Vivian’s POVI have been panicky since I discovered that the picture was missing; this was a confirmation that whoever broke in was the same person who sent the threat. It dawned on me now that my life was in more danger than I even imagined. I wasn’t safe here anymore. What if I had spent the night in the room and they had met me there? I shivered at the thought of what they could have done to me.Killed me, maybe?I checked the room, just to be sure, and everything was intact. They did not take or destroy anything at all. The only thing they took was the picture.Scared to my bones, I dashed out of the room. I could no longer stay in the room out of fear. I walked back to the coffee shop, conscious of the fact that the detective was probably still with Leo and Lori, and he had told them that I did not spend the night in the room.When I entered the coffee shop, the entire place was quiet, but I could still hear faint voices, which was an indication that the detective was still ther
Vivian’s POVLeo and Lori could decide to go over to the room to check up on me, and not find me, which could raise their suspicion, but I didn’t care.What I needed to do was important, and I needed to do it now.Without even bringing out the piece of water that I wrote down the number and address from their office, I knew exactly where it was. I took a quick cab and arrived at the address.Then I knocked and waited in anticipation.Few minutes later, the door swung open, and a girl that looked just like Aimee in the passport photograph in Leo and Lori’s office appeared at the door. For a split second, I thought it was the dead girl, but then again, she did have a sister.“How may I help you?” She asked harshly, her eyes already blazing with anger.“Hi,” I said, a little fidgety.I hadn’t even thought of the reception I could possibly get or receive upon my arrival, so I just assumed that it would go smoothly, but with how upset she already looked, I began to question my motive.“Who
Georgia’s POV“Hey, what was all that about?” She asked the interviewer. Georgia refused to let her be, because she had ruined a lot of things for her without knowing it.“I am sorry, but the interview has been over since Syrus walked away,” she said.“Of course he would!” Georgia was exasperated, and she felt utterly betrayed. “This wasn’t the plan,” Georgia said, her voice emitting the pain she was feeling deep inside.She could not forget the cruel words Syrus had said to her. She knew how theatrical she had to be to get him to agree on the interview. Heck, she even had to involve Nancy and Bonnie, only for this interviewer to mess everything up. Georgia had already anticipated all the things that this interview would do for her; draw she and Syrus closer and make him see that they were a perfect match, make Vivian to feel the loss of what she had when she watches the interview from wherever she was, gain more fame and popularity, get other higher bigger TV shows and hosts to brin
Syrus’s POVSyrus was restless, so much so that he practically waited for Davis while he handled a case in court.“Would you like something to drink? Mr. Davis might take a while longer to be done,” Davis’s secretary said to him for the third time in over an hour. “No, I don’t want anything to drink, I just need Davis!” Syrus snarled at her and she scurried away. He was being unnecessarily rude, but Syrus would even bite his mother’s head off if she stepped in his way right now.Since the conversation he had with Belinda, Syrus had been restless. He even felt guilty, because all this while, he was thinking that Vivian was avoiding him to punish him, and her father and brother were keeping her away from him, but the whole time, Vivian was missing. Syrus could not even begin to imagine what she must be going through, or where she might be. He did not even want to think of anything happening to Vivian, or his babies. When Belinda had told him, he had fought the urge to reach out to Vivi
Syrus’s POVDavis was fuming with anger as they waited in his office, while Syrus massaged his knuckles with a pack of ice.“How could you?!” Davis barked at Syrus when he could no longer hold in his anger anymore.“I am still your boss, Davis,” Syrus said warningly. “But you are making my job extremely difficult, Mr. Vale! Why did you punch the man like that? I thought you said we were going there to simply ask him a few questions!” Davis said, his voice hitting the roof. He was so angry, frustrated, and exasperated that he would have resigned from being Syrus’s lawyer if it wasn’t for the mouthwatering paycheck and fat allowances that came with working for his family.Davis already indicated interest in an expensive condo outside of the country; his retirement home, and he had already made a down payment, so resigning now was not even an option, no matter how much he wanted to. Working for these rich spoiled brats always exhausted Davis. They always felt that they could do just abo
Vivian’s POVI sat quietly in Ken’s car as he drove out of Aimee’s house, and the one question that kept running through my mind was how did Ken know I was there?“Do you want to get breakfast? We could stop by at a good restaurant. I know one that sells the best recipe, especially ones that are perfect for your babies,” Ken said with a sweet smile that made me cringe.My hands flew to my stomach protectively. Ken noticed this and chuckled.I shook my head. “I am not hungry,” I said.“Why not? Have you already had breakfast?” Ken asked.I could not get over the feeling that being around Ken made me feel. Deep inside, I was afraid of him, and this had to do with what I overheard between him and Lori. Also, he just prevented me from getting a very important information out of her.“Damn, I didn’t even get to know her name!” I groaned internally as I scolded myself. How could I have been so foolish and forgetful to skip something like that? The least I could have done was get her name.
Vivian’s POV“What? Why?!” I asked in shock, completely forgetting that a while ago, I was over the moon in excitement because I heard my babies kick inside my stomach.“Ken’s apartment is better and more conducive for you,” Lori said sadly. I looked at Leo, but he looked away, unable to meet my eyes. Maybe I should have eavesdropped, because how did they change their minds only after Ken confronted her? Or maybe I shouldn’t even have told Ken about their offer. Maybe I should have looked for another excuse as to why I couldn’t take his offer. Now, Leo and Lori’s offer seemed like heaven compared to Ken’s. No matter the circumstances, no matter how stranded, broke, and alone I was, living with Ken was not an option to me.“What happened to yours?” I asked Lori, since Leo did not have the courage to even look at me. In fact, he looked as though he would rather be anywhere else but here.“After careful thought, we realized that it wasn’t available. It is occupied, fully,” Lori explaine
Vivian’s POV“Slow down, Manny, what are you saying?” I said, my heart beating really fast. “The very bad man I told you about that Ted owed a lot of money,” Manny started again.“Yes,” I said to notify him that I was following up.Manny’s information was making my head bang in confusion, and the fact that Manny was sounding extremely shaky and scared made me more agitated.“So apparently, he has been looking for Ted for a while now, and last night, he broke into our home and took Ted away,” Manny explained.“You saw him?” I asked, shocked. I didn’t understand why I was asking that question, because thinking about it after the question left my mouth made me realize how silly it was; whether or not Manny saw the drug lord, of what use would it be to me?“He sent thugs,” Manny answered anyway.I could feel tears gathering in Manny’s eyes, and my heart went out to him. “Did you say last night?” I asked Manny, recalling his earlier statement when he first broke the news to me.“Yes,” M
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