Diane felt hurt from the pit of her stomach as Liam had left her unbothered.He had locked himself inside his study giving her no chance to apologize.Initially, she had planned on pretentiously showing remorse.She sat on the bed and opened the spyware.To her annoyance and disdain.Liam had been chatting with Rissa.Her worst fear is about to be unleashed A resurrection of the affection between the two before she tricked them into mutual hatred.She had instilled the spyware in Liam's phone without his knowledge.From their six years of marriage, she had always had access to his chats.This had set her mind at ease that he was not cheating on her.But the downside was that she had always known all his surprise plans for her before he executed them.She felt heartbroken when Liam praised Rissa's son.It irritated her to the core knowing fully well it was his business competitor’s son.Adrian hadn't hidden his affection for children from her, but it hurt her more that he felt it tow
Adrian's lingering gaze made Rissa smile shyly.It was her first date in a long time and she wasn't sure if she still has the touch.She wore a maxi strapless gown, which accentuated her curves, and four-inch heels.Her simple yet elegant accessories added colour to her eyes.She wore her hair up in a bun; she had requested Mandy’s help with the makeup.To her amazement, it was flawlessly done as opposed to Mandy's hideous usual one.“I stayed up all night on YouTube for this”, Mandy had boasted.Feeling proud of the attractive makeup on Rissa's face.Rissa knew, of course, that she always had a cute face, but living carefree for some years had rid her of the flair for sophistication.“I must say, you look so stunning”, Adrian praised her.He kept glancing at her while awaiting their order in the exquisite restaurant.As usual, he was formally dressed in a black suit but his choice of tie looked less formal with polka dots.“Thank you, Adrian”, Rissa responded, smiling.A waitress bro
“Mum, are you dating Dad now?” Caleb's tiny voice sounded from behind Rissa.She turned and saw Caleb flashing his missing tooth.“Aren't you supposed to be in bed?” Rissa questioned, overwhelmed.“I couldn't sleep; Mandy was loud”, he responded, scrunching up his nose.Mandy eyed him maliciously “How was I loud?” “You were loud like this”, Caleb said and made a shirking noise.Rissa had to cover his mouth to stop him.“Keep quiet; it is late, sweetheart”, Rissa cautioned him and he adhered to it.“Okay, sorry, mum”, he responded dejectedly and made for his room, giving Mandy a dirty look.“That wasn't nice Caleb!” Rissa said.“Sorry mum! Sorry Mandy,” Caleb said and walked out gently.Rissa and Mandy exchanged knowing looks and smiled warmly.“Thank you Mandy”, Rissa said.She recounted the memory of her first meeting with her.Mandy had looked hideous on the outside but turned out to be a total sweetheart on the inside.“There is no need for that, you and Caleb have been keeping me
“Aren't you Liam Hickson's cheating ex-wife?”, Mr George questioned suspiciously.Rissa was overwhelmed and gave in to her impulsiveness.She smacked him across the face, taking him and everyone else in the office by surprise.“How dare you accuse me, you freaking snitch!” she shouted at him.To her relief his confidence dwindled, replaced by grief.He picked up his briefcase to leave when the security personnel walked in to arrest him.Rissa's heart thumped loudly in her chest.Not now! Not when her life just started making sense that her past would resurface to ruin things.She picked up her phone and dialed Mariah’s number who picked up immediately.She was about to talk when Abraham's masculine voice came through.“Rissa it's been a while”, he said hastily.“Hello, Abraham; I hope you are doing great?” She said, smiling pleasantly.“Yes, thank you, sorry your mother cannot pick up the call, she is suffering from toothache”, Abraham said calmly.Rissa felt suspicious at Abraham's
Diane's smile faltered as she saw Rissa and Adrian walk in.To talk about an unpleasant coincidence, this was the highest of it.They were talking about something hilarious and laughing.“Mrs Hickson”, she heard her lawyer call.Diane bit her lower lips in annoyance “I hope you understand perfectly well”, the lawyer said firmly.“Of Course Mr Bennett”, she responded nonchalantly, still distracted by the unpleasant peasant situation in front of her.She fought back the urge to snap them and publicize them.But her fear of the ruthless Adrian Grey held her back.She covered her face with her fringe and sunglasses.Yet she still fears the risk of exposure.“Can I leave now?” Bennett said with a smile plastered on his face.“Thank you, Mr Bennett,” she responded.The lawyer picked up his bag and left.Adrian and Rissa sat in the VIP section undisturbed.They kept talking about Caleb sharing likes and dislikes.“Enough about our child; let us talk about you, Rissa Stonebridge”, Adrian sai
“Is this enough response to your question?” Rissa asked sweetly.She watched Adrian's lingering gaze on her succulent lips.“Didn't know you were a great seductress”, he responded smiling.His worries melted away at the moment.“Didn't know I still have a touch of it”, Rissa responded with a wink.“Don't know why I’m always smitten by the fierce part of you”, Adrian said playfully.They both laughed wholeheartedly, a rich sound of two mesmerizing voices.“I’m still in contact with Liam Hickson; yes, he mistreated me in the past, but he wasn't a bad person to me initially; he was fragile and gullible, but I can assure you I only care about his wellbeing, but nothing romantic”, Rissa said.Adrian made a gesture of understanding by putting his hand on his chest playfully.“Caring about his well-being alone makes me jealous, but I can still live with that. Diane tried to gaslight me with the evidence”, Adrian confessed.“Diane? When? Where?” Rissa questioned suspiciously.“She was in the
