"You did what?" Jorginho grabbed his stomach, threw his head back, and burst into laughter. "No fucking way!" He choked and began to cough."Don't kill yourself mocking me." Markris hissed, taking a turn as he drove to the company."But seriously," Jorginho grabbed his shoulders, trying to calm himself from the effects of the force with which he had laughed. "You seriously did not scream Lorena's name in that situation. What was Danielle's response!"He shrugged and squeezed his face. He should have known better than to tell Jorginho about messing up. He was not about to hear the last of it. "She rolled out the bed, picked up her clothes, and walked away.""What?" His eyes widened, and the corner of his lips twitched. "You didn't even try to stop her and explain." He felt another round of laughter bubbling in his stomach. It all sounded like a movie in his ears. There was no way someone as perfect as Markris could fuck up this way. Absolutely no way."I did. Even offered to drop her o
Markris finally found the mansion at his mother's address and drove into it. He had spent the last thirty minutes driving around, trying to locate her. He wasn't quite sure why she was hiding. Maybe she didn't want his father to know she was back yet, which was quite unfortunate because he had told him already. He stepped out of his car and quickly shielded his eyes with his hands from the scorching sun. He looked around, but there was no one in sight. It was an isolated building in the middle of nowhere, yet, there was no security in sight. He squinted his eyes and scrunched his nose as he turned his head around, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone. It was more or less akin to a graveyard, judging by how eerily silent it was.His head went down to his phone in his hands as soon as a beep interrupted the creepy silence."Come in." The message read."Is this a trap?" He wondered as he made his way toward the front door. He took a moment to look around again before pushing the door op
A few minutes after Markris walked into his office for the second time that day, the door pushed open, and Jorginho stepped in. He raised his head to see who the intruder was and hissed when he saw that stupid grin he knew only meant there was some silly news to break."I'm not in the mood Jorge." He rolled up his sleeves, staring blankly at his computer screen."Why?" Jorginho shifted the seat across from him and settled in. He placed the files he was holding on the table and crossed his legs. "I thought the whole issue had been resolved? Hermes said Ariana called and apologized. The IT team, as we speak, is looking for better ways to secure the company. Everyone wins, "He shrugged. His eyes squinted when he noticed the blank stare on his friend's face. "What's up with you?""How would you describe my dad?" He suddenly shifted his attention from the screen, resting it on Jorginho's face.Jorginho let out a dry laugh. "Your dad?" He raised a brow. "Are you sure you want me to answer t
"Helena, allow the lady Lorena to stand on her feet!" Signora Pallas scolded the little girl clinging onto Lorena's body. She sighed and picked her up when she refused to move."I want Lowena!" The little girl kicked defiantly in her arms.Lorena laughed, slowly standing up from the bed she had been stuck in for the past week. She couldn't wait to finally leave the clinic and the smell of sickness in the air. "See, Signora. I'm stronger now." She said, bouncing on both feet without holding on to anything."I'm proud of you, Lorena," She replied over her shoulders as Helena kicked and screamed in her arms. "Be still a child!" She said, trying to soothe her, but she didn't want to listen."Hand her over," Lorena said, opening her hands."Are you sure? Do you think you're strong enough to carry her?" She asked."I'm sure," Lorena smiled. "There you are," She said, wrapping her hands tightly around her. Immediately Signora Pallas haded Helena over to her. "Did you miss me that much?" She
"Where is Lorena?" Paolo Cicero screamed, frightening the children around. The two bodyguards he came with, dripped in all black, walked around trying to find her. He looked everywhere, barely recognizing the place. The last time he had been here, it was to warn the lady Pallas to stay away from his wife. It was ironic that he was back here again but for his child this time."You?" He pointed at a little boy holding a ball. "Where is Lorena?" His voice was booming, causing the little boy to shudder in fright. This only made Paolo grow even more impatient. "Don't you have a voice?" He stepped forward when a door pushed open, and a woman came out. He turned around and saw the lady Pallas staring straight at him."Bastard!" She muttered under her breath before smiling as she approached his presence. "Paolo! It's so great to have you visit us today." She said."Where is Lorena?" He replied, not playing her stupid games. It was apparent she wanted to act all cool in the presence of the chi
"Madam Sapphire," Signora Pallas walked past Paolo towards her. "Ignore whatever you've heard, and let's chat in my office." She smiled."Unfortunately, I can't do that," She returned her smile, then turned to Lorena. "Is it true, Lorena? Are you pregnant for Markris?" Lorena scrunched her face, wondering why she was so concerned. She had met the woman just once. So what if she was the anonymous donor for the orphanage clinic? It still didn't give her the right to ask her such personal questions. She noticed everyone's attention was on her, except for her father, who stood rooted to a spot. His eyes were wide, and the color on his face was gone as he stared at Madam Sapphire. She had never known her father to be that quiet. Almost as if he had seen a ghost. "Lorena?" Madam Sapphire called, snapping her out of her observation."It's all just a big misunderstanding. I can...""It's true.." Alonso said, interrupting her."Alonso, stop it!" She seethed, throwing him a sharp look."What ar
