~Rosemary~Three hours ago.After dropping Henny off at his grandma’s, I stopped by the hotel to sign some important documents. I had been away for quite some time and my deputy had been holding the reins for me.“Keep up the good work. I am not sure when I will be able to resume fully, but for now, keep me updated on what’s happening, okay?”She nodded.“By the way, go to HR to sort out your new pay.”Her face instantly lit up. “Oh, my God! Thank you so much, ma’am.”“You earned it.”I held up my hand when my phone suddenly rang. “I have to take this. You may leave now.”“Hello?”“Hey, princess!”“You!” I screamed, pulling the phone away from my ear.The number on the screen wasn’t the same one Angel used to call me the other day. Had I known it was him, I wouldn't have answered it.“What do you want!”He laughed. “You really should fire your security guard. All he does is sleep.”“You are here?” I shot to my feet. “Not quite. But if I were a bad person, I would have bypassed that s
~Gerald~The bouquet dropped to my feet. My tongue suddenly went bitter. Nooo! This isn't how it should go. I was just about to—“All these years, you have been lying to me!” She trembled, breathing exasperatedly. “Who the fuck did I marry!”“Rose, I am still me. I am still Gerald, the man you fell in love with!”“No, you are not!” She threw the binder to my feet. “It says here that you are Gerald Clay, CEO of G-Tech and other businesses. You allowed me to make a fool of myself when I recommended the software engineering job to you a year ago!”“Baby, I—”“Don’t call me that!”She stamped her feet. “Everything was a lie! Right from the moment you agreed to marry me. You didn't even need my money. And Armando. You didn't get him out of trouble in Mexico, did you?”I shook my head.She threw her hands in the air. “Is his name even Armando?”I shook my head again. “His real name is Elvis. He's my assistant.”“Hahaha!” She sat on the edge of the desk and laughed out loud. “You guys must
~Rosemary~“How did you find me!” I yelled, the phone in my hand dropping to the floor.The man at the door slowly smiled, then mewed. “I have my sources, princess.”“Wait… did you really think I wasn't going to find you?” he added, slapping his hand on the door.I held on to the door and tried to shut it. “What do you want!”“You!”I cringed when he gave me that sick smile again. “I really can't deal with your disturbance right now. Please, leave!”“Aww! Princess, I actually came here to console you.”“I don't need your consolation. Leave!”Despite my shout, Angel did the exact opposite. He pushed the door farther open, walked in, and reached out his hand.“Don’t touch me!” I yelled, stepping away from him. “I know you must be happy now since everything you said about Gerald was true!”Since I left home, I have been going over what I saw in that binder. Everything that just seemed like luck or the fruit of my hard work was now very questionable.From my ability to buy so many shares
~Rosemary~“I told you to stay away from my wife!” Gerald shouted, punching Angel who had just fallen to the floor with a thud.“Your wife?” Angel chuckled softly. “She’s not going to remain that for long.”“Fuck you!”As soon as Gerald sucker-punched Angel in the face, I heard a cracking sound. It jeered me out of the frozen state I had been in for many seconds.“Stop! Stop fighting!” I shouted.That fell on deaf ears. The two rolled over, knocking off the vase on the table nearby. They wrestled like fighters in an underground wrestling ring.Strangely, Gerald was throwing more of the punches. Before I knew it, Angel’s nose was bloodied.“Guys, stop!” I shouted as they rolled over again, Angel now lying on the broken pieces of the vase.I rushed over and grabbed Gerald’s arm. Pulling him with all my might, I said, “That’s enough! You are going to kill him!”“Then let me!”When Gerald forcefully pulled his arm away, my hands slipped from his arm and I fell backward.“Ow!” I winced, ho
~Gerald~I held on to Rosemary’s face, sucking her soft lips hard. It had barely been twenty hours since our last kiss, but it felt like ages. I didn't want to let go. Not now, not ever.Rosemary kissed me back. And you could guess how that made me feel. She still loved me. She still loved me, but there were some reservations.“Don’t go…please,” I said, staring into her eyes and breathing hard after a long minute.Rosemary closed her eyes. “Why? You seem to be very busy…”“She allowed herself in. I didn't.”“But you didn't send her out.”She opened her eyes. “You allowed her to touch you knowing fully well that she fancies you.”“I guess that makes two of us.”Her eyes instantly slanted. Then she rolled them. “You know what, you are right. I shouldn't have come.”When she turned to get into the car again, I gripped her arm and pulled her. Her bosom crashed into my chest.She writhed. “Let me go. I hate you!”“No, you don't.”She slapped my chest. “You are so full of yourself!”“I’m
~Rosemary~“Look at what I got you, Henny.”Henny jumped excitedly as he took the shopping bag from my hand and tore it open.“Yaay! It’s a Spiderman costume!” he screamed excitedly, holding up the outfit that I had carefully picked out on the way here.I smiled for the first time in the last two days. “Do you love it?”Henny nodded. “I am gonna wear it every day. And when I get the action figure, I will play with it every day too!”“What action figure? Tell me, so I can buy it for you.”He shook his head. “Don’t worry, Mommy. Mr. Gerald already promised to buy it.”At the mention of Gerald’s name, my face fell. It had been forty-eight hours since I returned Gerald’s ring. I had turned off my phone and cried my eyes out. This morning, I woke up looking like a character straight out of a zombie movie. I had to put on a lot of eye makeup before coming to see Henny.Henny held my hand. “When is he coming to play with me? I miss him!”“Forget about that guy. I can play with you.”All of
