Henry woke up the next day, it was a hot afternoon. He woke up with a banging headache. He squinted his eyes as he looked through his phone checking the time. He reached for the table, he found a table on the side with a cup of water. A note had been laid out indicating that it was aspirin for his headache. He took it and slowly got out of bed. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, he needed a real break. A vacation where he could relax. His eyes were sunken and red His skin was pale. He noticed he had a cut on his lower lip as he had been in a fight, that was when the events of the previous night began rushing in. He had been in a fight at his bar. He remembered it clearly because of how terrified it made him feel. He had a flash of the past, so vivid he almost had a panic attack. He had fought back aggressively, he knew the person he had attacked would be in bad shape. He showered, thoroughly washing every bit of his body. Then his mind trailed to his son. When he was done, h
Henry had just tucked in Asher for the night. He had a long day and all he wanted to do was sleep. He walked up the stairs to his room. He opened it to find Angela inside which was weird to him. She did not enter his room for a long time now especially when he wasn’t around. So you could imagine his surprise when he walked inside his room at night and found her stark naked applying lotion. She slipped on a black lingerie. If he was surprised his face did not show at all. He walked inside to his side of the bed, arranged the pillows and laid on it. He would have to go in early tomorrow morning to attend all the meetings he had postponed for later. He shut his eyes not long after. She turned around to look at him in surprise, she couldn’t believe he had completely ignored her presence and not made any comment about her being in his room. She watched in disbelief as he shut his eyes. The old him would have freaked out about her being naked. Her heartbeat surged. “Can I turn off the lig
Ashley embraced Mrs Denver tightly. “I hate that this had to happen” Mrs Denver looked more frail and pale. “I hate it more I promise you" Ashley held on to her. “We didn’t even get to do all that we planned to. We still had a lot ahead of us...” “I know it sucks" “I thought the arthritis was getting better. I gave you all your medications. You had all your massages on time. What could have happened?” she asked in a tear-filled voice, she got to her feet and walked up to the man at the door, he was Mrs Denver’s younger brother. “Sir Adam I took good care of her" He held her hand. “It wasn’t your fault. You did your best. I love how you took care of her. She adores you, you are all she talks about” he smiled at her, “And I can’t appreciate you enough for all you did...” he exchanged glances with his sister. “It’s just that she needs to get better and this is possible if the doctors can monitor her, she needs to receive special trea...” “Come on here Ash, stop talking about me like
Henry Allen sat across from the chief doctor in Brook memorial hospital and other stake holder’s. They were in a meeting concerning the expansion of this arm of the business. Henry was always bored with meetings like this. That was why very often he was represented by Adrian. However, Adrian had his hands full and he couldn’t make out time to be around. “Can we get recess?” Henry suddenly interrupted them. There was a very brief pause “Of course” one of them said. He got to his feet, smoothened his suit and stepped out. The offices were located on the top floor of the hospital. It was a beautiful serene environment away from the chaos and gloominess that was the hospital. It was a very different situation on the lower floors. He walked the pathway, his hands tucked in his pocket. He decided to take a stroll to the lower floor, his keen eyes looked out for anything that was out of place. He got to the 4th floor of the 7-storey building. He stopped by an office and was talking to so
Asher was making baby noises in his crib as he tried desperately to chew on his rubber toy, his sock-clad tiny legs shot up in the air. Henry momentarily stopped what he was doing to peer lovingly at his son. He had a pleased smile on his face. He packed up his documents, and his finger came in contact with one stray piece of paper, he sighed, and his pleased mood disappeared like the wind. His fingers brushed against it, he picked it up and peered closely at it. It was one of the receipts for a luxury hotel bill that he thought he had previously cancelled but his wife had gone on with the same man based on the description he could gather and the clips he could watch. The thing was he hadn’t been working. Well in the true sense of the word he had been working hard but not on his job-related stuff. He had been digging up dirt on Angela and there was a lot of dirt. In all honesty, he had not been in the right frame of mind for any intellectual work. He had spent his time searching up s
Henry twirled around in his office chair, today was one of the days he had to be in his office in person. His laptop sat forgotten on his desk as his mind was occupied with something else. His phone rang interrupting his musings, that was weird he thought to himself. He directed all his calls to his secretary and so she had to notify him of who was on the other end before the call was sent to him, except for emergencies... He grabbed the phone immediately. “Hello, what happened to Asher?” There was a brief pause on the other end before a lady asked “Asher?" The colour drained from his face at the sound of the voice on the other end. “Is that the name of my grandson?” “What do you want?” “You won’t even let me meet him, I could only get a few pictu...” “What do you want mother?” he cut her off. She sighed audibly. “What else would a mother want, more than a relationship with her son and grandson. I just want to be involved in your life” “Isn’t it too late for that?” he asked d
