“I am not taking this lying down Lillian. Merina has somehow blackmailed her way back into Conner’s life or something. There’s no way they were married earlier. We would have heard about this before.” Gabriella said. She now paced her room. The hotel forced her to accept a downgraded room, because they’d had an earlier booking and needed the suite. “If we are talking about odd facts. Gabriella, what did Conner mean by Merina was seven steps ahead of everyone? Since when did Merina become a genius? Then he mentioned she’d done something with the money her mother gave her. Why haven’t I heard anything? It’s my first-time hearing about it. Lillian asked. She’d returned from confronting Conner with more questions than answers or actions. Both women were furious, and Merina was their target for their anger. “That’s my point. You must have dropped the ball. Ignored something she did or discounted something important.” Gabriella said. She waved her hand. T
Merina sat in her room and stared at her luggage. She wanted to know if Conner cared for her. Or was she dreaming? Why did she want him to care? Did he care because her actions might affect his family? Was she a means to an end? Conner chose that moment to enter her room through the bathroom. “What the hell Conner? I want some time alone.” “Oh, forget about it. You’ll complicate everything by overthinking.” Conner said. He complained about how she thought now. Merina sensed his disbelief as he entered, doubting her ability to have a single thought alone. “Complicate what? You’ve said I’m a problem. Or the problem.” She didn’t care right now what he thought of her. Merina felt offended by his invasion of her privacy and for that, she’d lash out at him. “I said your actions are problematic, and I said they were a problem for everyone. Don’t you understand what I meant?” Conner looked like he was ready to explode. “Meri, no one
Merina watched Conner step toward her the entire time they spoke. He didn’t touch her until he made his displeasure clear to her. Conner didn’t need to touch her; his mere presence held her in place. Merina’s memory of his hot command of her body and the erotic visuals he loved so much played in her mind. They were like a dirty private sex video and her body was there, aching for more. Her heart rate sped up and her breathing match it when she caught his scent. “Come on. You and I need a reminder of how its going to be between us. Merina, you aren’t in control anymore and you’re no longer abandoned. I won’t allow you to fall through the cracks.” “You won’t allow me to fall through the cracks. Conner, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” “Of course you don’t Merina. You’re protecting yourself from the disappointment your family has heaped on you. You don’t see you’re pushing everyone away before they can hurt you. Well, it’s too late to push me
“You’re so sure I’ll lose myself? Conner, I’ve worked long and hard for what I have. Only my mother ever gave me anything to work with toward my future.” “You never came to me, Merina. God, I don’t want you losing yourself forever. You don’t understand, do you? I’m trying to have you to understand you can trust me. I won’t let you destroy yourself. Or our chances for a future together. Don’t look at me like that. We were destined to be together since birth. You can’t go through life never trusting anyone. What will you do once you achieve your revenge?” Merina opened her mouth but said nothing. A moment later, her mouth snapped shut. She stood there shaking with need and anger. Now inches from the mirror, she couldn’t turn away from Conner. He sat behind her in the chair and in front of her was his image. Conner could see her, and she couldn’t hide her response from him. Merina felt with a keen awareness as she stood there naked and exposed. Her need and
He was right; he was. Conner had control of the situation and her. He held her hips in a viselike grip. She couldn’t straighten or move on his shaft. Conner controlled their marriage and relationship, even the purse strings right now. She never considered the source of the money. “Alright, we’ll try things your way Conner. Tell me what you want.” “I want you to stop your plans of revenge and focus on us. Our lives and marriage. Our future. Your father is the past. He’s just a minor character in our lives, and seldom present. He isn’t influential in our lives anymore. You are now an O’Keefe. I’m the man who matters to you. Listen to me. My life and yours have become entwined now for better or worse.” Merina whimpered. Her body ached with the need for him to continue his cock became a constant reminder of her desperate need to find her completion. “Alright, please, can we discuss this later? I can’t think straight with you like this. Can we finish this, Con
Conner kept her busy last night in bed. He’d ordered dinner to their suite because he didn’t want any interruptions. They’d hit a roadblock in their relationship. He knew they’d broken through it. Conner wanted to continue with it. He knew he must have his way. Or Merina would suffer from her own ill-conceived plans. Merina didn’t understand that she had a beautiful and intelligent mind. But she took risks and lacked the common sense to avoid the destructive behavior that brought her back into his life. Conner didn’t want to lose her again, so he’d long ago decided he’d use her fantasies and his predilections to his advantage. Merina needed a partner and a parent. He’d decided he’d give her both. “Meri, are you ready? The car will arrive any minute for everyone. The plane’s waiting on the tarmac. We need to go.” “Wait, I don’t remember what happened to my new identification. Do you have it or your father? I haven’t seen it.”
