ELOISE’S POV.“Come in.” I signal when a gentle knock sounds on the room door. Immediately, the door is pushed open and a maid in uniform steps in.“Good evening, Mrs. Wesley.” She greets formally and makes her way over to the bed where I’m seated.“Good evening, Sophia.” I greet, not sparing her a glance because I know exactly why she’s here.“Ma’am it’s already ten pm and you still haven’t had dinner. You need to eat to be able to take your medication. Please.”I heave out a frustrated sigh and curse Logan under my breath. When he brought me home from the hospital, he completely went overboard by rallying all the household servants and telling them I was unwell and needed proper care and attention and since then, I have not rested. They keep checking up on me every now and then. A few of them even ganged up and bathed me because they didn’t want me wetting my wound.It’s a sweet gesture from my home employees and it proves how much they care about me, but right now, I’m too angry an
ELOISE’S POV.About thirty minutes later, Klein walks out of our closet dressed in pajamas, his hair wet and ruffled with a few strands sticking down his face. As he approaches the bed where I’m sitting, I tear my gaze away from his body and plaster on the wall far ahead of me. If I stare at him too much, his handsome face and hot body will cajole me into letting go of the anger burning in my chest. I’m still very mad at him.First, he has blatantly refused to explain in detail why he owes his life to Jasmine. Second, he looked me in my eyes and called me a nagging wife and lastly, he hasn’t apologized for abandoning me today even though I was hurt. He sees absolutely nothing wrong in the fact that he took Jasmine to the hospital and not me, his wife. What an insensitive prick!“Eloise.” His deep voice sounds my name and I turn to face him even though I don’t want to. “Would you like to go downstairs for dinner or would rather it be served here?”“I said I’m not hungry.” I snap and lo
ELOISE’S POV.“I can’t tell if you’re being serious or sarcastic right now, Eloise.”“I’m being very serious. Does she qualify for the position as Director of Production of PHOROMA?” I ask, my voice sounding a lot more intense. I watch him chew the food in his mouth and swallow. A silent breath follows before he meets my gaze again.“What do you think?” I angrily slam my spoon against my plate and shoot him a heated glare.“Just answer the damn question, Klein. I don’t have time for your mind games tonight.”He looks at me long and hard, probably finding it hard to believe that I just used that tone on him.“You must have lost it if you think I’d hire someone without the right qualifications for such a vital position in the company.”“I thought there was going to be a vote or even if you had to appoint, you’d pick someone in the company. Someone who’s already versed with all the affairs of PHOROMA, and WESLEY Co. as a whole.” When I’m done talking, he gently drops his fork on his plat
CHAPTER ELEVEN.ELOISE’S POV.“Eloise.” Klein’s gentle voice calls and I instantly spin around to see him see him standing by the doorway of the closet, draped in an immaculate white dressing rob, looking as hot and pristine as he always does after his morning shower.Ugh! I will never get used to the way his hair gets all ruffled and spiky when it’s wet. One day, I will let my intrusive thoughts win and thread my fingers through his hair. He’s going go stiff with shock and scold me in annoyance, but I will not care.“You have no business picking out my outfit with a hurt palm. I thought I asked Cassandra to do this.” He protests and I walk over to the closet island by his own section of the closet where I lay the suit jacket I’m holding together with the trouser and shirt and other accessories I’ve picked out for him. I do a quick scan of everything he’s to wear to work today and smile in satisfaction.Klein could restrict me for doing everything for him, but not this. Not once has he
CHAPTER TWELVE.ELOISE’S POV.With every step I take closer to Jasmine’s office, at least two of my vital organs shut down completely. I am a walking corpse by the time I get to her secretary’s office located in front of hers. There is an ache in the pit of my stomach that’s gnawing on my nerves. The rush of adrenaline in my blood is making my head spin, and my heart is beating as though I’m running a marathon race.The only time I ever feel like this is during the ride to Klein’s parents’ house whereby I know I’m going to meet his mother who does nothing but taunt and insult me every time we meet.“Good morning, Adeline.” I greet the secretary who smiles kindly at me.“Good morning, Mrs. Wesley.”“Is Jasmine… I mean, Miss Bradfords in her office?” I quickly correct myself. Despite my unwillingness to address Jasmine formerly, we are still at a workplace and the rules must be obeyed.“Yes Ma’am. She has been waiting for you.”Of course, she has.I give the secretary a silent nod and he
ELOISE’S POV.“Good day Mr. Wesley.” We all greet in unison and on our feet when Klein walks into the conference with his P.A, Logan, following closely behind him. Klein nods curtly in response to our greeting as he heads over to the head seat of the conference table.Logan pulls out his seat for him and before he sits down, he motions the rest of us to take our seats. Logan takes the empty seat I left next to Klein’s right-hand side while I sit next to Logan. I am one seat away from Klein, meanwhile, Jasmine is occupying the seat directly opposite Logan’s. The small smile perched on her lips tells me she is very pleased to be sitting right next to Klein.“Is everyone who’s supposed to be present for this meeting here?” Klein breaks the excruciating silence in the room as his gaze lingers on each and every one of our faces.I look around to make sure we are all present and indeed, we are.Five team leaders of the different product design teams, the Director of Product Design, the CEO
