The sun cast a golden light across the gardens that framed the Montclair estate. Lucien and Henri grew up in a world of flowers, wealth and laughter. Their life was as rich and intoxicating as the wine their family produced. From a young age, the Montclair brothers were inseparable. Henri the elder, was the charismatic leader and Lucien followed close behind. Henri’s smile and charisma could turn enemies to friends and Lucien’s playful personality made it hard to dislike him. Their parents were strict with their education and understanding the family traditions but they also encouraged the boys to embrace the beauty of life; the food, wine, music, arts and in turn the women. During a summer vacation at the Montclair fields, the boys who were just teenagers had sat on the balcony overlooking the vineyard, sipping glasses of wine that they had stolen from the cellar. “Lucien,” Henri said, leaning back in his chair, “did you see that girl at the market today? The one in the green dre
Renee’s school smelled like old wood, it was the same school her parents had attended as children and she could tell that it was the same wood since back then. She could hear the murmurs of her classmates mixed with bursts of laughter. Her stomach tightened as she adjusted her glasses and put her head down, she gripped the strap of her bag for dear life knowing what she was about to encounter. Her sneakers made a squeaky sound as she hurried past the lockers, hoping to enter the classroom unnoticed. “Renee!” She froze mid-step, she turned slowly. Her heart was already sinking, Tanya, her number one nightmare, walked towards her with her crew in tow. The other girl giggled behind her, their little impractical purses swinging on their arms like trophies. Barbie must have gotten a headache with all the shades of pink they had on. “Morning Umbridge,” Tanya drawled, her lips curled into a smile. “What’s in the bag today? Another experiment to set the school on fire?” Renee’s throat we
Chad finally stepped out of the bathroom, he rubbed the towel over his wet hair. The lights in the room had been dimmed and so he looked at Jasmine on her bed. She had curled up on the bed, her breathing steady, an indication that she had fallen asleep. Who falls asleep so easily?, he thought. He stared at her and she looked so relaxed in a way he had never seen before. She looked peaceful. As Chad looked at her, his eyes lingered longer than they should have. For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, watching her. Suddenly he reached for the blankets at the foot of our bed and carefully put it over. The action was against his better judgment but it felt right. “Sleep tight,” he murmured as he retreated to his own bed on the opposite end. He laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling, replaying the night’s event in his mind. He still remembered Ava’s words, “I was young, I was foolish. I made mistakes Chad and I lost something precious to me. I lost you and I shouldn’
Renee grabbed her sweater and with that, they made their way towards the dining hall. As they entered, there was the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries in the air. The group was already gathering, their murmured conversations sounding through the hall. Jasmine was approached by the French brothers, Lucien and Henri who greeted her with the same flirtatious charm that they were known for. Mary Wicker walked up to her and also greeted her warmly. “Morning Jasmine. I hope you’re enjoying your stay?” Mary asked with a polite smile. “Yes, I am. I’m making friends” She said looking at Renee who looked shyly at the ground. “Oh Renee’s pretty chill. I’m sure you’ll have fun with her.” Mary said before moving to where her husband was. Jasmine felt like the group project but she looked at Renee and saw the utmost shock on her face. “So you get noticed after all?” Jasmine whispered. “She has never said a word to me but I know she’s not stuck up. She’s a sweet churchy soul.”
The hall was quiet except for the two of them, one would wonder why Alex was out of his room in the first place. Jasmine crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her expression icy as Alex stood in front of her. “Well? Your clock is ticking.” Alex tried smiling hoping it would soften her but the eyes she had on him told him that his charm would get him next to nothing. “Fair enough,” he said. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.” Jasmine tilted her head, she looked at him like he had just snuck out of a home for mentally disturbed people. “You have thirty seconds left.” He sighed, ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. “Okay. I get it, Jasmine. I really do. But I was hoping we could actually talk. I mean I’m sure you didn’t tell your new fiancé about us… about the years we spent together.” Her eyes narrowed. This little shit, she thought. Of course he thinks he has some upper hand here. “Let me stop you right there…” she said sharply. “Chad knows everything includi
Jasmine angrily continued down the hallway heading to Renee’s room. How dare that fool say those stupid things, he’s so full of himself, Jasmine thought. The rage was not yet out of her system but she forced herself to not let it get to her since she was on her way to Renee’s room. She didn’t want her to get the wrong idea or to think that it was Chad that had gotten her angry. By the time she knocked on Renee’s door, she had composed her face into a calm and neutral expression. Renee opened the door, she was surprised to see Jasmine but she also didn’t mind seeing her. “Oh hey. I’m surprised but glad that you’re here.” She stepped aside to let Jasmine in. “Oh okay. That’s good to know, I actually just wanted to make sure you have something warm enough for the hike, like thermals or something like that.” Jasmine said lightly as she stepped inside. Jasmine’s eyes bulged at the mess she saw in Renee’s room, she knew she had just been here a couple of hours ago so she was surprised to
