ELLA'S POV I walked out of the door with uncertainty reeling in my veins. The early morning air blew warm gusts against my flesh, sending some waves of my hair into the air.I tucked in the loose strands behind my ears as made it towards the parking lot. The sound of a propelling helicopter could be heard from a far distance. I tilted my head up and so did Penny.The helicopter was unlike any other I'd ever seen, it was sharp with glistening colors and a design that had Glenda Bacci boldly written on it.The hellicop lowered until it was now at the floor level, the propellers gusting sharp wind in my direction. The receding sound of the engine's coming off braced my ears as I try to maintain my composure despite feeling out in my head.I felt a pair of eyes on me as I adjusted my body, steeling myself. My hands clutched my waist as I stole a corner-side glance at Madame Browne. She was seated at the balcony as usual, but this time, framed in between her fingers wasn't a glistening bo
ELLA'S POV “We have to get ready before the president comes.” I said, my fingers tucking loose strands behind my ear.My heart fluttered in my chest, fear raging over all the other emotions I had reeling in my veins. What did Madame Browne mean by if she ever made it?Something at the pit of my stomach hinted that things weren't going to go as planned, at least not if Madame Browne was on the chase to ruin it.“That's Madame Browne for you. She says that because she wants you to lose hope and fall to her feet. There's no possible string she could pull at this last minute event preparation.” Ms. Glenda said before walking down the hallway.“I know all the tricks in her devious books.” She continued, urging Penny and I to follow. I adjusted, shrugging off the fear as I tried to set my mind on the task at hand. The president would be here any other minute from now.” “My workers will be here any minute from now.” Ms. Glenda remarked, her hands gripping the door to what she thought was
MADAME BROWNE'S POVI gripped the wine glass from the table in front of me, anger steaming in my blood. My fingers tapped on it, the soft tick it made fuel my anger even more. My mand flashed back to Ella. I gripped the glass harder as it shattered, sharp pricks of glass causing me to let out a cry. The bartender in front of me panicked seeing the flow of blood as he rushed in with a first aid box. I smirked sharply, my hands waving as I gripped a side of my gown. Following that, I ripped a part of the gown open and wrapped my hands with it to constrict the blood flow.Fuck!That was my best dress, I had it shipped specially from France by an original dress maker. I sucked in a breath, rage mixing with the impatience in my mind.“Are you okay ma'am?” The bartender said. The club's overhead lights flickered across his features. “I'm going to quickly call the cleaners to help clean the mess.”I watched him scurry, leaving me all alone at the mini bar in the club. I had stepped out o
MADAME BROWNE'S I thought I'd seen it all.Well, not until I saw Glenda Bacci stepping into the one bar I thought I could escape her god-damned presence. She stood by the door to the mini bar, the club's flickering lights highlighting her silhouette.A proud smile tugged at her cherry red lips, disgust burning in my breath. I tried to flash my eyes away, to hide the discomfort I faced.Anger steamed in my blood, hard and pungent. I gripped the shot glass on the table, my fingers wrapping against the hard glass as I gulped it all down. I tried to turn away, to not acknowledge Glenda's presence but the attraction was daring, like that of a moth to a flame.“Oh! Look who it is?” I said, sarcasm dripping in the base of my voice. “Little Miss messiah.” “Yes, Madame Browne it is but this time, I'm no little messiah, I am Glenda Bacci, the one woman you tried to ruin years ago.” Glenda remarked like she didn't give a damn about my presence.She’d really grown wings I must say. But, like al
Madame Browne's PerspectiveThere was only one sound filling the car: the smooth hum of the engine beneath me, as I sat in the backseat, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my wine glass. Outside, the city was a blur of lights and motion, a sea of faceless people who didn't matter to me. They were all just ants, scurrying around in a world that would never understand the power I held.The driver, a quiet man that had driven for me for years, looked back at me through the rearview mirror. "Ma'am, where to tonight?"I took another sip of my wine, let the rich flavor dance on my tongue. "To the mansion," I said coolly, my voice low, deliberate. "I need to speak with the staff, make sure everything is in order.The mansion had been mine, my domain where I could let my guard down, and relax in the knowledge I was in control. But tonight… tonight was different. The tension was palpable, an unhealthy knot threatening to tighten in my chest. It had not gone according to plan, and to say the le
ELLA'S POV I wasn't expecting to see Madame Browne at the event hall but there she was, claded in one of the most expensive dresses I've ever seen. Her eyes loomed with malice and an even darker emotion, the air shifting sharply.Smug smirks slipped through her lips as she strutted into the hall. Her presence daunted curious gazes, hushed whispers trudging through the air as she made her way into the hall.My bloodstreams tightened, the veins in my legs twitching as I maintained a straight stance. The air, if I remembered clearly, stood still with unspoken tension.I stood by the stage, the clipboard in my hands nearly snapping to the floor from the shock.The silence in the hall was thick with suspense, the whispers fading immediately as Madame Browne strutted into the hall. Her eyes wandered around sharply, inspecting each and every detail as if searching for a flaw to bicker on about.My heart raced in my chest, my gaze following Madame Browne. And just when I thought she wouldn't
