"Oh no no no! Don't leave!" Maddie screamed at the top of her voice as she crossed the road carelessly and raced after the departing bus.
"F**k!" she cursed, giving up on chasing the bus and stepping to stand by the pavement of the bus station. Just then the sky gave way and it started to rain cats and dogs.
"Great! Just great!" Maddie spoke through gritted teeth, ending with a sharp breath as her mind raced to a few minutes ago. To the fight she had with her younger brother...
"What the hell Matt! You borrowed money from loan sharks to gamble? Are you out of your f**king mad!" Maddie screamed so loud, her throat was even hurting. The anger boiling in her veins was indescribable. Why did she have such a troublemaker as a brother!
"I saw a shot and I took it big sis, I am so sorry, I thought I was going to win," Matt spoke in a quiet voice, even lowering his gaze to the floor. She scoffed.
"Do you know what you are?" she paused to take a few steps closer to him, raising his face up with two of her fingers when she reached him.
"You are unbelievable and you are a pain in my ass and I swear, this time Matt, this time, you are going to take full responsibility for your actions! You hear me! I am done cleaning up your mess! God!"
The sudden clap of thunder brought Maddie back to the present. She sighed softly, realising that she was completely drenched by the rain. All thanks to her brother, she hadn't been able to make it in time for her job interview. And now it was raining heavily. She was tired. Frustrated.
Tears stood in Maddie's eyes as she thought about everything her and her brother had been through since their parents demise almost five years ago. It had been hard. So hard. And her younger brother had sure not been making it any easier. She loved him but damn he was driving her nuts! Literally.
Maddie was a brunette petite lady. She had deep-set downturned chocolate brown eyes and an oval face shape. Her brother Mathew had the same colours of eyes as her, they both had their mother's eyes but Mathew had chestnut brown hair like their father, unlike Maddie whose hair was chocolate brown like their mother.
Maddie drew a sharp breath as she moved, intending to walk back into the tiny street in a corner that she had come out from a few minutes ago. It was where the mini-flat apartment she resided in with her brother, was. She had barely moved when her eyes caught sight of a squatting figure a little ahead in the pavement she was standing in.
"Hello," she muttered as she started to make her way towards the squatting figure. When she was close enough, a soft gasp escaped her throat.
"Oh my God! You are just a child!" she exclaimed as the figure of a squatting shivering blonde boy came into her view. He looked seven at most. She hurriedly rushed towards him as her thoughts suddenly became even more jumbled.
What was a child doing out here? And in the rain! There was a local park for children not too far from where they were, could he have perhaps come from there? But he was just a child! Why was he even alone? Where the f**k were his parents?
"Hello, umm, where are your parents?" she asked the blonde child as she bent down so she was on the same height as him.
His teeth chattering was all the response she got. She started to think fast. She could take him to the police station but the police station was not close by. The kid was cold. She could take him to her home. It was at least close by. At the moment, what the kid needed was a warm bath and most importantly he needed to get out of the rain and off his wet clothes. She needed to get him to safety first, and then she could call the police to inform them about him afterwards.
"Sweetie, I am going to take you to my house. I can't leave you here and the police station is not close by…" her eyes moved to scan the road but returned to the boy almost immediately.
"I can't seem to see any vehicles passing by either…" her voice trailed off as she felt the boy suddenly grab her right thumb, using his two tiny fingers to wrap around it. The feeling that washed through her right that instant was indescribable. It was warm. Fuzzy. But then she felt how cold his hands were and started to panic.
Adjusting the leather bag slung over one of her shoulders, Maddie reached out to scoop the boy into her arms. He raised his head to gaze into her face. As she peered into his deep ocean-blue eyes, it somewhat felt like he was sucking her soul out of her body. And it weirdly felt familiar. She had seen those eyes before. She just couldn't remember where.
"Umm, okay sweetie, so umm, I will take you to my house now, it is nearby and umm when the rain subsides, I will take you to the police station… Is that okay?" she paused, still gazing into his eyes and even held her breath as she waited. She felt that she needed to at least get the kid's permission before leaving with him. When a thin smile suddenly spread across the boy's lips, she felt something melt within her. And then the boy nodded his head coyly, giving her his permission.
Returning his smile with a full-blown one, she started to make her way towards the street of her home. A million thoughts rushed through her head as she walked with the boy in her arms. Just where the hell was this kid's parents? How could they lose him in the rain?
***
"What the f**k do you mean my boy is missing?" Jake Conat demanded in a voice that thundered. Literally.
All the staff that worked in the Conat's household were lined up in front of him. None of them could hold his gaze. All of them were shaking in fear.
