*Olga*It's Friday morning. I was in my hotel room that overlooked the city. In the next room door was Jayden sleeping away. I had arrived earlier before him and got to my room. I heard him arrive late at night though from what I knew he had left very early in the morning. The flight was five hours long so I had expected him by noon.However, he checked in at the hotel just after I had come back from the bar. The bar was a very large place but it had small intimate setup at the counter, almost like a booth having three highchairs at every interval. Large golden chandeliers hang from the even higher roof. Later on I learnt that the bar was built separate to accommodate the cathedrallike magnitude.I had checked out the bar products and reserved three bottles of smoked whiskey that weren’t to be sold under any circumstance. They were all brands that I knew Jayden would love. I had left the bartender a hefty tip for him to reserve one of the booths for tonight as he had told me that the c
*Olga*The elevator doors beeped as they opened and the voice in the speaker announced our floor. I led Jayden down the corridor and stood outside his door. I fumbled for the key in his pocket and placed it on the reader. The door whirred open and I led him to the bed.Now the thing about the room that Mark had acquired for me was that it was an interconnecting room with Jayden’s. I placed Jayden in bed, removed his brown pair of Oxfords and then covered him up.He muttered and looked me in the eyes. I gave him a quick peck on his forehead and then got up. I headed to the door on the left of the room and unlocked it, removing and hiding away the deadbolt in a little nook above the sliding door.“What are you doing?” he asked drunkenly, looking at me.“Nothing much just checking the curtains,” I told him and drew back the curtain that hid the sliding door from view. “I better go to my room.”I walked out of his room and shut the door behind me and then looked down the hall at the spot w
*Sierra*“Hi dad, aren’t you home early today,” Brian said looking up from the game that he was playing against me. I looked up to see Jayden walking in, I hadn’t heard the car pull up. I smiled at him but he was stone-faced and looked almost angry.“I will turn in early tonight, my flight is early in the morning.” I heard him say. “Maria, I hope you have packed my bags already.”Maria nodded and pointed to the little alcove where she had placed his suitcases earlier in the evening.“Maurice will be here by three to pick you up,” Nala said.“Fine then, I am heading to sleep, please keep it quiet,” Jayden said walking up the stairs. Not once had he spoken a word to me and I knew he was mad at me but I wondered what I did to make him angry.We continued playing with Brian and though he never managed to beat me, we did reach a stalemate twice showing that he was a fast learner. I felt he was now ready to learn opening techniques and other advanced moves.Nala set the table and we both was
*Sierra*We stepped into the smoky steakhouse and looked around before a hostess approached us with a smile on her face.“Welcome to Grillshack, is this your first time here?” She asked cheerily.We nodded and she led us to a sheltered booth after we explained that we were expecting somebody. We had thirty minutes to kill before Mark showed up. I looked around and finally found a good position at the terrace and we asked to move there.From there I could see when he walked in as well as having the exit to my back in case he tried to get rough. It also afforded a vantage point for Cynthia from the outside bar where she took a seat and ordered a martini.I was served a glass of cold pineapple mint juice and waited for Mark to arrive. I didn’t trust myself to take alcohol. Five minutes to 4 I saw his bulky figure walk up the steps to the entrance of the restaurant. He flirted with the hostess and showed me where I had sat.He took a seat across from me and I was glad he hadn’t expected me
*Jayden*I looked at the ringing phone and wondered why she was calling at this time. I wanted to ignore it but for her to call this late meant something was up.“Hello Amanda—”“I am sorry Mr. Jay I didn’t know who to turn to, he is after me,” Her voice said in a whisper. I could feel fear in her voice.“Who is it?” I asked though I already knew who it was.“It is Mark,” came the reply and I felt a cold chill.“Where are you now?” I asked, jumping out of bed and putting on my clothes.“NALA,” I shouted down the hallway glad that she was the one who was staying in the same house with me. “Get Dave to start the car immediately.”I turned back to the phone and said trying to calm Amanda, “Okay hang in there Amanda we are coming, stay hidden and make sure your phone location is on at all times.”I went out to the hallway where I bumped into Sierra and Brian who had heard me.“What’s wrong dad?” Brian is the first to ask. I hugged him and told him to get back to bed and we would talk in th
*Jayden*I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes. I decided to take a short nap. A few minutes later there was a knock on the office door and I looked up to see Dave at the doorway. I motioned for him to enter and he shut the door behind him.“I don’t know if this is a good time or a bad time to bring this up, but remember the little assignment that you had given me?”I nodded as I recalled that I had instructed Dave to find out where Sierra was going to meet up with Mark and for what purpose.“Have a seat.” I told him pointing at the chair across my desk.“Well I did find out and I surreptitiously followed them to the location, everything is recorded and before you watch it, I think you should brace yourself,” he told me, handing me the small memory drive.“What do you mean?” I asked him as I fidgeted with the disk in my hand. I plugged it inside my computer and faced him.“Mark is a dangerous man, it’s good that Sierra is under your roof and employed as is Amanda, but for her sa
