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A WAVE OF ANGER AND CONFUSION
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Bab terkait
INSIDE OUT BACK TO THE WORLD OF REYNOLDS
SEVENMelinda stirred on her bed. The dull ache in her head and the rays of light that peeped from the shutters got her squeezing her eyes shut. A sigh escaped her lips when she felt cold ice on her forehead. "You're awake." Lucrecia whispered. The shudder in her sigh flooded Lu's face with relief.Melinda's eyes fluttered open. It took some seconds for her vision to normalize, it was blurred. When her eyes met an unfamiliar ceiling, she sat up. "Jeez, easy peasy Mel." Lucrecia gently laid her head back on the pillow."Where am I?" She asked."Your room." "Really? What changed?" Melinda asked, trying again to sit up. She observed her surrounding, clearly, she was back to the world of Reynolds."Your head. You have some loose nuts." Lucrecia replied, barely suppressing her laughter as Melinda's facial expression replicated the signature look of Voldermort of Harry Potter. "Yeah girl, you really hit it hard. You slumped in the bathroom. Seriously Mel, who sleeps under the shower? Well t
INSIDE OUT ANOTHER ESCAPE
EIGHT"Where is Lu?" Lorren said as she entered her room, stealing Lois' attention from the Magazine she had her eyes fixed on."Lu had a call from Ajax. Seems like the chap needed a woman spying with him today.""The Gallows is a death trap. I advised him not to go there alone. He seems to be the Loner these days." Lorren said, pouring herself Reynolds red wine."Pfft.. not when that white haired girl is in his web." Lois replied."Melinda?". Lorren stopped sipping her wine. Lois nodded in apprehension."I don't trust that girl." Lorren said."It's your prejudice against Ajax' choice of PAs that is talking Lorren. Melinda is just confused. She's just a little girl you know.""She has something up her sleeve and I can smell it."" Ugh..not you this time. Last year it was Lu and Brent. When you ladies begin to smell rats around, it gets me unsettled. I just want to continue smiling genuinely at everyone Lorren. The whole Quinn attack on us really shook everyone. It wasn't easy getting
INSIDE OUT RESCUE MISSION
NINE"f**k." Ajax stumped his feet on the ground where he and Lucrecia were crouching, armed with telescopes and shot guns. They were on a spy mission."f**k..Godammit" Ajax tossed his telescope aside."Keep it down. What's wrong?" Lucrecia whisper yelled." You're gonna blow our cover." She continued ranting. Ajax wasn't listening. He was pinching the bridge of his nose and tapping his feet, an act he displays whenever he is exasperated and frustrated."Let's bounce." He started moving."Wha.."" Melinda has disappeared. I have to find her..""What the.. I'm coming with.." Lucrecia stepped into his pace."No you're not. With all due respect, I don't want you tangled up in Melinda's mess. That girl is a lot of trouble. Trouble hovers wherever she is and I don't want that trouble around you." Ajax snapped impatiently."There's something you're not telling me Ajax. How and where did you get Mel?" They were in Ajax' rolls Royce. The sound of the starting engine as he turned the ignition d
INSIDE OUT "Are you in or out?"
