"Our last project was just cancelled," the secretary announced and Rosy sunk into her seat dropping her phone to the ground."Ma'am, are you alright," the secretary asked as she shook Rosy who was not responding. "Somebody, help?" she screamed and kept shaking Rosy whose eyes were closed."What happened?" the first person who walked in inquired drawing closer to the desk where Rosy remained on her seat with her eyes closed."I don't know. I just informed her about the cancellation of our last project and this sunk into her seat closing her eyes," the secretary replied.The guy pulled out his phone and dial 911."Hello, please we have an emergency, our boss just passed out," he said as soon as the call connected.The ambulance arrived at the office premises in a few minutes and Rosy was carried on a stretch into the ambulance and out of the company heading to the hospital. The rest of the employees stood watching what was going on. The secretary went with her to the hospital.At the hos
"Those are my children," he said with excitement staring at the image on the front page of the newspaper recognizing the lady to be Lily.Back in Florida, Derry and Lily enjoyed their weekend as they took turns tending to the babies and doing one fun activity after another. They had a video call with Luis and Rose to check up on them and also update them on how they and the babies were doing. All this while Lily was not aware of the gossip going around social media about her, Derry and her newborns. She didn't have any family members alive anymore and the only friends, she had now were Luis and Rose, for this reason, she didn't feel the need to spend money on a mobile phone. In addition, she is always at home and has access to the house phone. This puts Derry at the vantage point to clear the news from the media platform before Lily gets wind of it.Derry looked at Lily as they sat in the garden enjoying the cool breeze with the babies and inwardly, he felt satisfied. He prayed silent
Rosy froze in place going through the documents Marcus had given her as Marcus drove out from her compound. "There is no going back. It's over," Rosy whispered under her breath."What did the document say?" Lyla asked stretching her neck to take a peep at the content of the document.Rosy dropped the document to the ground and Lyla quickly picked up the scattered papers on the floor. The first thing she saw was the eviction notice and she looked at the other documents. The company's board of directors cast a vote against Rosy. "OMG, they fired you," Lyla screamed "And they are taking everything from you. So, you have nothing?" she asked, looking at Rosy bewildered. Rosy had not recovered from the shock and hence did not hear a word of what Lyla said. She stood rooted to the entrance where Marcus had handed her the documents from the company. Lyla was pacing up and down behind her as she went on and on whining. "O dear, what's going to happen to me? Where will I leave now? Oh God, I
Derry was unhappy when he heard about how Rosy schemed and took the company from Derrick. Not that he cared but he hated dishonest people and hence decided to teach her a lesson. He also wanted to do something for Lily and he felt claiming the company for her was a good plan. He had pulled some strings and finally got the board to vote Rosy, the CEO out. He didn't waste time in sharing the good news with Lily but it was from this conversation he found out something. Lily did not know her father was once in the army and for some reason, her father also never mentioned it not leaving evidence of that for her. Lily felt disappointed she didn't know her father and Derry was now wondering why Mr Adam Shawn, vanished from the TV screens all of a sudden and what happened to the security agency he was managing. "How old are you?" Derry asked trying to understand why Lily didn't know anything about her father's military life.Lily lowered her lashes and replied fidgeting with her hand, "Twen
"Saved by the bell," Derry thought as they both entered the baby nest with Lily leading.Lily picked up one baby from the cot and Derry picked up the other. The babies stopped crying once in their arms."Sure, it looks like they are tired of lying down," Derry joked and Lily smiled walking towards the swinging seat.As soon as she sat down the baby started crying, so she stood up and Derry laughed."How are we going to make dinner?" Lily asked standing with the baby in her arms."That is simple," Derry replied and opened the baby wardrobe, bringing out two baby carrier bags. "Tadaa" he said with a smile holding the baby in one hand and the carrier bags in another.Lily smiled and walked up to him. She gave him a peck on the cheek and took one carrier bag from him."Derry, you are the best," Lily praised with a smile and Derry smiled back at her."You bring out the best in people," Derry replied.Lily put the baby in the carrier bag and strapped it on and Derry did the same and they bot
"What! No, Dad, why?" Derrick said, standing up from the sofa in shock."Relax, I am not that cruel. Why would I take babies that young away from their mum? I just want to know how you feel about rescuing those two innocent children from the jinx," Mr Mingle said and emptied his glass of wine.Derrick looked at him, not sure how to react. Eventually, he left the living room and went to the poolside. He wanted to be close to his children, be a father to them but not like the way his father proposed. Lily may be a jinx but she is their mother and those children need their mother. He took off his clothes and jumped into the pool. He needed to clear his mind. A good swim would help with that. He stayed in the water for a while and decided it was enough for now. As soon as he stepped out of the pool, a towel was handed to him."Thank you," Derrick said trying to see the person hiding behind the towel. "Hey babe, you are here," he said checking the time on his wristwatch after which he kisse
