LEONA CHASE
I had a restless night, how could I sleep when my son's future was at stake, how could I blink when I knew that if I didn't act quick, everything was going to fall apart for him and his birth right would be snatched away from him.
He might not have actually cared about it the way I did, but I still cared, his future was my priority and I wanted to do anything to make sure he had everything that would secure his future. Sleep ran away from me as I thought of how to go about getting him a wife, which I knew wasn't going to be a problem. My problem was actually going to be Jordan. He wasn't like the other young men around but I couldn't tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing for him to be so different. He wanted Samantha Brandon and it was clear the young lady didn't want him, I couldn't let him loose those properties because he was adamant about a childhood crush. But how was I supposed to go about it? If I try convincing him to get married to another, it might take more than a week before he would agree to what I had planned which might not have given us enough time to get him married before his two weeks runs out.
"Leona..." Liam, my husband called out grumpily from the side of the bed he laid, interrupting my thoughts.
"Sleep, your restlessness is killing my sleep" he ordered.
"How can I sleep when I am in such a dilemma?" I asked with a tone that was clearly venting out my exhaustion.
My husband went quiet, I knew him too well and I knew he was just like my son Jordan, none of them cared about me, he just remained quiet like I was talking to the air itself.
"Liam...." I called out turning to him
"I just said I am in a dilemma" I whined, but he remained unresponsive to me and just remained quiet.
"I can't believe how my husband would not for once care about how I am feeling. My son doesn't care, my husband doesn't care. They treat me worse than a statue and I do everything to make sure my duties as a wife and mother is fulfilled....where have I gone wrong?" my voice went completely emotional, I even faked a tear and used the only language he understood. Emotional blackmail.
He groaned and sat up at the bed immediately.
"What is it Leona?" he asked and I grinned at myself, I got his attention after all, that was the secret power of a woman who knew her home and the people in it.
"Jordan" I said and he groaned loudly.
He didn't like putting up with his son, they were always far from each other, they never breathed the same air or share each other's space. They were always fighting, always on each other's throat. They were both like two alphas in one pack, captains in one ship and they both were good at tearing down the house if they stayed in the same room.
"He is your son, you can't keep shying away from your responsibilities" I queried him.
"He is a grown man Leona, there is no responsibility I can have towards him" he replied sternly and I rolled my eyes at him.
"He needs to get married in the next two weeks" I said and waited for a reply from him. He wasn't as Jordan, I knew he would reply me.
"He should get married then" he said unconcerned. He didn't really care or show concern about what Jordan did with his life. Most times the thoughts of how he reacted when it came to Jordan shook me to the bone, but I had seen too much, I had understood too much and knew perfectly well how weird my family was, it no longer affected me.
"He will" I replied him, ignoring his statement.
"Just that he wants Samantha and only Samantha" I mumbled.
"Give him Samantha then" he said with that tone that insinuated I was wasting his time.
I openly glared at him for his nonchalant behaviour. When he saw my reaction to his statement, he cleared his throat and adjusted himself on the bed.
"What seems to be the problem?" he asked with a more concerned voice.
"Samantha doesn't want him" I said and sighed in frustration.
"Why does he have to get married, just let him be" he said.
"Are you even paying attention. He needs to own the properties left by your father and he has to get married in order to get them or they will roll over to the government" I explained impatiently.
"Ohh" he said with realization.
"What are you going to do then?" he asked more concerned about the entire situation.
"He won't marry any other person except for that Samantha or I would get him another lady immediately" I said and a smile spread across my face at the thought of the girl I saw at the hospital.
"Your son is as stubborn as a rock. He would choose to loose the properties rather than marry any other girl" he said and placed his hands on his chin. He always did that when he was thinking, So I remained quiet and waited for him to come up with a solution. I had a solution on my own, but I didn't know how to go about it which was the reason I talked to my husband in the first place.
"Tell me his reaction when he asked you to get Samantha for him?" he asked me.
"He became excited about getting married, though he didn't smile but his eyes said it all" I explained briefly.
"You can get him married then, give him
Samantha, that's who he wants" he said and grinned at me.
"Are you deaf Liam, Samantha doesn't want Jordan, they can't get married, I can't give him Samantha because there won't be a Samantha" I said raising my voice in clear annoyance, it felt like he wasn't listening to a thing I was saying, it made me feel annoyed and little.
