Danielle's POV "You mean you?" I asked and stood up too. I didn't want anything to bring me into talking with Isabelle's boyfriend. I have tried all along not to spare him at a single glance. The other man looked a bit like Gabriel, it wouldn't be so bad working with and for him. Perhaps he was the CEO of the company. It doesn't matter. The pay was two thousand dollars. I thought that way too much. Although I could feel the happiness filling my heart, I still wanted to know the kind of job I had to do in the company that deserved so much. "You are not fine yet Miss Arnold. I am just leaving and besides, this is the boss here. He would put you through the rest. As for now, goodbye." The man left. I slowly sat down back, trying not to look surprised. "I guess you would have to see me more often than you have planned for Miss Arnold. What's with the expression on your face? You don't look too happy about it." He crossed his legs. So he was the boss after all. A glint of regret swe
Bryan's POVI watched as she walked out on me. No one has ever been more bold. She just started her job and she already told me to my face to kick her out.I smiled and adjusted my suit. Charming. Recalling the moment I felt her shiver, her gray eyes embracing mine, hiding something I know not of.Does she want to be kicked out? I'll put her in a position where she wouldn't be able to leave even if she wanted to. I went back to my seat trying to think of a new outline for a new game.Her eyes…damn I'm getting distracted again. Danielle is so clever and smart. She's a lady of principles. She's able to stand my warning. Other ladies would have been shaking, most would have been in tears but Danielle…she was…different.My phone rang, drifting my thoughts away. "I'm listening," and I dropped the pen that was with me."You haven't called me or come to see me since last week. What's happening? I have been alone here and I need you."There goes Isabelle. I have been experiencing peace since
Danielle's POV"Hello, we're home." I sprung out of the couch at the sound of Gabe's voice. Finally, they were here. I have been waiting for hours. Since I came back from work, my kids were nowhere to be found. After several shouts of Gabriel's name, I realized he wasn't home. There was only one explanation to that, he had taken them out."What took you so long? Where did you go? It's cold outside." I helped him with the plastic bag that was filled with whatever he went out to buy."I needed to get something. We are out of sugar and cereals. I couldn't leave them alone in the house so I had to take them along. They made a new friend today." I placed his stuff on the kitchen counter and then went to kiss my kids on their forehead."Babies make friends every day."Gabe unbuttoned his shirt slowly. His collarbones and the strength in his chest became wide open. I looked away before the feeling intensified."Where is Gramps by the way? Did he go for sports? But today is just Monday."Gabr
Danielle's POVI couldn't stop thinking about Gabriel in class. "Hey.""Hey," I said back without looking. After a minute, I looked back and found Davis smiling at me. I quickly turned back to the board. Why was he smiling stupidly?The teacher came to teach us his class. I hate when teachers teach mathematics. It was econometrics and it had a lot of calculations in it, why did they give it to a man to teach?I could barely understand what he was teaching in class, I knew I would need to open the book and textbook when I got home. Thinking of the possibilities, I could be with Mr. Smith right now and be running different types of stupid errands for him, Isabelle's boyfriend.I don't care though, I take pride in the things I do. "Hi D," Clara's voice sounded from behind the class. I knew it was her but, what do they want now?I turned back and found her sitting directly behind me. "Hi," I said in the most sarcastic way I could. I wasn't interested in talking with her or anyone around h
Isabelle's POV From the news I got from Clara, that bitch felt nothing. After all the stress I have put into publishing that post. I would have gone to school if I hadn't been too ahead of myself. I was grounded. It's always Mom. I couldn't call Mr. Bryan to come around because I knew I wouldn't be able to leave the house. Knowing that Tony was in the house, that devil would tell Mom if I sneaked outside. "You look sad Issa, do you need my help?" Speaking of the devil. Can we strike a deal?" He helped me untangle my yarn and he picked the one that had gone out in the field. He came back and dropped them in the basket. "Thanks." "You want to go outside. And you want me to shut up by promising me something and you'll end up not giving me. You have done it before so I know exactly what is going on in your mind. You can go, I promise I won't tell Mom. You don't need to promise me anything." He turned back to leave but I stopped him. "You know, I can give you something you would like
Danielle's POVGabriel was twenty minutes late, the longest twenty minutes of my life. I was waiting in the car as he had instructed earlier. Mrs Helen was inside with Gramps, at least I knew that they would take good care of my kids.I had to hide to get out of the house because the babies were crying for me to stay. I was still an hour early for work and wondered if I should get a drink at Shiloh's. I felt like drinking ginger ale and munching on beer but it was too early. Perhaps I would do that on my way back.It was a sunny day but I couldn't put on my big floppy hat because of my corporate dress code. I took my round black-tinted sunglasses along with me anyway."I'm sorry I took too long. We can go now." While driving, Gabriel glanced at me and told me to take my notebook out with my pen. "So that you look official.""Good idea," I said, "except that I left it back in the room."Gabriel clicked his tongue. "You women, you'd forget your weenies if they weren't glued on." Laughe