TENThe drive back to Hingham was awkwardly quiet. Ajax was having a hard time saying a word to her. He kept on gritting his teeth as he drove. He was mad angry. He didn't want to hurt her physically or emotionally just as Lucrecia had warned, given the psychological state she has been plunged to."Thank you for saving my life." She said for the umpteenth time. Silence was all she could get as his response."At least tell me sorry. I'm in pains here, my jaw hurts." She tried again.Ajax sent her a look that spoke volumes. What? Really? Right now? Leave me the hell alone. You're a handful. I could kill you. That serves you right."Okay, let's try this.. I'm sorry you almost lost your P.A." She was pulling a bunny look without trying. He almost smiled. Almost. Damn her for being pretty all the time. She slouched on the car seat in resignation. Well if he wanted to play deaf and dumb, so could she. Ajax watched her as she moved, he didn't miss the tantalizing exposure from her skirt jum
INSIDE OUT WILD TEASE
ELEVENMelinda tossed and turned on her bed. Replaying her experience with Ajax earlier that evening in her mind wasn't putting her to rest. It only made her wonder what more could have happened if one of them had dived in for the second kiss that seemed inevitable in the heat of the moment. Knowing that he was just opposite her room didn't help matters. It was like she could hear him breathing. She visualized him lying on the bed, clothed or half naked, the mass of dark curls that nestled down his chest which would be rising and falling. She imagined her fingers dancing on his chest. Shit.How could one kiss leave her wanting for more? She dismissed this as a consequence of having no romance all her life. Ajax could have had many girls before her. What difference would it make if she just added to the list? She didn't want to be another game played and won, she needed to thread carefully on this path she found herself. Clearly, it was a dangerous one. To her, guys with tattoos, no ma
INSIDE OUT A TEST
TWELVE He sucked hard on his cigarette before tossing what was left of it. He released the puff of smoke through his nostrils as he crushed the cigarette with his boots. "f**k this." He muttered, punching the brick wall in the process. He was on the verge of a meltdown. "What's up man, what have you been up to?" Payne bellowed as he snuck behind him. Payne was always a loud wide animal in his crib. "Nothing.. just needed some air." He turned around to face the monster. Disgust and hate filled his guts. All he wanted to do was ram his fist on Payne's jaw and crush his bones. "Nerves? Trust me, they'll relax when you get laid. There are some girls we haven't sold..." "I'll pass...I just need to.." "You need to get laid. Trust me. You always decline when I dangle those meats in front of you. You're the only one of my men that avoids those rats." His knuckles were white now, they had been bent into tight fists since Payne showed up. How dare he call those innocent girls rats. Time
INSIDE OUT REUNION
THIRTEEN"Melinda?" Samantha hollered in surprise as she recognized her. She was ushering the CEO of Reynolds and his workers into her boss' office in Cock and Bulls joint in Nahatan street, one of the bustling areas in Norwood and there was Melinda who was supposedly under the care of her fiancee, looking better than ever as if she was never terribly ill. Melinda recognized the sharp shril of her voice, "Sam." She called back before recognizing the mass of red hair that ushered them in. Ajax and Lohan obstructed the initial view of Samantha. She easily stepped into Sam's embrace as Ajax and Lohan paved way for them."Look at you. Where have you been...oh my gosh..hold up.." Sam was hurrying her words in excitement until realization struck her. Facts actually. One, Melinda just came in with the CEO of Reynolds, two, this infamous CEO was the one who had on behalf of Melinda, called in sick, three, he had claimed to be her fiancee."I can't believe you! You're engaged to..to...""Hell
INSIDE OUT CATCHING UP
FourteenHe took backwards steps away from the joy he had just found. He interpreted the look Payne sent her and the mysterious guy by her side correctly. Something was wrong, and if he needed to stay alive and still see his sister, he needed to step away from her. His heart did a little squeeze seeing the confusion and sadness in her eyes. He turned away from her."Collins." Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper as she watched him walk away from her. He was scared of something. Was it Payne? Was it Ajax? "Lind.. you've got to sit down." Ajax tugged at her arm. His eyes didn't leave Payne's as he gritted his teeth. Absently, Melinda eased into her seat as she pondered on what just happened. Was this all a dream? "Mel..damn. Ajax, I think we should leave..." Lucrecia's look of concern grew as she watched Melinda's tears flow freely."Is there a problem?" Marv was back to their table with their meals. Seeing Melinda's state got him curious."Nothing I can't handle." Melinda said, smi
