Jake woke up to an empty bed. The space beside him was cold. Sheena must have left in the middle of night. She had to and he understood.He smiled, reeling in the pleasures of the previous night. He would have loved to wake up to the sight of her sleeping face. He would have loved to wake her up trailing soft kisses down her neck. He would have loved to feed off her undiluted morning juice and have morning sex with her.He wished she had stayed so he could snuggle her closer, but he knew better. They were playing a dirty game. One that couldn't afford all that.He got up and got ready for work. On his way out, he bumped into Sheena in the living room.They shared a look full of secrets only they could understand.Jake smiled at her as he was happy to see her. He would have loved to kiss her each day before leaving the house. He scanned the room to see that they were alone and he approached her.'Not here.' She whispered, unable to wipe the shy smile off her face.'Then where? Because
It was long past an hour before Elena slid into the seat opposite Sheena at La Cafe. Sheena wasn't mad, she knew her sister. She was always late. Elena never behaved older. Sheena presumed that's why the weighty duty to save the family fell to her.'Always fashionable late as ever. It's good to know you haven't changed.' Sheena said lightly with no hint of sarcasm in her voice.'It's great to see you too baby sis!' Elena shrilled. 'Damn I'm starving.' She says and dips her hand into the bowl of chips sitting before Sheena.'You could ask for yours. There's plenty more where these came from.' Sheena said signalling for the busboy so she could place another order.'See? It wasn't so hard.' Sheena told her sister when the waiter brought another bowl almost immediately.Elena snatched the tray from the waiter before it was placed on the table and she returned Sheena's almost empty bowl to her.'These taste so good.' Elena muttered with a full mouth.'Now how would I know? You exhausted mi
Sheena paced her room deep in thought. She had promised to do something that was beyond her.How was she to bring a matter to her husband, Mr Dominic? Her marriage was not a typical one where husband and wife freely expressed themselves.She was hardly allowed to speak. She even barely saw her husband except when he wanted to see her. So how was she to request something of him.Sheena felt boxed in. She was lost in this dilemma. She couldn't approach her husband but she needed to help her father, again!She made up her mind. She would go to Mr Dominic and she was prepared for whatever consequences that may arise.Sheena went downstairs to Maria to inquire of her the whereabouts of her husband. 'He returned an hour ago. He is in his study.' Maria had replied Sheena.Sheena complimented Maria's cooking and headed for Mr Dominic's study. She was still fumbling with her dress thinking of how to present her wordings to Mr Dominic so that it sounds appealing and does not piss him off.She
Sheena arrived at her father's house late at noon. She had to ensure that Mr Dominic left the house before she did and that no one would suspect she was on a mission.On arrival, Sheena met Elena in the living room and thought it was perfect. She would relay her findings to her first and they could decide how to calmly tell their father about it.News like this could be detrimental to his health. It wouldn't be sensible to just drop such information on him.'Finally, you are here.' Elena chimed.'Sorry, I took so long to come. I needed to take careful measures before coming.' Sheena explained.'Is everything alright? What had you crying last night? You scared me so much, that I wanted to go to you at that moment. What happened?' Elena left Sheena with a torrent of questions laced with worry in her voice.'I found out something about Mr Dominic last night. He is planning to …' 'Is your sister here yet?' A male voice interrupted Sheena, cutting her words in her mouth.Sheena raised her
Sheena was lost in a trance as she stood in the kitchen. Her mind was clouded and heavy. She hadn't been able to come up with any more information to help her father. It seemed as though Mr Dominic knew she had become a spy. He barely spoke about business at the house, not even in the confines of his study when she eavesdrops.She felt helpless and it turned out that the situation served her a lot more than she could have as her sister, Elena didn't want to believe Damian was in on the plan. Sheena's gut feelings told her differently and Elena didn't want to hear any of it.Her sister was in love with the snake. Sheena didn't have any proof except her intuition and it made it harder to convince Elena. Even her logical point that Damian was Mr Dominic's lawyer and it was expected of him to handle such matters made absolutely no sense to Elena.'Oh, Elena.' Sheena muttered to herself as she thought of her sister.'Did you say something to me?' Maria asked.Sheena had completely forgot
'What were you doing in the study?' Michelle asked Sheena as they almost bumped into each other. Michelle had just seen her father go upstairs and was certain Mr Dominic wasn't in the study so it baffled her why Sheena was exiting that room.Sheena had gotten used to their hate speech towards her and was no longer bothered by them nor was she bothered about befriending Michelle and her sister, Mirabel.Sheena had come to deduce that they were two bitter women who were looking for whom to rub off their bitterness.Sheena ignored Michelle and strode past her, head held high, consciously letting Michelle know she wasn't going to be responding to her.Michelle stood livid, glaring at Sheena's receding behind and her eyes darting to the study doors. Michelle wanted to pull Sheena back and claw at her face. She felt disrespected.Michelle decided to head for the study instead. Her curiosity as to what Sheena had been doing in the study, got the better of her.She entered the study to find D