Liam looked at me with a sly smile on his lips, he was clearly unaffected by my outburst
"But there can be a Samantha, any one you pick can be a Samantha Brandon" he said and I raised my brows up at him in vivid confusion.
"You just have to pick a girl my dear and she will be his Samantha Brandon till their wedding ceremony is over with" he added and my mouth opened in pure understanding. Excitement washed into my veins and relief came into my troubled heart with ease, I stared at Liam and couldn't help but give him a light kiss on his lips. I had forgotten what got him to being the head of state in the first place, manipulation.
"Goodnight Leona" he yawned and lied down on the bed.
"Goodnight love" I said sweetly and also lied down on the bed.
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I didn't wait for the day to break before I got up for my day's arrangements, my excitement and nerves didn't let me sleep infact, so lying down was a complete waste of time for me.
I got ready while Liam was still asleep and came out of the room. I headed straight to the dinning to have my breakfast first. It was a whole wheat toast with peanut butter and half of a grapevine. A quick combo, it was exactly what I needed. The staffs were surprised to see me up and ready so early and I didn't blame them, I wasn't an early riser, I loved my bed and my sleep but this time around I had something more important to take care of myself.
"Good morning ma'am" the head of security guard bowed his head slightly and said to me the moment I finished having my breakfast. I inclined my head towards him and waited for him to continue.
"We are ready for the day ma'am" he added and gave me the go ahead order to leave the house. Without saying a single word to him, I gave him my hand bag and stood up from my seat then I headed straight to the entrance while he followed behind me.
My convoy was ready and so were my guards. They bowed their head slightly in greeting as I walked past them and into the car which was being held out for me. I got in and the guard I had given my bag kept it beside me in the car before the door was closed.
I picked up my phone and dialled my p.a's number. This time, she didn't hesitate to pick.
"Good.... good morning ma'am" her voice came sleepily and I could guess my call woke her up.
"What do you have on Genesis Connor?" I asked immediately, going straight to the point.
"Ohh...uhmmm" I could hear her stumbling and crashing on things while I rolled my eyes at her attitude to work.
"Okay. She just graduated from U.S.F with one of the best results in business education and arts. She is 25 years old and comes from a low class family. Her father's name is Conor Connor and her mom goes by Abigail Connor, her little sister is Ava Connor who seems to have been suffering from kidney failure and is in the last phase of completely dying if she doesn't get a new kidney soon" she paused. I smiled broadly at myself especially. I knew from the hospital that there was a connection between the family I had brought and the beautiful girl I had seen. Now that I was sure, I had to move over to phase two.
"Confirm the amount that is to be paid for a kidney transplant and make the payment for Ava, also pay the hospital bills for Genesis and get me the best wedding planner that befits the wedding of a Chase" I said to her and ended the call.
"Take me to my son's house" I said to the driver and we started moving.
My face was kept in this priceless glow and smile till I arrived at his house, but he was driving out when we got there. His car drove up to mine and the window was rolled down, so was mine.
"It's early in the morning mom, work is important" he said in his usual tone. I would have berethed him for his manner of speech but I was too happy to pay attention and allow him spoil my mood.
"You are getting married son, get ready" I simply said and his eyes widened at me but went back to normal again in a split second.
"She agreed... Samantha Brandon agreed" he said more to himself than to me. I knew my plan was going to get me in trouble with him but I didn't want to be tamed a liar in the nearest future so I didn't give a reply, I just kept smiling at him.
"Just prepare your self" I said and rolled up my window.
"The hospital" I said to my driver and again I changed the cause of our destination. On my way to the hospital, my p.a called and I picked up immediately, there was no time to waste on my part.
"Speak" I said to the phone.
"I got the wedding planner on stand by and her number is being forwarded to you right now. The bills for Genesis Connor and Ava Connor has been paid and made anonymous, is there anything you would want me to do for you?" she summarized.
"Send tips to as many press agency as you can. Let them know that Jordan Chase is getting married" I said to her.
"Uhmmm...yes...yes... ma'am" she stuttered and I grinned. She must have been one of the many girls crushing on Jordan.