Gabriel's POV I hated the guy already. Alex, whatever Danielle called him, looked more like a mature businessman but his curtsey sucked. I saw the way he looked at her, he didn't want her to be just a friend to him, and seeing me with her made him uncomfortable. I watched as Danielle explained the story of how she lost her best friend to her foe after she returned from my house. It was easy to see that Alex wasn't paying more attention but Danielle was too engrossed in what she was saying to see it. "I don't want to see her here again. Not after what she pulled up yesterday. She should be glad we are in our final year, that is why I am taking it all so lightly." Alex raised his brows and glanced through my body before focusing back on Danielle. "You have changed D, and I like the new you. Just take a look at you and those angry brows ready to tear anything apart. Did something else happen that I do not know about? Judging from your last experience, you changed the way you spoke bec
Danielle POVOn the morning of November 26, with rain misting the road, I checked in to the company and did my daily work. I have been working on the character for weeks and I have succeeded in making the whole body.All that was left now was the painting of the character. Mr Smith has been a different person, perhaps because I didn't get to meet him as often as before. He didn't bother calling me to his office. At times, I wondered if he came to work at all.The last time he called me to his office, he asked about the character and told me to start a build-up on a new outline for a new game. My job was fun. All I had to do was go around and see what everyone was doing then settle on my chair and draw all day.During lunch, Linda would hang out with me and follow me down to the restaurant. The lady needed someone to talk to. She talks for a long period, perhaps, she has been looking for someone to talk to and today, she told me her story."I hate men," she said and took a spoonful of
Bryan’s POV The sound of a gunshot made me rush outside, Danielle was outside. I found Danielle’s lifeless body, swimming in her blood. I knelt and screamed so loud, I didn’t hear myself. The air, once familiar, became thick with an unbearable weight, and the pulse of grief pulsed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Emotions collided like storm-tossed waves — disbelief, anguish, and a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume me. I shook her body but she gave no response. “Danielle!” “Finally, goodbye Bryan. I’ll see you later.” I looked up and found Susan leaving. I thought she was dead. I lifted her and took her into the car, I could lose everything but not Danielle. I took her to the hospital where she was attended to immediately. They did all they could but I knew… I knew she was gone. She is the first treasure I had and now… I lost her. How careless of me.Every sound and strength drained in me. We had goals…we had things we wanted to do and…having her leave m
Danielle's POV I opened my eyes and finally, it was a new day with no worries and sorrow, although I would have to go and meet Pa Bruno and let him know all that happened. We all got in the car and went down to meet Pa Bruno. He welcomed us with a warm heart, he has always been that way. “What a lovely surprise,” he said when he opened the door. The kids rushed inside with their father.When I fit inside, I found Isabelle helping Mrs Helena with her hair. “Oh,” I said when I saw her.“Oh…”“I… what are you doing here?” I asked. “She volunteered to come and help us once in a while to pay for all the bad things she has done to you. She has been coming for a couple of months now,” Mrs Helena explained.I sat down beside her. “I um… I didn’t know you would be coming around. I should get going, I’ll see you all later.” She hurried and packed her bag. “Hey,” I laughed. “Where do you think you are going to? You can stay, you don’t need to leave.”“I want to stay but I need to leave, I’ll
Danielle's POV “Tell me it’s a lie,” I said to him but he didn’t answer me. I trusted him with my whole heart, he was like my best friend. What would the kids think? What of his family? Why!“Are you truly what they have called you out to be?” The judge asked him. “I am what they said I am. I give up. Yes, I killed Susan and yes, I framed Bryan for it. I wanted him to rot in hell and never come back. He took it all from me, everything.” Have looked at me, tears clouding his eyes. “I love you Danielle, you know I do. The kids… they used to be my kids. I was there where you were pregnant, when you gave birth and I also watched them grow up. Seeing Bryan take it all from me broke my heart and no matter how much I try to be there for you, you never see me. And that bitch, Susan. She deserved it. She was always after you so I didn’t want that. I figured there is no reason for me to lie when I am busted.”He turned to the judge. “You have heard it all.” Someone went to the judge and whispe
