Marcelo’s POVI stepped out of the meeting room, a sense of triumph washing over me. That was a tough meeting, but I nailed it.I just had a meeting with our clients that Ravens snatched from our company and in a nutshell, it was a success.I felt a sense of relief and elation washing over me, I had just convinced them to return to our company. At first I wanted to meet them separately but then I just thought I should invite them together so I sent them mails and luckily enough they all agreed to attend the meeting.I had told Sarah to leave the conference room and let me speak to them alone, she was sceptical at first since it was my first time meeting them and she feels I don’t know how to handle them. She must have forgotten I own a business too and I deal with tough clients all the time.I remembered the look on the clients' faces when I presented our new strategy, the way they nodded along as I spoke, I just knew they agreed with me.When the conference was almost coming to an en
Stacy’s POVI came downstairs after I was dressed, I didn’t meet Ella where I left her so I assume she’s gone to her room to change her outfit.I looked up when I heard her footsteps from the stairs. She was dressed in a yellow sundress and she carried a black mini purse. For an eight year old she dresses herself so well.“See who is finally ready,” I said jokingly. “Sorryyyy,” she said.“I love your dress,” I complimented,“Thank you,” she said, giving me a cute smile.I'm so excited to be going to the park with my Ella, I don’t think we have ever spent time outside the house, this will be a whole new adventure for us and hopefully she meets her friend like she wanted.I know she has been begging Marcelo to let her go to the park but he has been against it and I understand that it’s because of his status. He doesn’t want any harm coming to her but then I just feel she should be allowed to be a child. She acts too smart for her age already. I just wish she’s allowed to have some fun
Marcelo’s POVI walked through the front door, expecting to see Stacy and Ella lounging in the living room or in the kitchen. But the house was unusually quiet. I called out, “Stacy? Ella?” waiting for some voice to answer me but nothing, there was no response.I shrugged, thinking they must be somewhere else in the house, maybe in the garden or in the cinema. I decided to head to my room to change out of my outfit and freshen up.As I settled under the shower, the water pouring on my head peacefully, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I tried to focus on the coolness of the water but my mind kept wandering back to Stacy and Ella. Where were they?I don’t know why I’m suddenly bothered. It's not like it’s the first time I’ll come home and not meet them in the living room, sometimes they are in their room or in the garden.I got out of the bathroom and went into the room. I could feel the headache again, I should really take some painkillers today, I will make a
Stacy’s POVI slowly opened my eyes but I'm trapped in darkness, my eyes covered by a thick cloth that suffocates my vision. A rag is stuffed into my mouth, gagging me, making it hard to breathe. I'm disoriented, my mind racing with fear. I try to remember how we got here, but my memories are hazy, then everything started to come together and I remember being taken by those men, and Ella’s hand being ripped from mine.I feel the van moving, the motion making my stomach disturb. I feel like I want to puke. I'm lying on a hard, metal floor, my hands tied behind my back. I try to struggle, but the ropes are too tight.Next to me, I sense Ella’s presence, her small body trembling with fear. I try to move to comfort her, but the rag in my mouth muffles my words and my hands are tied as well so there’s little I can do.I could hear the voices of the men. Their voices are muffled, their words unclear, I can’t make out what they were saying. I try to listen, but my heart is pounding too loudl
Marcelo’s POVI feel like my world has been turned upside down. The revelation that my mother, the woman I respected and loved, had an affair with my uncle, the man I despise, is a bitter pill to swallow.Anger courses through my veins like liquid fire. How could she do this to me? To our family? The thought of their betrayal makes my blood boil.I thought I knew her, but it seems I didn't know her at all. My father didn’t deserve this because he loved her so much and I always wanted that type of love but with this I don’t know what to believe anymoreAnd then there's the bombshell about Ella. My little sister, the one person I've always protected and cared for, is actually Jones' daughter. The thought makes me feel sick, Ella is too smart and good to be Jones' daughter. I won’t let him take her away from me even if it means fighting him with everything I have. She doesn’t deserve such a wicked and callous father.I wonder how my father would have felt if he was alive, I wonder if I
Stacy’s POVIt’s starting to get dark, Ella already fell asleep on the floor beside me, she had cried so much earlier and I had no choice but to hold back my tears and be strong for her. I wonder if Marcelo is back and has discovered we aren’t home.I need to find a way to escape but I can’t think of any. Our hands are still tied to our back, I wonder how uncomfortable it is for Ella. She’s just a little girl who wanted to have fun and wanted a few days off.She got out to have fun but she got kidnapped instead. I’m sure she would have a bad perspective about a life outside the mansion.I heard footsteps coming our way and soon someone entered. I gaze warily as one of the masked men who kidnapped us entered with a tray in his hand. He's smirking as he sets down the tray of food. I can see his eyes gleaming with malice behind the mask he wore which covered the upper part of his face and the lower part leaving his eyes, nose and mouth exposed.“Enjoy your meal, ladies,” he sneers, his v
