BRYCEE'S POV
I hurried away from her, returning the call I received.“How many times have I told you to wait for my call?” I scolded, “If there is anything that needs urgent tending to, send me a text,” “Send a text for goodness sake,” I was furious. It was already hard enough to keep secrets, living in this small house with Blair. Suspicious actions would blow everything, getting me into serious trouble. “That's fine, I'll see you by the weekend,” I responded to the caller. “Oh, Brycee, you arrived very quickly,” Mr. Johnson, the head domestic staff at the Williams' residence said, as soon as I entered the premises. I raised a brow, expressing my confusion. “I called five minutes ago to let you know that the boss wanted to see you, and didn't expect you to arrive so quickly,” he said.‘Oh, shit,’ I placed my head in my palm. I had forgotten my official device at home, placing it on the table when I scolded Blair, she must have answered Mr. Johnson’s call. I smiled lightly and followed Mr. Johnson to see Mr. Williams.“You do have some nerve, young man,” Mrs. Williams began, as soon as I walked in. I rolled my eyes, pretty fed up with her pettiness at this point. “We give you our daughter and suddenly you feel strong enough to oppose us?” Mr. Williams queried, in a fierce tone. “How ungrateful!” His mean wife chipped in. “No one told me I was supposed to be grateful,” I replied, and watched as the couple expressed shock at my reply. “You threw away your responsibilities of taking care of your child, now I have to feed her and put a roof over her head and you expect gratitude?” I continued. “I would barely call that a roof over anyone's head,” Mrs. Williams scoffed, “I mean, even Blair deserves better,” she laughed in a mocking tone. “She deserves better parents too,” I replied. “You would not dare speak to my wife like that,” Mr. Williams barked, “Or else?” I questioned. “Consider yourself fired!” They both chorused.“Oh no, I see you missed the memo,” I said, laughing hysterically, “Clearly it hasn't gotten here yet,” “I quit!” I yelled. “I'm only here to let you know that I would be keeping my arrangement of being married to your daughter,” I said. “Since clearly you suck at being parents,” I walked out, slamming the door behind me, in their faces. I walked angrily out of the mansion and was heading home, when a call came in for me. “Do not call me at will…” I began with immediate scolding. “What?” His information came in urgently. “I'm on my way,” I replied. ************************************************It was past midnight and I was very exhausted, returning from attending to the call I earlier received. My business was top secret and I couldn't afford any one else handling it in my absence. “You have some guts, young man,” I heard a hoarse voice from the dark as I drew closer to the house. It could get dangerous, roaming the slums, especially at night. There were always bandits and hoodlums lurking around. I rolled my eyes, as four of them came out of the dark, surrounding me. “Look boys, I do not have the time for this right now,” I pleaded, really exhausted and just wanting to get home, which was now only a few meters away. “Neither do we, which is why we are going to get over this very quickly,” one of them replied, swinging a bat at my head. I held the bat mid-air, and gave him a punch at his lower abdomen with my other hand.“Listen boys, there's no reason to fight,” I said, more in a warning tone than a plea. “How about I give you boys some money to get some drinks and we call it a night?” I offered. The other threw a punch at my face. I ducked, going behind him and kicking his buttocks from behind. “Guess we're doing this the hard way then,” I said, as I defended myself against the attacks the men threw at me. I really didn't want to be doing this right now, I had had a very stressful day, but the men left me no choice. The leader of the gang pulled out a dagger and tried to run it through my throat, but I drew back, letting the blade pass right in front of me. I kicked the blade from his hands, turned him around and placed the dagger to his neck, which I caught mid-air. “Who sent you?” I asked, holding the dagger to his neck. “Mr. Williams,” the man who was now struggling for his life, while the others groaned in pain on the floor, answered with a shaky voice. “Leave!” I ordered, “Now!” I yelled at them. They ran away from me in different directions and I threw the dagger on the floor and headed home. I couldn't believe how naive Mr. Williams was. To think of sending bandits to attack me after the altercation we had. I opened the door and found the living room in a mess. ‘Oh please,’ I exclaimed. I just wanted to get some rest. ‘Had Mr. Williams’ thugs also gotten here to raid the place?’ I walked slowly through the scattered furniture, barely getting space to place my feet.“Blair!” I called out loudly, as her thoughts crossed my mind and I hoped she was fine. I got to the room and found it in a bigger mess than the living room was. Blair was seated on the floor, with folded legs, having papers all around her and my secret box, open in front of her. I was taken aback by the sight, and wondered how she ever found that box. I stood at the entrance and didn't dare to go close to her. She got up with some of the papers and walked slowly towards me. “Who are you, Brycee?” She said, handing the papers to me, “Oh, forgive me,” she immediately said, her tone, clearly sarcastic, “Brian Craig,” she called. I knew at that point that it was over, no more lies.BRIAN’S POV CONTINUES At that point I should have just opened up, but instead I said,“You know it's all manner of rude to invade people's privacy,” I walked past, going to get some change of clothes. “Rude? Privacy? Brycee…” Blair was stuttering. “Cat's got your tongue Blair?” I asked, hinting at mockery. “You are such a horrible person,” she began to throw tantrums. “Say something I'm yet to know,” I replied. I was enjoying the shocked look on her face, even though I was fully aware it was not a very nice thing to do. They were files from a life I had to leave behind, a life I wasn't willing to discuss yet, or resurrect. “Blair, for all you know, that could belong to anybody,” I said lightly, adjusting into bed. “That's what I thought,” she said, “until this fell out of your files,” she threw down my I.D, “Brycee, or should I even call you that?” She queried.“If you're not ready to make discoveries, then stop snooping Blair,” I replied coldly. I could see just how much sh
BLAIR’S POV Despite all of my persistence, Brian would not come clean, or offer any description to the documents. “Some things are better left unsaid, Blair,” he replied to my question. “If you want to go ahead and be dramatic, we both can,” he said. He sat on the smaller couch adjacent to me, and fell asleep, shortly after. I replayed the incident over and over again in my head, until I eventually fell asleep. *****************************************“Good morning, Cinderella,” I heard Brian's voice waking me up. I slowly opened my eyes and found him serving breakfast. “Guess Cinderella is already living her princess life,” he said, as he helped me sit up. Brian had presented a tray with chips, fried eggs and a cup of tea. I couldn't control the broad smile on my face, being woken up with breakfast. I couldn't also believe that Brian had this sweet side to him. “Mhmm,” I exclaimed, as I munched on the sweetness and crunchiness of the chips. I was surprised at what a goo
BRIAN'S POVI was pissed the whole day, having caught Blair on Steven’s call and I could not seem to understand why she never stayed in her lane. “Stephen,” I called back,“Brian, what is happening? Are you also in trouble over there?” Stephen’s voice was heavy with concern. “I'm fine, I'm fine,” I replied lightly. “What is happening?” I questioned. “I need to return as soon as possible,” I said, “it's becoming pretty difficult to remain a secret here, especially with this snoopy wife of mine,” I added. “Wife?” Stephen exclaimed in shock. I placed my hand on my forehead, recalling that I had never mentioned Blair to him. “Brian, wife?” He queried again, “now you're living a double life?” “What if anyone finds out and she becomes a target? Or a link to get to you?” Stephen expressed his concern. “I have it under control,” I responded, “she knows nothing,” I added.“Well, I wouldn't say anything, with the way you're complaining,” Stephen said. “Hey, meet me at the spot in an ho
BLAIR’S POV I followed Ashley, a little scared to a garage we snuck into. “Common,” she said, noticing my skepticism and hesitation.I looked around, and having no choice, I followed her in. The garage was attached to a glorious mansion at an estate not very far off. Ashley turned on the lights and there were loads of cartons at one corner, and a little bed, barely enough for one person at the other side. “You can stay with me for a while,” she said, bringing out a burger from a paper bag.“Where are your parents?” I questioned.“I've never had any,” she replied.I felt my heart sink at her reply. “So, you live here? Taking care of yourself?” I inquired calmly. “I ran away from the foster home since I was ten,” she said, “it's not so much out here, but at least it's better than the foster home.” she said, pulling out a burger from a paper bag. “I can't take that,” I said,“It's okay, I have another,” she said, “I got two offers today,” she said, pulling out another paper bag.
