"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
He didn't respond, just kept digging into his lunch. "Are you ever going to release her?" I asked again. Still no response. I noticed Zion was getting quieter. He stopped eating, crawled onto Jared's lap and made himself comfortable. He was feeling sleepy. Jared adjusted him so he would not press his weight on his little frame as he ate. Soon, Zion was fast asleep. "You're not saying anything, Jared. Are you ever going to release that girl?" "Can we not talk about her, please?" He raised his head long enough to cast me a glance before lowering his head to focus on his meal. "We have to. That girl needs to be out or I'll stop talking to you." I decided to threaten him."Are you threatening me?" He was in disbelief."You damn well right I am." I quirked a brow, biting back a smile. He would fold and agree..."But how do I know she's not a part of the plan?"...or he would rather argue to justify his actions and prove more stubborn. I scoffed. "How can she? Can you hear yourself
JEROME"What happened to your nose, man?" My brows furrowed a little as he walked into my house.Not saying anything, he walked past me, heading straight for the kitchen. He returned with an ice pack and a can of beer.The pack was pressed to his nose, he opened the can and began to gulp."Did you know that your brother is married to that Pillax man's daughter. That Priscilla is her mother?" He finally gave me his attention, the pack still pressed to his nose."You mean Mia? Of course, we grew up together. She's my girl." I informed him.His eyes widened. "She's your...oh, no wonder." His brows knitted thoughtfully."No wonder what?""No wonder your brother was accusing her...me of being another lover. She's having an affair with you and married to him? What the hell?" He chugged more beer, still pressing the pack to his broken nose."How did you even find out? I mean, did you guys stu
It was a struggle to open my eyes but when I finally did, the light overhead almost blinded me. I shut my lids back with a wince.Seconds later, I slowly reopened them but was mindful of the bright white light hanging on the ceiling.Trying to move was another chore, I couldn't. Every part of me felt broken, bruised and battered. Then I remembered that in fact, I was beaten, bruised and battered by two masked guys whom faces I never saw. Struggling to push myself to a sitting position, a small cry left my lips. My legs were swollen, had dark red spots and felt too heavy to move. Tears of self-pity blurred my vision the same time I saw someone walk in. "You're awake."I didn't need to see the face clearly to know the voice belonged to... "Christian?" I blinked my eyes, tears hanging onto my lashes wasted no time running down my cheeks. I lifted a hand to swipe at them, another painful cry. My face hurt badly too. Oh God! Was I disfigured? They had targeted my face and legs, those ma
UNCLE PETER"Hailey is no longer taking her calls." My fiancee ran into the room, the look of apprehension blanketing her features painted an unsettling picture in my head but I stopped myself from going there. "It's no cause for alarm, babe." Just as I was speaking, there was Celine behind, sporting the same look."I didn't know you were back." My brows furrowed trying not to go where their head probably was in the moment about Hailey. "Not quite long ago." She replied."Aunt Celine, hi." Zion whom I was playing with before they came in stopped the play-fight amongst his soldiers and waved at her. She rewarded him with a big smile and a wave back. "I missed you, baby Zion."She called him baby Zion and he loved it.He giggled pleasantly and went back to playing. I read their expressions, they silently requested that I come with them. They wanted to tell me something but didn't want Zion to overhear. I hoped all was well. "Hey buddy." I crouched to his sitting level."Yes daddy?"