Sheena reached the kitchen to find Maria trying to get Raymond to eat. The childish man was giving the woman a hard time as he kept running around the kitchen refusing to eat.Raymond almost knocked Sheena down along with the tea tray she still has in her hands. Sheena was able to steady herself and keep the cups from falling.Raymond immediately ran to Sheena's back to hide from his mother.'This boy will be the death of me.' Maria said with exasperation.Sheena chuckled at her frustration. She sometimes pitied the woman. It wasn't an easy task to take care of a child and it was a lot more challenging to care for one all his life.Raymond grew up, but his mind never grew. Maria had said she didn't have the money to go for a treatment that would help cure him.Raymond was a good kid and it pained her that she couldn't do anything to help. His father, Mr Dominic, didn't even acknowledge the boy and had swore never to have anything to do with him.It was a secret that Raymond was Mr Dom
Sheena returned to her bedroom in the middle of the night very oblivious to the pair of eyes watching her.She hummed her delight after spending the night in the arms of her lover. It was blissful and she wished every other night was like this.She was about to shut the door to her room when a noise from downstairs caught her attention.Curious, she headed back down to check the source of the disturbance. As she reached the foot of the stairs, Sheena let out a resonant shriek that woke everyone in the house.The scene before her was gruesome! Daisy, the last born child of Mr Dominic from his second marriage which ended in a divorce, was curled up on the floor in a pool of blood.Sheena trembled with overwhelming fear. She presumed an intruder was in the house who was responsible for Daisy being in that state and she feared the intruder might come for her too.Sheena's scream alerted everyone in the Rollins house. Jake rushed out of his room immediately he heard her screams. She had
Jake and Sheena exchanged confused looks. What was Mirabel talking about? Their minds shared similar questions.'I need to tell you something about my father's death.' Mirabel announced.'What about our father's death?' Jake asked. They had moved to the study where they could converse in private. Sheena and Jake kept expectant eyes peeled on Mirabel.'I … I.-' she inhaled sharply before she continued. 'I know I've not been the best of persons but I'm working on myself. Hating the one man who had taken me in and had shown mercy on a lowly young orphan. I know now the old man loved me, loved us, even if he never showed it much. He's human after all and bound to make mistakes.' Mirabel swallowed before she began speaking again. 'I had always wanted him dead. Now that he's dead, I regret not having more time with him… I never had the courage to kill him even though I would have loved to, but I wouldn't have stopped anyone wanting to. This was before I knew the truth.''Mirabel, do you k
Sheena opened her eyes to bright blinding lights. She squinted trying to adjust her eyes to the lights, but shut them after an exhausting attempt. She let out a laborious breath so she could speak, but somehow, she didn't seem to find her voice. She felt parched, her throat overly dry and painful.She opened her eyes again, blinking severally to accommodate the light. After her success at it, she scanned the room. White pristine walls, huge beeping machines, a tray filled with medicines and needles. A hospital. It clicked. She was in the hospital.How did she get here? Memories of the previous day's event flood her mind as she wondered."Jake!" Was he okay? Did Damian shoot him too?Anxiety and fear hijacked every cell in her being. Her breathing hitched and she struggled to raise herself. The effects of the sedatives were still very much active, she felt dizzy but undeterred.'Hey! What are you trying to do?' The concerned voice filled the room as the intruder pushed the door hard,
'He didn't suspect a thing?' The skepticism in Jake's voice was evident.They had just finished making love. Sheena was resting her head on the muscled bare chest of Jake. She related her experience with Damian to Jake as she idly pulled on his chest hair, a sweet painful sensation for him.Sheena shrugged. 'I couldn't believe it myself. He just went to sleep without saying a word.''I think he is brewing something in that egregious mind of his. He can't be that collected after discovering you went out.' Jake spoke pensively. He paused weighing the possibilities before speaking again. 'And today?' He asked. 'Did he say anything to you today?''He left the house before anyone was up.' She raised her head to stare at him, studying his features. 'Maybe he's tired of paying me any attention. He's got too much trouble on his hand right now. You made sure of that… I don't think it's something to worry about.' She added.'I just have a bad feeling about this. It just doesn't seem right.' It
