OLIVER'S POV"Welcome back, sir." Martha was all smiles seeing me home."Thanks, Martha; I thought today was your day off?" I asked her, surprised to see her."It is, sir, but you have been away for a while. I thought I should help clean up the place before you get back. Besides, I know you have not been eating well since you traveled." I couldn't help but smile at her. Of course, Martha has always treated me like her son.She has been working for me for the past 10 years; we have grown so accustomed to each other that you would mistake her for my mom.She lost her husband and two kids a few years ago in an accident before she started working for me. She came to me broken in many pieces. I guess I would say we both healed each other."I'm fine, Martha, but I sure missed you." she chuckled. "Yeah, I know you did miss my cooking."I laughed hard. Don't blame me; the woman sure knows her way around the kitchen. "Did anyone come looking for me?""Anyone, yo
The images of Oliver and Arielle's mouths fused together kept bugging me; I couldn't shake it off, nor could I forget about it. Dean looked more confused than ever as he kept stealing glances at me.This was the very first time I decided to give love a chance, and this is what I got in return."Maybe I came too late," I thought. I couldn't help but blame myself for not recognizing my feelings all this time, but does he feel the same as I do? That was one thing I could not fathom; maybe he never felt anything so special for me."Charm, is everything alright?" Dean questioned me, but I was too bitter and hurt to even say a word; tears kept rolling down my cheeks freely. I tried a couple of times to stop crying, but I found myself crying even more.After waiting a few minutes for a response he realized I was not going to say a word, he took my hands and gave them a gentle squeeze."I'm here for you," he whispered to me, trying his best to console me.That was when I increased the volume
I lost every sense of reasoning. I kissed him recklessly, ignoring every warning. I tilted my head to the side while aiding him in the conquest. He groans as he snakes his hands around my waist. He pushes his tongue into my mouth, and I readily take it, welcoming him into my very core. He bit into my lips before soothing them.I could hear the sound of fireworks going off in my head as we both tugged at each other. It was everything I had dreamed of and more. When he lifted me off the ground and into his arms, I held the back of his neck tightly while still kissing him. He starts walking with me in his hands, securing me in his arms as he leads us into the apartment. He lowered me onto the couch, but our lips were inseparable, and we continued kissing each other like our very beings depended on it.He suddenly ripped his lips off mine, like he was bitten by something while panting. I couldn't tell why he was stopping, but stopping wasn't what I needed right now.I tried to grab him an
The rattling sound coming from the closet woke me up. I opened my eyes, and he wasn't lying down beside me anymore. I turned over to see his massive back facing me, and I lay back on the bed, pretending to be asleep while watching him from behind. He was just in his briefs, and believe me, he looked so ravishing."I must have been so blind all this while," I whispered to myself. I giggled a little but covered my face with the duvet, trying so hard not to make a sound.I just didn't know what he was searching for in my closet, but I loved exactly where he was standing. The view was intoxicating. I removed the cover to take a glance at him again."Boo!""Oh my goodness, Oliver!" I screamed. He cracked up, laughing so hard, He scared the shit out of me; how did he even know I was awake? I couldn't seem to hide anything from him; he leaned in and kissed my forehead."Good morning, sweety.""Good morning," I shyly said, pulling up the sheets covering my mouth while smiling."Someone is ha
OLIVER'S POV"Ma'am, please calm down." He tried calming Mom down, but she just won't have any of it till she knows her husband's state. I ain't blaming her either; I was kind of getting impatient already."Doctor, tell me, what is happening to my husband?" She asked, grabbing his white cloak.The doctor's face dropped immediately, and he gently held Mom's hands, trying to soothe her or something."I'm sorry, madam; we tried all we could, but we lost him," he said. His countenance fell almost immediately, and his brows went up in a furrow."Lost who?" My mom asked, looking from the doctor to me in a confused state."Son, what is he saying? Did he just say he lost your father?" She asked me amidst tears. I didn't know what to say; I just stood there watching as tears flooded her eyes in an instant. I felt tears slipping down my cheeks."No! No!! No!!! This can't be true!" She screamed as she fell to the floor, crying. I quickly held onto her while she le
"Mom, what fuck have you done this time around? And why does she think I am her fiance?""Language!" she barked at me."That young, sweet lady out there is a very successful girl with all the right connections you can think of.""What does that have to do with it?" I snapped at Mom."Everything Oliver! Every single thing! Your father and I had sealed this engagement with them long before he died," she screamed right back at me."Why was I not informed, for heaven's sake?"I yelled back at her without thinking for a split second."Son, this is for the family; we all have sacrifices we are bound to make for the growth of this family." She went on preaching."I don't even know what games you are playing, and I don't really care, Mom, but just so you know, this game you are playing will not work this time around." I snarled and made to work out on her."Ooh!" I heard Mom scream as she swerved back a bit while holding her head. I grabbed hold of her and gently made her sit down on the chai
