Homecoming
She took a deep breath, and made her way out of the car as she observed the home she left for a long time now. She quickly made her into the mansion, flipping her eyes around the environment.
For four years, she turned her back on them and followed Jasper. She cut off all link and connections with her family because she didn’t want any of them to know her whereabout with Jasper.
Sylvia didn’t take the decision of running after Jasper because she despised her family. She did what she did because of her father’s persuasion to marry Douglas – one of the youngest and wealthiest men in all the city of New York and take over the family’s business. She knew this was based on business arrangement but she wanted something else – she wanted to marry for love and that could only be found with Jasper.
But now, she realized she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.
Maids lined up in their numbers to welcome her as she made her way through the door. She walked past them with her head held high. She could feel the glory around her, solidified by the decision to take control of her life and never be threatened by anyone anymore.
“Welcome back, Sylvia,” Allison greeted as she hugged her older sister. “You’ve really lost a lot of weight. Dad won’t be happy to see you like this.”
“You think so?” Sylvia asked with worry on her face. Well, I don’t think I want to go see Dad like this either.”
“Speaking of that, I already had the maids prepare your bath and special clothes for you. Let’s go,” Allison held her hand and led her to her room, as both reeled with smiles. She realized Allison hadn’t changed a bit. Even though they were sisters, she cared for her like she was her personal assistant.
In a few minutes, Sylvia had undergone a professional makeover. She observed herself in the mirror and saw a beauty she didn’t realize she had until now. With a sigh, in the company of Allison, Sylvia made her way to the living room, gathering the courage to face her father after ditching him for four years.
Her father – Mr. Hawthone Winchester was seated on the couch with his legs crossed and holding a glass of wine in his hand. He had a plain expression on his face which made Sylvia’s heart skip a bit. Beside him, was her mother – Bianca Winchester, looking as young as ever.
Sylvia moved towards her father, her knees drew to the ground.
“So, you finally came to your senses after four whole years, Sylvia?” her father asked, his baritone voice sending shivers down her spine.
“I am sorry, father. I regret my actions and decisions. Please, accept my apology. I realized I was being foolish.” Sylvia pleaded with her head down, and fingers clasped together.
The sudden prolonged silence among them frightened Sylvia as she thought her father had got angry and chased her away. And then, she saw her father’s hand reaching hers and he held them together.
Sylvia looked up at him, he was beaming a smile. “Welcome back, my daughter. I have been waiting for this day. I knew it would come and here you are. I know that gold digger wouldn’t know the value of what he had.”
Sylvia blinked, trying to understand her father. This wasn’t what she expected.
“Your father has been keeping watch over you, Sylvia,” her mother came in, observing her shock. “He knew all you were going through and even though it did hurt all of us, he didn’t lift a finger because you said you didn’t want our help. You don’t need to apologize, my daughter. We are just happy you’re here now.”
“Now that you are back, prepare yourself to take over the company as the new CEO and of course marry Douglas Brooks,” she informed.
“Dad – “
“Hey! I won’t take that from you this time, Sylvia,” her dad cut her off. “Marrying Douglas is a strategy to solidify our both companies and relationships. You’ve neglected your duties for four years; it’s time for you to face them.”
“But Dad, I don’t even know who this man is. I can’t just marry a stranger.” Sylvia stood to her feet, looking away.
“You knew about Jasper and still went through hell in his hand. Douglas is a different man, daughter. I’m sure things will work out well between you two. Don’t disappoint me the second time.” His father warned with finality and sighed.
Assuring herself the marriage wasn’t going to be a forever one as it was to be a contract marriage, Sylvia agreed to do it.
“Very well, Dad.” She said, forcing a smile and he clapped his father.
“That’s my daughter. I already sent a message to Douglas. He’s on his way.”
Though this arrangement wasn’t comfortable for Sylvia, she had to accept her fate, so long it had afforded her the privilege to enact her revenge against Jasper Blackwood.
A few minutes later, the entrance door to the living room flew open, ushering in the mighty Douglas Winchester. Everyone stood to their feet.
“He’s here,” Allison announced.
Sylvia glanced at him, wondering who this Douglas of a guy was that commanded so much respect. And just immediately, she felt a chill and a tall guy walked into the room. She could swear she got goosebumps. He was like the most beautiful man ever existed, dressed in a black suit that fitted him confidently. He had ocean-blue eyes and striking, thick eyebrows.
He walked towards Sylvia and stretched out his hand for a handshake. “We finally meet, dear wife.”
