“Mum, Starry meet my girlfriend.” King nervously introduced his mother and his grandfather to Laura as they entered the hospital room where she was admitted. Your girlfriend ??? Laura exclaimed inwardly. “Your girlfriend?” This time around it was the doctor shooting him a quizzical look. “I never knew you had a girlfriend. In fact you never mentioned.” Dr Narcos cheerily added. Laura’s whole head was spiraling out of control. This cannot be happening. Not with everyone here! He’s going to find out she was pregnant. laura thought. Few hours ago she was rushed into the hospital after she collapsed in his house, the doctor was about speaking to them as it seemed like there was a problem when King’s Mother and Grandad walked in. Apparently they were to come visit him that morning but since he called to say he was at the hospital for an emergency, they decided to meet him at the hospital instead. She hurriedly turned to look at her Uncle sitting by the side of her bed with a scow
“I’m getting rid of it.” Laura I announced as tears ran down her cheek. “We’ve been going over this for two hours Lu. Two whole hours!. Why won’t you just calm yourself down.” Her uncle exclaimed. “And the McGorritth I’ve known is responsible. He’s probably just having a hard time taking it all in.” He added in a bid to convince. Right. The onus is on you to defend him? laura scoffed internally. “Oh please! everyone knows about his promiscuous lifestyle. I can’t afford to complicate my life any further. I cannot have this child. I won’t. I don’t care what any of you have to say.” She protested. Ever since they got back from the hospital the previous day, Laura had been arguing upon getting rid of the pregnancy. All what her Uncle— Dave, her Friend— Lucia and her cousin Maddie were saying weren’t helping. “Lucia, say something. Talk to her. She’ll listen to you.” Exhausted from the whole back and forth Dave pleaded. “I honestly don’t understand why she is so adamant. Isn’t he the
RECAP FROM TWO WEEKS AGO… “The 30th of this month would make it the second year I’ve been working as your house keeper sir. Long story short, I wish to ask for an increase in my salary.” Taking a deep breath. She Paused, said a little prayer and continued “with due respect I’ll also love to remind you for the umpteenth time, my name is Laura and not Miss Cotton. Sir.” Laura didn’t mind the stares as she walked off to the bus station— these Washington heights folks never mind their business— still practicing the salary increment pitch she hoped to deliver to her boss first thing that morning. With the sheet of paper in her left hand and her bag hanging over her right shoulder, she had been going over the pitch for the last fifteen minutes. Silently praying she doesn’t miss the M2 bus and this goddamn! sweat doesn’t ruin her shirt. What if he isn’t in a good mood today? Laura frowned at the thought. Not like she was scared of him— at least that’s what she chose to let her 23 year
“Did you say something?” He rested his two hands on his hips as he turned fully to face Laura. “Miss cotton? Did you say something” he asked again, this time much more demanding. Fiddling with her shirt, looking everywhere but at him hoping she was the only one hearing her heart pound this hard—this shit better not rip out. She tried coming up with a decent excuse but he beat her to it. “I believe you said nothing.” he stated, matter of factly. Daring her to say otherwise. He smells nice too. Damn! Laura thought. She nodded in agreement. Briefly meeting his gaze before angling her head to look at the secretary who was now dialing something on her phone and struggling to get into her dress. Still mumbling incoherent words, Stephanie glanced at Laura with a bemused look as she headed for the door. Ready to drop a whole trailer load of bullshit before Mr. McGorritth stopped her. “The door. Stephanie.” He seethed through clenched teeth. “Fine. I’m leaving. But don’t call me. I pr
You know what they say about practice makes perfect. Well, Laura had been standing in front of her dresser with just her yellow lace pant and bra going over her salary increment pitch again. “Okay the 10th time is the charm” she breathed out—that’s what you said ten minutes ago going over the third time. Knock knock. Knock— “lu ohhh I’m sorry…” Throwing her hands in the air “Dad!! You need to knock. And even at that. You need to wait for the magic word!” “I’m sorry miss. I was just checking to see if you were ready. I’m making coffee and pancakes, would you like to have any before leaving?” Trying to stifle his laugh he called out to her again. “Laura?” “Yes. Yes dad. I’ll be down in five.” Few minutes later she was sitting on the kitchen stool stuffing her mouth with the pancakes. Every morning she either had a rough start or an eventful one. But thanks to her old man and Maddie who still tried to get her motivated for the day. “So you were saying?” Downing her last
Lucia and her two kids have been struggling to make it through life daily. With Estelle as her eldest child who just turned fourteen last month, her little boy Chris would be turning 9 before the year ends. It’s been three years since Laura took a liking to Lucia’s family, doing everything possible to help and sustain them. Lucia is a single mum juggling different jobs as she try’s to fend for herself and the kids. These days she draws and paints from time to time, and whenever Laura goes to see them she picks up on drawing too with Lucia. Estelle also draws really well and just last year she was to go for an art competition when she got diagnosed with a heart condition. She has a hole in her heart. “I’m outside Lucia, are you in the hospital building?” “Yes. I just stepped out to get something for us to eat. Did you come with the pies?” Asked Lucia. “I told Estelle you were coming and she’s been talking my ear off” sounding excited. “Let me find your ward first.” Laura ended the
