Linda McGraw was the only daughter of the McGraw family, one of the big five families. Just like Brant and Randy, Mila use to play with Linda back when they were kids, when everything was milk and honey, when innocence ruled.Now standing in front of her childhood best friend, she knew that she needed to act as if they never knew each other…. technically, they don't right now.Each woman had grown up to fit her own definition of womanhood.This is Fabiola, my girlfriend." Brant said. "Babe, this is Linda McGraw, she is the one I told you about last night." He wound his hand around Fabiola and lied smoothly, smiling down at Fabiola.Fabiola remained stiff as she stared at the familiar face before her."Is she Ok?" Linda leaned close to Brant and whispered with a disgusting look on her face.Fabiola heard her sound and clear. "I am ok. How do you do?" Fabiola tried to keep a straight face, ignoring the fact that Brant just said that they spent the night together.Well, since Linda ha
"Your laugh is very familiar, just like someone I knew a long time ago." Linda said in an unexpectedly soft voice, stunning the others."Well, do I look like that person?" Mila asked nonchalantly, aa she folded her arms and leaned forward on the table."Never mind." Linda said. The softness that flashed across her face disappeared almost immediately. She sipped her coffee once more, cleared her throat and straightened herself one more time. It was like there were two different people now, and a few seconds ago."You were gonna say something." Brant reminded Linda, seizing the opportunity to deviate from the topic."My company needs this deal just as much as yours does, so we need to find a way to please both our parents for the sake of the companies." Linda stated.Brant nodded, neither in agreement nor denial."I propose we go in for an open marriage, with no conjugality between us except for the title of husband and wife." Linda proposed boldly, ignoring Fabiola's presence."Wow, so
"I never bet on you to be the jealous type." She was totally immersed in her work so much so that she did not notice Brant walk in until he spoke.It was the moment she had been patiently waiting for for the past 2 hours.She raised her head and stared at him straight in the eye."Why won't you want me to marry another woman, would you marry me instead?" He asked sarcastically with a mischievous smirk on his face."Why did you take me along?" She asked, ignoring everything he said. She was not in the mood to harass him for the useless comment he just made."Because you are my secretary of course, what else.? He replied confidently, accompanied by a shallow Scuff.She pushed her chair backwards noisily, creating enough room for her to stand up. "I'll ask you one more time, Brant, why...the… fuck...did you take me along?" She closed up the distance between them.Goosebumps emerged all over his body, but he held his ground. "Whom else should I have taken?" He asked, concealing his nervo
She wound her arms around him, raised herself on her toes and leaned in as he deepened the kiss.A soft muffled moan escaped her lips.Brant did not hold back as he explored her mouth with his tongue, drowning in her sweetness and leaving no part unattended to.She relaxed in his arms, drowning in the moment as the knot in her lower abdomen tightened.They stood there, locked together for about a couple of minutes, with their tongues dangling against each other.His breathing hastened, so did Fabiola's. This wasn't their first kiss, they'd taken things further to the end before, but this was actually first time they were kissing without each other trying to take advantage of the other....or so Brant thought."Brantley?" Fabiola called out in an out-of-breath voice. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back, creating some distance between them."Yes." He replied in a shallow lust filled tone, without letting go of her."You are to have a meeting now." She managed to say wi
Unlike his other meetings where he'll usually ask her to accompany him... even though she was not obliged to, this time he did not mention anything related to that. Instead he left her with tons of work to complete.She left the office pretty late that day, on getting home, to her greatest dismay, she discovered that her fridge was as deserted as that of a bachelor's.With the hope of getting a quick bite perhaps from an all-night diner, she made her way down the lonely streets of Limesville. The distant chirping of the crickets and cracking of the mid-road trees as the night wind whipped their branches.Fabiola had herself wrapped up in a gray shore, shielding her from the crude night cold.The dinner wasn't a long way from home, just 7 blocks, so she decided to beat it on foot. After all, she had not done any exercise or worked out in almost a week. She needed to at least get some cardio."A chicken sandwich please!" She said when she finally got to the dinner. "And chips with ketchu
"Where'd she go?" She heard one of the men ask his partner."I don't know," the other man replied."Com'on, let's find her.""I'll go this way, you go that way." She heard them say.She took a deep breath, waiting for the coast to be clear before she could grab her takeout and leave. She listened attentively as the two pairs of footsteps gradually faded.Her eyes bulged out when she saw a young Irish setter."Shsh!" She placed her finger hoping to silent the little dog from barking and selling her out.It stared at her wagging its tail."Hey cutie, go on, shoo! She whispered, with a nervous smile as she tried to shoo the dog away.It stared at her and fortunately it wagged its tail and turned away.She breathed a sigh of relief, only for her heart to skip a beat in fright when the cute puppy turned back to her and barked."No, no! Don't you dare!" She ground her teeth together as she threatened the poor dog.Her threats were not enough to silence it though."Boss we could not find her