Marcelo’s POVI pace back and forth in my study, my mind racing with thoughts of Ella and Stacy. They should be home by now, but there's no sign of them. I try to push aside the growing sense of unease, telling myself they're probably just out having fun.Maybe they decided to go shopping, or did they go visit Stacy’s mum in the hospital or is it her friend’s place. I know for a fact that Stacy didn’t go out to see Betty today, if not my private investigator would have called me to tell me saw them together. And I don’t think Stacy would have taken Ella to see her mum in the hospital. I mean Ella doesn’t even know about her mother's sickness.I feel like I’m going crazy right now, I’ve created different scenarios in my head, I’m so frustrated and Ryan isn’t here yet. If Cathy is here she would have known what to do and who to call. The problem now is that I don’t know where to start looking for them.They should have at least told me they were going out, I would have known where to lo
Marcelo’s POVIt was long before Ryan arrived at the mansion and met me in my office.“Boss,” he said as he entered,I turned to look at him. “Ryan, you're here,” I said.“Yes boss, what’s the next line of action,” he asked.“I really don’t know to be honest that’s why I called you here, you know what let’s start by checking the surveillance cameras around the area.” I suggested.“That might take time sir. Sir, remember you gave Ella a necklace you told me to prepare some months back?” He asked,“Yes I do remember, what about it and what does that have to do with finding them?” I asked, in frustration.Why is he bringing up a stupid necklace in this situation when we have bigger issues. I remember telling him to prepare a necklace for Ella after Stacy found her then and I just wanted to give her something as a gift and I thought a necklace would be a good idea and truth be told she loved the necklace when I gave her but I still don’t know how it can help us in this situation.“I might
Marcelo’s POVI walk back into Stacy’s hospital ward, my mind still reeling from the news about Cassie. I'm glad to be back by her side, to see her safe and recovering.I already called her friend after Ryan sent her number, she almost screamed my ears off when I told her Stacy is in the hospital. I wonder what she would do if she hears the circumstances surrounding it.As I sat down in the chair beside her bed waiting for her friend to come I did something weird that I don’t think I’ve ever done before, I sang. I sang, “stay with me,” by Sam smith.I didn’t know when the door opened, until I saw a familiar face in my peripheral vision. It's Jennifer and she was giving me a weird look.“What?” I asked.“Nothing. Don’t just ever try using singing as a career,” she says in a mocking tone. I scowled at her immediately and she turned back.“So,” Jenny says softly, as she approaches the bed. “How is she?”“She’s stable,” I said, repeating what the doctor said.“What really happened?” She a
Marcelo’s POVThe doctor comes out of the operating room, a look of relief on his face. “It's done,” he says. “The bullet is out, and she's stable.”I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you doctor,” I said gratefully.“But there’s one more thing;” he said and my heart beat accelerated. “We can’t say when she will wake up,”“Do you mean she’s in a coma?” I asked,“I won’t put it that way, you know in a coma we aren’t sure if the patient will wake up but I can assure you your wife will wake up so literally she’s not in coma. Let’s say she’s taking a deep sleep,” he explains.I nod my head not knowing what to say. At least there’s hope that she will be up.“We will move her to the private ward as you requested,” he said. I gave him a small grateful smile.I watch as the nurses wheel her into the ward while I follow closely behind them.After they left I sat beside Stacy’s hospital bed, my heart racing with anxiety as I gaze at her pale face. Just hours ago, she was in the clutches of that
Stacy’s POVI feel myself floating, weightless, in a sea of darkness. I try to open my eyes, but they won't budge. I'm trapped in this abyss, unable to escape.I remember being shot by Cassie, it feels like I’m in the warehouse again, this time it’s just me and Cassie and she’s pointing a gun at me and threatening to shoot me and I was pleading for her not to shoot me but she didn’t listen and shot me but before I could fall to the ground. I’m suddenly transported to a vivid dream. I'm walking through a beautiful garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers and the warm sunshine. Marcelo by my side, holding my hand. We're laughing and smiling, without a care in the world. I didn’t see Cassie or Cathy in this dream and I didn’t see Mr Jones or the masked men here. Everywhere looks so beautiful and peaceful.But the dream shifts, and I'm back in the darkness. I hear beeping sounds and muffled voices. I try to speak, but my voice is barely a whisper. The sound of the beeps reminds me of my mo