The ProposalSylvia’s eyes widened and her mouth curled into ‘o.’ She was shocked hearing Douglas address her as his ‘dear wife.’“Sylvia,” Mr. Brooks tapped her and she regained her composure.“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Brooks.” She said, forcing a smile and Douglas could tell that smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Skip the formalities, call me Douglas.” He winked at her and helped himself to a seat on the couch. Sylvia nodded slowly and took her seat too.Douglas scanned his wife-to-be from head and toe and noticed she hadn’t changed a bit except for the fact that she only lost a significant amount of weight. Sylvia had been gone for four years, now she was back, and Douglas was determined never to let slip his hand again.Both Douglas and Sylvia attended the same university and the same business school. That was where Douglas fell in love with her at first sight, but she was completely engrossed in her studies that she barely noticed him. After school, she ran afte
The New CEOThe next day, in the evening, seated on the bed, in her room, Sylvia’s mind wondered in thought to what Douglas said to her yesterday. It was a few hours before the night event. What did he mean by he wants her? At first, thought he could be taking her as a mere commodity but when she began to think deep, she understood what he actually meant, and still left in shock.Could it be that he had been waiting for her for the past four years? Sylvia spent some hours of the night researching his company, and it turned out Douglas was doing pretty well in his real estate business with international recognition. There was no way he could want her because of material gain from her family. So, what could be his motive behind this marriage? These thoughts were clouded in Sylvia’s head.She was quickly jolted out of her reverie by a sudden knock at the door. “Please, come in,” she said, turning to the door. It opened, revealing Allison who held a box in her hand, walking towards Sylvia
Kendra looked at Brian and he nodded vigorously, which made her shiver. “Philip?” She said softly, almost in a whisper. “Oh, yes, Mom. Uncle Philip was very kind to me, he almost ran over me with his car but he managed to swerve and stopped the car just in time then he alighted to check if I was alright.” Kendra's mind was reeling. Philip? Here? After all these years? She breathed in deeply as she tried to calm herself down. “Mrs. Winston,” she called the nanny. ”How could you allow this to happen? Brian could have been injured badly.” “Oh, Ms. Williams, I am so sorry. You see, he was playing with his friends and the next thing he is running towards the street, and before I know it, I was struggling to catch up with him.” '‘What am I paying you fo r?!’ Kendra said, her fear translated to anger. ”I handed over my son to you and you were meant to protect him!” “Mom, please do not be angry with Nanny,” Brian pleaded, pulling her hand gently. ‘'It was my fault, I saw a puppy across
Philip's POVI was standing in front of the mirror adjusting my tie. Today, something seemed to be off, but I couldn't quite think of what it was. My phone vibrated breaking me from the train of my thoughts. “Mr. Brooks,” Adrian’s voice came through the speaker, “I think the board is panicking now, the sales are down and they want an emergency meeting, like, now. ” “Christ,” I said aloud, as I raked my fingers through my thinning hair. ”I’ll be there in twenty.“ Taking the keys, I ran out of the house with streams of thoughts in my head. It could not be this bad, could it? We used to dominate the market for quite a number of years. This could only have been a blip, right? Staring off into space, I nearly ran into a kid. I hastily held the brakes and shuddered at the close proximity that nearly claimed th child's life. '‘Bloody hell!’' I cursed as I slammed the car into the park and got out. "Hey, kid! You okay?" The boy then raised his eyes towards me and I could see he was on
Kendra’s POVI lost my breath the moment I heard Brian utter that name – Philip. A name that I had tried so hard to leave in the past, a name that I had wanted to wipe off my memory. But there it was, rearing its ugly head once more, and from my own son’s mouth at that. I got engrossed in my mind when I heard two young ladies talking near the door of the conference room. “I heard that Mr. Brooks,” one of them said to the other. ”Some people said he owes his employees several months of unpaid salaries.”‘‘Oh, really?’’ The other one said, ‘’I am not surprised. A friend of mine in the account section told me that he always boasts of firing anyone who dares to question his authority.” ‘’Oh well, typical Philip Brooks,” The first woman said. “He just likes to bully people around with his muscles but he cannot even pay his workers their salaries when due.” This made me shiver with cold blood. Philip Brooks – it could not be the same one, could it? I muttered to myself, annoyed by my
Philip’s POVI was at my desk, head resting on my hands, staring at the piles of financial statements that lay before me, wondering how things had got this out of hand. I remember we were on the top and enjoying our success and now... bankruptcy? It didn't seem possible. A knock on the door brought me out of my spin cycle of anxiety. “Come in,” I said as calmly as I could despite the stress building up in me. Lillian, my secretary, leaned in through the door. ”Hello, Mr. Brooks, the conference room is free and available for the meeting. Right. The meeting. I'd almost forgotten. “Thanks, Lil I will be there shortly.” I sighed, adjusted my tie, and left for the conference. When I entered the conference room, it was quite evident that the heads of departments were stressed up. Everyone was looking at me with the expectation to deliver answers I was not certain I had. “Okay, everyone,” I said, attempting to sound much more certain than I actually was. '‘There will be no need to mince
Ghosts and GamblesAs Philip drove into the casino parking lot, his thoughts were a blur of whiskey and what-ifs. He got out of the car and left the door open with the aimlessness in his eyes that comes with worry and the sense of seeing a familiar figure. This silhouette could only belong to a woman he regretted ever leaving.Kendra. His ex-wife. The woman whom he had treated so despicably. “Kendra?” he tried to call her name but it died off in his throat. As he moved closer to her, his phone rang loudly in his pocket with a disturbing tone. When he reached in to pull it out, the ghost was no longer there. "Yeah?" he answered gruffly. Phil! Where the hell are you, man?” Jacobs’ voice came through the speaker. “The game’s about to begin!” Philip touched his temples and scolded himself for daydreaming. “Yes, I’m on my way.” It was a sea of lights, the blinks from the slot machines, and the sound of low voices and dreams being lost and dreams being made. Philip tried to move and
Philip’s POVTo my surprise, I literally could not believe what I was seeing. And there she was, Kendra – my ex-wife – pictured on every television and in every magazine. The woman I’d so callously tossed aside was now a global icon, a self-made billionaire. I felt a lump in my throat as I came to the terrifying reality of what I did wrong. “How the hell did you get these?” I whispered to Adrian. Adrian looked at me and raised his shoulders. “It’s all over the media, man, she is all over the media!” I sat down at the table, the burden of the past deeds weighing down on me heavily Jacobs my friend and a business partner frowned at me in silence. ”That’s her, isn’t it?” Jacobs finally spoke. "Your ex-wife?" I looked down ashamed and just nodded. Jacobs huffed deeply, irritated. ‘’You’re one complete and utter fool, Philip. Why did you do that?’’ “I was…” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “I was young, silly, and had no idea what I was doing. I was pursuing something I beli