The waiting lounge was filled with a quiet but busy energy, Peter and Mary were now seated near the fireplace. Both of them were quiet, there was a tension there that Jasmine hadn’t noticed before, when people weren’t around them they were quiet, weirdly quiet. Lucien and Henri on the other end chatted amiably with the Volkovsky twins, Natalia and Valentina laughing at their private jokes ever so subtly. Jordan was leaning against one of the windows, looking outside and Renee sat in a corner, fiddling with the zipper on her jacket. Jasmine scanned the hallway impatiently, the sooner the rest got here, the sooner they’d start the hike. Ava left them waiting in the lounge for a short while, Peter chimed in. “How long does anyone reckon this hike would be?” “Depends on the distance we’re covering, how fast we’re moving and of course our weight.” Renee mumbled her answer before catching herself. “Well, we barely weigh a hundred kg each and our speed is at optimum level. Can you calcul
The First Meeting Chad Blackstone sat in his office, gripping the edge of his desk as Peter, his trusted assistant, stood nearby. The news had hit him like a punch to the gut.“Ava Reeds is back in town,” Peter said cautiously, watching his boss for a reaction.Chad’s jaw tightened. “Why now?” he muttered, his voice low and tense. “After three years... Why the hell would she come back?”Peter shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure, but word is she’s attending some high-profile events. The media’s already buzzing about her return.”Ava. His Ava. The woman he’d once thought he’d spend his life with. The woman who’d left him broken and humiliated.Why? His chest tightened, anger and something far more bitter swirling within him. Three years. It had been three years since she’d vanished from his life without an explanation, taking his trust and his heart with her.His mind drifted to the past, no matter how much he fought against it. Ava. His childhood sweetheart. The girl he’d once though
The waiting lounge was filled with a quiet but busy energy, Peter and Mary were now seated near the fireplace. Both of them were quiet, there was a tension there that Jasmine hadn’t noticed before, when people weren’t around them they were quiet, weirdly quiet. Lucien and Henri on the other end chatted amiably with the Volkovsky twins, Natalia and Valentina laughing at their private jokes ever so subtly. Jordan was leaning against one of the windows, looking outside and Renee sat in a corner, fiddling with the zipper on her jacket. Jasmine scanned the hallway impatiently, the sooner the rest got here, the sooner they’d start the hike. Ava left them waiting in the lounge for a short while, Peter chimed in. “How long does anyone reckon this hike would be?” “Depends on the distance we’re covering, how fast we’re moving and of course our weight.” Renee mumbled her answer before catching herself. “Well, we barely weigh a hundred kg each and our speed is at optimum level. Can you calcul
Jasmine angrily continued down the hallway heading to Renee’s room. How dare that fool say those stupid things, he’s so full of himself, Jasmine thought. The rage was not yet out of her system but she forced herself to not let it get to her since she was on her way to Renee’s room. She didn’t want her to get the wrong idea or to think that it was Chad that had gotten her angry. By the time she knocked on Renee’s door, she had composed her face into a calm and neutral expression. Renee opened the door, she was surprised to see Jasmine but she also didn’t mind seeing her. “Oh hey. I’m surprised but glad that you’re here.” She stepped aside to let Jasmine in. “Oh okay. That’s good to know, I actually just wanted to make sure you have something warm enough for the hike, like thermals or something like that.” Jasmine said lightly as she stepped inside. Jasmine’s eyes bulged at the mess she saw in Renee’s room, she knew she had just been here a couple of hours ago so she was surprised to
The hall was quiet except for the two of them, one would wonder why Alex was out of his room in the first place. Jasmine crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her expression icy as Alex stood in front of her. “Well? Your clock is ticking.” Alex tried smiling hoping it would soften her but the eyes she had on him told him that his charm would get him next to nothing. “Fair enough,” he said. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.” Jasmine tilted her head, she looked at him like he had just snuck out of a home for mentally disturbed people. “You have thirty seconds left.” He sighed, ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. “Okay. I get it, Jasmine. I really do. But I was hoping we could actually talk. I mean I’m sure you didn’t tell your new fiancé about us… about the years we spent together.” Her eyes narrowed. This little shit, she thought. Of course he thinks he has some upper hand here. “Let me stop you right there…” she said sharply. “Chad knows everything includi
Renee grabbed her sweater and with that, they made their way towards the dining hall. As they entered, there was the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries in the air. The group was already gathering, their murmured conversations sounding through the hall. Jasmine was approached by the French brothers, Lucien and Henri who greeted her with the same flirtatious charm that they were known for. Mary Wicker walked up to her and also greeted her warmly. “Morning Jasmine. I hope you’re enjoying your stay?” Mary asked with a polite smile. “Yes, I am. I’m making friends” She said looking at Renee who looked shyly at the ground. “Oh Renee’s pretty chill. I’m sure you’ll have fun with her.” Mary said before moving to where her husband was. Jasmine felt like the group project but she looked at Renee and saw the utmost shock on her face. “So you get noticed after all?” Jasmine whispered. “She has never said a word to me but I know she’s not stuck up. She’s a sweet churchy soul.”