Bab terbaru
INSIDE OUT SHOTS FIRED
Thirty-Four May basked in her new found freedom as she stuffed her mouth with pizza. Her stomach growled, and she giggled. "Looks like my baby has an appetite tonight." "I guess you can say that. Guess who else has an appetite?" Eric murmured playfully wiggling his brows and, inching closer to her on the couch. "Keep off. Until you've found a permanent housing, and provided security, I'm not tangling. You are considered a danger to me and the baby." She said with her stuffed mouth as she stood up. " I'm exhausted for no reason." She threw herself on the bed. "Understandably so. I'm so sorry for putting you in this situation." Eric sent her a sympathizing look. "I will make it up to you." "Don't you dare get sweet on me. If you make me fall for you more, I don't think I can handle it. It's not your fault we're holed up in this hotel while Payne's men prowl the city on the lookout for us." Suddenly, there was a bang on the door. May froze. Eric stood abruptly, instantly reaching f
INSIDE OUT TEAM COLLINS AND LU
Thirty-Three As Collins walked into Reynolds, he knew that time was going to be their greatest enemy, not Payne, not anything else. If things went south, he knew he was going to die. Guin would die as well. Merciful heavens. Ajax' sister was alive. The reverse could be the case if they didn't act quickly. Without a brief glance to the familiar faces he walked by, he stormed the hallway, bellowing Ajax' name. He scowled at the huge live portrait of Ajax on the wall. He wanted the real guy, not his pictorial representation."Dude, what's the problem?" Owen asked as Collins walked right into him. "Owen." Collins shook his head when he stopped seeing stars from the impact of walking right into muscular Owen. "I need to see Ajax.""Don't we all? I heard he ran after your sister. Looks like she decided to take out Payne on her own this evening.""Shit." Collins rubbed his face."Let's sit it out while we wait for them. Lucrecia is somewhere around the farm." He said. It was no news that
INSIDE OUT MASK OFF
Thirty-Two When Melinda saw the familiar West wood signboard, she stepped on the gas. Ajax and his 'wine' family be damned if she didn't handle the Santoz Martinez saga on her own. Quite alright, divine helper Santoz and his shenanigans were not priority. Driving in the cold night air on the Westwood route also, wasn't on the list of priorities for the last day of the year. But Santoz was a nuisance and she needed to stop him from making more moves on her. She had seen the signs from the start. Had she chosen to ignore them? No. Instead, she had chosen to avoid him. Her avoidance and delay stategy apparently was not working. The opportunity of singing again had been too good to miss out even if a man who unabashedly lusted after women to an alarming extent was hot on her heels. But here she was, swerving dangerously at every turn that led to his house because she wanted to let him know she didn't give a flying fuck about what he offered and how he chose his returned favours. Here s
INSIDE OUT FOUND
Thirty-OneOn days like this, when Payne was a twelve years old boy again in Boston Common Park, he was usually sullen as he reminisced his mother's last moments in Boston. Boston Common had been her favorite spot for a getaway with her only son. As soon as she had filed a divorce with his father, she had left all sweet sentiments of a mother-son getaway behind her and left the city for good.It was on his birthday, a Thursday like this, when happy people in the park bubbled with fun activities that his mother had told him frankly she was leaving him. It was also on that same day his father had told him the truth. "Your mother does not like my Job. I don't care about that. Neither should you. It's going to be just us son. I'm going to mould you to be great and rich and fearless like me." His father had said."Why didn't you change her mind Dad? Why didn't you make her like your job? Why didn't she stay at least for me?" His twelve years old broken heart had queried."Your mother is a
INSIDE OUT IMPERFECT PEACE
