~ SABRINA VINES ~ David wasn’t supposed to be so volatile. Chris lied to me when he claimed David believed they were friends. I don’t believe Chris knows as much as he believes he does. Can I survive this mess if Chris lied or failed to see the truth? I thought Chris was interested in me. I’ve done everything he wanted. Now he’s sitting here as the doctor splinted his arm and explained to me how Maria meant nothing to him beyond a little entertainment. I hadn’t given it a second guess until Chris continued to defend his actions beyond what I thought was necessary. Wasn’t it enough fighting with my stepsister, even when she wasn’t there? David couldn’t speak with me or my mother without asking questions about her. I’ve caught him questioning her representatives. Now, I can’t have him realize that he’s my key to surviving this and having David play my savior. David is perfect. He’s handsome, educated, and wealthy. I thought he
~ JACQUELINE VINES-BELGRAVE ~ Sabrina is a fool. How did she come from my womb? I told her to keep David and Chris dangling on the line. But no, she allows herself to get entangled between them and used as a tool. Ugh. A tool. Have I taught her nothing? Men are the tools, not us. This will destroy her. Well, I tried to teach her and now she’s an adult. She’s on her own. I must lookout for myself because I received an envelope with no postage or return address. I don’t know who is threatening me. It could be anyone. The evidence is factual, and I must proceed with caution to prevent disclosure. They would arrest me for several crimes, including murder. What am I supposed to do now? I’m unsure about the sender or the number of people aware of its content. Should I ignore it and act clueless? I could maintain that whoever created it set me up. Or do I stay silent and pretend I never received it? Edgar’s betrayal with the will ex
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ The information arrived in rapid succession. But that’s what I paid them for. Jacqueline’s mistakes were adding up. Sabrina’s mistakes seemed innocent compared to her mother’s. Now I can’t help but wonder if Jacqueline is just smart enough not to implicate Sabrina in her more unsavory actions. How I feared that Sabrina’s strange logic, and beliefs could lead to criminal and violent actions. “I don’t like what I’m seeing David. What is this? It’s like they teach each generation how to be a monster. How is no one talking about this? I mean why isn’t this a scandal that everyone is talking about? Or why aren’t there police stalking them? Or at least demanding to talk to or question them?” Jake said. He spoke about our discovery that Jacqueline’s mother was much like them, too. Less successful with the men she hooked up with. “You’re right. But I suspect that comes from our social status. They see no reason for
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ Mr. Edwards followed my father’s wishes, and everyone filled a conference room at Belgrave Tech. I stood with Josy in the back. We avoided excessive interaction, like my father’s funeral. Jacqueline and Sabrina seemed happy to take attending them. Which gave me the chance to hear their narrative. David had insisted that we come with him today. He’d brought the bodyguards with him as well. He at least didn’t linger by my side, and he didn’t play court to Sabrina either. Sabrina still glared at me several times. I tried to pretend like this process bored me and I tried not to watch David. During a break, Sabrina walked up to David and confronted him. “David, I must speak with you right now in private.” The urgency in her voice revealed her desperation. “This isn’t a suitable time. After we’re done here, we’ll talk.” David said to her. His words brooked no argument, yet Sabrina didn’t hear tha
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I sat there and stared down at Sabrina, who glared at me. Why apologize to Jacqueline when I was only trying to support her? Jacqueline transformed into a hostile person and was the one who displayed rudeness towards me. “You’re such a rude bitch.” Sabrina said to me in a snarky tone as her face soured. Jacqueline looked like she’d seen something shocking. “Is that supposed to upset me? Or strike fear in me? Because I don’t feel either.” I knew I shouldn’t have mouthed off at them. I won’t yield to them again. “Enough. Let’s focus on our purpose here, please. Sabrina, and Jacqueline, please stop aggravating others. Sabrina, Ms. Bell has no need to apologize for being nice to your mother. That makes no sense to anyone.” David said. His words snapped out as he unleashed his temper. I couldn’t help it but jumped in my seat at his sharp words. The loud exclamation took aback the room. Though, I expected him to
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ What is Maria thinking confronting Sabrina like this? Isn’t it bad enough that these two were acting like fools? Jacqueline and Sabrina were being unreasonable. They’d made their beds and yet they weren’t willing to stay in them. I’d seen Jacqueline speaking with Martin Howard in the corner. A board member and one head of human resources. They’d been arguing. Jacqueline knew Jake was interested in her, but we couldn’t hear their argument. Josy slipped into the corner after Jacqueline and Martin left the ladies’ room. No one noticed when Josy pulled her phone from a potted plant. I almost missed it. Without her phone’s appearance, I couldn’t recognize her acquisition. As she returned to her chair, she gave me a false, innocent look. How did she know to record Jacqueline’s conversation? I’d have to get Jake onto finding out what Josy had gained there. I’ve learned how to monitor Martin. Martin had access to everyone in the
