Right at midnight, as the mansion was filled with dead silence, Valerie suddenly woke up from her slumber. She recalled the incident that had unfolded earlier and tears trickled at the corner of her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep and now, she vowed she wasn’t going to start again.Still drowsy, she stretched her hand towards Chase. Still feeling her hand against the sheets, she knew Chase wasn’t there with her. Hours before during diner, an intense argument had erupted between them, but to her surprize, Chase had seemed not bothered at all. Perhaps, he had seen her asleep and thought they’d talk in the morning.Valerie felt her anger was justified. Chase had been excessively rude to her, he had to be the one to apologize. Valerie couldn’t help but feel something was off and…wrong . Why was her husband to be acting so strangely only five days before their wedding? “Had she done something wrong?”, she kept thinking to herself.One thing was clear. Chase must have had some unresolv
Answer me honestly, I deserve to know the truth”, Valerie asked, firmly.“I used to. Or l still do, I don’t know Valerie”, he replied.“Oh?”, she said with anger and pain. “And me, I was an option?”, she asked, scared of the answer he would give her. He did not say anything for a moment. Valerie grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to their bedroom and locked the door. As Dora trailed behind them, Valerie sent her away.“I need a private moment with my man, if you don’t mind, Mrs Home Wrecker?” , she said.As they entered the room, Chase switched to defence mode. “Valerie, believe me l had no idea she wo…”,he begged.“Shush, don’t say a word. I understand what you’re going through, the confusion…l get it”,she said, with ease. Chase couldn’t hide his surprise. He wasn’t expecting Valerie to be suddenly so calm. Hesitantly, she took off her engagement ring and held it to his face.“You know this makes me so sad right now, but l have to give you space to think about this, so could you
In his vintage, uptown mansion, Chris had been snapping his fingers nervously, his gaze fixed on the blank wall. His mansion was visibly secluded from the rest of the elite neighbourhood. One could describe the mansion as basically lone, and quiet in a bothersome way. Nevertheless to Chris, it was the most refreshing place he could ever be, after that long tiring day of work in the city. He could not shake off the feeling that something would inevitably unfold because of Dora’s sudden arrival. He was greatly concerned about Valerie now more that ever, hoping Chase wouldn’t hurt her as he had predicted before. Dora’s sudden appearance in the city only , he perceived was worrisome and only meant one thing. Trouble. Now only three days to Valerie and Chase’s wedding. Even though he had lost the woman he wished he had to his twin brother, he still cared for her, and hoped nothing bad would come her way. Like her husband to be’s troublesome ex girlfriend out of the blue showing up at their
Chase woke up to the violent buzz of his cell phone. He stretched his hand to grab the phone but before he could get a hold of it , he noticed something quite usual and off. He closed his eyes and opened again, then now he felt more awake and ready to start the day. Just then, his ears heard a sound. A faint sound, yet undeniably the sound of an angry mob. Just as he started to see a clearer picture of what was happening, he hurried out of his bed and shifted his gaze to the window.His eyes instantly grew larger. Was that an egg that had just landed on his crystal clear glass window? Pacing to the window, he got the shock of his life. His security men were trying to ward off an angry mob off his yard. It was quite visible how the security men were struggling, almost being overpowered. One spotted him standing by his window, clueless and instantly raised a finger and posted straight to him, shouting, “ Cheater! Cheater!”.At once, the visibly angry mob shifted focus to him , and let o
Chris stood still, frozen. His phone right in his hand. He didn’t know where to start. He wasn’t at all worried about his twin brother being teased mercilessly on the media for cheating on Valerie. He wasn’t pleased too by the masses claiming he was more organised and trustworthy compared to Chase. His only worry was on poor Valerie, how she was coping , how she was taking the betrayal.The previous day, Chris had felt her dilemma. He couldn’t see through her though, he couldn’t fathom why she kept on giving Chase so much power over her. Right from the moment she had caught Chase having sex with Dora red handed, she should have given him a piece of her mind, shown him what she is made of, sued him even. However, Chase had taken her love for him as a sign of desperation and weakness. He wondered how Chase had been blind to see what an incredible woman he had. Her immense love for Chase was visible in her eyes, and Chris knew it was pure and true. Still, all that worried him was Valerie
Chris quietly walked around the room, watching Valerie sleep. Without warning, his phone made a loud ringing, disturbing Valerie from her peaceful sleep. It was a call from work and he just had to take the call. After hanging up, he apologized to her.“I’m sorry l woke you up”, he said, sincerely.“Not a problem”, she said assumingly as she yawned and stretched. Valerie felt herself loosening up to Chris’ presence because frankly, he was all she had during this turmoil.“How about you take a shower?”, he ordered. Valerie kept gazing at him, and didn’t say a word.“I was thinking maybe we could order some food, afterwards”, he suggested. She comprehended what he was trying to do.“Chris, l am fine, you really don’t have to…”, she stated.“ I wasn’t asking, it was a command. Now, off you go…give me twenty steps to the bathroom!”, he blasted, a faint smile on his lips, hoping Valerie would find that humorous. She giggled and stood up immediately, pulling her feet to the bathroom.“Aye, C
