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"Are you in or out?"
Last Updated:
2022-05-11 06:48:17
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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
Last Updated : 2022-05-11INSIDE 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
Last Updated : 2022-05-18INSIDE 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
Last Updated : 2022-05-29INSIDE 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-12INSIDE OUT CATCHING UP (2)
FIFTEEN"Yeah..I remember. I loved animals." She giggled, eyeing the Martini in Collins hand as they relaxed into the rocking chairs on the terrace."You had this rabbit doll you took everywhere with you. Dad had a problem with it. There was this one time you brought your rabbit to dinner. You spilled your milk shake and your rabbit was never white again. You raised hell."" I can't believe I was that troublesome. Was I sweet to Harry and Diana?""Diana was your favourite after your rabbit and your quiet times.""Ouch. Was I such a loner?" She shook her head in disbelief."Yeahh, you loved to sing, look at the sky for a long time, then this dreamy look will be on your face and we would all be wondering what you were thinking about.""Yeah, I still do that. I stopped singing a long while though. What really happened the day I disappeared? It was my birthday..""I should be asking you the same question Celia. You gave us a heart attack. It was your birthday, our parents didn't remember,
Last Updated : 2022-06-18INSIDE OUT OPENING UP
SIXTEEN"Ajax?" She continued her quest, she looked through the glass wall separating office from terrace. There was Ajax, standing aloof. In a heartbeat, she raced to the door. "I never sent for you. Why are you here?" He asked before she could announce her presence.Melinda jolted in surprise. Lucrecia would always be Lucrecia and Ajax would always be what he is. "I'm here now. I think that's what matters." She inched closer to him. His back was to her. She needed to see his face. He sniffed."Ajax? Have you been crying?""Nope. Okay...Look, I appreciate your concern but right now, I need to be alone.""Clearly, I can see how you're managing your lone time. I would be limping now if this wasn't an office environment where I have to have my shoes on.""Sorry about that. I needed to break something.""Obviously. Can you turn around already. It's like i'm having a conversation with a talking brick wall." Ajax chuckled. Reluctantly, he let himself give in to Melinda's pull on his hand
Last Updated : 2022-06-22INSIDE OUT HATCHING PLANS
SEVENTEEN"There's the man of the house." Collins hollered as Ajax walked towards them. Lucrecia, Owen, Lorren were seated with him around a table close to the pool, sipping their cocktails."Hmmm...look who looks a lot more cheerful." Lucrecia chipped in."I see, you all have met one another." He said as he slipped in a chair before taking a sip from Owen's drink."Now I see where Owen got his madness from." Lorren sent him a sardonic smile as he downed almost all the contents of the tumbler to Owen's chagrin."It wasn't even your drink, queen bee." Owen and Ajax replied simultaneously."Speaking of drinks, I've not had a taste of Reynolds wine. Lucrecia has told me a lot about how you started this winery." Collins said.Ajax flashed a cocky grin. "You lot have been diving into history huh.""Yes Smith. I've had my ears full. FYI, i'm still in the dark concerning the thing going on between you and Celia."Lucrecia and Owen sucked hard on their straws in a bid to hide their smiles whi
Last Updated : 2022-06-30INSIDE OUT PLAYING THE ODDS
EIGHTEENMelinda flinged her jumpsuit on the bed. She was in that moment when she was having a last minute change of mind. "I could use some training today." She told herself as she frowned at the black-striped white cotton jumpsuit and platform heels begging to be worn. She moved towards the shutters. The rays of early morning sun called to her, 'rise with the sun.' She really did need to rise. She needed to raise the stakes and up her game, the game she had just started with the man who wanted to end Reynolds. Melinda scoffed. 'That wasn't going to happen.' She assured herself.She pulled her hair into a high pony tail. "Let's do this." She murmured. In five minutes, she was reaching for the door knob, dressed in a grey tank top and black leggings. As she opened the door, her heart did a black flip."Ajax." She gasped. Heat crept to her cheeks like the blood flowing in her veins. She had almost forgotten that her room was opposite Ajax' but that instant, she did remember his office
Last Updated : 2022-07-12
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INSIDE OUT EPILOGUE
Eight months later...Melinda stared blissfully at her reflection in the vanity mirror in her room, pleased with what she saw. Two people in endless love. Ajax' hands were around her middle from behind. He pulled her closer, trailing kisses on her shoulder to the tender spot beneath her ears. "We're going to be late." She giggled."We can just postpone our flight if we miss it. What's the worse that could happen?" He cupped her breast, wishing she wasn't clothed."Stop it." She gasped in delight and disapproval. "You don't want to make a bad first impression on my parents, would you?""Honestly, I don't care what the world thinks or says. Whether the paparazzi lurking outside your gate think that I'm the beast and you're the beauty...oh well, that's oddly accurate." His hands gripped her hips as he nudged her bottom with the evidence of his arousal. She shimmed out of his embrace, laughing. "Put on a shirt. You're seducing me and we're going to be late, and, Lucrecia isn't going to
INSIDE OUT CHOOSE
