CHAPTER 31DAHLIA'S POV This little boy is Carlton's son? I had no idea he had a son. Then again, I never bothered to ask about his life. I have been so strict on everything being professional. A million things are going through my head right now but for the life of me I can't say a word. I just stare at Carlton in shock, my gaze switching between him and his son. Carlton on the other hand is staring past me. I have been so caught up in the fact that he has a son, that I didn't notice the bigger problem here. My kids. This can't be happening. Carlton opens his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.“So you're his father?” I am asking the obvious, but I need to steer the conversation away from me and my four clones behind me. “Andre, yes,” he says, shifting his gaze back to me. “How…ummm…why are you with him,” he seems like he's trying to align his thoughts together as he keeps stealing glances at my kids. Well I'm equally shocked that he has a kid. But the difference is that k
DAHLIA'S POV “Sunny, did you hear?” I look at her skeptically. It's obvious that she heard everything, still I want to be sure, I need to know how much she heard, and what exactly she makes of it. Who knows she might think Tristan is just joking. “I heard everything Dahlia,” the anger in her tone is undismissable and I shut my eyes so tight, I am afraid they won't open again. “Did you hear me Dahlia,” she repeats, when my eyes are still shut but her tone is higher. “Yes Sunny, I heard you, you heard everything, I know,” I blurt out in frustration. Tristan just said only him and I knew, we'll add Sunny to that list. The more people know, the more the chances of Carlton finding out. “Are you serious? How can you still talk to me like this after I just heard what I heard? You're living under my roof, we've been friends since high school, I've only been on your side since you got back and I see your kids as mine too. Yet you didn't bother to tell me that Carlton is their father? Is t
CARLTON'S POV The sound of the espresso machine brewing knocks me off my train of thoughts. I didn't even realize my eyes were closed until the person at the machine apologized for waking me up. I just nod and turn away, sitting up on the couch. I had come into the lounge for a cup of coffee but somehow I ended up sitting on the couch without the coffee, in deep thought. I haven't been able to stop thinking about Dahlias kids. They have been on my mind since the day at the cafe. And recognizing her daughter as the child from the store in LA makes everything so awkward. To think Dahlia had possibly been in L.A all those years and in that store at the same I was. So she had been living there with them, with her husband, the father of her kids. I haven't seen him at all. Could it be that he is still in L.A, is he even still in the picture? Is she married to him? Then it hit me. Tristan Martinez. They say they are business partners but what if it's more than that. What if they are
CHAPTER 34 CARLTON'S POV I am not surprised by what I'm seeing. Andre always indulges in fights everyday with his classmates. But the person he is fighting is what baffles me. One of Dahlia's children, Gianna. Just when I was getting on her good side. The last thing I want is for there to be some sort of feud between our kids. That will not bode well for our relationship moving forward, business or private. I run to where the kids are pulling each other's uniforms and try to separate them. “Stop this, both of you.” “He started it,” Gianna says pointing at Andre with so much spite in her eyes. Great, just great. “It doesn't matter who started it, you know you shouldn't be engaging in fights, Gianna,” Dahlia scolds her, “and you boys are just watching them. I am disappointed,” she turns to her three sons who have their heads down. “But Gianna was just trying to become friends with Andre. And then he hit her,” Gavin says, pointing an accusing finger at Andre. But Dahlia
CARLTON'S POV The loud sound of the alarm almost destroys my eardrum and I hastily turn it off before more damage can be done. I forgot to charge my normal alarm clock last night, so I had to use the manual one with changeable batteries. Now I remember why I stuffed it in the cupboard years ago. The stupid thing is too damn loud. I get up from the bed, do my regular morning stretches, before taking the alarm and stuffing it back into the cupboard. I turn to leave the room but I don't make it to the door before I change my mind. I take out the alarm clock and throw it into the trash can instead. I walk into the bathroom and brush my teeth, before heading downstairs to the kitchen. I start brewing some coffee and open my phone to check my emails while I wait. “What is this?”Marigold walks into the kitchen holding her phone up to my face. “What is what?”“This,” she points to the screen and glares at me, her nose flaring up. I squint my eyes to look at what she is showing me t
MARIGOLD'S POV It has been exactly three days since my fight with Dahlia in front of the school compound. People took videos and pictures and posted them on the net. At first the headlines were, CEO of Tristan Delight at Texas branch gets into an embarrassing fight with a fellow parent at her children's school. The next day they had completely changed. Apparently the newly found public attraction had made people dig in more on my life and Dahlia's. The new headlines were…CEO of Tristan Delight at Texas branch engages in a fight with her stepsister over the CEO of Stewart's Foods Co, husband to the stepsister. I mean, I'm excited about the news and all but the least they could do is use my name. Now I have to parade around like the ‘stepsister’. I'm not complaining though, this is the most publicity I've gotten in years. Today is the third day and I'm just loving the comments and articles online. It's all hateful comments against Dahlia. People are defending me, saying Dahlia is
