โWhatโs going on Ace?โ I gazed at both of them, frowning, and they looked at each other. Then the little girl spoke as Ace put her down. โYou must be Raven Snow. Dandelion has only mentioned you once to me. But itโs nice to meet you. Iโm Periwinkle but you can call me Perry.โ She smiled and I raised my brows. โPerry is Judithโs god-daughter.โ Ace added. โThatโs true. But Dandelion treats me like his own daughter.โ Perry said to me with a toothy grin. Ace watched me intently. I gazed at the two then I sighed with relief. โI apologize Perry I just thought Ace was hiding something from me. Itโs nice to meet you too. I really love your nick name, itโs cute.โ โDandelion is Aceโs nickname. Periwinkle is my actual name. My parentโs gave me that name. It was my momโs favourite flower. โWas? Iโm sorry to her that Perry.โโItโs alright. Iโve Dandelion and godmother Judith taking care of me.โ I smiled. I was very glad that she wasnโt who I thought she was. I didnโt know Ace had a soft spot
โGood morning Mr. Black.โ I stood and greeted Ace as he walked into his office. โGood morning Raven.โ โWeโre doing first names now?โ I asked him, playfully arching my brow. โNo. itโs just me.โ He smiled briefly and I rolled my eyes at him. โWhatโs my schedule for today?โ โYou have a photoshoot for the business magazine at 10 And youโll have lunch with your mother. Afterwards weโll visit the new art centre that is being built. Iโll send you a few documents that was emailed to me from the hotel branch in Busan, Korea. Youโll need to review them.โ He nodded. โFollow me to my office.โ I followed Ace into his office and as soon as we both entered, Ace pulled me into him and claimed my lips. He sucked the air out of my lung, his lips dominated mine and I gave in to him. We pulled away and I rest my forehead against his. โI guess weโre in trouble now since we just kissed in your office, during work hours.โ โYou didnโt get me my coffee and I needed to wake up.โ โNow how am I supposed t
โAre you done?โ Ace asked. He was leaning against my desk as he spoke to me. โNo. I have to finish up two more documents and Iโll be done.โ I answered. โDo you need help with them? I donโt want to leave you here alone.โ โThatโs very sweet of you Mr. Black, but I can do them on my own.โ He chuckled. โYouโre really something Raven. Independent and hardworking as Iโve observed. Youโre also very focused on what you do. And the way you say my name is so sexy.โ I laughed, looking up at him. He swept my bangs out of my face and cupped my chin. โIf I leave you here, I might lose you to someone else, I donโt like losing whatโs mine. Iโm staying.โ Ace spoke in a deep tone. Ace got off my desk and walked into his office. โWhy is he so possessive of me?โ I murmured and shook my head smiling. I like it when he acts like that, but sometimes, Ace can be a little extreme. Itโs been about a month since Ace and I started dating and we havenโt had any problems so far. My feelings for him just grow
โMy mother wants me to seal a deal with one of her old friendsโ โShe asked for something in return. And today, weโre going to pay her back.โ โSheโs been wanting to meet you for a very long time.โ These words replayed in my head and nothing was making sense at the moment. โWhatโs going on Papa?โ I turned to him. โAlbert and Shirley.โ Adrianna called my parents with a smile. She walked up to them and hugged them. I stood quietly watching everything. โItโs nice to finally see you two again.โ โThanks for the warm welcome Adrianna.โ Mama said with a bright smile, full of enthusiasm. Adrianna glanced at me and smiled. โIโm guessing youโre Raven.โ She spoke. โIโm Adrianna Black. Your fatherโs old friend.โ โYouโre Aceโs mother.โ I said. โAh, you know my son already. Wonderful.โ She hugged me, glanced at Ray and went to hug my sister. โRachel Burton.โ โHello Mrs. Black.โ They shared a smile and hugged again. โHowโs the project in Singapore?โ โGoing on smoothly thanks to you.โ Adria
