GLENDA'S POVMy silly game backfired when I saw Maurice walk out of the bathroom in all his naked glory.I gasped. "What are you doing!" I jerked up, shut my eyes and turned my back to him desperately trying to erase the image of Maurice I had just seen from my memory."Why would you get out naked!" I was yelling at the top of my voice, unable to believe Maurice would take my threats literally."You asked me to get the towel myself."From the sound of his voice, I could sense that he was smiling, even grinning.Damn! I should have known better than to threaten Maurice in that manner and I was deeply regretting my decision."Are you going to just stand there? Cover yourself up!" I bellowed when I didn't hear him move from where he stood."The towel is beside you." There was amusement in his voice. I looked around and found out I had kept the towel at the foot of the bed. It was in my rush to get dressed before Maurice got out of the bathroom. Now I wondered which was better. Him see
MAURICE'S POVThe awe that shone in Glenda's eyes was even more satisfying than the first time I witnessed the Aurora borealis from this same spot. It was one of the beautiful secrets about the location of this house and the angel of this room.She couldn't peeled her gaze away from the colors dancing about in the night skies and I couldn't peeled my eyes away from her.Her genuine appreciation for this beautiful natural phenomenon was breathtaking. I had to admit to myself that I was finding Glenda's naivety and innocence thrilling.She raised soft puppy eyes up at me, the wonder still embedded in them.“Do you go to bed with this view every night?” She asked in wonderment, turning her head back to the view.I chuckled at her question.“No, not every night. The Aurora only occurs at this time of the year. Sometimes I'm able to see it from here, sometimes I'm not.”“This is amazing.”“Yes, it is,” I agreed, but not to her statement. I had seen enough of the northern lights all through
GLENDA'S POVSo strong, yet so soft, silky yet rough and warm. Very warm. I snuggled closer and smiled in my sleep, relishing the feel of the muscled form nestled beside me.It was not until I heard the soft chuckle and the hand draped protectively over my shoulders did I jog my memory awake.I flung my eyes open and jerked up in shock. Instinctively, I scanned the room. As my eyes wandered, they settled on the trimmed muscled abdomen that lay beside me.I traced the very appealing manly middle up until my gaze rested on a very much awake Maurice.He wore an arrogant grin across his face.“You can't keep your hands off me, can you?” He teased.I immediately snapped back to Earth and snatched my hand from Maurice's chest where it had laid. My face furrowed in annoyance.“You moved from your side of the bed.” I defended, avoiding his gaze.“I did tell you I liked to sleep in the middle.”He wiggled his brows at me. There was amusement in his voice and I resisted the urge to look at him
MAURICE'S POV“The food is getting cold.” It was the first thing I could think of to get Albert to stop touching Glenda. The idiot was all over her and couldn't even be discreet about his attraction to her. Even after hearing that she was my wife!I clenched my jaw as I fought to put a rein on my irritation.Albert was Sam's friend. A friendship that has never sat right with me. I didn't like the guy. He was always over the place, a big contrast to Sam's character but somehow, they've managed to remain friends. It didn't also help that Albert and I have an ugly past in business.Albert led Glenda to the table and was about to pull a chair for her when I stopped him.I held the chair and stopped him from pulling it. He understood the unspoken message passed across by my action. ‘Back off! I've got this,’ it screamed.He backed off, but not without giving Glenda one of his dashing smiles and a flirtatious wink.I growled at the back of my throat. I wanted to punch the jerk in the face.
GLENDA'S POV I spent the rest of the afternoon in the company of Jane and Nana, discussing wedding plans.It was nice being among them and contributing to all the talks about what would go better in the event.I didn't get to do all of these when I got married. Mine was a flash wedding. One I didn't even consent to. I shook my head and pushed the thought to the recess of my mind. I didn't want to ruin my happy mood by remembering that sickening past.“Glenda!” Jane hollered at me.“Yes?” I had wide startled eyes peeled at her.“You zoned out on me. I was asking if you mind going with me to my dress fitting.”“Take her with you. She's not doing anything here anyway.” Nana chipped in.“Why does she have to go with us?” Grace asked in an irate tone as she waltzed in.“Why shouldn't she?” Nana fired.Grace rolled her eyes and shut her mouth. Nana was ready to match her and I sensed Grace was in no mood to argue with her.Jane didn't wait for me to respond. “Great! We'll all go together.
