"I think I just ruined my appetite," Maddie muttered in a voice so low, Audrey almost didn't hear her. She returned her gaze to Audrey as she spoke and her friend who knew her too well immediately glanced at the direction she had looked away from. "That a**hole!" Audrey mumbled under her breath as she caught sight of Lucas sitting a few tables across theirs, and then her gaze returned to Maddie, worry playing in her jade green eyes. "We could go to another restaurant if you want," Audrey offered, her hand moving across the table to hold Maddie's hand, which was lying slanted on top the table. "No," Maddie shook her head in negation, anger brimming in her chocolate brown eyes. "We are staying. It's not like I did anything wrong, why do I have to leave?" After speaking, Maddie picked up her fork, which she had dropped earlier and resumed eating. Audrey smiled, and then joined her. "So tell me, so far, how has babysitting Andrew been like?" Audrey asked to make conversation. She fig
"You didn't have to resort to violence Audrey," Maddie said to Audrey as the car moved smoothly down the highway. Audrey spared Maddie a quick glance on hearing Maddie's words but her gaze returned to the road ahead almost immediately. "I wasn't going to but the dude just wouldn't back off… The nerves of him! He is lucky I didn't target that disgusting member beneath his legs that just couldn't stay in its place!" came Audrey's reply and Maddie couldn't help but burst into laughter. Audrey joined her. "It was really fun to watch you kicking his a** I must admit," Maddie said in between laughter. "I know right!* Audrey muttered and the two girls burst into another round of laughter as a similar memory started to play on both their minds. It was the memory of the first day the two girls had met. **Flashbacks of about six years ago** Maddie was a freshman in college, still trying to settle in and all. It was the early hours of the morning and she had just concluded lectures for the
After seeing the movie, Audrey dropped Maddie off at the Conat's residence. "Wow!" Audrey exclaimed. "Although I can't see much from outside, I am pretty sure it's like heavens inside," she added. She had stepped out of the car with Maddie and they were both now standing by the car. The car was parked right outside the gate of the Conat's mansion. "I don't know if Mr Conat would mind me bringing a friend over," Maddie said as she deliberated on if she could ask Audrey to come in with her or not. It hadn't been stated any where in the employment contract she had signed that she couldn't bring her friends over but she figured she still needed to run it by Mr Conat still. She didn't want to take his benevolence for granted. "No! I mean it's fine, I have to get back home ASAP. I have some work I need to turn in by tomorrow and I haven't even started. I should get to it," Audrey said with an assuring smile, which Maddie felt was slightly off. She dismissed the feeling however. "You go
"Is that even a reason?" Maddie couldn't help but ask. Jake shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "For me it is. At least that way my mouth would hurt less." Maddie scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief, was he serious right now? "If that's the case then I would call you Jake," she stated and he frowned, his cold ears piercing into her warm ones. "Umm, I was kidding. Of course I can't call my boss by his name," Maddie spoke in a voice that shook, ending with a nervous chuckle. Just why had she said that? She chidded herself internally, avoiding his gaze. It hit her ears rather too softly, caressing it even, the light sound of his laughter in the next second. She almost didn't believe it. And when she looked at him to confirm if it was indeed him that had laughed, his face that had turned expressionless further increased her doubts. However, she knew that she had really heard him. He had laughed! She smiled. "Here," Jake said, he was stretching out an envelope to her. He hadn
The clacking sound produced by stilettos on tiled floor announced Audrey's entrance as she made her way into the reception hall of the headquarters of Jupiter Hotels, Suites and Resorts. She was dressed in a formal attire of a cream shirt tucked into grey pants with a matching suit jacket draped over her shoulders. In her hand, she held a black leather handbag. Stares of admiration escorted her as she walked, it was a gesture Audrey was used to so she was not bothered. She made her way straight towards the receptionist, a woman with her brunette hair held up to a bun and wearing a warm smile. "Good morning. I am Audrey Bennett from Starlight News Media. I have a meeting with Mr Conat, can you call to let him know that I am here?" The woman gave Audrey a nod, and then started to dial on the telephone placed across the counter in front of her, picking up the phone to place on her ear. Audrey reached into her handbag to take out her phone as she waited, her alluring smile plastered on
It wasn't until late in the afternoon that Mathew had some free time to go for his lunch break. As he made his way out of the company's building, he dialled Audrey's number. She picked up at the third ring. "Hey charming," her enchanting voice rang out from the other line, sending jitters down his spine. He immediately started to grin like a fool. "Hey Audrey, I am so sorry I am calling this late. I am only just having my lunch break now. I hope it's not too late for us to eat lunch?" Mathew's voice shook as he spoke, all at once, in one breath, with his shaky voice betraying his nervousness. Audrey first let out a short chuckle before saying, "It's fine Matt, I have been so busy myself. I will text you the address. How long is your lunch break?" she ended with a question. "Umm, well, twenty to thirty minutes give or take," he replied. "Great. See you soon!" What followed was the beeping sound indicating that she had disconnected the line. Almost immediately his phone beeped aga
"So here is what happened," Audrey started to say when Mathew continued to gape at her in confusion. She had an amused smile playing on her face and so did her cousin Bianca. "Bianca saw your picture on my phone," Audrey explained. Mathew raised an eyebrow. She had a picture of him on her phone? "It was your birthday last month, I posted you on I*******m, remember? That was how Bianca here so your picture and ever since then she has been looking forward to meeting you in person," Audrey went on. Mathew hummed as he reminisced on that particular day she spoke about. Audrey and Maddie had thrown him a surprise party back at their apartment. It hadn't been a party perse, after all, it had only been Maddie and Audrey at the home party with him but it had sure been memorable. That day, Audrey had made him get all dressed up and then taken a picture of him to post on her I*******m page with the caption, 'Happy birthday little brother." He had thought her caption infuriating, he didn't w
"Meeting dismissed," Jake Conat spoke with an air of finality, rising from his seat and starting to make his way to the conference hall's exit. Micheal and Mathew rose as well and trailed closely behind him. "What is the next thing on my schedule?" Jake asked just as they got to the end of the hallway they had been walking through. Taking a bend, the trio came to stand by the VIP elevator used exclusively by Jake Conat and his assistant, or in this case, assistants. Moreso, his son and mother used the VIP elevator whenever they came to the company. Micheal reached out to press on the button and the doors opened, they all stepped in. "Well, you don't have anything until an hour from now. In an hour, you have a dinner meeting with some of our business associates," It was Mathew who gave Jake a reply to his question while glancing through the iPad in his hand where Jake's schedule was opened. Jake simply hummed, and then fetched out his phone from his trousers pocket. The elevator soon
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