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ Sabrina stalked up to David and sneered at me as if I smelled bad. I prepared for her next verbal attack and wondered what outlandish accusation Sabrina would think of to lie at my feet. But Josy saved me from it. Though David wasn’t so lucky. He’s forced to stay behind and listen to Sabrina. A wide grin spread across my face as I broke free from this. David must deal with his business. I don’t want to get involved with it. Fine, I don’t want to deal with my stepsister or stepmother more than I must. I’m dreading the time when they realize who I am. Though I’m laughing at Jacqueline. She believes I hired someone who looked like my mother. Or paid someone to have plastic surgery to look like my mother. Why? Just to mess with her mind. Because there’s no way I might look like my mother if I dye my hair red. That comment left me pinching my nose and shaking my head in disbelief. I guess since she’s used plasti
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Sabrina, you can’t question or demand an answer to those questions. It’s just a business arrangement; you waived the right to demand answers like that. So, stop this line of questioning or I’ll start asking questions and I’ll expect answers. Answers I’m sure you won’t want to give me. So, do yourself a favor and drop it. I must go now for work. Take your mother and go home. You aren’t needed here.” I informed her she’s not wanted there either. She knows her time is limited and I don’t want her. But Sabrina’s pushing everything in all directions. “Why can’t I? I’m supposed to be your fiancée. Recognize my presence to acquire the company.” “We haven’t made our engagement official so what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. Since you’ve shown no interest in working for this company it seems odd that you would show up here now. Go home. I’m sure you have some packing to do as you’ve weeks before you must move out. Come to thin
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~SEVEN MONTHS LATER I had a month, maybe six weeks, until I would give birth to a baby boy. The Hargrove family members were beside themselves, keeping David and me happy because of the baby. The baby impressed them when they learned of it. But their traditional attitudes found satisfaction when they learned our baby was a boy. I would be faultless in their eyes. The collaboration project wasn’t a collaboration as it started. Now, it spanned three divisions of Hargrove Tech. We would use it as a headquarters for all three divisions where we could share research and resources between divisions. With the ground broken and construction started, we were working with the division as they were right now. I’ve settled my business in preparation to hand it over for a time to Josy. So, I could give birth without worrying about the business. Then I could spend my time settling my baby into life at home, bonding with him, healing, an
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ “Maria, welcome home. You arrived at the perfect time. I can’t believe I’m saying this. Jake has bought out Chris Skylar’s company! What is the world coming to?” Josy came rushing forward to meet us. “Oh, hi. I hope your honeymoon’s good, and you better have some pictures or video. No, I don’t mean naughty stuff either. Did you bring back any souvenirs?” “If you mean a baby? Yes, we did.” I smiled and waited for that to hit through Josy’s rambling. “No, I don’t mean a baby. I mean a new purse for me. Wait. You’re pregnant?!” Josy squealed. “David, you couldn’t keep it wrapped long enough to do a little tourist type thing?” “Josy. Honeymoon. I did what normal men do. I got busy.” David said with a smile on his face as Jake clapped him on his back as he congratulated us. “Let’s get you all home. I guess I can’t say two anymore. Now, can I?” Jake asked with a humorous half smile. He let the sec
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ David was true to his word, and we did land in London, England. Not some other London. He’d teased me most of the way there in the most affection ways. But he wouldn’t touch me on the plane. When I asked him why? David said, “You were Maria Bell then. But now you’re Maria Hargrove. I expect others to respect you, and I must lead by example, don’t I? Isn’t that what all leaders are supposed to do?” He said this in a light tone, but I heard how serious he felt about it. There’s no way I could prepare myself for his words. It’s like a man uttering that he loved you without warning. Or proposing marriage. If David didn’t now have a track record of doing things like this, I would panic. “David, you would’ve not have that long ago. I’ve not changed. It’s you that’s changed and I appreciate it. No, I love it and you all the better for it. Just don’t let it slide back.” “I don’t won’t. But tonight, I want us to forget about the