How I made it home after I heard about Oliver's engagement to whoever that stupid lady was was still a mystery to me. My heart was broken into many tiny pieces, and I don't think there is any way to repair it. I slumped onto the couch, crying my eyes out, the minute I closed the door. I was angry at Oliver for not telling me he was engaged to some rich girl and for playing me for a fool. To think he lied about loving me made me cry even more."Is this what love is about?" I yelled out in pain, crying profusely.Tears flowed so freely as I blamed myself for not seeing the handwriting on the wall. I was so naive that I didn't read much meaning into his disappearance."How could I not see it?" I asked myself, confused."Dumb girl," I cursed, amidst tears. If only I wasn't carried away by my stupid fantasy, I would have seen every damn single thing so clearly.I spent the night crying till I dozed off.* * * * * *It has been days since the announcement, and I still can't convince myself
I forgot about work. I hurriedly prepared for work while he was on the bed admiring me. He occasionally smacks my buttocks, making me blush. I was honestly fighting the urge to hop right into bed with him again and create some sweet memories, but I just had to concentrate. Oliver has the knack of disorganizing me.I was done preparing and ready to leave."I'm done; we should go smarty.""Isn't your neck a little too naked?"I touched my neck and realized I wasn't wearing a necklace. I quickly pulled open my jewelry box and grabbed one. I was about to wear my necklace when he stood up from the bed, butt naked.I glanced at him from the mirror, and I felt a pool of wetness welling up in my core. He bent over, picked up his jacket from the floor, dipped his hands into the side pocket, and fished out something.He came closer to me; I could feel his length brushing against my shoulder. I was flushed, but I didn't move an inch as I stood looking at him in the mirror."I wanted to give you
I could swear I saw that guard standing behind me the day Ellen visited me; normally I shouldn't have recalled, but they scared the shit out of me."What is he doing here?" I asked myself, hurriedly walking into the building, hoping Ellen didn't send him here to kill me just because I called Oliver. I mean, that will be madness, but it isn't beneath her anyway."Hey," I heard a male voice yelling behind me, and I quickly increased my pace, almost running."Hey, stop," he kept yelling, but something was off about him; he wasn't yelling at the top of his voice; it was more like he didn't want to attract attention to himself.But I will be damned to stand around and find out what he wanted."Stop, I just want to talk," he said in a whispering tone.I stabbed the elevator button with my fingers, occasionally looking back to see if he had caught up with me.The elevator door pulled open, and I quickly ran inside, stabbing the button to close faster.The door was almost closed when he stuck
DEAN'S POVI haven't been myself ever since I left. I found it hard to go back ever since I left. I thought she had finally accepted me and made up her mind to forget about Oliver, but seeing how pale she was at the engagement party, I knew I stood no chance against Oliver. I was feeling guilty seeing how miserable she looked.I made up my mind after dropping her off at her apartment to leave the city for a while, but that was the dumbest idea ever. I should have stayed behind to fight for her love.I had known her for only a couple of months, but it just felt like I had known her like forever. I couldn't stand watching her pine for someone who would be married to someone else in a matter of weeks.I packed up my things and decided to leave. I came by her apartment to tell her about how I felt and my plans to leave.I stood at her door for hours contemplating my options, but I wasn't ready to learn the truth, so I decided to leave without telling her.I thought maybe it would give he
I haven't seen Oliver ever since the incident with Ellen; at first, I was pissed, hoping to see him and return the slap, but when I remembered he gave me a video of Carson trafficking young girls, I became scared for him.I worried that he must have told her those things because he was scared. But I couldn't bring myself to call him; the last thing I want is another visit, from Ellen. But anyway, I was kind of glad it wasn't Carson or Geoffrey; it wouldn't have gone after the slap, and maybe it would have been a bullet to my head.I was still lost in thought thinking about what best to do and how to go about it when I heard my phone ringing. I grabbed the phone from my desk, hoping to be done with the call before Tanner caught me.She is literally on my neck lately; I guess Geoffrey threatened the shit out of her when he came for Barker's file and she decided to take it out on me like she always did.One look at the caller ID, and I was pissed. I thought I made it clear that I didn't
