AriadneI didn't understand why the damned car wouldn't start and Jeremy's paramania was giving an excruciating pain in the head and worse off, we were in the middle of nowhere!“The network here is more than terrible.” He was chewing very loudly, and he continuously dabbed his forehead with a towel. Shouldn't he be tending to me?“You are a son of a bitch!” I yanked the towel from him and went back to sit in the car. I reached for a bottle of water and drained the content, but I was not satisfied. I was damned thirsty and looking around me, I couldn't imagine what more a moor could look like if not what I was seeing.Why would Caleb choose such a location of all places? I was more than angry, and I was feeling the urge to destroy.“Hell!” I grabbed my phone and tossed it at the back seat, it was useless as it was. Jeremy was still walking in circles and making funny poses in a bid to click a good wave of network. The sun was sl
LeoI was surprised to find her staring blankly outside the bar, her gloved fingers gently clutching a can of malt.“Hey!” Jason grinned. I waved at him, quite interested in why she was here.“She wanted to have a drink. I thought malt would do, anything of the matter?” He blinked.“Does she come here often? Did she come with someone?” Perhaps Henry? I thought to myself.“Not really, no, she's here alone. I've seen her here only a few times earlier. Yeah, that reminds me, you guys met, right?” He asked.I was staring blankly at him. What was he talking about?“The other night!” He nudged me. When did he become so friendly around me?“Is there something I am supposed to know, but I am unaware of?” I searched his face for answers.“I told you the other day that a lady was looking for you and that dude. She's the lady I was referring to and I thought I directed her to you the other night,” He responded.My brain was trying to decide the message. Why would Layla put in so much effort to
SofiaThe scandal involving Eugene and I, were, overnight, duly overtaken by the news of Ariadne Stathom and her unknown whereabouts. She was literally missing alongside her secretary, Jeremy. The chicks at school were almost going crazy, as she was an idol to many of them. However, I wasn't so much bothered and someone else who was even not bothered at all was Charlene. Apparently, she was starting to mistrust Adrian, and I couldn't be more pleased to know that. She had spoken to me about him the other day and now, as the other girls scrolled up and down their screens, she tossed a tennis ball very slowly in her hands, her lunch going cold and all stuck together.“Would you just sit there and sulk all day? I'm hungry, you know.” I snapped.She said nothing. I scoffed, I wasn't going to be her friend any longer until she dragged me here this noon and now, she was choosing to ignore me?“Could she be dead?” One girl exclaimed and covered her mouth.“Celebrities don't just die like ch
AriandeThe irritable clanking of metals woke me up the next morning. Jeremy had opened the hood of the car, blocking out the fog that had collected above us. Snow was splattered on the car and he was trying to fix something in it.“You up! Aha!” He chuckled and continued with what he was doing.“Do you know anything about cars? I’m sure you know how much this car worth, you wouldn’t be able to buy it with five annual salaries.”“Oh Ariande, I wouldn’t tamper with your baby when I knew just that, I am just trying to be sure we are not missing anything,” he let out a wry chuckle. “But now,” he let down the hood. “I think I’ve checked just enough and I have concluded that I really don’t know any mechanical skill for such a sudden fault.” He pressed on it and it closed with a final click.My stomach growled, I was more than famished. I returned to the car and slumped on the seat. I unlocked my phone and the network was still not up where it was supposed to be. I didn’t know what I was st
LaylaI had long since concluded that I was over with any revenge plan of the sort. I couldn’t risk lives just to satiate myself and moreover, it seemed I have been leaked; the bugged car never moved since the time I found out about Chloe’s extramarital affair. I just couldn’t take further risks.“Hey!” Henry knocked on my study as soon as I hung the call with Amanda.“Come in.”The door opened. He bought in a tray of snacks.“Thank you.” He set the tray on my desk and briefly kissed my lips. I was beginning to get used to his kissing me but whenever our lips touched I’d remember the kiss with Leo the other day. It haunted me and I always felt bad for not being able to make the memory decay.“How’s it going?” He sat on the swivel chair opposite mine.“Pretty good. I’ve gotten a better percentage of designs.”“That’s great. I’m glad you’re returning to being yourself once again.” He smiled.“Yeah,”“Yeah.” Then his eyes remained lingering on my face.“What’s on your mind?”“You are hap
Ariande"...and here is our latest product from Hermés Birkin." The attendant smiled, showing me to the encased designer bag."Oh my gosh!" Jeremy chortled behind me."I want it...""I paid for it!" A voice interrupted. I turned to look at this intruder and alas, she was almost in rivalry with me in the aspect of fashion savviness."I own it." She flashed her invoice."I'm so sorry," the attendant panted. "I had no idea it is off sale."I scoffed. What the hell!"Hey! Are you new here or what? You don't know how things work?" Jeremy snapped."I'm so sorry." She continued to beg."Well..." The lady cleared her throat, walked past me and carefully took the bag out of its closet."I want this bag..." I voiced my thought, wildly irritated by her condescending behavior, she was too full of herself so I needed to put her in her place."What? For the record I just got it and I own it now." She pouted."Let me have the invoice.""Fine, if you really wanna see..." she gave a haughty shrug."2 m