Ashley looked like the ghost of her former self, she had not left the house for days or done anything. She had on a big grey basketball polo with black and white checkered baggy pants that hung low on her waist. Her hair was messy and unruly, she had dark circles around her eyes, her lips were dried. There were tears streaks on her face. She found her mother on the other end as soon as she opened the door of her room. "What are you doing here?” she asked surprisingly. Vera took a long look at her. “Look at you Ashley, you look like hell!” “Woah! Mother, thank you for the compliment" She proceeded to walk away but Vera stood in front of her obstructing her. “You know that is not what I mean at all, I am sure you know that" she explained. “It is just, the only time I saw you like this was when you lost your father. I understood how much you were hurting then. Seeing you now I know she must have meant so much to you. I wish I had met her before she passed on...” “What is the point o
Ashley gingerly unpacked the box Leonard had gifted her. She had refused to take it in the first place but he had insisted that she took it. She brought out an eggplant shade of purple velvet dress. She admired it, inside was a pair of white heels and a white clutch. She got into the shower and let the hot water cascade down her body. She had been in a sore mood since Mrs Denver’s demise. Leonard and been an absolute sweetheart, using all the ways in the book to cheer her up but nothing seemed to work at all. Today, they had gone for dinner just outside town and he looked her dead in the eye when he realised she was playing with her food. “Ash?” She didn’t answer immediately because she was lost in her thoughts, and so he had to call her attention. “What can I do to make you happy again” She chuckled. “I am serious,” he said with a straight face. "I am running out of ideas and I am thinking why don’t I just ask you? Maybe you will know" She thought briefly about it and then she
A FEW WEEKS AGO... Leonard stared at Ashley. She was on the couch staring out the window lost in thought, he had only just managed to calm her down. The altercation with Henry had upset her more than he imagined it would. He wanted to help so bad, he wanted to make her forget everything about Henry, and then a thought occurred to him. “Hey Ash,” He walked up to her and sat beside her on the couch. She flashed him a wide smile. “Hey, Leonard.” “How are you feeling?” He asked. She shrugged. “I think I might have an idea of how to make you feel better.” Her eyes lit up and it caused his heart to swell in excitement. “It is going to be Christmas very soon and I will be going home for a family vacation. We do this thing where every member of the family comes back home and spends time together. It would be a lot of fun, I want you to come back home with me.” He explained. “Leonard...” “Don’t say anything.” He cut in. “You are going to love it there, my family is amazing and they ar
Adrian peeked into the rear seat of the police car. A look of triumph on his face. He held their gaze. “You should know this is only the beginning. I have more in store for you” The grin on his face was wide. He straightened up and walked up to Henry. “You did it!” “Man, it was too easy. How did you know they were going to show up?” Henry asked with a look of bewilderment on his face. Adrian shrugged, he was beaming with pride. “Common psychology I guess. I was sending subtle signals to them, to unsettle them. It was only a matter of time before they showed up. I predicted sooner but that was the time for uncertainties...” He noticed Henry’s shocked expression still. He explained. “The other day at the restaurant, I spotted the paparazzi and although Ashley was terrified I told her to smile and laugh for the cameras...” “What purpose would that serve?” “It was just the day after Ashley was attacked, of course, I knew it would set them off. The pictures of us played a role too, the
Henry rolled his eyes when he saw Adrian walk in. “What are you doing here?” “Olivia told me you’d be working late...” He checked his watch, “But this late...Henry...” “Adrian, why are you here?” Henry asked sternly. Adrian pulled out a chair and sat across from him, “I cracked the case, Henry” He furrowed his brows in confusion. “What case?” “The Mason case and what Eric and Angela are up to" Henry got to his feet and began packing his bag. “Adrian, I am not in the mood...” Adrian stood to his feet. “I promise you, this isn’t like other times, I finally have all the evidence I need against them.” “Frankly, I don’t care” Henry retorted. “None of this matters and Adrian please just leave me out of it...” “Henry, I promise you, you’re gonna want to hear it. They were lying! They were all bloody lying...” Henry rolled his eyes. “About what part exactly?” Adrian sighed. “That’s not important. Henry, forget whatever problems are there between us. This is beyond us! Mason is alive