The phone rang, she picked it up on the first ring."How the hell did you get entangled with these people?" Dom's voice echoed at the other end of the call."What people?" She asked innocently.She was tired to stupor, and hungry. The last thing she needed right now was to solve another damn puzzle of her life."Glacier's Cartel." Dom said."Glacier's Cartel?" Fabiola asked in surprise. "Are you sure about that info right now?" She was genuinely puzzled."Yep." He replied plainly."Well, I don't even know why they're after me, maybe I got mistaken for somebody else." She said, munching her sandwich savagely."Are you sure you haven't insulted or punched anyone recently?" Another voice asked."Carlson?" She called in all glee and excitement, causing some food crumbs to fall off her mouth, she did not mind though."Yep, baby girl, how are you?" He replied with equal excitement."I'm doing great. Sorry, I promised pops I was gonna swing by to spend some time with you, but unfortunately,
As her head hit her pillow, she could not help but have a retrospect about the day, especially concerning the assignment Pops had commissioned her to do.While she and Brant were making out in his office, she had quietly slipped a magnetic undetectable bug on his phone in his breast pocket. What she could not understand was why Grandmaster wanted to bug Brantley's phone. Even though this fight ought to be her fight, she sometimes felt like Grandmaster was taking some steps out of his own personal satisfaction."Ah, all the same… I gotta get to the bottom of it all." She whispered to herself, pushing the thought aside."This is for you guys." She stared at an old portrait of her family, hanging on the wall directly opposite her bed. Grandmaster had gifted her the portrait on her 10th birthday, and since then, it had been her most priceless possession and source of inspiration.***********The week went by in a flash, Brant had not pulled any other stupid stun trying to prove her ide
THE END."What order, Mr Walborn?" The attorney went ahead to ask Mr Walborn."That Mr Rivers should be eliminated." Silence.Emille clenched his fist beside him.Even though Mr White only walked in, he was sitting on needles. He had his secrets, he knew what was going on. "We have the videos." One of the Court's IT workers announced.It was there, everything….from the squabble in the office to the phone call in the garage.Everyone gasped and turned to look at Mr White.Mrs White passed out.Brantley rushed to his mother.The twins held each other's hand tightly.Brenda leaned back in her chair.Mila's mind was teleported Somewhere else. Carl was bamboozled, he stayed motionless in his chair.Mama Rivers and Papa Rivers….well, there were no words to describe everything.……..All along, Mr White had been pulling the shots. He'd hired Mason based on Mason's greed.Mason had been working for him the entire time….he was the real Grandmaster.He found out about Mr Walborn being alive o
COURT TALES OF TRUTHFourteen minutes.It was almost time……"It is already time, your Honour, we should proceed." Grandmaster stood up and said.That was the advantage of representing yourself."We still have some more seconds, your Honour." The prosecution quickly added.The judge nodded. Grandmaster stood up to say something again, but his words were interrupted by the loud opening of the door.Everyone's attention was directed towards the door.One after another, all those who were against Grandmaster released breaths they never knew they were holding…surprisingly, even the judge.Disappointment was evident on Grandmaster's face.Dr Edgar accompanied Mr Walborn in the courtroom. Mila and Freya waited outside.When Brantley did not see Mila in the two-man procession, he immediately stood up on his feet and went outside."Which of these men is the supposed witness?" The judge asked even before Dr Edgar and Mr Walborn could reach the front of the courtroom.Dr Edgar indicated that i
THE CLOCK IS TICKING"Can the prosecution explain to the court why your said witness is not yet available?" The judge asked. She was getting impatient, it was evident."Technical transportation issues." The state lawyer responded.He leaned towards Emille and asked, "what is keeping your witness?" He asked in a whisper."What is holding him back is the only reason why they would not want him to testify, but don't bother, he's being escorted by one of the best bodyguards." Emille replied."Excuse me." Emille stepped out of the court to call for Mila.Brantley had arrived in the court too. He was worried, not that Mila could not take care of herself, but because he loved her, so it was natural for him to worry."What the hell is going on?" Emille asked in a concerned tone as soon as Mila answered."We got company." Mila replied."Do you need more refreshments?" Emille asked."I got it, I guess water would be enough to entertain them." Mila said over the phone."Good then, tell me where
THE AMBUSH.Randy rode in another car, tailing closely behind Mila.When she got to her condominium, she did not step out, rather she called Dr Edgar to bring Mr Walborn outside.Dr Edgar had personally selected a suit for Mr Walborn. The different clothes made him look 10 years younger."You look handsome, Mr Walborn." Mila smiled as she held the door open for him."Thank you, child. At least this doctor here has fine taste in quality clothes, only if he could put those skills to what I put in my stomach." Mr Walborn glared at Dr Edgar. Mila could not help but laugh."You look handsome too." She mouthed to Dr Edgar when Mr Walborn got into the car. Dr Edgar was dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, he had a clean shave. That alone made him look really different."Thank you. You look stunning yourself." Dr Edgar complimented back. Compliments were being poured at randa."Thank you for coming with us." Mila smiled at Dr Edgar."I have to do my job as a babysitter." Dr Edgar gave a sh
NAKED SLEEPOVERThe newly bonded family decided to spend the night together.Carl and Phelix were pals, they warmed everyone's heart, especially Mila because she never known that he was good with kids. She had no idea whether or not he loved kids, she did not even know what he loved.Pops had ruled their lives in such a way that all their likes were buried within them and only what he approved, that was what they did…to his face though.She allowed the cold water to run down her body. Everyone together, the smiles, the crying, the hugs, the laughter…this is what she'd ever wanted, not tension, the type of atmosphere she grew up being used to under Pop's roof.It was less than twenty four hours, and everything changed. For once in her life, she did not have to worry about tomorrow. Only if everyone she loved could be here…Only if Dom had lived to experience this different breeze…even just for a day."Fuck this life!" She cursed, turned off the shower, threw a bathrobe on her wet body.
