BRANDON'S POV “Brilliant of you", she seethed, “To think I would befriend an invalid". I raised a brow. I knew that. The fact that she hadn't figured out that I was trying to bait her showed how important the person was. And that made me all the more curious. “What's wrong with making..." Emile's voice trailed off at my mom's death glare. We hadn't noticed when she came back in. The tray of oranges shook in her hands. I watched my mother closely. Emile had spoken out of turn. She had become used to speaking freely to me. But I was not going to let my mother pick on her. “Mom". I barked when she made to speak. She turned her glare on me. “The oranges are about to fall from her hands". I said calmly. Emile used the distraction to place the oranges on the table and disappear. Smart girl. “Go on". I goaded once Emile was out of sight. “Take the oranges. She's peeled them nicely for you. Go and feed them to your pet". She looked like she was going to explode.
I stood still at the entrance of the hotel. My heart was racing as I followed Brandon to the hotel.I'd suspected he had an affair but I wanted to be wrong. I was hoping and wishing it wasn't true but there's only one way for me to find out and come to terms with my reality.Brandon and I have been together for a year and a half and I’ve always tried my best to put his interests before mine. As long as he was happy I was happy as well.My father always had his doubts about him, My dad always wanted me to be careful and not to make him influence my life.After college, Brandon had proposed and I was so excited to get married to him. My dad has always had my best interests at heart, He made sure to always ask if that's what I wanted and if I was under pressure of any kind.I took a deep breath and I entered the hotel and walked over to the attendant at the reception.“Ple…please can you tell me if a man named Brandon Coslin is-” With a shaky voice I tried to get the information I needed
BRANDON’S POVI paced around the room angrily, flipping the documents I saw on the table, I didn't want Charlotte to find out now. I’m not done using her, This won't go well for my business.Charlotte makes my life easier and I don't want to jeopardize that, I don't think I have any hold on her anymore. Even if I do, The grip must have loosened as she saw me in the hotel room.“Babe, what's going on?” Tatiana's eyes gleamed with worry, This little fool If she hadn't been so pressed about meeting me today, None of this mess would have happened. But now I have to tame my anger and use her to my satisfaction. I plastered a frustrated look on my face came closer to her and sat on the floor while I put my hands on her knee.“Baby, you know it was because of Charlotte your dad offered to help me and still is” I admitted while looking pitiful, She nodded slowly.“Yes, I can recall” She pushed her hair behind her ears.“I'm scared that he will withdraw his assistance or at worst seize everyth
CHARLOTTE POVI looked at the papers with complete disbelief, My stomach churned with sadness.“You fucking cunt, Divorce papers?!! What did I ever do to you?” My hands shook as tears streamed down my eyes. This was the first time I was yelling at him. A frown creased his forehead.“Watch your tongue” Brandon warned as a smile tugged at his lips.“Are you enjoying this?” I asked as I looked at him with great sadness.“Pretty much” Brandon replied with a chuckle.“Why do you hate me so much?” I groaned in frustration hoping he would see the great deal of pain he was causing me.“Don't try to act smart now, Sign this and leave” Brandon had no love or compassion for me in his eyes, I could only see anger and disgust. I wondered what changed, How my world crumbled at my feet because of the people I love most. I questioned if this was how he had felt for me all these years and how he hid it so well.“I did all I could for you, I even did more than you asked, all for what?” I cringed at the
There she was, Charlotte Shnapp, How could I ever forget those beautiful eyes, I came into town for the weekend and decided to get a drink.I never would have thought I would meet her in this place.She spoke and I noticed she was in pain, I decided to take her home but we ended up having sex.That was the best I've ever had, I couldn't just explain it. There was something special about Charlotte. I stared at her as she slept peacefully.A sly smile played across my lips. She looked so beautiful.As my eyes were fixated on her, She yawned slightly and opened her eyes slowly. When she regained full vision, She sat up quickly.“Where am I?” I felt hurt when she mouthed those words, I had hoped she remembered the blissful night we just had.“Brandon is going to be so mad” Immediately she said this, I saw her shoulder drop, I guess she remembered her reality.“Relax” I tried to calm her down as I whispered under my breath.“Please where are we?” She shifted uncomfortably “My house, can't
THE NEXT DAY. I waited ever so eagerly for her call, I didn't know when she would call me but I was hopeful she would, regardless of the mess going in in her life. My phone rang and I hurried to answer it, not even bothering to check the caller. All I could hear for some moments was muffled cries. I glanced at the screen of my phone, alarmed. “Charlotte?" “Jameson?" She cleared her throat. “Uhh, hi. Are you um, are you busy?" She cleared her throat again. Even if I was supposed to be, the sound of her voice cancelled it. “No. Is everything all right?" “Can we meet up?" She says. I could almost feel her effort to sound stronger. “Of course. I'll pick you up". “No no. I'll meet you". She rattled off a location, sounding sure of herself now. “Alright then. Ten minutes." “Ten minutes" she said, and ended the call. **Fifteen minutes later I was staring at her red and bulging eyes across a table in a restaurant. “Did he hurt you again?" She gave me a guarded look and
