~LEONA~Who the heck is Dave?I looked up at her and took the glass of water she offered.After taking a few sips, I felt okay.“You seem shocked, is everything okay between you?”” I Am actually shocked because I don’t know who D…”I stopped when I remembered that Yolando’s safe had that name as the password.Could those two have something in common or it’s just a mere coincidence?“Everything is fine but there’s actually nothing between us because I don’t know who you’re talking about.”” What? I refuse to believe that you are a prostitute!”“Sweet Jesus!” My hands flew to my lips.” A prostitute? Hell no!”” Then why would you be in the same room with him all this while without knowing such a petty detail about him?”Oh okay, so the one I’ve been working for is called Dave? It never occurred to me to have a look at his name.How do I explain to this woman that we don’t know each other?“I never thought it was necessary,” I answered her question dumbly.“But I am not a prostitute,”
~LEONA~"Raymond," I whispered in shock and surprise.My knees wobbled as I took some steps towards him.he wiped off his hoodie cap as he also walked to me.When I saw him clearly , I thought my feet weren't doing enough so I took to my heels.When we were close, we stared at each other's face for a moment as our eyes met and communicated words we couldn't say with our lips before enclosing our body in a bone-crushing hug."Ray." I mouthed as tears spilled from my eyes."Leo." He whispered back, pulled us apart, and stared at me."oh my God, it's really you." He muttered and hugged me again."I thought I lost you and I'll never see you again Leo."" Me too, I miss you, Raymond."I pulled back and looked up at him, giving him the look that we got a lot to talk about.He nodded and placed his hand on my shoulders as we walked from the streets.***"He's cute," Ray said and lifted baby Leo from the cradle."Yeah, he's pretty.""What name did you give him?""Leo," I stated.His forehead
~LEONA~Without warning, I jumped through the window and I bet he wasn't expecting it at all.Before he could recover from that, I had already jumped from the balcony and got on the fence.Without looking back, I jumped from the fence and landed on the grass."That was close," I muttered.I wiped dirt from my hands as I walked to where Raymond's car was parked."Why are you sweating so much?"Raymond asked when I got into the car." I jogged." I lied.He just nodded and drove off.After a twenty minutes drive, he parked in front of a flat.I took Leonard while he took the luggage."Is this your home?" I asked when we got in."Nope, our home."The house looks exquisite. How did he manage to afford such a nice place ?What work is he doing?"How did...""We'll talk about everything later but you first have to freshen up, eat and have some rest."I didn't argue because I was very tired.He showed me a beautiful spacious room for Leonard and I.After putting him on the bed, I went to the
~LEONA~" So what have you also been up to!"He asked out of nowhere.I sighed." Well, I couldn't get any suitable job because I had none of my certificates but I was managing some work."" I'm sorry about that but why did you leave so suddenly? I went to class and when I came, my friend said you left. I was so disturbed that I searched for you the whole week but couldn't find you."" I had to leave. It was urgent. I waited for some time but you didn't come." I tried not to give any hint of the ordeal I had to go through before leaving. Had it not been for his friend, I would have stayed."And you left everything behind without a second thought? Why? "I bit my lips when the memories of that day won't go away.I didn't want to implicate his friend so I lied."I'm sorry, Ray. but I had no choice at that time. I was called urgently to my school for some work abroad. I couldn't refuse such an opportunity but when I got there, there were no certificates to prove so I was laid off." I l
~LEONA~"Who..are you?" I stuttered badly.He looked a bit surprised before resolving back to normalcy.If I'm not hallucinating, he speaks exactly like Dave and also like the man whose voice I heard when I was unconscious.Could it be just one person?Even though the two voices seem to be similar, they both have different characteristics.While the voice I heard at the hospital was soothing and comforting, Dave's own was filled with mockery when he caught me in his house.And this CEO? He's so rude and arrogant. Purely mannerless and mean.So which is which?"I'm the CEO, everyone knows that." He said proudly with that smirk." Or do I look like any of your babies daddy? No right?"I glared at him and stood akimbo, ready to tongue-lash him. "I wish you were worth that tittle but unfortunately for you, you don't match up. Too bad."" But I am worth being a CEO and everyone knows that including you."" Yeah they know but I doubt if they have any idea how arrogant he is." I sneered." I
LEONA" Nevermind. How about we get practical?""Sure."He moved leisurely to his shelf and grabbed some documents, he walked back to me and placed them in front of me."These are the records of this company for the past five years. I'd like you to go through and pinpoint the shortcomings. "" But this is an auditor's work? "" What? Is it not part of being an accountant? "" Yeah but this is really gonna take forever. "" Is that a complaint coming out of your mouth? "" No but... "" Do you want this job or not? " he began to roll his sleeves up." Yes... "" Then keep quiet and do as you were told. "" Alright, can I have all the receipts? "" Sure, why not? " He brought them to me.As an audit of a bank, which I am currently, I have to provide users such as lenders and investors with an enhanced degree of confidence in the financial statements.To form that opinion, I have to gather appropriate and sufficient evidence and observe, test, compare, and confirm until gaining reasonab
THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO ALL OF YOU! I LOVE YOU~LEONA~This is the second time he's talking about a baby in just a day. What's with him?I scrutinized him, trying to take in every of his features."Do you mind explaining what you said just now?" I asked." What?" He asked with an innocent look." Love you, mum, talk to you later." He said and pinged on a phone I just saw him holding.I looked at him and realized that he had an airpod in his ear.Oh, so he was making a call?Why didn't I notice earlier? And why does his call coincide with my life?Why am I even trying to believe him?"Sorry about that. Was on a call." He apologized."I noticed, may I go now? I promise to finish the work tomorrow if possible."" You may." He agreed and walked away.For all I know, he could be lying.I walked on the long passageway towards the exit.My eyes adjusted to the darkness outside as I walked to the roadside for a car.After ten minutes, I still couldn't get any Taxi that would convey me ho
~LEONA~It was cloudy and the wind blew fiercely accompanied by lightning and thunder.It was a sigh of a great storm. I looked at the cloud sadly.I just closed from work later than usual and it happens that there was no available taxi. The coming storm made it worse.I clutched my bag tightly as I walked on the street. There was no one apart from moving cars.I tried stopping random cars but none was ready to render help.I decided to start walking home and maybe I might get a taxi.As I walked, I began to hear lighter footsteps behind me.I turned but couldn't see anyone. I didn't make much out of it so I continued walking.After some steps, I began to hear the strange steps. My pulse quickened when I turned to see my worst nightmare.I could recognize him from anywhere.How did he find me so quickly?I doubled my steps and made to run but it suddenly began to rain making the street slippery and my heels weren't helping one bit.He was almost close and I was trying to run faster bu
TEN MONTHS LATER... LEONAWe just arrived home and I am awed to see the entire family in the decorated living room upstanding in anticipation of our arrival.I was carrying my new baby boy in my arms while Dave carried the girl. Yes, I delivered a boy and a girl twin and it's been a month but we're now returning from the by-force vacation Dave took me a month before my delivery. Everyone couldn't wait to see us and here we are now. Petals of different colors showered on us as we walked into the living room."Aww. They're so adorable and the girl is so cute." Kim squealed and took my baby boy from me.I sat down and everyone took turns to congratulate us, me especially. My mind went back to the day I told Dave that I was pregnant in his office. It's been ten months but I can't forget that astonishing look and his priceless smile when I told him the news. I keep replaying it and anytime I do, I find myself smiling. I've never seen him that happy before...it was so ama
FOUR YEARS LATER.....Yeah.It's been four fucking years and I can't say I'm still the Leona of four years back. I'm twenty-six and I've achieved a lot.I got my masters and I even went further to have a bachelor's in architecture. I work in one of the biggest global companies here in America and aside from that, I work with Dave as his assistant in his architectural firm. Together, we built the firm to a top-notch. Anosova architectural firm is now one of the best in the world. His hard work also took his family business to an even higher level. All this occurred in four years.In four years, I became Mrs. Anosova. When we left that coffee shop, we registered, then advanced our wedding night. It was crazy but felt so right. After a year, we got married properly in a church where all the family including loved ones were present.Should I say I expected to see Lando come but he didn't? Well, I did. He told me he's my shadow so I expected him to be there. Not for that alone but because
🔥FINALE 🔥Leona Grande-AnosovaIt's been a month and right now Dave and I are sitting facing each other in a coffee shop somewhere in Seattle. From Greece, we relocated to one of Dave's mansions here in Seattle. The city is nice and full of coffee shops with really great coffees. Raymond has recovered and I won't say entirely but it's better than before and he's currently at home with Leonard. Leonard will be two years old next month and I can't wait to celebrate his second birthday.On my dad's insistence to work, Dave employed him in his company and my siblings have also returned to their preferred schools. I will remember to pay Dave back every dime he's spending on my family and me. It's a lot and I can't thank him enough.He also allowed me to get on birth control pills after I explained that I will be furthering my education.He made a joke out of it with a cocky remark that he doesn't need any more competition and that, child or no child, he wants me all to himself. He doe
