It snowed that morning. Jamie wore a thick hoodie and drove to McNeil’s mansion. It took enough effrontery to face Michel. Michel didn’t show any disappointment but Jamie knew what the woman felt. She had, after all, voted against her son becoming the President of CULID beverages. Michel served her coffee and some cookies.“McNeil is still very sick and may not be able to come down to say hello.”Jamie smiled. “I’ll go up to him.”When she entered the room, McNeil was deeply asleep. She moved to his side and waved her hand above his face. He didn’t stir.Good, she thought.She glanced around the room, wondering where his medical report would be. She searched through each drawer and moved to the wardrobe.With his eyes slightly opened, McNeil watched as she searched the entire room.Jamie is a fool, he thought. And he knew her folly would destroy her.“What are you doing?”Jamie jerked up in fright. “McNeil?” She moved away from the corner she crouched. “I was…” She sighed. “I need to
Eva received the piece of paper like a trophy. The two women chatted for a few minutes more. Energized, Eva made tea and served it with shortbread. Jamie was happy that her plans were going well. She would own her shares again and plan for Ray’s sudden downfall. The entire strategy was in her head. When she left, Eva raced to the room and forgot that Daniel existed. She started packing.Daniel watched her from the bed. He had heard the conversation of the two women. It hadn’t been hard to listen when Eva was screaming in her voice. “Where are you going?” he asked.Eva faced him briefly. “New Rochelle.”He sat up. “New Rochelle? To do what?”“You ain’t dumb, are you? I’m going to Denzel myself.”Whenever she called his name, it irritated him because he felt he was man enough for her. They had just finished a round of satisfying sex. What more could Denzel give that he couldn’t?“You can’t keep doing this, Eva?”“Doing what?” She gathered a few shoes.“You can’t keep pushing yourself
Daniel was a few meters behind when he saw the disturbing sight of a woman jumping from the bridge. It took less than a second before he realized that it was Eva. “Jesus! Eva!” He accelerated and stopped behind her car. A few drivers who had seen her jump were gathered around her car while some overlooked the river. Daniel unbuttoned his shirt and hastened forward. Before the onlookers could stop him, he dived into the water. He landed with a heavy slap of the water against his forehead, and for a few seconds, he lost awareness of where he was and what he was doing. The powerful force of the water began to push him further into its bottom. He didn’t offer any restraint. For a few seconds, he fell to the bottom of the river. Then, water filled his lungs and he began to choke. He fought the push, stretched his hands, and swam to the surface. At the surface, he coughed out water, took in quick breaths, and dived in. It was difficult to see through the water. His eyes hurt and his lungs
The white and orange brick of the walls that formed a high perimeter around the St. Nicholas Mental Home was occasionally visible where climbing Ivy had for some reason, turned and taken another course. The Mental Home was located a few miles from the church on a densely wooded and perfectly manicured six-acre estate in the middle of New Rochelle. Symmetrical rows of clipped boxwoods lined the sidewalks.Jamie parked her car in the visitor’s parking lot and rushed out to meet Daniel who was pacing about anxiously. The one-hour ride to the suburb had produced thousands of questions in her mind and she wanted answers. How did Eva end up in a Mental Home again?“What happened?” she asked when she was a few inches away from Daniel.Daniel was still suffering from the shock. It was not the diving into the sea that terrified him. It was the thought that Eva did it and almost lost her life.He knew Jamie wasn’t interested in exchanging pleasantries, and he knew she didn’t like him for her dau
Kate rushed to his side. The bruise on his cheeks had started healing but was still visible. Denzel smiled when he saw her.“What happened?” she asked.Denzel tried to sit up. Kate helped him. “It’s nothing serious.”“Nothing serious?” She stroked his cheeks. He winced. Kate frowned. “You have to tell me what happened?”“I called…you didn’t pick, Kate. You didn’t respond to my voicemail.”“I was angry. I realized that I overreacted. What happened to you? You have to tell me.”“A guy came in after you left…I thought it was you.”Kate grimaced. “He hit you? Why?”“Eva…”Kate huffed and pushed her back against the couch.“I think Eva got hurt.”“And he hits you for that?”“I don’t know. It was awkward.”“How do you feel?”“I ached all over all night but I’m good now…how are you?”Kate didn’t feel her bite was necessary again. “I’ve been working and trying to forget about you.”He pulled her. “Damn, you can’t. Didn’t you hear I drive ladies crazy?”Kate smiled and stroked his back. “You s
Kate stirred from her sleep. She smiled when she saw Denzel lying beside her. His hand was resting on one of her breasts and she wondered how they slept that way all through the night. Her stomach flipped when she remembered the thrilling sex they had the previous night. Kate knew why all the ladies wanted him now but she wanted him to herself and she wished he would be committed. She stroked his cheek gently and planted a wet kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be back before it dries up,” she promised him in his sleep state.The snow was falling quietly outside and was nursing the probability of a White Christmas. Rico woke from his nap as soon as she stepped into the sitting room. She bent down and ruffled its hairs. “Good girl.”She stuck her tongue out in excitement.“Not now,” Kate said, lifting herself up. “Denzel will take you for a walk when he wakes up.”Kate had thought of making pancakes while they had sex the previous night. She remembered the last time she made pancakes for him
CHAPTER 91It was a White Christmas. After four years, the sidewalks were filled with the snow that fell in the morning. Michel watched the turkey grilling in the oven while Kate attended to the cranberry sauce. The two women chatted in the kitchen while Denzel and his father discussed plans to gain back the company. Michel was pleased to have her son home for Christmas and it pleased her more that Kate had been the one who suggested it. After much work, they sat at opposite ends of the small family dining table in the kitchen and ate apples.“There’s a nice shopping mall around the corner – Littman Stores. We should check it out this weekend. What do you think?”Kate smiled slightly. Michel was inviting her to go shopping with her.“We could start buying some bridal items,” she added with a grin.“I’ll be here by the weekend,” Kate responded.“We should also take a little walk and get to know each other, Kate.”Kate nodded. It was heart-warming that Michel was making her feel at home
Abigail rode a 2016 Tesla Model S to the substation where she was supposed to meet up with Denzel.Denzel sat in a small restaurant that served only coffee in the mornings and watched the crowd of New Yorkers that trooped in for a morning shot of coffee before rushing to their offices. From where he sat, he could view the rail trail and passersby, either waiting for the morning train or going about their business.He sipped the watery coffee that had turned lukewarm and waited for Abigail. Denzel was not a patient man and he considered himself patient enough after waiting for five minutes. But it wasn’t like when he was CEO and his meetings were with clients who needed him. Now he needed Abigail if he wanted to become President. He took the bland coffee to his mouth and sipped again. His attention was drawn to the Tesla car that pulled up a few meters ahead and the woman that alighted from the vehicle. She wore dark sunglasses, a fitting office gown, and black heels. He watched her u