- LORELEI -Think about being an ass. I huffed, while curling my hair. Every single time I think about last night, my skin irks me. I was so dumb doing that but what could he possibly want me to think and do? I scoffed while focusing on my hair in the mirror. Claire helped me loosen the previous style but that's all I needed her for. Now, I'm trying to do my wavy wolf cut on my own. Without using scissors on my hair. When someone is broke for a long time, the person learns how to do certain things on their own to cut costs and survive. Learning how to sew and hairdressing so I can style both mom's and my hair while make clothes for us came in handy. At least, it was worth it despite the amount of times my fingers hurt from all the work. A sigh escaped my lips. The blank cheque is still with me. I still don't know what to do with it. I don't know how many figures to put there. I mean, it would be easier to know if I have the recent boo
- ACE -"Did she receive it?" I ask Marco over the phone. "Yes sir, I handed it to her as you wanted." He responds. I am sat comfortably in the back seat of my mercedes, heading somewhere. I stared at the front mirror then at my driver and sighed. Despite not caring, I'm itching to know her reaction to it. "What did she do?" I ask subtly, keeping my eyes out the window. The tinted glass windows makes it easier to look outside despite the sun rays. "The usual way, sir. Uninterested and disturbed." Marco said. I don't know why but hearing this made my lips form a line. Not because I'm dissatisfied but because I feel at ease. Why I feel at ease is something I don't understand. "That's good. Get the dress to her before noon so she prepares for the event. I don't want any runaway wife again." I said to Marco. I was silent for a while despite being on the call. My mind went back to Richard. "Have the package handed to Lorelei through Claire.""Understood." Richard said. This formal tone
- LORELEI -I had fun today. My body dropped on my bed with my arms spread to both sides as I faced the ceiling with a smile. I'm in my room. My phone has every single thing my old one has, my details included so there wasn't anything to restore. The bank was well compliant with my withdrawal. I want to deny it... but it felt nice not to be Lorelei Stanley for a day. It felt really good to be Lorelei Salvatore. As much as I hate to be, the name carries a lot of power and fear. Not to talk of the twenty four hour service of protection I have. Ability to buy new expensive clothes and ride in comfortable cars instead of my bicycle or strolling. To get perfumes and have a good massage. Of course I am careful enough not to spend so much on luxurious things because I always remember where I'm from but it felt nice to be free. To be noticed and treated right. What didn't feel nice is the fact that I couldn't meet my friends because apparentl
- LORELEI - It's a masked ball. In the back seat of the car with Ace by my side, my head is directed straight. I'm wearing his stupid gown and painfully pretty shoes. I'll be sure to shove them up his ass once we return back to his home. Ace hasn't said a word to me since then and trust me when I say that it has been the most enjoyable few minutes of my life since he waltzed into his door and acted like he owns the place. Technically, he does. He owns everything I'm wearing. Even the place I live. My heartbeat quickened. I really hope he wasn't alerted by his agents about my purchase of the house. It'll mean trouble. If he hasn't already caused trouble. The car came to a halt. "We're here." The driver said before getting out of the car. The door where Ace is sat opens and Ace gets out. I sat still in the car, waiting for no actual reason. After today, I realised I'm not allowed to even touch the door handle of the cars I st
- ACE - "Keep an eye on Lorelei." I said to Marco an hour ago. I don't know how that's going because as far as I can see from the VIP table amidst my discussion with my investors, Lorelei has been acting out. She's drinking so much and flirting with every single man in sight. That has me on a choke hold because I'm torn between dishing this event and taking her with me or just bearing her attitude. Is this her way of protesting? What the fuck is this? My palm rummaged over my face and pinched my temples. The fact that I have to put on a smile in front of my investors makes this unsettling. Right now, because of her, I can't even concentrate. Hell, I don't even know what they're saying. I groaned, tapping my foot impatiently on the ground, underneath the table. The round table is covered with a thick red table sheet and my feet is hidden underneath. "Well, if the stakes are this high, I don't see a reason why I should invest. At this rate, we'll have more losses than profit. It's
- LORELEI -One may think drugging him there was the worst move and I just unleashed a beast but I don't care. No one treats me that way and gets away with it, no matter who the person is, I won't accept it. Even if it means more verbal abuse to ruin my mental state? My throat creased as that thought played in my mind. Even if that's what it takes. I answered myself. It's not something I'm not used to anyway. Even if it means something bad happening to your mother? I stepped harder on the pedal and watched the numbers on the speedometer rise. I barely know how to drive but giving this car a few crashes is me being nice after what he has done to me. And about mom, it's something I'm taking care of. Nothing bad will happen to her. At least not because of me. But first, I need to pay that asshole of a father and his gold digging wife a visit. I need them to know I'm not the woman I used to be and I can ruin him. Well, I can't but Ace can. I've seen it with my own eyes how much power h
