The sudden ringing of a phone made Jake wake up with a start. His hand reached out quickly, towards the bedside table, to silence his phone, which was the phone ringing, and then he turned to Maddie who had also stirred awake as a result of the phone ringing."Go back to sleep wifey," he cooed, patting her hair, and then moving to plant a light kiss on her forehead.She hummed sleepily, and then obediently went back to sleep, compelling a relieved sigh to escape his lips.Getting off the bed as carefully as he possibly could, he grabbed his phone on the bedside table and his pants on the floor, pausing to hurriedly put on his pants before he started to make his way to one of the doors in his bedroom, which led to a patio.Sliding his hand on the screen of the phone so as to accept the call, he muttered a single word, "Speak!""It's about Laura Montenegro, your son's mother," Thomas's voice sounded from the other line."What about her?" Jake questioned."Well, she is dead."Jake couldn
Maddie felt so sore as she sat in the dining room with Jake, Andrew and her brother Mathew, eating the hearty breakfast spread out on the dining table. "It is just so bad that they lost the match especially since they started out the first half so well," Andrew was speaking to his father as they ate. "Exactly my point buddy, I was really rooting for them," Jake took a brief pause, and then continued. "I guess it's never over until it's over. They were too relaxed after winning the first round and their opponents used that to their advantage," Jake ended with a rather dramatic sigh, grabbing the glass of water in front of him to take a long swallow when he ended. They were talking about football, Maddie figured, although she couldn't make out half their conversation. Occasionally as they spoke, Jake and Andrew took turns to pass her glances and even smiles, which she didn't fail to return.Halfway through dinner, Maddie's eyes glanced to Mathew as she took a bite of her food. Her br
He drove her to therapy and waited for her in his car until the therapy session was over. The therapy session lasted for roughly forty five minutes. Stepping out of the thirty-one storey building duplex within which Karen's office was situated, Maddie approached Jake who was leaning over the car with a smile. He spread his arms out to welcome her into his embrace when she reached him and although she was unsure why he was suddenly embracing her, she obediently came into his embrace. "How did it go?" he released her only slightly so that he could look at her as he asked her this question. His arms was still around her waist although she was now leaning backwards in his arms, looking up at him. The smile on her face widened. "It went great. Karen said that the worst is over now that I have faced my fears but she wants us to still have a couple therapy sessions so she could monitor my improvement. She said I am in the healing process now." "That's really great," Jake muttered as his
Staring at the gigantic glass building in front of her, Maddie couldn't help but spell out the word, "Wow!" She had only ever seen this building in movies. Never even dared to dream of coming there. The building before her was the populous Regal Showmax LA. The grandest and biggest cinema not just in California, LA but in all of the USA. It had an architectural design so unique and was made entirely of glass from its walls to its floors and even its furniture and other amenities. The building had a total of seventy five floors with each floor consisting of a very spacious cinema hall and other accessories ranging from restrooms to lounges to restaurants. The cinema halls were grouped into three categories, solo, couple and group/family. The ticket fee to see the shortest movie with a duration of an hour at most, literally cost a fortune so only the wealthiest of the wealthiest came here. Beaming with smiles she turned to Jake, "I can't believe you brought me all the way here." Ja
Mathew paraded about the gate of the residential building right in front of him. Earlier before Maddie had left with Jake, she had stopped by at Matthew's room to give him the piece of paper containing the address of Audrey's new residence. "Matt, I want you to go talk to Audrey. She is mad at me. I mean, even though something else is going on with her and that is most probably why she acted all upset at me, I still did something to upset her. Maybe she will talk to you if you go. She does dote on you the way I do after all. You are like the little brother she never had…" Maddie had said these words to him after she had given him the address. Oh, she had no idea! She had no idea what had happened between Audrey and him. She had no idea that Audrey wouldn't even want to see him, not to talk of of talking to him. She had no idea that Audrey most probably hated him now, even though he still didn't understand why. Still Mathew was grateful for the address. He had been racking his hea
"Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!"Andrew's high pitched voice made Maddie stir awake, turning on the bed to her side. Yawning, she opened her eyes to see Andrew's smiling face just an inch away from hers."Sweetie," her voice came out groggy, her sleepy eyes shutting back involuntarily."Mummy look! I am going to school!"Andrew's high pitched voice came again and her eyes flew wide open again. It took her brain a minute to register his words, and then Andrew's full frame registered in her vision as he had taken a few steps back from the bed to show off the uniform he was putting on.Andrew's uniform consisted of navy blue khaki pants, a long sleeved white collared shirt, a printed navy blue tie and a navy blue jacket. He had on long white stockings and dark blue navy shoes to match. With his eyeglasses on and his hair combed neatly and laid back, he looked so smart."Oh my God Sweetie! You are going to a real school!" she jumped off the bed as the words came flying out her mouth, moving to take
After leaving the mansion, they made a brief stop at Sheila's to pick her up and then Jake spent about a minute talking to Sheila's Aunt. Afterwards, Sheila's aunt gave Jake the necessary paperworks he needed for Sheila's transfer slash enrollment, thanking him repeatedly for the opportunity he was giving to her neice to study in one of the best schools in the country. Jake had simply smiled in response to her thanks."Let's meet for coffee sometime, what do you say?" Maddie turned to Sheila's aunt to say just as they started to leave. They were already at the door.Maddie felt that befriending Sheila's guardian was only right since Sheila was friends with her son Andrew. A light smile curved her face, that's right, Andrew was legally her son now. It was funny how the thought warmed her heart."Sure," Sheila's aunt replied with a smile, which Maddie returned. And then the two women exchanged digits. They bid farewell to the woman, and then got back on the road. In less than ten minut
As Jake drove towards the mansion to drop Maddie off, they conversed at length. He made mention to her that she would be the one to take both Sheila and Andrew to and fro school everyday and she had no problems with it. On the contrary, she was more than excited to be a part of such an experience. She saw it as her simply discharging motherly duties to Andrew. It was a privilege for her. Jake also informed her of the martial arts training Andrew would be starting that day, explaining that the security agent would be training Andrew in the gym back at the mansion. She felt it was good he had made such a call. Maddie mentioned the playdate to Jake and asked for his take on it. He gave her his consent so she decided that later that day, she would contact Sheila's aunt to discuss it with her so they could both arrange for it together. When Jake hesitantly made mention of Laura Montenegro's death to Maddie, she was shocked. She was especially shocked that it had been a car explosion t
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