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe elevator door in front of me chimed open sharply, a soft metallic swoosh brushing my ears. I stepped out of the elevator into the long hallway to my room. As expected, my maids were lined up by the walls like figurines dressed in uniforms I'd designed myself. The elevator's soft gloom layered over the purple linen of the uniform, catching my gaze from the side.The silence in the hallway was soft, almost unbearable but somehow, it felt okay. The discomfort in my veins rolled easily, my face fixed into one of those things oldsters call a warrior's mask.The president would be here anytime from now and he was going to come back to her— Ella, and that bitch, Glenda. He would witness their event and would probably give her some accolades— accolades that should've been mine.I bit my lower lips furiously, the impatience in me was cold— chilling cold. I clenched my fists trying to think of something else, something other than her.Ella.Her name was like fucking tat
ELLA'S POV “My mistake…was thinking the size of the event mattered more than the heart behind it. For years, I was impressed by noise. But this year, Ella reminded me that silence…can steal the show.”It would be an understatement to say my heart skipped a beat when those words escaped the president's lips. I felt the world beneath me crumble, the shock causing me to nearly lose my stance.A tear slid down my cheek. My heart was still racing from the shock. I had been so afraid of the president not acknowledging my efforts. For a split second, I'd thought I lost it all to Madame Browne and that she'd won but I was wrong.I had won.Madame Browne's efforts to ruin the event didn't work, I scaled through. The president had walked over to me and for the first time, had offered me a hug.He seemed very happy, probably the happiest he'd ever been. Once the hug ended, he turned in Ms. Glenda's direction. I hesitated for a second before I spoke, “This is Ms. Glenda she helped me design the
M ADAME BRO WNE'S POV “Hello,” I said, my voice hoarse. I could still feel the prick of glass on my palms, the soft pain but I overlooked it. The entire room reeked of sweat and alcohol. I waited a long minute before the person on the other end finally responded me. On the other end of the line, I could hear grunting and loud cursing. My patience soon waned once I checked the waiting time and saw it had been 40 seconds already.I scowl angrily, pulling the phone as I stretched my index finger to press the end call button. Before I could press it, the call was picked and a husky feminine voice beamed out from my speakers. “Hello, this is Poison speaking, if it's another loan company, I swear too God I am going to freaking come and deal with y'all myself.” I heard the familiar voice of one of my girls, Poison, my go-to actually.She was the perfect one for the role. “Hey, this ain't no loan shark company, it's Madame Browne.” I said and listened closely as a hushed silence followed m
LUCAS'S POV“On your knees!” I ordered watching from the high chair as she did as ordered. The soft flickering sound the crackling fire made braced my ears as I chuckled.“Why did you do it? Why did you have to ruin all my sheerchard work for what? Only for the president to find out years later.” I thundered, my voice lashing through the thin silence in the air.Madame Browne moved slowly, my nails pressing hard into her flesh. She was on her knees as I had ordered, her head tilted downwards in fear. She was shaking like a winter leaf, her eyes lit up in confusion.“I still don't understand any of your words, what do you mean by I ruined all of your hardwork I promise you, I didn't do shit!” She cursed underneath her voice.The anger in me raged harder with each passing second, the sight of her filling me with irritation. “You don't still understand? Well, I'll give you a hint.” I growled, my teeth tighly.I tilted my gaze upwards, hesitating for a secondary as I stared at the guards
L U C A S 'S P O V I watched the president with cold eyes, it had been hours now and I wasn't going to fall for his pretend sleep. The truth was about to get out, but I wasn't really sure if he knew what I thought I knew.I made sure I scrubbed out all traces to the incident, how did the president found out about it? I scrub my hair roughly, thoughts pulsing through my brain. I freaking hated the fact that they were all still here.I wanted some alone time with the president, just the two of us. I need to find out all he knew. The thought of having him tell Xavier and Ella was haunting, sending chills though me. I came back to New York for one thing and that didn't include going to jail.No!I'd traced out all the evidence, even the police were clueless as to who the perpetrator was. How did he find out? Anger and restlessness seeped into my bones as I turned my gaze to stare at the two other people in the room.Xavier and Ella.They were still here and I could tell they were already