DAHLIA'S POV The eyes of the man embracing me grows wide and he immediately pushes himself off me. I feel a little hurt but then I remember that it's Carlton. He's a cheat and sneaking around is his specialty. “We…we were ju…just hugging,” he stammers, “there’s nothing going on I swear it.”I fold my arms across my chest and watch as Carlton pathetically tries to explain the situation to Tristan. Tristan scoffs and moves further into the room. “I know you were just hugging because I know Dahlia, she'd never fool around with someone's husband. It's beneath her,” he says looking at Carlton. I know what he's doing. Yes, everything he's saying is true and I believe it but he's also trying to mock Carlton, knowing fully well that Carlton was sleeping with someone else when he was still married to me. And it's working because the look on Carlton's face says he feels ashamed and he wants to kill Tristan for mocking him. Carlton's jaws tightens and his shoulders get tense. Tristan al
DAHLIA'S POV “Miss Dahlia, is it true that you're having a private relationship outside work with Mr. Carlton Stewart?” One of the reporters asks almost putting the mic in my mouth. I have to get out of this, out of here. How did I get myself in this mess?Oh yes, I remember, I walked out of the auditorium room and was met with this paparazzi asking inappropriate questions. .Who even gave them permission to enter here? And they are asking unscreened questions which puts me in a tight place. “Miss Dahlia, please explain your relationship with Mr. Stewart,” another one shoots a question. I immediately turn and glare at him, he instinctively steps back still keeping the mic close to my mouth. This is too much. The blinding lights, the multiple mics in my face. I can't take it. My head begins to spin and it feels like I'll collapse anytime soon. As the reporters keep throwing questions at me, I feel my knees begin to grow weak. No, no, no. Don't give up on me now. They are givin
Dahlia’s pov The rest of the days goes by in a blur of the regular events. Carlton and I having classes, and each passing moment with him, he shows his building feelings for me without having to speak it. There are times he occasionally winks. Times he just stare at me and zone out In important events. Like when discussing and planning out the upcoming contest with the rest of the team. When TRISTAIN is in my presence, he’s unable to contain or hide his jealousy and rage. It shows in the way he speaks so rashly to him, he only holds himself back as Tristian he his superior. As for me and Tristan, we indulge him. I intentionally grooms seductive outfits and put on the love birds charade with Tristian just to spite Carlton and boy did it work out. At a point, it feels like Carlton decides to challenge TRISTAIN to win me. He invites me on take outs tagging it as business take outs but TRISTAIN put it upon himself to follow me to the dinners just to spite Carlton up. As if Carlton reali
“It’s a pleasure to be meeting you here you know.” Marigold bubble with an overly exaggerated smile that spite me to my stomach. And without giving me space to breath she begin to ramble. “Anyways I’ve seen the news about you and Tristian flying around. Is that true? Are you dating? I hope you are because you need to see you guys In that photo clip. You know you looked soooo good together!” She said, stressing the ‘so’, Obvious sarcasm dripping from her voice and from the evil grin on her face. I hiss with annoyance. “You should drop this whole act already marigold. You are fooling no one but yourself.” I spat, glaring straight into her face. And as if to feign innocence or ignorant, she makes a puppy face. “What are you talking about? Aren’t you tired of keeping malice with me?” Malice! The nerve of her to say that or even stand before me smiling after setting me up with her husband. I could play along with her charade now but that would so petty so I just smirk and draw cl
Dahlia’s POV, Unedited. Not this Again! Walking outside the company to meet a host of paparazzi is something I will never prepare for. But… well, considering the news flying all about, its quite expected. The media would go at lengths just to monetize rumors. As soon as I and Tristan stepped out, different microphones are shooting towards us with truck load of questions flying in the air at same time. “Can you explain the nature of your relationship, given the intimate photo circulating online?” “Are you two dating, and if so, how long have you been together?” “Please Sir… ma’am, the public needs answers” As the questions stops, I try to smuggle past the crowd of medias and head off as I’m not caught up for any explanation. But Tristian decides to feed them. Tucking his hands into pocket, he observes the media and begin to speak into one of the microphone. “I’m just going to say this once and short. I and dahlia are not in any relationship that extends from
