"You don't have to sound that way, darling Jessie. All I want is for us to meet face to face, you see I heard something about what happened between us and I think it would be best if we talked about it," The voice said."Alright, where should I meet you?" Jessie asked, masking her shock."At the café next to Tasty Magazine. What do your think?""I'll be there in ten minutes," Jessie said and hung up immediately.She sat on the chair behind her desk, trying o forget all those memories of her past with Jacques. Why was she so nervous about meeting him? They had talked at Lenore's wedding party, but at least Chase was there with her. What did he mean by he heard about what happened between them?Jacques, over the four years since she moved to London, never failed to call from time to time, asking her to come back to him.When she met him at Lenore's wedding party, he had been so mean. He almost exposed the fact that she was an editor at Tasty. Had she not intervened, Chase would have fo
Jessie took out her phone when she got to her room to pack her things. She phoned Chanel who answered after two rings."What is it?" Chanel whispered in a low tone, which was very unusual of her."Are you alright?" Jessie had to ask. "Yes, I am. I need you to say whatever you want quickly, I'm in the middle of something," she whispered over the phone.Chanel was always bubbly and her low tone was just proof of the fact that something was wrong."I just wanted to tell you that Chase, the twins and I would be traveling to Rio De Janeiro tomorrow. He has business to do there and wants to use the opportunity to take the kids out for a change," Jessie said."That's awesome. Have you told Lenore about this, though?" "Not yet. Are you sure you're alright? Have you gone home? I hope it's not Lenore who's keeping you at the office till now," Jessie frowned."I'm in my flat. It's just... You know what? Forget it, I'll let you know what's up later. Enjoy your trip, okay?" Chanel said, trying t
CHASE'S POVI was on the phone with Bianca, my personal secretary when I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes from behind me.I instantly knew who they belonged to. The rose-scented perfume was something I was very sure belonged to Jessie.I cut the call and said, smiling, "I know it's you, Jessica.""How did you know it was me?" Jessie asked, marvelled at my correct prediction."Which other female could have soft hands like mine? Any of the maids or Octavia?""What do you mean?" I asked leading her to sit on my lap."I wouldn't know, maybe Mary or some woman from your past," Jessie said suggestively while caressing my cheek.I laughed at her obvious method of asking if I was being faithful. So she was worried that I could still be with some other woman besides her?"As much as I have a bad reputation of dating several women in the past, I've never been into two-timing. Mary is just the housekeeper and there's no other woman in my life. I'd admit that I was in a casual fling with a runw
Jessie got down from the luxurious car which dropped them all at Chase's mansion in Rio De Janeiro.As the guards and maids came out to welcome them and take in their luggage, Jessie went over what happened during the flight from London to Rio De Janeiro in her mind.The flight had indeed been long, about twelve hours and Jessie had spent almost half of the time on the plane, avoiding Chase.She engaged the kids in conversation about their academics and each time Chase tried to contribute, she only ignored him.Chase had noticed that she had been that way since morning when they were getting ready for their flight, but had thought nothing of it until he realised she was actually giving him silent treatment.Jessie had been wondering why she was so angry at Chase, but she had a feeling that the presence of Mary on the plane with them was the primary source of her anger.Mary with her natural blonde hair and big blue eyes was trying to get closer with Chase because they were seat partne
"Troubled?" Jessie gasped, shocked that Chase could read her true emotions so well."Yes, you've been spacing out a lot. Aren't you happy with this vacation?" Chase queried, worriedly."Of course I am, I'm just feeling a bit of a jetlag," Jessie replied."I'm sorry about that my darling, do you perhaps require medications? I could have Octavia make you something, you know?" Chase offered."No, of course not. I wouldn't want to trouble her, she must be tired herself. Why don't we both go upstairs and have a bath to get ourselves relaxed?" Jessie smiled."Oh, I have no problem bathing together with you. It would be a delight to see you in your full glory. In fact let's go up to the room now, I can't wait, Jessica" Chase grinned, flirtatiously, hugging Jessie.Hitting him playfully on the chest, Jessie said laughing, "I meant taking a bath in our individual rooms and also separately, not with each other.""Why don't we try out my idea, instead? What's wrong with that? We could lay in the
Jessie was a nervous wreck, she had just invited Chase to the lounge in the mansion for a drink together.At Chanel and Lenore's advice, she sat on the couch in the skimpiest short and camisole that she possessed, she felt totally unlike herself.According to Chanel who had called earlier that night, Jessie had to use every method necessary to get Chase as deeply into her as possible, so that when he discovered the truth about her, he'd have to overlook it all.As for Lenore she believed that with the striking beauty and body shape Jessie possessed, it would be a shame if she didn't put it on display to secure some more advantages.Lenore wanted Jessie to get Chase drunk. According to her, a drunk man was the most truthful. So if Jessie wanted to know everything about Chase, getting him drunk would be the best method.She wasn't sure if the plan was going to go smoothly, but she hoped he had low alcohol tolerance and wouldn't be able to see through her intentions."What is it, Jessica
