"What is she doing here?" A woman who looked to be in her late thirties frowned as soon as she saw me.She had short black curls and a heavy load of make up. She would have been pretty if she hadn't decided to cake her face with so much beauty products. She was tall and slim but not really a model shaped kind of physique. She chewed and popped bubblegum with careless abandon. "Not now, Catherine." Uncle Pete merely said, leading me further into his living room.His house was beautiful and spoke of wealth too. I had spent ten days in the hospital trying to get better. The doctor had refused to discharge me until he was sure my blood pressure was back to normal. I was still hurting and mourning the miscarriage of the baby I would never meet but I had tried not to stress much so I could leave the hospital. Jared had visited everyday but I was not talking to him. He had realized that and didn't bother striking conversations with me anymore. Uncle Pete was the one who informed him of
"What are you doing with her?!" The door to my room barged open.Catherine came in and without warning, pulled me roughly by my shirt and began to hit me. Thankfully, uncle Pete was fast on his feet and pushed her away. "What the hell, Catherine?"She had managed to scratch my neck and that part hurt. More tears fell from my eyes.Uncle Pete had been consoling me as I wouldn't stop mourning the loss of my pregnancy. I'd refused breakfast because I didn't have the appetite for it.Who would think of food when their life was turned upside down and full of chaos? Just a month before, I had been okay in my marriage until that incident.I wish I could ask uncle Pete to loan me some money to start up my life but not in this place. I didn't want to be anywhere close to Christian and Jared.I didn't want to know or see them even by mistake. And as long as I remained in the same state and country with them, I'd keep seeing or hearing about them
"When will you be back?" I inquired, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.Uncle Pete was traveling and that would mean leaving me and his crazy wife all alone in the house.Oh God, I didn't even want to think of what would happen if he left."Soon." His smile was reassuring as though he already understood my thoughts about being left alone with his wife.The said wife was watching us — me specifically — through spiteful glares as she popped her gum. He had already given me some money to keep me busy until he was back.And by busy, he meant I should go shopping and have some fun. I was grateful but I kept the cash. It was going to be useful.If I kept saving whatever he gave me, I might actually have enough to start up life again. But he gave me the money in her absence, else she would likely kill me for it. Then, he was gone. I quickly left for my room. "Hey you!" She called.I halted on the short flight of stairs. I had a mind to ignore but she could push me from behind, I was
I'd never had such a strong stuff before and it was really making me lose awareness and control of myself. The most drink of my intoxication was wine and I easily got intoxicated.Whatever they had given me to sniff and swallow were just foreign to my system. I was feeling no pain but I was feeling like I'd just gulped six — or maybe eight — bottles of 1945 Pinot Noir.What little strength I had in me, I had walked like a drunk person to the counter and booked a room, used the elevator and was now occupying the suite.It was dark and the door was closed. Or it should be.I laid like an almost dead person, trying to find sleep when the door opened. I frowned but was too intoxicated to get up. "Who are you?""Oh baby, it's me." The voice was sounded equally drunk said. "I called and you came. Business was good today. I landed the biggest deal and decided to call you.""W-what?" Confusion wrapped my being."It's a good one. Let's just have fun tonight and tomorrow, I'll tell you all ab
"What the hell is going on here?!" I was startled awake by the voice beside me. A throbbing came on immediately and hit both my temples.My eyes lazily fluttered open to meet the angry, shocked gaze of...my eyes flew open in disbelief and my brain immediately went into denial."Jared?" My jaw was almost touching the floor. My eyes quickly assessed the situation and saw I was naked. Barely covered and he was staring...no, glaring at me."How did you get here?!" The incredulity tinged heavily in my tone.I winced as soon as the question was out of my mouth, I held my head and massaged my temples. What had happened to here?Why was I in bed with...him?!"I should be asking you that. I was not expecting you in my room!" He yelled."You...I..." I lacked words in that moment and just stared at him, partly because I felt like I had been kicked by ten horses on the stomach and partly because my brain was still trying to process what had happened. "How did you know where to find me? Are you
"Hello, uncle Pete.""Yes, Hailey. What is it? Are you crying?" His voice immediately became concerned.The tears I'd been holding back let loose and swam to the surface, wasting no time to stream down my face.Using the heel of my palm, I wiped them away but more replaced the old, wiped ones. "W-when will you be back?"I was still lodging in that hotel, though not the same room because the thought of staying in a room that Jared had shared a night with me was taunting and too painful.I asked for another room but my money, the one uncle Pete had given me was almost exhausted. If I lodged one more night, I would be empty and I didn't know the area well enough to find a cheaper lodge."I'm on my way home. Why? Is Catherine troubling you?"Catherine was the reason I was yet to go back to that house as there was no telling what she would do to me but I couldn't tell uncle Pete that, especially on the phone."N-no
