Two days later
Raine smirked at the commotion the parents of the expelled pupils were causing in the headmistress’ office and he stood back enjoying the scene until the headmistress turned her head and saw him leaning against the wall over the shoulder of one of the parents and waved him over.
“Good morning Mr Cruz.” Mrs Lincoln greeted as he approached her.
“Morning ma’am.” Raine shook hands with her.
“What is he doing here? I’m sure he’s not a parent.” One of the fathers said.
Raine turned to look at the man who spoke and fixed him with a steely gaze. “I might not be a parent but I’m Gabriel
A Week laterRaine knocked on Gabriel’s hospital room door and opened it when he heard Meira tell him to come in. Gabriel had woken up two days ago though he hadn’t stayed awake for long but it was progress and he’d made Meira happy – so happy she was smiling again and eating…. Thankfully.“Uncle Raine.” Gabe beamed when he saw him.“Hey kiddo.” He dropped the bag in his hand on the bedside table and bent down to kiss Gabe’s forehead. “Feeling better?”.“Yeah.” Gabe said.“That’s good to hear. You scared all of us Gabe… especially your mother.” He said.“I’m sorry Mom.” He apologized.“It isn’t your fault though.” Raine told him. “I’m so glad you’re better now.”&l
Tamara King stood by the floor to ceiling window in the presidential suite overlooking the parking lot of the hotel hoping she’d see Raine arrive but she knew she’d have to use binoculars to see anything all the way down from the thirtieth floor.“What’s keeping him?”. She wondered as she picked up her phone to check for missed calls from him but there was nothing. She hated waiting for anyone but this was Raine Emerson Cruz – gorgeous multi-billionaire extraordinaire. He was a man any woman would kill to be with but somehow he had evaded the clutches of every woman he came across. Both extremely rich and pauper as well.She’d been taken by surprise when she got his call and he’d sounded… like a man who was desperately in need of what a woman’s body could offer and of course she’d immediately said yes. She wasn’t stupid.If she could get his body one time…
“Okay… I’m here now Stella.” Meira said. “Let them go.”“Er… No.” Stella replied.“Excuse me? It’s me you want right? Here I am.” She snapped.“I’ll let them go after I make them watch you die.” Stella told her. “Or I might just… kill them too. I mean… they don’t have a father anymore, do they?.”“You’re sick in the head Stella.” Meira spat. “You should be locked up.”“I won’t make me angry if I were you.” Stella tsked, shaking her head. “My hand might just slip.” She waved the gun in the twins direction.“Haven’t you and your horrible son done enough already? My little boy just got out of the hospital because of that monster you gave birth to! What more do you want?
Meira expected that her church members would rally around her and support her after what they knew she had gone through in the hands of Stella, but no they didn’t do that, instead they cast their judgmental eyes on her and backstabbed her like Stella’s death was her fault. “If she continues coming to this church then I won’t come again.” She heard a woman say behind her. “How can she kill her fellow woman in cold blood and still be set free?". Meira expected the pastor to be a sensible and wise leader but unfortunately for her he also joined the crowd by preaching about taking laws into one’s hands and citing her as an example indirectly. She felt Raine go rigid beside her and put her hand on his forearm as if to restrain him but she didn’t know from what exactly. “Excuse me.” Raine’s voice raised over the noise of the microphone interrupting the pastor from continuing his sermon. &nb
Raine felt like he had been kneeling for a thousand years instead of just a few minutes as he waited for Meira to give him her answer but unfortunately she was taking her sweet time doing that.“Say yes you dumb idiot.” Her subconscious snapped at her. “You’re never going to find a better man than him and you know it.”“I hope I’m not making a second mistake.” Meira thought as she nodded giving him her answer.This was probably the way to find out what could have been.“Is that a yes?”. He asked hopefully.“Yes.” She replied. “Yes I’ll marry you.” She laughed.Raine took out the ring, dropped the box and slid the ring on her left finger and rose to his feet. He looked at the ring with a grin on his face. He was glad he didn’t have to get the ring resized to fit her and it
