He never made it to the wedding

Chapter 3: 3 years later

Leilani’s POV 

“You got this, Leilani.” I shook my head, trying to veer off the anxiety that came with being back.

It’s been three years since I stepped foot into New York City. The city where my heart and life was shattered beyond repair. However, now that I have returned I would take my rightful place and claim that which was mine. In tears and blood I would.

My ride for the night sparkled before me and my brother who saved my  ass three years ago stepped out from the black Porsche car and waved at me. “Welcome back, sister.” Coleus grinned at me.

He opened the car door for me like a gentleman. “How does it feel to be back in the fucking best city in the world!” He hyped.

Rolling my eyes I guided my three year old daughter into the car. “It is not the best city.” I corrected him. New York was beautiful, no doubt, filled with high life and parties but it wasn’t the best.

“Yeah well, it’s in the list of the best cities.” He answered as he  slipped into the driver’s side of the car.

“How’s my favourite niece?” He grinned and  stared at Ethel, my three year old daughter.

“She’s fine, just a little drowsy from the ride.” I answered and caressed her by the hair. Her head rested on my thighs. I leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“And your husband?”

Goodness! Years and still he was nosy like a rat!

“He’ll be here. His flight got mixed up and he’s catching the next one to New York.” 

He nodded in understanding and whipped his head to face the road.  “Buckle up people, you’re about to get the ride of your life!”

“Coleus no!! There’s a child in this car!” Before I could successfully complete my plea we were sprinting down the road.

No matter how much I tried to defer the chilly feeling that caked at my spine, the feeling persisted. Was I ready to face Cormac and Ava? Could I even do this? Carry out my revenge?

I thought this as I set my three year old on the bed in her room. Her features were the exact replica of her father. Those same luscious green eyes that stared right at me and said that he didn’t know me. Those same eyes hunted me when I stared at Ethel.

My breath hitched as the thought of those same eyes boring into mine hunted me and I staggered back despite myself.

I have to face them, I must. 

My whole three and half years has been filled with plot of how I would dismantle the organisation that I gave my all to. I would take them out limb by limb until they were nothing but chaffs before the wind. They’d be a ghost of themselves.

Taking  out my iPad, I stared at the draft of my plan and how they’ll be executed. I couldn’t sleep the night until the next day.

My alarm went off and I shut up from my bed just then a low rap came on the door. A signal that the maids were up and doing their duties.

“Good morning ma’am.” The head maid bowed and strutted in.

Taking a quick shower I stepped out into my closet and picked up the clothes I’d set my heart on to wear on this special day.

A chuckle escaped me as I remembered all the nasty blogs about their company. They were currently on the verge of bankruptcy. 

I pondered on the wrong choices he must’ve made without me. He always said I was the face of the company, I guess without the face there’s no brain.

Staff worked on my hair and applied light makeup over my face. 

Ethel was prepared and taken to school and then Coleus drove in. When he saw me, the worry and anxiety on my face were crystal clear. With no words, he walked up to me and engulfed me in a warm hug. “You’ve got this sister.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t feel like I do.”

He pushed back instantly. “What? You do.” He insisted.

“Mother, she umm…. She said I should let it go.” I revealed our discussion to him. “I told her about my plan and she wasn’t exactly in support.”

“She’s old and probably never left her mansion in Manchester. How do you expect her to understand what you went through, what they put you through.” He hugged me once again. “You’ve got this sister. Just do what you’ve set out to do from the onset. Do it and have your closure.”

He stepped back and grinned like he’d  won the lottery. “Think of it this way, you’re married to a prince. Royal family! That is fucking elevation! Smile sister and execute your plan! You have me, grandpa and the fucking royal family behind you. You literally have the world backing you so don’t back down and teach them the lesson they so well deserve.”

Coleus pulled out my phone and I saw that he was dialling Nicholas’ number. “Maybe talking with him will make you feel better.” He flashed a toothy grin as he equally flashed the phone to my face.

I exhaled and took the phone. “I’ll feel better when I speak with him.”

When I arrived in England three years back, I learnt of my true identity. The whole thing was too much to take in and I’d gone out to take fresh air, which somehow I landed in a club for elite and then I stumbled onto the bed of the fucking prince of Birmingham.

After speaking with Nicholas I did feel better and energised. He was arriving in New York today and I couldn’t wait to see him and hug him. He was my best friend.

Coleus drove me to the venue where the business meeting would be held. Standing on the roof, I watched as every businessman and woman trutted in, in file accompanied by reporters and paparazzi who were scampering in like bees.