~Rosemary~“Doctor, is he going to be okay?” I asked, more than two hours later. I had driven Max to the hospital and waited while the medical team attended to him. Now, he was sound asleep, but his face was quite pale.“He’s going to be fine. But I advise that you take his phone from him to avoid a recurrence.”I glanced at him. “Oh…I see.”“Not many people would have been able to drive a cardiac arrest patient without freaking out. You did good, Mrs. Smith.”“Uhm! I am sorry,” I laughed awkwardly. “I’m not his wife.”“Oh, my bad. I thought—”“Rosemary…”Hearing my name, I turned my head and saw Max awake. His eyes were squinted as if he couldn't see properly.“Sir, you need to stay in bed. Get some rest.”After saying that, the doctor turned to me. “Apologies once again, ma’am. I’ll leave you to it.”“What happened to me?” Max asked as soon as the doctor left.“You had a heart attack.”Max paused. Soon, his eyebrows raised with realization. “Please, don't get yourself worked up ov
~Gerald~“Is now a good time?” When I heard that question, I snapped out of the deep reflection I was in. “What’s the matter?”Elvis walked into the study and shut the door. “The third letter just came in.”My heart ached slightly as I looked at the unopened envelope in his hand. “She returned it unopened again?”Elvis nodded.Ever since that day I met Rosemary at the hospital and she mentioned sending me divorce papers, I had sent her three letters. I revealed the rest of my secrets in those letters, hoping that she would read them and finally come around.But each one was sent back unopened.I didn't know what to do anymore.“By the way, Max was discharged early this morning. One of the directors has proposed the notion for his immediate removal as CEO.”I leaned back in my chair. “And when is this meeting going to be?”“Tomorrow?”Hearing the questioning undertone in his voice, I looked up at him. “It isn't certain yet?”“Oh, it is. The meeting is going to be held by 10 tomorrow m
~Gerald~I slammed the door in his face. Before turning away, I listened as he stormed off, huffing and puffing about how I was making a huge mistake.“Before you say anything…” I began, looking at Elvis. “Get on the phone with the Russian mafia. I’m sure they would be pleased to know that Angel showed up here.”“No!”“What?” I exclaimed on the way to grab a glass of water.Elvis shook his head. “I don't think it’s a good idea to get involved in the battle between Angel and them. Time and time again, this has always ended with a bloodbath. It was hard enough for you to stay alive all these years despite having many enemies. I can't watch you get involved in a mafia war just because you want to take Angel down.”I sighed. “What do you suggest I do then?”“I suggest we wait. We wait for them to locate Angel and take him out. Since he's roaming without a care in the world, that should be pretty easy.”I shook my head with uncertainty. As far as I knew, Angel was much more powerful than m
~Rosemary~“Boss, are you okay? Boss!” Elvis ran to me as soon as the phone dropped from my hand. He made me sit on the sofa and peered down at my face.His tone changed. “Gerald, are you okay? Should I call the doctor?”I shook my head, clutching my chest. It was as if I was going to have a heart attack. But I knew going to the hospital won't help me.“Was that Rosemary on the phone? What did she say? Why are you like this?”I looked at him. “I don't know what to do, man. She’s getting married to Max again.”“What! How…but your divorce hasn't being finalized. You didn't sign the divorce papers, did you?”“I didn't. But now that she doesn't remember me or the love we shared, I’m afraid Max would make her drag me to court for the divorce. He's manipulating her big time.”I went on to tell him about the wedding photo Rosemary found and how she accused me of faking it and planting it in Max’s house.“This is getting out of hand. Should I tell the boys to take him out?”I groaned. “No. T
~Rosemary~“H-how is this… how did this…”I couldn't believe my eyes at all. I stared at the woman standing beside Max. She was wearing a very beautiful wedding dress. Most importantly, she wasn't me!She looked like me, but she wasn't me. She was Amani. I was sure of it!“So it’s true? What that man said is true! Max divorced me so he could be with Amani?”The photo slipped off my hands. Taking a step back, I stared down at it. “They even had a wedding. But why did Max propose to me two days ago? And Amani was so happy for me!”What the fuck is going on? Who's playing me for a freaking fool!All of a sudden, the door opened. I turned and saw Max. His eyes widened at the sight of me. He looked at my feet, and his eyes widened even more.“Care to explain?” I asked, folding my arms.I was trying so hard to keep it together. Heaven knows I wanted to jump at him and scratch his face. Another part of me also wanted to just break down crying. This moment reminded me of the heartbreak I su
~Rosemary~Call me insecure, but something didn't sit right about this meeting. First, because Amani showed up here at night. And second because for as long as I could remember, Amani had a thing for Max.She even snatched him from me when we were in high school. It was a miracle that we got married. Was she trying to snatch him yet again?But seeing this beautiful ring now, I realized what a fool I had been. Why did I think that the puppy dating they had in school still meant anything to Max after all the love I showed him since Amani left for college?“Yes!” I screamed, putting out my hand. “I will marry you, Max Smith!”“Really?” Max asked, his eyes lighting up.I nodded vigorously. After he slipped the ring on my finger, I raised my hand and looked at it. The rock was much bigger than the one he gave me when we first married. By the looks of it, it was probably worth millions.“You shouldn't have!” I said, tearing up.Max pulled me into a hug. “You deserve the very best, my love.