JAMESON'S POV “I'm not sure what to do mom. I have to keep their father's support". I rubbed my head, staring at my uninteresting breakfast on the kitchen table. I was getting antsy, for every moment Charlotte was not in the house, I anticipated her father storming my house, or serving an official letter that will destroy my years' hard work. “I have to peel my oranges myself. That Tatiana girl is even more useless than her elder sister" My mother said morosely, gingerly peeling an orange. I restrained the urge to roll my eyes. “Help me here, mother". I stepped forward to collect the orange and the knife from her. I needed something to focus my nervous energy on. “What can I help you with? What was your plan, when you decided that the woman you wanted was your wife's sister?" She sniffed. “Just like your father. Thinking with your other head. Did you forget their father's company is a big part of the foundation of yours?" I did not want to hear judgements. “A
BANDON'S POV I loved the feeling that came over me whenever I walked into my company. I felt like a god, looking at all my accomplishments and hard work. Ever since I was in high school I always wanted to be a big CEO in control. And with the right engagements, connections and a lot of hard and dirty work, I now had it. And I planned to keep it. “Good morning, Mr Coslin" my secretary stood. She wore an orange wrap dress with tiny straps and the orange lipstick she wore made her sultry smile more alluring. I rapped my fingers against her table in greeting and went into my office. I headed straight for my seat. I had a big meeting to prepare for; new Chinese clients were coming around and I had to make a good impression. I picked a pen from the table and twirled it absently, reclining in my chair. I still worried about Mr Schnapp. What could I do about him? He had a notorious temper, and most of my clients deferred to him. I tossed the pen back to the table, I'd deal wit
BRANDON'S POV “Brilliant of you", she seethed, “To think I would befriend an invalid". I raised a brow. I knew that. The fact that she hadn't figured out that I was trying to bait her showed how important the person was. And that made me all the more curious. “What's wrong with making..." Emile's voice trailed off at my mom's death glare. We hadn't noticed when she came back in. The tray of oranges shook in her hands. I watched my mother closely. Emile had spoken out of turn. She had become used to speaking freely to me. But I was not going to let my mother pick on her. “Mom". I barked when she made to speak. She turned her glare on me. “The oranges are about to fall from her hands". I said calmly. Emile used the distraction to place the oranges on the table and disappear. Smart girl. “Go on". I goaded once Emile was out of sight. “Take the oranges. She's peeled them nicely for you. Go and feed them to your pet". She looked like she was going to explode.
BRANDON'S POV “It was you who put it in my head that Charlotte is the killer, you know". I said without looking at Kareem. I studied some documents my temporary replacement secretary-Ava had taken a compulsory leave a few days earlier without prior notice. Something about a serious emergency somewhere. The usual me would have fired her immediately, no worker under me should have the audacity to be so bold. But I wasn't the usual me these days. All the guys, especially Kareem had noticed and noted it. But I missed Ava's efficiency. This secretary was good, but I was beginning to understand that my secretary's standards were out of this world. “You don't really mean that". Kareem said incredulously. I raised a brow at him. “What? You already had the notions before I even noticed. I basically just confirmed what you already suspected". “Charlotte wouldn't hurt a fly. At least that's what I said. But you led me to believe that the letters she sent were not just e
CHARLOTTE'S POV Never did I believe Jenn could betray me like that. But what did I know? She could be out to ruin whatever was left of me. She had some secrets of her own, none of which I knew at all. She was just there when I needed her, and I welcomed her with open arms despite our past because I needed someone. She was hot one minute, cold the next. I always assumed it was because of the trauma she'd also apparently gone through. But then, she'd also gone through trauma. How did I know that she didn't hate me for it? One had happened while we were both in college and friends. Why did she not tell me? And now this. I wasn't sure I could ever go through with getting rid of a child, foetus or no. I'd thought about everything. But there was the voice in my head that kept telling me that I was probably going too fast again, and every where and everyone would soon be in pandemonium because of me. It was my stupid mistake, going to that place after signing the divorce paper