Forty (Choose)Melinda screamed past the ringing in her ears as she watched the love of her life tumble on the floor, his fingers still trying to fight the effect of the drug. Her freed hands stayed frozen behind her while she watched his blood soak his shirt as he collapsed on the ground.She stayed frozen still, as Xavier picked him up. He tried to move his lips, but he couldn't. Her eyes moved to his shoulder. The bullet wound was somewhere between his collarbone and shoulder. His eyes were unfocused when he tried to glance at her. Melinda gulped down another sob, understanding that even at that moment, his eyes were warm, his eyes told her he loved her, even in the end. But this didn't have to be the ending. This was not how she would want her love story to end, or her fight for freedom, or her fight for her family, for Sam, for peace. No, she wouldn't let it end like this. She let her hands stay put behind her, like she didn't just shrug off the binds from her wrist, or flex he
INSIDE OUT TICK TOCK
Thirty-nine"We have been infiltrated by Ajax and his men." Xavier announced.Payne shot Melinda a look. "How bad is it?" Payne clenched and unclenched his fists, fighting the biting pain in his nose and the desire to shoot Melinda."We are outnumbered." Xavier narrowed his eyes at Payne's bleeding nose, then stared in shock at Melinda's bloodied lips. She halted her movements when she felt Xavier's eyes on her."Hector?""Dead."Payne laughed. It sounded more like a bark. "Well planned. Well executed. So Collins indeed worked for Ajax Smith. Well..." He cocked the gun in his hand. "What can I say?" He aimed the gun at Melinda who froze in her move to miraculously chug her knife out of her boot with tethered hands. "The game is not over." He fired, missing her leg by a fraction and she jolted in fright. "The war is not over. Fetch me towels. One for my nose and one for Ajax." He winked at Xavier. Xavier started to leave."Oh and... bring me Collins. I think I'd love to hear the true
INSIDE OUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT
Thirty-eight"He has to be followed. Where is he taking her to? She's already dying." Lois snapped at Ajax.Ajax wiped his face as he felt cobwebs mat his nose. "Guin. We need to get her out of here, now. Melinda is in danger, Sam is..""Dying or already dead, and we're wasting time." Lois didn't wait for his approval before dashing on her heels. "Guin, it was nice to finally meet you." Lois hollered as she raced out of the basement.Ajax chuckled. He looked at Guin and his face turned serious. Things were starting to not go as planned. He had so much to say."Guin...we.." "Don't have much time. Hector will be back here. I'm sure of it. But for what it's worth, I'm glad I got to see you again before I gave up." She toyed with the pen in her hand. Briefly, she had contemplated suicide when she heard the distant New year fire works."I'm here, Guin and I swear, nothing will separate us again. Why did you stop me from going after Hector?" Ajax asked, as he opened the cage."I was afrai
INSIDE OUT MEETING AGAIN
Thirty Seven Melinda counted Payne's steps as he leisurely walked towards her, giving her a once over as if seeing her for the first time. In that few seconds, she took him in all at once, while mentally warming up for his opening remark and the events that would follow after. He looked normal, but make no mistake, the abnormality was in his eyes. He walked like a predator who wanted to take his time to enjoy his kill. His smile was like a smirk. Every move he made sent wicked chills down her spine, but she stood her ground.He stopped short of four inches away from her. She glared at him, wondering what he saw at that moment. Anger or fear. At least, that was the half truth. She was scared of things going wrong. She swallowed when he took another step further. That way, not a single space remained between them. She heard Collins sharp intake of breath, but he covered it up with a rasp in his throat. Payne leisurely fisted her hair in his hands, twirling some strands around his fing
INSIDE OUT THE GALLOWS
Thirty-SixPayne drummed his fingers on the foot stool beside him as he watched the burning logs crackle in the fireplace. He smiled to himself, picturing the many ways Melinda would react when she saw her pathetic friend, Samantha. He had gone over the top by cracking something on her body. He couldn't remember where that was exactly. Her ribs? Her fingers? He had been so blinded by white hot rage when she called him a sick pathetic monster who didn't have the courage to live a normal life, then she had gone ahead to mention how the slimy Ajax Reynolds Smith would break every single bone on his body if Melinda didn't get to do it first.Payne sniggered, absently rubbing the five o clock shadow on his jaw as he felt another bubble of temper rise in his gut. He didn't believe Melinda would have the strength to challenge him when she saw how broken he had rendered Sam. She would weep, and then ask him what he wanted. That was the perfect scenario. That would be his new year present. The
INSIDE OUT SAVING LIVES
Thirty-Five Melinda felt Ajax go still in her hands as Lorren broke the news. She couldn't quite place a finger on what he felt as Lorren repeated for the second time, that his sister, Guinevere Smith was alive and unhale under Payne's roof. Joy, relief, shock, fear, anger. She could feel all of them at once rolling off his stiff shoulders."I don't understand. All this time..." Ajax lacked the words to express himself in that moment. He felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders and then a truck decided to climb his back in its place. He rubbed his face with his free hand as Melinda held on to the other. He had to be dreaming. The knowlege that Guin was alive should have been enough to give him that burst of joy he had imagined he would have when this moment came, but knowing that Payne had been holding her captive all these years set his blood on fire. He was angry and he was afraid. Ajax Reynolds Smith was afraid for the first time in a very long time. If Payne fo
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