Lorena rolled to the edge of the bed and was about to fall off when her eyes pushed open. She quickly moved into the bed again and shut her eyes tight."Let's try that again," She muttered, slowly opening her eyes. She sat up, yawned, and stretched until she felt a crack. "That's right." She smiled, pushing the covers that were caught between her legs.She got off the bed and stood in the center of the room. Spreading her arms, she raised her head and inhaled deeply. The smell of lemon, coupled with the airy freshness the breeze coming from the window offered, pleased her nose. She was not snobbish, but the contrast between one of Alonso's bedrooms and the tiny space she slept in at the orphanage was dark and gloomy. The children were the only sunshine that made it worth living. She dropped her hands and looked around for her phone. She paused when she realized the last time she had been on the device was in the clinic, which only meant it was with Signora Pallas."No phones?" Her fi
At exactly 6:30 pm, a car drove into Alonso's mansion. A woman stepped down and was shown into the house by the driver ordered to pick her up. The further she went, the more complicated her heartbeat pounded in her chest. The odd number, who had spent the last month texting her about Job connections, had finally gotten a hold of her. She could have sworn with everything in her he was a scammer, until today when he insisted her lady Lorena needed a dress. Everyone knew anything Lady Lorena wanted. She had to get. For one, there was no more friendly person than her, and two. Everyone was so worried about her.She stared at the bagged dress in her hands and bit her lips nervously. After Lorena had worn one of her dresses, she had gone out of her way to create another. She just needed the right time to gift it to her, and it looked like it was now. They climbed upstairs, and she took that opportunity to take in her surrounding. The house was not as big as Master Markris, but it had a sm
A gentle breeze triggered rustling leaves beneath the feet of the somber crowd as they gathered in numbers to pay their respect to the dead. It looked like the sky was in cahoots with the mourners, with the cloud covered in hues of dull grey. The circle formed by the one percent of Milan had a freshly dug grave in the middle and a casket adorned with the finest golden ensemble carefully lowered into it.By the side of the cemetery filled with the remains of historical, unimaginable wealth stood a choir band. Their voices, backed by the wind, spurred the deepest sadness even in the hearts of a crowd like this. A gathering filled with a bunch of people with questionable wealth. These people had their heads bowed and their souls in a temporal state of disarray.As the priest stood beside the casket to give an eulogy, a black Jeep Wrangler pulled over at the cemetery entrance, and the car doors flew open. The little distraction drew everyone's attention to the arrival. A woman dressed i
"Put me down, Markris. We'll not escape without being noticed if you're carrying me."He moved his lips to argue but saw reason in her point. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he put her down. "Okay, we need a plan before we burst out of this room," He snapped his fingers, his feet tapping against the floor. "Got it!" He slapped his palm against his thigh. "Take off the veil." He ordered, and she quickly did what he said. The sight, from her face down to her stomach, momentarily took his breath away. She looked even prettier, and he couldn't help the barrel of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him."Markris?" She waved a hand across his stunned face. "Markris!" She snapped her fingers, and he jerked up."Yeah, as I was saying. I'll call Jorginho to round up the car to the door of the room we came in through. We have to pass through the chaos without being spotted.""The door you came in through? I came in through an escalator. Is there a separate exit?" She asked, already t
"This costume makes me feel like a middle eastern bride about to be sold into a marriage of convenience." Lorena hissed, tempted to yank the veil off her face. For her, very few things were worse than being made to wear a veil. A stupid veil that served no purpose to her personally."I'm sorry gorgeous. You said you didn't want to wear a mask, so the veil was the other alternative." Marcelo responded."Still hate it, though." She muttered under her breath."Here, take my hands." He said, stretching out his hands, and she reluctantly accepted it.As they entered the building, her heart began to beat faster. It wasn't enough that the whole environment was creepy but then they had to get into an escalator that took them down. Further down they went until it suddenly came to a stop."Where exactly are we going to, Marci?" She asked, with panic in her voice.He smiled and held her hands firmly in his. "It's an underground party. Kinda extremely exclusive." He explained vaguely.This did no