'I love you.' Jake whispered to Sheena as they lay on the large hotel mattress. His hand wrapped around her neck, he pulled her closer and planted a passionate kiss on her head.'I love you too.' Sheena replied and kissed him on his lips. She snuggled closer into his hold. Her desire to remain there glaring.Sheena and Jake have been meeting over the past few weeks. Sneaking in and out of hotels like teenage lovers. After that night at the Rollins house, it seemed as though they've never been more in love with each other. Always wanting to be near the other, making mad sweet love.'Hmm, delicious.' He said in reference to her kiss. He moved in to steal more kisses and Sheena laughed at his boyishness.'What?' He asked against her lips. 'You want it here?' He tickled her sides and she laughed harder. He nibbled on her lower lip as she laughed.'Or you want it here?' He trailed kisses down her neck and Sheena girlishily giggled. 'Or here?' He moved further down her breast and took a ni
'What do you want? Why are you here?' She turned to Mary. You let him into the house? 'Is he why you brought me here?' Sheena asked incredulously.'Please calm down, you're raising your voice. You'll make Damian come here ' Mary pleaded.'Let him come! At least, he'd get rid of this-' she eyes Jake in disgust, indecisive on what adjective to qualify him.'You'll wake up Jayden. Look at her, do you want to wake her?' Mary appealed to her reason and love for her child.Sheena turned her gaze to the bed and softened. Her anger rose again at the sight of Jake near Jayden. 'Get away from my daughter!' Sheena bellowed at Jake. She charged towards him and yanked his hand away from the child. She relaxed again as she watched the child. She smoothed her hand on the silk of Jayden's hair.The sigh of contentment and peace that escaped the child's lips, assured Sheena that everything was fine with Jayden and that she was only sleeping.Sheena bent over and kissed the top of Jayden's head before
Jake sat in the back seat of his car mulling over the events of the night. 'Drive faster.' He ordered his driver as he rested his head on the headrest, his face turned up staring at the roof of the car. He was thinking.'I can't. Damian keeps Sheena locked up like a prisoner. …It's difficult for me, even as her sister, to see her. We always have to sneak around to meet. …Sheena was waiting, waiting until you'll come to save her.'Elena's words played repeatedly in Jake's head like a mantra. Sheena had been suffering too, just like he suffered in jail. He shut his eyes tightly to drown out the pain, regret, and remorse he felt. He felt deeply foolish and sorry. He had wronged his woman. He had added salt to her painful wounds and he needed to tend to the wounds he had inflicted on Sheena fast.Regardless of the fact that Sheena didn't know that he thought so lowly of her, he still tortured himself for entertaining such thoughts about her. Jake wanted to meet Sheena so he could right
'What did you just say?' Elena's statement halted Jake in his tracks. His eyes were intent on her.'You heard me.' Elena responded. 'Jayden is your child with Sheena.''She is not my child' Jake said with so much denial and disbelief in his voice. He believed Elena was only trying to get his attention.'Elena, how can you stoop so low to resort to lying? How can you play with such a sensitive matter? Why are you trying so hard to prove your sister a saint? Sheena married Damian after sending Jake to prison. She gave birth to their daughter after her marriage to Damian and you say Jake fathered the child? Who would be stupid enough to believe that?' Oscar berated Elena.'Oh please shut up your foolish mouth Oscar! When would you ever allow your brain to do some actual work?' Elena insulted. She returned her gaze to Jake after silencing Oscar.'Do you really think Sheena could betray you?' Elena entreated Jake to reason.Jake raised his eyes to meet with Elena's. His heart weighed her w
Elena stood by the entrance of the club contemplating if she should enter. The loud music blaring from the speakers that she used to love, now scared her. She braced herself and stepped in. It didn't take long for her to be spotted.'You came!' Stella squealed joyfully. She extended a hand and pulled Elena towards their table.Stella was Elena's friend from her college days. They had remained friends even after college and lived like teenagers just partying, boozing and boys. That was when life seemed to be fair to Elena and her family. When she lived carefree, her father's business was doing well, her sister didn't need to marry an older man and she wasn't nursing a broken heart.Stella had traveled abroad just about the time the turbulence in Elena's family began. Stella had just returned from her long trip and insisted that Elena come to see her at the club. It has been a long time since she saw her friend and it excited Elena to reunite with Stella. Her excitement though was short
Sheena tried to stay as calm as she could manage. She kept fumbling with the hem of the oversized hoodie she wore. The hood sat over her head, dark glasses covered her eyes. It was her attempt at a disguise. The angst coursing through her was overwhelming.After much begging and pleading, Mary had reluctantly agreed to take Sheena to meet with Jake on the condition that Mary would have to speak with Jake first, and if Jake was unwilling to speak with her, then they would have to abandon the plan. It seemed like an easy condition.Sheena was certain Jake wouldn't hesitate to see her. Sheena had figured Jake had gone into hiding and was working underground to reclaim all that Damian had stolen from him. Damian was a mutual enemy and she didn't mind joining forces with her lover to bring the enemy to his knees.She couldn't keep calm. She felt like a teenager meeting with her lover for the first time after a long time. She didn't know what to expect. She pictured him sexier and more hand