DENISE"You sure do know how to pick a woman's dress." I admired my body in the mirror, casting my gaze to his with a satisfied wink. His face gave away no emotions, he merely stood from the sofa he was seating. Impatience radiating off of him. "Can we get to the part where we rehearse?""Calm down, cowboy." I cat-walked towards him. "Have no one ever told you not to rush a lady?""Denise, Hailey is beginning to suspect something is up. I have run out of lies and I hate lying to her. So let's just get this over with." Impatience was really singing a tune now. "Where's the phone, recorder and cash you promised to get me?" I held out my hand to him. He pointed to a designer bag on the console table. "In there."My eyes widened in excitement. "You got me a bag! A designer at that!" I ran towards black expensive leather. "You really do know how to shop for a lady.""Yeah, when your ex-wife has expensive tastes for extravagant things, as a man, you'll need to catch up. Alright, here's w
"Hello babe." I drove to the side of the road and parked there the moment his voice came on the speaker. "Hi, Jared. Where are you?" I inquired."I-I'm...I went for a meeting." He replied, I noted something in his voice but couldn't specifically say what it was."Are you okay? What kind of meeting? You don't have a secret company you're running, are you?" "I'll tell you as soon as I'm back." Came his reply."I've missed you. You've been absent from home these past two days. By the time I woke up, you weren't by my side." "I'm sorry baby. I'll get back home soonest. I'm trying to figure out how to keep my life running with the election just five days away and Jerome still in charge, I can not remain idle." "I understand. Will you be long?" I missed him, even Zion as well. Our son had been asking about him, wanting to know of his whereabouts. "Zion misses you too. Says you no longer play with him.""Tell him to forgive me, I'll be back soon and we can play all he wants." I heard a
JARED I know what I was about to do would cause trouble, but I had to do it. Moreover, if she never found out, there would not be a problem. I drummed my fingers on the desk, waiting patiently in the visitor's room. I wasn't the only visitor here, there were others, some were waiting as I was."Well, well, if it isn't the man of my dreams." She was brought before me, taking a seat opposite mine. "Let's go." I began to rise from the seat. "Go where? And just like that?" She raised a brow."Just yesterday, you didn't want to go to prison, today, you're reluctant to leave?""I believe the right word is hesitant. How do I know you're not taking me out of here to go kill me?" She retorted."Kill you? What for? Of what use will your death be to me, Denise?" I sat back down, meeting her gaze. She shrugged, her eyes not leaving mine. "You tell me, Jared.""See, I wouldn't be here if it's not important." I began."Ah-ha! So I'm guessing Hailey doesn't know you're here." It was more of a s
PHILIP"I'm going to kill her! That bitch!" Rage had me in a choking hold."She might be innocent, you know?" Derek said, climbing in after me.We were on our way to the airport, about to leave the country. It was midnight and Derek had pulled some strings, landed us a private plane. For a man who came from nothing, he had connections.Well, he did have money now."She's not innocent...well, she used to be. But that is not the woman I married. I don't understand her anymore. Damnit!" The more I thought about that letter and the fact that my wife had sent it to threaten me, knowing she had gone through my privacy was enough make me resolve to kill her."Whatever man. Let's just leave the country first, revenge will come. Your company is in good hands, that's all." He assured me with a companionable slap on my back. "What are we still waiting for? Let's get going." We were yet to board and the pilot was ready and waiting."I'm waiting for someone." His gaze was searching.Even though i
"This will solve nothing, you know that." She complained bitterly as the policeman cuffed both her wrists. "It'll put you in jail for killing my father." I spat at her.We had just returned from the President's place, I'd called the police to come arrest Denise and take her away. "And then what, Hailey?" She reached the base of the stairs where I was, standing in my face. Her hair and eyes wild. "Then what?!"The policeman was pulling her away from me but she stood her ground, unmoving, still in my face. I took a step closer and our noses were almost touching. "And then I'll find your step father and make him pay for what he's done.""You don't know him like I do, Hailey. Derek Kellers is smarter than you think. You need me to find him. I can help you find him." The policeman was pulling her back, struggling to have her head towards the door. "Let's join hands and defeat him, Hailey. I can find him. I know him.""I don't need your help." Her stubbornness and insistence roused more
"So her father is...was the owner of Codza Company?" The President eyed me in surprise."Yes, Bronx. She came from money. She's not poor as many tend to think." Uncle Pete replied. We had gone to visit the President after uncle Pete had spoken to him. He had asked us to come to his office, Jared wasn't invited but he followed regardless. He was still upset with me but at least, he wasn't totally ignoring me and the fact that I had helped saved Nina. No one talked about or knew anything about her kidnap or release, it was kept under wraps, from the prying eyes and ears of the public, which was a smart idea on my part."Oh. That's a surprise though." He regarded me with a simple look before facing uncle Pete once again. "What's your plan? I've called the Chief of Police and they are yet to get back to me with any useful information.""So it was basically useless coming here." I rose from the chair, fighting back my tears and anger, with the intent to leave. "Hey, watch your mouth, y
"oh God no! No. No." With trembling hands, I picked up my phone and dialed the line again. It made a disconnected beeping sound. I tried again, same thing. "This is all your fucking fault!" I yelled at her. I heard footsteps. There was uncle Pete. "Hey, what's going on?""She..." Words failed me as I thought of dad on his deathbed asking me to take care for the company and turn it into a great legacy. Dad had told me the story how he started that company. And I'd given it away to the wrong person for love. A stupid, blind, one-sided love! "Derek was already there, at the company. He was already siphoning the cash when we called." Denise provided, although she was talking in a voice that didn't sound like hers. "Damn!" Uncle Pete sighed. "Come here, Hailey." He pulled me up from the floor I'd subconsciously reached on my knees. "So long as you still have the company, we can make it grow. Your father's legacy will continue.""How?" I cried. "The bastard wants to blow up the place