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
MAURICE'S POV I came back into the office late at noon. I had an early meeting to attend so I wasn't present to welcome Glenda and Brian. Although I had made proper arrangements for them regardless of my absence. I had barely settled into my seat when my secretary walked in. “Elizabeth, how…” I stopped myself when I raised my head to see Lucy. Elizabeth was Lucy's fill-in while Lucy was on her annual leave. I had totally forgotten that Elizabeth had served her time and that Lucy was resuming today. I mentally slapped myself in the face and dragged a tired hand over it. I had gotten used to and was enjoying Elizabeth's proficiency. Gone were the days when I thought only Lucy was good enough to handle my business. “Are you trying to turn this office into a circus? What's with bringing Brian and ‘that Glenda’ to join the company?” I'm really going to miss Elizabeth. There was no nagging while she worked here. “You are back.” I said with disinterest as I fixed a few mispla
GLENDA'S POV Tsk! Darn! I just lost another chance to tell Maurice the truth. I thought I'd know my fate by today. Just when I mustered enough courage, a visitor had to come today. My mind immediately drifted to the cause of the interruption. I had to admit, I was surprised when Maurice informed me that the call had come for me and that I had a visitor. It was my first day at work and I wasn't expecting anyone. It didn't take long to find out who had come as the door slowly peeled open to reveal the said visitor. “Aunt Helena?” I shrieked once I saw her enter and pose by the door. My lips spread into a fearful smile, shock etched on my face. Why was she here? How did she find me? The last time I saw my aunt was during my wedding. “Is that how you greet your Aunt?” Her stern voice filtered through my thoughts. Automatedly, I moved to her and enveloped her in a half hearted hug. “Aunt Helena, how are you?” My small scared voice asked. As I hugged my aunt, my gaze rested
MAURICE'S POV Glenda was distraught after hearing the news of her father. All she wanted to do was go to see him and I obliged. I took her along with her aunt and cousin to the hospital where Fredrick was admitted. Glenda immediately rushed to his bedside once we entered the ward. She was crying profusely, begging him to wake up and say something to her. Even if it was a scolding. It was a pitiful sight to watch. I couldn't fathom how she could still love a father who married her off to a business associate in his bid to get rid of her. I expected she would hate him but there wasn't an iota of hatred or pretense in her reaction to her father being sick. Fredrick himself did love his daughter even though he never showed it to her. He did call me on specific occasions to check on Glenda. The conversations were usually clipped and intended to come off as him being disinterested, but I understood the emotions behind it all. I just wished he told her himself. Then Glenda wouldn't have
GLENDA'S POVI groggily opened my eyes to Maurice’s smiling face. He propped his head on his inclined elbow, his face towered over mine and his soft gaze intent on me. Had he been watching me while I slept. “Sunshine.” He said and shifted stray strands of my hair from my face. I managed a weak smile as I stretched and yawned.“Finally, a smile.” His smile widened into a boyish grin.“You were watching me sleep? That's creepy.” I yawn-talked. “I don't know what you're talking about.” He feigned ignorance. His rakish grin still plastered on his face.“You are creepy.” I insisted.“No, I’m not.” He was chuckling now.I rolled my eyes and shook my head with a smile. I shifted, turned and lay on my side to face him.“Thank you for yesterday.” It was a sincere appreciation that stemmed from the bottom of my heart.I turned into an emotional wreck yesterday after hearing the news of my father and I hadn't expected Maurice to stand by me. But he did. He was there with me all through the tim
BRIAN'S POVBeads of sweat formed on my temples. My palms became sweaty. I was visibly trembling. Glenda's aunt came here? Why would she come here? What is she up to now? My nervousness was palpable and Glenda didn't fail to notice.She eyed the length of me, disgust adorned her expression. “Are you alright?”I cleared my throat, trying to hide my anxiety. “Ahem. Yes. I'm fine…Your Aunt. I mean, your father… Where are you going?”“I just told you my father is ill. He's in a coma and I'm going to visit him at the hospital.” She hissed in irritation. “Please, leave my way.” She was out of sight before I could get out any more words. I stared at the empty stairway devoid of anyone but me.I stood there fixated for minutes. My mind was a whirlwind. I finally decided to go downstairs where my fear was seated.“Just the person I wanted to see.” Aunt Helena sneered at me once I reached the foot of the stairs. There was no way to avoid her. I had no option than to face her.“Why are you here
GLENDA'S POV“Where is Aunt?” I asked, darting my gaze around the room in search of Aunt Helena, but there was no sight of her.“She left.” He replied in a nervous, hoarse voice. He looked terrified, scared and afraid. What was he so afraid of?I eyed him in disbelief. “She left?” My tone was heavy with incredulity.How could Aunt leave? She had come so we could go to the hospital together. I only went up to get dressed and she left? I was already finding the whole scenario absurd before Brian spoke in clarification.“No. She went out… She is waiting… She said to tell you she will wait outside for you.”I watched him while he fumbled with words. I squinted as a thought hit me.“Did you kick her out?”“Me? No. Why would I?” He sounded defensive. As though he was trying to hide something.“Who were you talking to just now?” His behavior was raising many questions in my mind.“No one... Listen, I'm sorry about your dad. I hope he gets better.” He smoothly changed the topic. He seemed to
BRIAN'S POVI closed my eyes and sighed in relief as Glenda walked out of the house. It was obvious that she suspected something but I was able to brush her off. At least that's what I thought.When I opened my eyes, I was faced with another problem. It turned out Glenda was only a soft nut to crack. The hard nut was standing before me, glaring at me.“What? Why are you staring at me like that?” I asked, trying to mirror her glare. Scare her so that she backed down. My method was as good as useless because she didn't soften one bit.“She’s gone.” She said in reference to Glenda and crossed her arms over her chest.“I know.” I replied in defiance.“Start talking! Don't make me regret listening to your plea to hide. I heard you and that lady discussing and I could just as well have asked Glenda about what I heard.” Lucy threatened.I gazed at her trying to figure out just how much of our discussion she heard. Lucy had showed up just as Aunt Helena strode out of the house to wait for Gl
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