What do you think of this chapter? Can you smell the twist I’m about to dish out?
JESSIE’s POVWaiting for mom’s surgery to be over felt like an eternity. The minutes were longer, the hours were unbearable. Uncle Sam and I sat in the stiff plastic chairs just outside the operating room, the fluorescent lights buzzing as loud as my thoughts.I tried to distract myself by counting the tiles on the floor, but my mind kept drifting back to mom. I didn’t even want to think for one second that she wouldn’t make it.Minutes turned into hours. Every time the doors swung open, my heart would leap, only to come crashing down.Uncle Sam tried to keep me calm, but he wasn’t doing a good job either. He was visibly shaking and seeing him like that tightened the knot in my chest even tighter.Finally one of the doctors emerged, his face grim. I jolted to my feet, my pulse racing. As the head surgeon approached us, I could see the cloud of concern around him before he even spoke.“Jessie…” he started, “We’ve done everything we can, but there’s a chance your mother might not mak
Jessie’s POVMe: Hello, this is Jessie Ford… Caller: Miss Ford, we recently received your application…My heart pounded as the voice on the other end continued.“…And we found you to be exactly what we need in our firm.”“What?!” I exclaimed, almost in disbelief.Caller: Your training begins in a week.“Oh, thank you Ma’am,” I responded, “Thank you so much.”As soon as the call ended, I began to dance in excitement.It seemed like all my miracles were happening in a day. Mother had gotten better, and now a job?! A job from only the biggest stock market company in the city. I applied at least three years ago to the internship position in that stock firm, hoping to discover the main reason behind my family’s bankruptcy. Even though my dream was to become a doctor, well, when life happens, a lot of things change and so did my dream. Now, my only dream was to restore my family to what it originally was, or even better, and I was one step closer. As I turned around, I realized I wasn
Jessie’s POVToday marked exactly five days since I started working at Yates Stock Exchange Company. It was the last day of the work week and even though my heart was filled with hope and optimism for the new life, I was exhausted from juggling both work and mom’s medical care.I was looking forward to the weekend, but most especially I was looking forward to mom’s discharge.The elevator doors opened and I came face to face with my supervisor, Mr Dani Smith, for a man in his late twenties, he looked older than his age— not in a bad way. His salt and pepper hair and the faint lines around his eyes gave him a distinct look.I sauntered into the elevator and greeted Mr Dani, and he gave me a smile I had come to like— warm and welcoming.“You don’t look well.” He commented.“Oh no, I’m alright sir. I’m just a bit tired.”We engaged in small talk as the elevator descended the twenty three floors of the building.“Would you like a ride? I’m going your way anyway,” Mr Dani asked, and hones
Jessie's POVThe ride back home was unbearably quiet, mother sat in the backseat while I sat next to Gavin simmering with anger.Quit my job?I couldn’t believe him. Did I really have to do everything he wanted? The car rounded up at his mansion and my mom gasped. Until now, I never really took in the exquisite beauty of Gavin’s mansion. Perhaps it was his unbearable desire to ruin my life that kept me from seeing anything good about him.I helped mom down the car while he surprisingly offloaded her bags from the trunk. Mom was all smiles as we walked into the mansion, her eyes tinged with awe.“Dinner is ready!” Sandra announced. Meanwhile, I was in the bathroom, practicing my explanations to mom. I had no idea what Gavin had told her in my absence but I had to find a way to tell mom that we were married without telling her about the contract part. The speech I had crafted out was good, yet as I approached the dining table, my confidence weaned down.Seated at the head of the
Gavin’s POVFrom the day I heard Ryan berating her for not wearing a ring, it bothered me badly. She was already going through so much, a ring shouldn’t be part of it.On my business trip, my first stop was the London Jewelry Store. I spent two weeks, practicing the right words to say when giving her the ring but seated here, as I slid the cold metal on to her fingers, words failed me and all I could say was;“Give me your hand.”Jessie’s gaze lingered on mine, and I wished I could hear her thoughts at that moment.She looked at the ring, then back at me. The silence was both terrifying and confusing.“I can’t be the only one wearing a ring…” she spoke finally, and I let out a soft sigh of relief.Jessie, unpredictable as always.“What now?” I groaned, rather tiredly.“If I’m wearing a ring, you should too…” I couldn’t help but smile, “I’ll think about it,” I replied.She gave a slight nod, her gaze fixed on the piece of jewelry.“Do you like it?” I blurted out before I could hol
Jessie's POVSaturday, 7amFrom the balcony, I watched him dive into the swimming pool.I was determined to make sure we wouldn’t “redo” five years ago. “What would you like for breakfast, Mrs. Pierre?” Sandra’s voice broke my thoughts.“Don’t worry about me,” I replied quickly, “I won’t stay for breakfast.“With that, I was out of the house, headed for the gate.It was just a week but I had already started learning a few things about shares and investments. My family’s business maintained a small cycle of share ownership— mostly friends and family. For my father to have lost his position, together with the biggest percentage of shares ownership in his company, somebody must have bought him out— Somebody in our family’s small circle and that is what I was determined to find today.“But first of all, I have to find Dad.”All day, I combed through the city, going from one old friend to the other, but no one seemed to know my father’s whereabouts. It was like he completely disappeared