- LORELEI - A groan slid out of my mouth as I try to move. My body is upside down and my head feels heavy yet light due to the pain I feel all around my body and the blood rushing to my head. A croak escape my lips. I can barely see anything but something is squashing me from the front and back making it hard for me to breathe. Rough short breaths force its way out of my lips accompanied with a sharp pain in my chest with every breath. Am I alive or is this death? I ask myself, wishing my body is more numb than going through this agony. This is torture. How compressed I am in the car is more excruciating than uncomfortable. I can feel every sting from every inch of my body like a million broken glass pieces are plunged into my skin all at once and my body is on fire, burning from within. My vision is blurred so I closed my eyes gently and slowly flicked my eyelids up, because even that movement is painful, trying to see again. I think my blood is rolling down my face to my eyes be
- ACE - The effects have died down. I can function properly without dizziness and my mind is stable. It's day break and I've been up for hours but there has been no sign of Lorelei. It's Saturday and it is difficult to do anything knowing she's out there somewhere with someone I may or may not know. My fingers massage my temples as I stare at my phone which is laying on my bed by my side. I have dialed and dialed so many times but I've gotten no response. At this point, I can't tell if she's avoiding me and declining my calls on purpose or not. I can't tell if she tried another run away. I exhaled, trying to think. She can't get away from me. Not yet. Maybe she's partying somewhere else. Today is Saturday after all and it's not like she has a lot to do. Her pharmacy has been destroyed and she's not working at the moment. That must kill her. She probably just used the ball as an excuse to clear her head and be as far away from me as possible. A grin formed on my face. I love diffi
- ACE - Three. I counted in my head, with my head bowed down and my forehead resting in front of my intertwined fingers. My elbow is leaning on the table and my arm comes together, forming an angle on the surface of the table. I exhaled. Two. I can feel my heart beat slowly and hear the sound of each beat so loudly in my ears. In one second, the percentage of the votes deciding the fate of my company will be revealed. One. My eyelids slid open as I mutter a silent prayer, raising my head up to see above my fingers and stare at the large screen. I'm in a meeting. Every year, in the middle of June, a meeting is held amongst the co-owners of the Salvatore family enterprises. Despite my influence in the outside world, when it comes down to it, I have to share the company with my relatives. I hate it but I have no choice. For now. I've successfully bought 35% of their shares, added to mine, it gives me 45% meaning I'm still at a disadvantage but my relatives don't know that. They do
- LORELEI -Isabel didn't say anything to me since then. We walked to the car silently, and now, we're even on the road and haven't said a single word to each other since. Although she tried to come off as calm, I can tell that she's tensed. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, tapping my fingers on my thighs. I'm sat in the passenger seat and a seat belt is firm around me. I thought that after my accident, I wouldn't drive a car again or get in one, and even if, I'll be in the back seat with a lot of padding for security but I guess I was wrong. That was just the fear speaking. My car fever vanished the moment I saw Isabel's car. She is smoking rich. At least her car says so. I wonder if she's independent and if she is, I wonder how she got here. It's something I'd love to talk about being a jobless woman myself but we never got to talk. I think I ruined our chances the moment I asked about Catherine but her reaction to my question doesn't
- LORELEI -I gasp a whole lot of air through my nostrils as I stare out the window. The time has come for me to stop putting on this hospital wear and stop eating hospital food, and not having several drips and drugs and casts all over my body. I can finally walk and move without any body ache. I have heard about people with broken bones before but I never thought I'd be one of them. An advice? Avoid anything that'll lead to injuries, despite the adrenaline rush. I learnt that the hard way, although my situation was different. A smile formed on my face. I'm tempted to run around the hospital and scream 'FUCK YOU BITCHES, I'M OUT OF HERE!' while holding my middle finger up high to everyone I pass by, be it nurse, other staff members, patients and visitors but I'm too mature for that. Or not. I took another deep breath of the fresh air. This time, I stretch my arms out the window. I'm enjoying the being healthy already! I'll finally be rid of the hospital smell. A fresh scent fill
