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Forty-five
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2021-09-23 19:04:00I don’t. I don’t know where Joshua lives because it never occurred to me that siblings meet outside the office. Has he invited me to his house? Yes, once. But I couldn’t make it and I didn’t try to invite myself.
El’s expectant glance has my shoulders rotating in a casual shrug, she shakes her head in disapproval. If she had siblings, she would have made a great sister. I pick a flower from the bouquet on the table and sniff it. El runs her fingers through my hair, moving down to my beards and a wistful sigh leaves my lips.
“You kept them,” I say as I tuck the flower with the rest of the roses sitting elegantly in a glass jar. It is part of the bunch Ed sends to her office daily. That and the bars of chocolates. I shouldn’t indulge her with sugar but it makes her happy and I am such a sucker for anything that makes my wife happy.
She pouts. “I couldn’t eat them so I had to keep ‘em.&rd
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Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Forty-six
“Why did you tell them about her?” I ask El. Back in the room, I pop the buttons of my shirt. She wiggles out of her heels and sashays to my front to take over. A few seconds later, my jacket comes off. I reward her with a squeeze of her ass, she returns the favour and pouts. “Why did you tell the girls about Brianna?”She sighs with her whole body. “They were eavesdropping.” She rolls her eyes, pausing on the last button of my shirt. “Again.” I chuckle. “I had to tell them. They understand she’s sick but that’s about it.”Her light tone betrays her annoyance, my hand moves behind her neck and she vibrates against me as my fingers caress her skin. I spin her so her back is to my chest, slowly pulling down her zipper. El sucks in a shaky breath, I cup her breasts and wait, giving her time to process what is about to happen.“I’m glad you did,” I whisper against h
Last Updated : 2021-09-25Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Forty-seven
“Baby, what do you think of the styles I sent you?” El asks while knotting my tie. She smoothes my shirt and her hands relocate to my shoulders to massage them when I remain mute. “Five is a big number.”The girls birthday is in three weeks. El has taken charge of the birthday arrangements. Between the office, project El, stalking Vincent and trying to sort everything before we move, I haven’t had much time for anything else. El wants to throw a big party for them, the biggest they have ever had and I am fully in support. Five is a big number but I didn’t see the designs. I have spent more time on my phone, learning Vincent’s lifestyle than I have with my wife and kids. It’s almost like the obsession I had with El at the beginning of the year. Stalking has become my thing.“I agree with anything you choose,” I tell her. “Don’t spare any expenses, make our girls happy.” She tilts her head and
Last Updated : 2021-09-28Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Forty-eight
Sophia is waiting for me at the reception with her legs crossed and eyes narrowed. I offer Dina a smile and return the guard’s curt nod. A blonde brow raises when I stop in front of Sophia with a commercial worthy smile glued to my lips.Will El be mad at either of us if she finds out Sophia is the appointment?I don’t think too much about it as we start for my office without exchanging pleasantries. Sophia elbows me in the ribs once we are safe in the elevator. Mischief settles in her eyes. I sneer.“Someone is happy.”“I am.” Curiosity takes over her face, I settle for saying, “I’m moving back to the mansion.”And I am finally getting to tap that ass. Man, I am walking on sunshine.I lower the briefcase to the floor and rotate my shoulders to ease the stiffness. Three more floors to my office. She shoots me a furtive glance, a shaky smile takes over her lips before her
Last Updated : 2021-09-29Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Forty-nine
El is asleep on the couch when I arrive home. I dump my belongings and squat in front of her. Her lashes flutter but she doesn’t wake. A smile flits to my lips as I observe my wife. I peck her lips, she sighs softly and rolls to her side. Maybe she is tired. Gently shaking her awake, I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.Her eyes open, she blinks morosely for a few seconds until my presence registers. “Hey,” she says as she gets into a sitting position. I slip my arms around her waist. Her eyes dart to the wall clock. “You’re late.”“Yeah. I lost track of time.” She nods, rubbing the back of her hand against her eyes. “They are asleep?” I motion to the stairs, she nods again. I squeeze her butt, bury my face in her chest. “Baby. Sorry I'm late.”Ed might need to return to work tomorrow because I can’t deal with the unfiltered calls and emails. The young man deserves extra
Last Updated : 2021-09-30Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Fifty
El doesn’t call or text me. Neither do I. I slip the phone inside my breast pocket, tired of waiting for a call I am sure will never come. It fucking stings. Staring at the phone, hoping for a text or a missed call from her. It won’t come but I keep hoping, checking. Less than a week apart from her and it feels like the end.The conversation would have ended differently if we weren’t so intent on hurting each other. I didn’t lie. She’s a flee or flight woman. I need her to be my ride or die. I am her ride or die, together forever.God. This is fucking it. The end of our love story. Good things really don’t last. We didn’t even get up to eight months like last time. I stare at the roof of the car until it blurs, my eyes sting from trying not to break down.El hates me. She fucking hates me.I rub circles on Wyn’s back absentmindedly, careful not to rumple her uniform. Another sigh esca
Last Updated : 2021-10-02Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Fifty-one