I opened my mouth to say something, but it closed right back. He started from Oliver to me, then back to Oliver. I have no idea what was going through his mind, but I would give everything to find out."Hi, Dean, you're back," I blurted out, running my fingers through my hair."Yes, I came back a few days ago," his gaze was still on my hair. But then it hit me; did he just say he came back a few days ago; he couldn't call me since he came back."Maybe he lost his phone," I thought to myself."Oh, what are you doing here?" I asked him, hoping that would make him forget all about me."I have an appointment with Oliver," my gaze shifted to Oliver."Yeah, yeah, I forgot the brunch," he said, checking his time."What brunch?" I asked confused."Uh, the club is holding a brunch later today," Oliver explained."Oh," I spat out, taken aback.For the love of God, he had the time to attend a brunch but didn't bother seeing me after how we left things."I should go," I quickly said, turning to l
To think I was taking shit from the security guy to find out more about the shipment only for Oliver to hand it over to me on a platter without ass-licking anyone. I felt the urge to shove my foot down the security guy's throat but decided not to. I have always known that our system was dysfunctional, but I never imagined that our system was rotten to this extent.For heaven's sake, why would he traffic these little girls in a container halfway across the world? I could feel my blood boiling and my muscles cringing while watching the video.But one thing still baffles me: where do they all go? I mean, the girls. He gets the shipment every month; where does he keep these girls?It takes a lot of work and connection to keep this kind of deal off the police and the media raiders. I was lost in my world losing track of time. I looked up from the video I was watching to see Oliver dozing off with his head leaning on the window.I sighed, "He has gotten thinner." I whispered to myself; he
I was at the office going through the stupid case Tanner gave me; you know, some days I just hate my job more than you can imagine.How on earth am I stuck behind this desk learning about how cats mate, just to cover the news of two neighbors fighting because of their cats? When I should be covering better cases, I think Tanner is back to her usual self now.When I mean back, I mean back to torment me, because tell me what the heck is this?I was getting frustrated by the stupid case, and my throat was getting dry, I was about to get myself something to drink when someone pushed a cup of coffee to me.I stopped, staring at Kevin as he stood there smiling. "You look beautiful when you are working hard," he said, smiling. I was confused at first wondering what he was on about, then it hit me."He isn't hitting on me," I whispered to myself, staring like a moron while he was acting like he just handed me the world."I have lost my charm, I'm doomed," I murmured."Enjoy," he waved, smil
It's been one week since the incident at the office, but why the gray sedan was still on my ass beats me.It was more like a third leg following me everywhere. I was in the room one evening preparing to step out for a date. Yes, I know what you are thinking.I am not going to let any man tie my ass down, nor will I allow anyone to kill my dreams.That dream of living in wealth and affluence, I checked myself out in the mirror, and I was looking so good.I picked up my clutch and my phone to step out. But decided to take a final look at my date, to feed my eyes before I gaze on the real thing.Nick Barnes is one of the most talked about eligible bachelors in New York City. I heard he lost his father recently to a terrible accident, making him the sole heir of his father's fortunes.I feel so terrible, but it's great news. I mean, now is the perfect time for him to get married, and I heard he recently broke up with his girlfriend. Are you thinking what am thinking? You know what that m
"Hey, what just happened?" Malcolm asked, looking all worried. I was surprised to see him here of all places."What are you doing in this neighborhood?" I asked him." I came to see a friend, I was about to leave when I noticed what was happening," he explained."Are you okay? What was that about?" he queried. "Oh, it's nothing much; I just picked up a difficult case," I quickly said while trying not to mention anything concerning the Carson's. I don't want him running off to tell Oliver a thing. "Are you sure? That guy was about to stab you, Charm." "It's fine; I will be more careful from henceforth, and I will make an entry at the station," I said while I tried leaving. "Charm, I don't think it's a great idea to walk alone tonight; after that," he said, holding my hand and dragging me along. I didn't bother fighting because it didn't seem like I stood any chance. We drove home silently without saying a word. I noticed his concerned stares, every now and then, but I didn't say a
One look at the caller, and he quickly excused himself. I took a sneak peek at his phone, and it had Ellen as the caller. I wonder what I was expecting anyway. I waved him off and went downstairs after a few minutes to see Dean speaking to Oliver. I couldn't help but imagine what he could be telling Dean with all seriousness if not to warn him to stay away from me. "Hey, is everything okay?" I was beginning to get worried." Dean asked the minute I came over. "Sorry, I should have called; I ran into a friend and had a little catching up," I said. "Oh, ok," Oliver gave me a side eye, but I ignored it. I walked away from both men with the excuse of getting something to eat. I took a plate to dish out food from the feast right before me. "The puppy has a new owner now." I heard Mrs. Caine's voice from behind me, but I ignored her anyway. The last thing I want is another confrontation with her. "You should take more food, you poor thing; I don't think that would be enough," she chuc