"This place is nice, uncle Pete." I admired the interior decor of the restaurant we had just stepped into.One of the waiters seem to know uncle Pete and had ushered us to a private booth that had no customers except us."It belongs to a very close friend of mine." He said, taking a seat opposite me. Menus were placed before us. My stomach rumbled in hunger as soon as I opened the black and gold hardcover book-like menu that had so many dishes, categorized according to types and origins. I decided on Greek souvlaki, not because I'd had it before but because it looked nice.Uncle Pete went for Italian beef tortellini in broth. "I've had it once when I travelled to Florence and I liked it.""What drinks will you have?" The waitress who was attending our table inquired."I want something fruity. Moscato or Riesling will do." I answered."Get me beer." Uncle Pete decided.The waitress went away with our orders."So tell me, what did she do? I brought us here because it's private and you
"Take her away, officers." "What are you doing, Peter?" Catherine stood from the sofa, stubbing the cigarette she had been smoking just before we entered."I have warned you to stop smoking in my house." Uncle Pete was angry seeing how she stubbed the cigarette on his console table, messing the glass top. That cigarette obviously wasn't her first stick."Don't touch me!" She snarled at the officer, snatching her wrist away from him. "What have I done, Peter?""What have you not done, you psycho?!" He was really furious. "You turned my home into a strip club and a brothel?!" His emphasis on 'and' didn't go unnoticed. She faced me with the most hateful, venomous glare ever. If eyes could kill, I'd be lying in my own pool of blood in that moment. "You!"I jolted a bit and shifted slightly so I was behind uncle Pete. I didn't dare say a word. This lady knew how to scare me shitless. I couldn't hide the truth from uncle Pete, not because I was a tattletale but he deserved to know. He
MIA"Where are you coming from by this time, Jared?" I stood from the sofa I was occupying before my husband walked in. "Hi, babe." He greeted but without making an effort to have it sound loving as it used to. Nerves knotted and anger was ready to flare. "Don't 'hi babe' me in that nonchalant tone of yours, Jared. It's past ten pm and you're just coming in? You're a married man for fuck's sake!"He merely stared, watching me display my anger. "Won't you say something?!" I was even more vexed at the calmness he was exuding."What do you want me to say?" He shrugged, making to walk past me, towards the stairs. I blocked his path. "That you were out with Hailey and her son today!"His brow raised in surprise. "How did you know?"I folded my arms. "You're not even denying it.""Why should I? You already know the truth." He stuck both his hands in his pockets. It was my turn to be surprised. "So you're having an affair with that bitch?! Huh?! Or is this some stupid plan to get her so
"Mommy, I want some ice cream." My son walked up to me as I was getting off the phone with the doctor in charge of my daughter's treatment.It was the same news. No improvement. She was still as still as dead... almost dead.I swallowed my pain and faced my other child who needed his mother. I was proud of how he was handling this whole thing. Twice I'd heard him pray with Nanny Nancy, asking God to heal Zaya and I always begged God to listen to the prayers of my baby boy. "But you just finished having lunch." I told him.He frowned, walked away towards the kitchen. Curious over his attitude, I followed him. Jared had offered to help with the dishes after we were done. He was being sweet and gentle in these recent times. I could see he was not just here for my kids, but me. Though I was still wary because of what had happened twice to me in the past. "Jared." Zion called as he stepped into the kitchen, not minding I was behind him."Yes, champ?" He turned from the sink.I quickly
PETER"Your phone has been ringing nonstop, uncle Pete." Jared gestured to my persistently buzzing phone. "It's an unknown number, I don't like picking unknown numbers." I told him. He was still in I and Hailey's home. Usually, he would be gone by now since we were done discussing but the fact he was still around gave me the impression he was still here for Hailey and Zion.But zero chance with Zion since the boy was yet to warm up to him.So it was mostly for Hailey.Something had happened between them, I could not tell what it was but I knew something had happened. "Why don't you pick your call, uncle Pete?" Hailey appeared from the hallway that led to the kitchen. She was making lunch for us. She'd insisted when the maids wanted to do it. I noticed Jared turn immediately at the sound of her voice and stared with some kind of emotion in his eyes.She, on the other hand, was purposely ignoring his presence and was doing everything to avoid her gaze straying to his direction. A s
