"Hello, Mr. President." I stepped majestically into his office, clad in my custom-made cream-colored suit.My pair of burgundy Manolo Blahnik clicked confidently as I reached where the President was. My lip stick was burgundy as well.My black leather purse and my pair of Ray Ban were a wonderful match.Not to mention that I smelled exactly like the interestingly contrasting mix of sweet and strong, adding to my confidence and charm.He stood from behind his desk to give me a handshake.It had not taken long to arrange for this meeting with him, given his relationship with uncle Pete who many still thought was my lover, the President included, he couldn't turn me down."Thank you for making time to see me on such short notice." I emitted a polite smile.He returned the smile. "It's a pleasure. When I got the message from Rashford, my P.A, I wondered why the fiancee of my closest friend wants to see me.""You n
"You must be lying! This is bullshit! I'll advice you to leave my office this minute before I call security." He appeared angry."Do that and I'll have this published in two days, Mr. President." Despite his show of anger, I remained calm. "You don't have an impeccable past and I am sure you damn well know what I am talking about. Were you aware Cecilia was pregnant before you broke up?""I will not answer that question." He gritted."I'm guessing it's a yes." I stared unblinkingly.He soon lowered his lashes, anger and defeat in his eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, Hailey.""Life is a risk. This way, that way, any way, danger surrounds us all." I shrugged.He heaved a sigh. "How did you find out?""Doesn't matter, Mr. President. The question is why would you abandon your own child?""I..." Another sigh, suddenly, he looked weary. "I didn't mean to. She came to me with the pregnancy but my parents
As I stepped out of the main building of the White House, I saw some men dressed in black carrying some suspicious looking bags rounding a corner. "What are those?" I asked in a low tone."I have no idea. Daddy said it's nothing to concern myself with." The girl who'd introduced herself as Nina replied. After we'd had our conversation, she had decided to see me off to where my car was parked. She asked a lot of questions about Jared and I'd responded likewise. It was obvious she had a huge crush on him. I almost felt pity for her because I knew Jared would not allow it happen. She was too young. A minor from what she'd told me of her age. Though she was one very beautiful girl with a smart head sitting on her shoulders. "Hm." I averted my eyes when one of the black suits began to give me pointed stares. "Thank you for standing up to my father. I hope he does allow Jared back into the race." Her face fell a little, brown tendrils strayed to her eyes.She pushed them back behind h
"I've been trying to call you, Hailey. Why haven't you...hey, I'm talking to you." His eyes followed me as I walked past him like he wasn't even there."Mommy." Zion wriggled out of Miss Nancy's hold, and ran to hug me. "Hey, baby." I grinned, stooping to receive him into my arms. "I missed you, mommy." He kissed my cheek, making my heart swell."I missed you too, my baby.""Miss Nancy, take Zion to his playroom, I want to have a minute with Hailey." Uncle Pete instructed a befuddled Miss Nancy who had seen how I'd ignored him.She was probably wondering what had transpired between us. "Good afternoon, uncle." Jared's voice had me turning in surprise to see him carrying a bag. My brows furrowed. "What's with the bag?""Jared!" Zion left my side and ran to Jared's. The latter immediately dropped his bag and lifted him in the air, making Zion giggle so hard. "Hey, champ.""Are you coming to live with us?" Zion asked as soon as he was well positioned on Jared's hip."If you and them
The first 'what?' had been exclaimed by Jared but the second one had been stuttered by..."Miss Nancy?" I called, not believing she was behind us. At her feet laid shattered glass of water that pooled around her and flowed in short distances. How had she even walked passed us the first time without us seeing her?Except she took a different route as there were many hallways in the house.She seemed to realize herself and blinked, getting rid of tears that had welled to the surface but were yet to fall. "I-I'm sorry for intruding, everyone. I'll clean this up too."With one pained look thrown at guilty uncle Pete's way, she left. What was happening? What did I just witness? My tears had stopped flowing.Jared and me exchanged meaningful stares. "Excuse me, I'll be right back. Hailey, don't go anywhere, please. There's an explanation for this, I don't know how logical or valid it'll sound to you but I'll clear the air." Maybe it was the pleading stare or the fact that he was on the b
PRISCILLA"You've been scarce around the house, why's that?"I was just coming out of the room I'd turned to mine, freshly showered and all dressed for a stay at home.I bumped into my husband, someone I'd been avoiding for a few days now. "You've been scarce around the house, why's that?" I threw back.He curled his fists, I saw it and my eyes flashed him a warning. He had better not raise that hand to my body ever again."So now you have the audacity to throw back questions at me?" His temper was like a short fuse."If I can't question you, then you have no right to question me." I made to walk past him but he drew me back roughly.I struggled with him and pushed him with all my might. He staggered, disbelief making its way into his eyes. "How dare you, Priscilla?! Have you forgotten who the head of the house is?!""If you notice, I no longer share the same room with you. Until you learn how to b
