MAURICE'S POV"Wife! You got married!" Lucy jerked away from my lap as she processed the information I just dropped on her.I gave her a look that she understood very well. She got a hold of herself and kept her mouth shut.I turned to Glenda and dismissed the poor girl. She wasn't supposed to have seen any of this. At least, not now. It would not help any of my plans."What do you mean by your wife!" Lucy snapped immediately when the doors to the study clicked shut."You heard right," I replied noncommittally as I tried to get to work. There were files lined on my table that needed my attention."Who is she?" Lucy demanded.I ignored her and picked up a file. I began to read through, trying to determine what needed my approval on that particular file.The file suddenly disappeared from my grasp as Lucy angrily yanked it away. I sighed in irritation.I raised my head to her and she was glaring at me. Women. I muttered under my breath.I was in no mood to deal with Lucy's tantrums righ
GLENDA'S POVI tried to get a hold of myself after the encounter in Maurice's office. The events I had witnessed made my stomach churn with disgust.I reminded myself that I was nothing to him. Of course, he could behave however he deemed fit. But what I didn't understand was why he married me if he already had a mistress, someone who warmed his bed. What use was I to him?This thought consumed me as I approached the foot of the stairs to head for my room. That room was the only haven for me in this house. It was the only place I could fit in and I was grateful for it."Ma'am?"I heard someone call out behind me. I spun around to see Nora, the maid curtsied behind me.I didn't think she was referring to me. I was not used to getting respect from anyone. Not even the maids at my father's house. Aunt Helena ensured that I was nothing before the maids and stripped me of any respect they may have had for me.I kept looking at Nora who had her head slightly bowed, unsure how to respond to
GLENDA'S POV"Brian, you're up. Nice of you to join us. " Nana turned to the entrance and greeted him with a warm smile. After he had regained composure from the surprise at finding me sitting with Nana, he spoke. "Nana please, where are the boxes in my room?" Brian was speaking to Nana but his gaze settled menacingly on me. Like me, I guess he was finding it hard getting used to all this, seeing me here."We moved them to the basement for more room. I'll just get Nora to get them for you." Nana grunted as she struggled to get up from her seat."I'll go get Nora for you." I offered, standing from my seat, seeing how the old woman was finding it hard to stand up. "It's fine my dear. These old bones need some exercise and I have been sitting for too long already." Nana replied motioning for me to sit back.I looked at Nana and hoped she understood my silent plea. I didn't want to be left in the same room with Brian. After last night's encounter, I didn't know what to expect from him n
GLENDA'S POV"You still have the old bad habit of listening in on people's conversation, don't you?" Brian sneered at Lucy who stood with arms at akimbo by the large entrance waiting for a reply to her question. I wondered just how much of our conversation she had heard."And you are still as rude as ever!" Lucy snapped back at him."Are you done licking my father's ass? You are lapsing on your job." Brian returned."And what is that supposed to mean?" Lucy glared at him. Her arms daringly crossed over her chest."I expected you to understand. You are a smart bimbo, aren't you?" Brian replied flatly and the sarcasm in his voice was evident.I quietly took my seat as I watched the two spit words of fire at each other. I didn't like the unwelcome intrusion, but it shifted Brian's rage away from me and that was something I was grateful for."I see you're spending time with your father's new wife. What's the catch? Getting to know your new mommy?" Lucy said. Her gaze was now resting on me
MAURICE'S POV "Dinner is ready sir." Nora announced, making me raise my head from the file I was so engrossed in. I nodded and dismissed her. I dropped the file on the table a few minutes after Nora left and headed for the dining room. I was famished as I had not had anything to eat all day. There's been so much going on at the office that needed my attention. Thankfully, I've been gradually able to tick them off the list. If I could wrap it up, then I could give more attention to Glenda and then work on getting her shares. I reached the dining room in time. Nana and Lucy were already seated, waiting for me. Nora began serving dinner as soon as I gave my consent. The aroma tingled my nose coupled with the fact that I was hungry. Just as I thought, the food was exquisite. I had just filled my mouth with another morsel when I noticed the empty seat by my left. "Where is Glenda?" I asked. "She's up in her room sir." Nora replied as she was making rounds dishing Nana's food