“I tell you Helena she’s crazy. The woman stalked Conner all the way here and forced him to marry her. Then she accused Galen of trying to rape her. He’s in jail.” Gabriella said. She pretended to cry over the phone to a friend she’d garnered during her time here. Helena Loen latched onto Gabriella, believing she would rise in the esteem of their social circle if everyone saw her hanging with Gabriella. “I thought your father was in jail.” Helen asked to clarify the facts. It seemed she couldn’t keep pace with Gabriella’s words. “He is. Conner’s assistant accused him of attacking her. Then she quit and left. I can’t get either one of them out of jail because I’m a woman. Galen’s mother is here, and she has a lawyer working on it. But it’ll take time. I don’t know if I can survive Conner’s exes.” She desired Helena to perceive her as the victim, deceived by a man with no heart, and a conniving home wrecker. Helena’s lack of interest made it diffic
When the plane landed back at the airport, they arrived outside of the city. Merina half expected the police to be there waiting to arrest her. After last night, she struggled to believe Conner’s words. She knew there she would get nowhere if she confronted him. She’d tried to confront her father again, but they’d shut her down. Merina wanted closure, but how she got she didn’t know. Conner wanted her to stop trying to get revenge. He’d offered her a different life. He’d called it. She felt tired of it all and Merina had such a vague plan after she got her revenge that it not sensible person would call it a plan. Merina didn’t know whether she’d keep the business she ran right now, or if she’d sell it. She’d created it to get the skills she needed to enact her revenge. “You’re over thinking again Meri.” Conner leaned in close and said into her ear. She could tell he found it funny without looking. “One of us must use their brains or we’ll be lost.”
[SIX MONTHS LATER] The family piled out of the limousine. Baby seats and gear carried by a happy Conner, Ian, and Andre. Merina noticed her father wave at a man in a wheelchair who was being pushed by a female attendant. That was Ana’s father. He appeared to be headed into the house from somewhere in the garden. Today was Ana’s wedding and the hive of action revealed how close the ceremony was to take place. Merina and Conner had to hurry to get ready. The two grandfathers were taking care of their two little bundles, which worried Merina a little. Merina caught sight of their fathers showing off the babies to everyone who showed any remote interest. With that, the wedding planner whisked her and Conner off for the final preparations. Hair, makeup, dress, champagne, photographs became a whirlwind of excitement and activity. Security was exceptional, with news of Jeff’s wedding and news leaking about his new album. “It’s a perfect day for your weddin
[SIX MONTHS LATER] “That goes into the front living room by the main table. Please place gifts at the entrance. There’s a table for them there. Until it’s time to open them and then, while we are in the dining room having lunch, you’ll bring them into the front living room. Oh, I must go, the special guests have arrived.” Joyce said to her housekeeper as her staff rushed through her home, performing the last-minute preparations for the party. Many guests were here already and gathered in the front living room. Joyce, Merina, and Ana were all surprised to receive acceptance responses from RSVPs for their invitations. Instead of rejections or being ignored all together. Merina avoided the public eye as much as she could for the long months that the arrests and crimes made news. She didn’t want to deal with the media and the questions. Joyce could understand for Merina it’s far more complicated. She could only imagine an interview being like walking th
Jeff wanted to celebrate. His plans were going as expected. Ana agreed to marry him. He wanted everything perfect. Later that week after the party, Merina held her housewarming for their condo rebuild. Despite Merina being a wreck, it went off without a hitch. He’d learned from Conner that they’d confirmed that afternoon that Merina was pregnant. However, they didn’t know how far along she was yet. They’d have those results in a few days. He showed Ana around his home, pointing out the details he had overlooked before because of other priorities. She’d returned to the house and come prepared not to feel impressed about what he showed her. This house stood for their future and his first step towards stability in life, which Ana came to accept. “I don’t understand. If you record your album at the studio at the production studio, why do you need this room here?” “I don’t write in the studio. I don’t enjoy writing with background noise as it
Doctor Sutton arrived in less than an hour after his father called. Their fathers sat in the living room, refusing to leave until they learned what Merina had. They’d made a bet that she might be pregnant. Conner admitted they weren’t doing anything to his knowledge to prevent the pregnancy. But with all the stress and anxiety, she could have worn her immune system down and caught something. He didn’t remember her avoiding food or being ill. But Andre claimed her mother didn’t have morning sickness, so that changed nothing for him on what the cause of her illness could stem from. “Conner, I thought I said not to bother the doctor about this? If I still feel like this tomorrow, I’d make an appointment.” Merina said. Her voice appeared groggy and disgruntled to everyone. “It’s alright Mrs. O’Keefe. It’s better safe than sorry. I’m Doctor Sutton and I’m well paid for nights like this. It’s fine. Do you have any idea why you feel well? What
For the first time, Merina stepped inside the condo. He’d found an experienced designer to remodel it into a fashionable, spacious home for their needs. She moved through it. The movers had already done their job. She had only her business things needed to move in, and she had a company licenced to do that coming in later that day to set up her office. They didn’t keep a physical office because they ran on word of mouth. That meant they could work wherever their secure files were. Now she walked through the top floor of O’Keefe Industries Office building where Conner set himself up with his condo a decade ago. He liked the ease of commuting, and they were downtown with a private elevator. Staff wouldn’t be knocking on their door at all hours. The chef and housekeeper were present as day staff. They’d leave after they served dinner most nights. They had space to grow and entertain. But Conner insisted this would be their home until they had children.