"It's f**king raining cats and dogs out there and you tell me that my boy left the house under your watch without even triggering all of the alarm systems we have set up! Is that what you are all telling me?" Jake was red with rage as he spoke.
"You know your boy is a smart kid," the butler, an elderly looking man with so many wrinkles you would think he would collapse in the next minute, spoke."Smarter than all of you?" Jake turned to him and asked. The butler scoffed."Let's face it, Andy is smarter than all of us combined together and you know it. Even you can't stop him when he really wants to do something," the butler said and Jake just glared at him.Just then a young man in a tuxedo, who seemed to be in his late twenties, stepped in."So?" Jake immediately walked towards him."There is a CCTV camera that captured him being abducted by a brunette, here it is," the man spoke in a hoarse voice as he handed a tablet to Jake. A video was playing on the tablet. A video of a brunette carrying his son and walking away with him into a narrow street."Why the hell are you still here Steve?" Jake turned to the man and asked as he was done watching the video."Umm, I," Steve stuttered."Find out where the lady took my boy and go
The restaurant's decor was exquisite and their dishes extravagant. Maddie had gone over the menu tablet three times already, still she couldn't quite make up her mind about what she wanted. It wasn't like she didn't like the dishes being displayed on the menu tablet, she loved almost all of them, it was just that all the dishes were just so damn expensive, even the simplest of them all."I think I will just help you order," Andrew said after watching her for a while, and then he reached out to take the menu tablet from her. She smiled, grateful, and he returned her smile before raising his hand to signal a waiter to their table.When the waiter came, Andrew muttered a few words to him, and then Jake also placed his order before the waiter left, with the menu tablets.The trio were sitting in a round table of three so they were all facing one another."So Miss Stewart, what do you do?" Jake initiated a conversation. Maddie turned to look at him, the smile on her face being replaced wit
"But that's a lot of money," Maddie blurted out, wide-eyed. Her voice came out as a quite whisper."Not for my dad, it isn't. And you are totally worth it," Andrew was the one who responded this time. Maddie turned her gaze to him. Was this some of trap? She couldn't help but wonder… Who pays an inexperienced nanny a hundred dollars monthly?"I am sorry but I cannot do this," Maddie said shaking her head as her gaze returned to Jake and he couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows together at her in confusion. Even Andrew pulled his hands away from her thumb, looking at her with hurt playing in her eyes."I cannot accept such a huge amount of money," she added."But you were the one who said you wanted that amount," Jake reminded."I clearly wasn't thinking when I said that," Maddie bit on her lower lip, and then turned to Andrew, this time reaching out to take both of his hands in hers."I am not saying that I wouldn't be your nanny Sweetie," Maddie said to Andrew and the hurt in his eye
The next day Maddie decided to pay her boyfriend Lucas a visit, to tell him the good news about her new job. His condo was just a few streets away so she walked, humming one of her favourite tunes on the way. Arriving at the gate of the 12-storey building apartment where Lucas's condo was situated, she paused to greet the gateman. She even offered him an apple pie from the basket she was holding, which contained a fresh batch of the apple pies she had just made before leaving the house. Lucas loved her homemade apple pie recipe so she had made them for him. It was the early hours of the evening. Lucas was a grade 3 teacher so he was usually home around that time of the day. It was slightly cold, a little below 50 degrees Fahrenheit so Maddie was wearing a coat and even had a scarf wrapped around her neck. Using the elevator, she reached the door of Lucas condo in no time. Opening the little box just by the door, Maddie typed in the combination code and opened the door. The first
His hands were rough on her body, as his mouth devoured her own mouth like a lion devouring his prey. There was nothing gentle or sweet about his kisses, only disgusting and nauseating. Maddie just lay helplessly under him. It wasn't like she had any strength in her to stop him. Even her screams only ended up coming out muffled. The tears wouldn't stop flowing freely out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "Please stop," she pleaded with him, but her voice was barely audible. She didn't know if he heard her pleas and she was certain that even if he had heard he he didn't care because the man didn't stop, instead what greeted her ears next was the sound of her dress being ripped to shreds. "Please stop… P… Pl… Please… God no! " With a gasp Maddie woke up. She sniffed, and then moved her palm to wipe the tears that had gathered in her eyes and then started rolling down her cheeks in her sleep. Tiny rays of the early morning sunlight were already seeping in through the slightly part