"Ohh, and have some sleep, you might be doing alot in the coming days" I gave her a warning before I hung up.
The day was going well, the plan was going well, the event to come had to go well and my son was going to get what he wanted and his birthright all at ones. I couldn't be happier.
We arrived at the hospital and my guards escorted me in, I ignored the rude receptionist I had seen a day before and made my way to the room I suspected the couple I had brought would be in. When I got there, to my surprise, the room was empty and the couple were no where to be seen. .
"Excuse me" I called on a nurse who was strolling by at that exact moment.
"Where are the Connor's, the one whose daughter needed a kidney transplant?" I asked him.
"The child is in the operating room as we speak and her parents are at the waiting room" he replied and a smile enveloped my face. Things were going fast and well and if it continued at that rate, Jordan would have been married in a week.
"Give him something" I said to my security, I was in a great mood and that was my way of saying thank you.
I took a turn to the room I had seen my future daughter in law first before going to the waiting room.
When I got there, I stood by the door as I had done the previous day and wow, she looked beautiful and better.
"who do you think paid the bills?" she asked a guy sitting close to her, it was thesame guy that had given me her name.
"Babe, I don't know. Whoever it was decided to be kept anonymous" he replied and held her hands.
"The doctor said we can leave soon, they just want to watch over you a little" he added and kissed the back of her hands.
I couldn't help but pout, I didn't need a seer to tell me they were in a relationship, which was going to end even before they would realize. I stared at Genesis for a longer time, her beauty was something the press would rant about for weeks.
I left her after my weird stalking before I went over to her parents who I guess had no idea that their other daughter was in the same hospital as they were. I demanded my security stayed behind while I walked into the waiting room so they won't make the room crowdy, the couples were alone in there and they were holding each other for support and comfort.
I cleared my throat so they could acknowledge someone else was there with them, which they did. There eyes widened as they saw me and they both stood up to there feet.
"Good... day ma'am" the wife stuttered while I took my seat and gestured for the both of them to do same. They took their seat, holding each other's hands tightly.
"How are you both doing?" I asked.
"We are doing okay, thank you for asking" the husband replied.
"And your daughter, what's her condition?" I asked like I had no clue.
"Kidney failure...but she is at the operating room as we speak" the husband replied again.
"Well, that must have cost alot" I said.
"It did ma'am... someone had paid the bills for us and we are trying our best to figure out who...who would have done such for us" the wife said in a frightened tone.
"Why, he was kept anonymous for a reason or would you like to pay back?" I asked and smiled at them. Their eyes widened at my statement, they knew as much as I did that they couldn't pay back that sum in a million years.
"No...no, we wouldn't be able to pay back that amount in thousands of years...but at least we can say thank you and show our genuine appreciation" the wife explained.
"Well I paid her bills" I said and their jaws dropped. Their knees found the ground immediately.
"Thank you so much ma'am..thank you, we..." they started thanking me and I smirked at them. I didn't do anything for them, it was a means to an end.
"Oh, don't thank me. You will pay back the money or rather, you will show your appreciation in a different way" I said and they stared at me in horror. Fear and panic took over their grateful faces while I watched.
"It's nothing inhuman, don't stress. But I will let you both be for now, till your daughter recovers with a successful operation, then we can talk" I said and got up to take my leave.
đđis it only me or this manipulation is just too much? Leona Chase is something else.
And Nate seems to be a nice guy.
Two days afterABIGAIL CONNOR"Mom, I want ice cream" Ava pouted at me and I rolled my eyes at her. Ever since she came out of the operation room, her father had been spoiling her none stop with gifts and snacks and she was getting too used to it."No, baby girl. You have taken enough, no more sweet or candies. Nothing" I said to her and ran my hands through her hair gently while seating beside her bed."Dad....." she called and turned to her father who was sitting at the other side of her bed. He seemed to be the only one who did what she wanted."Darling, your mom is right, you need to cut down on those things for a while" he replied her."But dad ...""My hands are tied here baby, your mom is even glaring at me" he gave her a pout of his own and I laughed at his pathetic attempt."Don't do that again" Ava chuckled."But I do it amazingly well' he said playfully.
