~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ David’s determined about this. He desires it, but I need certainty regarding his determination, as it may stem from alternate motivations. I don’t want him changing his tune once he has what he wants. It pains me as I don’t desire correctness. I don’t believe I could survive through the betrayal and loss. It’s killing me seeing him with Sabrina, even though I know he’s not interested in her. This is such a mess. Sabrina and Jacqueline aren’t making it easier. Do I risk everything? He’s done so much. How do I protect my sanity and my heart? “David, if you’re so set on this. Prove it to me. Give me something that will guarantee I won’t be hurt, humiliated, or screwed over in the end. I don’t like being unable to trust you, but you’ve proven to me I can’t trust you.” I saw David straighten and his eyes widen as he watched me. “You say you care and might love me. But words are just words. I want concrete proof of this. Your a
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ I don’t understand what happened. I feel as though I’ve lost control, but somehow, I’ve gained something. It’s not something I can define right now. Coming out of this conversation with Maria, I’ll admit I’ve never had such a heart wrenching feeling of loss losing nothing. I experienced an emotional rollercoaster, a feeling I’ve never had. I said things I’ve never said to anyone. Now I’m worried about leaving Maria alone. She seemed on the verge of self-harm, which I cannot allow. No way. She wants to choose to stay with me. If I released her from her contracts, would she choose to stay? I don’t know. Can I trust her? She’s lied about many things to me. Last of all, who she is. Do I know her enough to trust her? I did my job and pushed through getting things done. Which meant I had to leave her there and head for meetings. It’s not what I wanted. But I must. My father wanted to see me. He may know his time as family head
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ The evidence said I had several people betraying the company across almost every department. It’s not one person here and one there. No, I suspected I could create a corporate ladder for these people. But how far did this go up? Few would do this. Only one or two in the affected departments, please. But someone controlled it all. Someone who could enter every department with no one questioning their presence. I still didn’t have any names or numbers. But it’s a matter of time. I had to think it through. David and Jake left a while ago. They had responsibilities. Which meant I could breathe and think. I hadn’t told Josy about David and me because I was unsure of my feelings. I felt heard by David for the first time since I met him. Could it be progress? He said he’s willing to prove to me he’s serious. Or that I won’t find him changing his opinions and actions toward me. I don’t want him aband
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ After speaking with my father, I needed time to think about everything. I wanted time alone. Without Jake in tow, I went to our condo. That’s what I thought of the condo I kept for Maria. It’s our place. Somehow, when I was here, everything was different. I felt different, if that’s possible. I left my bodyguards with the car and went upstairs. Inside the condo, I poured myself a drink and wandered about. The silence bothered me, and I corrected that once I found her portable speaker. The change I feel come over me as I stand there listening to the music while I stare out the large windows over the bay and the city. Taking a sip, I want Maria there, caressing my shoulder and telling me dinner is ready. A sugar baby’s expected to be a plaything to showcase. So, why did I hate trotting her out and allowing others to ogle and touch her? I disliked it when others spoke to me about her. I hated it when they crit
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I attempted to influence the security staff, but they insisted on following protocol. Tonight, Josy, and our bodyguards caught me listening to the security guard in charge of the company’s security department. He was apologizing and explaining how this happened. “Maria what’s going on? Jacqueline, what are you doing here?” Josy’s voice was flat, and she didn’t look pleased or impressed. I interrupted Jacqueline and said to Josy. Josy, getting information from Jackie will make you surpass us all. She opened the door and entered. I was trying to explain to this gentleman here that she’s the grieving widow and she’s not thinking straight. That we should take her keys and the security pass card she used to enter the building. Then give her the pass to go home and reflect on what she’s done.” “Uh, the security pass card. Do we know how or who?” “Not yet. Now is the time to handle it.”
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “She tried it before, as someone had suggested. What were you thinking about when you left her alone?” David entered the room and confronted Jim. “Sir. They insisted and she promised not to leave her office. We were just picking up dinner and returning here.” He explained to David with all seriousness. David didn’t appear to accept Jim’s explanation. “You’re here to keep both women safe. She’s experienced attempts on her life at least twice in her life if not more three times. Maria won’t tell me about entire sections of her life. Now since she’s safe you can keep your position for now. But I will report this to your boss.” David said with a brown to Jim who gulped and watched David with a weary gaze. David turned to the security officers. “Where’s Jacqueline?” “We sent her down to security department with an escort. I wanted to avoid the risk of them being too close. I also wanted to questio
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ This ended in something I hadn’t expected. David walked out of my office with a grim smile on his face. A grim smile, what an odd expression. He struggled to abide by my rules. You could say this overjoyed and shocked me, even surprised me. He tried to keep his word. Which meant I must as well. I still struggled with that, but I missed having him around. The jerk was under my skin. “Alright, deal with her and the police. Go as hard as you can.” I gave my security people all the information I could give them. I hoped to avoid legal complications. The security officer went above and beyond for me. He brought in someone from the company’s legal department after the police confirmed my statement. The officer, who listened to the audio, found it strange. Has he ever seen a woman relentlessly trying to destroy someone, but always failing? But he couldn’t pass judgment on her, so he would arrest her
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ I sat in my office for what felt like the first time in Belgrave Tech and spoke on the phone with Jake. All the while I typed out a list of instructions of tasks, I wanted Jake to do for me. They were a wild list of things that reflected where my life had taken a wild turn from. But I needed this done now to stay in control and on top. A push for a response on my claim. Results from every investigation. I needed it in my hands now so that I could confront the right people to put an end to all this. “Alright, everyone is set to enter the different departments in the morning and start a full investigation. I suspect something is happening with the HR Department heads. I’m sure someone is involved.” Jake’s voice said through David’s phone as he reported. I suspected this and feared that was the truth. “Yes. Maria has a theory on that. Make sure we have someone watching them. Don’t allow them to gain advanced