew what he was talking about. The “shadows” – the life Jayden had led, the life of power, danger, and violence that had been his reality for so long. She had always worried about it, worried
The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. Jayden sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on his phone. He had barely slept, his mind consumed by the message, the silence, the impending deadline. He glanced at the clock. It was almost noon. He had given them until noon."Any news?" Jessica asked, her voice filled with hope and anxiety. She sat beside him, her hand resting on his arm.Jayden shook his head. "Nothing," he said, his voice grim. "Not a word."He could see the disappointment in her eyes, the flicker of hope dimming. He hated this. He hated putting her through this, raising her hopes only to have them potentially dashed."What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.Jayden looked at her, his heart aching. "I'm going to do what I said I would do," he replied, his voice firm. "I'm going to find them."Just then, his phone buzzed. He snatched it up, his heart pounding in his chest. It was a message from the unkno
Jayden stared at his phone, his eyes fixed on the screen, willing it to display a reply. Who is this? What are you talking about? he had texted back, his fingers trembling as he typed. But the phone remained stubbornly silent. He checked it again and again, as if the act of looking could somehow conjure a response. Nothing.He sank back into the armchair, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. Jessica’s child… alive? The thought echoed in his mind, a flicker of hope igniting in the darkness. He had mourned the loss of that child, carried the weight of that grief for months. Now, this… this cryptic message. It was too much to process. He didn't know what to believe.He thought of Jessica, asleep upstairs, still recovering from her ordeal. Should he tell her? Could he dare to give her this hope, only to have it snatched away? He couldn't bear to inflict any more pain on her. But could he keep this from her? This… possibility?He got up and walked over to the window, staring ou
Jayden gently scooped Jessica into his arms, carrying her bridal-style as if she weighed nothing at all. He wanted to reassure her, to make her feel safe and cherished. He carried her through the silent mansion, up the grand staircase, and down the long hallway to his room. "No way is she staying in her room" He thought. She needs to be close, where I can keep an eye on her.He laid her gently on the king sized bed, the soft Egyptian cotton sheets a stark contrast to the rougher textures she’d endured recently. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his gaze filled with tenderness. “I’ll be right outside,” he murmured, kissing her forehead. “Just call if you need anything.”"All right" Jessica responded with a soft smile on her face.He closed the door softly behind him, leaving her in the capable hands of the maids whom he had intentions to fire soon. He couldn't trust any of them but he was certain they would take good care of her, since Lilian who gives them orders is now
"Why would you say that? I don't hate you, and I've forgotten whatever you did. Stop blaming yourself; it's all my fault, Jessica," he said, tightening the hug."You will hate me, Jayden. You will soon hate me," Jessica said, tears running down her eyes.Jayden pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions – concern, anger, and a deep, underlying sadness. "Jessica, what is it? What's wrong? You can tell me anything." He already knew. He’d seen the video. George’s cruel, gloating message. The confirmation of his worst fears. But he needed to hear it from her. He needed her to trust him enough to tell him.She hesitated, her gaze darting away from his. "It's… it's about George," she finally whispered, her voice trembling.Jayden's jaw tightened. He knew what she was going to say, but he forced himself to remain calm. "What about George?"Jessica took a shaky breath, her hands twisting in her lap. "He… he's been… for
Jayden's helped Jessica to her feet, his grip firm but gentle. "Come on," he urged, pulling her towards the exit. He didn't want to carry her in bridal style, incase they were attacked, he would be able to react swiftly. They moved quickly with Joe and Ben flanking them, guns raised, ready for any threat. The sounds of battle raged around them, but Jayden's focus was to get Jessica out, then erase every trace of this nightmare.They reached Jayden's car, a sleek black SUV parked a short distance from the building. He ushered Jessica inside, then turned to Joe and Ben. "Get the others out," he ordered. "Make sure no one is left behind."As Joe and Ben disappeared to round up the rest of their team, Jayden slid into the driver's seat. He glanced at Jessica, who was staring at the building with a mixture of awe and terror. He knew she was trying to understand him, trying to reconcile the man she knew with the ruthless operator he had become. He waited for a few more minutes and he saw J
The narrow staircase descended into darkness, the only light source Jayden’s tactical flashlight, cutting a swathe through the oppressive gloom. The air grew colder, heavier, thick with the smell of damp earth and something else… something metallic and faintly sickening. He gripped his gun tighter, his knuckles white. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the echo of his own footsteps on the stone steps.He reached the bottom, the stairs opening into a low-ceilinged chamber. The flashlight beam danced across rough-hewn walls, revealing a space that was more dungeon than basement. Chains hung from the ceiling, their cold iron glinting in the light. In the center of the room, a single bare bulb cast a sickly yellow glow, illuminating a scene that made Jayden’s blood run cold.Jessica was tied to a chair, her wrists bound tightly with rope. Her face was pale, streaked with tears and dirt. A gag covered her mouth, muffling her sobs. Standing before her, his back to Jayden, was George.
The gates, more like flimsy decorations than actual security, crumpled like paper under the weight of Jayden’s SUV. He didn’t even bother stopping; he just plowed right through, the twisted metal screaming a prelude to the carnage that was about to unfold. He jumped out, gun already in hand, the adrenaline pumping through him like a shot of pure fire. He wasn’t thinking straight, not really. Just pure, unadulterated rage.“Let’s go!” he yelled at his men, who were already spilling out of the other vehicles, weapons raised. The air crackled with tension, the quiet of the forest about to be shattered.George’s guards were scrambling, clearly caught off guard. They were expecting a quiet getaway, not a full-scale assault. They were outmatched, outgunned, and they knew it. Jayden moved like a man possessed, taking down two guards before they even had a chance to aim. He wasn’t playing around. This wasn’t a game.The clearing became a whirlwind of gunfire, shouts, and the sickening thud of
Jayden was seated in his room, going through the documents sent to him by Joe concerning Eva recent movement, purchases, pictures of her at different locations and all. Suddenly a video flickered to life on his phone screen. He’d received a cryptic message with a link, his heart already a lead weight in his chest. He’d known, somehow, that it was about Jessica. He’d been searching for her relentlessly, following every lead, every whisper, but it had all been dead ends. He pressed play, his breath catching in his throat. The first few seconds were a blur, just a dimly lit room. Then he saw Jessica, her eyes wide with terror, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, George appeared. Jayden’s blood ran cold. He felt a rage so intense, so primal, it was like a physical force. He gripped the edge of the desk so hard his knuckles turned white.He watched, his stomach twisting into knots, as George violated her. He wanted to scream, to reach through the screen and rip George apart, but he w