Marcelo’s POVCassie is still pointing her gun at me, we all look helpless even Cathy, her sister can’t stop her. Seems like this Cassie lady is living in her own delusion.“Chris brings that bitch in,” Then I see Chris bring Betty in from an entrance different from the one we came in. No wonder we didn’t see anyone outside. There's another entrance that leads to the underground.Betty is gagged and bound, her eyes wide with fear. Chris stands there unable to look me in the eyes.I feel a rush of emotion as I take in the sight. Betty, the woman I once loved, now a pawn in this twisted game.How did she even get involved from the very beginning? I don’t think I can ever see her the same way anymore, the betrayal, the pain and the torture I went through because I thought she died because I couldn’t protect her not knowing she was working with them.Cassie laughs. “Surprise,” she says. “I decided to do a small reunion for you and your women,” she said, still laughing.I feel a wave of ra
Marcelo’s POV“Story time,” Cassie screamed. I’m starting to think she’s actually bipolar because of someone who was pointing a gun a few minutes ago.“There was a man and woman, they were lovers and the woman loves him and the man loves the woman so much or that’s just what the woman thinks.”“During their time together the man wants to be rich and was looking for something else but the woman loves him regardless. Then one day the man started making little money, then he decided the woman wasn't good enough for him and you know what he did?” She asked, looking around the room like the maniac she is. Waiting for someone to give her an answer.“How are we supposed to have the answer to your question,” I said with a scowl on my face. I just wanted to strangle her.“Maybe you don’t but my sister does,” she said pointing at Cathy.“Anyway moving on,” she continues. “He left her, he left the woman that loves him for another woman. The woman tried to find love again after the betrayal but s
Marcelo’s POVI keep looking at the weird lady Cassie, apparently she has been watching me for a long time then it clicked. She’s definitely the one that sent a picture of me and my private investigator.“Wait, wait, before you start your story have you been the one sending me pictures?” I asked,“Oh that is one of the many things I’ve done to you,” she laughed. I’m trying to wrap my head around all of this. Then she speaks again. “You remember when your wife was followed when she came to visit you one time? Yes I did that too in fact Chris the head of your security was behind the wheel,” she revealed.I can see Stacy’s surprised expression and Ella is just looking confused. She obviously doesn’t understand what’s going on, I need to get her out of here. I signalled Marlo who was standing close to me and whispered something to him.“Get both of them out of here safely,” I told him.But before Marlo can move, Cassie steps forward, her hand emerging from her jacket with a gun. “I don't
Stacy’s POVI see the door of the room burst open, and my heart skips a beat as I see Marcelo standing in the doorway, his gun drawn and a fierce look in his eyes. He looks scary, I haven’t ever seen him like this before but today he looks so different. And behind him is one of the men I’ve seen around the mansion, I think he’s name is Thompson or so.“Ella, Stacy,” he shouts, his voice echoing off the walls of the warehouse.I'm shocked, disbelieving. How did he find us? How did he get here so fast? I knew he was going to come for us but I didn’t think he would find us quickly especially in the middle of the night.Marcelo’s eyes scan the room, looking at everyone in the room. He rushes towards us, his face etched with worry and relief.“Are you guys okay?” He asks, his voice laced with emotion. I nod, still in shock. “Y-yes, we're fine.”He pulls us into a tight hug, holding us close. “I was so worried about you,” he whispers. “I'm so sorry I didn't protect you better.” He sounded l
Marcelo POVAs we go down the stairs, I discover the place is even wider than I thought. How can anyone think of building an underground here? I would have argued this type of place isn’t in the warehouse to even think it’s this wide.We soon got to the end of the stairs, as Thompson and I moved deeper into the darkness, I could hear noise coming from the top meaning there is chaos outside my men have attacked.I stopped immediately and I saw a room that has a door. This is probably where the voice has been coming from. The voice is getting clearer and I can make out some of the conversation.“Then why did you agree to the contract? Why didn’t you just say no? You're just a f**king gold digger.” I hear a familiar voice, I think I can tell who it is but I’m not so sure yet.“My mum was sick, I had to agree because I needed the money for her surgery, what could I have done,” That’s definitely Stacy’s voice, there’s no way I can miss that.“I really don’t care, you know, but now I’m lite
Stacy’s POVCathy, did you hate me that much?” I asked with tears in my eyes.“I f**king hates you with all the fibre in my body and yes I told her to take you because since you came and Marcelo ignores me, something he hasn't done before. He starts listening to you more while he sees me as evil, he looks at you in a way he has never looked at me when I’m the one that has been by his side from the very beginning,” she said all at once, her words dripping with disgust and her hatred for me.“But you know the whole truth, you know why he married me, you know it’s all a charade.” I said.“Of course I know but why did he choose you for that charade and not me? I’ve sacrificed my time for him, I’ve served him and protected him with all my strength yet he picked you just because you saved his sister. That doesn’t beat everything I’ve done for him,” she yelled.“I didn’t choose for this to happen, you know he came to me first.” I explained with tears in my eyes. I can’t wrap my head around a