ELLA'S POV “The part I hid all these years?” The president's tone was etched with fear, for the first time, I saw fear glistening in his green eyes.Never had I seen his breath hitch, his back arch and his pupils dilating. With every step, Mr Lucas McKinney took, the room erupted slowly in an air of shunned tension.“Which part?” His voice was smooth, like granite but also daring. The president immediately broke into laughter, “Don't mind my jokes Lucas, I was just taking Xavier into the old room.” The president's voice made me shocked. I frowned. Was all of this a joke?I was about jumping into conclusion but once I saw him laughing hysterically, I knew he was pretending for Lucas. Lucas was also laughing alongside, his presence a threat.As the president laughed, I noticed his chest heaving abnormally. His eyes were brimming with tears which I pushed back under the guise of a laugh. “How did you know we were here, uncle Lucas?” I asked him softly, swallowing softly as I tried to
ELLA'S POV “The truth?” I asked, confusion written boldly all over me.What did he mean by the truth? I scrunched my nose gently as I reached out to help adjust his pillow. “What do you mean by the truth, Mr McKinney?” I asked him again, this time, he actually responded to me.“I have to tell Xavier— he deserves to know.” He said and his voice faltered halfway into a dry cough that had him jerking his chest. Just a s he said those words, Xavier ran into the room, confused at to where the confusion in the air was coming from.“What's happenin— grandpa, you're awake!” Xavier's jumped for joy with the glass of drinkable water in his hands. He walked over to the bed and I took the cup from him to give the president.Mr McKinney took the glass from Xavier and after taking a long sip of the water, he placed the cup back on the nearby table. After doing that, his voice croaked out, “X… Xavier.”His pale fingers stretched to reach Xavier's face, his lids flickering weakly. He was shaking but
ELLA'S POV “It’s a long story but if you don't help the president now, we could have a different story to tell.”My heart thumped hard against my ribcage as my eyes met the president's figure. His skin was already pale, his entire form unconscious. Fear gripped me on all four edges of my body as I gasped out.A shiver trudged up my spine. I tried to stay calm in the moment, it was good Ivy wasn't around, she went to do her homework and I wouldn't want her to be disheartened by the sight of her great-grandfather unconscious.“Grab me a long fabric we have to make sure to free his airways to atleast revive him.” I ordered Xavier as I rushed over to a side of our bedroom where I normally kept my hospital kit and opened it. I checked his heartbeat and was shocked to find out it was beating quite well.Just as I pulled off the heart rate monitor, I proceed to take the long linen fabric had brought. “We have to tie it over his chest, first we have to take away all jewelries and heavy fabri
THE PRESIDENT'S POVI wasn't planning to bring out the 21 day challenge to Lucas but since the situation elevated quickly, I had to pull out that one last card. I thought it'd scare him, push him backwards and make him have double thoughs about becoming the next president but instead, it fueled his interest.The desperation in my son's eyes as he accepted the offer was scary, even to me but I decided it was smart not to allow it reflect. I tilted my head to look at Xavier's s I flash him a signal, he pushed me in the direction of the door.The wheelchair was very comfortable I must say. It wasn't that bad. I considered it a free three month rest rom walking and having someone, Xavier, push me around. I had pushed me discharge date just to be at the McKinney mansion.The tension might seem a lot heated but since we're in my pov, I'll tell you this for free, things aren't as they are. Lucas was dangerous, i knew dark secrets of my own son I deserved to preserve from the world.Our rival
LUCAS'S POV.My heart skipped a beat at the president's words. What did he mean by conditions? I held my breath, waiting patiently for the next series of words that would slip out from the president's lips. I pant slowly, my chest heaving as discomfort pooled down my arms. I wasn't quite yet sure what to believe, was it his words or the pungent feeling in my veins that told me this was another one of his games.“Accepted.” I said, dragging the word. The president’s expression didn't change like I was expecting. His breath didn't shuder, his pupils didn't dilate, It was almost like it was all real.“And what is that, if I may ask?” I took a step further, noticing the change in the air. The president was seated comfortably on the wheelchair, his composure unfazed.The thin stripes of light from the fireplace in the room striked a side of his face, giving the contempt in the eyes a brighter glow that had me pulsing. He stared up at me, his head tilted upright. I swallowed softly, a str
MADAME BROWNE’S POV I couldn't believe my eyes.The president was alive.Fury washed through me in waves as I gazed back at his impending figure. The president sat comfortable on a wheelchair, his gaze firm like a king surveying his kingdom. Xavier was the one pushing him around and the sight of the both of them standing there made me furious.I thought Lucas said he should be dead by now. To even think that I was actually about to start celebrating when he told me the news only to realize that it was all a lie. The president had survived the attack and as always, my plans had been ruined.I bit hard into my lower lip as I clenched my fists, the sharp pain that came from the pressing sensation of my fingernails on my palms jolting my head upright. The president had a sneer on his face as he was wheeled back into the room.His presence caused my heart to nearly skip a beat. My breaths came hitching out, ragged puffs coming out of my nostrils. I tried to contain the shock in my veins b