GLENDA'S POV My nose flared in anger as I watched Maurice's back move further and further away from me.I was so mad that I wanted to run after him, jump on him, and claw at his face, digging my fingers painfully into his eyes.The man was a bone in my throat, bossing me around like I was his secretary. Why wouldn't he just leave me alone?I was most certain he didn't like the fact that I questioned him. I didn't even know where I got the courage to do that. I was getting fed up with everyone taunting and degrading me in this house. Brian has been the biggest pain in my ass since I moved in here. Now, it wasn't just Brian I had to deal with. There was Lucy who was constantly breathing on my neck, reminding me how much of a misfit I was here.All these fuel my decision to remain in my room. To hide from all of them and maybe that way, I could get a measure of peace. But who was I kidding? When did I ever get what I wanted?I gaze at the door, missing and yearning for its enclosed com
MAURICE'S POVI lazily blinked open my eyes. The need for more sleep consumed me. My whole body felt alienated from my being. I stirred tiredly and blinked repeatedly as I tried to fight the sleep.Why did I feel so exhausted? My mind was gradually waking up but my body seemed to demand more rest. I forcefully raised my arm to my forehead, in an attempt to soothe the splitting ache I felt. I felt unusually tired.I struggled and kept my eyes open for longer and observed my surroundings. My eyes shot wide as the sleep cleared almost immediately. This was not my room.I tried to sit up, but I felt restricted. I looked down and that was when I noticed the slender arm wrapped around my bare chest. I smiled. "Lucy and her clinginess." I muttered to myself. Still feeling drowsy, I placed a hand on her back and began to stroke her back as I drifted off to sleep again.I was awakened a second time, when Lucy stirred. "Trying to escape from me?" I caught her and held her closer to me. It was
GLENDA'S POVI slammed the door hard and sat on the floor beside the bed dejectedly. Hugging and rocking myself, I cried bitterly. The pain in my chest was excruciating. Maurice's words echo in my head. 'A means to an end.' That was all I was to him. That's all I'll ever be.I didn't know if I could take solace in the fact that he at least found me useful to him or the fact that he saw me as only an object to be used.As I drowned in my sorrow and pain, I heard the soft knock on the door accompanied with Nana's small voice."Glenda." She called. Sincere concern bathed her voice. I peeled my eyes to the closed door. I would have loved to remain locked up in this room. Locked in here forever, away from everyone until life would slip away from me."Glenda open the door, please dear." Her soft plea waved my resolve.With trembling legs, I moved to the door and pulled down the bolt. I peeked at the small open space between the doors to ensure Nana was alone."It's just me." Nana answered
GLENDA'S POV I didn't want to accept how foolish I had been. How gullible I was. How blindingly trusting I was. “Elsa, please tell me this is all not true. Tell me this is all a prank. Say it. Laugh all this off… Say you're joking!” I yelled at her. I shook my head as though doing that would dispel everything that I had heard. “You are a liar! I don't believe you!” I broke into a sob. “I trusted you, Elsa. I loved you! I trusted you!... You were my sister! That's how much I cherished you.” I spilled through my teary, pain-filled voice. “And I hate you! I hate you Glenda! I hate you!” She countered, panting with dark rage. The room was filled with the heat of the hate emanating from her. The stench of her loath towards me was palpable in the ambience of the room. It felt so surreal. Like acting out a scene with the evil villain. Only, this was far from a dream or a movie. It was my sick reality. I could never have thought Elsa, whom I considered akin to my sister, harbored su
MAURICE POV It was a long drive. It had been two hours ago since Lucy agreed to take me to the place she talked about, yet we still hadn't reached. We kept taking neverending turns and corners. “Are we there yet?” I asked like an impatient child eager to reach the park sooner. “No. It's right up that corner.” Lucy replied. “How many more corners are we going to take?” Exasperation embellished my tone. “How did you even come to know about this place?” I asked out of my impatience and eagerness to quickly reach Glenda. The long hours of driving was beginning to make me rethink my decision. I couldn't help but begin to consider that this may be a ploy to distract me. “Um, he brought me here one time when we needed to talk privately. This is his hideout.” she spoke shyly. From the sound of her voice and the expression on her face, I understood that this was where they came to do all their plotting. Could Brian and Lucy still be working together? Could this also be one of
BRIAN'S POVI repeatedly slapped the passport against my palm, relishing in immense satisfaction as I walked to my car. It had taken longer than I had anticipated to get it done but I was finally holding it. My ticket to leave this place without being spotted by anyone.Best part, I was taking the woman I love along. Everything was falling into place. I smiled to myself as I got in my car. Aunt Helena had no idea how smart I could be. By the time she'll realize anything, we'd be long gone. Far long gone! To a place where no one can ever find us! Our disappearance would be a huge disappointment to Aunt Helena. It would put a big hole in her plans.As I sat in my car, my hand rested idling on the steering wheel. I gaze through the windshield, staring fixated at nothing ahead, my mind traveling back to that day at the hospital.★★★Flash back★★★“I've lost him.” She was crying profusely. “We failed.”I glanced over to Lucy curled on the gurney, an irritated look draped my expression.