Diane bit her lip in regret watching Liam's smug countenance.She had fallen right into his hands, it was glaring he had her cornered.“I was drunk”, she pleaded desperately.“Really! Your diary suggests this was a normal thing for you”, Liam responded nonchalantly.“That was way before we got married, I have been faithful to you!” She shot back at him.Liam scoffed loudly “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” He questioned her bluntly.“I am not trying to persuade you, Liam; I just don't want to fight dirty with you,” Diane responded boldly.“You are one hell of a crazy bitch, do you know that?”Diane didn't respond, she just pouted disapprovingly.She tried to stand up and staggered back feeling lightheaded from the hangover.“You shouldn't have tried to taint Rissa, you deceptive wench!” Liam screamed out angrily.“Did you even try to listen to her? You are here judging me; I only fueled the problem; the decision came from you! Gullible minded coward!”, Diane thundered.Liam
Rissa shut the file with a thud immediately after she dropped the call.“What the hell could have actually happened?” she thought, confused.Caleb sure is an active boy but he was never the type to hurt anyone.Rissa was still caught in between her steaming romance with her extremely attractive boss and getting a hang of her responsibilities at work.Still, Stella wouldn't stop calling her in a few days' interval to seek pregnancy counsel, claiming she hadn't had any child in thirty years.She picked up her bag and rushed out of the office sending Adrian a quick text on her whereabouts.If Mr George wasn't fired she would have had to seek his permission.Without any superior to report to, she had been saddled with the responsibility of dealing with the CEO directly by her colleagues.When was Percy Peach going to get a replacement for Mr George?She got into the cab hastily staring intently at her ringing phone.Rissa contemplated picking it up and she eventually did.“Is he okay?” Ad
“May I come in?” Rissa's eyes stayed glued to Liam's; he didn't look like he was there to fight. Rather, he looked disturbed.Mandy and Camela contemplated retiring to the bedroom but stood their firm ground, who knows what Liam Hickson came there for.“How did you know where I live?”Rissa's question made him smile softly. This is Los Angeles, and he is the CEO of a big company in it; tracking anyone down is easy peasy.“Nobody is difficult to locate in Los Angeles”.“Oh!” Rissa knew instantly she had asked a silly question, the wealthy and powerful always get whatever they need except true love.“Can I have a minute of your time….alone?” Liam said, emphasizing on the last word.Rissa turned and almost laughed despite herself; Mandy and Camela were throwing daggers at Liam, which definitely made him uncomfortable.“Let's talk outside”, Rissa said.She turned to her friends and gave them a reassuring nod. She knew Liam didn't dare try anything stupid with her in her home. He had inte
Mandy heard a knock on the door and hastily checked on the visitor.To her amazement, Diane stood there smiling pleasantly.She pushed forward a cookie box to the door camera.Mandy scoffed loudly, she contemplated opening the door but eventually gave in to her curiosity.“I almost developed leg cramps standing out there all day”, Diane said sarcastically.“Unexpected guests should know that is a norm”, Mandy retorted hastily.Diane's countenance darkened for a few seconds but she managed to gain control of it.“Why are you here Miss Donaldson?”“Well, uhm…is Rissa home?” She asked innocently.“She is not”“Her son must be off to school then”, Diane said sweetly.“Why are you here Diane!” Mandy said with a dangerous glint in her eyes.“Oh! Steady there! The laser coming out of your eyes could burn down a whole building; I just bought some cookies hoping to make a friend; I was bored, you see”.She responded pouting innocently.Mandy laughed hysterically, “Cookies! Make a friend! Cut t
“Why did you hurt Edward!” Bianca cried out bitterly.“Why would you accuse me of such?” the older man responded nettled.He dropped his wine glass on the table and glared at her.Bianca shed uncontrollable tears and sat down on the sofa dejected.“I am carrying your child”, she said in between tears.The older man scoffed loudly “Pregnant! Because of a one-time banging, how could you be so careless?”.He shouted at her, clearly irritated by her sight.“Is your husband aware?” He questioned her suspiciously.“He is”, she responded instantly.“Pretend it was his”, the older man shouted at the top of his voice.All light drained out of Bianca's eyes, she paled instantly.“I have an heir, I do not need an illegitimate child”.Bianca smacked him across the face, taking him by surprise.“You wench!” He shouted at her.“You are despicable, I am having this child!”“Wouldn't it be much easier and logical that your husband takes responsibility?”“He is fucking sterile! He has always been ster