"Are you happy Lorena?" He asked, cradling her in his arms. The day had lost its spark, as a golden pale light formed a ring in the sky. A gentle breeze blew, bringing along with it the smooth fragrance of olive, and rose. The two love birds sat at the edge of a cliff, staring down the depth of water far beneath them.She turned her head to look at him, a smile on her beautiful face. There was nothing that gave her more security than being in his arms just like this. With him, she felt safe and loved. "I am, but are you?" She asked, stroking his face gently."You are my happiness. You, and him." He chuckled, rubbing her belly."Oh please," She rolled her eyes and playfully swiped his hands away. "What if it's a girl? I want a girl." She pouted.He couldn't help himself, as he stole brief kids from her lip. "It can be anything, Lorena. As long as you're are their mother, and my wife.""When did you become this romantic?" She laughed, turning her attention back to the water."It's you,
When Markris drove into his mother's compound, he felt exhausted. Still, he jumped out of the car and walked straight into the house. He was about to open the door when it pushed open from inside."Mark?" Jorginho's eyes bulged as he stared from head to toe at his friend. "Is that you?"He hissed and pushed him out of his way. "Ignore the hair, man. Where is Lorena?" Soon as he stepped in, he came face to face with a host of eyes just watching him in awe.His eyes traveled around, doing a quick headcount. He still refused to believe Lorena was missing. It was all a prank. Any moment from now, they would bring her out, and he would hold her in his arms again. He'll sniff her scent, and everything will be alright."Son?" Madam Sapphire got up and slowly walked towards him. "Is that you?" She asked with tears in her eyes."Of course, it's me." He scrunched his face, throwing his hands out wide. "Why does everyone keep asking that, and most importantly, where is my wife?""It's the hair,
A car drove roughly into the gate of the Andino mansion and came to a halt. The gatekeeper peeked from the security cam to see who it was before pushing the buttons. The gate flew open, and the car roared to life again. Driving with force and then parking haphazardly, it came to a stop. A man jumped out of the car and went straight into the house. He took the stairs, and in two leaps, he was up. Going straight for Urso Andino's room, he pushed it open, but no one was in there. He checked a couple of rooms before slowly retreating to the art room. Soon as he pushed the door to the room open, he spotted the man he was looking for."Who is th..." Soon as he whipped his head around to question the intruder, he felt a hand around his neck, lifting him from the ground up and throwing him against the wall. As he struggled to breathe on the floor, the man approached him and placed a heavy boot on his stomach."You pathetic son of a bitch!" He spat on him, his eyes filled with disdain. Twisti
Lorena whistled, her eyes doing a quick one-eighty. "You know when you told me life has been good? I wasn't expecting a mansion." They had arrived at Marcielo's house, and from what she could see, he was doing more than okay. One year she had changed a lot. A whole lot."I guess I got lucky." He laughed, picking up her bag. Banging the car door shut, he ushered her into the house."Luck?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Common Marci, you can't be modest about something like this. Your hard work has finally paid off, and there's nothing wrong with boasting a little."He chuckled, recalling he was dealing with a perpetually optimistic woman. "Okay, Belle, I'm glad my hard work paid off.""Much better!" She smiled."Come, I'll show you to your room." He said, gesturing towards the stairs.They climbed up the stairs past several rooms before finally arriving at a particular space."How many rooms are here again?" She raised a brow, looking around."Six, I think. I wanted something smal
As the dark clouds parted ways to streams of light, the birds came out to play. They flew around the sky, chirping heartily. Tired of laying on the hospital bed, Lorena strolled through the garden. The smell of antiseptic wafted through the hospital corridors, mixing with the scent of the blooming flowers. She took a deep breath as her bare feet tingled from the caress of the grasses.Just last night, her father and Verona had seen her. Her dad was more interested in the fact that she had lied about her pregnancy than anything else. When she mentioned her plans to leave Markris's house, he blatantly told her not to return home. The thought of those words alone made her scoff aloud. Like she wanted to return to Paolo Cicero's house, she realized it was time to take her life into her hands. Her dad would never change, and she was honestly done with caring about anything anyone said.As she moved through the garden, she sighted a sculpture that fascinated her and decided to check it ou
The sun started losing its spark as a gentle breeze announced the unset of the evening. A Lexus drove to an intersection, stopping where another car parked, blocking the road. The man in the Lexus stepped down and hurried over to the parked car. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he pulled the passenger door open and slammed it shut."You plan on destroying my car?" Hermes rolled his eyes, his hands casually resting on the steering."Why'd you block the road, bro?" Jorginho ignoring his question, pulled the review mirror closer to his face.Hermes' face scrunched as he stared at Jorginho, fixing his face like they were en route for a model casting. "What, you don't have mirrors in your house or car?"He hissed and gently pushed back the mirror to its proper position. He turned to face Hermes, a frown on his face. "Hop off my dick, bro. Why are you being so mean to me?" He said, pouting."You're so..." He muttered between his teeth."So what?" He tilted his head to the side, his