- ACE - My brows creased as I slowly drifted my eyes open. The room is warm and the air is moisturised. I spread my fingers and let it sink into the sheet. I'm laying on something soft. It didn't take me a second to realise that I'm on a bed. Someone squeezed water out of something. I didn't have time to look at who it is before a damp cloth made it's way to my face, wiping my face before laying on my forehead. I grabbed the wrist of the person holding the cloth before the person could take their hands off my face. A soft gasp escaped her lips. "You're awake." Hearing her voice made my heart feel at ease. "You're here." I responded. Isabel took her hands out of my grip. I couldn't see what she was doing because I'm laying down flat with my face facing the ceiling but I heard water splashes. Another cloth rested on my chest. She wiped me gently. I hissed because of how cold it feels on my skin. "What happened to me?" "I don't know. You had already fainted before I arrived. I just c
- ACE -The line went dead, again. I sigh as I rang her phone again. I'm alone again. Desperately in need for a hug or some sort of comfort but there's no one here. I fold my hand on the table and lean my head on my arm. It will be easy to bring a random woman from anywhere if I wanted to but that's not what I want right now. I want to be with someone that I know. Someone who actually cares about me. Not a slut or anyone else. "The number you dialed, is unreachable at the moment. You can leave a voice message at the end of this ring. It comes with charges. If you wish to stop, end the call now, but if you wish to proceed, please leave a message after this beep." I sigh as the automatic response played, waiting for the beep. I finally heard it and groaned. "Isabel, please, call me. I know you're mad at me and I know I am not worthy to call you right now or request anything. I want you to know I'm really sorry. I hate myself for doing that. Please forgive me. If you're listening to t
- LORELEI -"Yeah, sure. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." I roll my eyes and remove my head from his fingers. Miss you my foot. "And stop touching my face like you own it." I sneered. "My skin care routine is expensive." I murmured under my breath, keeping my tone low, hoping he wouldn't hear that. "Skin care?" Ace scoffed and I roll my eyes. "I can buy all your favourite brands for you." That made my heart beat faster. My eyes widened and I didn't know it did till they felt sore, that's when I blinked and eased the tension off my eyes. This man is the definition of proud, no wonder he has acquaintances who hate him. My jaw tightened. No wonder people like Catherine waltz into my room, hoping for a dead wife because she obviously wants Ace to experience misery. I sigh and rest my back back on the pillows resting at the start of my bed. I snickered. "Yeah, buy earth too. It'll add a touch to your prideful ass." I joked. My response was not necessary but how much can I stress
- LORELEI - Sun rays reflected on my closed eyelids, causing my brows to crease. I specifically requested that the curtains be shut when I'm having an afternoon nap but I guess some people just choose to be deaf. I groaned. "Please shut the windows." I say sleepily, turning to the other side. Although now rays aren't blaring straight on my face, I can feel the heat on my body. It must be terribly hot outside. I heard footsteps. I really don't want to stand up and do it myself nor do I want to open my eyes and chase the sleep away. "Jackie?" I yawn. "Please shut the curtains. It makes me uncomfortable." I heard the sound of shoes hit the ground and I assumed she did as I requested till everywhere was silent and my back was still frying because of this thin hospital clothing! I should've known better than to ask whoever that is. The person just walked away like I was insignificant!I drew my bed cover over my back to my neck. I'm hot but it's better than getting fried. I need some ai
- ACE -My greatest fear was satisfied by going to the station. Whoever attacked Lorelei that night was sent to attack me but the police couldn't decode who it was. There were no finger prints in the scene and someone or more people, managed to burn my car at the scene into ashes despite all their safety measures to stop that. The only thing that was left unscathed from the scene are the things they retrieved the night they found Lorelei and brought them for investigation but they have found nothing from it. Nothing at all. I find the wait as a waste of time because nothing came out of it. This shit took them two weeks? The timing was very convenient or I'd have lost it. I sighed, tilting my head to the side to stare at the zip plug bag on the seat of my car containing the letter. I haven't read it yet but I will once I get out of this car. And I don't know when that'll be. Another sigh escape my lips as I lean my head on the chair of my car deep in thought. I don't know what to d
- LORELEI -I grit my teeth for the tenth time tonight. Who knew being alone on a hospital bed with nothing to do but watch movies and snack could be so boring? It's supposed to be the dream for an adult. I mean, I have money without even working and everyone here acts like if I sneeze, the whole world will collapse. I giggle. This will change when they realise that my husband and I aren't the perfect couple the media sees us to be and they have a chance to seduce him. If he gets interested in them, that is. A second wife wouldn't be such a bad thing, she can keep annoying or entertaining him while I do whatever the fuck I want. My jaw tightened. For a reason, that doesn't sit right with me. I don't think I want there to be a second wife. Not because I want him for myself, but because I don't want to be my mother 2.0. In a respectful way of course. Someone walks in and I avert my gaze to the door. I expected to see Ace and that stylist of his but it's Jackie, the nurse. I roll my