“Hey Em.” Layla greeted. “You said you have good news for me?”.“Uh yeah.” He nodded. “You remember I told you about Meira?”.“Ah yes. The African beauty who without lifting a finger managed to capture the heart of the most wanted bachelor; Emeliano Giovanni Brillantes.” Layla said. “Who unfortunately goes by the name; Raine Emerson Cruz now.”“And Meira wonders why I’m being dramatic.” Raine thought. “As you so eloquently put it, yes, that Meira.”“You are smiling an awful lot. This must be something huge.” Layla mused. “Talk to mama.”“You said you only wanted one thing from me as your birthday present right?”. Raine asked her. “For you to see me happy.”“Yes.” She nodded slowly then she suddenly g
Raine was careful as he drove but he still drove past the limit weaving through traffic like it was nothing and Gabe was cheering him on.“Don’t say a word about this to Mom.” Raine told the twins.“Yes dad.” They nodded.He got home thirty minutes later and the car screeched to a halt in front of the house when the front door opened and someone was thrown out.“What or who gave you the right to come into my fiance’s house to tell me this rubbish?!”. Raine could hear Meira’s raised voice from inside the car before he alighted and the twins did the same.“What’s going on here?”. He asked
Two days later “You smoke?”. Raine’s surprised voice pulled Tamara from her reverie. Tamara jumped and the cigarette dropped from her between her fingers to the floor as she stared at Raine in surprise. “Well?”. He probed and closed the door behind him. “Where is Natasha?”. She breathed as she quickly opened the top drawer and took out a mint gum. She tore open the wrapper and threw it in her mouth. “I told her not to announce my presence.” He said. “I smoke when I’m stressed.” She said. “Have you come to boot me out of here?”. “No.” He shook his head. “My lovely fiancee who you referred to as a piece of trash told me to let it go.” He shot her a sardonic smile. “I’m really sorry for what I did. I thought you wanted me in that way.” Tamara said. “You’re lucky tho
Six weeks later The judge that was supposed to preside over Richard’s case had a severe heart attack so his case was postponed until another judge was available. A day to his hearing, he got a surprise visit from Meira and the twins and he imagined that Meira had come to tell him that she was dropping the charges against him, he imagined himself a free man again and he imagined that he’d stayed with Meira and they lived happily ever after. “Long time no see.” Richard said. “Hello Richard.” She sat down and the twins followed suit. “You look… like hell.” She commented. “I feel like I’m there already. How are you?”. He asked. “I’m good. Just came by to visit you since I won’t be at the hearing tomorrow.” She told him. “Oh? Aren’t you going to witness?”. “Raine said there’s no need for me to. I don’t wa
Five days later Raine sat on the chair by Meira’s bed reading a novel to her when he looked up and saw her hand move once then twice which made him hopeful that she’d wake up soon so he continued reading. “Why is… dynamite ringing in my head?”. Meira croaked out. “I don’t like the band.” The book dropped from his hands to the floor and he shot up from his seat. “Baby?”. He rasped. Meira opened her eyes and looked up at him with a wan smile on her face. “Hey handsome. Am I in heaven?”. Raine laughed and a tear dropped as he bent and kissed her. “I love you.” He whispered reverently against her lips. “I love you too. Can I have water please?”. She asked. “Okay.” Raine said. “I’ll get the doctor.” He rushed out of the room. The doctor checked on her and gave Raine the good news that Meira was out of danger and she could be moved to a private room so a nurse came in to give her water and Raine was told to w
“I don’t want to lose my babies Raine.” Meira cried as she struggled to free herself. “Let me go!”. “Shut up!”. Leonardo hit her temple with the butt of his gun. Raine scrambled to his feet and rushed forward but stopped when Leonardo pointed the gun at him. “Move one inch and she’s dead.” “Please! I need to take her to the hospital.” Raine pleaded. “She’s bleeding.” “Does it look like I care?!”. Leonardo’s eyes flashed. Meira clamped her teeth together to stifle the scream that was coming and simultaneously elbowed Leonardo hard in his ribs making him release her with a grunt. “Meira!”. Raine rushed forward to meet her and helped her up. “Emeliano look out!”. Raina called out in horror as Leonardo reared up with a curse, pointed the gun in their direction and fired before they could do any