The thing with being extremely wealthy is that everyone wants to have something to say about you. It seems as if their two cents matter —well public opinion does matter in the grand scheme of things— but this generation has made it an unwritten rule to always have their eyes on the rich. It’s an obsession people these days use in order to get through their shitty lives. An evasive obsession. Art of escapism? “Mum did you call me this morning because of the loads of nonsense these tabloids have to say about me?” King spoke with a glint of unbelief in his voice. There’s a lot of smoke in the air and every where seemed to be in a frenzied state right now. Thank goodness his building is not a affected, just the back of his office and he’s trying to join in salvaging the situation. Yet! his mother chooses this moment??. Cutting her short as she tried reasoning with him “I really don’t have time to do this with you ma, you are very much aware fire from the next building found its way t
“Maddie!! I can’t find it. I can’t find it. I have almost turned the whole room up side down.” Laura sobs into her phone half yelling and panicking “Look Lu, you need to calm down. It’s just a ring. He won’t even notice, and didn’t you say he told you his guests would be arriving anytime soon? You need to leave the house.” Pacing round the room she replied “Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m loosing my mind Madds” “Girlllll you can’t have a break down right now. I’m too high for this. I was about charging my vibrator when you called back.” I need to do away with this girl. “Do you think he heard all what I said about him in the kitchen? Is this some sort of trap now to get me fired and killed? MADDIE TURN THAT VIBRATING MACHINE OFF!!” Shouldn’t you be at the cafe working right now? Why the hell is there a vibrator for goodness sake. She started off laughing “This is the millionth time you’ll be asking me this. And yes my dearest Miss cotton I think he eavesdropped on our conversation
So not everyone wearing scrubs were saints. King has got to learn the hard way.He was leaning back against the cool black leather seat of his SUV, his long fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on the armrest. Outside, the city lights were all white and gold in his eyes even despite the tinted windows. Detective Marshal’s call had come earlier and the urgency in his voice had pulled him out of his office. Luckily, Chase was around in time to cover up for him while he would be away. “King,” Marshal had said in a tone that demanded attention. “I’ve got something for you. We need to meet as soon as possible.” Marshal had said. No greetings, no small talk. Typical of him.Now here he was, parked in a high-rise parking garage, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror as Marshal approached. The detective opened the passenger door and slid in with what seemed like a practiced ease. Marsha never rushed into anything unprepared, and tonight was no different.“Detective,” King greeted him with
Dr. Liam leaned back against the cold wall tiles of his private shower, letting the steaming water cascade over his chiseled chest. The surgical mask lines were still showing on his face, and they reminded him of the exhausting C-section he had just completed. Liam was drained, physically and emotionally. Although he had saved a life today—two, actually. Same as yesterday and the day before—all he could think about was how much he hated these walls. Hospitals were sanctuaries for everyone else, but for him? It was more like a prison.He toweled off roughly, wrapping the plush white towel around his waist before stepping back into his office.And there she was.Stacey.Her red hair was pinned back into a messy bun, a shade too bright against her pale Texan skin. Her curvy body was poured into a black dress that hugged her thick thighs and ample chest like she had revenge to prove. She sat in his swivel chair like she owned the place, her legs crossed in a nonchalant way. Her cherry-re
Laura leaned against the counter that had displays of hot pastries, shifting her pregnancy weight to ease the pressure on her back. Her hand absentmindedly rested on her growing belly as she glanced at Maddie, who was swirling a spoon through a cappuccino she had no intentions of drinking.“So…” Laura started, dragging on that word to hint she was about to ask something prohibited. “How's Dr. Liam these days? Still too busy diagnosing his reflection in the mirror to have your time?”Maddie froze mid-way through swirling her coffee, her playful grin flattening out for just a second before she replaced it with a dramatic eye roll. “Ugh, can we not? It’s way too early for this.”Laura raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Too early, or too complicated? Madds, you know I’m going to ask eventually.”Maddie waved her hand dismissively, leaning on the counter. “He’s fine. You know, doing his doctor-y things and looking annoyingly good while doing them.” She giggled with dreamy eyes. “Noth