"What is it?" Rose asked noticing the frown on Luis's face but he quickly changed it to a smile but the smile did not last on his face."Someone is spying on Lily," Luis announced still frozen in his spot."Oh no. I thought all these troubles were over and she will now enjoy a moment of peace. Why now?" Rose lamented.Luis closed the door behind him, walked to the bed and sat next to Rose."I knew it wasn't over but I didn't expect anything this soon. Her battles are about to start all over again," Luis said with his head lowered."Tell Derry, his father is very influential, he can do something about it," Rose suggested."I know but it would make matters worse. I want to end this not postpone it," Luis replied."What do you mean?" Rose asked confused."Derry is in love with Lily. That is a problem. He will make hasty decisions to save her. This would only push the problem back only to appear again in a different form later," Luis pointed out."How?" Rose inquired not making sense of wh
"They are so adorable," Victor commented admiring the babies."Yeah, let's go finish eating so the food doesn't get cold. They will be waking up soon so we will spend time with them," Derry suggested and they all left the room to the dining area."What did you name them?" Victor asked with a smile as they headed for the dining room as Derry fetched their drinks."Derry and Nora," Lily said lowering her gaze shyly.Victor stopped in his tracks and shifted his gaze to Lily."As in Derry McClean," Victor asked to confirm and Lily nodded in a yes. "Wow, I feel honoured you gave my name to your children," he said with a smile."Technically, she named them after me," Derry said smiling as they entered the dining area and sat behind the table."And technically, I owned the name," Victor said pouring himself a glass of water.Lily smiled watching them claim ownership of the surname given to her children. She served everyone and they all started digging into their plate."Great, now this is wha
Derrick went silent and lowered his head shocked by the news of his father's death."I was informed yesterday but I knew you were out on a date and I didn't want to spoil your evening with such news," Luis added and Derrick just nodded."I will be returning to Florida, later today. Just let me know if you need anything," Luis said and got up to leave.Derrick got up and escorted Luis to the door without saying anything but just nodding to whatever Luis was saying. He closed the door after Luis had left and out of anger punched the wall so hard, that he got injured in the process. As if he could not feel the pain, he gave the wall another punch. He turned and pressed his back to the wall and sank to the ground.Luis walked to his car and called Isabel."Hello Isabel, are you busy?" he asked."No, what's up?" replied Isabel."Kindly come over to Derrick's place. He is not alright. I just told him about his father," replied Luis."Okay, I will be there in 10 minutes," Isabel replied."Gr
Derrick lowered his head, disappointed. He did not know how to react to the news he had just received. It was his father all along. All the problems he and Lily went through were because of his father. Technically, Lily never had a moment of peace because of him. He recalled what Lily had said about having months of peace since he was out of her life. She was right after all. "When did you find out?" Derrick directed his question to Luis."Err, things become clearer the day you left Florida. I had always had my suspicion though," replied Luis."Why didn't you say something to me?" Derrick queried."Would you have believed me then without the undeniable evidence?" Luis asked advancing towards him.Derrick went silent and Luis patted him on the shoulder."I am truly sorry about your father. I wish he didn't do what he did," Luis consoled and left the two standing there."And you," Derrick said shifting his attention to Isabel who was still standing with him. "Did you ever love me or was
Luis, knowing what was going to happen, had already taken the first flight to Washington to defend Derrick.Arriving at Washington Central police station, Derrick saw on the TV screen what had transpired the night before, while he was in bed hugging Lily's dress. He was shocked to see what was showing on the screen."So that is why he got arrested?" Derrick thought as he was sent to the withholding cell.Derrick knew his father could do the unthinkable like when his father killed his friend and made him lose his memory but that was a long time ago. He thought he had changed."Drug and weapon trafficking?" Derrick thought. "When did he start doing such business?" he continued in his thought. "But why? As the head of Homeland Security, he earned good money, so why would he do this?" he thought. "Or did someone set him up?" he frowned while trying to understand why his father would do such a thing."Lucky you. Your lawyer is already here," came the voice of an officer interrupting Derric