How I was able to ignore Ace at the office was something. I didnโt speak to him unless it involved work. He kept his distance and so did I. I made sure to be cold to him. I was too busy building up hate in my heart for Ace to notice the tension that had built up in the office. Every evening when I returned from work, Iโd cry so much that my head and eyes would hurt. I always felt like the walls I built up to make me mentally sane were going to crumble and fall on me. I was losing my shit. An arranged marriage. If something is not done about it, I might end up committing suicide and Iโm not kidding about this. If my depression worsens, I surely will. Mama had been trying so hard to control my life and I always found ways to prevent that, until this arranged marriage got in the way. She should be rewarded for that, being able to accomplish the impossible, something no one has been able to do, controlling my life. She deserved it. I wondered if she was boasting to her relatives about h
I confidently walked down the staircase to Aceโs spacious living room, which was now a ballroom, in my all-black outfit, catching everyoneโs attention. People gasped, others whispered amongst themselves. Mama was glaring, Papa and Ray were amused. Adrianna looked confused and Ace was smirking. Mama walked up to me when I reached the bottom of the staircase. โWhat do you think youโre doing, Yaa?โ She spoke in Twi. โIโm doing what I want.โ I replied. Then I walked past her to Papaโs side. Adrianna came over, she was in shock. โWhat happened to the dress I bought you?โ โI didnโt like it. So I changed.โ Her face turned red. I could see how hard she was trying to stay calm. โThe dress code for this event is all white.โ โI like to stand out sometimes. Iโm the bride to be, I need to be the centre of attention, not blend in with everyone else. Didnโt you want all eyes to be on your soon to be daughter-in-law?โ Adrianna was speechless. I grinned at her in satisfaction. Her reaction was ex
โI want you to move in with Ace before the engagement.โ Adrianna spoke.โHuh?โ I frowned. โI know Iโve had too much to drink but me, move in with Ace? Did I hear you correctly?โ I slurred, Papa pinched me. โLetโs wait till after the wedding.โโRaven. Please, just listen.โ Pleaded Papa. I sighed and glared at Ace, he smirked.โFine, Iโll do it. But weโll sleep in different rooms and he will stay a good distance away from me.โโThat wonโt be a problem.โ Adrianna smiled brightly. I wonder why sheโs always smiling as if thereโs nothing wrong with everything right now. โIโd like it if you could move in tomorrow.โโNope.โโWhy not?โ Mama asked.โJust no. Iโve got work tomorrow. My boss is the most arrogant person Iโve ever worked for. He wouldnโt be happy if I just skipped work.โโIโm very sure he wouldnโt mind.โ Ace replied.โHow do you know? My boss is very unpredictable. Today heโs in a good mood, tomorrow heโs in a bad mood and thatโs annoying as fuck. Iโll move in when I want to.โ Then
My stomach rumbled as we drove to my flat and Ace made a look.โI asked you to eat at least something, donโt deny that youโre not hungry now Raven. I just heard your stomach rumble.โโWould it hurt if you minded your own business?โโYouโre my fiancรฉe I have to make sure youโre healthy.โ I glared at him. โAt least as my assistant, itโs my duty to make sure youโre well taken-care of.โโOh really?โ I retorted. โI didnโt think so when you were making me work endlessly to death.โโI was sort of pissed that you didnโt kiss me that day.โ He sighed. โLetโs not do this now. Iโm taking you to the closest restaurant right now for you to eat something, Iโm not going to listen to anything you say. You will eat something.โโI prefer a diner.โ He narrowed his eyes at me. My expression matched his.โFine.โ He mumbled.I gave Ace directions to a diner I usually ate at. They had great food even though it looked mediocre. To my rich and snobbish soon-to-be husband, it would look low-class and heโll prob