My eyes landed on Cormac as he alighted from his car, I had my stare pinned on him, my target. Reporters suddenly flooded him, throwing questions after questions at him. With the help of his security, he evaded them and got into the organisation in an unfortunate one piece.

I never saw Ava with him which was weird. Everyone gathered in the conference hall. As we strutted down the stairs, out of the roof, my phone vibrated in my pocket and I answered it instantly.

It was a message from Nicholas, he had arrived in New York and was currently on his way to the company.

Coleus took my hand and inhaled, I followed suit before he let go and stepped into the room. He was going to do me the honour of introducing me to the board of members. 

The hall was a room with a round wooden table in a curve like figure and chairs went round it. As I waited outside my pulse quickened.

I heard the clap before my name followed. “Let’s give a warm welcome to Daphne Aldridge, heir to DEL.” My brother's voice rang across the room into the hall and then a guard pushed the door open and I sauntered in, after a deep exhale.

My gaze swept the room and fell on a pair of green eyes that held me in sheer bewilderment.

I saw him physically mouth my name in shock, “Leilani.”

For a heady second I just held  my breath and balled my palm into a fist. A chair was  drawn out for me and I sat down directly opposite him. 

When his eyes brushed past mine, I offered a clip nod and smiled. He didn’t return it, just wild eyed and….. angry?

He was angry? He had the fucking nerves to be angry? To hold my gaze with that much rage.

“Daphne Aldridge is the second child of Mr. Aldridge, the founder of DEL shares in London. One of the leading voices in the streets of London.”

Claps thundered around the room. I stole a peak at Cormac and found his eye even wider than I’d anticipated. He lost focus and his jaw dropped to the floor.

I nodded to my left and to my right, pasting a smile on my face:

“According to the document presented to me.” A man pulled out a file and handed it to the secretary as he spoke. “Miss Daphne Aldridge has accumulated sixty percent of the shares in this company.” 

“What?!” Cormac thundered. “What do you mean she has sixty percent shares? Since when was she a shareholder in this company, in my company?” He fired in astonishment and anger.

“She is the second heir of the DEL family company. They have purchased more shares from us, when our company first experienced the decline in stock.” The secretary was explaining before he interrupted.

“What?” Surprise laced his tone. He held my gaze in wonder for a heady moment.

“Some of our shareholders have sold their shares to her, making her own eighty five percent of the company’s shares.”

At this rate Cormac shut up and palmed the table. “When did all this happen? I am against this, who orchestrated this and sighed the papers!”

Someone hurriedly ran over to him and whispered something into his ear in which he stilled with a daunting expression.

“So what does that mean?” Cormac asked even as he tried to veil the horror that bled into his tone.

It was hard not smiling.

“It means that as of today, miss Daphne Aldridge is the active director of the————-

“Impossible.” He shoved out his chair. His gaze strained hard on me.

 I was given the file and I sighed on it. Identifying me as the rightful owner.

A moment later the meeting came to an end and people were evacuating the room.

“Leilani,” Cormac yelled. I gave no indication that I answered that name. I wanted to come back anew so I’d forged a medical record of loss of memory.

When I didn’t answer he touched me and I looked at him in question. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“What!” He burned with an intense rage, anger seething from him. “It’s me, Cormac.” 

How I wanted to slap him for even thinking to touch me. But I snatched my hand away. “I’m sorry, I have amnesia. I haven’t gotten back my memories.”

“What? You can’t be serious.”

As I attempted to leave he grabbed my arm and swerved me around. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t recall me!” He was glaring at me, his grip tightening.

Pure heat emanated from him along with anger and frustration.

Goodness! I wanted to slap him. 

The audacity………fuck! The nerve he had to be angry, to demand of me where I have been.

“I’m really sorry but I don’t recall you.” I said through clenched teeth. Where was Coleus when I needed him.

“No! No you don’t get to fucking say that! You don’t have the right! You cannot forget me like that!” He fisted his hair and cursed slowly.

As though my prayer was heard, the door to the room reeled open and Nicholas was in sight. “Nicholas!” I yelped in excitement and snatched my hand from his grip.

I watched as Cormac darted his gaze to the door. “Who’s that?”

I left him standing and ran over to Nicholas, beaming. Before I could hug Nicholas, Cormac yelled out to me. “I never made it to the wedding, Leilani!”

I came to a sudden stop by his declaration. “What?”