Syrus’s POVSyrus tried to get as much information from Vivian’s place of work, so much so that he had to wait a while to get the audience of one of the workers there.“Hello, please may I have your attention for a few minutes?” Syrus asked when he was eventually able to speak with one of them.“Yes, of course,” she said warmly. She was friendly and polite, because she thought that Syrus needed their services.“What is your name, please?” Syrus asked.She misread Syrus’s question, and instantly, she switched from formal and professional to interested in Syrus.Syrus noticed her mood, but played along just so that he could get the necessary information he needed.“Jessica, sir,” she said seductively.“You have such a beautiful name,” he told her and she smiled sweetly.“Thank you, sir,” she said. It was as though something came to mind, and she looked at Syrus intently, her brows squeezing in confusion. “You look somewhat familiar,” Jessica said.Syrus cleared his throat. He thought of
Syrus’s POV“You mean on every aspect of her life?” Davis asked. He sounded skeptical on the phone.“Yes, would that be a problem?” Syrus asked. What he did not need now is to be discouraged by anyone, especially his lawyer.Syrus was not sure that Vivian would not pull this stunt on him a second time. With Vivian, it was always a “once bitten twice shy” situation. What even infuriated Syrus the most was the fact that he had to drive all the way to Vivian’s house and probably face his biggest enemies; her brothers and father, which would be putting him in their mercy.“Damn you, Vivian,” Syrus said under his breath.He was certain that she knew exactly what she was doing, and she was doing this just to get back at him for the press release, forgetting that it was her promiscuous actions that led him to that reaction. Vivian was that petty, Syrus knew, because if she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have filed for a divorce on the grounds of an affair, something that happened just once!Well, afte
Vivian’s POVAfter the day’s work, I stayed back with Jane to clean up and arrange the chairs together for the day. Jane turned the sign to “closed” and she returned to join me in putting the chairs together. I noticed that all day, she had been trying to dial a number, and she always had a worried expression on her face when she dialed the number.“What’s wrong?” I asked Jane. Even though I already said I wasn’t looking to make friends, I could not ignore the fact that she looked worried and troubled. Also, she was very nice to me for the first time even though she did not have to.“it’s nothing,” Jane said, but I knew that she was lying, because the troubled look still remained on her face.“You know you can talk to me, right?” I told Jane.“I don’t want to burden you with my problems, especially as you are new here and you do not like to be bothered,” Jane said.I nodded my head, feeling less like a better person. I realized that I shouldn’t have sounded like that to Jane. This was
Vivian’s POV“Ted? Did…did you say Ted?” I stuttered, my breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded rapidly against my ribs.This world indeed was a freaking small place. I know that my brother was not only the only person who bore Ted in the entire city, but Jane’s story matched his based on what Manny had told me.“Yes,” Jane answered. Then she looked at me with expectancy in her eyes. “Do you know him?” She asked desperately.I shook my head quickly. “No, I don’t know him,” I lied. Jane’s head fell in sadness. “I wish you did,” Jane said as she emptied the last drop of beer into her mouth. Then she signaled the waiter and ordered for another bottle of beer. “Do you think you need more beer?” I asked Jane, worried and concerned for her, but at the same time, eager to hear more of what she had to say. Even though my heart was beating, it was a good thing to meet someone who had known Ted intimately. I felt fortunate to be sitting with Jane at this tie “Of course, I do. You ar
Syrus’s POVSyrus was still reeling from the embarrassment he faced at Vivian’s house. Vivian’s father had slammed the door in his face and they hadn’t even bothered to open the door again even though Syrus had swallowed his pride and rung the doorbell again.He had walked away feeling highly insulted and determined to carry out his legal action against Vivian.Now, Syrus could not even tell if Vivian was at home or not. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was really worried, and more worried because she had his babies in her stomach. Syrus hadn’t thought that Vivian would want to make things extremely difficult for him. If she hadn’t opted to kick him out of the process of their kid’s antenatal and birth, he would have feared that something bad had happened to her, but right now, Syrus had no doubt that Vivian was absolutely avoiding him. She knew that the only way she could punish him was not showing up for their doctor’s appointment. Today was supposed to be their restaurant
Vivian’s POVThe rest of the night with Jane flew by, because after she told me that she was the one who connected Ted with the dangerous man, I just blanked out on the other things that she said. I wanted to grab Jane and yell at her for causing so much issues in my family, because if she hadn’t introduced Ted to something as dreadful as drug trafficking. When she got really drunk, she had begun to spill most of what she had done before and after she met Ted, and it became obvious to me that she was certainly the one who dragged Ted into the life he in now and changed him completely from the brother she used to know. After that night, I concluded that I did not want to be friends with Jane. Granted, when she had told me that Ted was her boyfriend, I had been ecstatic, because then it would give me the insight into Ted’s life; something that Manny couldn’t give.So the next morning, when I arrived at the coffee shop and Jane arrived a couple of minutes later, I gave her the cold sho