My door rang right after I had finished rearranging my flat and making it look more like home again. I took in deep breaths and answered my door.โHi.โ Todd was smiling when I opened the door. He had something in his hand, plastic bags. โI brought snacks.โโCome in.โ I let him inside the flat.โNice place.โโThank you.โ I let Todd sit while I got him something to drink. โSo whatโs up?โ I started.Todd brought something up about the stuff he did when he moved away after we broke up and how he missed me. I knew they were all lies but at least I was being entertained by those lies. Then he brought up those fun times we had when we were dating.โDo you remember the time when you poured dye in the swimming pool while the swim team was practising and everyone on the team turned black?โโOh I remember.โ I chuckled. โThose racists.โ I said under my breath. โBut it was fun.โโYeah. You showed them not to mess with you. It was really cool. It was menacing but it was very bold of you.โโOf cour
โYou wanna go out for lunch at that Asian restaurant?โโThe one five blocks from my flat? Or is there a new one?โ I asked her.She chuckled. โThe one close to your apartment. Come on Raven please?โโUh..โ I had been avoiding Lana. I felt bad that she knew nothing about my engagement. Ace found ways to block the news from reaching her and her family. But I was afraid she was going to find out soon. Avoiding her would also raise suspicions too. I just have to go this time. โSure Lana. I just have one or two things to finish up and Iโll be out soon.โโGreat. Canโt wait to see you.โShe hung up and then I heaved a sigh. โWhatโs wrong?โ Ace asked, entering my room, with just his towel around his waist and his hair was wet. The temperature in the room suddenly rose up.โDo you mind going back to your room and putting on some clothes?โโFrom the look on your face, youโre enjoying the sight.โ He smirked and I tried to look anywhere but his face. โyou canโt even hold eye contact.โโJust go and
My stomach rumbled as we drove to my flat and Ace made a look.โI asked you to eat at least something, donโt deny that youโre not hungry now Raven. I just heard your stomach rumble.โโWould it hurt if you minded your own business?โโYouโre my fiancรฉe I have to make sure youโre healthy.โ I glared at him. โAt least as my assistant, itโs my duty to make sure youโre well taken-care of.โโOh really?โ I retorted. โI didnโt think so when you were making me work endlessly to death.โโI was sort of pissed that you didnโt kiss me that day.โ He sighed. โLetโs not do this now. Iโm taking you to the closest restaurant right now for you to eat something, Iโm not going to listen to anything you say. You will eat something.โโI prefer a diner.โ He narrowed his eyes at me. My expression matched his.โFine.โ He mumbled.I gave Ace directions to a diner I usually ate at. They had great food even though it looked mediocre. To my rich and snobbish soon-to-be husband, it would look low-class and heโll prob
โI want you to move in with Ace before the engagement.โ Adrianna spoke.โHuh?โ I frowned. โI know Iโve had too much to drink but me, move in with Ace? Did I hear you correctly?โ I slurred, Papa pinched me. โLetโs wait till after the wedding.โโRaven. Please, just listen.โ Pleaded Papa. I sighed and glared at Ace, he smirked.โFine, Iโll do it. But weโll sleep in different rooms and he will stay a good distance away from me.โโThat wonโt be a problem.โ Adrianna smiled brightly. I wonder why sheโs always smiling as if thereโs nothing wrong with everything right now. โIโd like it if you could move in tomorrow.โโNope.โโWhy not?โ Mama asked.โJust no. Iโve got work tomorrow. My boss is the most arrogant person Iโve ever worked for. He wouldnโt be happy if I just skipped work.โโIโm very sure he wouldnโt mind.โ Ace replied.โHow do you know? My boss is very unpredictable. Today heโs in a good mood, tomorrow heโs in a bad mood and thatโs annoying as fuck. Iโll move in when I want to.โ Then
I confidently walked down the staircase to Aceโs spacious living room, which was now a ballroom, in my all-black outfit, catching everyoneโs attention. People gasped, others whispered amongst themselves. Mama was glaring, Papa and Ray were amused. Adrianna looked confused and Ace was smirking. Mama walked up to me when I reached the bottom of the staircase. โWhat do you think youโre doing, Yaa?โ She spoke in Twi. โIโm doing what I want.โ I replied. Then I walked past her to Papaโs side. Adrianna came over, she was in shock. โWhat happened to the dress I bought you?โ โI didnโt like it. So I changed.โ Her face turned red. I could see how hard she was trying to stay calm. โThe dress code for this event is all white.โ โI like to stand out sometimes. Iโm the bride to be, I need to be the centre of attention, not blend in with everyone else. Didnโt you want all eyes to be on your soon to be daughter-in-law?โ Adrianna was speechless. I grinned at her in satisfaction. Her reaction was ex