Chad finally stepped out of the bathroom, he rubbed the towel over his wet hair. The lights in the room had been dimmed and so he looked at Jasmine on her bed. She had curled up on the bed, her breathing steady, an indication that she had fallen asleep. Who falls asleep so easily?, he thought. He stared at her and she looked so relaxed in a way he had never seen before. She looked peaceful. As Chad looked at her, his eyes lingered longer than they should have. For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, watching her. Suddenly he reached for the blankets at the foot of our bed and carefully put it over. The action was against his better judgment but it felt right. “Sleep tight,” he murmured as he retreated to his own bed on the opposite end. He laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling, replaying the night’s event in his mind. He still remembered Ava’s words, “I was young, I was foolish. I made mistakes Chad and I lost something precious to me. I lost you and I shouldn’
Renee’s school smelled like old wood, it was the same school her parents had attended as children and she could tell that it was the same wood since back then. She could hear the murmurs of her classmates mixed with bursts of laughter. Her stomach tightened as she adjusted her glasses and put her head down, she gripped the strap of her bag for dear life knowing what she was about to encounter. Her sneakers made a squeaky sound as she hurried past the lockers, hoping to enter the classroom unnoticed. “Renee!” She froze mid-step, she turned slowly. Her heart was already sinking, Tanya, her number one nightmare, walked towards her with her crew in tow. The other girl giggled behind her, their little impractical purses swinging on their arms like trophies. Barbie must have gotten a headache with all the shades of pink they had on. “Morning Umbridge,” Tanya drawled, her lips curled into a smile. “What’s in the bag today? Another experiment to set the school on fire?” Renee’s throat we
The sun cast a golden light across the gardens that framed the Montclair estate. Lucien and Henri grew up in a world of flowers, wealth and laughter. Their life was as rich and intoxicating as the wine their family produced. From a young age, the Montclair brothers were inseparable. Henri the elder, was the charismatic leader and Lucien followed close behind. Henri’s smile and charisma could turn enemies to friends and Lucien’s playful personality made it hard to dislike him. Their parents were strict with their education and understanding the family traditions but they also encouraged the boys to embrace the beauty of life; the food, wine, music, arts and in turn the women. During a summer vacation at the Montclair fields, the boys who were just teenagers had sat on the balcony overlooking the vineyard, sipping glasses of wine that they had stolen from the cellar. “Lucien,” Henri said, leaning back in his chair, “did you see that girl at the market today? The one in the green dre
“What did you think about Chad’s new arm candy? Isn’t she sort of an upgrade from Ava?” Valentina asked her sister as they both were ushered to their rooms by one of the staff before dinner. They walked up the staircase behind the man, “Yes, she’s rather eccentric. I think she might be fun to watch, although I see Henri and Lucien have also taken a liking to her.” Natalia replied. “Those two will take a liking to anyone but I see the problem. We came here with the idea that we would enjoy the luscious company of those boys and I don't think that little newbie would want to get in our bad books.” Valentina smiled dangerously“Oh no! She definitely couldn’t. Did you notice thatgirl with the glasses again. The one father said is heading a pharmaceutical company?” “Yes. I’m surprised Ava invited her. She’s never been one to miss the simplest details. None of us speak to the girl so why invite her and that other one, the old one.” Valentina clicked her fingers as though she was trying
Jasmine came out of the bathroom in a burst, and saw Cynthia standing in the toilet. “Hi, I’m Cynthia Coleman. I know we’ve not been formally introduced.” Cynthia said. “Nice to meet you, Cynthia, but I don’t think the ladies room is the right place for any formal introduction.” Jasmine replied, she wasn’t expecting Cynthia to be the one in the toilet but she could already tell that it was not going to be a friendly conversation.“If you don’t already know. I’m Alex’s wife. I know you and him used to be an item. He kept stealing glances at you while we were having dinner.” “Did you come here just to tell me about what Alex did or didn’t do? If that’s why you’re here then I must tell you that I really don’t care. I couldn’t be more uninterested in what Alex is doing.” Jasmine said as she made her way to the wash bowl. “Jasmine, right?” Cynthia asked, she leaned against the wash bowl with her arms crossed. Jasmine raised an eyebrow as she grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands. “Ye