"Oh my God."In front of him, a metal door to a cold-shut chamber pulled open with a thunderous noise. The air from within burst into his face as Leonardo shut his eyes for a second. "Oh my God" Was the next he'd heard and Harold's footsteps drifting further away from him. They were accompanied by the safe's manager who had the key to this century old chamber that was to bear the largest fortune. The scent of cash and wealth filled the air as Harold's pupils dilated at the sight of freshly printed money and minted coins piled upon one another. He turned back to Leonardo who had tried to conceal a shock of his own.His father was this rich.Rich enough to leave all of this behind. "This could be at least a couple million dollars, don't you think?" Harold grasped a bundle, fluttering the edges with his fingers and he tossed it to Leonardo who caught it in the glimpse of an eye. "It doesn't make any sense" He seemed to have a crinkle come between his eyes. His voice was low and his cou
“There’s an opening, Daniel”An arch came between his brows at those words and Dan took a seat in one of the two chairs that were set aside for his date with Jazzy. “What?” He was a little confused but who could blame him actually.“There’s an opening at Marriott, and you’ve already made it clear you want to come back. I want you to as well but not as a supervisor, i want you back as a manager. There’s a recent opening for someone to head the hotel for the time being and i wouldn’t like anyone but you to do it. I wouldn’t trust anyone really” Leonardo’s tone was smooth going and his words were concise, however Daniel was struck by awe as he flattered his lashes to collect the news for a second.“I’m sorry what—head the hotel?” He stuttered.“Yes, for the time being. You’ve stated your intentions to do so for the longest i’ve known you” Leonardo replied but he scoffed. “But i never thought—i mean if i’m heading the hotel, then where would you be?” Dan asked, throwing a look at Jazzlyn
The wave of familiarity flooded her face as soon as she stepped inside the building, alongside a stench of perhaps dust entangled with the nostalgia of home. The keys barely dropped from the locks as she took her bags in her hands but with tears in her eyes, Isabella halted.There was a large photo hanging in the hall of Majorie—when she'd been honored for passing whatever nursing exam that was. But it was not the certificate in her hands that caught her eyes, it was her smile. The large grin that never left those lips up until the moment she passed away.And as she took her next steps, she was drawn to that particular picture. Down the couch, down the dining table until her fingers brushed against the edges and immediately, she was whisked into a memory that forced its way back to her and it was seven years ago—the first day she came to the very place.She'd stood in front of the door for a longing minute and she could remember how nervous she was until the doors pulled away, perhap
Nothing meant an intense sexual encounter than a pair of backs breaking through the front door. The sound of muffled moans and groans, alongside chitters from the clothes between the two of them echoed through the entire room as Joan halted for one second. Her hands had shut the door behind her and Theo was already halfway down his jacket. She was breathless against his lips, in the impulse of the former second, deciding to follow him into his house rather than Freddie’s.Her cheeks were red and hot and his was sharp and shimmering with sweat. “Are you sure you want to do this?” His chest rose and fell and his hoarse voice pierced deeply through her hair. She didn’t know the answer to his question, she doubted she really wanted to do this because it was not even something she went on end planning.But did she need to do this? Yes, Joan needed this. Perhaps for old times sake or just do rid her mind of all the anxiety poisons that sprung from the thoughts of Ivan and Freddie and life
“You can see him now.”“The size of his tumor is increasingly large and a portion of it is pressing into the very sensitive parts of his brain, loss of consciousness amongst even worse memory issues and speech defect could be symptoms that could surface these days” The doctor said, slipping his hands into his pockets while maintaining an optimistic gaze.“Frederick is in an immense pain but he has made it clear where he stands with his options so i’d advise that you accustom yourself to the inevitable” He added and a scoff escaped her dry lips. “And what is that? Say goodbye?” Joan asked as she rested the weight of her body on the arms she folded.“I don’t advise a lot of people” The doctor replied.“But you’re a face i haven’t really seen around here. Frederick always mentioned you and i’d hate to see either have any regrets” Holding firm his files with one hand, he strode towards her shoulders. “He’s in Ward B on the left, he should be awake now” He concluded before drawing his voic
With her eyes set upon the open cabinet, Isabella heaved a sigh before pulling away. And rather than coming back to the parlor with a fresh cup of coffee, she had in her hands a bottle of leftover booze instead which she passed across to Christian.He did collect it but with an unsure scoff.“Haven’t done much shopping since i arrived. You’re going to have to manage that” Isa sniffled through her nose and then ran her hands through her hair. Christian darted his eyes around the empty room and there was a brief moment of silence between them.She sank into the couch right across from him and their eyes locked as he sipped a mouthful of the alcohol. “How long have you been here?” He had a stint of concern in his voice which she’d recognized and Isa didn’t appreciate.“Look, i need you to leave. You said coffee and i don’t have coffee” She got defensive, standing up to cling to the curtains, from where she could see the heavy snow pick up in a storm. Her feet pressed against the grounds