Georgia’s POVGeorgia got dressed, humming excitedly. It was going to be a good day, regardless, because she was having a lunch date with Nancy and Bonnie. She already felt like a part of Syrus’s family, and she intended to break the news to them about she and Syrus over lunch.“You won, girl,” Georgia told herself. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and said to herself, highly impressed with what she saw, “You are such a gorgeous goddess! No wonder Syrus could not resist you.”Georgia knew without a doubt that she was more gorgeous than Vivian, and her looks had also been one of the things that had gotten her where she currently was now. Georgia knew that Syrus liked her, he only needed a little push, and she understood that, which was why she was going above and beyond to ensure that she secured her place in Syrus’s life.“Of course he can resist you, you are the one forcing yourself hard on him.”Georgia startled on the harsh voice that filtered into her bedroom and disrupt
Georgia’s POVGeorgia intentionally waited up for Syrus. Truth be told, she was surprised he was staying out this late, because the Syrus that she knew always wanted to get home before it was past 9pm, and looking at the time now, it was already past 11pm.Georgia busied herself with a show on TV as she waited for Syrus in her sexy lingerie in order not to fall asleep. She could hardly contain her joy when Nancy and Bonnie had insisted that she spent the night after their lunch date, which later dragged into a dinner date, because they could not get enough of Georgia’s gist. They wanted Georgia to tell them how it all went down, and Georgia ensured that she did not leave much details out.“No, you definitely have to spend the night. You are practically family now, and I am sure tha Syrus has planted his seed in you already,” Nancy had said firmly.Georgia had pretended to hesitate, meanwhile inside, she was doing the happy dance. “I don’t want to overstep my boundaries. I mean, what i
Georgia’s POVGeorgia stayed hidden in that spot and watched everything play out. She had planned everything with Adrian, but she needed to be sure that nothing was going to go wrong. Georgia watched Bonnie give Adrian a side look, and she raised her nose up.“All of you from wealthy homes are always looking down on people at first look,” Georgia said to herself in disdain.She was familiar with that kind of look all too well, because when she was trying to make her way to the top, she faced a lot of criticism from wealthy and influential people. Georgia also knew that if she wasn’t where she was now, Bonnie would not give her a first look at all.“Well, all that is about to change,” Georgia said as she paid attention to the pair. She arranged it in such a way that made her hear everything they were talking about.“I am waiting on someone, and you are in her seat,” Bonnie said in her rich, proud, and sophisticated voice that made Georgia want to drag off all the wealth and influence
Georgia’s POVIn private now, Georgia held her hand to her chest and released the breath that she had been holding.“That was freaking close!” Georgia said in shock.While she sat there and watched the banter among Syrus, Nancy and Bonnie, Georgia had been praying that Bonnie wouldn’t be pressured into telling the truth, thereby mentioning her name.She was really smart enough to have told Bonnie to wire it over to her, because she knew without a doubt that Syrus definitely tried to trace that money. “I have to think of something,” Georgia said to herself in thought.She received the mail of her officially approved contract with the TV show, which meant that the money would soon be paid to get. It also meant that she would soon begin her tour. All things seemed to be working well for Georgia. Now, her only problem was Bonnie. Georgia had a deep feeling that if Syrus applied just the right pressure, she would slip. She knew Bonnie and the soil she was made from. Bonnie was too soft at
Vivian’s POV“Twenty thousand dollars?!” For a moment, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me, but from the look on Manny’s face, I knew he was not joking. Why would he? Who would joke about something as important as this?Manny took a seat, dejected. He looked like he was dressed for work, but I couldn’t ask him.“Dad’s medical bills certainly shouldn’t have cost that much,” I said with certainty. Not like I had any valid proof, but I just couldn’t believe it at all. “You weren’t here, Vivian, so you have no idea what it was like,” Manny said.There was still the underlying tone of anger and resentment which I just recently figured out, and it really broke my heart. Well, I guess everyone in my family now officially hates me.“I know that, but…” I tried to talk, but Manny interrupted me.“What about that Jane girl?” Manny asked out of the blue. I blinked several times, because for a moment, I could not understand Manny’s question, and he noticed my confusion.“The girl you m
