CLARA I opened my eyes and almost everywhere was dark. I woke up to what seemed like a long sleep. I felt so weak and my head was light. I couldn't remember anything at all. I turned my neck to the right side and saw Damien sleeping. His head was almost falling off from his neck. I turned to the other side and I saw a stand with a small transparent bag hanging on it. There was a line that was attached to the bag and it was fixed in my head. I saw the content of the bag and it was dropping little by little into a cup like nature and it flowed down the line. This content was actually entering the body. I tilted my head upwards to see what was making a slight noise and I saw the machine. It was reading and I can't really tell what those figures mean. What exactly made me want to be here? I perceived a drug smell that brought back my memory to realize that I was in the hospital. I looked at myself and realized that I was putting on a patient gown. The gown which I wore to the hospi
CLARAI had to think fast on what to tell him because I never knew that he would come up with such. "Okay, I heard my name but I saw a face that looked like my late dad. I wondered if it was his ghost that called me or something else. The shock of seeing that face made me faint." His face was concerned. "Your late father? Wait, are you really sure that he is dead?""Yes, I am very sure because I was present at his funeral." "Don't you think it might be one of his siblings?" "My father is an only child." "Hmm, well people tend to have their look-alike in this world. Then tell me what happened to your father because you haven't told the story behind his death.""Hmm, that is a very strong one but I will tell you." My father was a business associate of Jamaica Jewellery Enterprise. He was doing well for himself. My family never lacked anything. One day he told us that he would be traveling on a business trip, he had a deal to seal and that would have made us to be at the top. We
CLARA "Clara! Enough of these questions and let me be!" Damien yelled. I felt a heartbreak that I have never experienced in my entire life. What could make Damien shout at me in this manner?I sat down and watched him as he got busy with his laptop. My son kept knocking on our door and I had to open it. "Benjamin, why aren't you sleeping?" "Ma'am, he insisted on sleeping in your room tonight," Nancy replied. Damien stood up from his chair and started scolding Nancy to our greatest surprise. "You are always fond of replying to a question that was not thrown to you. You better be careful in this house else you will get fired! I don't like when people don't mind their business!" "I am sorry sir," she replied and left. I looked at Damien as he went back to take his seat. What is wrong with him?"Damien, what was her offense for shouting at her in that manner?" "You have no right whatsoever to ask me a meaningless question!" He shouted. "What the heck is going on? I am sick and t
CLARA "Clara, how may I help you?" That question was so awkward. He didn't bother to greet. "I am coming over to your place, hope you are at home?""You can come." "Alright," I hung up. I did a heavy makeup to cover my swollen eyes. When I got to the dining table, I lost my appetite. "Ma'am, are you not going to eat before going out?" "I need to rush because I am late. I woke up very late." "Okay." My car was a little dusty because I haven't gone out since I came back from the hospital but at least the gatekeeper has always been washing the cars every morning. Why is mine dusty?I called him and asked him why my car was that dusty. "My boss said I should leave yours and wash his car because he was going out." "I don't understand, so why don't you wash them everyday?" "He said you weren't going anywhere and so I should always focus on his cars." I got so pissed because I don't know why Damien would give such an order. I poured my anger on the gate keeper and told him to qu
CLARA I could sense danger as everyone was staring at me. Damien's eye was dangerously piercing into my tegument. I just wished the ground would open and swallow me. My legs and hands were already cold and white. My body was stiff and stuck in place. I decided to compose myself before everyone. I wonder why the nanny and maid were also in the living room with Damien and Benjamin. My son saw me and rushed to hug me but Damien held him back. "Uhm," I couldn't find my voice. My words choked me. I felt a lump in my throat and so I just scratched my neck and waited for him to speak. "Go ahead and tell us where you are coming back from, married woman." "I went to see my female friend and I cried to her because I don't know what was wrong with my husband, I suddenly fell asleep while crying. Then while coming back, my car broke down." Damien clapped his hand, "Check the time." I looked at the wall clock and it was past eleven in the evening. I twisted my mouth in shock. I don't know