GLENDA'S POV “Don't you want to hear my story?” She asked, pouting her lips, feigning childish annoyance. I was finding it difficult to understand everything going on. I had never seen this side of Elsa. She looked like some deranged psychopath. “Elsa. What…” I could barely formulate my thoughts into words before a forceful, painful sting shot through me. The electric sensation began from the cheek of my face, spreading pain, surprise and fear through my body. I stared at Elsa in utter disbelief. Did she… Did she just slap me? “You don't get to ask the questions.” She commanded in an icy tone. “Now, back to the story.” The iciness in her voice disappeared almost immediately as it had appeared. She was acting like a person with multiple personalities. I stared at her speechlessly, still reeling from the pain of the slap she had given me. She cleared her throat and began. “There was a beautiful woman who fell in love with a man. But sadly, the man did not return the woman’s love
MAURICE'S POV I walked back into the house taking quick long angry strides heading back to my study. My face contoured into a growl as I muttered angrily to myself.“Did they find her?” A voice asked.I stopped and turned. I hadn't noticed the presence of anyone seated in the living room. Nora materialized before me. “Has she been found?” She asked again. Worry and anticipation embellished her expression.The eagerness in her gaze only added to my fury. It was a stupid lead. A total waste of my time. Utterly pointless!There was no trace of Glenda where they had thought they had a lead. I wondered what their team was doing as regards to this case. Absolutely nothing! And my infuriation was growing with each passing time.I averted her gaze. I was too pissed to break the bad news to her. I scanned the area of the living room and then set my gaze on Lucy.“Why are you still here?” I interrogated her icily.She seemed to cower under my demeaning stare.“I was concerned.” Her voice was
GLENDA'S POV She came closer and sat beside me, darting her head behind her constantly as though checking if she was being followed. “I knew I'd find you here.” She whispered. Her alert gaze roved around the room. Oh thank Goodness! Finally someone was here to help me. “Elsa… Elsa.” I called out weakly, a tinge of excitement and hope adorned my gruff voice. “Elsa. Brian. Please get me out of here.” I mumbled. “I know.” She whispered in response and placed her right index finger over her lips. “Keep it down.” She darted behind her again. I immediately understood. We needed to stay quiet so we didn't alert my captor. I nodded vigorously to the best of meager strength. “Don't worry, I'll get you out of here.” She reassured me and tried to help me sit up. “You're weak.” She commented. She struggled to lift my limp body. It didn't help that I couldn't assist her by at least raising myself. Whatever Brian had been feeding me was still working actively inside me. “He has been feedi
MAURICE'S POVI took the next available flight back to London. All the while keeping constant communication with Nora regarding Glenda's return.I could feel it in my guts that Glenda was in trouble. It was confirmed when I returned late that night and Glenda was still nowhere to be found.There was no trace of her except for the blood that stained the vanity table and the telltale of someone being dragged on the floor.Incompetent staffs! How could someone enter the house without being noticed? Were they all asleep?I wasted no time informing the police. The evidence present, all pointed to the fact that Glenda has been kidnapped and investigations kicked off immediately.That was three days ago. Three days since the investigation to determine Glenda's whereabouts began and three days of no result.No one knew how she left the house. No one had seen her and no one knew who had abducted her. It was all too mysterious.So chaotic that it turned me into a frantic mess. Not knowing the
GLENDA'S POV A loud thumping sound woke me from the darkness I was floating in. It seemed to grow louder, increasing in its disturbing volume. I felt dizzy, hazy, like a clouded mist. I tried to move but my limbs felt too heavy to comply. Slowly, I fluttered my eyelids open. I was welcomed by a dim yellow light shining brightly beside me. I shut back my eyes. My head was aching badly. I tried to move again, propel myself and access my environment, but the aching weight in my head kept pulling me down. I shut my eyes and cursed at my failed attempt. I opened my eyes again and squinted past the yellow light to look around my environment. My eyes roved over the strange and unfamiliar setting. This was not my room. Where was I? How did I get here? The throbbing pain in my head increased as I tried to remember. Such a simple task brought me such intense pain. After a minute of trying, the memories came flooding into my mind. The bathroom. The feeling that I was being watched. The fe
MAURICE'S POV“What do you mean by you can't find Glenda? Isn't she at home?” My cold voice shot at Nora.I had just checked into my hotel room and was calling to inform Glenda. Her phone had been ringing non-stop with no response. I did try calling her earlier too when my flight landed but there was no response either. I assumed she must have been napping or up to something that kept her busy.Regardless, I expected her to be with her phone and to return my call at the earliest. I took some time to get myself settled and tried calling her again.Feeling frustrated after several attempts of being unable to reach Glenda, I called the house line only for Nora to tell me that Glenda wasn't home.“I just came from her room. She asked me to make dinner and that she'll come down to have it. That was four hours ago. The food was getting cold, so I went upstairs to inquire from her if she had changed her mind regarding dinner. But she wasn't there.” Nora explained over the phone.I found her