How I was able to ignore Ace at the office was something. I didnโt speak to him unless it involved work. He kept his distance and so did I. I made sure to be cold to him. I was too busy building up hate in my heart for Ace to notice the tension that had built up in the office. Every evening when I returned from work, Iโd cry so much that my head and eyes would hurt. I always felt like the walls I built up to make me mentally sane were going to crumble and fall on me. I was losing my shit. An arranged marriage. If something is not done about it, I might end up committing suicide and Iโm not kidding about this. If my depression worsens, I surely will. Mama had been trying so hard to control my life and I always found ways to prevent that, until this arranged marriage got in the way. She should be rewarded for that, being able to accomplish the impossible, something no one has been able to do, controlling my life. She deserved it. I wondered if she was boasting to her relatives about h
โMy mother wants me to seal a deal with one of her old friendsโ โShe asked for something in return. And today, weโre going to pay her back.โ โSheโs been wanting to meet you for a very long time.โ These words replayed in my head and nothing was making sense at the moment. โWhatโs going on Papa?โ I turned to him. โAlbert and Shirley.โ Adrianna called my parents with a smile. She walked up to them and hugged them. I stood quietly watching everything. โItโs nice to finally see you two again.โ โThanks for the warm welcome Adrianna.โ Mama said with a bright smile, full of enthusiasm. Adrianna glanced at me and smiled. โIโm guessing youโre Raven.โ She spoke. โIโm Adrianna Black. Your fatherโs old friend.โ โYouโre Aceโs mother.โ I said. โAh, you know my son already. Wonderful.โ She hugged me, glanced at Ray and went to hug my sister. โRachel Burton.โ โHello Mrs. Black.โ They shared a smile and hugged again. โHowโs the project in Singapore?โ โGoing on smoothly thanks to you.โ Adria
โAre you done?โ Ace asked. He was leaning against my desk as he spoke to me. โNo. I have to finish up two more documents and Iโll be done.โ I answered. โDo you need help with them? I donโt want to leave you here alone.โ โThatโs very sweet of you Mr. Black, but I can do them on my own.โ He chuckled. โYouโre really something Raven. Independent and hardworking as Iโve observed. Youโre also very focused on what you do. And the way you say my name is so sexy.โ I laughed, looking up at him. He swept my bangs out of my face and cupped my chin. โIf I leave you here, I might lose you to someone else, I donโt like losing whatโs mine. Iโm staying.โ Ace spoke in a deep tone. Ace got off my desk and walked into his office. โWhy is he so possessive of me?โ I murmured and shook my head smiling. I like it when he acts like that, but sometimes, Ace can be a little extreme. Itโs been about a month since Ace and I started dating and we havenโt had any problems so far. My feelings for him just grow
โGood morning Mr. Black.โ I stood and greeted Ace as he walked into his office. โGood morning Raven.โ โWeโre doing first names now?โ I asked him, playfully arching my brow. โNo. itโs just me.โ He smiled briefly and I rolled my eyes at him. โWhatโs my schedule for today?โ โYou have a photoshoot for the business magazine at 10 And youโll have lunch with your mother. Afterwards weโll visit the new art centre that is being built. Iโll send you a few documents that was emailed to me from the hotel branch in Busan, Korea. Youโll need to review them.โ He nodded. โFollow me to my office.โ I followed Ace into his office and as soon as we both entered, Ace pulled me into him and claimed my lips. He sucked the air out of my lung, his lips dominated mine and I gave in to him. We pulled away and I rest my forehead against his. โI guess weโre in trouble now since we just kissed in your office, during work hours.โ โYou didnโt get me my coffee and I needed to wake up.โ โNow how am I supposed t