MaxwellThe bar was pretty quiet for a weekend night, the neon lights running in circles as slow music played in the background, and I cleared my throat when the woman I was with, said nothing."Uhm..." I started unsure of how to talk to my girlfriend's mother.Okay, it felt surreal to say that, but it was happening.*Flashback*"Mr. Sterling!"I turned to the woman that had called my name, recognizing her immediately, and I felt a burn of anger in my chest.Why was she roaming about her daughter if she didn't care about her?"Please, I need to talk to you.""I'm very busy, ma'am; probably make a schedule with my secretary."Of course, I was going to ignore that too if she did."I'm Raya's mother!" She said before I could walk away, and I wasn't sure what reaction she was expecting, but little did she know that I already knew that information."And..." I said, turning to face her again."I just... I just want to talk to her. To make amends""And what makes you think you have that righ
MaxwellBy the time I got back to the apartment building where Raya stayed, it was already late at night, and she and her friend were nowhere to be seen.Instead, a blonde lady opened the door, "And you are?" She asked"Uncle Max!" Kyle screamed from inside before I could answer, and I stretched my arms wide to receive his hug.He was always happy to see me, no matter how many times we saw each other, and that made my heart warm too."Oh, are you Mr. Sterling? Miss. Johnson mentioned that you might come around.""Yes, I am. And where is she?""She stepped out with her friend but promised to come back sooner than later. Probably by 9pm."It was 8pm.I wondered where they had gone too."You can go then; I'll look after them.""You sure?""Of course""Okay, thank you."The babysitter left, and I led Kyle into the living room, where Kendall's little girl, Leah sat.She was playing with her toys, and I immediately wished I had told the babysitter to stay around.What had made me think I co
RayaI woke up the next day to a pounding headache and an arm around my face—or was it an arm?"Oh God Kendall!" I said when I realized it was actually her leg that was across my face.I proceeded to remove it and sat up on the bed, immediately reeling from the headache that went through me."F*ck!" So much for saying I wouldn't drink too much.I hadn't drank too much to be honest but I had taken a strong drink after my collision with Mr. Michael Sterling.My hand went to my mouth at the fact that I still remembered that.That meant it was true, right?F*ck! I couldn't believe he was gay.Like, it wasn't a bad thing, but it was absolutely shocking.For one, he was married to a full fledged woman who was the daughter of one of the most influential individuals in the state, and second, he didn't look gay.For someone who was always looking prim and proper, I would have never expected that he was getting bent over to take it in the ass or was he the one giving it.I screamed from the tho
Third-person POVThe lady walked into the kitchen that morning, getting a glass of wine from the cabinet where she always put it, and she poured a glass for herself from the bottle of wine she had gotten earlier.She was in a good mood as things were going her way."Where are you going?" She asked her husband when he ran down the stairs from his study where she knew he had been, and he turned to her."S-somewhere. I'll be back.""Okay."He hurried out, and she picked up her phone to go through the pictures her agent had sent to her.Two men kissing.She never would have thought that her husband was into that, but she had suspected things.It was all for the best, though.Just an avenue to find more fun, right?She chuckled lightly to herself and sipped her wine, adjusting her robe properly around her.****RayaThe place that Mr. Michael Sterling had invited me to was one of those private bars that had a personal server and closed doors, and I was nervous when he walked in alone, clos
RayaThe anxiety was back once we drove through the gates of Columbia University. In the car, Maxwell had managed to keep me calm with his hands on my thigh and small talk, but on driving through those gates, I recognized the expensive cars and luxurious dresses and felt my heart skyrocket through my throat again."Are you okay? We can still turn back if you want..." He said when he noticed my sweaty palm, and I shook my head, chuckling nervously."That would be ridiculous; besides, I want everyone to know you're mine."Okay, that had come out without warning, but it put a smile on his face, and when the driver stopped behind one of the many cars in the parking lot, he hurried to the other side of the car to open the door for me.I was over the moon. "Thank you," I said, and he smiled."You deserve it."I hooked my arm around his arm, and he led us into the hall that was to be used amidst the stares of everybody."F*ck, everyone is staring.""Well, you're looking really beautiful."
Maxwell"What the f*ck, Michael?!" I found my voice after almost a minute of staring at the photo that was on my phone, and some lady tried to stop Diane from looking at the picture.It wasn't even a lady he had been cheating with but a guy.A guy.Michael was gay.I couldn't believe it even though I was saying it and looking at the evidence.My brother was gay."Seriously?" He said in response, looking at Raya, not me, and she raised her hands."I didn't do it. I swear I didn't...""Wait, you knew about it?"She turned to me, a guilty expression on my face.She did.She had known about it but chose to keep it away from me.I wasn't even sure how to feel about it.At this point, everyone was staring at us, and it took all but a minute before Michael cursed and walked out of the hall."F*ck it!""What? No, Micheal"I hurried after him, pulling his arm when I got to him outside the hall, and he flung my arms away."What is it? You must be finally happy to have something to use against m
RayaThe bar was how I remembered it.Loud, dingy, and nice.Spanish music was playing on the speakers when I walked in.It was strange.Did that mean there was someone else who had seen them?Paparazzi?A random person?I wasn't sure who it was, but it definitely wasn't me.I hadn't taken a picture, or had I?I just hoped Mr. Sterling wasn't suspecting me, but who would he suspect if not me?"Ugh!" I groaned sitting at the counter, and I ordered a glass of whiskey for myself. Similar to the one that was in the glass beside me, but no one was there.Maybe the person already left.Or so I thought before the appearance of Mr. Sterling graced my presence.I nearly choked on my drink."M-mr. Sterling...""Did you come to... I don't know, rub it in my face too?"He seemed defeated."What? No. I didn't do it though. I would never...""I know.""What?"I stopped in the sermon I was about to deliver to him."You're not the type of person that would do that. I guess we were not just careful en
MaxwellThe rest of the trip to the airport was chaotic, with the kids running around and being loud as we got them strapped for takeoff, but it helped me get my mind off things so."Are you ready?" I asked Raya, who was seated beside me, and she nodded, hooking her fingers between mine. I squeezed her.What could Michael have told her though?I was genuinely curious and couldn't wait for the plane to be in the air, and when it did, I turned to face her and said, "So..."She stared at me for a while before understanding, "Oh...""So you know how I'm trying to figure out who Kyle's father is, right?" I nodded, "Michael suggested that I go for hypnosis. It could help me remember the things I'm forgetting.""What?" I was thrown aback by that."Hypnosis?""Yes"I pondered on that. It was true that it could work, but there could be side effects."Have you researched it?"She nodded. "It seems doable.""Then let's do it."I was all for what she wanted as long as it benefited her, and she