He knew the rules: money talked, and everyone else? They just nodded. The world worked on bribes, and the underpaid prison guard standing at the dimly lit corridor, guarding the cell gates, wasn’t about to turn down his envelope of dollar bills.“Back again, Mr. Clean?” The guard’s grin was all teeth and bad intentions, his hand greedily slipping the envelope into his jacket pocket.Matthew smirked, shoving his hands into his jacket. “You’re not paid to ask questions, Moses. I’m not here to bake cookies.”Moses laughed like they were old friends sharing an inside joke. “Fair enough. He’s in the usual spot. Ten minutes.”“Fifteen,” Matthew corrected, already stepping into the dark corridor that smelled of sweat, cheap bleach, and desperation for inmates to escape.Prisons weren’t supposed to feel comfortable, but this one had a bite of an annoying feeling that made his skin crawl every time he visited. And yet, here he was. Again.Dr. Hakeem’s cell was tucked in the back of the buildin
They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but Stephanie Pearson preferred hers steaming hot with a side dessert of sizzling chaos. And oh, she was starving.Stephanie’s crimson nails lightly scratched the silk fabric of her blouse as she stood in front of her floor-length mirror, her reflection staring back at her like an old friend with a knowing smirk. She wasn’t dressed for anything fancy—just a casual crop top and ripped jeans—but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the way her hand instinctively drifted to her stomach.“That foolish Laura,” she muttered, cocking her head to the side, her freckled nose wrinkling in displeasure. “Thinks she can have Kingston all to herself? Oh, honey. No can do.”Her reflection grinned back at her, she was the version of herself she had grown to love over the past few months. She couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle—no, that chuckle was psychotic, if heard closely. “How does she even sleep at night?” Stephanie continued, her high-pitched v
Kingston knew well how to control himself. Everything and every aspect in his life was organized, even down to the way he poured his whiskey. But as he found himself pressing Laura against the bedroom wall, his lips teasing hers with the kind of hunger that could ruin a person, all that control? Out the window.“King…” Laura whispered, her voice breathless, her lips swollen from his warm kisses.“Say it again,” he murmured, his mouth trailing down her jawline, his hands sliding beneath her dress, sending passionate heat on her skin.“King,” she repeated, her tone pleading this time.And that was all he needed.Neither of them remembered how they had made it to the bedroom or when her dress landed on the floor like a forgotten piece of memory. His shirt joined the pile, his tie long gone, and Laura’s delicate lingerie soon followed, leaving her body bare under the soft glow of the bedside lamp.“Lie down,” he commanded, his voice low and rough, yet filled with the only softness he had
Kingston McGorrith was not the kind of man you would expect to see juggling shareholder documents with baby-shopping plans at the back of his mind, but here he was, sitting at his mahogany desk, scrolling through spreadsheets like his life depended on it. And maybe it did. Between managing his multi-billion-dollar empire and making sure his pregnant wife was happy, this man was booked, busy, and his borderline was completely burned out.His office was quiet except for the sound coming from the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional ping of his phone. His assistant had just dropped off the finalized documents for Laura’s announcement as a shareholder, and King had to admit—it felt so unreal. Laura wasn’t just the mother of his unborn child; she was about to become part of his business, his legacy. The thought made him smile that rare but genuine smile that softened his usually sharp facial features.“Everything looks solid,” Brian said, leaning back in his chair as he flip
King barely made it through the front door before Laura was already up from the couch, her eyes lighting up as she reached for him. “Rough day?” she asked softly, her fingers sliding to loosen the silk tie he hadn’t even bothered to straighten properly.King groaned, tossing his briefcase to the floor like it had personally offended him. “Rough doesn’t even cover it.” He shrugged off his blazer, running a hand down his face. “Anne is missing.”Laura’s hands froze midway through loosening the tie as her brows arched up. “Wait. What?”“She’s been unreachable since earlier today. Her phone’s dead, no sign of her anywhere,” he muttered, his tone sharp, but the worry was still evident in his voice. “She tried calling once, but it didn’t even last a second before the line went dead.”“Oh my God,” Laura whispered, stepping closer. “Have you called the cops? Tracked her phone?”King sighed as he tugged off his tie completely, the veins in his neck bulging from frustration. “We tried. Marshall
“Hey, have you heard from Anne?” Greg asked as he barged into King’s office without knocking, his voice tight with concern.King didn't bother looking up from his laptop, his expression bored. “No, she’s avoiding us. And to teach her a lesson, I blocked all her credit cards. Let her sweat a little.”Greg blinked twice, clearly thrown aback as his brows knitted together. “Okay, first of all, bold move. Second, she texted me earlier saying she was back in the country and asked me to pick her up soon. That doesn’t sound like someone who’s avoiding us.”King froze for a second, his fingers hovering over the keyboard lightly. The calm expression on his face began to crack slightly. “What are you saying? Are you kidding?”“I’m dead serious. She said she'd call again when she was ready. But now, nothing. I’ve tried calling her, but she isn’t answering. That's… not Anne.” Greg muttered, his tone dipping into worry.King leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes until his gaze shifted to the