The sound of cutleries clinking against plates could be heard in the dining room as Maddie, Mathew and Audrey ate the hearty breakfast of spaghetti and meatballs, which Mathew had prepared. As they ate, Mathew's worried eyes would occasionally move to his sister. "Stop staring at me like that Matt!" Maddie warned Mathew when he did this a couple times. It was already getting on her nerves. Her eyes moved to glare at him as she spoke. He sighed, and then averted his gaze from her, a frown forming on his face. "You can't blame your kid brother for caring Maddie," Audrey intervened, offering Mathew a smile when he turned to look at her on hearing her words. He returned her smile with a full blown one. There was a certain light playing in his eyes as his gaze lingered on her for a while before he shyly looked away after she turned back to look at him and caught him staring. Maddie rolled her eyes at him while Audrey smiled in amusement. "Don't worry Matt, you can stare at me all you w
After breakfast, Maddie and Audrey had their movie marathon for the rest of Wednesday. Thursday was quite uneventful until the early hours of the evening. Maddie spent most of the day surfing the internet, stalking Jake Conat. She still couldn't believe she would be living in the same apartment with him starting the following week. Breathing the same air as a legend as him. Mathew too was indoors throughout the day, which was unlike him but Maddie was glad, at least he wasn't outdoors causing trouble like he used to. It was in the early hours of the evening that she got a call from an unknown caller. She hesitated but picked the call eventually. "I am Steve Wills, Mr Jake Conat's lawyer. Can we meet up so you can sign the employment contract? I will text you the address," the man on the other line was straight to the point and as soon as Maddie muttered an "Okay," he hung up. An hour later, Maddie was all set to go meet Jake's lawyer. He had sent her the address a few minutes afte
Maddie was confused but of course she had to keep her smile on as she kept her gaze on little Andrew. "We are going shopping?" she muttered, her tone questioning. Andrew didn't reply with words, he just gave her a full blown smile, sheer excitement dancing in his eyes. "Here," the butler's voice made Maddie avert her gaze from Andrew to him. His hand was stretching out a small envelope towards her. "Umm, what is this?" she asked, taking the envelope, unsealing it, and then slipping her mid-finger and index-finger into it. She took out a black card and the confusion playing on her face grew. "Mr Conat wants you to get new clothes," the butler offered her an explanation when she turned to look at him, her expression questioning. Maddie frowned, and then started to return the card into the envelope, stretching it out to him after sealing it back. "I don't need new clothes," she told the butler point-blankly. First it was buying her and her brother dinner and now he wanted get her
The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a rather warm and golden hue over the serene seascape. The air was cool and soothing. The gentle sound of waves crashing against each other gave off a a soothing backdrop to the scene. Along the sandy shore, an aisle was crafted, adorned with seashells and colourful flowers. Audrey had been the one in charge of all the wedding decorations and she had done one hell of a job! The salty breeze carried with it a sense of anticipation, mingling with the laughter and chatter of everyone gathered, half of which the wedding couple didn't even know. Being the global favourite couple, people had come for their wedding from all around the globe. The place was packed full. It was a good thing that the private beach was immensely spacious. Underneath beautifully constructed bamboo arches, adorned with billowing fabrics and fresh blooming flowers, the guests were sitting in groups. A romantic melody soon started to play and the procession
The long awaited day of the trial of the state versus Linsley Conat finally came. As the masses were now actively involved in this case, Linsley Conat had been unable to bribe her way out of prison. The few people she knew in power in the judiciary system refused to help her. Her last resort, which had been to fake mental illness, had fallen apart because her son had made sure to cut her off completely from those that might be able to help her fake the reports and all the other necessary documents. Backed in a corner, helpless, all she had been able to do was wait dejectedly in her cell for the day of her trial…"All rise!"Everyone in the courtroom rose immediately as the command from the judicial assistant rang out. The judge stepped in and it was after he took his seat that he muttered a lazy, "Sit!" and everyone else in the courtroom took their respective seats.From across the courtroom, Linsley's almost lifeless eyes caught sight of her son and she gave him the most deathly st
It was all over the news the next morning being a Saturday, every news channel was airing it. Newspapers, magazines both online and in hard copy print all carried the news of the arrest of Linsley Conat. The news however didn't say under what grounds she was arrested but in the news published by Starlight Media agency, they announced that the son of Linsley Conat, Jake Conat had agreed to an exclusive interview to discuss the subject of his mother's arrest and give them all the scoop there was. The interview was scheduled for the next day being Sunday. The internet was in a frenzy. Jake got a call from the company warning him not to come because the paparazzi were everywhere. Even the security stationed far ahead at the entrance of the street leading to the mansion had called to inform him that the paparazzi were gathered there as well. Thankfully, the paparazzi couldn't get into the street because of the tight security at the entrance so they couldn't get anywhere close to the ma