Jessie’s POVSunday, 7amI blinked my eyes open, my head throbbing with the kind of pain I couldn’t explain.I shook my head, trying to clear it, but it only became worse.I struggled to sit up with visible efforts. As I looked around my surroundings, I realized how different it was from Gavin’s home.The question of where I am was immediately answered when Greg Benedict entered the room with a tray of food.My eyes widened in shock… not because of the person standing before me but because he was wearing nothing but shorts.Fear gripped me. What if I had done something stupid like that night with Gavin? What if I’d slept with someone else?! I panicked.My heart pounded in my chest. I shouldn’t be here. Greg was a long time college friend, one whose path and I crossed a few times. Although I couldn’t completely recall how I ended up in his house, one thought superseded all— I needed to be home.I jolted up from the bed, throwing on my jacket.“Greg, thanks. Thank you so much for br
Jessie's POVIt’s been a few days since I discovered my father had another family and every time mom and I spoke, there was a lump in throat, tightening my chest. I couldn’t tell her, I would not tell her, but I needed someone to share with. I picked up my phone, scrolling through my contacts, my finger stopped on names after names, until I finally stopped at Gavin.Did he travel again? Is he just avoiding me? Even after I apologized? I hadn't seen him in days. What's going on?“Jess!” Mr. Dani called out, interrupting my train of thoughts. “Are you ready to have your first big meeting?”“If things go well today, you might be getting a promotion.”“A promotion?” I exclaimed, “I just joined the company, and I’m getting promoted? I’m pumped!"As we headed towards the conference hall, passing a number of colleagues, I silently observed eyes on me. I mean, I always noticed eyes on me, but today it seemed like it was more than just eyes— they were soft whispers as I walked past too.“W
While Jessie gripped the bedsheets, biting into her pillow to keep her sobs from reaching her mom, Gavin was laying watch on his phone. As usual, Viktor was an excellent executor, the news had blown up as he expected.He had set the internet ablaze for the third time this year, not that he enjoyed being on the news but some things cannot be avoided especially if the public made it a point to be interested in your life.On the Sunday morning when the news had blown up, Gavin stood a few feet from his laptop on the table with a cup of black coffee in hand, his gaze unwavering on the screen.With each passing second, he watched the article explode, stirring the internet awake.On the left hand side, his phone was buzzing with calls and messages too many to reply, not that he was interested in any of them. Franklyn barged into the room, the disapproval in his expression met with Gavin's darkened eyes, and for a moment none of them spoke to the other. Tensed silence settled over the roo
Chapter 75Gavin leaned against the kitchen counter, staring blankly at the black coffee in front of him. It was his only food for the last few days. Black coffee to keep awake, hot whiskey to keep his mind from Jessie. The closer he came to finding Remi Martin’s associate, the more tricky the case became. The events of the late fee days replayed in his mind, a relentless loop of anger and frustration. After waiting for five days (which seemed like forever to him) Gavin came up with an idea. If someone was really out to get his wife, then he had to fish him out, and what better was there to bait a fish than to use the very thing the fish wanted.What he wasn’t aware of was how deeply hurt he had made the bait. What he didn’t know was how devastated he had left the bait.The door creaked open and Franklyn walked in, his face almost scrunched up in tears. Gavin paused, observing his demeanor. “What happened?”“That was unnecessary!” Franklyn yelled, “Why do we have to do it this w
Gavin arrived his safe house at mid day. The house was filled with cobwebs mirroring how long it had been since he last stepped foot there. For a brief moment, he had thought his life had become stable, how wrong he was.He dropped his last luggage in the one room apartment and slumped into the dusty couch. For some reason, his head was about to explode from thinking about Jessie. He knew that leaving her behind was a risky, reckless decision, but it was for the best. Or so he wanted to believe. He thought that clinging onto Jessie was going to expose her to more danger, but if he quickly discarded her, he figured, no, hoped— he hoped that if he discarded her, they would ask him for something else. Never in his life had he ever attacked a problem without waiting it out for a few days. So his first plan here was to wait… but other than that, he came here to quietly investigate which of Remi Martin’s associates wanted his wife.And so, work began.The week passed by in such a blur