“Adrian...” the waitress said with a look of bewilderment. “Yeah, I want to have a quiet dinner, I do not want to be bothered by anyone, not even the press. Can you do that?” he dipped his hand in his pockets and flashed her crisp dollar notes. “Can you do that?” She nodded silently. “Good” He handed her the notes and entered the enclosed dinner area. “Why didn’t we just have dinner at your place?” He shrugged, “Well my house in the city doesn’t quite look like a habitable place at the moment. I thought of going to a hotel but I can’t escape the press there either, I was making plans to leave the city until you called and said you needed my help” Ashley stared at him with sad eyes. “How are you holding up?” He cleared his throat. “Do you want the version of the story that ends with me bawling my eyes out pathetically or the one where I act smug and unbothered afterwards?” “Adrian...” He shook his head, “This isn’t about me Ashley, this is about you, don’t make it about me. You
Things had been looking up in Henry’s household. Ashley coming into their lives was the best thing that ever happened after Asher’s birth. Adam was grateful for her, he was grateful for the change in the atmosphere in the house, it radiated through everyone and in every part of their lives. Henry always had a radiant smile on his face when she was sitting across from him at the dinner table and talking about her day. He had a smile on his face when he was alone at breakfast. Asher was not left out, he loved Ashley like any boy loved their mother. He was a sweet child.Things were great and then they weren’t. The radiant energy dissipated quickly and was replaced by a dark looming cloud above their heads. Henry was hardly around but whenever he was, his awful mood could be felt from a mile away. Ashley was sad, he hated that she was but she was.He sighed deeply before knocking on the door and letting himself in. Henry reclined on the chair, he was lost in space, and he didn’t notice
Henry lay sprawled on the sofa in Club Dazzle. He owned the place so he had access to the exquisite suite, the walls were soundproof and padded so it drowned out the noise from the crowd. Soft music played in the background, he had an empty glass in his hand, and he beckoned to the bartender. He rushed towards him and filled his glass.Just then Adrian walked through the doors, no one stopped him at the entrance because they knew who he was. Adrian took a long look at him. Henry was spotting a stubble on his chin, his eyes were sunken and drowsy. His hair looked like he had run his hands through them a couple of times. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. He was sat in between two beautiful ladies, they were scantily dressed and dancing to the soft tunes of the song. They whispered something to each other oblivious of his presence. He could see Henry smile but it didn't reach his eyes. Adrian signalled to the DJ who turned off the music.
Angela was lost in her head. Victory was sweet, it left a lingering taste on your tongue, it makes you forget everything else, makes you blind to your enemy's counter-offensive response. Everyone else would be fooled by victory’s sweet lingering taste but not her. She had been a victim of it in the past, she had relished her victory so much that she was oblivious to her enemy's attack and her victory had been spoiled almost as soon as it got to her hand. So she had to learn, the hard way and learn she did. So while Eric was off to wherever he was celebrating his newfound victory in the small publication she had influenced she was still plotting. No, it didn’t matter that a man was writhing under her, his face contorted in what undeniably pleasure, it didn’t matter that she was riding him. Her small mind wandered, so far away.The man gasped under her, he pulled out and shuddered violently as he released. Angela watched him with a blank expression on her face.Beads of sweat formed on
Leonard’s head was in the clouds as he listened to her. He would be wicked if he admitted out loud to anyone that he enjoyed this but it was the truth, for Ashley he was willing to be wicked. If it meant that in the slightest chance, she would be his. He loved her, he had loved her from the moment he had laid his eyes on her and no he didn’t think she deserve to suffer all she was suffering with Henry. He could give her better and he would.It wasn’t about the money, it was about how she deserved to be loved, wholly, truly...She looked up at him from underneath her lashes. “Do you promise me you wouldn’t tell anybody about this?”He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, “Ashley, everything you tell me today will stay between us, this I promise you...” he noticed her slight resistance but he was patient and willing to wait. This was what he had waited for all along. At first, she had refused to even look at him, then she refused to speak with him. Yet he had persisted becau
Henry unlocked the doors to his house and walked in. He sighed when he spotted Adrian reclined on a sofa, his legs crossed. “What are you doing here?” he asked. Adrian shrugged. “I am here to see my friend.” Henry shot him a glare before sitting down opposite him. “I saw Ashley earlier.” His eyes lit up at the mention of her name. He frowned and looked away trying to conceal his desire. He had not laid eyes on her for a while, she was doing a thorough job of avoiding him, he couldn’t blame her though. He rubbed his palm on his face. “What are you doing to yourself, Henry?” Henry got up from his seat immediately, “I don’t have that time Adrian” “You’re hurting yourself, you’re pushing the people you love away, that’s not...” “Adrian, spare me whatever advice you think you have for me. I do not need it, I do not need anything from you. You do not care about anyone else but yourself, all you do is lie!” “Your family is behind all of this, they are trying to ruin you, they are tr