BRENDA IS SCARYBrantley laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling while he pondered about what Brenda told him earlier.Brenda was nosy, everyone knew that, but she wasn't a liar. She could be blunt sometimes, but the kid sure knew when to keep her mouth shut.She was smart too, probably more than all of them…well, except him, he had a photographic memory after all.He knew that she would not tell him all those things except something more was going on in that house. He had plans on saying hi to his mom before leaving, but he left without saying a word. He felt guilty, but he could not do otherwise.With the revelation, he wasn't sure to face anyone, especially his father.He needed time to think. He could not just jump into conclusions, he had to get more details about everything before concluding."She said that she was pushed, by who? Who would want to hurt you?" He pondered out loud.'Then why did she keep quiet only to say it now?' He thought."Who are you going to see in th
WHAT BRENDA KNOWS'Why do good men die and the selfish monsters live?' Brantley pondered as he walked down the corridors of his father's house empty mindedly."Do you want to bulldoze me before you notice that something is in front of you?" Brenda was starting in front of him, with her short self and crutches.He halted abruptly, for real, he had not taken note of the girl."Oh, I see you've upgraded to crutches. They're cute." Brantley rubbed her head like a kitten.She supported her weight on one crutch, freed her other hand and used it to slap his hand off."Why are you always fighting with father?" The youngest White asked.Bran was stunned, he did not expect that question from here. He was speechless for a few seconds, trying to think of an appropriate response to that."We were talking, maybe a little of a disagreement, but we were not fighting." Brantley looked down and said."You were loud!" She raised one side of her lip, confident about her statement and presumption."Wha
SWEET REUNION"Nice meeting you." Carl forced a smile.The expression on his grandparents' faces changed immediately.He sunkened his shoulders, 'Just as I had expected, outcast!' The words reverberated in his mind.He wished he could turn back the hand of time to just a 5 minutes ago, he'd make sure to get away from here and prevent none of this from happening."Mason had a son?" Papa Rivers looked at his wife. "Isn't he handsome? He looks like an angel." Mama Rivers praised.Carl raised his brows. 'Did they mean the opposite of what they said, or…he had judged the situation wrongly.He looked at Mila, she smiled at him."How old are you, boy?" Mama Rivers asked."I'm 28 years old, ma'am." Carl held his hands together in front of him as though he was for a religious procession.Mila raised her brows and hung her mouth open at his lie."Nonsense, don't call me ma'am. I am your grandmother. Come here!" Mama Rivers rebuked him and hugged him."Just for the record, he is still 27 years o
OUTCAST"Why do you want to see Fabiola?" Brantley decided to ask at one point. He just refilled their tea cups.Mama Rivers who was about raising her cup to take a sip, paused mid way. She stared at her husband who also had the same look on his face."Oh, we knew her when she was a kid. Since we were in town, we decided to drop by." Papa Rivers replied."Oh, ok. I see." Brantley nodded. There was an awkward silence among them."We'll see your father and enjoy the view a little before going back." Papa Rivers added."I will be glad to show you around town. I bet they'll be so much to entertain both of you." Brantley smiled."Yeah." And there goes the silence again. ________"I got a text from Brant, he said that the package was at my doorstep." Mila looked at her brothers. They were just touching down back in Limesville."Just as we thought." The ever nonchalantly Emille said.Carl was silent."I bet they got my address because of the media." Obviously."So…we are going to your hou