"I wanna be great like you! Oh my!" Jeremy grinned. "You see how you clipped her wings!""I could do that to you if you would not keep shut." His bickering was irritating my hearing nerves."I'm so sorry, Ariande.""Take me home. I'm worn out." I reclined on the passenger seat and he ignited the engine.Tony was leaning on his car in front of my house when we arrived."I thought we could have lunch together today." He said."I can't do lunch today. Jeremy, drive on!""Why?" He was adamant. "Did I do something wrong?" He planted his hands on the window of my car.I scoffed."I know you Tony, I know what you want from me... actually I'm not ready to give you that, yet so just bugger off meanwhile.""Ariande, you are getting this wrong. I'm no longer involved with Leo, alright? I stopped. I backed out already." He tried to explain but I didn't buy it."I don't want to see you today.""I want to know how you are doing, Ariande.""I'm doing perfectly fine, Tony. By doing this, you're actua
Perhaps I shouldn't have agreed, perhaps I didn't make a mistake by agreeing, I couldn't say. I just knew that the measure of discomfort which I was feeling at that moment couldn't be compared to anything. Nathan belched from his drink."This side is quite pleasant, let's sit over here." Henry suggested. Even though we had made reservations, we had not been able to pick a perfect spot for the four of us. I was the only lady so I must be comfortable, at least, with one of the men. Nathan jumped on the chair, on our way he had childishly expressed his longing to return to the kindergarten and see his friends over there. But if only he knew how unsettled his mother's mind was. He couldn't comprehend.I looked up at the sky as we sat under an umbrella, there was no hint of sun. Ah, the beach would have been pleasant if it were Summer but then we seemed forever stuck in this wintry spell. I shut my eyes for a moment, imagining myself stretched out on the shore, it was so vivid I could brin
8–9 months laterAriandeI was already having contractions, and it was obvious I was going to go into labor soon. It was great I was with Layla though, and I tried to call for her. A yelp escaped my mouth as the contraction hit me harder."Oh my God, Ariande, are you okay?" Layla entered into the living room where I was, dropping the glass of water she had gone to bring, and she took out her phone to call Tony.He arrived sooner than we both expected, and he helped me into his car with Layla, who was pretty heavy too. She was to be due in a few days or a week from mine, and we'd both be free of mood swings and erratic hormones. Then she followed us to the hospital where I went into proper labor and gave birth to my girls a few hours later.I could tell from the minute that Tony walked in after my labor that he had gone through a lot of anxiety and I collected the baby when the nurse placed her in my arms, "Oh my God, Ariande, I'm so grateful for this, thank you for bringing her into t
AriandeIt was so great seeing these two get married, and I think I had seen Tony staring at me intently during the vow saying, I wouldn't be sure what that meant though.I loved the wedding reception even more, and it started off to a great start with some good music which me and the girls had gone through, including Layla and some good champagne. Other alcohols of different types were being passed around too, and soda for those who wouldn't want alcohol. There was great food and the couple when they finally entered.The song we had chosen for them to dance to upon entering started, and I have to say Leo gave his best more than Layla. It seemed like she was rather shy about dancing in public.Games were played and a lot of activities were thrown out. When the most awaited moment arrived, the throwing of the bouquet, I was in the front row because I wanted to get the bouquet and I got it.I squealed happily, "wow, I got it."Everyone smiled happily, and we waved the couple off to have
LaylaWedding preparations went on in full swing by the time we came back and as Nana, Leo's grandmother, liked hosting parties, she was the one that took control of the entire thing. She did seek my permission on some things and I answered as best as I could.Hannah was so happy for me, so also Mr and Mrs Cooper, and they very much petted me like I was their new doberman.Ariande drew me to a fitting shop days before the wedding, and I was surprised to see the other ladies "were just here to give our opinions."I was happy that they were all rallying around me, but it was just making me more nervous. I looked through the variety of gowns they had and picked one, "Go try it on."I walked into the dressing room with Ariande to help, and I had to admit we had become pretty much closer.I came out to the sight of the other ladies, and they were like hmm, hmm, I felt like that too, it wasn't really giving. It was nice though, like an off-shoulder gown with a full train and veil too. I fel