Derry stared at Luis not sure how to react to the information."Does your wife know?" Derry inquired."No," Luis said and turned to face Derry. "When I found Derrick, I sent Isabel to his location to monitor him. Well, I didn't give her so many details aside from telling her I want her to monitor Derrick and report his activities to me and also to keep an eye on his father, Mr Mingle. I had found out the two were living together. Isabel got herself employed in Derrick's new company, Armani or something. Some weird name, I don't know how he comes up with company names. Anyway, Isabel got close to him and he found solace in her. I am not sure what happened. Isabel is very professional in her dealings but she yielded so I let them be," he explained."So Derrick doesn't know," Derry said."No, he doesn't. Isabel is a CID, but now she is in love with Derrick and she will come clean after our operation. She is a strong woman; she can handle rejection if things don't go well," Luis said raisi
Derrick spent some time with his children before leaving for his apartment. He decided to stay around for a while before going back to Washington. Derrick was back in his apartment, he stood in the living room recalling memories of himself and Lily. His eyes shifted to the dining area and he remembered the first time he had cooked for Lily. He recalled all the good times they had together. He went up to the bedroom. He opened the door and the familiar fragrance that used to greet him when Lily was in the room was no longer there. He scanned the room and the dressing table still had Lily's stuff on it. He opened the closet and her clothes were still in there. Neither Lily nor he returned to the apartment after Lily was rushed to the hospital. He removed one of Lily's dresses from the hanger and hugged it. It did carry traces of her scent. He walked to the bed and lay down on the bed hugging Lily's dress feeling regretful. His phone rang interrupting the moment. He searched for it and c
Derry left and Lily turned to face Derrick. There was silence in the room for 10 minutes but it felt like a whole day for Lily. Derrick cleared his throat and got up to sit next to Lily but she stopped him."Please, just sit where you are," Lily said with a straight face and Derrick sat back on his seat."I am sorry about that," Derrick said."Okay. Why do you want to see me?" Lily asked going straight to the point and Derrick exhaled deeply."Lily, I came here to apologize. No matter my explanation it doesn't change the fact that I abandoned you when you needed me most," Derrick began and Lily looked on with a straight face, constantly reminding herself Derry was just in the living room to keep herself calm."So, why did you leave? All I remember was you apologizing," Lily asked and Derrick remembered that day.He had spoken to his father and he left the hospital after. He recalled Lily's state when he left. Derrick narrated their entire life together as a couple and explained he didn
Derry felt Lily needed to know the truth and that would help her make a decision she would not regret. If Derrick's reasons were justified, she could go back to the man she had once loved. She hated him now because she didn't know why he left.He turned to look at Lily, she was asleep but the expression on her face said she was not happy even in her sleep. He got out of bed and went to the washroom and stood under the cold shower. The weather was that cold yet he took a cold shower. He returned to the bedroom to see Derrick had replied indicating he wasn't asleep himself. He sighed and left the bedroom for his study. He dialled Luis's number and he picked up after two rings."Hey men, do you have something against marriage fun?" queried Luis as soon as the call connected."Sorry to disturb you, I just needed someone to talk to," replied Derry sounding sad.Luis looked at Rose who was still sleeping and he went to the balcony."Hey, you don't sound okay, what happened? Is Lily aright?"
Derry joined his third and last meeting for the day. In the meeting, he was a bit distracted. He felt content in his heart, having adopted the children but was still afraid to advance his relationship with Lily, especially now that Derrick was back in Town."Will Lily go back to him?" Derry thought recalling Luis's several warnings."Sir, what do you think of the idea?" asked one of the board members.Derry sat at the head of the table surrounded by 6 board members, 3 on each side of the table. He could see their lips moving and images flashing on the projector screen but nothing they were saying was registering on his mind."Sir, Mr McClean?" the board member sitting closest to him called out to him."Yes," Derry responded snapping out of his thoughts."I just wanted to know what you thought of the idea for the project," the board member who had done the presentation asked again."Send it to my email, I want to go through it again and decide," Derry replied. "Is that the last idea pre
"Perfect," Luis said and Rose looked at him wondering what was on his phone that he was smiling about but he said nothing and continued driving."What is it?" Rose asked curiously."Just work," Luis replied and rubbed her chin with his thumb gently before putting both hands on the steering."Okay," Rose replied and kept her eyes on the road.As soon as they got home, Luis kissed Rose on the cheeks and quickly proceeded to his basement. Rose immediately knew the notification; he received in the car was probably a lead on the investigation. Meaning he had found something on Mr Mingle. She smiled and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and after she started preparing some tea for Luis.In the basement, Luis turned on the light and put all his machines on."My babies, Dad needs you to do something really fun for him," Luis said while opening some apps on the machines and waiting for other machines to fully boot.He connected the headset to the machine and put it on. He pulled a se