BLAIR'S POV CONTINUES All day, Ashley and I would hunt scrap wristwatches and clocks, and sneak back into the garage at sundown. This routine had gone on for a week, and although I was getting quite used to the early mornings and hunting routine, I couldn't deny how exhausting it was. I admired Ashley’s strength and couldn't believe that a girl as young as she was, was out here trying to put her life together in this manner. It was another day of scrap hunting for us, and thanks to Ashley, I was getting used to the streets of Vegas.I didn't have to worry about getting lost, or a random stranger finding me and returning me to my father's mansion. That was my greatest fear. If I was ever returned to father, there was no telling what he would do to me this time. Moreso, with Brian's absence at the mansion, I might need another toothbrush to scrub the walls, before mother lets me out of her sight. “You can go in that direction, I'd go this way,” Ashley said, as soon as we got to a
BRIAN'S POV THREE YEARS AGOI paced in my office angrily.“This is the third time!” I yelled at the top of my voice, smashing my phone on the ground. “Third time! And they can't pin all of this to anyone? No one at all?” I was agitated. “Calm down Brian” Steve said.“Calm down, you say?” I sat at my desk, “I am being hunted down like an animal, Steve,” I said, “it's from one ambush to another, and merely lucky to still have my life, but for how long?” I said, “huh?” I hit my fist on the desk. “Burning down my warehouse at the exact time I was to be there?” I scoffed. “This is more than sheer coincidence, Steve, and I'm not having it,” Steve only watched me, as I ranted and expressed my anger. “If the law doesn't take its course in three days, I'd obviously have to take the laws into my hands,” I sounded a threat. “Until now, there is no evidence to apprehend anyone,” Steve said, “you have a lot of enemies and rivals, Brian, and for all we know, anyone could be behind this,” he
BLAIR'S POV “There, you have the truth!” he said. “I had to leave town and come here as a different person,” he further explained, “until the police trace the attempts on my life to someone, I can neither return nor use any of those I.D you saw,” I took a deep breath, marveled at his story.‘Who would have thought?’I had always thought Brian had a weird dress sense. He always dressed to work like some spy. Everyday, he would arrive at Father's mansion in black leather clothings, dark shades and hats he'd change everyday. “But it's been three years,” I said, “there's no there's still a threat on your life back at Winchester,” I added.“Steven thinks so too,” he replied, “but if there still is, I can't find out in person,” he replied. “I took some measures to check if the town is safe for me to return to.” He said. “How's that?” I asked. I had barely dropped my statement, when his phone rang. It was a call from Steven. We stared at each other briefly, before he proceeded to an
BLAIR’S POV CONTINUES The police searched every nook and cranny of the house, and my only prayer, like Brian, was that they didn't trigger the button that brought out his hidden files. I could only imagine how disastrous that would have been, and I was unready to witness such chaos. Despite their inability to find any thousand dollars in the house, or in Brian's possession, they insisted he followed to the police station, which he did. I only had tears flowing down my cheeks in endless streams, as they took him away. “Whatever happens, do not leave the house,” Brian said, following the police like he was being led to the slaughter. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I didn't at all believe the story of Brian taking my mother's one thousand dollars. I impatiently paced the house, from end to end, crying and drowning myself in thoughts, for hours, and Brian had not returned yet. I so badly wanted to obey his instructions, but I could no longer hold myself together I quickly l
BLAIR’S POV My family was happy. I just became the owner of one of the high-ranking companies in Vegas. My boy just turned one, how could I not be ready. Now I could categorically say that my life had never been happier. All I had been fighting for, for as long as I could remember and now had, and the very last thing on my list, was getting married to the one man that had been able to love me, through thick, thin, storm, hails, the rain of fire, brimstone and Sulphur. Through fairly good times and the bad times, through moments where I struggled to love myself. I couldn’t be more delighted. Contrary to Brian’s request, we were having a quiet wedding with the people that mattered the most to us. The very ones who watched our love story began in the craziest of ways, the ones who loved us through the toughest times and encouraged us to love each other through what felt like the possible. Tears flowed down my cheeks, with no apologies whatsoever to my makeup, as II walked down the
BLAIR’S POV I stood in front of the court, with a racing heart. For the last three months, we had been going back and forth with the company’s case in court and this was the day for the court’s final verdict. With Jennifer’s help, we were able to pull down some of the board members, who were then in the picture and they had given their testimonies to the best of their knowledge at the time.Some of them had also patched their relationship with my father, understanding that at the time, he was being manipulated and couldn’t have been able to help himself. The others thought it was wise to maintain their distance, saying that they were only offering the help they could for mine and Jennifer’s sake and didn’t think it was necessary to have a continuing relationship with my father. In it and through it all, we were grateful that they even showed up, some of which were outside the country already, but all returned for a justifiable cause.“Common, let’s go. I know we have this.” Brian
BLAIR’S POV “Blair!” she ran to me with a hug,This was not one of Jennice’s tricks at all. It really was Jennifer. I was filled with awe. “What?” Jennice asked. “You really didn’t think I was going to let that evil sister of mine kill my only child, did you?” Jennice asked.“What?” I was still stunned. All of me was vibrating. “Oh, sit down.” Jennice said. “I had Jennifer when I was quite young and since my stupid lover would not take me and the child and I was still trying to find my foot in the world I was left to live in, I couldn’t keep her.” Jennice began to explain. “I figured it would be better for her to be in an orphanage, than out here with me and so I took her there.” “It ached my heart that I began to travel a lot and lost track of keeping an eye on her, so she began to go through so much stress.”“When I returned to fix it, I realized my twin sister was after her life.”“Jennifer really was involved in that accident that day, but I stole her from the vehicle and