ELOISE’S POV.“Hi” Jasmine greets me with a small wave and a fat smile through the wound down window and I feel the excitement in my veins morph into hot, liquid rage that’s spreading throughout my body like poison.My euphoria…What euphoria? What fucking euphoria?Without a single word, I march with despondency over to Klein’s side and he seems to have sensed what’s coming because he opens the car door and steps out of it. As I come to a stop before him, his towering height, which used to be the first thing to intimidate me whenever I attempt to start with him, does not scare me.“What the fuck is going on here?” I ask calmly even though I want to scream for everyone in this building to hear. My breaths are coming in too hard and it’s making my chest hurt as though I’m running a marathon race for the first time and I’m running out of breath. All I can see is red.“I don’t understand your question, Eloise.” Says Klein, maintaining his calm demeanor like he always does in every situati
ELOISE’S POV.“We are here.” Kyle announces as the car comes to a halt in the private parking lot of the talk building we just drove into. Jasmine quickly gets out of the car before anyone of us and I seal my lips to hide my smile. She has been awfully quiet since Klein told her his phone’s password was the date of our wedding anniversary. That was a big blow to her inflated ego. She didn’t even go through his gallery like she had intended. She simply kept the phone down and went still for the rest of the ride. “Klein” She calls in a sweet tone which I find very annoying once we are all outside. I roll my eyes hard as I start to make my way over to Klein, but she beats me to it and interlocks her arm with his. I pause in my tracks and watch her lean closer to my husband, the pain in my chest coming back to life.That bitch!She’s really out to get me.As always, Klein condones her childish behavior and now, as we head to the elevator, they are both walking arm-in-arm in front while I
ELOISE'S POV“Eloise.” Klein calls after the red dragon exits the room, leaving just the three of us.And yes, I will keep referring to her as the red dragon. I would have addressed her by her name if she had had the courtesy to introduce herself to me before bringing me here.“Please come over and have a seat.” Klein urges because I have not moved an inch from the door since I stepped in and saw them. My gaze does a quick scan of the room and falls on Jasmine who’s smiling from molar to molar. Her favorite time is when she’s beside my husband.And there I was, feeling reluctant to get Klein involved in this issue, but Jasmine here has already thought it through and acted. Sharp girl.“I apologize for the unexpected summon, but Jasmine reported something to me that needs to be addressed immediately.” He explains as I take the seat on his right and stare at him blankly.“And what’s that?”“She told me you plan to write a complaint to the Director of Affairs of PHOROMA because your proj
ELOISE’S POV.The moment I step out of Jasmine’s office, my legs carry me as fast as they can back to my own office and as I walk into the shared space, all of my teammates stop whatever they are doing and cast me expectant stares, but none of them utters a word. There is complete silence in the room as I walk further into it. It’s like even the wind is afraid to make a sound. My gaze flickers from Ward, to Kacey, Shannelle and then Nadine. They are definitely expecting me to tell them something encouraging.I clear my throat.“I’m going to start by apologizing for what you all had to go through in my absence. I am your team leader; therefore, I should have been there to defend and support you.” A brief moment of silence goes by before I ride on. “Anyway… I have given Jasmine… I mean…” I shut my eyes and exhale heavily before prying them open again. “Miss Bradfords. I have given Miss Bradford’s twenty-four hours to reverse her decision and have us all compete once more for the final s
ELOISE’S POV.“I don’t understand. Rejected? How? When? Why?” I give a quick glance at my wrist watch and the time reads nine thirty am. I look back at their melancholic faces. “We’ve still got thirty minutes before we pitch our proposal so why are you telling me it has been rejected?” I ask in genuine confusion and Ward, who gave the announcement, steps forward and lets out a heavy sigh. My heart is beating out of control as I wait for him to give me an explanation.“Forty-five minutes ago…” He starts. “Miss Bradfords’ secretary came into our office space and asked us to join the others in the conference room. We were confused as to why we were being summoned to the conference room when it wasn’t time for the pitch, but obeyed regardless. When we got there, we were told by Miss Bradfords that we had to pitch our proposal immediately. We were all taken aback and tried explaining to her that it wasn’t time yet and that you would be coming in a bit late and even the higher ups knew and
ELOISE’S POV.The moment Klein and I arrive at the hospital’s private parking lot, there are four people dressed in scrubs, waiting for us. Three of which look very young and seem to be resident doctors and a woman much older than them and was the nurse who assisted the doctor who attended to me with Logan had brought me in on the day of the accident.“Good morning, Mr. Wesley…” She greets Klein with a curt bow and then looks at me with a polite smile on her face. “Mrs. Wesley.”“Good morning.” Klein and I reply to her in unison. The other residents greet as well start leading the way to the elevator.“We got your call and everything has been set.” Says the nurse I’ll take you to your ward right now where you’ll wait for doctor Nolan. He’s rounding off with his morning rounds and will join you shortly. I hope that’s not an issue.”“Not at all.” Klein denies as we step into the elevator.Five minutes later, we are being shown into a private ward that looks nothing like a hospital ward.