Everything is slow. Time seems to be taking a break. I collapse on my seat, brows knitted together. A lot of thoughts contest for space in my mind, my heart shrinks as Bren’s voice echoes in my head and a new wave of anger for El uncoils inside me. Bren thought it was their fault. Does Wyn also think that way? I straighten up at the sound of my phone going off. It is a text from Ava. To check up on me, find out the reason I skipped today’s session. I place the phone face down without replying her. If I want to feel good about myself, I will let her know. Monsters don’t need to feel good. I need to be punished for making my little girl cry. She didn’t even kiss me goodbye. That’s what makes it worse. Bren never gets that angry. Tempted to call El to beg for her forgiveness and another chance with us as a family, I turn on my laptop. El doesn’t need an apology from me. It doesn’t matter whatever I do or say, I will always remain less of a man than T. Does she eve
Last Updated : 2021-10-04Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Fifty-two
The house feels empty without the girls. By Monday morning, I’m rushing out of the house like an intern on his first day of work. Once I walk in through the doors, the familiar walls of the office and the minty smell eases some of my discomfort.I will always be welcomed here.Minutes after settling in, I dial Sophia’s number. It goes straight to voicemail. She went out with Vincent twice. On Friday and Saturday. She needs to have good news for me. I need some relief in this storm.El is still mad at me. I won’t get to see my girls till Friday morning. I redial Sophia’s number but it’s the same response. Eyes narrowed at the door, my fingers drum on the desk. She is a paediatrician, she’s busy. But she told me she will be here this morning. I wait another five minutes, then try again.Sophia picks on the third ring. I hear nothing from the other end and an uncertain feeling fleets through me. &ld
Last Updated : 2021-10-05Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Fifty-three
Brianna is awake.I race out of the office with Sophia hot on my heels, desperate to know what’s up. El’s voice swims in my head, forming a thick cloak over me. Anticipation curls my insides, I almost miss a step on my way out.My baby is awake.At the garage, I pat my pockets for the keys. Nothing. Where’s my briefcase? I groan, patting my pockets for the second time with more care as if the keys will magically appear. It does. I pull the bunch out, arm trembling as I try to hit the unlock button on the fob. I miss it the same way I missed the keys the first time.The fob drops from my hand, Sophia picks it to open the door. Inside the car, shook and unable to move with my hands tightened around the steering, I stare into space. By awake, she means not asleep, right? Not the false alarm that happened last time.“What happened?” Sophia asks once she slides into the passenger seat.&
Last Updated : 2021-10-06
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Mrs Reluctant Billionaire Valentine’s special
ElnaI shut the door to our bedroom and tiptoe inside. Brandon doesn’t stir. He’s dead asleep. Or so I think till I near the bed and drop the package—his valentine gift on the nightstand. He puckers his lips for a kiss and I gladly indulge him. His hands grasp my butt, he pulls me up to straddle him and I move slowly against his erection without breaking eye contact. “Are they asleep now?” “Yeah. Finally. Alleluia,” I reply with a laugh. “Maybe I shouldn’t have given them the day off.” Silly me thought it would be great to give the twins nannies Valentine’s Day off so our family could do something special. Bad choice. With two one-year old attention demanding kids, I need all the help I can get. To make it worse, this year’s valentine fell on a Sunday and most of last night was spent trying to quiet the babies. “Maybe.” Brandon captures my lips. The kiss is lazy but it soon grows urgent. His tongue searches for mine, twirlin
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire In the end (II)
The girls are dancing in a circle. Wyn is in the middle of the circle trying to perform a break dance. I laugh at her failed attempts, holding El closer to me as we sway gently to a rhythm in my head. El wrinkles her nose in disappointment, her fingers intertwine with mine and I spin her in a lazy circle.“You’re not supposed to be laughing at them,” she says as their mother dearest. “You cheer them up.”True. But it was funny. Wyn waves, Bren does the same. Brianna does not spare us a glance. Like me and El, she has two left legs. She can’t dance but she is better than us. I wrap my arms around El from behind, tucking my head into her shoulder. She smells delicious. I can’t wait to have her alone.The music filters into my ears, I close my eyes and the lyrics wrap around my heart.“What’s Josh doing?”My eyes fly open. Josh is at one of the two canopies with Joy. Most of the g
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire In the end (I)
It’s today. Our vow renewal. To be honest, it feels like we are getting married again. This time, we have the people we care most about to celebrate the reunion with us and it makes me anxious. Joshua claps my shoulder. “Relax.” It’s so easy for him to say that but he doesn’t get it. The love of my life is out there. I haven’t seen my wife since yesterday because her mother believes it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. We stare into the floor-length mirror, our matching charcoal grey suits are differentiated by our ties. He’s my best man. “Is Joy coming?” he asks. Sophia will be in attendance but I can’t speak for her friend. I don’t say a word to him but I know this won’t work. Joy is older than Joshua. If her attitude towards him on my birthday is a sign to go by, she doesn’t like him. Some parts of me feel like this is an infatuation that will die soon. It is taking too long for him to get over her but I hope
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and ten
The cries of our newborn babies snap me out of my sleep. I jerk up and check the time on the alarm clock. 7 pm. I groan into my hands.My life has changed since their arrival. My sleeping pattern has worsened and my knowledge about babies has increased.Babies poop a lot. They cry too damn much. They don’t need a reason to cry, just existing is enough reason for them to cry. It is exhausting.Brandon Langalethu Stark is the louder one. Brendan Lelethu Stark is quieter. Annika gave them their middle names with approval from their godfather, Joshua. Lelethu means ours while Langalethu, short for Langa means our sunshine. I must admit, he hasn’t been a ray of sunshine for a while. He’s a big ball of noisy energy. El rouses from her sleep at the incessant sound of her crying babies. I love my sons but they cry too goddamn much. Their cries are coordinated. Once one of them starts crying, the other twin is bound to join in.
