“Who knew all I needed was this flimsy notebook to finally kickstart my plans?” Raphael Hummed as she pulled Elsida’s journal from beneath a pillow.Elsida inhales sharply and stark panic courses through her bones from the site of the brown journal.“Raphael Please I beg you,” she sobs as tears trail down her cheekbones.If she could stop him from reading that journal, if he hadn't already, then the likelihood of making it out of here alive would be greater.Unfortunately, from the teary blaze his eyes took when he stared at the journal, she had an inkling that hope was too fickle to save her.“Shhh, it's time for my story,” Raphael murmurs as his gaze sweeps through the journal in his hands.From the other side of the room, Anne stirs and her eyes fling open. As soon as she spots Elsida, her face contorts, her voice cracking as she tries to form coherent words from her dry throat.“Elsida, I'm so sorry. It’s my fault you're here,” she croaks, her eyes shining with unshed tears.“Wond
JULY 24TH 2014, MANHATTAN NEW YORK.Elsida steps out of the black Jaguar XJ as the Chauffeur opens the door with a wide smile plastered across her face. It felt exhilarating to be out of Luton prep, even if it was just for a week. She’d savor every moment she had outside that foreboding school.Maybe she would convince her parents to change her school. She crossed her fingers as the thought plagued her mind.Her smile morphed into a slight frown and a furrow of her brows as she took in the unfamiliar black Porsche parked in the driveway. Her parents didn't drive Porsches.“Mum, Dad?” she uttered as she stepped into the grand living room, her eyes flickering from one corner to another.“Welcome home Elsida,” A chirpy voice rasped, Elsida's face lit up in a ginormous smile which dissipated quickly when she took in her Nanny’s scrunched-up nose.“What’s wrong Nanny Margo?” she eyed her warily.“It's your mother please stop her,” Margo said in a hushed tone as her eyes flickered back and
JULIEN Julien ignores the protest of his father’s secretary when he barges into Armand Benoit’s Office. He was indeed in a meeting. The stern frown that spreads along Armand’s lips does nothing to curb the fury surging through Julien’s veins.“Julien, I’m in a meeting,” Armand announces as he eyes his son and attempts to plaster a smile across his face. He manages a grimace.Julien struts to a plush white chair and takes a seat, his eyes glaring daggers at Armand.“I’m sure cutting it short won’t be a major inconvenience,” he drawls.The businessman seated in front of Armand gazes at the pair with his eyes widened. He clears his throat.” I can come back another time,” he murmured, already rising to his feet.Once the door closed behind the associate, in three steps Julien was standing in front of his father’s table, hands gripping the mahogany tightly.“I don't have time for your antics, Son,” Armand rasps as his gaze settles on the monitor beside him, he begins to type.Julien’s kn
“Raphael is alive,” Armand mutters as he looks Julien square in the eye. Julien’s eyes widened as he processed his Father's words When was the last time he heard that name?His gaze traveled through Armand’s facial features for any tell-tale sign of the game he was playing. As their eyes met, he saw nothing but stark sincerity with a hint of fear.“That is impossible Father.” He finally uttered. Although, he could hardly believe his own words.“He escaped the fire, narrowly, he was in shock for months a lot of intensive care was administered.”Julien’s throat went dry, as he spoke, he barely recognized his voice. It sounded raw and gravelly.“So you’re telling me that for eleven years you Raphael?“Precisely my point,” Armand rasped but didn’t meet his eyes.Julien thought of a hundred words he could use to describe his Father, Armand was debased, Selfish and manipulative. However, with this revelation he wasn’t sure any of them would suffice.He clenched his fists and gritted his tee
“We have to stop him Elsida,” Anne sobs, breaking the stark silence in the bedroom.Elsida’s head remains bowed as she focuses her gaze on the marble tiles, “We can’t stop him, Anne. There’s no way.”Elsida’s voice comes out even, all traces of nerves dissipated and replaced with a hollowness so deep in her stomach. She had accepted their fate, death seemed more appealing as she pondered over it.No more pain.No more nightmares.Anne let out a heavy sigh, “Look behind your seat Elsida.”Elsida’s head snapped up and she wrinkled her nose as her gaze focused on Anne.”What are you talking about?”“Just turn your head Elsida,” Anne said, her voice coming out rushed.Sighing reluctantly, Elsida twisted her head. She was starting to think Natasha had lost it until her gaze collided with metal.Perched precariously close to the edge of a mahogany drawer was a pair of scissors. If she leaned in just enough, she would be able to grasp onto it.“That's Hope Elsida,” Anne rasped as her eyes sho
A gasp escapes Elsida’s lips as Anne’s body falls to the floor.” Anne!” she bellows as tears slide down her face.Raphael’s face blanches as he takes in the blood pooling around them. In a fleeting second, he’s on his knees. He cradles her limp body in his hands desperately as he starts to sob.“You’re not supposed to die, Anne, it was meant to be her,” he murmurs with one hand placed firmly against her skull.“Raph I..” Anne sputters as blood rushes past her mouth. “I love you… save my Father please,” she says with one last pleading look at him before her body goes still.“No!” Raphael bellows as he shakes her limp body.“Do something Elsida, don't just stand there.” he sobs as his eyes bore holes into her skull.Elsida remains stiff as she takes in the bloody scene. Her hands tremble at her side but she is unable to move. In a haze, her mind catapults back to the death of her mother. Her limbs give in on her and she falters to the ground. Sobs vibrate within her as she crawls to Ann
As Elsida stalks towards the living room, Julien’s head perks up from the floor. Elsida pauses in her tracks as her breath escapes her. He’s perched casually against the green couch, and his long legs are splayed in front of him.Her gaze travels from his Bruno Magli shoes to his all-black suit and rests on top of the disheveled mess crowning his hair. Her gaze moves to his eyes and for the first time in years, his emotions are on full display.“Elsida,” he rasps as their gazes collide. His azure eyes shine with hurt and relief as they penetrate her green voids.“What are you doing here Julien?” she manages to utter as she takes a tentative step to close the gap between them.“I'm here to see you El,” he rasps, his voice clear as day as his gaze flicks back and forth between her eyes.“Why?” she mumbles as her gaze shifts to the green couch.Julien rises to his feet and closes the gap between them with a step in her direction. His index finger tips her chin up so she has no choice bu
“I’ll have a cinnamon roll and a chai latte please,” a petite blonde recites her order to Elsida.“Will you have it to go?” Elsida raises her eyebrows. the girl shakes her head and Elsida heads behind the counter to retrieve the order.It's been two weeks since the kidnap and exactly ten days since Julien confessed his feelings to her. The mere thought of it made her cheeks flush.For the past ten days, over a dozen bouquets had been delivered to her house; white roses, lilies, tulips, and peonies. Her favorites. She wasn’t sure if there was space in the house for any more flowers but her heart managed to speed up rapidly every time the doorbell chimed with a delivery.Her lips twisted into a large grin as she went on taking and serving orders. “Damn Elsida, I'm sad that in all my years of existence, I have not managed to make you smile like this” Natasha chuckles as she throws a towel at Elsida in the kitchen.“Now you’re just bluffing Nat,” Elsida scoffs.“Girl, you wish I was. I'm