Just then, Chris swiftly changed the subject. “So just be strong friend. Time is like a river. You can’t touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again, so enjoy every moment of life”.“What was that?”, she asked, surprised at his words.“Oops! Forgive me, I just can’t help but become poetic in this garden of …”.She burst into laughter. They both now felt tired as it was running late. Chris accompanied Valerie to her hotel. “ I will just put you to bed and l will be out”, he promised. Valerie sat in bed, then it was time for Chris to go leave, but he kept on moving about.“You want to tell me something?”, she asked.He looked at her, surprised. “It shows?”, he asked back. “Well, I was wondering if I could spend the night on the couch”, he said, hesitantly. Valerie said nothing.“You won’t even know l am her, I promise”, he said.“And why would you leave the comfort of your home for a small uncomfortable, hotel couch?”, she asked, she had been aston
A week had passed since Dora and Chase’s disgusting lovemaking video had gone viral. By then , every sane human being thought Dora would be somewhere, hiding her face in shame over what she had done. However, on the contrary of everyone’s expectations, Dora was enjoying the attention the media was showering on her. As often as she could, Dora would deliberately make a public appearance, and enjoy the cameras clicking at her, news reporters running after her.Finally, the day everyone had been waiting for came. Karen, the best presenter was to interview Dora over her love affair with Chase.“Dora”, she started, “…everyone can’t help but wonder how you still manage to show your face after …no offense but a disgusting, despicable, shameless act. Dora rolled her eyes, her fingers running down her hair.“What’s so shameful about having a sexual intercourse?”, Dora asked.“But with a man who is about to marry another woman in four days?”, Karen asked. Dora just gazed at her and shrugged, un
Valerie watched as Chris walked out of the office and banged the door behind him. She was unmoved, her eyes cold and devoid of emotion. All Valerie could think of was how immaturely Chris had misunderstood their sexual encounter the previous night for love. Her clarification was they were two starved adults and they had found a mutual ground. That’s all it was. Or that’s all she wanted to believe. Frankly, by then Valerie had grown much fond of Chris. She could feel her heart slowly creating space for him. Nevertheless her worry and fear made perfect sense to her. It had only been a few months since she had gotten over Chase, and she felt unprepared to give her heart to another once more. She didn’t want to be quick to give in. Valerie wasn’t ready for the attention, the complications and the possible betrayals and heartbreaks love came with. She admitted Chris was good, better than Chase, best of them all and she too could not have enough of him. Whatever the misunderstandings, she kn
Valerie’s half-open eyes took a glimpse at the clock. It read half past nine. Alarmed, she jumped out of bed. A note by the bedside caught her attention. She grabbed it and read, while her lips revealed a gorgeous smile. It read: Take a day off. You’ve been thoroughly… occupied. “How naughty!”, she mumbled to herself.Although she knew Chris would allow her a day off, she had a presentation she badly had to prepare for. She hurried out of Chris’ bedroom and rushed to her own. Rushing to the bathroom, she took a warm, quick shower. Afterwards, she moisturized her body and reached for the first clothes her eyes fell on in the closet; a grey formal, pencil dress and black loafers. She paced down the staircase, hurried to the garage and hoped into a Mercedes-Benz CLA. She sped off , headed to Global Nexus Company.As she drove off, her mind drifted to the previous night. At first she had been embarrassed by the office encounter, but her body still shook with intense desire, she wanted mor
Chase sat on the polished, exquisitely made bar stools in his mansion, barely able to hold himself. He looked at the bar, his sight blurry, searching for another strongest drink there was. Unanswerable questions swirled in his mind, “Why does Chris always have a way to take everything that is mine? Why is my twin brother so wicked? Why is he snatching my woman away from me?Fairly though, Chris wasn’t taking Valerie from him. Chase had messed up big time, treated Valerie like trash and was quick to discard her. Now he understood more the depth of her pain, seeing the one he desired in that ungodly position hurt him to the core. “So is this how Valerie felt when she found me in the act with Dora? Did the pain have to hurt so bad?”, he wondered. He’d been unapologetic, he’d snapped at her, reminded her that his house was his and he could bring anyone he wanted to. Still, Valerie had been willing to make things right.However, he went on to break up with Valerie and chose Dora, but all t