“Emeliano… are you sure you want to do this?”. Layla asked as she watched him sign the documents. “It’s your life’s work. Your family’s legacy.” “It all means nothing to me without Meira.” Raine said. “Besides… there’s no way I’ll let that douchebag have anything of mine.” Layla exhaled. “Bring Meira home. We all miss her.” “I will.” He nodded. He dumped the papers in the briefcase and shut it then handed it over to Rogers who left with it immediately. “Carlos?”. “Sei a posto.” Carlos said as they hugged. “Buona fortuna amico.” “I’ll need it.” Raine muttered. “Be careful daddy.” The twins hugged him. “Bring mommy home to us.” “I will.” He promised them. Even if he had to die trying. “Be good for Aunt Layla.” “Yes dad.” They nodded. Raine kissed their foreheads. “Ti amo tanto.” He
“Wonderful news my husband.” Angela beamed at Richard as she sat down. “You won the lottery?”. He asked. “Much better. Our mighty enemy has fallen.” She laughed gaily. “The only enemy I know of…,” He paused as his eyes widened. “Raine Cruz is dead?!”. “I wish. Meira has been kidnapped and I heard that she’s pregnant.” Angela beamed. “Really? Who kidnapped her?”. He was shocked. “Some white people that are after her husband or so it seems.” She shrugged. “I hope they kill her so he’ll suffer.” She said. “I doubt he’ll let them get away with it.” Richard remarked with grudging respect. “He’s like a cat with nine lives.” “Anyway, I want you to sign this check for me.” She took out his check book, opened the page and passed it to him. “The kids need new clothes and shoes and I have to pay the house rent or else we will be thrown out of the house.” “Fifty thousand naira?!”. His eyes widened. “This is the remaining am
“You didn’t bring me who I want but you brought the next best thing; His wife.” The leader Leonardo grinned at Raina. “His pregnant wife.” She added with a smug smile on her face. “Ooh.” He rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Perfecto.” “How can you do this to your own twin brother?!”. Meira yelled at Raina. “Even though you don’t remember anything but surely you should know that he was telling the truth. You should have felt it.” “Shut her up please.” Leonardo ordered before walking out of the room. “Emeliano will never forgive you for this.” Meira promised. “Har har, I’m shaking in my boots.” Raina snorted in derision before she gagged her. “This will flush him out so be a good girl and you won’t get hurt.” She patted Meira’s head and walked away. Meira looked around the room and sighed. There was no way of escape
A week later “You don’t have to do this Raine.” Meira said as they stood outside the door of the basement of Emerson group. He’d stayed home for two days to rest and then insisted on seeing Giovanna so Meira had no choice but to oblige him. “I want to. I have to see her.” He insisted. “Okay.” She sighed. “I’d want to see my sister too after all these years if she were supposedly alive.” The door opened revealing one of the bodyguards and Raine walked in nodding at the bodyguard. “I’ll be waiting in your office.” Meira told him. “I happen to like the view from up there very much.” “Okay.” He grinned. “Don’t stress yourself.” She kissed him and left. “Leave us please.” He said to the remaining two guards. The guards left and closed the door behind them leaving him alone with Giov
Three new bodyguards were hired to protect the twins a week later after an attempt was made by some unknown people to kidnap them two days after Giovanna was caught and detained.They were now more protected than even the governor of the state and though it was kind of intimidating seeing all the men in black but the children thought it was fun.Raine’s ex best friend had a sister who died when she was only six but she wasn’t Giovanna Gaines so Meira told the bodyguards watching her to torture her until she was willing to tell the truth but she kept saying the same thing; she was Talon’s sister.Raine finally woke up a week later much to everyone’s excitement and the first thing he said before he opened his eyes was; “Meira”.“I’m here.” She sobbed. “I’m right here.” She took hold of his hand.Raine opened his eyes and smiled wanly at her. “You’re a breath of fresh
“Raine doesn’t know this.” Meira whispered. “Did Carlos have the information verified?”. “Yes. Raina’s body was exhumed but they couldn’t find anything. There were no bones… nothing.” Layla replied. “Was the call traced?”. She inquired. “Maybe we could find out for ourselves if she’s really alive or the person’s just joking around.” “Carlos’ security team almost got it but the call disconnected before they could. It definitely didn’t come from Italy.” Layla said. She sighed dejectedly. “It’s one problem after another right?”. “Yeah.” Meira rubbed her forehead. “I have to inform the doctor that we’ve found a volunteer, I’ll keep you posted. Please be careful.” “We will. Take care of yourself.” Layla hung up. Meira informed the doctor about Thomas and though the doctor was skeptical but he agreed that half bread was better than nothing and Thomas co