MARTHAI walked into the kitchen for my morning dose of coffee. I wanted to have one of the maids do it but I decided to do it myself. I paused at the doorway when I spotted Mia having breakfast at the island. I made to turn away."Good morning, Martha." She greeted in a calm tone. "Morning." I didn't even bother to glance over my shoulder. "We need to talk." She said. "Not interested." I'd come to hate her and regret why I'd not seen her for who she truly was all these years. "You should be, Martha. Remember we need to work together, cooperate even, if Jared must achieve his political goals." The underlying threat in her tone had me halting in my steps. This was why I avoided confrontations with her. The sly bitch! She could easily ruin my son's life. I loved both my sons but Jerome always brought trouble his brother's way. It was as though he hated Jared with passion. When I had given birth to both of them, I never wished they would hate each other this much.Percy, my late h
JAREDMy eyes widened. "W-what?!" I almost choked on my own spit. "Slow down, Nina. We're never going to happen. You're a beautiful girl...""Woman." She corrected firmly."Sorry. You're a beautiful woman and I'm sure there are guys your age who'll be willing to...""I don't want them. It's you I want, Jared. And it's you I'll have." She rose from her seat. "Come see me off. I have somewhere else to be.""I can't let you go alone. I'll have to reach out to my uncle, then he'll reach out to your father." I brought out my phone.In a swift, unexpected motion, she leaned over and grabbed my phone, giggling and heading for the door in a race."Give me my phone, Nina." I followed her, already exhausted from her child-like behavior."No, I'm not letting you call anyone." She opened the door and I went after her.Eyes raised from their respective jobs once again to lock in on an excited Nina and an embarrassed me.&n
JAREDI was going through the ledger when I heard the little commotion going on outside my office. What was happening?I rose from my chair and stepped out of my airy office to see my secretary having a little banter with someone.Other staff were watching with interest. Few eyes caught my presence and went back to their station or faced their jobs...or at least they pretended to.I had never seen Miss Bordeaux in this infuriated manner. And the person she was talking back to was a bit hidden by a staff's work station."You do not have an appointment, little girl." My secretary snapped."Do you know who I am? Who my father is?" The familiar voice had me halting in my tracks. Maybe I should let Celine handle this one all by herself.I had just done a U-turn and was about to flee to my office when I heard the excited squeal. "There he is! There's my boyfriend!"I froze in place. I could hear the deafening silence that followed her statement. Eyes were on me. Everyone knew I was marri
CATHERINE"You know we have to be careful how and where we meet. The last time we almost got caught by that bitch." I complained as soon as I entered the passenger seat of his car. And by that 'bitch', I meant Hailey. I had been quick to spot her at that hotel before she sent her goons to come after us.She didn't know Derek yet, just me. So it was specifically me she had wanted. Derek and me hadn't met again until now when he'd called to see me. "Exactly why I chose a place far from town and in this car with tinted windows, one can hardly recognize us." He responded, tucking a strand of his brown long hair behind his ear. "How has it been?" I shrugged and lied. "Fine."But I knew everything was far from fine. My son was held in that bastard's custody. And then he'd had the guts to call me to order me to carry out his bidding. "Are you sure?" He observed my expression.Rather than give him a response, I extended my palm. "The money you promised me."He stretched to the backseat of
MISS BORDEAUXI stepped out through the glass doors of my workplace, ready to go home. It was such a honor to be working for the second biggest company in the country.Also, with a boss like mine, it was an absolute dream come true. Mr Johnson was such a wonderful sight for good eyes, though it was a bumper he was married. Well, at least, I got to admire from afar. He wasn't the type to chase after women. And he respected the company's rules of no office romance. I hailed a taxi. A young graduate like myself from the trailer knew better than to wish for something she had no right wishing for.Mr Johnson treated me nice like every other staff under him. He paid us well and when I attended trips with him, I sure did have fun but he never made any advances.Sure he would talk to me but in a friendly, boss to employee manner. "Where to, ma'am?" The beardy cab man inquired. "Fin Square." I replied, proceeding to open the back of the taxi."That won't be necessary, Miss Bordeaux. I can
The room smelled of passion and the result of satisfying lust as we both held onto each other, reaching our climax at the same time. He spilled his seeds inside of me before collapsing on my body. None of us could talk for a while. I waited for my brain cells to return to normal and be able to comprehend what had just happened. When it did, I couldn't even bring myself to look at him or even speak.But I had to say something. "Get off me."I swallowed, totally not expecting my voice to tremble as it had just did. Why was I on the verge of crying over something that I'd been a willing participant?He raised his head to study my expression, then he sighed. It was low but I heard it. "What's wrong Hailey?""Your wife needs you." I managed to get out through an emotional voice.He roll off me but didn't let go, rather he cradled me in his arms. "I promise this is not like six years ago."That made me even struggle harder to get away from him. "Unwrap your arms from my body this minute,