~Max~The cold was biting hard. Standing on the lawn, I listened to Amani as she went on and on about her grievances.Just two weeks ago, she had asked for a divorce. I knew it was because of my current financial woes. It hurt a lot that she wanted to leave me. But I begged.I begged her like I had never begged anyone before. She was my life!“I will stay on one condition. Get me everything that Rosemary has,” she had said.At the time, I thought that would be impossible considering the fact that Rosemary hated my guts. But after I received that call ordering me to come to the hospital because my “wife” was admitted there, I thought maybe…maybe it wasn't impossible after all.Although I suspected that Amani had a hand in Rosemary’s accident, I didn't dare to ask her that or even tell Rosemary the truth. I was going to do anything to make Amani stay with me.She agreed to leave the house for a while so I could make Rosemary comfortable with me. The plan was to make her transfer all he
~Rosemary~My eyes zoomed in on Max’s puckered lips. It was as if I was having a nightmare in a horror film.“No!” I said, turning the other way.Max sniffed. “My love, what’s wrong?”Yeah, what’s wrong with me? I thought I loved him? Or did that man get into my head?“There’s no rush, okay?”I turned to see him smiling awkwardly. I sighed. “I’m sorry, Max. I just…”“I understand perfectly. You don't have to explain yourself. You have just been through something so traumatic. I shouldn't have made such a move.”Aw… He’s so understanding. Seeing his face, I felt even guiltier for thinking about that guy. Why can't I get him off my mind? This isn't fair!“But… I just want you to know that I love you, Rosemary. Although we have had our ups and downs and people have tried to break us apart, we are soulmates.”I nodded, remembering what he said about us having a fight and me getting deceived into divorcing him and remarrying someone else.“Ermm. What was our quarrel about again?”Max scr
~Rosemary~The man stared at me before taking the burger from me. He smiled. “Thank you.”“Don’t you ever get tired?” I blurted out. He chuckled. “What do you mean?”“Come, sit,” he added, tapping the space on the bench.I hesitated. I didn't even know this man, but here I was, sharing my lunch. There was something warm about him.“Don’t you ever get tired?” I asked again, sitting down on the edge of the bench.I turned, smiling. “I do, Rose.”“But you have been staying out here day and night.”He shrugged. “I wanted to make sure you were all right and I wanted a chance to talk to you. Max banned me from coming close to your ward.”I sighed, placing my hands on my knees. “My husband… I mean, Max doesn't like you. He says you are bad news.”He shook his head. “Honestly… I am not in the least surprised by his behavior.”“Because you are a gigolo who deceived me into marrying you?”He chuckled. But when I looked at his face, he looked sad.“Actually…” he began, turning to face me again.
~Gerald~Amani gasped. “Of course not! Why would you accuse me of such a thing?”I shrugged. “Maybe because of the fact that you have always been jealous of Rosemary and you have been shamelessly trying to get with me. Or the fact that you are the most evil person I know!”Amani slapped her chest. “That's mean, Gerald! I might not be perfect, but I would never push my own sister off a cliff!”“Oh, cut the crap! Do I have to remind you that you once put honey in her food, slept with her husband, and even stole her baby?”Amani rolled her eyes. “I don't know what you are talking about.”“Typical!”I sucked my teeth and began to walk away.“Wait! I have something else to say,” Amani stopped me.I frowned. “What is it?”“I was thinking..” Amani fiddled with her fingers like a little girl.“Get to the point. I don't have all day!”“Ermm… I was wondering if you could give me some money.”I scoffed. “I don't have money to give you.”“But I heard that you are a billionaire and you own several
~Gerald~“Rose, it’s me, Gerald. Can you see me now?” I uttered, pulling back so she could see my face.But Rosemary squinted even more. “Why are you in my ward? I don't know who you are, sir.”What! Did I hear wrong?I blinked, then shook my head. “Rose, you are joking right?”“I came as soon as I found out you were here. Why didn't you call me?” I added, sitting on the edge of the bed.Rosemary slowly turned her neck to look at me. “Why would I call you? I don't know you!”“Why do you keep saying that? It’s me, Gerald. Can't you see me?”She frowned. “Look, mister. As you can see, I am not in the right state to be arguing. I need to rest. Leave now before my husband comes and sees you here.”“What!” I sprang to my feet. “Rosemary, please you are taking this joke too far. I am your husband!”“No, you are not!”The second Rosemary raised her voice, I heard the door open behind me.I turned to see who it was.“Max? What the fuck are you doing here?”Max stood frozen at the door with a