LEONA"Really?" He came even closer, leaned into me and and bit my neck.I looked up at him and caught him staring at my chest with so much hunger and lust but above all, love.With Leonard in my arms, it made my towel pull down, revealing a greater part of my breast leaving only the nipples hidden."Make him sleep, Leo." His voice was begging. His lips moved to kiss the top of my breast but Leonard who hasn't slept yet pushed his head back and placed his little hands on my chest, shielding it from Dave.Dave glared at him and swat Leonard's hands away. "She's my woman, young man.""Seriously Dave. How would he sleep?" I laughed. History isn't repeating, is it?First, it was me fighting Leonard and now Dave fighting him."Then tell him that. He seems to be competing with me."Leonard wasn't having it either. He placed his hand back on my chest and added his head then rolled his baby blue eyes at Dave angrily."What! Did you see that?" Dave grumbled before placing his hand
LEONAI looked at him in absolute shock, my eyes threatening to fall out. This is incredibly unbelievable. I blink multiple times to clear my vision in case I was hallucinating but no. He stood there with his bandages still on him. He didn't look strong but he's here.My hands reached to grip Dave tight and my eyes water. With a shaky voice, I asked. "How?" He limped towards me but I stumbled back. "Are you sure you're not a ghost? I saw your dead body, Raymond. I saw how pale you got. I saw everything. How can you not die?""Don't go away from me, sis." He winced and stopped limping towards me."I'm sorry for scaring all of you. I should've said this to you upfront. You know, after my car accident, I did self-medication before coming to Dave's mansion. I knew that man would try something so I couldn't stay at the hospital though I was going through a lot of pain. I took an overdose of a strong antidepressant and it helped after he shot me. I really didn't feel st
"I'm taking them away, Dad," Dave answered and came to his father with a bunch of papers in his hand."What do you mean? This is their home too.""It was no longer home when you brought a devil to live in it." He retorted."Stop this, Dave. He's your brother." Charles whispered but it wasn't low enough."I refuse to accept him and you'd not change my mind.!"Who are they talking about? I didn't know Dave had a brother."Here, dad. This is all your business and ownership documents. I've resigned and signed everything out of my name. Where's mum? She should come and give them to her darling son." He looked around.I didn't understand whatever that was going on. Why's Dave giving everything back? Most importantly, was I supposed to witness this?I wished my feet would drag me out but I was too curious."I have my own company to focus on anyway.”"Is this how you behave?" Kim appeared. "You get angry at your parents when we scold you a little? We raised you better.""I'm glad you're here,
LEONAI paid the driver and stepped down. I stared at Raymond's apartment and literally wept.A lot of memories are being embedded here. I still can't believe that I lost my brother. My only brother. What kind of fate am I carrying? Why's it that I always invite trouble for people wherever I go?Dave went through a lot because of me. My family is not an exception but they survived it and my brother couldn't. Life is so unfair and especially to me.Oh, Lord. Please save my soul and remove all this pain and sorrows. It's more than I can take.I'm living but my life is not worth living without my backbone.I looked for the key where he always keeps it, put it in the keyhole then turned it gently before pushing it.The room was just as I expected. Dust and cobwebs everywhere which is clearly indicating that it's been a long time since a human lived here.I opened his room and walked slowly into it.I saw a photograph of us together on his bedside table and picked it up. I stared at it an
LEONA“Dave.” I called once the door clicked open and he stepped in. I shuffled to my feet and adjusted my eyes to the darkness."Why are you avoiding me?”He came late and I had stayed up all night just to talk to him.He found the switch and turned the lights on."And who said I am?” I watched him hang his suit jacket."Then what? Why are you doing this? This is not you." I complained."What am I doing? We talk, don't we?" His brows furrowed as he took off his cufflinks leisurely."You know what I'm talking about. Stop being nonchalant."“Fine. I'm only giving you space because anytime I try to get close you tell me you want to leave. To leave me. I didn't want to hear that…"Dave I ...""No Leona. Please don't say anything." He cuts me off and walked out.So this is it. He thinks I will leave? Well, that was my initial plan but I aborted it long ago.I tried starting a conversation with him to try and clear his misconception but he wouldn't give me a chance.I regret s
LEONA"Have you seen what you've caused our family? I've always known you're a bad egg. How could you? You should've looked for a decent job like every graduate or come back home. It was out of rage I acted harshly and threw you out but you could've come back. Your father got hospitalized because of you and yet you never showed up. What kind of a daughter are you Leona? And now because of your reckless ways, you lost your brother. You caused his death, Leona. I hope you know that!" Tasha scolded me once I joined them in the guest room."Are you done, woman?" Dad asked and she rolled her eyes."Must I always remind you that if you have nothing sensible to say you should keep quiet?""You won't start again Cornelius!" She warned.I knew just then that if I don't come in, they will start fighting."Dad, Tasha is right. I fucked up..""See? She started cursing. I fear you, Leona. Especially after what we went through because of you. I know you're a murderer just like that fearful man and