Dahlia’s POV, Unedited. Not this Again! Walking outside the company to meet a host of paparazzi is something I will never prepare for. But… well, considering the news flying all about, its quite expected. The media would go at lengths just to monetize rumors. As soon as I and Tristan stepped out, different microphones are shooting towards us with truck load of questions flying in the air at same time. “Can you explain the nature of your relationship, given the intimate photo circulating online?” “Are you two dating, and if so, how long have you been together?” “Please Sir… ma’am, the public needs answers” As the questions stops, I try to smuggle past the crowd of medias and head off as I’m not caught up for any explanation. But Tristian decides to feed them. Tucking his hands into pocket, he observes the media and begin to speak into one of the microphone. “I’m just going to say this once and short. I and dahlia are not in any relationship that extends from b
Carlton’s POV, After the question I just blurt out, dahlia is narrowing her brows at me and I’m feeling so ridiculous for asking that. I’m pretty sure I sounded so desperate and it’s prickling a nerve in me. Right from the moment I saw the news of Tristian and dahlia on my TL, it disorganized every part of me. I don’t know but the news really bit me so hard. Seeing dahlia together with another man in an intimate position. It affected me in a way it shouldn’t have. I found myself boiling hard with rage, the urge to pull dahlia away from Tristian hit so hard. “And Why do you ask?” Dahlia asks with her brow arched as if she’s taunting me. No, mocking me. And I just feel worse. Biting my inner lips, I laugh lightly to cover up my embarrassment. “Don’t mind that dahlia, I shouldn’t have asked. I was just you know… Surprised by the news. You and Tristian didn’t strike me like you are dating.” More like I’m the one who don’t want to think that. Because come to think of it, no man would
Dahlia’s POV, After our discussion about marigold’s doom, Tristian and I decided to tour round the pack and for the first time since years, I am having so much fun. We visited the animals and played with them. Tristian kept making jokes on them and I couldn’t help laughing. From the zoo, we toured the forest and tried out some traditional healthy meals together. After a fulfilling day of fun, we are heading home when some content creators approached us. They seem to be organizing romantic Games for couples and they were meeting random couples to participate. I actually found the request awkward as they’ve mistaken me and Tristian for couples. Tristian exchanged a baffled look with me before turning to them. “Umm…we aren’t couples.” Tristian tells them awkwardly, flashing them an exuberant grin as he make eye gesture at me. Almost like he’s asking for my opinion. The content creators after realizing, they gasp in embarrassment and quickly apologized. “I’m really sorry. We
Dahlia’s POV, After our discussion about marigold’s doom, Tristian and I decided to tour round the pack and for the first time since years, I am having so much fun. We visited the animals and played with them. Tristian kept making jokes on them and I couldn’t help laughing. From the zoo, we toured the forest and tried out some traditional healthy meals together. After a fulfilling day of fun, we are heading home when some content creators approached us. They seem to be organizing romantic Games for couples and they were meeting random couples to participate. I actually found the request awkward as they’ve mistaken me and Tristian for couples. Tristian exchanged a baffled look with me before turning to them. “Umm…we aren’t couples.” Tristian tells them awkwardly, flashing them an exuberant grin as he make eye gesture at me. Almost like he’s asking for my opinion. The content creators after realizing, they gasp in embarrassment and quickly apologized. “I’m really sorry. We th
Unedited. Dahlia’s POV, “So, why did you ask us to meet in this… place?” I ask Tristian as my eyes rove around the scenery. It’s a park and I’ve just met up with Tristian at the bridge where he had Been waiting for me. Instead of a reply, what I get is Tristian staring at me almost in awe. Like it’s his first time seeing him. His eyes are glistening with something as they rake through every inch of me, a small smile tugging at his lips. That look… it mentally draws up a person in my head and it pisses me off. Carlton… that’s the same expression I catches on him each time I spot him gazing at me and I’ll damned if I say I don’t know what it is. As much as it discomforts me, it fills me with this satisfaction that I’m slowly getting my claws on him. Sooner of a later, it would be doomed by me. However my concern now is Tristian and he won’t stop staring, I snap him out of it. “And what’s that look all about?” I snap a finger at him. “Huh… look?!” Like speed of lightening, his expre
Carlton POV, “A Dull knife is a dangerous knife.” Dahlia has the calmest smile as she’s enthusiastically enlightening our students regarding culinary techniques. We are in the advanced stage of our cooking course and dahlia taking the student while I am sitting beside her, watching. Every inch of her. The way her hand moves, the passion in her eyes, the professional way she dishes our tips and handle cultures like she’s born to do this! Dahlia is one hell of an incredible woman. She’s not just beautiful, she’s so smart and As I stare at her, it’s hard to keep my sanity in check. I keep rethinking the bad decisions I had made in the past. How the hell did I let this woman slip away from me? Right now, she’s laying emphasis on knife work and she’s so enthusiastic about it.“If you risk using a dull knife to dice ingredients, you just don’t risk a potential hazard, you risk getting bad shapes. Just like this.” With the student watching with keen attention, dahlia picks up a carrot a