JESSIE'S POV"What is it about Stella?" I asked, the tension in my voice evident.This was the moment for me to find out the entire truth. I had a feeling that it somehow had something to do with Stella, the woman he once loved.For some reason, I felt a bit uncomfortable each time I thought of the fact that Chase had once loved the lady. What was so special about Stella to bring out such strong feelings of love from Chase? Was she a blonde? A brunette? Or did she perhaps have hair the colour of sunset? Could Stella have had the same raven-black hair like mine?Was that the reason for Chase's interest in me after all? Pushing those thoughts aside, I looked at Chase to find that he was fast asleep.His thick, long lashes were on display and I couldn't help, but stare at his handsome face, combing my hands through his luxurious chocolate-brown hair.He seemed to enjoy the motion of my fingers in his hair, if his deep sigh and snuggle unto my lap was anything to go by."Chase, you have
"It's Mary, Sir.""What is it Mary?" Chase asked striding back into his closet.Jessie frowned while wondering just what Mary wanted from Chase so early in the morning."I wanted you to know that Diana, the chef has prepared your breakfast, Sir," Mary replied from outside the room."I'll take care of that myself, you can leave now Mary," Jessie couldn't help but reply.Chase returned to the room from his closet with black shorts and a shirt in his hand, quirking his brows at her in question and Jessie frowned at him asking, "Since when did Mary become your personal maid? Why does she have to come personally to your room to tell you about breakfast?""Darling, why don't we discuss about your response to my kisses right now? I find that a much more interesting line of conversation, don't you think?" Chase smiled."You know what? I'll leave you to get dressed," Jessie replied, covering her eyes and leaving the room as though she hadn't been looking at his towel clad body just moments ago
FOUR MONTHS LATER"Oh my God, it's the Cavelli Hotel!" Jessie exclaimed as she and Chase got out of their car at the hotel's entrance."Yes, my darling. I told you I'll make our time here in Paris, unforgettable. How best to do that than starting right from the beginning? We met here for the first time, remember?" Chase smiled, holding her hand in his.The valet took care of their car as they walked in. They had arrived in Paris the previous night for their two week-long honeymoon and had stayed at Jessie's family house until this morning.Jessie had no clue whatsoever that they were going to spend their honeymoon at Cavelli Hotel.After she was discharged four months ago, Chase had been like a bodyguard, monitoring her every movement and tasting all her meals before she took them. He had done that for a full month, until Jessie made him stop. She needed him to understand that she was safe.Recently, he had gotten very busy with the new restaurant branch in Rio and had flown there on
THE NEXT MORNINGThe police car pulled up at Chase's mansion. Two officers alongside Pierre and Olivier got out of the car and into the house."What is going on Desmond? Why is the police here?" Octavia asked in her heavy Brazilian accent."Is Mary in?" Desmond queried, impatiently."Yes, she's just about leaving for her vacation. Why do you ask? Is Mrs Reed alright now? I was so worried the entire night.""Yes, she's getting better. It turns out that Mary was the one behind Mrs Reed's condition," he replied."Oh my God! That's not possible, Mary is such a sweet girl, she'd never do such a thing," Octavia replied, terrified at the news."Ma'am we do not have all day, we need to get Ms Mary to the station for questioning," the female officer said, impatiently."Okay, her room is on the last floor.""Alright, let's go in. She must have heard our siren. She might try to get away now," the other officer said."Okay, let's go," came Desmond.When they got up to the last floor of the buildin
VANESSA'S POVI called Mary to ask about the task, I gave her and she answered almost immediately."Ms Vanessa, the task was done accurately. Ms Lavigne loves sweet things, she ate the cake and finished the drink without suspecting anything. The smoothie she had this morning also contained peaches.""That's very good. I knew I could trust you. It's so unfortunate, Jessie thought that she could still be with Chase even after he knows what she did. She will be dead, long before Chase even understands what's wrong with her. It would be the worst honeymoon ever," I laughed."It is such a relief to know that Jessie would finally leave the picture. I had tried everything, pushed her into the pool, badmouthed her to Chase, sent her ex, Jacques to keep bugging her, but now, injecting all the food and drinks she had with peach extract is finally going to do the job,""I'm a bit scared Ms Vanessa, what if Mr Reed finds out about my role in all these? Everyone knows that I was the person in charg
