Vivian’s POVManny and I just looked at each other, unable to speak.I was stupefied. My head was spinning and my world was going round. What on earth is Manny talking about?“He is very dangerous, Vivian, and until his money is paid in full, Ted is doomed,” Manny was the first to recover his voice. “There is a whole lot of issues going on that you never knew, Vivian, but now is a lot worse, because Ted is on the run from this bad man,” Manny said sadly.“Oh my goodness, I had no idea. I am so sorry that I have been unavailable all this time,” I apologized with tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew that they would probably have hidden it from me like they always did, but then again, if I hadn’t chosen Syrus, then dad would never have suffered a heart attack, and Ted would never have involved himself in something as terrible as this.The whole thing sounded so unreal and deadly to me, because the Ted I knew growing up with was a good boy that stayed out of trouble. The one person I kn
Vivian’s POVI thought my world would come crashing down instantly. Dan refused to look at me, which even made the situation a more confusing one for me, because I did not understand what was going on. That morning, we had talked, and even laughed about the headlines.So what went wrong?As I walked out of the office, I decided to take a walk instead of taking a bus; I didn’t have a place to go to even begin with. Belinda was still out of town and Ted was still upset with me. I tried to call Manny, but his number went to voicemail.“Shit!” I cursed. “Things just keeps getting worse for me,” I said sadly.As I walked slowly through the city on the pedestrian road, my mind kept going towards different directions in thoughts, not particularly settling on any thought, but aside my present predicament, one of the things that bothered me was Ted’s issues. I know Manny’s explanation about the whole situation was minor, compared to what was actually going on. They were always hidings things f
Syrus’s POVSyrus paced about angrily. He removed his tie and flung it across his office, angry and frustrated. The media was going wild with all sorts of comments about the headline that popped up that morning. What even annoyed Syrus was the fact that Vivian did not bother to deny the fact.Syrus could recall vividly the happy look on the man’s face when he had answered his door bell; it was the look of a man who had had a wonderful night.“She divorced me only to be screwing her fucking manager who cannot even measure up to me!” Syrus bellowed to no one in particular.The man was nowhere close to Syrus in wealth, fame, and looks, yet, Vivian had chosen to humiliate him with such a man.“She asked for a divorce, and I granted it to her. She dragged me to court on account of seeing me with Georgia, and I freaking paid for that. I have been up and doing in the antenatal process of our babies, but none of that is sufficient for Vivian,” Syrus said to himself angrily.His anger was boil
Vivian’s POV“You have to tell me where you are headed, ma’am,” the cab driver said. He was growing annoyed and impatient, because for fifteen minutes now, I have been unable to tell him where I would be stopping. He had been acting like a perfect gentleman by not forcing me out of his cab, but I continued to stare at him; I did not have a place to go. Until now, I still hadn’t come up with a solution to my problem of being stranded.“Are you homeless?” He eventually asked.“Yes, I am,” I answered truthfully, tears gathering in my eyes.This was the worst situation I had ever been in, and it made me ashamed and lonely. Never in my entire existence did I ever think that I would be this stranded.“That is so sad,” the driver said sympathetically, “But you do know that you cannot remain in my cab, right? I have to go to work. I have a family to feed and take care of,” he said.He was right; making him suffer with me was not fair. “I am sorry,” I said and opened the door to get out of h
Georgia’s POVGeorgia waited for her guest in the private lounge that she had booked. She was patient, because she was extremely happy and satisfied. While waiting, Georgia her best cocktail in celebration. She always knew she was a smart genius who could pull anything off, and this was just a proof of it.Very soon, Syrus would be hers permanently.She was yet to get Syrus back to her bed so that she could fake a pregnancy story, but as long as Vivian was out of the way, every other thing would be easy. As she told Syrus, making a press release would turn the business blogs to his favor, and it did. Georgia had never seen Syrus so relieved and happy. She had thought of seizing the moment to push the plans through, but Syrus had gotten an instant call from one of the companies that had pulled out as a result of the scandal, and he had had to go and attend to them.“Soon, Syrus Vale,” Georgia said to herself as she sipped her cocktail and waited for her guest. In fact, for doing such
Georgia’s POV“Would you like what I am having as well? It is the best cocktail you can find anywhere,” Georgia said to Jessica, referring to the almost empty glass of cocktail.“I wouldn’t mind,” Jessica smiled shyly. She was still awe-struck by Georgia, so much so that she was willing to play Georgia’s pet. Georgia rang for the waitress to get Jessica a glass of cocktail, and she also ordered another glass for herself. From the corner of her eyes, Georgia could see Jessica stealing glances at her, admiration and happiness in her eyes.Georgia remembered when she had spent the entire night after the horrible episode with her mother; it always happened that Georgia always spent sleepless nights strategizing about her next move, and that was when the idea came to her.“These girls at Vivian’s place of work are awed by you, so why don’t you use that to your advantage against Vivian?” Georgia had thought.She had made some quick and easy findings about them and had paid Jessica a visit.
Georgia’s POV“I would like an extra bottle of your most expensive wine,” Georgia told the hotel staff when she arrived at the hotel she had planned to meet with Syrus for the suppose celebration for not losing his company. Georgia was almost an hour earlier, but it was intentional. She needed to be there in time so that she would get everything ready and set.“You are not going to escape this one, Syrus,” Georgia said to herself as she looked around the perfectly arranged room. There were rose petals on the soft big bed, scattered in a way that made it look super fashionable. Then by the corner of the room, just a small distance from the bed, was a mini-dining exclusively set for two; two hairs and a round table. On the table were Syrus’s favorite food, and of course, his favorite bottle of wine. Georgia ensured that everything she ordered was Syrus’s favorite. She wanted him to be swoon and carried away, so that she would not have to try so much. By the other corner of the room wa
Vivian’s POVI thought I would cry my eyes out when I listened to Syrus’s press release, but I did not. I was heartbroken, no doubt, because he had joined everyone else to completely defame my character and paint himself as the good and perfect person. The only thing I felt was intense anger. I was enraged at myself for falling for a man like Syrus Vale who lacked virtue, character and moral. It was not enough that I and my family was going through all these problems because of him, he also had to come out and say such derogatory things about me to the public.“Damn you, Syrus!” I yelled, grateful that I was in a space where I could release my pent up anger without worrying about being seen or heard, or even interrupting anyone or anything. I spent the entire night thinking about my life. Syrus had ruined me.I was the one who sought for a divorce, but now he had turned around and said he dumped me because of my infidelity. He completely changed the narrative! Now, even if I came o
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