GENESISGstared at my sister with an amused look in my eyes while my lips remained jammed together, so to suppress the urge to laugh at how ridiculous she sounded but I couldn't hold it in for too long, it was just so far fetched, I couldn't help but laugh so loud. My sister and parents stared at me with weird eyes but I didn't stop, I laughed till my stomach began to hurt. Then I had to stop, I relaxed and took deep breathes before turning to them."What? did you hear you daughter speak?" I said and surpressed the laughter that threatened to come out of my loins again."I am saying the truth" Ava said in annoyance to the way I was laughing at her silly jokes.... I pouted at her."of course I believe you....." I said and sat close to her, her eyes brightened and she smiled widely."In our next life"I added and the smile washed off her face, it was replaced with a deep frown."Mom...
TWO DAYS LATERGENESISI sat down at the chair at the skin clinic, completely relaxed at thesame time exhausted. The marriage thing was happening so fast, there was no time to talk to my family or even my friends, I didn't even find the opportunity to talk to Nate yet and damn, it made me feel so guilty. I was getting married without his knowledge, it broke my heart. I didn't love him, but he was a friend and companion, I knew too well that what I was doing was going to hurt him terribly, but I couldn't sum up courage to tell him even when we spoke on phone. It was terrible but what was more terrible was the fact that I still didn't find the time to even ponder over my guilt."Genesis dear....here, you have to taste this" Mrs Chase gave me a piece of cake. It was the third one for that day. She had been all over my face in the past two days and didn't stop hovering around me like a wicked shadow about to take my life fro
GENESIS I stared in my sleep and became conscious of my environment but I was too lazy to open my eyes just yet. Left to me I was going to force myself back to sleep but the call I had with Jordan came creeping back to my consciousness making me alert. I smiled at the thought, with my eyes still closed, I recalled most of his words and it sent butterflies to my stomach. "Are you still dreaming sweet?" my mom's voice interrupted me and I snapped my eyes open. She was sitting at the side of the bed with her eyes on me. "Mom..." I grumbled. "How long have you been here?" I asked in a grouchy tone. I wanted to have my alone time and sleep but I knew her sudden presence was going to make it impossible. "Long enough my dear" she said and gave me a warm smile. "I want to sleep mom" I whined and turned to the other side of the bed. "You will be leaving the house to a new home, a home that would be cal
A day later đčđčđčđčđčđčđčđčđčđčđčđčđč GENESIS "Get up, we have to go to the hotel already" I could hear Tiffany yelling as I stared in my sleep. "Get away..." I mumbled "I don't think she knows she is getting married tomorrow" Tiana muttered to Tiffany. I felt the bed dip and smelt Tiana perfume. "Get.......up......." she yelled into my ears and I jumped up. I jumped up too fast and hit my butt on the floor. "ouch..." I whimpered. "Tiana...do you want to bruise her" Tiffany scolded and helped me off the ground. "Are you hurt?" she asked and I glared at her. She moved away scared of my next reaction and smiled sheepishly at me. "Okay girl...sorry" she muttered as I sat back on the bed. "What do you guys want?" I asked angrily. I needed sleep and they were not allowing me have it. I was already nervous with the wedding that was shove
GENESIS"Oh my word..." Tiana shrieked when she saw me, making me blush a little.She was as shocked as I was too, I hadn't even gotten over the shock yet when she stumped into my room in her bridal gown."Shit...." Tiffany muttered when she saw me too, they were speechless and so was I.Not because I was too beautiful, well yes I was beautiful, really beautiful with my hair and makeup and lashes and nails. When a girl in her teens wishes to be beautiful, she wishes to be as beautiful as I was. I was not just beautiful, I was breath taking. But enough of my flattering.They didn't just scream and looked shocked because I was too beautiful, it was also because of my gown. Yes, my wedding gown.They had seen the gown some where, they all knew they had seen it somewhere but couldn't just figure it out as they stared at me in awe."You look....""I don't think there is a
GENESISMy heart skipped at the way he stiffened at my touch, it felt like something was wrong or something might go wrong.I had watched too many romance movies to actually have this fear that he might call off the wedding at that time. It was a weird thought but it just popped into my head and I didnt want to be the girl that was left at the alter or left at her wedding. It was going to make a news headline if the Jordan Chase actually dumped me on our wedding day few minutes before we tied the knot. And it was going to hurt me terribly because I did like him alot, plus the humiliation I would have to face, the society wasn't going to be kind to us and I was not ready, I would have never been ready to go through that. He stared at me for what seemed like hours with an unreadable expression in his eyes, the feeling in my guts told me something was wrong and you know how it is, guts feeling never lies.&nbs