Dear Isabella,My Bella. If you’re reading this then you’ve probably come back to our Riverdale Home and in a fit of rage have destroyed the vase in which this letter was hidden or whatever. My guess is that whenever you’re reading this, i’m no more. Or maybe i sent you to get it but that’s a totally different scenario. However, whenever it is be it two years from now, or five years from this moment that i’m sitting right next to this blazing fireplace, trying to find the right words to pen my thoughts—trying to find the right way to the say goodbye. Whenever it is, i hope that it’s not too late, i hope it’s time.Time for you to know the truth.At least it’s close. You were always like Emily, your mother and there was barely any difference between the both of you. It’s such a shame things happened the way it did. But i’m glad i got to raise you for the most of your life as well. Please understand it’s much harder for me to write this.For the past few weeks, i’ve stared below at a
The sound of the alarm blared through his ears, forcing him to jolt awake.“Fuck this” Was Leonardo’s usually morning mantle the few moments before he stepped out of bed. His morning was a routine—cleaning up, dressing for work and waiting by the porch for his driver in his Mercedes.Only a few minutes later would he alight at the portico of the large building that was his hotel and when he pushed through the doors, he was met with a worrisome expression across Harold’s face. “I got your message” He said, turning in the same direction that he walked.“About a meeting?” Harold said in a questioning tone and before Leonard walked into his office, he turned to exchange a glare. “You don’t look alright” Harold noted and a sigh escaped his lips. “That’s because someone’s trying to kill me” He accused, throwing off his bag and then running his hands through his hair. Both their eyes met, during the time which a scoff escaped Harold’s lips hoping it was a joke.“What?”“Someone’s fucking tr
FIVE MONTHS LATER.Isabella gathered the hems of her flowing white dress as she heaved in a deep breath. Her face turned crimson with blood draining from her cheeks and she turned to Joan who was right beside her. "I'm so nervous" She whispered beneath her breath with her shoes grazing into the fields.There were roses all around them and they stood just behind the door yet to open. "The dress is beautiful, Isabella. You're perfect.” Joan whispered, being her maid of honor for her second wedding and they shared a chuckle."It's like a full circle moment" Isabella beamed a smile and Joan rested unto her arms."But it's different now" She said."Either way i'm glad i get to do this with you again. I'm glad i still have you" Isabella pushed a hard lump down her throat. "Have you thought about what Leonardo said?" She asked for the nth time and i remembered months ago when he told me of his plans to leave Norman.That it was up to me though, to decide what exactly a fresh slate meant."I
“Hey” Her soft voice drew to him as he brought his eyes to open. The incessant beeping of the heart monitor subdued behind her voice and Em inched closer to him. Gerald’s eyes were slow but the moment he recognized her, there was a large grin that spread across his lips. “I’m here” She comforted, leaning forward to place a kiss on his cheek.“You’re okay” Her hands pressed lightly on the wrapped gunshot wound in his chest and he nodded. “Isabella?” He softly asked and Em held his hands to her lips and with tears in her eyes, she nodded. “She’s okay—”“Everyone’s okay.”His hands fell around his wrist and there was the bracelet he’d gotten for her thirty years ago. Gerald’s eyes shimmered with tears as he gazed upon the beautiful beige dress she still wore. “You kept it” He whispered and Emily nodded her head fraily.“Of course i kept it” She smiled. There was a minute of silence between them as she wiped beneath her eyes but then Isabella knocked upon the doors before walking in. “You
Leonardo burst out the other side of the door and the heat from the serenading flames hit him in his face. He tied a cloth around his nose and he searched through his foggy vision to make out everything around him.It was a painstaking effort with his feet crunching into a piece of glass and the parts of the ceiling that had crumbled to the ground. “I say we take ahead!” Theodore yelled, looking at the only way still feasible. Leo choked but somehow managed to get himself in order in a minute.The sound of approaching sirens blared from outside the door but by the looks of it, they seemed still far away. He didn’t have time—and so did Isa. “Let’s go” He chanted and they filed down the corridor, searching each room for what was left. The whole house was dark, even as the skies were visible through the shattered roof. “Isabella!” He yelled at the top of his voice, taking down the mask across his face for a second. “Joan!” Theodore yelled too, in the hopes that she was here as well.“Is