MAURICE'S POV“Don't turn your face away from me. Glenda, look at me when I'm talking to you!” I snapped at her.The fact that she apologized looking away from me only revealed how half-baked her apology was. What was she thinking? That just by saying sorry she'd get off the hook?“Glenda!” I called and yanked her face forcefully to look at me.It was only then I saw it. The wet streak that lined her face. Her quivering lips. Her sad eyes which she tried to hide behind those long eyelashes.Darn! She was crying. It's been so long since I saw Glenda cry. She had been all happy and smiles that I had gotten used to her smiling.She tried to hide her tears by turning away again, but I had already seen them. Guilt immediately clothed me. I had made her cry.The tension in my body softened. My heart ached when I heard the low painful sound from the back of her throat. She was trying so hard to swallow her sobs.“Glenda.” I called softly. I raised my hand to touch her face and she flinched a
GLENDA'S POVI paid the littlest of my attention to what happened all through Jane's dress fitting. I was only physically present as my mind was elsewhere; Maurice's kiss.It had to be the sweetest thing I had ever experienced. The taste of Maurice's lips was like nothing I had ever tasted. A delicious blend of variant flavors.The hardness of his body pressed possessively against mine. His strong protective arms wrapped around me, steadying me and preventing my legs from giving way.His slow sensual assault on my lips. The twisting of our tongues as he dug his into mine. Just recalling the kiss made me shiver and I felt a wetness building between my legs.How could a kiss affect someone so much? So much that the effect lingered long even after the kiss.I still felt the sudden wetness in my core whenever I thought about it. What I'd give for Maurice to kiss me like that again. I wondered what could have happened if we had not been interrupted by that knock. My mind was no longer th
MAURICE'S POV I froze at the sight of Glenda in Albert's arms. She even had her arms snaked around his neck. The sight was sickening causing rage to drown my core. I wanted to yank Albert's arms away from Glenda and rip him apart in bits. I stood fixated, staring, hoping and wishing that Albert would drop dead at the intensity of my glares. I felt a hand touch my arm. I turned to my side and Lucy was standing beside me. “What drama is she putting up this time?” She asked in a whisper. “It's swelling quickly. Where is Jane and the ice pack?” Grace sounded worried as she stared at Glenda's leg propped on the sofa with a throw pillow. It was after Grace's announcement that it struck me what was more important. I was so consumed in my rage and hatred for Albert that I ignored Glenda's injured foot. She must be in a lot of pain. I moved closer just as Jane returned with the ice pack. “I couldn't find any packs in the treatment box so I had to improvise.” Jane explained the reason fo
GLENDA'S POVONE WEEK LATER“Where is he? How is he?” Concern adorned my weary voice as my worried gaze rested on my brother-in-law.“He’ll live.” Sam said with a grin.Jane nudged him and gave him a warning glare. “Be serious for once! Don’t scare her with your silly jokes!” She reprimanded him.Sam pouted, but his eyes didn’t discard the mischievous glint they held. “I’m serious. I’m sharing good news.” He said with a shrug.Jane’s irritation at her husband stood up a notch. Her glares intensified. “Can’t you see that she’s worried?”Sam sighed resignedly. “I was only trying to lighten her mood.”“Well you’re doing a terrible job at it!”Sam raised his hands in surrender. He shifted and gave way for Jane to come closer to my gurney.Jane approached the bed with a sweet smile. “We came as soon as we heard. How are you feeling dear?” She helped adjust the gurney so my upper body was elevated. It gave me a better view.“I’m doing fine... Where is Maurice?" I asked again.It has been two
MAURICE'S POVBrian acted impulsively. That's what I thought and I couldn't resist the urge to scold him. He shouldn't have taken such a risky task upon himself. I was most certain that he had hurt himself, his hands were hurting and he was hiding it.“Scold me later, after we leave here.” He smiled at his deed, hiding his pain behind those genuine smile.I couldn't help but manage a half smile. He looked charming. Brian was a good boy. He just needed to be pointed in the right direction and I'm glad he found his way back home.I promised myself at that instance that things would be different from there on. He would be my son and I would be his father.I nodded for him to come along and went ahead with Glenda, expecting him to follow behind us. I had only taken a few steps when I heard the crash.I immediately turned around. “Brian!” I yelled, but it was already too late. “Dad.” He choked out in response. He blinked, sighed and seemed to relax. He looked calm, smiling up at me. As t