CLARAI rushed out of the room, went to carry Benjamin out of his room. We walked to the entrance and stood there like mother and son. We waited for him to come out of his car. Although he delayed, I didn't bother. I wore a smiley face and patiently waited. When he finally opened the car door, he stared at us for a while before he grabbed his suitcase and stepped out of the car. Benjamin released his hand from my grip and rushed to welcome Damien. He carried him up immediately, I had to go and help him with the briefcase but he refused. He carried our son and entered the house. I didn't get offended that he didn't look at me but concentrated on our son. When he entered inside, he stopped at the dining table and saw the decorations. I was standing behind him, I saw him smiling and moved up the stairs. That smile alone relaxed my nerves. I followed him to the room. "How was your day?" "Fine." "I can't wait for you to taste the meal I specially made for you," I said while smilin
DAMIEN When Clara was in the hospital I missed a business deal that I have long wished for and so it affected everything about me. I began to see her as a bad luck. Yeah, I know it hurts but I couldn't just help it. I know she could also be thinking that something was wrong but man, I couldn't just comprehend anything. I have sent a reply to the company I wanted to partner with and I was told to hold on. If not for the situation, I would have met with the owners of the company and by now it would have been sealed. I was in my office that morning going through some documents and cross-checking what has been done so far for the month when my Secretary came into my office. "Yes?" "You have a call sir." She handed the company phone to me. "Yes, this is Damien Flore speaking, who is on the line please?" "This is Doctor Simon, please your attention is urgently needed in the hospital concerning your father." My heart raced so fast that I had to use my hand and make a sign to my Secr
DAMIEN "Go in?" He smiled at me. I exhaled and summoned the courage to enter. I was shocked when I saw my father sitting down on the chair, not even on the bed. His smile was fluffy, and this meant everything to me. "Father!" I ran to him and gave him a hug. "Finally, you are back." I hugged him again. My eyes were teary because I couldn't afford to lose him at this time especially now that the citizens are looking at me like someone that wants to take over. "How are you now?" "As you can see I feel much better and stronger. I am healthy. All thanks to the doctor and his team." I glanced at the doctor and smiled. "Thank you." "Dad, I am glad you are back because the citizens are on my neck. Imagine, I was not even allowed to enter the hospital because they needed an update on your health." "Are they still out there?" "Sure!" "Let me go and see them.""No, you don't have to stress yourself because of them. When you resume at the office, you can address whatever issue but fo
MICHIGANA few weeks later after the incident at Damien's mansion, I felt sick and became bedridden due to a very unusual flu which I ignored at the start.I thought deeply as to where that moment of fantasy would lead me and Damien, it felt different as I embraced the mutual feeling we both shared and gave in to my heart's deepest desire.The flu kept me from work and doing anything productive leaving me with no other option than to hire a maid. I was too stubborn to go to the hospital as I feared that I would have to spend days thereafter testing.Just as I sat in my room with my wipes on my side and my nose as red as that of the red reindeer, my maid walked into the room and there seemed to be someone at the door as well."Someone is here to see you madam.""Come in."I responded with anticipation as I watched the door to see who it was, surprisingly I saw Damien walk into the room with flowers in his hand.His expression changed when she saw the drain look on my face that hinted a
DAMIENThe death of my father was more than a shock to me as I still could not grasp the level of the situation. What I felt in the aftermath of my father's death was indescribable.I would sometimes be lost in my mind each time I thought about his death, it would seem as if I had lost my mind and driven to madness.A few friends of my father had gathered in the mansion to mourn him after the burial, and countless people all came to me to say the same thing over and over again.It became infuriating but I had no other option than to keep up and put up an understanding face. I left the main room where all the guests were gathered to the outskirts of the mansion.To my greatest surprise, I saw the most unexpected guest I didn't think would come, I watched as she walked out of her car and her driver drove off to park the vehicle."Michigan."I stuttered as I still could not believe my eyes as I saw her in a black dress approach where I stood, she looked even more beautiful in the dress.
