MAURICE'S POVNana's death still came as a shocking surprise even though somewhere deep in my heart, I knew it was imminent.It hurt like hell to lose the one person that never gave up on me. The one person that could see past my flaws and still loved me regardless of it all.Nana was a gem, a rare one. Becoming a mother and taking up our responsibility after the tragic passing of her son, Sam's father. I never felt the demise of my adoptive parents with Nana around.Nana helped me become the man I am today. She groomed me, believed in me even when I had given up on myself. She gave me hope when I was drowning in despair. She stood by me, constantly reminding me that I wasn't alone even when I disbelieved it and pushed everyone away. She never left. She remained by my side until I believed I had a family who loved me.But today, Nana was gone. Snatched from me by the cold hands of death. I had lost the most important person in my life. I was suffocating in pain and sorrow. My heart t
GLENDA'S POVIt has been two weeks since I confessed my feelings to Maurice. Two weeks of nothing but passion, love and sex. Lots of sex.I stirred to look at the sleeping handsome man beside me. He looked so beautiful and peaceful asleep. I let my eyes wander over the smooth muscular outline of his naked body. The body that had dominated over mine and had me whimpering pleasurably underneath him. I traced the bulge of his bicep, hard and strong. He was everything I wanted. He is everything I love.I smiled to myself just thinking about it. Then my smile slowly faded as I recalled something. In all the times I've spent with Maurice making wild, hot, passionate love, he had never told me how he felt about me.I knew I said I didn't want anything but to be with Maurice, but it felt as though something was amiss. I didn't know how he really felt about all of this, about us.It made me wonder if I was only a convenient to pass time and take his mind away from his raging thoughts?I remem
MAURICE'S POVI had been thinking of doing something special for Glenda. I had earlier made dinner arrangements and it was supposed to be a surprise. So when she mentioned going out, I knew she would love the idea of dinner. Later that evening, we set about for our date night.The restaurant I chose was quite expensive and only admitted the elites of London.We were ushered in and showed our table. I drew the seat for Glenda, sat myself down and automatically a waiter appeared.“Anything you'd like to order?” I asked Glenda who was grossly examining the menu.“Indulge me.” She requested with a sly smile.I tittered. She was mesmerizing. The silk curtains of her golden hair draped over her beautiful face, just the way I loved her wearing her hair. Dressed in a short black bodycon sequin dress that clung to every inch of her figure, she looked ravishing and the only thing I wanted to do was to slowly peel that dress off her.I turned to the waiter and ordered a bottle of their finest w
GLENDA'S POV I was most certain I had pissed Maurice off yet again but I was least bothered about it. In my current state, I didn't give much thought to the words I blurted out. “Hey! Where are you going? This is not the route home.” I stated pointedly. “You called me old.” “I'm sorry.” Maurice ignored my apology and continued. “I want to show you what a date night with an oldie feels like.” He was concentrated on the road, a handsome smile splayed over his lips. “You're smiling. What are you up to?” I hiccupped just after speaking. “You'll see soon.” An excited mischievous glint shone in his eyes. It didn't take long before Maurice cut the ignition. He turned to me with a grin. “We are here.” He announced and got down. The gentleman also helped me out of the car. The cool night air hit me hard and I embraced myself, rubbing my hands over my arms in an attempt to warm up. Maurice’s jacket suddenly draped over me, bringing me warmth. “So you succeeded in getting me drunk. What
MAURICE'S POV “Hello, father.” Brian turned around and greeted.His gaze raked the length of me, moved to Glenda and then settled on Glenda's slender hand still in my grip.“Brian… I didn't know you were coming.” It was a harmless admission with no malicious intentions. There was a tinge of surprise in my voice, but my son and his inexplicable hatred for his father, misinterpreted what I had said.“I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I hope I didn't ruin anything with my arrival.” He sneered at Glenda, eyeing the length of her. His meaning was glaring.There was something in his eyes. Something I couldn't quite place, and I didn't like it. Brian and I had our long standing differences which I felt should stay between us. There was no need for him to drag Glenda in the middle of it all. She knew nothing.“I didn't mean it like that. Welcome home son.”“What a welcome.” He mocked. I inhaled deeply in an attempt to simmer down my rising anger. Why did he always have to do this? Why did he ne
GLENDA'S POVI chewed on my fingernails as I paced the length of the room. I was shivering with fear. The kind of fear that aggravated a headache but I couldn't keep still. I just couldn't keep still. Brian had his daring gaze on me the whole time as I climbed the stairs. His gaze was threatening and I feared what he'd tell his father.Why did he have to return? Why now when I was finally finding my footing with Maurice? Why did he have to come back just when I was experiencing a glimpse of happiness? Maurice knows nothing about my past with his son and I fear how he would react. “Glenda!” Maurice's authoritative voice echoed behind me.Too consumed in my thoughts, I hadn't realized when he entered the room. I spun swiftly on my heels to come face to face with a glare on Maurice's face.He knows! Oh my God! Brian told him and he's mad. He'd probably kick me out of the house. He'd want nothing to do with me. He'd hate me. My heart shattered into a million pieces at the thought of l
MAURICE'S POVAfter I had given my wife the pills and ensured she was asleep before leaving her, I set about to get her employment details ready.I had barely settled onto my seat before the phone in my study rang aloud. I suspected it had to be my brother because I had not spoken to him since after Nana's funeral when he and his wife returned to Fairbanks.My suspicions were confirmed once I took the call.“Hey brother.” Sam breathed into the phone.“Hey you. It's been a while.”“Sure has. You're doing absolutely fine so why bother about me?” Sam taunted.I laughed. “I did think of calling you later.” I said in my defense. “I just wanted to get a few things done to afford me more time to talk to you.” It was true I did think to call him after I had sorted Glenda's matter.“It's relieving to see you're handling things just fine. We were worried for you for no reason.”“What do you mean?” I asked.“You're happy. Glenda couldn't have come into your life at a better time… How is she by
GLENDA'S POV It was my first day at the office and I was pretty excited. Dressed in a beige top and black slacks, a beige pointed toe kitten heels and a black bag, I gave myself one last look in the mirror. With a nod of approval, I exited the room and headed downstairs. Maurice had left earlier and I was to arrive at the office on my own. It was my idea to go at separate times. I didn't want to be given any special treatments as the boss’s wife. “You're still here?” The surprised voice asked once I reached the foot of the stairs. I raised my gaze to come face to face with Lucy. She must have expected that I'd be long gone by the time she returned from her annual leave. She handed me the envelope containing the divorce papers with a victorious certainty that I'd leave after discovering everything. It was satisfying to see her crumbled expression at finding me in the house. The table had turned on her and I could only wait to see her crestfallen expression when she'd find out I g
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