*Sierra*After acknowledging Frankie’s presence, I went back to the house where Brian was still poring over his videos but this time Amanda was watching with him.“Sierra, have you seen Frankie? She was looking for you guys,” Brian said looking up when he noticed me.“She is with Jayden at the gazebo,” I said deliberately.“Belvedere you mean. Wait until dad catches you calling it a hat, he will give you another tongue lashing,” Brian said with a grin on his face. I take it that he had once done it just to annoy Jayden and was speaking from experience.“Amanda sorry for dumping this on you, but can you continue watching him as I freshen upstairs?” I requested and she obliged willingly.“Sierra, you do realize that I am in the room and can hear you very well. You make me sound like a wild animal that needs supervision.” Brian grumbled.“Once I am done the three of us can prepare dinner for today, that is if Amanda is okay with it,” I said turning to face Amanda who smiled.I went upstai
*Olga*I had come back to Selspur City a few days after enjoying myself at Betty’s place. Betty was a high school friend who lived in the capital.She had hosted me after I checked out of the hotel that morning having taken breakfast. I enjoyed being with her and even started smoking again. I had dropped that habit after three years of high school. Betty was the one who had introduced me and she reintroduced me to it again.This time though she made me experiment with vapes and I didn’t like all those sweet flavors. If I wanted to have strawberry I would eat it as is rather than smoke it. I went back to good old traditional cigarettes.Also while I was here I had decided to do a pregnancy test early though I knew the results wouldn’t show up, but surprisingly I got my result. I bought two other kits and tested again just to confirm and they all showed me the same result.Betty managed to sneak me in for a medical test and it also gave me the same result. She congratulated me and I show
*Sierra*Nathan Sinclair had a few words with me in private just before we left. He told me he was happy that I was back and to look after his godson and Brian.His driver dropped us at the hospital where Jayden and I went to see Brian. He was awake and glad to see me. We found Llewellyn having an animated discussion with him about machines. Amanda was also with them having come from work.I looked at Jayden expecting to see a frown of disapproval but there was none. Apparently the quickest way to Jayden’s heart was through his son. My thoughts were proved right when Jayden called Llewellyn aside and they went outside to talk. I half expected to hear angry voices.They came back in minutes later all laughing heartily. The way they were all budding up one couldn’t tell they had just exchanged blows a few hours earlier. Something about male friendships was so basic yet pure.Unlike how I was with Lisa. It was sad that she met her demise that way. I wouldn’t have wished that to happen t
*Jayden*“You are poor compared to his standards,” Sierra whispered in my ear. I nodded in agreement though I knew she was trying to tease me.“Well he is my mentor and all. The student should never outshine the master.”The helicopter landed on a heliport and there were three carts waiting for us all. Sierra, Lorraine, Cynthia and I entered. Frankie and The security and police chief stepped into the other and Nathan took one by himself.The carts drove us through the expansive land all the way to the cluster of buildings.“What are all these houses?” Sierra asked as we passed the second mansion.“There are seven mansions on this huge acreage,” the driver answered. “All of them are well maintained and ready to host anyone at a moment’s notice. There is also a golf course, three rivers, a large chunk of Dorrington Forest, those buildings behind the clump of trees are a library, recreation center, stables and a small racing track.”“It is basically like a small town, there is even a pol
*Jayden*My phone was in my hand and I read the text again. A second text had arrived and it told me to come alone, not even with the driver.The address was one of the abandoned warehouses at the city limits. It had been so long since I drove myself, but to keep Sierra safe I followed their instructions.A thousand thoughts rushed through my head as to who kidnapped her and why. What was their motive? This was the third red light and I was doing so deliberately. I may have been forced not to tell anyone but I sure as hell was going to leave a track. I had told Dave to drop me home and go back to the hospital. As soon as he had left I went to the garage and picked out my first car that I bought with my own money. It was a four door sedan, black with a gold stripe detail all around the car.I cussed and wished I had taken Sierra’s new number to confirm where she was. I had had the idea that it was all a hoax to get me but an image had been sent of her. She was wearing the same clothes