They had just arrived at Chase's father's mansion. They were expected to spend the night there before leaving for Paris the next morning for their honeymoon.When Jessie realised that Paris was their honeymoon destination, she was surprised because it was something Chase had kept a secret. She was very happy to know that he thought of taking her to her hometown.She would have been the happiest woman alive had it not been for the fact that her husband was so mad at her that he barely even looked at her throughout the entire drive from the Cavelli Hotel where the reception was held to his father's mansion.Her husband, did she just think of Chase as her husband, but of course he was her husband after all. They had only been married for hours, but it felt so natural to think of him that way. She was confident that when she explained everything to him, he'd forgive her and they'd once again be happy as they had been before."Now, how was that, Jessica? My acting wasn't too bad, was it? Ev
Jessie was confused, she knew something had to be wrong with Chase. He seemed frigid at their wedding reception when he was all smiles and compliments for her during the wedding ceremony.It was time for their first dance as a couple and Chase seemed so stiff and unwilling to go through with it as to moved to the dancefloor."Are you sure you're alright, babe? You seem a bit off since the beginning of the reception," she asked as they glided across the room.The music was one they both chose together. They had danced to it a number of times already and it was Chase's favourite, so it was surprising to her that Chase was so uninterested in dancing to it.After a full minute of not replying, he gave her an icy glare, as he replied, "I'm fine, I just want us to get this over with. I have some questions for you.""Why do you sound and look that way?""What way?" He asked through clenched teeth."Like you're mad or something. You keep clenching and unclenching your teeth. Is something the m
Two Months Later...CHASE'S POVI smiled to myself as I looked at the little grey box in my hand. Today was almost surreal to me.On this day, I'd finally get what I've wanted for a long time now. I adjusted my tuxedo with shaking hands.I couldn't believe how nervous I felt. This was going to be a very private matter with only close friends and family present. Why then was I so impatient and nervous about it at the same time.Nathan walked in, smartly dressed in a similar black tuxedo as mine, he smiled and gave me a pat on the back."I still can't believe you're finally doing this. Remember what you said to me on my wedding day? "I will never make the stupid mistake of getting married. Have fun while it lasts." Those were your exact words, weren't they? How come you're getting married now?" Nathan teased me with a mischievous grin."Nathan you should know that now isn't the time for you to tease me. I'm so nervous and I don't even know why. I keep wondering if Jessie would show up,"
"Can I have your attention, everyone?" Chase asked, as he took the stage.All the guests and members of the press, fixed their eyes on him, expectantly."I want to address the recent article concerning I and my family which appeared on this week's publication of The Whispers Column of Tasty Magazine. I'm sure you're all curious as to whether those things printed are true or not. I'm going to explain everything now.""Mr Reed, does this mean that the information in that article holds some truth?" One reporter asked in a loud voice."Yes, Sir. Tell us, were you ever an addict?" "Is it true that you are a womaniser? It it also true that you neglect the children rumoured to be adopted by you?" The questions kept coming from the reporters.The hall was filled with tension and whispering from the guests present. Chase calmed them down with a wave of his hand."Relax everyone. I would tell you this, I have never abused any drug. I was only very stressed towards the end of my career and then
"I guess you haven't seen the article yet. I was tempted to sue, but after finding out who's behind this, I changed my mind.""What do you mean? Who's behind it? Can I see it?" Jessie asked in a shaky voice.As she read the article, pretending as though she was only seeing it for the first time, she wondered if Chase had somehow found out already about her role in the publication of that article."Remember Cesare? His wife Lenore is the owner of the Tasty Magazine. It's the company that published the article.""Oh my! Why would she do something like that?" Jessie feigned ignorance."I don't know," he replied with a deep sigh."So what are you going to do about it?""I want to hold a press conference. I'll have to finally introduce Chris and Crystal as my kids.""Are you sure that's a good idea? Are they ready to face the media with their questions and all?" Jessie queried.It hurt her deeply to know that she put such a beautiful family in such a difficult situation."I've talked to th
Jessie woke up the next morning to the sound of her phone ringing. It was Chanel calling."Jessie have you seen it yet?" Chanel asked the moment she answered the call."Seen what?" Jessie queried rubbing her eyes sleepily.It was only a few minutes past six and she couldn't understand what Chanel was talking about."The article. It was you, right? I didn't know you were going to take it that far," she yelled."Take what far? I simply talked about Chase's twins, that was all. I haven't seen it myself," she replied."Well, you better look it up. There are lots of pictures of the kids scattered everywhere. The article is a bit too detailed, it describes Chase negatively as some sort of negligent parent.""I never wrote such things. What pictures are you talking about. I never sent her any pictures of them. I hope Lenore didn't tweak a little too much. What if Chase finds out that it was me?"Just as she said the final statement, Mary walked into the room without knocking."You know what?