ELOISE'S POV.“You made breakfast today?” Klein asks as we both make our way into the dinning room.“Yes, I did.”He takes the head seat while I take the first seat on his right. Our eyes meet and my stupid heart starts beating fast. Why is it beating fast? It’s not supposed to do that. This man has hurt and disregarded me in every way possible and my heart is supposed to be cold as ice for him, not hot and unstable.“You know you didn’t have to. It’s the duty of the chefs to prepare our meals.”“I wanted to do it. Besides, I don’t want your mother getting mad and scolding me again today.” I point out and he stays silent.“You two are here already.”Jasmine’s annoying voice dances into the room before she walks in, followed by my mother-in-law and they both take their seats on the table. We all exchange good morning greetings even though what I receive from my mother-in-law is nothing more than a grunt, but I don’t care.“Klein… guess what?” Jasmine asks enthusiastically.It has begun
ELOISE’S POV.I can feel the wrath of hell creeping up and down my spine as I keep my gaze focused on Klein and Jasmine’s intertwined fingers. When Klein, who has now come to halt, notices that I’m looking at them, he quickly lets go of Jasmine’s hands like they suddenly burnt him and steps an inch away from her.That does not make me feel any better.“You are back.” My mother-in-law breaks the uncomfortable silence and Jasmine’s face curves into a wide smile.“Yes mum, we’re back!” Jasmine replies as she goes over and hugs my mother-in-law.“Did you have a great time?”“Yes, mum. Klein and I had such a wonderful time together. It was just like the old times when we used to go on night walks almost every night.” Jasmine narrates excitedly and turns to face Klein once more. “Klein, I think we should do this more often.”Klein doesn’t respond to her. He calmly shoves both hands into his trouser pockets and turns to me. I nearly roll my eyes at him.“Eloise, I can see you are done with y
ELOISE’S POV.“Jasmine!” Klein calls and from his tone and the speed with which he’s walking over to Jasmine. I can tell he’s just as stunned as I am by her audacity to open our bedroom door and walk in without being asked to do so. “Jasmine.” He calls yet again as he stops in front of her. I’m still sitting on the bed, too shocked to move an inch from here.This girl really is out to destroy my marriage.“Yes Klein.” She answers in a nonchalant tone that has me wishing I could fly over and give her the beating of her life without being stopped by Klein. She’s such a bitch!“You just saw yourself in immediately after you knocked without any of us granting you the permission to do so. This is our matrimonial bedroom, Jasmine, you can’t do that. You can’t just walk in here as you please.” Klein cautions and I wish he could do that in a much firmer tone than the one he’s using with Jasmine. That woman needs to be scolded. In fact, she needs therapy because this is not normal behavior.“
ELOISE’S POVJasmine surely didn’t see any way to cry and convince Klein to let her stay the night here again so she decided to level up her plan by bringing in my mother-in-law, whom she knows hates me and has no regard for my opinions. She also knows it’s impossible for me to stand against my mother-in-law even if she dared me to. My mother-in-law is giving me a murderous glare after daring me to tell her I don’t want Jasmine to spend the night in this house and I do not intend to take that dare. My gaze flickers over to Klein, only half-expecting him to stand up for me and when he doesn’t, I’m not surprised.It’s his mother and Jasmine we are talking about here. The two most important women in his life. He’s not going to stand up to them because of me. Me who’s just his wife.But…Hold up…Didn’t he do that this morning?He insisted I sat by his side during breakfast even though Jasmine wanted to and told his mother off for chastising me about not preparing the meals myself. But n
ELOISE'S POV.Her smile returns to her lips and fresh terror stabs me all over my face. It suddenly hits me that I’m picking a fight with the wrong person. Without another word, I withdraw from her closeness and march up the stairs with blood boiling in my veins like hot magma. My entire frame is shaking with indignation and energy and when I step into our bedroom, I slam the door behind, causing Klein to give me an alarmed look.“Eloise, what’s the matter?” He asks and I fly over to where he’s standing and it takes all morals and respect for him to not give him a solid slap across his face before I start talking.“Really? You asked Jasmine to stay for dinner?”“She said she was hungry so I asked her to stay and leave after we’ve had dinner.” He narrates in his usual unperturbed tone and I feel my frustration mount to the highest level. I pinch the bridge of my nose, shut my eyes and release a long, ragged breath to try and calm my nerves but that fails woefully. By the time I open my