Medina observed men with their differences in appearance and demeanor. “It’s like they’ve left all serious business at the door.” They’d seen Conner drop an ice cube into Dan’s lap and then they were wrestling. Jeff proposed to Ana in an unusual manner, but she still had to respond. The position he put her in. Merina was like Ana. She didn’t know how she’d respond. Conner gave her a choice that wasn’t a choice. “So, you won’t punish me or give me grief for working? You won’t belittle me in front of other people for having goals in life that don’t include what you want?” Ana asked. Her questions revolved around how he’d treated her and how he wouldn’t do it again. “That’s right. I promise there won’t be any extra details.” Jeff said to Ana. He aimed to calm her thoughts, enabling them to move forward, and for her to feel at ease enough to agree.“What about your photos with other women?” Will they end too?” Ana hated seeing those photo
Merina sat eating dinner with everyone. They ate in a more relaxed setting. They forgo the dining table for the living room. Staff disappeared, leaving Merina unsure as everyone began eating. Conner had something planned. She knew he must. That was Conner. Conner had reasons for his actions, often known only to him. It didn’t take long for Merina to notice Ana’s change in mood and her disposition changed toward Jeff. He’d worked some kind of magic on her. Merina heard something, unable to distinguish between Ana’s joyful cries and Joyce’s sounds. Conner held her back, saying they’d have fun later with everyone. Two of his friends came without lovers. When she asked how this worked. Conner said they enjoyed watching and acting as coaches. He claimed it gave an impartial opinion on how to become more creative. He offered to call someone in to show her how it worked. But Merina couldn’t see herself as the hostess getting off and ignoring her guests. Th
Jeff smirked as he followed Ana into the guest room. “What are you doing?” Ana said. Her tone demanded an answer as her eyes flashed with fury. “They told me to use this room. It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before. Live a little Ana.” Jeff caught Ana’s arm as she tried to leave. “Hey, you don’t want your friend and host to feel horrible, do you? We’re all adults here.” “Some more than others it seems.” Ana pulled her arm from his hand, but he didn’t step back. Jeff let his height give him the advantage. “It’s time to stop this, Ana. Sometimes I forget to drop the persona because people prefer it over the real me.” “I’ve always kept that I didn’t care for the persona or the job. You never got it, did you? I wasn’t dating you for others to see me with you. I didn’t see you for your money or your capabilities. Yet, you tell me you believe I’m lying to you. Fine, I have lied to you about two things. But only two t
Ana watched the men come toward them. A worried woman trailed behind men ready for battle. “Ana, we need to talk.” Jeff said. “You need to hear me out.” He looked stern and foreboding when he said that. Joyce came around the men and tried to avoid notice or interrupting the drama. “Nice romantic setting. It’s a pity we can’t distract the gaggle of ganders behind him. They don’t need to see this.” Merina nodded, where she stood off to the side in Ana’s peripheral vision. “We didn’t plan this, but it’s like an Edwardian romance scene. This’ll become lost on them. I believe. They won’t see the chance to use it to their advantage.” She said, her voice was low to not interrupted Ana’s words. “Sad, I agree with you. It could have become a fond memory.” “Jeff, I don’t need that. You’ve made it clear that I filled gaps in your life, but there weren’t many. But heaven forbid that my time doesn’t align your schedule. Then I