PhillipThere I was, sitting in my car for like 9 minutes trying to get off the image of Rebecca’s beautiful face from my mind. I was startled when I saw her out so early, looking fresh and beautiful. I felt my heart squeeze, but I tried to keep my feelings from showing.My advice for her to start exercising was actually to make her feel bad. Treating her badly seemed to be the only way to kill what I was feeling for her. I hadn’t felt this way in years, actually, since I’d been with Jessica.Reminded of Jessica, I took out my cell and looked at the picture that had popped up on my phone days ago.I felt the same pain I always feel whenever I looked at it, but I couldn’t stop myself from looking, and had refused to delete it.I wanted to keep it as a reminder never to fall in love again."Stop being stupid,"
Becky's POVI slammed into my lodging, furious. I told myself I was annoyed because I was tired, and my heart ached because I was missing my mom and Wendy. It had nothing to do with seeing Phillip Dale making love to a beautiful woman in the hallway. I knew I was lying to myself.I had a very hot shower, hoping the hot water would burn the anger out of me. Then I changed into a sleeping gown, and began to comb my hair. My hair kept getting tangled in the stupid comb. Angrily, I threw it across the room. It hit the wall and I wished Phillip's head had been on that wall.Jealous! My mind mocked me.“No, I’m not,” I said aloud.Yes you are. You wish you were the one in his arms, but you’re not and will never be. Accept it! He doesn’t like you!I sighed sadly. I wondered how a day that had started so well was now ending so sadly.I went out, straight to Anna’s room after leaving Dom, and knocked gently on the door.“Come in, Rebecca dear.”I entered to see Anna sitting up in bed.“Good mo
Becky's POVI couldn’t sleep that night. I wondered how long the person had been there or if anyone had been there at all.Was it my imagination?By six am, I was dressed. I went outside to see if I could find any sign of who could have been watching me, but I didn’t find anything.I saw the woman Phillip had been with come out. I hid behind the tree and watched her walk through the gate. My heart squeezed remembering she had spent the night with Phillip."Remember you said you had forgotten about Phillip," I told myself.I went back in and made coffee, then sat by the window sipping it slowly while waiting for Phillip to leave. I didn’t want to risk running into him.He came out at exactly 8:00am. My heart beat quickened despite my resolve. I watched him head for the garage and minutes later he drove away.
Becky's POVI tried to hide my shock.“If I heard you clearly, Mr. Dale, I have done good work, but I can’t be retained. Why?”“You aren’t a good fit,” he explained.“Because you feel I am not strong enough?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.He sighed. “No, it’s not that. Look, you are good to my grandmother. I can see she really likes you, but she needs more care than you can give her,” he said.“What am I doing wrong?”“Nothing. But I would rather she was looked after by a professional. I have spoken with her and she also agrees. Don’t worry, your salary will be paid in full,” he said with finality.“When am I to leave?” I asked sadly, deciding not to argue further. It was clear he had already made up his mind.“Monday morning.”I nodded.“I meant to talk to you about Ms. Dale,” I began. “I think you should change her doctor.”He frowned. “Why?”I told him what had happened at the clinic.“Dr. Francis has no right to treat Gran that way,” he said furiously. “How long has this been going
Becky's POVI let out a sigh of frustration as I hit the redial button on my cell. I had been calling my mom since yesterday, but she hadn’t been picking up her calls, and now her number was not going through. I have not spoken to her since I left home. However, I spoke to Wendy every day, and she told me our mom was fine and promised she would call me, but she did not, and she also did not reply to all the messages I had been sending her on social media. Then yesterday evening I’d noticed something troubling. At first, I tried to tell myself it was a glitch in the network or something, but by this morning I could no longer pretend. My mom had blocked me on social media and from calling her. I was sitting in the hospital waiting room. Anna was inside with Dr. Matthews, her new doctor.Phillip had wasted no time in finding her a new hospital, an exclusive place that catered to the rich. Dr. Matthews was a lot kinder than Dr. Francis had been. He had gently asked me to wait in the waiti
Becky's POV.“What do you mean by leaving?” Phillip asked.“What I said. I am leaving the house,” Anna said.“But why?” Phillip asked. “What is wrong? Did something happen at the doctor’s place?”“Nothing happened at the doctor’s place. But I am not going to stay in that house if Rebecca isn’t.”Phillip’s jaw dropped. “Come on Gran-”“I am here to inform you that Rebecca and I have gone house hunting.” She lied. “Since you insist on her leaving, then I am going too.” “But Gran-"“No but. If she goes, I go too. I have already found us a house, and we leave on Monday.” “Gran, we discussed this. I have told you why."“And I am telling you what I’m going to do unless you change your mind. So you had better have a rethink.”Phillip glared at me. “Is this your idea?” He demanded.“It is my idea,” Anna said firmly. “I am not senile. I can make my own decisions. And I have made it. If Rebecca goes I go.”“Listen Gran-““My decision is final. Think about it and make yours.” She turned to me,