LaylaBy our fourth day there, the grill was out with the game night preparations being underway, and I helped as much as I could with the preparations. For one, I was feeling quite dizzy and nauseous and I did have an idea of what it might be, but I wasn't sure though, so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.Tony and Leo helped set the lights on the beach and the chairs were set out around a fireplace in the middle. The beers were placed by the side and someone was to be manning the grill while everyone ate; Tony and Leo, of course. Kai offered, but the boys turned it down, and we all faced Kim."So what are the games we are going to be playing?""Okay, so I prepared quite a number of games, but the two most interesting ones would be never have I ever and two truths and a lie.""Oh, Kim" Ariande commented, making all of us laugh."So here are the rules for 'never have I ever'. Actually, it has just one rule. Everyone gets a turn to say 'never have I ever' and if you've done it
Ariande"Something fun, what would you consider something fun". The girls and I were sitting on the kitchen island pondering on what was fun, as the guys had gone off to God knows where."Well, we could go clubbing," Kim suggested, to which I agreed, though I wasn't sure I could drink with my pregnancy. Actually, I couldn't."We could also have a game night, just sit out on the beach and have some drinks too while we play some games,""I agree too," Layla said in agreement to Kai's suggestion."Well, we could go shopping. That would be for the girls, but the guys could also tag along if they want to."We all nodded in agreement, planning the whole thing and I and Layla offered to go buy the groceries for the day we would be there.It would be nice to just bake and cook for everyone. I learned there was a grill too."So have you decided on anything?" Layla asked as we drove to the mall."Yes, I decided to tell him first before I made any decision. I'll tell him probably a day or two fr
AriandeI was feeling quite funny and that was not good. I couldn't fall sick during production and at a crucial moment like this. I smiled happy when I saw my daily dose of bouquet delivered to my dressing room on set."He's just being so open now, isn't he?"Jeremy smiled, unsure of what to say."So how is your relationship with my brother?""Uhm... Actually I was going to say something about that. You're going on your break soon, right? I was wondering if I could take some days off then?"I cocked my head, "are both of you going on a vacation or trip?"He nodded slightly, "I could be back quickly if you want me to or cancel but...""It's okay, you can go. I'll manage on my own.""Really?"I nodded. As it was going to be my break soon, I wouldn't be having any shoots or production during that time because I would want some peace and quiet and, since I wouldn't be doing much then, it wouldn't be fair of me to rip his vacation from him.I called Tony when I was done with the scenes fo
LaylaThe designs were created within weeks and the collections were out together for another week. I looked through the portfolios of models that had been placed on my table and decided on the ones that we were going to use for the fashion show and campaign too.Amanda and Henry came in from New York to help with the process and a date was given for the fashion show. As for the campaign, I supervised the photo shoot and video shoot of the collections, and it was posted on both the models and CARTER'S official website as well as social media handles.I was going through one of the documents when my secretary came in, "this young lady...""Aunt Layla!" I looked up from the document to see Sofia rush in, and she was looking all bubbly and happy. I signaled the secretary that it was okay, and I gave her a big hug."Hey girlie, how have you been?"She smiled, "good""I heard you were in trouble" she smiled again, but this time more mischievous."It wasn't my fault that somebody wanted to
KaiI wasn't sure what to expect as I walked into the family house with Leo and Layla, and I was definitely surprised at the number of people that were there.Isn't that the famous actress, Ariande? And Leo's friend Tony, who were the couple that were looking about the same age as Leo's parents in a corner there too? There was also a grandma and grandpa too. Guess I had a lot of family."Leo honey" The Grandma greeted him, pecking him on the cheek, and he greeted her back. The woman also greeted Layla and a younger woman came to greet both of them too. Grandma stared at me, "and you're...""Oh you must be Kai, right?" The younger woman said, making me guess that she was Mrs Cooper, and I nodded."It's nice to meet you""Nice to meet you too", I shook her outstretched hand."This is Park Woojin, also Kai, Steve's daughter". Grandma looked confused."Steve didn't tell me about having a daughter.""Kai, meet Nana, your step grandmother and your step grandfather over there too."I greeted
Ariande"You still haven't figured out who is sending you the flowers yet?" Tony asked as I sat on the island in his kitchen. He had a bowl in his hand as he mixed chicken with mashed potatoes and I shook my head."No. I plan to use a private investigator though, because it could be a stalker and..."He nodded and smiled, "I understand.""Why did you invite me for dinner though?" I asked, surprised, since I hadn't been to his house since the last time I was drunk.He has only ever come to my house since our altercation and had sex with me. Nothing else, no dinner, no nothing, not even a drink, so what had changed that?"I just needed company to eat with today.""Oh" I felt honored even though I shouldn't, and I watched him intently as he started frying the mixture together on a bone stick.It was crazy just how much he had invaded my head. It was like I couldn't think of anything else but him and I deserved it because it had been the other way around. I had manipulated him at first, p