Maddie woke up when her alarm went off, feeling quite energetic. Jake had already woken up as usual and had crept out of the room. She wondered how he managed to wake up so early, every damn day. And he didn't usually use an alarm clock like her. Both his body and his brain must have been conditioned over the years to wake up around a specific time, she concluded. Getting off the bed, Maddie made her way straight to the bathroom for a quick shower. A few minutes later, she stepped back into the room to look for something casual to wear as she wanted to head to the kitchen for her normal routine. She would change her clothes after she was done to something more formal that she could wear to the fashion school. Jakd had made some space for her in his wardrobe and although she didn't exactly move all of her things into his room, she had stocked his wardrobe with enough of her clothing.Settling for leggings, and then wearing a hoodie over it, she hurriedly brushed her hair, and then
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. So, what's it going to be Harry?" Jake's expression was devoid of any emotion as he spoke while sitting cross legged on a wooden chair across another wooden chair in which Harry was tied on. Harry had both his feets and hands tied together and was also tied to the chair with a rope around his waist and the chair. His handsome face was now almost unrecognisable because of how swollen it had become from being hit repeatedly by Jake's ruthless bodyguards. He even had a swollen eye and lower lip. Save for the two wooden chairs, there were no other furniture in the room. In fact, the room was literally an empty space. Positioned in respective corners of the room were Jake's bodyguards with two of them standing right behind Jake. "Jake…" Harry's voice was tearful. "I really don't know anything. Please let me go. You can get arrested for this you…" The rest of his words were slammed right down his throat as one of the bodyguards standin
Realizing that his outburst must have come across as rude, Harry cleared his throat awkwardly. "Umm, I mean, you umm…" he stuttered, not knowing what to say. Wasn't she supposed to be upset about their plot? Like every sane parent would have been? Linsley smiled. "I know you boys mean well. I am also worried about my son and would like to see him be with a woman. That way I can beat my chest and dissuade any rumours about him being gay or impotent," bringing down her voice a pitch lower, she added, "They are already talking about him you know, people at the family company and even the society, hence my worry." The three boys nodded nervously while exchanging discomforting glances. They were not ignorant of the rumours already circulating about their friend, Jake's mother was right. Still, it was slightly discomforting to them for her to meddle like this. "Harry, right?" The woman's voice sounded, compelling Harry to turn to her on hearing his name. She also had her face turned to
**PRESENT** Harry's face was lowered to the floor as he made his narration, his voice carried with it a certain heaviness that could be felt by all in the room. Jake wasn't sure if the heaviness in his voice was as a result of guilt or regret or both. Maybe it had nothing to do with neither regret nor guilt. Maybe he was only scared for his life. "I was lucky to find the perfect high school girl that fit your mother's criteria, the very day I started my search. I was snooping around JK Academy when I caught sight of this pair of siblings from a distance. A sister and a brother. It wasn't hard to tell they were siblings because they shared some uncanny resemblance," Harry paused but continued almost immediately. "When the sister left, I approached the brother, a kid, seemingly not more than 10 years of age. I befriended him and it was from him I got all the information I needed to get his sister…" Something stirred within Jake at the mention of the word 'siblings'. His heart b
Mathew was shaking like a leaf as he stood right outside the closed doors of the warehouse building where his boss was. He didn't know what had made him get out of the car and sneak in here through the gate, just a couple minutes after Jake had stepped in with his bodyguards. Maybe it was because his curiosity had suddenly gotten the better of him. Or maybe it was because he had suddenly become bored just waiting in the car as Audrey hadn't even picked his call because she was most probably busy.He had snuck in through the gate and made his way straight towards the single warehouse building, pausing at the door to eavesdrop. It had been a completely impulsive action, eavesdropping, and now he greatly regretted it.He shouldn't have gotten out of the car. He shouldn't have. At least, if he had stayed in the car like Jake had ordered him to, he wouldn't have found out about what he had just found out about. Even when he had placed his ears against the door to eavesdrop, he hadn't mean
The silence ensuing in the car was so thick, it could be sliced through by a knife. More so, the silence was as deafening as it was thick.Mathew was sitting on the driver's seat and Jake was sitting on the front passenger's seat beside him. It had been close to an hour since they both left the warehouse and got into the car but all they had done since they had gotten into the car was sit quietly, each lost in their individual thoughts."What are you going to do?" It was Mathew's voice that sliced through the silence, breaking it.He turned his head to Jake as he asked him this question. From all that Harry had narrated, poor Jake had been as much of a victim as his sister, but Mathew couldn't help but think that it was still because of him that all of this had happened. Both Jake's mother and Harry had done what they had done for his sake… It didn't matter that Jake hadn't even been aware of their plots and that he would never have approved of it. It wouldn't matter to his sister, he
Jake had already left for work by the time Maddie woke up the next morning. Now that was odd, thought Maddie. For a while now, even though he usually got up before her, he would often let her know before leaving for work. And she usually packed food for him and her brother to leave with. They usually took it along with them. It was just a few minutes past 4am so why had he already left for work? It was still so early! Her brother Mathew had also left for work, she soon discovered when she sent a staff member to check. Still, she did her usual routine, packed some breakfast for the both of them, and then sent one of the staff to take it to them at the company. She baked some extra cookies for the kids to have for lunch. Andrew had made mention that he had made friends with two boys from the basketball team he was now a part of so she thought he could share some with them. She also made some pineapple juice and shared it into a total of four containers. After packing them all togeth
Jake was totally absentminded throughout the day. He blanked out on several occasions during meetings. It was hard for Micheal not to notice this and his boss was not the only person he noticed seemed out of it, Mathew was too. What was wrong with the both of them? They couldn't be acting the way they were for the same reason, could they? It was quite unlikely anyway. Maybe Mathew was having problems with his girlfriend, what was her name again? Micheal tried to remember, pausing his hand movement on the laptop in front of him, which he was using to work on a presentation for their next meeting.It soon came to him… Audrey Bennett, the celebrity journalist from Starlight Media agency. Micheal resumed typing on his laptop. Jake on the other hand, well, he was going to have to find out from him what was going on with him later.When it was almost the closing hours of work, Micheal marched straight to Jake's office and sat down from across of him.Jake was going over a pile of folder
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