Vivian’s POV“What does that even mean?!” I asked, angrier now.“What doesn’t it mean? Vivian?” Manny responded, equally upset, even though we were both equally trying to keep our voices down so that we would not wake dad up.“He does not want to see you, or speak to you! I wouldn’t even have let you in if he was awake!” Manny spewed.His words hit me like a punch in my guts, making me stagger backwards. So this was what life had become for me. My dad who accepted me when I returned after the divorce no longer accepted me.“This is not fair!” I said as hot, bitter tears began to fall from my eyes. “This is not fair at all.”It was as though my words aroused the anger that Manny had been trying so hard to keep at bay.“It is not fair? Vivian, do you have any idea the pain you have caused us?!” Manny bellowed. “First of all, you ran off with a man that none of us approved of!” Manny said.“I know that. I know that,” I was crying now, in deep regret.“That alone, caused dad to have his f
Vivian’s POVAfter Belinda left for work, I began to contemplate whether or not I should go. I wouldn’t have gone if Ted hadn’t been taken away, which should have given me enough confidence, but now, I just felt horrible going, because all this problem was because of me.I hadn’t spoken to Manny since the last call when he told me to run to safety. Maybe he must have been trying to reach me, but my phone was switched off.“You don’t have all the time in the world to contemplate, Vivian,” I told myself, because if I don’t go now, I might not catch Manny at home before he goes to work.So I got dressed and left the apartment, taking the key with me.On my way there, my heart began to pound heavily, and I wondered why I was feeling this way about visiting my family. I used to be very comfortable around them, and even though we have had our rough patches, we were still a family.Standing in front of the door now, I inhaled and exhaled.“You have got this, Vivian,” I encouraged myself befo
Vivian’s POVI have been reminiscing on the things that Belinda revealed to me, and I could barely make sense of it.I watched Belinda getting dressed for work as I stayed lazily in bed, my mind trying to understand everything.“Vivian!” Belinda practically yelled my name, making me snap out of my reverie. “Jeez, you were lost for a moment,” Belinda said.“No, I have been here,” I lied, and Belinda knew I was lying. I really do not understand why I lie to her when she could read me like a book. “I have been talking for about ten minutes, and you completely zoned out, so stop lying to me,” Belinda said.“Okay, what were you saying?” I asked, somehow sensing that she was yapping about silly things.After talking at length yesterday, I had pleaded with Belinda to spend the night with me. It was my first night in the apartment, and I did not want to sleep alone. Trauma from that small town still haunted me greatly; which was even why I switched off my phone. Thinking about it now, I had
Syrus’s POV“Mum, do you have an idea what Bonnie did? Did she tell you? Are you also in on this?” Syrus asked his mother, fuming.He had gotten a worrisome call from the family’s finance officer who expressed his deep concerns about how huge amounts of money was being withdrawn from the family account. First, it was Bonnie, then Syrus, and now Syrus was requesting for another amount of money.Syrus would be really upset if his mother was in on this.“You can at least start by talking first, Syrus,” Nancy demanded authoritatively.Georgia just sat there watching the family drama, and hoping to God that Bonnie would not be forced into mentioning her name, otherwise she would be doomed. This was the only family that she pitched her tent for now.“Bonnie had five thousand dollars wired out of the account, and I demand to know what she used the money for!” Syrus bellowed.“So you refused to answer mum’s question, but you want to force me into answering yours, right?” Bonnie stated stubbor
Georgia’s POVGeorgia was upset and disappointed at Bonnie for making her waste her time going all the way to that property only to discover that there was no one there.In as much as she would like to, she could not show off her anger and disappointment towards Bonnie. If she didn’t need both mother and daughter to reach her goal, she wouldn’t bother with a dumb head like Bonnie.“Sometimes, being born with a silver spoon just makes them really stupid and silly,” Georgia said to herself, referring to Bonnie. Georgia was not particularly a fan of these rich kids, because half of them were not remotely as smart as she was, and that was because they had everything practically handed over to them in a platter of gold.Georgia arrived at Syrus home, and for the first time, she really hoped that Syrus would not be at home. She did not want to see him, at least not now, and she was still very upset that after that interview, he never bothered to reach her. Instead, he had gone to be the kni
Georgia’s POVGeorgia arrived at home in a lighter mood, because a few minutes after she left Brenda’s apartment, she got a call from Brenda.“Have you changed your mind?” Georgia teased. She already knew the answer, but Georgia just enjoyed toying with her victims.“No, I haven’t,” Brenda responded, and from the sound of her voice on the phone, Georgia could tell that she was still shaken.Very good, just the way Georgia liked it!“I wanted to inform you that the interview video has been deleted completely, and it would never be out in the public,” Brenda said.“How am I certain that this isn’t a lie just so that I would not expose you?” Georgia asked.She was not a fool. In fact, she was way smarter than a bunch of people, and she knew how these things worked, because she had been in the game long enough, which was why she did not even talk about her other blackmail request yet.“Because you have just been crowned our star of the season,” Brenda announced.Georgia could not believe