Celine's POV My dad had been calling me all morning, but I refused to pick up his calls. I knew what he wanted to say and was in no mood to hear it. He had given me no peace ever since I had met and started dating Phillip. Every time it was the same question."Has Phillip proposed yet?""No? Well, make him."As if it was possible to force a guy to marry you in this century. I sighed. I have tried every trick I know to get him to commit, but no way. The fact we were sleeping together hadn’t helped. I glanced at my watch.Lunchtime. I left my building and took a cab to his office, hoping to convince him to take me to lunch.“Mr. Dale isn’t seeing visitors,” his secretary told me, but I ignored her and barged into his office.“Hey babe, how about lunch? I asked smiling.He raised his head and my smile froze.“What are you doing here?” He demanded angrily. “I don’t remember inviting you over.”“I missed you. I was hoping we could go to lunch together.”“Look, Celine, our arrangement is
Becky’s PovI had just stepped out of the shower that morning, when there was a heavy knock on my door.“Coming!” I called.It came again, much louder. Either the person didn’t hear me, or they were just being annoying. I put on a robe and opened the door.Phillip came in. He was dressed in a dark suit and snow white shirt. He looked extremely handsome. The sight of him, and smell of his muscular cologne, took my breath away. Until I looked into his eyes, which were very unfriendly.“You have gotten what you wanted, haven’t you?” He said glaring at me.“Good morning, Mr. Dale,” I said sweetly. “Anything wrong?”He ignored me. “I don’t know what you did to my grandmother to get her so attached to you, but since she is, I have no choice but to let you stay.”“Thank you, Mr Dale. But I didn’t-““Don't thank me! Left to me, you would have been replaced with someone more competent.” I stared at him, trying to control my anger and desire at the same time. I wished he were ugly, so it would
Becky’s POVIt didn’t take long for the cop to find the key and get the chain off my leg. I felt a little dizzy when I tried to stand, but aside from that I was fine. The officer insisted on taking me to the hospital even though I told them I was okay. All I needed was a bath. Phillip rode with me in the ambulance while Celine and Frank were handcuffed and taken away.The doctors agreed I was okay except for the bruise on my ankle, I was told they would keep me for twenty-four hours then I could go home.“I will call Sandra, and the rest to let them know you are okay,” Phillip said as he kissed me.“Sure.”Finally, I was able to take a shower. I felt a lot better, but when I laid down, I couldn’t help being furious about the whole thing. How could Frank do such a thing? He said he loved me, was kidnapping me a funny way of showing it?Sandra and Jenny arrived so quickly I wondered if they had been in the area.They hugged me tightly, laughing and crying.“Thank God you are okay! What
Phillip’s POV“Frank! What the hell! Is this a joke?” Rebecca asked.I just stared at him, too lost to find my voice.“Does it look like a joke, Rebecca?” Frank sneered.“Frank, what are you doing?” I finally was able to mutter.“We are working together. Are you surprised?” Celine asked.“What? So Dom is working for you?” Rebecca asked in astonishment.“Sure. He has been my eye in the house from the day he was hired,” Frank smirked. “His job was to keep an eye on everyone there.”“Why?” I asked, stunned.“Are you asking, you idiot?” he laughed. “You really think I like you? You are dumber than I thought.”“We have been working together from the beginning. We knew each other before he introduced me to you, so it wasn’t so hard to come along,” Celine grinned.“So all the sabotage I have been having at the company, and the investors pulling out because of a false rumor, you were behind it?” I flared at Frank.“Yes. And I also told Jessica to dump you. I told her you were having an affair
Phillip’s POVIt was quite late when I got to the beach. Throughout the drive I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing. The kidnapper had phoned me on my way down and asked me to meet him there. He had told me to turn off my handset, and leave it in the car, warning me not to try anything stupid. The way he spoke, I guessed he was somehow observing me. And on my way down I had a feeling that there was someone coming behind me. I pulled up in front of the rundown abandoned building on the edge of the beach that had once been a warehouse. I did everything I was told and stepped out of the car. The air was cold and damp. I could hear the waves and my heart raced as I walked towards the building. I touched an old wooden door and it opened. It was dark inside, but the moonlight streamed in. Everywhere was quiet.“Hello!” I called out. The empty building echoed back at me.“Anyone here? Rebecca?”“Put your hands behind you!” A voice said quietly behind me.My heart skipped, but I o