She gave him a light, playful slap on the cheek. “What was that for?”, she asked, feeling shy like a child caught stealing sugar. She quickly put on her shirt, and wiped off the sweat on her neck.“I’m not sorry”, he confessed, as he buttoned his shirt.“You need to know your limits, Mr Malvins”, she said firmly, her face straight, picking up her underwear and skirt from the floor.“You mean the same Mr Malvins whom you have just shared the most orgasmic moment with? You don’t have to pretend, it’s all over your face I know you like what you just did”, he said. Valerie laughed, looking away. She went over to her desk, pulled the chair and threw herself down.“I think we need to draw a line over there to divide this office in two. No one crosses over to the other side. Strictly business”, she suggested.“That is so juvenile”, he said as he followed her to her desk. He stood behind her chair, holding her shoulders as she was sitted.“You have been planning on this haven’t you?”, Valerie
The sudden realization that she was five months pregnant with Chase’s baby was undeniably a bitter pill to swallow for Valerie. Nevertheless, with time Valerie accepted her fate, acknowledged the baby growing in her womb as her blessing and had nothing to do with her failed relationship with Chase. Chris had been a pillar and good friend. As she had commenced work as Chris’ Personal Assistant a month prior, she was relieved that his bond with her hadn’t attracted media attention. For some reason, she had opted to share the office with Chris. Perhaps it was because she felt more secure with Chris, than the rest.One morning as she took a break, she switched off her laptop, and walked her way to the edge of the room. Chris heard her stilettos clicking on the marble floor. He sneakingly shifted his sight to her, and watched her bottom swaying seductively. After the sneak peak, he raised his newspaper again, trying not to get caught.Looking at the high rise buildings, Valerie took a deep
An hour later Chase opened the door. He was stunned and his eyes narrowed.“ What do you want?”, Chase asked, his eyes blazing. “You are not going to use her baby as leverage”, Chris declared, letting himself in and closing the door.“Oh, so now that you’ve ruined Tasha’s life, you think you can swoop in and play hero for my baby mama?” Chase sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “ I ruined Tasha’s life? That’s news to me!”, Chris said, letting out a loud, piercing laugh.“Oh, so now Valerie’s sent you to do her dirty work, huh? How pathetic. She’s got you dancing on a string, and you’re just a mindless puppet eager to please her. Newsflash, Chris, you’re nothing but a doormat for her to wipe her feet on. And I’ve heard you’re treating her like your personal trophy, polishing her ego and feeding her insecurities. How cute. Take my leftovers brother, go ahead. You’re welcome to the trash I’ve discarded. Enjoy being her second-hand man, her Plan B, her consolation prize”. As soon as
Dora finally flew back to Colombia. Gradually, the media’s attention shifted away from Chase and Valerie’s fiasco to whatever latest scandal there was, some celebrity’s album release or trending show, much to Valerie’s relief. Hiding from the world in Chris’ secluded mansion, she felt safe and serene. She finally put her failed relationship with Chase Malvins behind her. She knew that eventually she would be able to face the world again.Valerie would often vividly remember the day she stepped into Chris’ mansion, from Roosevelt hotel. Her gaze had fallen upon the wilted Orchid, once her beloved favourite. “You stopped watering the Orchid, didn’t you?” she asked, a hint of accusation in her voice. Chris had shrugged, guilt in his eyes. As days turned into months, Valerie started to notice a shift in Chris’ behaviour around her. He would often find excuses to spend more time with her, seeking her opinion on everything from his business decisions to his favourite TV shows. But it was t
A week had passed since Dora and Chase’s disgusting lovemaking video had gone viral. By then , every sane human being thought Dora would be somewhere, hiding her face in shame over what she had done. However, on the contrary of everyone’s expectations, Dora was enjoying the attention the media was showering on her. As often as she could, Dora would deliberately make a public appearance, and enjoy the cameras clicking at her, news reporters running after her.Finally, the day everyone had been waiting for came. Karen, the best presenter was to interview Dora over her love affair with Chase.“Dora”, she started, “…everyone can’t help but wonder how you still manage to show your face after …no offense but a disgusting, despicable, shameless act. Dora rolled her eyes, her fingers running down her hair.“What’s so shameful about having a sexual intercourse?”, Dora asked.“But with a man who is about to marry another woman in four days?”, Karen asked. Dora just gazed at her and shrugged, un
Just then, Chris swiftly changed the subject. “So just be strong friend. Time is like a river. You can’t touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again, so enjoy every moment of life”.“What was that?”, she asked, surprised at his words.“Oops! Forgive me, I just can’t help but become poetic in this garden of …”.She burst into laughter. They both now felt tired as it was running late. Chris accompanied Valerie to her hotel. “ I will just put you to bed and l will be out”, he promised. Valerie sat in bed, then it was time for Chris to go leave, but he kept on moving about.“You want to tell me something?”, she asked.He looked at her, surprised. “It shows?”, he asked back. “Well, I was wondering if I could spend the night on the couch”, he said, hesitantly. Valerie said nothing.“You won’t even know l am her, I promise”, he said.“And why would you leave the comfort of your home for a small uncomfortable, hotel couch?”, she asked, she had been aston