BLAIR’S POV “I could not believe my ears. “Please, show up alone first.’ She pleaded. Before could be asked twice, I fled out of the house, swiping the keys to the car from the table.It wasn’t long after I left the house that I got a text with a location. I diligently followed, not thinking about whether or not I was going to get myself in trouble, or probably kidnapped. I still had my suspicions on who had called and all I could call it was suspicion, since I wasn’t sure yet and it would have been the most unbelievable thing. I followed the location and arrived almost in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing but trees all round I was beginning to think this was some prank call or an attempt at being kidnapped. If it was, I couldn’t even be mad and all I could now do was pray to be successfully out of here. ‘Maybe I had reacted a little too quickly.’‘What was I even thinking?’ I was lamenting and asking questions.I kept trying to reach the number over and over again, bu
BLAIR’S POV Sebastine did not wait to see his father before we left.Luckily, I could leave, although, with a bandaged arm. The bullet had been taken out and the wound was going to slowly heal and I was definitely going to keep seeing Dr. Bruce to make sure that I was fine. Sebastine signed every single thing in his name back to his father and he was leaving the Maldives to literally start a new life in Vegas. He chose us. My only excitement was that we arrived just in time to save him, because I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to losing another member of my family, especially to suicide. When we arrived Vegas, we dropped over at Brian’s house first. Sebastine was going to be living with Brian, before he is able to do anything else.He was done with college and could easily get a job, even though Brian had already promised to include him in the company. Sebastine, had declined both Brian’s, as well as my offer, to work in the company, saying he was tired of family ‘hand-m
BLAIR’S POV We walked into Sebastine with a gun in his hand, just about to fire a bullet into his head. Brian flew for him and I could only stand there in tears, since I had Regal in my hands and couldn't quite get involved in any rigorous fights. Sebastine was hell bent on ending his life, as he began a struggle with Brian for the weapon. “Let it go, Brian!” He yelled, “you both, get out of here!” “Let me be!” He and Brian continued the war for the weapon. “Sebastine, no, please, I beg you.” Ever single word I uttered was choking in tears. “It doesn't have to end this way, please,” I continued. “What other ways does it need to end, Blair?” He probed, “huh?” Luckily, Brian was stronger than Sebastine, sho had spent quite a number of days, without food, but this did not in any way deter the struggle. I took a few steps closer, towards them, trying to beg Sebastine to let go already. “Argh!” I groaned in pain, as a bullet flew out of the gun and right for m the region between
BLAIR’S POV At this point, I was giving up on everything. I was losing hope and thought about letting the company go, but my father was still out here fighting and if he was not giving up, I couldn’t throw all his hard work by doing same. I was quite weary of it all, but had to continue. If there was a slightest chance to get the company back, I had to encourage myself to hold on to it, until we made it big enough to win us back the company. I woke up on this fateful morning with the most disturbing thought. I was restless all night and failed to have any good or proper rest. “Are you okay?” were Brian’s first words that said hi to me, as soon as I opened my eyes. It was pretty obvious that I wasn’t and I had swollen eye bags from not getting any sleep at all. “You need to reach out to Sebastine,” I said, shocking Brian hard with my request. “I am really worried about him, Brian,” I continued. “He is all alone and as if it was not enough that he has criminal parents, he hurt
BLAIR’S POVI always knew that Brian was struggling to deal with the challenges that came with being my life, but what I didn’t know was that it had gotten as bad as stuffing himself with alcohol, to the very point that he was sick. On the first occasion that Brian retuned in this manner, we had just gotten married and since I didn’t know if he was alcoholic or not, so I didn’t quite care. The second occasion was the week he was to get married to Stacy and he was unhappy, from the innermost part of his soul. Now, he was here and lamenting over being with me and just how difficult it was. It melted my heart that even in that drunken state, he could still think about me and mention that he was willing to love me, despite everything. However, I couldn’t stop thinking,‘If he was in this much distress, was it worth it?’ I helped Brian clean up his body and got him to rest, while I walked downstairs to make meaning out of my day. “It’s a good thing they found their way home.” Collins
BLAIR’S POV I now had more thoughts on my mind than running a company, after the period of our grieving. Collins had filled me with questions that all I really did was just lay down and thought through his words, over and over again. ‘Was there a right time to stop loving? If there was, when was the right time?’‘What if we are just making the people we love unhappy, by being with them, because their hearts would rather be elsewhere?’Collins already confessed to never seeing Stacy smile this bright, or laugh as hard as she did, when she was with him, and even I was already sick of how all Brian and I ever did was solve one chaos, after another. I was already so convinced that all my presence ever did was fill his life with problem after problem, and it was quite evident now that he was struggling to love me, and who could blame him?Brian and Stacy obviously got carried away in their chats and the extended period they had to work together, neither of them remembered to return on