It was a lot. Everything that had happened in the past couple days. It was too much revelation. She was angry, bitter, sad, frustrated, and hurt but most of all, what she felt the most was fear. The fear of losing the love she shared with Jake. The fear of losing the happiness he had brought into her life. The fear of losing the peace he had brought her. The fear of losing the complete perfect family she had envisioned. The fear of losing her brother even. It was because of this fear that she hadn't come to a decision all the while or even address the situation. Now she was ready. She knew what she had to do. Karen had ended their session with the words, "Maddie dear, don't forget that the past is past. It actually has no control whatsoever on your present or future, not unless you allow it. Your happiness does not lie in the past but in your now." Karen's words had been the final push she had needed to come to a decision… "Welcome mummy," Andrew who was in the living room rushed
Maddie had been sitting right across Karen for roughly fifteen minutes already, yet she hadn't said a word other than the greeting she had muttered to the lady when she had first stepped in. The warm smile playing on the therapist's face didn't falter, she continued waiting patiently for Maddie to speak. Drawing a sharp breath, Maddie finally opened her mouth to speak. "I umm, it's umm, complicated. I don't even know where to start." Karen's smile widened. "You can start anywhere you like Maddie. " The way Karen's office was designed, it was a modern office setting with an office table and a chair, and then across the table on the other end were two other chairs, arranged to slantingly face each other. There were a stretch of cupboards right behind the office table and chairs, at the far end of the wall, it contained drawers containing files of patients. Ahead of the office table before one got to the door or if one came from the door, were two adjacent reclining sofas. This w
"Idiot!" Linsley cursed under her breath the moment Stephanie was gone, kicking at her feet in fury, and just then her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and then picked the call rather hurriedly. "So, have you found that fool Harry?" she asked the person on the other line. "No we haven't. He seems to have disappeared," came the reply from the person on the other line. "Then find his f**king family fool and use them to lure him out!" She practically yelled into the phone. "Well, umm, his father and younger sister have disappeared as well. I think your son is protecting them by keeping them hidden somewhere." "Arrrgh!" Linsley screamed, tossing her phone across the wall in anger. "Incompetent fools!" she cursed, and then started to parade about the room. Her son was protecting Harry! Was he f**king insane? He had threatened to send her to jail but it had just been an empty threat, right? Well, she was beginning to think of the threat as more than just an empty threat.
Jake couldn't believe she was really in his arms. Sleeping so soundly with her face pressed against his chest. He had been on his way out to get himself a fresh cup of coffee when the knock on his door had sounded. He had immediately known it was her. So, he had quickly answered the door and alas! It had been indeed her!Even though she had not exactly voiced out her reason for being there, he had seen it playing so evidently in her eyes. But then, there had been conflicting emotions playing in her eyes too and she had almost scurried away. Thank goodness he hadn't let her! He hadn't known where the courage had come from to ask her to stay and let him cuddle her. He had almost thought she wouldn't stay or let him even as much as touch her but she had agreed. She had stayed and now she was in his arms.However, Jake didn't know whether to be pleased or not. It was almost like she was giving herself one last time to be with him, and then afterwards she would leave him for good. It wa
"You umm, you have something on your mouth," Jake's voice sounded seconds later when Maddie didn't look away like he had expected her to when their gazes first locked. His shaky voice gave away his nervousness. He wasn't lying though, she did have food particles smeared on one corner of her lips.On hearing his words, Maddie reached for a serviette piece on the table to wipe her mouth all over as Jake hadn't specifically pointed out the part of her mouth that was smeared with food particles. And she wasn't ready to ask him for specifics. As she performed this action, Jake found his eyes lowering to her lips, swallowing as he remembered how it tasted. She finished cleaning her mouth, her eyes returning to him and catching the desire playing in his eyes. Her gaze on him turned into a glare and he quickly looked away from her feeling slightly embarrassed. "Mummy, can you please pass me the ketchup?" Andrew's voice was Jake's saving grace as Maddie averted her gaze from him to her s
Jake did well to stay out of Maddie's way for the rest of the evening. Even skipping dinner. He was already content enough that she had returned to the mansion although he knew that her reason for returning was most probably because of her son. It had been evident in her face earlier when she saw him after getting out of the car. The way she had turned away from him so swiftly. He was pretty sure that if she could, she would have dug a hole and hidden herself in it right there and then. It was how much she despised him now. Well, she did have every right to. Closing his laptop, Jake rose from his chair and started to make his way out of the office study. He proceeded towards the kitchen in the second floor, opening the refrigerator to take out a foil covered plate. The plate contained the quesadilla pizza his son had given him earlier saying that Maddie and him had baked it and kept some for him. He knew that them keeping some for him was all his son and not at all Maddie's decis