GENESIS Everyone stood up and stared at him walking away without taking a second glance at me till he was completely out of the glass house. Then they stared at me. I blinked rapidly in attempts to push away the tears that threatened to fall down from my eyes. I held my flower as tightly as I could, I didn't want to cry. I couldn't afford to cry, with so many people. I was so confused, I was hurt and devasted. It was my wedding and of all the things I expected, what he did shocked me. I looked around the crowd for help, my eyes fell on Tiana first, then my mom and mom Leona. They saw the look of helplessness in my eyes and immediately came to my aid. Hours later, a driver drove me to a different hotel. That was the hotel I was supposed to have gone with my husband but I was driving there alone after telling my family and everyone I loved good bye. Mom Leona had said some
My phone rang again and I smiled as I picked up my husband call this time. âMiss me yet, wife,â he teased immediately and I groaned. âNo, but the kids want you home.â âToo bad. My flight got delayed.â He sighed. âWhat?â I jerked up from where I sat. He chuckled. âEasy their wife. I just got to town and would be home soon,â he entered and I sighed. âByeâŠâ I ended the call abruptly, feeling angry at such expensive joke. I had everything ready already. After two hours, I was perfectly ready and had stepped out of the room and back down only to find out that I was a late host. Everyone was present. My parents, my sister, Tiana, Nate, Tiffany and her fiancĂ©e, Jordanâs cousins, their girlfriends, his mom, my p.a and Margaret. Yes her. she was a huge part of Jordanâs life for long and we could not let her to keep being a staff here so we freed her with a lot of money, a house, something to keep her going and a family. âI told you that she might be painting,â Julianâs loud mouth entere
FOUR YEARS AFTERI ran down the stairs, feeling completely exhausted and disheveled, not to add, disorganized and slightly angry. With my robe on, I decided to check if everything was set and ready. I couldnât help it, it had to be perfect, it all had to be or I might lose it. Anna strolled into the house at that particular moment, and she stared at me with a wary look as I made my way to the kitchen.âIs everything alright?â she asked in her very sweet voice.âGo change and rest up,â I reprimanded. She had only just returned from college and shouldnât be concerned by things like that, yet she was ever so humble and would in fact start on chores the moment she returns from college which was slight annoying. We made her go to college for a good reason, to better her life and not to turn out like a staff her entire life, yet she looked so dedicated to being one.âI would the moment you tell me what is wrong,â she followed behind me with dedication and became a nag that I didnât want at
GENESISEven in my unconsciousness, I could feel that emptiness inside of me. I could feel the hole, the empty, painful hole that was once filled with life, I could feel the vacuum there. I knew that something was different and I feared what it was. When I opened my eyes, the first sight I wanted to behold was my beloved husband. His scent was the first thing I wanted to caress my nostrils, his warmth the next feel I wanted to feel against my cold skin. But he wasnât there as I had hoped. And that had shattered whatever was left inside of me. He had threatened to leave me, maybe he did.The fear of such possibility had made me fear and panic especially when I didnât see him around me. It scared me but the familiar faces gave me a little bit of comfort. They were family and ones I loved. They had such effect on me. Not till I recalled what happened, how I fell. My hands had voluntarily found its way to my stomach where I wanted to feel the life inside of me. I was in a hospital for sur
I could hear my baby crying in my ears. Screaming in pain and asking me why I did what I did. I could imagine the judging, hateful look those blue eyes would give to me once she opens her eyes and the pain that would show itself in those eyes of hers. The pain was enough to consume me, to burn me, to torment me. With heaviness in my chest, I looked away from her unconscious body, lying on the bed with families around her. I could not bare to look at her, I could not dare to even think of going close to her, not what after I had done.I should have been more patient, more careful, more tolerant, I should have attempted to listen to her. But I didnât. It was not her fault and I would have accepted my own child. She came at a time that our world was dark and I was about to lose my life, she came way before I decided that I didnât want to have a baby, and like a miracle, she survived. How I snuffed the life out of her.I would forever live with this pain, wouldnât I? This guilt, the memor