Jessie stood outside the gate of her mother’s house (well, technically her house because she bought it.) She never thought she’d see the day when going home felt so difficult. She in fact bought this house because she was so eager to leave Gavin. Funny how life can deceive us.A sad smile crossed her face as she thought about that day, not too long ago. Falling for Gavin had happened so suddenly, in a way she never expected. Maybe she had always loved him, or maybe it wasn’t love. Maybe it was pity, maybe it was guilt. Whatever it was, she always found herself wondering how he was doing. Whenever his name popped up in the news, she always found herself rooting for him. Maybe it was retribution. Maybe it wasn’t. But now that they had confirmed their feelings for each other, was that what he expected of her? To stand by and watch him suffer from a distance. Gavin had once mentioned that he fancied her from their first night together, but didn’t ever act on it to protect her from
Gavin had faced many oppositions in his life and every time he conquered. One time he was cursed with a hateful accountant, and that year his finances were in shambles, still he didn’t fall. The other time, he had to navigate a hostile takeover attempt by a rival company. Everyone told him he would lose it all— his business, his wealth. Even Aunt Meryl out of empathy, started cleaning his old room in the family house. Yet, despite the odds, Gavin came out successful. Despite knowing all these, despite being the same Gavin who went all in, and came out victorious. This time felt different. Like he wouldn’t survive it this time.In moments like this, normal people had the encouraging words of a friend or loved one ringing in their minds. But what did Gavin have? What played in his mind? The cruel voice of Candace Remington, telling him: “The Devil of Darion Town has something to protect, which also means he has something to lose… something that can be taken.”Painfully, she was
Chapter 71Gavin clenched his fist so tight his fingers dig into his palms. He was one breath away from punching this damn Don Corleone wannabe in the face. How dare he? But something held him back— it wasn’t fear. It was actually discipline. Jessie had once told him that violence never solved anything. Even if he was boiling inside, Gavin released a deep breath, his eyes spoke volumes but he held back. “Who is this your good friend?” He asked, his voice hoarse.“I can’t say,” Remi Martin replied, “But I can assure you, your wife will be safe.”The more Gavin tried to understand this, the harder it was for him. Was this man suggesting that he gave out his wife to service another man for the night? Is that what he was insinuating?“Unfortunately,” he said barely restraining him himself, “I don’t share, Remi.“ Remi Martin smiled a sly smile, nodding his head in agreement. “No man wants to share his wife, Mr. Pierre, I agree. I’ll go talk to my friend one more time. Like I told yo
Chapter 70Gavin’s phone rang about a thousand times that morning. There were calls coming from left and right. Franklyn must have called a hundred times. Yet there was no answer. He was cuddled up in bed on a Monday morning, enjoying the close warmth of his wife.Jessie woke up first, feeling the sun rays warm up her face. She blinked her eyes open, her lips curved into a small smile as she took in her husband’s breath. Gavin woke up at the same time, the sun rays sting his eyes, but it was nothing compared to what he was going to feel later in the day. “Morning baby,” he mumbled, pulling Jessie closer. Meanwhile, pacing the gates of his company were his staffs, including Franklyn. “Oh for fuck sakes, man!” He cried, frustrated by how many times he had to call one person. Finally, after what felt like an eternity. Gavin finally came to the phone, his voice a sharp contrast to the chaos in his company.“You can’t possibly still be in bed with what’s going on man!” Franklyn’
Chapter 69“Oh god, oh god, oh god!” Jessie exclaimed, exasperated. That wasn’t how she wanted this play out. That wasn’t how it played in her mind. When she retorted, “I can’t be pregnant! We’re not really married…”Instead of going to see a doctor. “For what?!” She fumed.She was expecting him to insist on children, on marrying her.Jessie paused, “Was I a bit too much with the drama?” She slumped to the bed, holding her head in her hand. After a long moment of staring at the ceiling, Jessie let out a deep sigh and pushed herself off the bed. She felt silly now, having built up the situation in her head only for it to backfire. It was just like Gavin to throw her off balance but really, he had led her on into thinking he wanted children. She went to the bathroom and freshened up, splashing cold water on her face to clear her thoughts. Then she took some time to wash her body. She felt all kinds of sore down there. Gavin had wrecked her yet she smiled to herself, wanting not
Chapter 68It was impossible, right? That his condition could be contagious. This nasty side of Jessie. He loved it, yet it scared him. But his silence had lasted for too long. His thoughts were written on his face, replacing the satisfaction that should have been there in stead. “You… what’s wrong?” She asked, affected by his face. Gavin snapped off his thoughts, forcing a smile. “I loved it,” he said, sounding as casual as he could mutter. Jessie’s smile returned. “My turn?” She beamed, half-asking, half-expecting. Gavin scoffed, “Your turn?”“Sure,” he said, “If that’s what you want.”Jessie’s eyes sparkled, glinting with both anticipation and excitement for what was to come. Gavin grabbed her by the neck pulling her closer. He kissed her, tasting the after taste of his cum in her mouth. His kiss lingered, her lips were wet and soft, he bit it and she gasped. Sliding in his tongue, he dominated her mouth with his kiss. His hand found her breast, fondling and caressing