Becky’s POV“It has been awhile hasn’t it?” Celine sneered.“So you are behind this? You are working with Dom! I guessed it.”“I am not the only one, stupid.” She laughed.“Who else? Your dad, right?”“You don’t need to know. Did you really think you and Phillip would get away with what you did to my family?”“We didn’t do anything!” I said angrily. “He did. My dad lost his company and reputation because of him! Now it is time for payback.”“You won’t get away with this, Celine!” “Save it! We already have. We are going to get money and get rid of you both.”I swallowed nervously.“What do you mean?” I demanded.“Simple, stupid. We are going to get ransom for you, then make sure you are never seen again. Are you scared?” She asked mockingly.“It won’t work. Phillip has probably informed the security agencies. If you kill me, you will regret it,” I said bravely.“He hasn’t, and he won’t. Besides who said anything about killing you? Although I would have preferred that, my partner has
Phillip’s POVSandra and Jenny looked at me anxiously as I hung up.“Well?” They asked.“The caller is asking for two hundred million dollars.” Sandra gasped. “When does he want it?” She muttered.“In five days.”“I will pay for it.”“Do you have that much money aunt Sandy? Your company may collapse,” Jenny told her.“I don’t mind,” she said. “Okay, I will pay half. Can you make up for the rest, Phillip?”“Wait, you want us to pay the ransom?” I asked, surprised.“Of course,” they chorused.“No. We are not paying any ransom. I will call the police.”“No! The kidnapper warned you not to, remember?” Jenny said.Sandra joined her. “She is right. We will keep it quiet, pay the ransom and Rebecca will be returned to us.” “Come on you two, you can’t really believe that? What if he gets the money and we never hear from him or Rebecca again?”“It is a risk we have to take,” Jenny said.“I prefer to risk going to the police,” I insisted.“No. Pay the money. It is the only way to get her bac
Becky’s POVI groaned and twisted as light infiltrated into my eyes. My eyes still felt heavy and that arrogant fragrance was still hovering over my nose.I thought I was at home and was drifting off to sleep again when I heard a cellphone ringing somewhere. The ringtone sounded like mine. I forced myself to open my eyes, and realized with a shock that I wasn’t on my bed at home.Quickly sitting up, my head spun a bit, and realization hit me that I was on an airbed. I looked around and noticed how small and dusty the room was. The only thing visible being the airbed and a portable toilet. Light streamed in from a glass window that had metal bars.Where am I? I thought.I scanned through my brain to recollect my past. Then I remembered. I was at the cemetery, about to leave when I saw Dom standing near my car. I remembered the hankie he tossed before me before I went blank.My heart skipped a beat. Did Dom kidnap me? Why? For money or something more? I tried to stand up, but I felt a p
Phillip’s POV“Enough Wendy! Go to your room!” Her mother snapped.Wendy frowned. “If you know where she is, mom, you should say it. If anything happens to her, you will be held accountable.” She marched to her room.“You see what you have caused! Now my own daughter thinks I am guilty!” She told me angrily.“Are you?” I asked, looking her in the eye.“Don’t be stupid, of course not. I didn’t know she was missing until Wendy started accusing me this afternoon. She was here yesterday and left the way she came.”“So where were you hoping to get the half a million from?”“Like I said, from Rebecca. She promised to give it to me.”I frowned. This was definitely a lie.“She couldn’t have,” I said. “I have looked at the financial records, with the way you left the company, if she took that much money out she risked going bankrupt. So how was she going to do it?”She looked surprised then uncomfortable.“Well maybe from her savings.”“Definitely no. She hasn’t saved up to that.”“I said mayb
Phillip’s POVAn officer stood there. The look on his face caused my heart to sink.“Good evening, Sir, I am asking for Rebecca Richards,” he said.“She is not here. Is anything wrong?”“We found her car parked at the cemetery. We would like her to come and remove it.”“The cemetery. Oh my God!” Sandra said, coming to join us. “She is not with us; we guess she must be in trouble.”“Have you made a report?” The cop asked.“No. I wanted to wait for twenty-four hours. But I will go now and do it,” I responded.I went straight ahead with the cop to remove the vehicle. The car keys, her phone, and her purse were on the driver’s seat.It became glaring that something was definitely wrong. ***“Jerry has something to do with this!” Jenny insisted.We were all in my living room. After I left the station, I went home and let Sandra know what had happened, then I called Frank and Jenny to inform them too. They didn’t waste time to show up in the mansion.After we all agreed that Rebecca may ha
Phillip’s POVFrank was sitting at a table eating lunch when I got to the restaurant.“I thought you guys had changed your minds and weren’t coming. I decided to order lunch for myself and have a lonely meal,” he complained.“Sorry, I got caught up in an emergency meeting,” I said, joining him.“On Saturday?”“Like I said, it's an emergency.”“Is everything okay now?”“Yeah. I have it under control.”“Why weren’t you picking your calls?” He asked.“You called me? I didn’t hear it. I turned off the volume. Is Rebecca not here?”“No. I called her too, but she did not pick up. She must be at work.”“No. She is taking time off work to prepare for our wedding.”“Really?”“Yes. I thought she would be here, that's why I didn’t hurry so much.”“Nope. I haven’t seen any sign of her. I have been calling her all afternoon,” Frank told me.I dialed her number. It rang without an answer.“She is supposed to meet Jenny this afternoon to pick up her gown. I guess that is where she is. She must have