THIRTY Melinda watched Reynolds wine in her glass swirl around the ice cubes in it. It was a pretty sight, the slosh of red against white ice. So was her life, which was beginning to take semblance of a normal one. Her love life was perfect, her music career was taking shape, she had friends who were like family, she had Collins, she had Reynolds in her hand. Over the weeks, Reynolds had proven to be an essential part of her existence. The wine producing company and its owner had stolen her heart for good. The flutter of the butterflies in her stomach flutter every time she so much as thought of him gradually became a norm. Ajax was the perfect gentleman. He brought her breakfast in bed every day and took her out on dates. The dates were romantic. They were ones she never imagined she would have had in all of the gory pre-Reynolds days. The past few days had been series of surprise gifts, flowers, evening walks, snow fights and a trip to Boch centre, Wang theatre. The warmth spre
INSIDE OUT GIRLS DAY OUT
Twenty-Nine"Cheers to you Mel." Lucrecia raised her glass, quipping with excitement as the others joined her in the celebratory gesture of clinking glasses. They were having a girl's day out, just for a few hours in Snug, one of Hingham's precious bars to celebrate Melinda's twenty first birthday."Happy birthday baby sis." Sam winked."I basically got older today. Why the baby tag?" Melinda shot Samantha a look as she got her glass refilled."You're freaking twenty one. You're the youngest among us. No hard feelings." Lorren shrugged, winking in the like manner Sam did."I think we should do something more active than sitting pretty in an equally pretty bar." Sam suggested as she looked around. People that weren't drinking were dancing on the floor while extremely horny people were making out in the little 'private' corners they could find."We aren't just sitting. We are drinking. Who's she again?" Lois fired at Melinda."Samantha James. A good friend and ex colleague in Cock and B
INSIDE OUT SITUATION REPORT
Twenty-Eight"Payne is psychotic. I'm sure of it. I just need to find proof." Those were the words that came out of Collin's lips the moment Lucrecia said "Hope you survived your visit to Payne's territory.""Hello, it's been a minute. I've been great. What about you?" She quipped, in a bid to ease him up a bit as he rapped those words of despair. He seemed tensed up as opposed to the last time she saw him when they had shared a moment- the moment that stayed permanently in her mind for days and nights when her nightmares didn't come. The moment that instantly replayed itself in her head, sending the butterflies in her chest to flutter when he had breezed into Reynolds when the first thing he had said was, 'Where is Ajax?" before rapping what Payne was."I've been..." He paused, obviously flustered and secretly sorry. He had almost forgotten about their kiss. "I've just been walking on thin ice." He stopped himself from reaching for her hands.Too late. Lucrecia was able to catch on t
INSIDE OUT A LEAP OF FAITH
Twenty-SevenMelinda relished the warmth that enveloped her. Ajax' embrace had to be the comfiest duvet she could ever ask for. With her eyes still closed, her back to his front, she snuggled further into his embrace."I wish I could stay like this forever." She mumbled."Me too baby. How'd you sleep?" He asked, kissing her cheek from behind as he rubbed her arm."I think I just had the best sleep." She lay on her back to look at him. "What about you?" She cradled his face, tracing his lips with her fingers as she had a brief flashback of what his lips did to her "Mmm" He trapped her fingers between his lips. "I had the best sleep too. It was beautiful, ecstatic, fueling, energy consuming, almost addictive..." He suckled her fingers. She gasped."Are we talking about the same sleep?" She giggled."Yes baby." His murmured."I don't think so.""I do. I'm pretty sure you do too. I mean... have you forgotten how we rolled and kicked, tried different angles, clawed at each other, skipped
INSIDE OUT I love you, Lind.
TWENTY-SIX "What do I do?" Melinda asked herself for the umpteenth time, the million-dollar question, the question to every thought that ran through her head for days. She had resisted the idea of taking a quick trip to New York in search of the answers she so direly wanted but that would only send shit hitting the fan. Ajax would stop at nothing to make sure she didn't go alone and she wasn't doing a good job of getting accustomed to that culture. Apparently, it freaked out her friend, Sam and she wasn't all too comfortable with what it did to her freedom. If she was a celebrity, she would have appreciated it just a tiny bit. But she was a commoner trapped in the middle of all the shits she didn't ask for. Apart from not agitating Ajax, she had to be thankful for the internet. There was no need to fly to New York when she could browse the how-tos of pig Latin. She had done just that and that only topped the list of things birthing the question plaguing her mind now. The incoherent w
