"Hailey?" Uncle Pete shot up from his seat, a worried look on his face as he approached me. I sidestepped, avoiding any contact with him and walked upstairs to my room, not saying to him. Anger boiled and brewed as this sense of betrayal did.He would know. Uncle Pete would know it wasn't Jared who had taken advantage of me. He had always known of Jerome, after all he was their uncle. No wonder Jared had been angry and confused that day at the restaurant.It was because it wasn't him. Yet no one said anything to me six years ago. They let me make a fool of myself!"Hailey." His voice followed me upstairs as I heard the urgent padding of his feet to meet up with me.My pair of slippers was in my hand, same with my glasses. I opened my room and walked inside."Hailey, what's wrong wi..."I jammed the door in his face without waiting for him to finish his question. Today was an eventful one.The Johnson family was just unbelievable! Each and every one of them!Jerome was the one who
MIAI took a deep breath as the gate of the large compound in the middle of nowhere opened.I didn't know what I was doing here but he was my only hope. I needed his help and if I had to pay him to get her out of the way, I would. I didn't care how much. Money was not the problem. "Hey, baby." He was already standing in front of his sprawling porch, waiting for me. I cleared my throat. "In the middle of nowhere, huh? I shouldn't be surprised.""You know me, love. I like my privacy." He winked. I hadn't been able to ask Jared or Martha why they lied about Jerome's death. First, they would want to know how I knew, which could lead to secrets I didn't want them to find out.Also, Jerome had warned me not to say a word to any of them about his presence here in the country."I'm here strictly on business." I told him, avoiding his hug. Unperturbed, he led me inside the house. But didn't stop at the living room. I wanted to question him but decided against it as we needed a more priva
PETER"Mommy?" Zion opened his eyes to my delight.At least, we had one of them back to us. It was a win, a huge one.My heart still broke for little Zaya whom the doctor had no idea if she would ever wake up from what she'd termed a 'death-sleep'.Many never do, she had confessed, and it was even worse in children. There had been no record of any child who had survived the 'death-sleep'.The pediatrician had explained that 'death-sleep' was just as the name implied. The patients were not exactly dead but they weren't considered alive as well.They just hang on the balance which more often than not tipped to the side of death.She had advised we pull the plug but Hailey had insisted to leave it and I supported her."Hey baby. You're awake." Hailey hugged him so tight I thought she would not let go but she finally did and kissed his forehead.Zion looked at me. "Daddy?"I was not
I watched Denise cat-walked into the exclusive restaurant I had arranged for us to meet.Denise had intentionally delayed the meeting for one hour. Impatience and anger brewed but I kept my cool and waited for her to reach my table. When she finally did, I snapped. "You're late.""Fashionably so." Denise flashed me a smile. "Don't you think my outfit looks great?" She even did a small twirl for me to see."Sit and quit behaving like a peacock in heat." I hissed lowly.That upset her and she emitted a low growl, but she sat her stupid ass down. "Don't think because you're the bitch of the hot, famous CEO, you have the right to be haughty."I smiled and brought out an envelope. I slid it across the table to her. "What's that?" She eyed the brown envelope, not making any move to take a look at its contents or even pick it up."Open it, it doesn't bite." I urged her."What is in there?" She took off her sunglasses, placing them on the table."How will you find out then?" I kept my gaze
JARED"You can not fold your hands and watch her take your children away, Jared." Mom was in her usual angry mode whenever she wasn't getting what she wanted."Mom, stop it. Okay? It's enough." I was trying to think of a better solution."I'm trying to be helpful here." She eyed me unhappily."But you're making matters worse. Uncle Pete is right. We wronged that girl, we should be apologizing to her not making matters worse."I had thought of everything uncle Pete had said and I'd reminisced on the past, I was ashamed of how low I'd sunk myself to treat her that way.Even though she had accused me of being responsible for her pregnancy, it wasn't enough reason to treat her like that. She had lost her first pregnancy and all I had done was stand against her. The second one which I knew I was responsible for, I'd asked her to abort without a thought to her feelings.She had once confessed to being in love with me and in every way, she had shown me but I had turned a blind eye because I
MARTHAFear, disbelief, surprise and a sense of motherly yearning for her child all attacked me at once.My son was back? I knew what he was and his capabilities but he was still my son.Thought there was a reason he was dead to us. He had to be."Are you certain of what you're saying?" Jared questioned, the dread and disbelief on his face wa enough answer for me.Jerome's presence meant a lot of things would go wrong."Of course he's not certain of what he's saying. How can a dead man be back? Back to where?" Mia remarked.Everyone went silent immediately. No one could tell her the truth. Even she was not aware that Jerome was alive. We had her and others believed he was dead."Right?" She looked at Jared, then at me and finally at my brother-in-law.None of us spoke."Why's everyone quiet?" She was asking, looking clueless. "Is he alive?" She faced me."Yes, he is but I'll tell you
"Hello, ma'am."The young guy I'd employed recently to work for me discreetly greeted as soon as my car stopped at the spot I'd asked him to meet me.It was a deserted place that had old, abandoned houses and other buildings. It used to be a residential area from the looks of it but now was like no man's island.He was already there, waiting for me. I had just finished from the restaurant and came out to meet him. "Hi, Kazim."He was a Muslim and a Pakistani. He had come highly recommended. He was not more than twenty two but was very good.I also liked the fact he wasn't much of a talker. At least, it won't be me doing the spilling of our secret business. He handed me an envelope. "The information you need, ma'am.""Thank you." I took it and brought out its contents to peruse. My eyes widened in surprise at what I saw, I raised my head to meet his eyes. "Are you sure this is the right information?""Yes, ma'am." He simply replied.So Catherine had a son. Perfect! Such a pity he wa
As soon as I stepped into the house and heard the cries, I hurried my steps, maternal instincts kicking in."What's wrong with him, uncle Pete?" I rushed towards them."He's been crying few minutes after you left." Uncle Pete was seen trying to calm Zion but my little boy was having none of it. "Zion baby." I tried to hold him but he clung tighter to uncle Pete's shirt and cried harder. "He's not letting me hold him.""Do you think he's fully recovered?"Uncle Pete had to increase his tone just so I could hear him over my son's ear-splitting wails. "Or we should take him back to the hospital?""Let's go back to the hospital." The fact that Zion had never behaved like this before, worried me even more. He was discharged yesterday and had been calm until now. "Hospital?" He paused in his tantrums to look at us both. "Are we going to the hospital?"Uncle Pete and I exchanged glances then looked back at him. He was rubbing his watery, puffy eyes and sniffling back tears and snot. "Why
"Good night, Hailey." Uncle Pete yawned, kissing my hair before leaving for his room."Good night, uncle Pete." I watched him trudge the stairs. Then he turned. "Are you sure you're not ready for bed?""While you were out this afternoon, I napped. So I'm not yet sleepy." I told him."Alright." He shrugged, emitted another yawn and continued his journey up the stairs to his room. Everyone in the house was asleep, including the maids, Miss Nancy and my son.When I saw he was out of sight, I tiptoed to the entrance and walked out of the house, heading for the electronic gate. Once outside the compound, I took the short walk with street lamps guiding my steps till I reached the small building.I'd worked on it and had it in a better shape. Money brought quicker results. I knocked on the door. "Good evening, ma'am." The young nurse opened the door for me."Good evening, Nora. Where are Landon and Brittany?" I asked of the other medical professionals I'd hired to care for Noah. It wasn
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 hu
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