CHRISTIAN I stepped into the office building and a felt a bit overwhelmed. It was bigger than the one I used to handle. I guess I understood now why they termed it a 'multi-billion company' as opposed to the 'million-dollar company' I used to run. The receptionist's face lifted in the professional smile I just knew was a part of her job. "Good morning, Sir. How may I help you?" Her tone was polite but still held professionalism. "I'm here to see your boss." My tone copied hers. "Okay, sir. Any prior appointment?" She interrogated further. Company's rules, I understood them. I used to be at the top too. "Honestly, no. But I'm a potential business partner. I was just around the vicinity, and decided to drop by to see the man I might be working with in the future. You know how businesses go." I flashed her a charming smile.She responded with a smile of hers but she kept it professional and didn't seem fazed by the charm behind mine. "I'll have to check with his secretary, sir. Pl
My son had been so happy when I'd told him we were bringing food to Jared in his office. Uncle Pete had gone to the office. For the past days, I've been avoiding Astra-Z especially after the death of Zaya. I just wasn't ready to deal with anything pertaining to work at this moment. I'd made some food for Jared, he was still living with us for the main time and no one was complaining. I was enjoying his presence, Zion obviously was as well and uncle Pete seemed relieved to have his nephew within close proximity during such trying period.Bringing Jared lunch had been a surprise, but it turned out I was the one in for the surprise. I stepped into the tensed, angry office space and gaped. "Christian?! Wh-what are you doing here?""Are you fighting, Jared?" My son stepped forward, examining both men's faces. "Christian? Your name is Christian?" Mia looked confused and angry. "What else would you think his name is?" I had to ask because it sounded strange hearing her question the tru
THREE YEARS LATER...I stood outside in front the prison's huge gate, Zion and Zaya, still having their sibling rivalry, stood beside me. I paid them no mind. The day they would not argue, I would be genuinely worried. Jared stood beside me as I held a cardboard paper in view, waiting for her. "Where is she?" I questioned impatiently.Uncle Pete and Miss Nancy were home, they couldn't come because Miss Nancy had just put to bed a beautiful set of twin boys. The twin gene was really strong in the Johnson family. Celine was due at any moment. Funny right? Dylan had proposed a year after my wedding. Celine was expecting her first child but was advised to stay home and to stress as little as possible. That was what happened when your husband was a big shot doctor.The gates opened and there she was. I beamed.Zion and Zaya, now eight years of age, ran forward in unison, forgetting their meaningless squabble. "Aunt Denise!""Hey!" She opened her arms, stooping to hug them only they wer
When I finally came to, the first thing I heard was the steady beeping of the heart's monitor. I blinked reflexively as the bulb overhead hurt my eyes some. I tried to raise myself to a sitting position but a groan escaped my lips."Hailey." Someone rushed to the bed, helping me to sit up.It was Jared. "W-what happened? I had a dream. A weird dream." I told him, looking quite disoriented. "Really? What kind of dream was that?" He asked, tucking hair behind my ears. "I saw Zaya. Zion was holding her hand and they...they..." Emotions swamped me, making it difficult for me to continue speaking.I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge tears suck in my throat. He heaved a sigh. "It was not a dream, baby. Zaya is alive. I'm as shocked as you are but after uncle Pete and Miss Nancy explained all that happened, I am just thankful she's alive." Emotions rose to his throat. "No." I shook my head, not wanting to believe. "No, no. Zaya died. I saw her body. She...she laid there unconscious an
"Thank you Brenda, you did a superb job." I shook hands with the very pretty bartender dressed in revealing clothes as the cops threw handcuffs around the wrists of drugged, oblivious Philip and Derek.Finally, I did it. Actually, to be fair, I had help. Jared and me had tracked them to the location Denise had provided and it was true. I realized they frequented a rundown bar at this remote area and they were smart to because no one would have ever traced them here."It's my pleasure. Plus, the money was too good to pass up." She seemed pleased with herself. "Just a second." I left her to go get my checkbook and pen from my bag sitting in the car. I returned to her with these, wrote a figure and extended it to her. "This is thank you for a job well done."She took the check, her eyes bulged in both excitement and shock. "This is freaking much! What the hell do I do with so much money?"My eyes did a quick sweep of her work environment, then moved back to her. "You can pursue your dr