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and nine
Chaos breaks out. Everyone is all over me and El, saying so many things at once. The smile sitting on her face disappears. Tears fill her eyes, her nails dig into my shoulders so hard I’m sure it will leave a mark.She is hurting.Annika is speaking so fast, asking about the baby things. Mother is telling everyone to calm down. El is crying, she doesn’t want to go to the clinic with a wet dress. I don’t know what to do. I wasn’t present for the first pregnancy. Mother pushes me aside and helps El to her feet. I almost scream. Is she allowed to stand? What if our kids fall out?I rush to El’s side. Mother guides her through a breathing exercise as what she calls a contraction hits El. It must have really hurt. She balls my shirt and makes a pained sound that stops everyone in their tracks. More than six pairs of worried eyes pin her in a stare but she focuses on only me. My baby.“I’m okay,”
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and eight
Choruses of happy birthday fill the air. I am dragged away from El before I can kiss her back or utter a reply. I was so worried she would forget about today I forgot it myself. Mother nudges me with her hip and grins. Well played. Even the girls were in on it.Joshua claps my arm. “Happy birthday, brother.” This idiot. He called me during the day and didn’t wish me anything. “Many happy returns.”We cheers to my new age and Bren pulls me to the living room where the real party is happening. The place has been redecorated. There are balloons tied to the wall, a table with a bigger cake on it and the words, “Happy Birthday, my love” written on it.There’s another cake. Well, there are three more cakes. Instead of my love, one has son, the other has brother and the last one has Daddy written on it. A cake from each of the most important people in my lives. My wife. My kids. My brother and my parents
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and seven
El sneaks an arm around my waist. Her belly is bigger now. Our babies will be showing up soon. She leans on me for support while we wait for the private elevator. It was her idea to get out of my office to buy crackers. A little fun fact: We have boxes of crackers at home. If she wasn’t pregnant, her attitude would have been suspicious but with pregnancy, anything goes. Rule number 123432444: Never argue with a heavily pregnant woman. It will end in chaos. We enter the elevator with my hand on her lower back. Our reflections on the metallic wall smiles at us and El laughs. I set my suitcase on the ground and palm her face for a proper kiss. With the pregnancy due, her office has become mine. She spends more time with me than anyone else. I love it. Her lips taste like donuts. We ordered some an hour after she arrived to “pick” me. I will never let her drive in her state but she enjoys using that term even if she was brought here by a driver. She r
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and six
El won’t stop staring at her ring.We are in the backseat of the car heading to the hotel for dinner when she reaches up to give me a kiss. Leaning on me, she smiles at her ring again. I think I did right by her. Her mother will be happy. We had a long, loud, argument about this. About the vow renewals too but that will be after El delivers.“I have two rings,” El says, hand stretched out in front of her. She rolls Mother’s ring on her middle finger. “Does that make me Lord of the rings?”“Lady of the rings, maybe.”My phone vibrates with a text from Joshua. He wants to know if I did it. I facepalm at his request of a picture. It’s one more thing I have to get better at. Capturing the memories on camera. I nudge El with my elbow to show her the text. Her hand eventually lowers, she nods eagerly and strikes a pose, flashing her teeth in all the selfies. She knows she is pretty.
Mrs Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and five
I tilt the laptop and the girls’ faces occupy the screen. Wyn is on top of Bren but her twin doesn’t seem to mind. Brianna is on one side of the bed, smiling at the camera. They are all lying on their stomachs. El settles down beside me, I prop the laptop on my knees and slip my hand into her shirt from behind. She shoots me a warning look. I bat my lashes like the cute baby daddy I am.“I miss Mummy,” Wyn says.My back meets the headboard and El rests her head on my shoulder. “What about me?”Again, she and Bren are rocking the same gowns. Wyn frowns. “I miss you too, I guess.”El bellows out a laugh. Evil girls. In a few months, I’ll have my boys. She wraps an arm around my waist to soothe me. It works for only a second before my attention returns to the laptop. Bren is grinning.“How are you?” El asks.“Fine,” three of them chorus.&