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Maria didn’t waste time and that kept everything going with a smooth grace I found enjoyable. Other than my uncle’s outburst, it went well in my perspective. Maria’s smile hadn’t left her face all day, and I loved seeing it. Now, with dinner is over, speeches are over, cake cut, marriage documents signed, and first dances done. I’m more than ready to leave. We should head to the airport. I’m not thrilled to maneuver through the airport.I knew my private plane was ready this morning. We’d processed our documentation and flight plan days ago. Jake and Josy stored our luggage on the plane for us this morning. The wedding planner would take care of the clothing we used today and return it to our home. She’d have Maria’s wedding gown cleaned and packed into protective archivist clothing packaging. “Are you ready David?” Maria said from behind me. I turned around when I heard her question behind me. There she was, standing beh
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ The wedding ceremony was over. We’d exchanged rings, signed documents before witnesses, and all that. David was all smiles. It’s unexpected, but there it’s. His arm didn’t leave my back. He was true to his promise, and he didn’t leave my side. He gave me attention, as a person and as an object. David’s uncle glared at me after I told the wedding planner it’s fine to go on to the next stage. Which was removing everyone from the church and moving them to the reception hall for dinner and reception. I thought everything was fine. Everyone’s happy. “Are you insane, woman? It’s far too early. The hotel preparations won’t be finished for your guests, and everyone who arrives there will find themselves turned away. How embarrassing. Are you looking to embarrass your guests? How uncouth? David, I can’t believe you think she’s Belgrave. See her,” David’s uncle loudly exclaimed, stomping towards us. His cane banging hard on the har
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ Some may say spending the night before the wedding together is bad luck. But David didn’t want to leave me alone. He didn’t want to leave my side. His words were something about not trusting people and their double standards. David promised me that he’d stay beside me as long as he could, and he’d determined to do that. Along with the flood of attention he’d been including presents and surprises for me. It wasn’t the first time; he’d given me so many presents. But it’s the first time that the presents and attention were personalized. The personalization all had a theme though. They all faced the future and things she’d need to use in her life with him as his wife. Not just as a piece of jewelry along side his cufflinks. But his partner at work, social events, and at play. From a platinum fountain pen with her name engraved with her name and crystal encrusted, to a tennis dress that matched an outfit for him so they could
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “I’ve finished everything with the wedding planner and now we must wait for the day. Are you sure you are happy with everything David? Is there nothing you’d like to change?” Maria asked as she settled into bed beside me with a tired smile. She and Josy had spent weeks selecting the wedding planner. They spent an additional three months working with the wedding planner to complete all the details. Now she lay beside me. She was nervous since our wedding was three days away. I returned her smile. We took care of our business today and planned so we could have the time we wanted for our wedding and honeymoon. I think I felt just as tired as Maria. “Maria. You’ve done excellent work with the wedding planner, and I’ve no issues with what you’ve done and planned. I’ve focused on ensuring our businesses and future ventures wouldn’t cause any issues for Jake and Josy while we’re away during our honeymoon.” “Remind me why we’re g
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Ah, there you are, Maria. Thank you for informing me first, instead of sharing it with everyone. Enemies seeking control make everything worse. Once Maria entered, I mentioned this to avoid asking why she was late. She seemed so eager to announce it. Maria paused. She was on the verge of speaking. She frowned at me, and I read it as confusion. “Maria. Are you alright? Is something wrong? Anything happen on your way here? “I’m confused because I don’t know how you feel about it. How do you feel about my explanation? Do you hate it? Should I bear the consequences alone?” I sighed in relief when Maria said this. She wasn’t holding back, and that meant we could deal with whatever happened. “Hell, no, Maria. I’ve said nothing like that. Your explanation’s perfect, but I want you to add a few things.” I said to Maria and directed her to sit beside on the sofa beside me. A smile settled onto my face as she sat do
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I considered it insane, but it’s brilliant to spread the word that we required a creative wedding planner and welcomed ideas. Here we sat reviewing countless submissions, page by page, video after video. “Maria, these people went all out, even throwing a baby shower and revealing the gender, just in case you’re getting married and expecting a child. No pressure there and no assumptions. Ew.” Josy said after closing another presentation package with a look of disgust and tossed it into the rejection pile. She discovered several people like this, assuming and attempting to sugarcoat the situation. But it all appeared as judgmental in the end. “It’s okay. We told no one if I’m pregnant. Thought It’s not a crazy leap to assume why a man as rich as David is marrying his sugar baby in such a rush. Many people share this thought. Hell, I’m not sure how many know I’m the Belgrave heir.” That had me pondering whether I should rew