Alice kept staring intently at Bianca whose attention never left Caleb as he rolled the ball.“Miss Bianca, are you interested in Caleb?”Bianca's expression turned confusing.“Excuse me?”“I mean, you have been staring at him all day”Bianca laughed hysterically, taking Alice by surprise.“Or you like his dad too?” She questioned suspiciously.“Because Miss Bernard looks at him every time because she likes him”.“Urgh! That crybaby, come on, spare me, Miss Bernard seems to like everyman”.“Don't talk about her like that!” Alice said and stormed off angrily.The sports period was over and the children were ushered back to their homeroom.Bianca picked up her phone and dialled a contact.Their conversation was quite lengthy and amusing as she laughed in between.Keeping an eye on her little nephew was turning out to be more fun than she had anticipated.She hadn't liked kids from the onset and never planned to have one.Two of her marriages ended when her ex-husbands decided to have af
Adrian kept throwing occasional side glances at Rissa as he drove her home.Seeing the picnic to an end had been his secret prayer.He stopped abruptly packing carefully by the roadside.Rissa gave him a confused look and questioned him on why he stopped.“I can't let you go home tonight Miss Stonebridge”, Adrian said scarily.Rissa was taken aback, what was this about?“Why?”An awkward silence ensued between them.“Adrian, say something! You are scaring me”.“I need you by my side tonight”.“Wait! Are you ill?” She asked, concerned touching his forehead.Adrian turns to face her but his expression remains unreadable.“Say something, Adrian. I am getting scared. Are you being threatened?”“Rissa, I had to muster all my self-control not to make love to you right there in the tent”.Rissa's face flustered; she felt an unusual heat in her body despite the car being well-ventilated.She slightly tapped Adrian's shoulder.“You scared the hell out of me silly!” She said playfully.Adrian h
“Who are you trying to seduce, Rissa?” Adrian said, looking into her eyes.Rissa stared intently into his eyes and busted out laughing.The others noticed their little conversation but pretended not to be eavesdropping it.Adrian Grey's confused expression made them realize something was definitely wrong between them as lovers, not employees and employers.“Myself, of course; I haven't had much time to dress younger in years”.Rissa's response set his mind at ease; it was really true; they both had to grow up quickly for individual reasons.They alighted at their picnic site and set up their tent.Music was put in place, and so were food, drinks and fruits.Rissa left Adrian's side and went ahead to sit with the women gisting about how the week had gone down.They started some games and merriment when a minibus stopped by the site.One look at the first person that alighted Adrian facepalmed himself.The other staff's countenance changed as they saw her too.Adrian, in a bid to salvag
Caleb watched helplessly as their luggage got pushed into the car.“Mum! You said we will be leaving on the weekend!” He cried out bitterly.“Sweetheart, the week ends tomorrow, a day earlier doesn't change anything”, Rissa said persuasively.Mandy was silent as she watched her crush, one of the bodyguards loading the car truck full of their stuff.She knew Rissa had her mind all made up, ever since she returned from the dinner the day before.She has been hellbent on moving out so quickly.Mandy had to resist the urge to question her about what triggered the firmness of her decision.Caleb, too, noticed a change in his mother's countenance when they returned from the dinner.Rissa's mind wandered as she had to pretend to be excited about moving back to their home.Liam's outrightly provocative behaviour at the dinner still pisses her off.He had hugged her tightly while millions of eyes were glued on them.She noticed Adrian's balled fist the moment Liam pulled away from her.The awk
“That wasn't nice, Adrian. Am I not welcome in Los Angeles?” Bianca responded, pouting.“Sorry, Bianca, I was just quite overwhelmed; you can sit; the dinner is about to commence”, Adrian responded, forcing a smile on his face.Bianca Grey, his young Aunt, is always a load of trouble.The only good thing in her life was Gracia, the only daughter she had from her third marriage which crashed before the child was born.Bianca threw an intent gaze at Rissa who bowed her head slightly in greeting.Her countenance remains expressionless, and she looks away, giving Rissa an impression of doubting her likability.The dinner commenced and everyone threw away their grievances to enjoy it.Liam threw occasional glances in Rissa's direction but she ignored it.Rissa was getting more nervous as the dinner progressed.She took a sneak peek at Bianca whose boldness weirdly intimidates her.Exotic delicacies and drinks were served and people kept digging in.Most bloggers were taking significant pic
Rissa glanced nervously at her reflection in the mirror.Mandy had done a great job, no doubt, but it had been a long time since she had been a spectacle at a workplace dinner.During the time she was dating Liam, many of her female colleagues would throw her disdainful glare at the company dinner as Liam's eyes were always on her.Now it is Adrian Grey, a more fierce lover; she glanced nervously at the watch, picked up her phone and dialled Adrian's number.She heard Caleb scream from the doorway.“Mum, dad is here”Her mind felt at ease and she got up abruptly to see him.The moment Rissa walked out, Adrian's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped in awe.“Wow! Mum, you look so beautiful”, Caleb said enthusiastically.Rissa blushed furiously as Adrian's eyes scrutinized her from head to toe.He smiled warmly at her and Rissa blushed furiously.His silence and charming smile said more than words could express.They got into the car and he couldn't take his eyes off her.“You are already m