*Sierra*I got up in the morning and went to see Cynthia at her old place at The Purple Mirage. I commented on it and she told me that she occasionally came back here so that the place doesn’t feel neglected. I went to my old house and saw it was now bare.I went back to the hospital where I found Llewellyn waiting for me. He was worried as I had left in the morning without telling him. I hugged him to apologize and explained he was sleeping and I didn’t want to wake him up.Jayden walked up to us and we followed him inside. He asked me a question and I told him I went to see Cynthia at The Purple Mirage. I entered the room and stood by Brian’s bed. I stroked his cheek but he was still asleep.There was a nurse who was checking his vitals. Jayden joined me and asked the nurse a few questions.“Is something wrong?” Jayden asks. I saw Frankie looking a little distressed.“Lisa hasn’t reported to work for the last two days. I sent someone to The Purple Mirage but she isn’t answering the
*Sierra*Her next words made me sit up quickly in shock.I jumped out of bed and put on the lights. I looked for warm clothing and then grabbed a small bag that would carry my purse as well as a few other items.I heard a knock on the door just as I was about to leave. There stood Mrs. Wango and Llewellyn.“Is everything okay?” she asked me. “Where are you headed to at this time?”“Jayden’s son has been involved in an accident that’s all I know.” I told them. “How are you here?”“We were heading home from the bakery and we saw all the lights in your cottage come on, so we wanted to find out we thought maybe you were being robbed,” Llewellyn explained. That explained the metal bar in his hand and the small basket in Mrs. Wango’s hands.“I know we can’t stop you from traveling now but let Llewellyn accompany you, after all you only have about thirty minutes to get the night bus. I will be less worried knowing you have him by your side.”I followed them back to the house where Llewellyn
*Jayden*I joined Sierra but Brian was asleep. I asked the nurse inside about his progress and said that he was naturally sleeping and not sedated anymore. Frankie walked in looking all harassed. “Is something wrong?”“Lisa hasn’t reported to work for the last two days. I sent someone to The Purple Mirage but she isn’t answering the door nor is she picking up calls. How is Brian?”“He is still sleeping but he is fine,” I told her. “If she doesn’t show up today, we will gain access to her house and alert the authorities. We can still do your blood test.”“What do you mean Lisa is missing?” Sierra asked. I had forgotten she was in the room.Frankie looked at me and I nodded, “Lisa hasn’t reported to work since Tuesday. Her phone is off network and as you heard she isn’t opening the door.”Sierra got up and left the room holding her phone. I went and arranged for Frankie to have her blood sample taken and tested. She received a call and had to go outside to answer it.I walked back to t
*Jayden*I stayed by Brian’s side for some more hours until it was dark.I got up and stretched, letting blood flow to my numb body parts. He was still sleeping and I thought I could go and see Sierra. I smiled at that thought and asked if Dave was around. He told me he was in the parking lot. He pulled up outside the entrance and I got in.“Any changes?” he inquired after I sat down.“He is the same, just sleeping,” I told him.“Where to?” he asked me. I told him the hotel and he nodded. I swear I almost saw a smile on his face.The drive was short and as I got out he said, “Chrysanthemum Floor, 1st Petal.”He drove the car away and wisely because I was about to retort. Well at least I won’t have to go to the reception and ask for her room. I wonder how he knew what room she was in though.I went up the private lift and got off the top floor. I rang the bell and the door opened almost immediately. Sierra stood at the doorway in the hotel robes. She looked splendid and sexier than I ha
*Jayden*I was in the office when I saw my phone ring and the number was Selspur’s biggest hospital. I wondered who was calling and why.“Hello,” I said tentatively.“Jayden, there has been an accident and Brian is in hospital,” I heard Olga’s voice over the phone. “You should come as soon as possible.”“I am on my way,” I said and hung up. Frankie happened to enter my office at that moment and she saw the look on my face.“What happened?” she asked me putting down the file in her hand.“It is Brian he is injured and I don’t know what happened, that was Olga.”“Then let us go,” She said urgently. I shook my head and told her to stay behind and continue running the office.“I will update you as soon as possible. Also I want you to inform Lorraine, but not my parents at the moment.”I rushed outside and found Dave waiting, the car door opened and he was ready to drive out as soon as I got in. Frankie had told him already and he drove quickly to the hospital.I jumped out of the car and
*Olga* I woke up early at six but both Frankie and Jayden had gone to work. I hadn’t heard them leave. I rolled to the other side and covered myself not wanting to feel the cold air. After receiving Mark’s confirmation to participate in the plan I had slept peacefully. I got up hours later to hear the gardener whistling outside merrily. I quickly freshened up and went to the living room and made myself a quick breakfast.It was almost noon and there was a chef who was busy doing the weekly prep for Jayden’s fridge. I sweet talked him to also make me something for lunch to which he agreed.Nala had already left for the training so Brian was up in his room. I rubbed my stomach out of habit and sighed. I went outside to the back and looked at the tree. It hadn’t shown any signs of growth but as it wasn’t dead that was reassuring.George was taking good care of it and with time Jayden and I will be standing under it. Of course he will never know why it was planted in the first place. That