CALEB “Rosy Connor officially declared the new CEO of Connor Group and chief director of Connor Foundation.” The headline was everywhere all over the city. The news of her penthouse was a hit in the media but this one was hotter than it. A few months after I and Rosy went our separate ways, things changed drastically. I turned to my worst nightmare, going to clubs and drinking myself to stupor. Despite how hard I tried to stop, the guilt of my betrayal and selfishness towards Rosy always turned my efforts into waste. I regretted pushing her away when she needed me the most. Mr. Reuben resented me for hurting his daughter and Karen bluntly refused to disclose her location. I have paid millions of dollars to many detectives to find out her whereabouts but no one has come back with a positive response I sighed and turned off the video of her speech which I was watching on my laptop. My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pant pocket. The name of my current private d
CALEB I swallowed hard as all eyes were directed towards my father and I. He seethed in fury and took heavy steps towards me, his eyes burning in rage. I remained fixed on the spot, not bulging despite the horrified screams coming from my aunt. Dad got to where I stood and grabbed me by the collar. “What the hell do you think you are doing here, haven’t I told you never to set your feet in my house again?” His hot breath fanned my face. I remained mute and stared blankly at him. He had every right to be angry at me. “You wanted the company, right? You have it now, you wanted that company in exchange for your own family,” dad spat, tightening his grip around my collar. My throat tightened and the flow of oxygen around my body became distorted. “Oh my God!” my mom’s horrific scream sliced through the air as she sprinted towards us and grabbed my dad’s shoulder, shaking him with every ounce of strength in her. My dad was heavier and stronger than her, so, a
ROSY I sighed and slipped into the SUV parked outside the inauguration center. “You must be very tired,” Evan chuckled from the driver’s seat and I smiled tiredly. Evan stuck to his decision of being my driver. He resigned from his job in Cuba and became my driver, one of the best drivers I have ever employed. “Why don’t you want people to know about our relationship?” I asked. He pulled to a violent stop, taken aback by my sudden question. “Let’s keep it a secret for now, I don’t want your rivals to use it against you,” Evan replied. “Does it matter, what’s anyone’s business with my private life?” I scoffed. “Your life concerns everyone now, you have become a celebrity,” he laughed. I blushed and twirled the ringlets on my hair. “You have a surprise waiting at home,” Evan muttered and I groaned. “I’m sick of surprises, I just want to be left alone,” I winced. “Don’t worry, this will be your last surprise.” He swerved into the driveway and I stepped out of th
ROSYMy eyes were shut as Veronica touched up my face. Did I just say touch-up? I have been sitting in front of the dressing mirror for an hour and yet it doesn’t seem like it is going to end soon. “You are going to look like the princess of the Connor group of companies that you are,” Veronica bragged and popped a bubble gum. I sighed and groaned loudly, “When is this going to end?” “Uhm… ugh… in an hour or two.” I snapped my eyes open and set my head sharply in her direction. Her lips pursed out as she stared at me. “I don’t have time, Veronica,” I rebuffed. She turned up her lips in disgust and gave me an eye roll. “Keep calm, I want to make sure that you will be the most beautiful woman in that conference,” she chimed, dabbing a rogue on my cheeks. “Be fast about this, Veronica.” “I know, I know,” she repeated, waving her hands in the air. “I have three hours…” “You don’t have to say that a million times.” “Veronica, please throw off your bad vibes,
CALEB Our eyes locked and my heart stopped beating. My breath seized and the words of the lady beside me began to swirl around, sounding like a continuous buzzing rhythm. What is she doing here? Why now, why? The collision of our eyes also had a drastic effect on her. Her eyes bored into mine, as we stood like lifeless statues. My mind spun in guilt when those beautiful laughing chestnut eyes changed to rheumy and dead eyes. She shook out of the shock trance and faked a smile towards me. My eyes dimmed in confusion when she took slow strides towards me and stretched out her flawless hand for a handshake. “Hello, Mr. Thompson,” she greeted, showing off her spotless dentistry. I stared down at her hand and averted the abashed stare to her pretentious smiling face. What is going on? Isn’t she supposed to be angry, isn’t she supposed to run away from me? Or perhaps, spit on my face and curse me for betraying her and flinging her away when she needed me the most
ROSY My blood boiled in joy when the name of my company echoed in the large hall. Thunderous applause rented the air as I was called up on the stage. I let go of Evan’s frozen hand and began to ascend the podium, my head swirled in pride with each step I took towards the microphone stand. I got on the podium and stared at the sea of unfamiliar faces of dignitaries and business legends. My dad used to be one of these legends, he was my idol, the one I looked up to. Even though we never had a heart-to-heart relationship, I have always wanted to be like him, a powerful tycoon, a well-known billionaire, one of the richest in Sicily. Here I am, standing before a crowd of strangers with an award that people die for. How did I get here? How did I make this dream a reality? I never expected this shocking surprise. I don’t even have any speech prepared for this moment. What do I say, how do I begin? I took a deep breath and stared intently at the stream of eyes that gazed at me w
ROSY I heard a crash followed by a louder one then a horrific scream. My eyes snapped open and I shot up my head from the tear-drenched pillow. “Caleb? Is that you?” I called out, but my voice only came out as a ghostly whisper. I rubbed my sore throat and cautiously stepped out of the bed that had been my abode for many days. My eyes caught my daughter’s picture and I sobbed, streaks of tears flowing down from my puffy red eyes. I had Sherry two years after my marriage with Caleb. We couldn’t have another baby due to my reckless attitude. Sherry was everything to us, she was our happiness, our joy, and the bedrock of our home. Unlike some kids from wealthy families who turn out to be nasty, Sherry had always been the sweet loving child any parent would wish to have. I and Caleb were the envy of the parents in her middle school. She wasn’t only kindhearted and lovely, she was also the most intelligent in the entire school, and her grades were the best. When she came,
“A divorce… a divorce… a divorce…” I kept stuttering to myself. The glass doors banged together, signifying that he was gone. “A divorce?” I whispered and a bitter teardrop fell off my rheumy eyes. I took in a sharp deep breath to cool my burning lungs and prevent myself from knocking out of a conscious state. Sharp movements from the kitchen startled me. I’m sure it was Mrs. Joyce, she heard every bit of the argument I had with Caleb. I staggered to my feet and slowly gripped the hem of my dress. I shut my eyes and avoided the pictures on the wall, I couldn’t bear to glance at my smiling face on the frame. It felt like poison, a poison I couldn’t elude. I staggered up to the bedroom and collapsed into the bed, tossing and turning in deep grief and pain. How many hours passed after that terrific moment? I couldn’t tell. I hardly glanced at the clock fixed on the cream-colored wall. All I knew was that I fell into a deep sleep that helped to keep me sane for a few hours until a