Sasha came down the stairs upon hearing Mrs. James call her name.“Wow. Wasn’t informed there’d be a family meeting at my place. Even Mr. James is here too. And the whole house feels tense. Who is knifing the atmosphere? Rowan, I don’t appreciate the likes of Mrs. James here.”“Young lady, won’t you serve me anything to eat?”“No! Now leave my house with your toxic energy! Because of you, I’d have to burn incense to chase away any bad omen you’ve brought into this house.”“Good enough. I’m leaving without anything to eat then - before you get me poisoned.”“Oh, I should have done that.”“I’m leaving. And so is everyone. Not excluding Rowan. We all leaving.”“Rowan, you are leaving with her? What for? Where is she taking you to?” Sasha got frightened.“I got to check on things back at home.”“All of a sudden? But you promised me never to step foot in that house.”“Stupid, he is married to Quinn. And you are just his fuckmate. What right has he to never step into his own house? Who gave
“Are you moving into my place, baby? You know my father comes here often. And what’s your wife doing here by the way?” Gabriella asked a lot of questions at the same time.“Gabriella, I’m a finished man. My wife has taken everything away from me.”“Don’t worry baby. You can start all over with me. She is not worth a penny or a tear. You made a mistake marrying her. You can’t continue to regret it on her behalf.“Hello Gabriella – Ludwig’s daughter,” Mrs James waved like a Disney princess.“That’s right. Lugwig’s daughter. You know who I am now. Back off or I tell my father how you have been molesting me.”“Since when did I molest you, honey? You must be as dumb as your mother who gave birth to you. I know you are an illegitimate child of Ludwig. And anytime he sees you, he is reminded of his mistake – sleeping with a whore that made him start his life all over again. Little wonder he is wary of women. And no wonder I’m wary of men too. Our situations are so much alike. See me building
“Mum is in a mental home. She has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.”“The two together? Oh my. I’m so sorry. How come you never told me this?”Mr James felt sorry for her.“Because I didn’t want you looking at me with pity as you are doing now.”“I’m so sorry. I don’t pity you. But you must be in a lot of pain for having your mum taken away from you like that. Still, I don’t buy the idea of you stealing everything your dad has ever worked hard for.”“Oh really. But you can do the stealing, right? Now get out! I knew you were never going to agree with me on this. This was why I got angry. It was not because you wanted everything and ran off to marry an Asian woman. But because you thought I’d get angry at you for wanting to do that. I mean – I was angry. But for a different cause and the part of running to an Asian woman. But now you have told me there is no such ambition to run off and stuff – seeing how your love for me has grown; I’d appreciate you get in on my plan. Let’s do this
Mrs James got what she wanted. A position at the firm. Nightfall Gems was just within reach.She was sure to gang up against Rowan. And take over his position from him.She smiled her usual.Yet she still couldn’t shake off the empty feeling at the pit of her stomach.What man will love her and fulfil her the way Didi did?She had been a shadow of herself since the day he died.But tried to hide it by getting back what she gave up.She felt that would console her wounded heart.How wrong she was.Now she was just waiting for her son to get back home.She rested her back comfortably against the executive chair in her office – flipping through some files and jotting things down.Then she saw a figurehead walk into her office.The audacity of that bitch.“You just got my secretary fired. How could she have allowed you in here?”“Good luck to her. She’d get to not work for an evil mastermind like you.” Gabriella stood astride her, hands akimbo.“Thank goodness you acknowledge that I’m a m
“Can I take you out sometime? I love me a smart lady. I don’t mind treating you to something nice that is befitting for a smart lady like you.”Gabriella was thrown off guard.“Why are you asking me out of the blue? Now you trying to get in my good graces so you could get some of Didi’s will, right?” Gabriella wasn’t going to be taken for a fool.“Oh no. You got it mixed up. I think you are a wonderful woman deserving of the world. And it was wrong of me to try to fight properties with you. I remember how much you meant to Didi. I’m not surprised he had you on that will. You were his next best thing after his son.” Rowan got down to the details.“I’m glad you realize all that. But I’m not cool with you wanting to mate your uncle’s girl. He would be rolling in his grave if we did that.”“Whoever said anything about mating? I just wanted to take you out on a date.”“And we all know what follows after a date.”“Except you are interested in mating me, I won’t overstep my boundary. I’m sur
Rowan let his guard down during the date – telling Gabriella of his fears and vulnerabilities about work and home. “Sasha is that escape for me. You know everyone has got an outlet. Your is to cause trouble.” Rowan snickered. “Trouble. Really. My escape is to go on dates with men who can have deep conversations like you do. Though I know you only trying to get me to open up by opening up to me about some emotional rollercoaster you are putting yourself through.” “So now you trying to complement me in style. I think I prefer the saucy Gabriella.” “Still saucy. I only show that side when appropriate. The situation doesn’t call for it.” “And no, this is not any game than it is for you. It takes everything for a man to open up to a man. It’s a lot.” “And you open up so easily. It’s either two things - you are trying to get at me. And the second thing is, it’s not working.” Rowan continued on the conversation he was having about Quinn. “Quinn is never in agreement with anything I do
“I wonder why you aren’t scared of my dad. He will be so disappointed if he ever hears you are mating his daughter as his friend.” “Friends help each other - that’s why. Your dad is not a saint. Just because he puts on his church hat doesn’t mean he is any better than I am. And besides no one is there to tell him about us except you.” “Good. I’m glad you remember that. Hope you also remember my dad can be worse than death. So you could be asking for a death wish by trying to sneak up on me. Don’t get too smart with me Rowan. The only place I’d be nice to you is in the bedroom.” “I like the sound of that.” “More like I make a sonorous sound in the bedroom - that’s if you’re piping it well though.” “Why not? It’s a skill that develops by itself with age.” “Probably because you regularly sharpen your instrument.” “Life is short. It must be lived to the fullest. Even if you have a gun to my head, I’d still beg to fuck you. It’s always been my fantasy to know the kind of women Didi c
“Fine, you have my support. Though I’m sad this is how it has got to be. So how long would you like to keep my office?” “I thought you’d never ask. Once the smoke has died down.” “I think we are done here. I got to leave this moment.” “C’mon now, are you leaving out of anger? Don’t start to see me as your enemy.” “You have always been. Maybe a frenemy is better.” “Look. I mean no harm. I just want to know what it’s like to be in power. And that’s gonna be for a while. In the process, I’d be helping you conquer Mrs. James.” “I don’t need your help. I’m not a weakling.” “Of course, you are not a weakling. But she is no match for me either. I just want to fight her woman-to-woman. I never liked her with Didi.” “So this is about Didi.” “It has always been about Didi.” “Is that why you are going after everything she is going after?””Now you get the bigger picture. I really want half of Didi’s wealth because he willed that to me. But the rest of the things I seem to want is just t