JORDANThe screamâŠ.The screamsâŠThe scream of my wife and the staff was what it took me to stop. Fear engulfed me and swallowed me whole, leaving every anger, betrayal and pain I felt earlier. I snapped my gaze back to the direction I had come from, knowing that her scream came from there.âNoâŠâ I screamed, seeing her rolling down the stairs. I could feel life leaving me at the sight of her. My legs started towards her as fast as I could just as everyone else. She came to a halt at the edge of the step and my heart died at her position. Then the blood.âOh God! NoâŠnoâŠnoâŠ.ââGet the car,â I screamed, feeling tears burn my eyes while I slowly placed her head on my thighs. She was bleeding and still fucking naked with just that robe.âGet the car,â I cried at the top of my lungs, fearing for the worse. I immediately checked for her pulse, praying, hoping, wishing that it would not come to that. I might as well die if it did.We rushed her to the hospital and the doctors immediately plac
GENESISI took a longer time in the bathroom this time around. The heat and steam of the shower had become my comfort and I was scared of leaving it. I would only return to our bedroom that had turned to a hunting ground for me. Each place and thing smelt of my husband and with the feel of him reminded me of the anger he had against me and the secret I had adamantly been keeping away from him.I missed him, each part of me missed him. It was almost like life was leaving me slowly and gently, yet I couldnât stop it. Not that I couldnât, I still didnât know how to. I looked down on my tummy to notice the slight bump that showed the life growing inside of me. It was still so small and with my present choice of clothing, no one could notice. But how long? He deserved to know, I had to tell him and explain to him how it all happened. I had to before I completely ruin our marriage.I sighed heavily, feeling a familiar burn in my chest area while my hand ran in a circular motion around my s
JORDANI ended the meeting and shook the hands of the Russian investors. In a polite tone and a business manner, I thanked them and watched them leave the restaurant before I left. I got to the car and thought of what was left for me to do before I returned home.The thought of home made me smile, yet it made my heart ache. I had been away for five days and things had still not changed between Genesis and I. she was hiding something from me and I was losing my mind. I picked up my phone and stared at my wallpaper for a while. It was a picture of her, sleeping, and it was the most beautiful I had seen her. But again, she was beautiful in all ways, especially when she had her blue eyes opened. My heart ached and still longed for her.Just in the nick of time, she called and my heart leaped inside my chest. I picked it up quickly because I had missed her, I missed her voice, her face, her warmth, I missed being close to her. I simply missed her.âWhen are you coming home?â her whinny voi
âWhat happened?â Tiffany pulled me into a hug the moment I walked into the house and once again, I broke down before her. She took me to the sitting room where I sat down and cried my eyes out while she soothed my hair and simply allowed me cry.I recalled the pain in my husbandâs eyes when I told him that I could not tell him the truth. I recalled the hurt, the pain, the fear I saw within those gazes, it burned my chest. I had looked him in the face and told him that I could not tell him the truth. What kind of wife was I? I was breaking all the promises we made to each other and keeping this, this preciousness away from him.âWhat happened to her?â I heard Tiana voice as her footsteps followed too.âShe came in this way,â Tiffany answered and rubbed my back gently. None of them said a thing and simply comforted me while I cried till, I could no longer do that anymore.I drank a cup of water after which and I relaxed into the couch with the heaviness of the world on me.âI still canâ
Days went by with nothing much happening. Jordan was constantly busy with work or simply being a loving husband while I grew lazier by the day. It was a good thing I had subordinates to handle my business, I would have totally been thrown into the dust with the rate at which my laziness grew. I slept more, ate more, slept more again, ate even more. My taste buds were also acting different, making me want something entirely different and hating things I love too. Margaret would usually get me what I want no matter how it got and she paid even closer attention to me now.I suspect she knew exactly what was going on with me, but had not said a thing, so I was happy about it and relaxed with her. However, I tried to sleep less and control myself when my beloved husband was available.It was burdening and aching my heart as the day goes by. But what was I supposed to do? I still hadnât found a way to tell him what it was that was going on and I still didnât have the boldness to speak out l