Danielle's POV ran out to the door and found the woman walking up the stairs. “Are you—”“Lead the way, quick!” The woman said and I led her to the court. It was the moment the judge was sentencing Bryan but he held it when he saw me come in with a lady. Everyone looked back and I took her to the panel. I winked at the defendant and he knew what to do. He stood up immediately. “My Lord, one and only witness, please,” he begged. All my oceans of despair were now replaced by a world of hope. The judge accepted it like he had been waiting for me to show up with someone.But sighed and went back to sit. The kids stretched their necks and waved from the far end of the row. I smiled and focused on the woman. She stepped in and took the oath. “My name is Margret and I will be telling you what exactly happened that night. This man,” she pointed to Bryan, “came in with a lady into my old house. He had asked me to lend it to him for a moment but I thought he was going to have sex or something
Danielle's POV I roamed about with the phone plugged into my ears. “Pick up, goddamit.” I have been trying this woman’s number for seven hours. It’s night time and there has been no response. I am starting to think it was all a lie. Maybe the woman doesn’t exist but Jack keeps putting me on.Eventually, I went to sleep with my phone in my ears.The next day, I woke up and found Jack making the call. I have not heard from Linda or Gabriel. I have tried all I can and it’s just a few hours to the trail. We have no evidence, nothing to prove him innocent. “I have an idea. The witness made mention of returning the instrument to the house. I would go and check the house out. There would be footage. Keep trying the woman, we will meet in the court.” He left with the Benz car. I feel like I am restraining him from doing a lot of things in his life and all he does now is go and look for evidence to prove his boos innocent. I sighed, I just have to keep trying. I kept calling the woman… duri
Danielle's POV “What did he say?” Jack asked in haste. “He has evidence. An old woman who takes care of the old house. He says he knows where she is but he wouldn’t tell me unless I come over to his house. He also said I should come alone.”“It’s a trap. He might not have any evidence. We need to find our means and besides, he might want to kill you. He’s unpredictable so I would not allow you to go alone.”I raised my brows. “I’m not taking any chances. I would go and I would go alone. I would be perfectly fine.” I took a small knife from the table. “Just in case he tries shit, I will stab him wherever I can. I would be fine, trust me. What if this is my best shot? What if this is the only thing that can help me get Bryan out of there? I am not letting it go just like that. I’ll be back. “Jack stood in front of me. “Then let me put a tracker on you.” He attached it to my phone. “You can go now.”I followed the map and went to the location Mark sent me. The road that led to the plac
Danielle's POV I didn’t get to see Bryan that day, not even the slightest chance. Jack, Linda, Gabriel and I have been looking for ways to get better evidence but it was to no avail. I made posters and shared it around for people to see if they could help. With the current way things are, the judge just bought me time to find a way to outrun what the prosecutor had in hand. Whatever they were planning, it’s not going to be good.I sighed and paced around my room. It felt as though a fog of shadows was blinding me from seeing what I should see, doing what I should do but I do know that somewhere out there, there is an answer to the problem I have at hand.I sighed. “What do you think we can do now? I mean, we have done everything we can,” I said to Jack who was also thinking of a way to get his boss out of his mess. The alarm rang and the phone rang as well. I ran to take the call. “Hello?”“Honey, it’s not nice to hear your sweet voice again.” I have waited for a long time to finally
Danielle's POV It was another opportunity for me to see Bryan again. I have been denied the right to visit him and this is just two weeks. I sat at the front as planned. Linda and Gabriel also sat beside me. When Bryan came in, his eyes dazzled around to look for something that was equally looking for him. I stood up and he saw me. Pain and sorrow waited in front of my chest to pierce my heart with its spares of hope. His lips curved upward as he sat down and took his eyes off me. All I wanted to do at that point was walk into the board, take my husband, and leave. A warm hand cooled my temper. I looked at Linda and she smiled. It helped me to get myself together. Then the trial started. The mass media were around, the jury, the prosecutor… defendant… everyone was gathered together once again. The prosecutor started. “My lord, may I?” He asked the judge and he gave him a go-ahead. “Some two weeks ago, the suspect, Mr Bryan Smith was charged with violence and was sentenced to a yea
Danielle’s POV I have gone to eighteen different paper companies to look for which would accept and publish my side of the story but they all turned me down and said they couldn’t help the wife of a criminal. Of course, I can’t let that stop me from trying other means. I wrote a lengthy article on my Instagram page and posted it. Settling in my office, I went through my Instagram page. I’m a rampage, all I read were hateful comments and speeches about how I and Bryan killed Susan. No…this isn’t going to work. The latest news now is about how Bryan would have to face the court again tomorrow. Fucking Jury, I did everything I could. “Linda, can you… can you help me work on the case? I need everything I can find but I can’t do this alone. I need you, I need everyone. Fuck!” I said to Linda in a hurry. I slammed my hand on the table and paced the room with my hand on my forehead. I needed to cool down, I needed to be calm in this time of bad luck.“You need to calm down, alright?”“I!”