BRIAN'S POV“Elsa?” I asked him in surprise.It only meant Elsa had run after me when she couldn't stop me from going into the house. That crazy bitch!With everything that my father had told me, it was clear that she hadn't entered with good intentions. She must have sensed my intentions and she wanted to act ahead of me.She wanted to cement her plans, ensure everything happened according to how she wanted it. It was her house after all. She knew where she had left Glenda and could find her easily.Maybe it was a good thing she came in. This unit was large and finding my father and Glenda in this fiery mess was already proving difficult until I stumbled on the door, and heard the thudding coming from within. If she hadn't locked them in here, then maybe I would not have found them.I wanted to lift Glenda, carry her in my arms, but I thought against it and allowed my father to carry his wife.“I doubt that she's still in the building. Quick, let's get out of here.” I ordered and w
MAURICE'S POVA miracle did happen. Only it wasn't how I expected it.“Glenda!” I thought I was hallucinating someone calling Glenda. I braced myself. The thief had come. Death was near. It was so close, looming over us and breathing over my neck. I could feel it. But I wasn't scared. I wasn't afraid. I was ready for whatever was to come.“Glenda!” The call came again.My eyes flew wide open when I heard the second call. I was not hallucinating. I was not imagining things. Someone was indeed calling Glenda.Quickly, I raised myself from the forlorn stance I had assumed on the floor.My dead hope resurrected instantly. Someone was here. Someone had come for us.“Is anyone there? We are in here!” I yelled. My voice had become hoarse, dried from the smoke. I prayed whoever it was out there had heard me.“We are here!” I tried to increase my volume. I ended up wheezing from the strain.I guess my coughing gave away our location as I heard shuffling, then someone approaching.“Elsa?” I as
MAURICE'S POVHis reaction only confirmed my fears. Glenda was in that heat.I watched in horror as the flames grew taller into the sky. My breath hitched. My fears skyrocketed. Anxiety clothed my core. I was shaking with fright.That's when I caught sight of the approaching figure. A ray of hope stirred within me. Maybe. Just maybe.Brian strode past me like a zombie, his gaze set upon the fire like it was beckoning to him.Once the outline cleared to reveal Elsa, every ounce of hope and logical thinking within me vaporized.At that moment, nothing else mattered. Not Brian. Not Elsa. Not me. Only Glenda.I willed my legs to move and like a flash, I ran past Brian into the fire. The dense, hazy smoke welcomed me. Everything blurred in my vision. I squinted in an attempt to adjust to the smoky view.I squinted through the smoke and raised a hand to fan out the smoke. It didn't help to clear my view.“Glenda!” I called out. A raspy cough escaped my throat as the smoke filled my lungs.
BRIAN'S POVI caught a whiff of the familiar perfume as I entered the house. My heart began to beat at a double rate. My worst fears came alive when I stepped into the room to find it empty. Glenda was gone.“Shit! Shit!” I cussed and kicked.I exasperatedly ran a hand through my hair. Just when I had everything ready. When all my plans were ready and set. That sick bitch had to appear now. Why did I ever bring her here? What had I ever found attractive about that sick witch? I looked down at my crotch and cussed myself for my lack of control. But how could I have known then that this would come back to bite me in the ass? How could I have known that Elsa was as sick as the woman who birthed her?“Darn it!”Was this how all of my plans would be ruined? Would I not be able to protect Glenda? Would I allow Elsa and her mother to have the last laugh?No! I swore to protect Glenda and I would fulfill that promise.But where do I even begin to look for Glenda? Where could Elsa have taken
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.