ARMANDOI looked at the letter that weakened me from the very moment I saw it, a letter from my long-lost family.All my life I never thought that this day would come when I would meet my people again, a cluster of emotions raided my mind as I couldn't help but feel an outburst of happiness and sadness at the same time.The name I had made for myself as well as Michigan made it easier for anyone to find us as well as my long-lost parents."What about Michigan?"The one thought that made me think straight in the fog of all those emotions, I spent so much time with her as we became a crucial part of each other and I could not help but feel what this message would do to her once she heard.I closed my eyes as tears dripped down my cheeks, there was only one road for me to take and it would be a painful one but the best for us both.I walked into Michigan's office after leaving my desk with a different sense of being, I took my steps slowly in an attempt to find the right words to disclos
CLARAI could not help the fact that my meeting with Paul caught me off-guard as I did not expect anything like the outcome of what I encountered, it made me drive with a worried mind."Why do I keep getting this intuition that something wrong would happen?"I thought aloud in the car as I drove alone, the exact words rang through my mind as I approached the end of my destination.Arriving at the mansion with the same worried and troubled countenance as I walked up to the door, the mansion appeared even more quiet than usual as I stood at the door surprised."What is going on here Damien?"I asked as I saw him sit in anticipation and with a menacing look on his face, he sipped the glass of juice before bringing himself to speak to me."Look at those test results, all the answers you need are in there."He spoke in such a calm tone which made the situation even more frightening as I touched the test slip on the table. He watched me like a predator waiting for me to make the wrong move
ARMANDOTo my greatest surprise, she did not even seem fazed by the fact that I was with Paul, it was almost as if she knew about us the entire time which I highly doubted."Why am I not surprised to see the right-hand man or should I say servant of Michigan, you guys do make quite the duo after all."She spoke with a sense of calmness as none of what had happened seemed to catch her by surprise, even with the element of surprise on our side she was not moved."I haven't got all day Paul, If you have something to say to me you might as well go on with it or save us the stress of having such an absurd meeting.""I did not come here to banter words with you Clara for that time is far behind me, you decided that you do not want me in Benjamin's life knowing fully well that he is my son and not Damien's."I watched as Paul poured out his mind to Clara in a tone that I never heard him use until the moment he accepted the gruesome fate that Clara presented him with."I will leave his life b
ARMANDO"We were able to apprehend the assassin as well as his employer who happened to be an underground drug lord portraying an addictive gambler to the public. I got the drug lord to talk and he confessed to his crimes."The detective said as he revealed the concluding aspects of the investigation, one thing was still ringing in my mind and I waited for him to finish the reveal before I asked."There is still one part of the investigation which seems like you skipped it, it's the part that concerns Michigan and happened to the same thing that linked her to the case.""I was just getting there, the drug lord also revealed that he was working with Clara whose sole aim was to frame your boss for the crime while the main plan was to kill Paul."Such a full disclosure was certain to drive one into a state of unparalleled shock, I stood my ground in disbelief as I slowly assimilated the information that shook me."it is now up to you guys if you will press charges against her or not, you
DAMIEN"Hello madam so sorry to have kept this from you till this time but Benjamin fell sick last night and right now I have him in the hospital receiving treatment."I spoke with a polite tone as I disclosed the current situation with Benjamin to his school management. They were more than ready to give him as much needed time as possible to recover."We will find time to get his classmates and the staff to visit him, my regards to him.""Will do, madam."I responded to the headmistress as I hung up after seeing the presence of one who completely changed my neutralized countenance, someone who needed to be here but not the type I would expect to arrive at anything early."Where is he, where is my son?"Clara asked as she walked straight to the room I was standing close to, I stopped her from entering as the nurse was still administering his medication."Hold your horses right there, you barge in demanding to see a son you didn't even bother to check on before driving off to some busi
DAMIENAfter a day of nonstop paperwork even as the owner of the company, I returned to my mansion with a weighted expression and a tired countenance.All I needed was rest at the moment, nothing more nothing less as I crawled out of the car, trying to lift my entire body and the briefcase I held in hand."Nancy!"I called out to Benjamin's nanny as she was the only maid in the house before crashing into the nearest couch I could find in the living room, loosening my tie as I awaited her arrival.After a few minutes of no response, I decided to call her as I had no more strength left in me to call out at the fullest extent of my lungs."Where are you, Nancy?" I asked immediately if she picked up my call, "I have been calling you since I got back and you are nowhere to be found.""I went to the store to pick up something that Mrs. Clara ordered, she asked me to rush down here a few minutes before you called sir."It was not of her own doing as the task sounded exactly like something Cl
DETECTIVE LEONARDSteven added as he then approached the pair to apprehend them, I could sense that one of the two suspects would want to defy the odds and try to pull a stunt on us.The more deadly tossed the nerdy guy unto Steven as he immediately jumped through the big vent that sat behind him, a smart move that I did not anticipate."Cuff him!"I said to the detective as I ran off to meet up with the escapee who happened to have planned his getaway plot if something like this were to happen. To my greatest surprise, the officer caught him before he could get on his feet, cuffing him up as he could not pull any more tricks out of the bag."You nearly got killed in there, I hope this goose chase you were about to take us on was not for nothing or else you will have me to answer?"The suspect did not want to answer as he held a bold and overconfident expression with me, he wanted to make this even harder than it already was but I knew just what to do to get to him.I drove them back