"I don't know why you brought me here. You could have come alone." I folded my arms, staring with a displeased expression at the entrance of the police station. "You need this." Jared said, turning off the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Aren't you getting out?""I told you I'm not ready. I don't know what to tell her. I'm not even sure I want to talk to her, I can't forget the fact that she had a hand in my father's death.""Fine. Then don't talk, let me do the talking. I just want you to be available so you can hear the information she has. You want Philip and Derek to pay for what they have done to you, don't you?" He shifted to face me. "I guess." My tone was reluctant."Good, because I want Philip to pay for killing my father." His jaw tightened.I frowned a little. "You've never been this upset ever since...I don't know, he was your father-in-law.""A big mistake. My father's death ruined my family with my mother as an accomplice." His words were bitter to the ears. I pl
I was dressed for the event — a simple tank top and distressed denim shorts. It was time to pluck off another adversary.I opened the door and turned on the lights. "There you are." My smile was anything but welcoming or friendly. "And I thought I smelled a rotten fish." She spat, looking unkempt and dirty. And she was tied to a chair. "Oh, that'll be you seeing as you haven't had your bath in like...well, weeks." I drew a chair from the wall, placed it few feet from hers and sat. "Forgive my lack of hospitality, I've been busy.""It's been a while. What do you want?" Her once shiny red hair was now a matted mess. "Revenge." I simply said. As though on cue, I heard a rap on the door. I opened it to allow Celine and Jared walk in. Jared was carrying a box of things I'd asked for. "You bitch! You think I'm scared of you?" She was trying to act strong but the little quiver in her voice gave her away. "I think you already are." I emptied the contents in the box.I heard her gasp. "
"Room 48." I mumbled, blowing nerves away. I was here and there was no turning back. Uncle Pete and Jared had no idea where I was going. I'd lied about picking some things for Zion from the store. This should be over in no time. I raised a fist and rapped gently but firmly on the door. "Who's that?"Two of the cops had followed me upstairs but were hiding from view. That sounded like the President's voice. I knocked again, cleared my tone in a bit to disguise it and said. "Room service."There was seconds of silence, then the padding of feet coming towards the door. The door opened. "We didn't order any..." The rest of his words were drowned by shock."Hello, Mr. President." I plastered on a smile. "Can I come in?" He was yet to see the cops."Get out." Fear and anger had him growl out those words. He tried to shut the door in my face but before he succeeded, I had a foot stuck between the door and used all of my power to push it open, making him lose balance and fall to the gro
"Uncle Pete!" I dashed into the room to envelope him into a hug, not minding the presence of Miss Nancy and a nurse. He hugged me back, his chuckle a bit weak. "I missed you too."I blinked my eyes, struggling back tears and swallowing emotions lodged stubbornly in my throat. "I'm so glad you're okay, uncle Pete. I...I... thought..." I couldn't even say the words out loud. "You thought what? I'm going nowhere for a long, long time, babygirl."My heart swelled with both gratitude and love for the man. It was the first time he would be using such an endearing term in that soft, affectionate tone. "You'd better not.""Can't...breathe." He said, still hugging me. "Thank you for saving my life. Thank you." I sniffled. "I owe you everything, my life included." "I did what I'm supposed to do, Hailey. You don't have to thank me for that." He rubbed my back. I held onto him for a few more moment. "Save some for us, Hailey." Celine who had come with me chuckled. I let go, finally paying
Jared unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me onto his laps, I could not stop sobbing. "Shh. It's okay.""I...I..." I hiccuped, words failing me. "You don't have to say anything now." His hand on my back, comforting and soothing was a bit helpful."But...oh God. I don't want to believe her, but..." I trailed off as more tears interrupted my speech."Me too. I thought she just being her sly self but when I heard her talk, I knew she wasn't lying."I sniffled back snot, raising my head to look at him. "You heard her talk? When?""When we worked together. See, everyone makes mistakes, including your father. And that mistake led to his untimely, unfortunate demise. Denise too and we both know where the mistake landed her.""I can't imagine being poor and having a rich father who didn't want you. I know my dad was wrong to have pretended Denise didn't exist but killing him didn't solve anything. She only killed the man I've loved all my life till the day he died.""And I'm sorry for that. I
"He's not our son." Was the only argument I could come up with. Disappointment and disbelief darkened his eyes. "So you're prepared to let that young boy who left his country to provide a life for himself and his family to die in a fight that doesn't concern him? Coming from you, a mother?"Guilty speared, so I kept mute, partly to reflect. "Look, babe, I know you've been through a lot and Kazim was giving every information to bring every injustice to an end and the people responsible to book and he has done a wonderful job so far, but it was getting too heated. He was digging in too deep and I feared it was only a matter of time before he would wound up dead probably in some remote location. I know you're a good person and would never want to put his life at risk, you just wanted to fight back the only way you knew how."I hated that the anger was no longer aimed at him. I felt ashamed that he'd considered the risks while I was only interested in what Kazim had to offer. "Where is