TWENTY FIVE MINUTES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.The car finally came to a halt and from a distance walked Sheriff Stevens accompanied by both Christian and Theodore. In a world that had gone digital, it was surprising that they didn’t show up with a large bag of cash to submit to the mafia Lord but rather just a plain-old cheque.“You’re nothing like i expected” Constantin turned around when he suspected their footsteps had drawn them close enough. The sheriff met his cold gaze with a defensive stance. “I’ll say the same” He muttered and then his eyes roamed both Christian and Theodore who acted like bodyguards. “I thought i told you to come alone” He looked as far as the car but with the silence that enclosed them on this deserted coast, he was moreso convinced. “Do you want your money or not?” Stevens hissed back at him, pulling out the cheque from his pocket and Constantin scoffed from his lips. “I’m not stupid. Bring out all the hostages and then i’ll give you the money.” The sheriff negoti
Stevens dashed across the bordering sign that demarcated Norman and Riverdale with his hands firmly grasping the steering wheel. He was on the edge of his seat but somehow managed to steal a glance at the clock.ONE HOUR UNTIL MIDNIGHT.“We can still make it” Gerald piped forward, drawing the chair behind. Em was at the front seat and she allowed their eyes to meet in a tensive second. “It’s okay” Gerald whispered with an affirmative nod. “It’ll soon be over” He reached to her hands and Theo pushed a hard lump down his throat. All, that on his mind was Joan’s safety and whether or not she was okay. “Do you have the complete money now?” Emily turned to the sheriff, still reeling in the disbelief of how they raised a hundred million dollars in twenty four hours. He nodded, darting a stare back at her. “I mean Harold was the last. He was able to get an upfront deal of about forty for the shares of the Norman hotel. Christian wired my ten and Gerald as well—And your uncle transferred t
The slow jazz pierced through Emily’s ears as she wrapped her hands around Gerald’s neck. Indulged in the dance, she didn’t raise her head but that was until it was his turn to swing her. She moved her hips so elegantly like she was young again and after an hour, she admitted to be wrong because there was something about the dance that eased her tension. The music stopped and there was a round of applause, the same moment that allowed them to intimately look into each other’s eyes. “You were amazing” Gerald whispered but before Em could mutter another word, her eyes caught him.“Klaus!” She blurted out.There he was, by the bar downing a glass of champagne with a younger mistress in his hands. He was headed for the stairs and Emily fixated his eyes on him, unwilling to let him misplace in the colorful crowds. She tried to catch her breath and the hemming of her dress as she moved closer.This place was big, the walls a glittering gold with a low hanging silver chandelier dropping fro
Isabella awoke to a dimly lit candle in the corner of the room.The crimson orange flames flickered in her eyes with a slight pitter-patter sound of the wax burning. It curved to the side and just that single piece was able to warm the room, ridding it of it’s unconducive iciness. She shivered off the remnant cold as she sat up. The heavy chain followed even the slightest movement of her hands, letting out a thunderous clang as she retracted them. Her eyes met Kayla who was quivering in fear just opposite her. “It wasn’t there before” Isa’s voice interrupted the eerily silent room. Her eyes looked pointedly to the candle flame but then suddenly something fell right in front of her.“Oh my God” She clutched her chest, startled to her bones and Kayla let out a shaky scream. The pair of black rubber boots that sauntered towards her drew her attention before whatever it was that was thrown to her. “Take a look” The familiar voice towered over her and Isabella didn’t even need to lift her
“I’m sorry but Mr Sanders left a little while ago” The woman behind the desk pressed her lips together and it was a like a sword of disappointment struck through Emily’s chest. She batted her lashes and then exchanged glares with Gerald.“I’m sorry—to where?” She stuttered.Her hands reached across the counter and she tapped her fingertips into it. “And when will he be getting back?” She asked and the receptionist was a bit reluctant divulging any piece of information for these strangers in front of her. Emily saw the crinkle form between her eyes and a sharp breath escaped her lips.“Look i know you know who i am.”“If not from my last name then perhaps from Klaus telling you never to engage with his own niece if ever she came around. Short, brunette haired with the mouth like a tap is exactly how he would describe me—““I don’t know what you’re talking about” The lady replied.“Well i call bullshit” Emily cussed and Gerald found his hands holding her back. “My daughter, Klaus’ fucki
Leonardo snapped his eyes open with an agonizing pain spearing through his neck and along the veins of his numb limbs. He was carried by two hefty arms into a large, dark room and when he realized that his consciousness was regained after an hour long sedation, he struggled to break free from the grasps of the arms that restrained him. “Where’s Isabella!” Was the first question that he yelled out through his panting lips. He threw his head upon his shoulders as he was dragged, his feet barely an inch from the callous grounds. And then he was thrown in the deepest and darkest part of what seemed to be a dungeon. The beads of sweat that formed across his head tricked down his body and he wiped across his face, lifting his gaze to see the masked men in front of him. Leonardo was short of breath as he staggered to sit up, using his barely formidable arms as a wedge. He was able to lean against the wall as he searched for his breathes.“Where’s Isabella?” He looked around him and there d