CHARLOTTE'S POV “Wait, what do you know?" I asked. “The baby. That's why your emotions are everywhere". She said slowly. I frowned. “Yeah... I'm not sure that's why I...well, did that". “She raised her brow. “So you reacted that way on purpose". “No! I mean, that's not-" I scowled. “Are you trying to lead me into a trap?" She laughed. “I'm just telling you what you're trying to ignore". “But you're still mad at me". I said. She nodded. “I am. But I admit my fault. It wasn't my plan to bother anyone." “You're dramatic". I said. She didn't reply. “Jenn?" I said hesitantly, nestling at a corner of the chair she was in. “Do you think I should keep the baby?" Jenn slowly looked up from her book. “Keep the baby?" I nodded. “This is a lot- and I'm so terrified of telling dad and Jameson. Maybe I shouldn't bother telling them at all? I should just get rid of it quietly?" Jenn stared blankly for a full minute, than she went back to
JAMESON'S POV Charlotte and her father ran in to the kitchen less than two second after I'd run in. Jenn was staring at a mess of ketch up and some yellow substance I was too distressed to study. And she looked more shocked at our presence than in any real danger. “Oh God". Jenn groaned. “What is the matter? Are you all right, Jennifer?" Mr Schnapp asked. I couldn't help my own facepalm. “She's all right dad". Jenn replied. “Is she? Are you?" He asked again. I turned back before he could take that step I knew he was going to take forward. “She's all right. Jenn tends to be...dramatic". I nodded at him. He raised his brows at me. That did not sound like dramatic". “It is, trust me". I glanced at Charlotte. She was glaring daggers at Jenn. I needed her to take her father away so I could properly berate Jenn. “Is everything all right over here?" The stern voice of one of the staff echoed. He gasped as soon as he saw Mr Schapp. “What do y
CHARLOTTE'S POV Dad silently led the way to his office. It was hard to believe that he blamed himself for our mistakes. It was true he never called while I was at Brandon's house, but I never did either. And I assumed he was angry with me for going against his wishes. Just like everyone else around me, I couldn't see the reason they disliked Brandon, even though they said it constantly. I just felt like he was constantly vicimized for being extraordinary smart and clever. There were a lot of things I didn't see. He could hardly be blamed for the kind of person Tatiana turned out to be, either. He did his best, I could remember clearly. “I asked Lounge to tell you to contact her. Did he?" He asked My traitorous cheeks heated for no reason. “Umm, he did". I said, not meeting his eyes. “Charlotte?" He asked. I peeked up at him. “Is there anything I should know?" I shook my head hard, once. “Nothing". He tilted his head. “Nothing?" “Nothing, s
CHARLOTTE'S POV “Oh my God, I can't believe I'm seeing this place again". I said, stepping out of the car and stretching. Jenn gave me a weird look. “You did not think so. You thought you were going to die?" I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I did". “I don't understand why you think that way". Jameson said, wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me forward. “I did say you'd be safe, didn't I?" I automatically leaned into him. “I didn't think I was going to die. I just...I guess I thought I was in too much shit to come back home". He smiled down at me. “I understand. But you're home now". I nodded mutely, sagging more into him. “This is just giving Shrek and Fiona vibes here". Jenn quipped behind us. I automatically straightened, wiping my hands down my front. Jameson glanced at me with a strange expression, but said nothing. Instead, he turned back to Jenn. “I'm more of a Prince Charming than a Shrek, you know". She coughed lightly. “Exc
TATIANA'S POV “They know who the killers are?" He said as soon as I dropped the phone. I blinked at him, taken off guard. It looked like I'd put the call on loudspeaker without realising it. He knew almost everything anyway. “That's what she said". He was focused on my foot, although he wasn't touching it at all. He seemed to be in deep thought. “But I thought it was just one killer". I cocked my head, thinking about it too. “Well, I thought so too, but...apparently they're more?" “What did Brandon say? Did he also talk about multiple killer killers?" He asked urgently, his gaze suddenly on me and intense. “No. I don't know? He doesn't tell me much, and last I heard, he said Charlotte is the killer". I watched him. “What's it?" He said nothing, only stared into space. I started to feel anxious. “Jonah?" He didn't reply. “Jonah!" He startled visibly. His face contorted in something like anger, but for only a second. He looked at me. “I'm sorry love.
CHARLOTTE'S POV “Do you need a mega phone?" Jenn whispered in my ear on the way out of the house. “So we can announce to the world that you're growing a baby". I pinched her in the side, hard. It wasn't my fault that there was a lot going on at the time, or that I seemed to be suddenly different. It all felt natural any way. I didn't even notice that I was eating too much. I was just hungry. And people eat when they're hungry. Apparently I was suddenly angry way too frequently, and it wasn't normal. I was also weird that my nose was sensitive, and little things made me nauseous. It was also abnormal to Jenn, who was glaring daggers at me, that I wasn't puking my guts up. Apparently-okay I knew that-that's what newly pregnant women do. I'd always wanted kids, even though Brandon didn't. I always wanted a little version of him that I'd teach to walk and write, and I'd teach him sums and the piano, what little I knew of it. It was heartbreaking when I realized he wa