“We’re sorry to inform you that Mrs. Sanders did not make it. She died this morning in her sleep.” Sally collapsed into a chair, and I sank in with her, holding her firmly. I drew her to myself and patted her back as my own tears ran freely down my face. I don’t know who was comforting who now. My knees were too weak, and I was sure if I stood up, I’d fall. The whole emotion rushed to me like a river, and it was like I was pulled back into the past. Back to the night my parents died. The only difference was that they had died painfully. I was so unprepared, and I had been left stunned by the whole thing. “Just remember to breathe.” I took a deep breath as Cameron’s voice echoed in my head. “Breath, Lana, breath.” I had to take charge. I had to be here for Sally before anything else. Be her support, because this was the hardest of times. I pulled her up and led her to the room where Mrs. Sanders body would be kept before they moved her to the mortuary. Cameron remained in the lob
She led us to the room that she had reserved for the night, and somehow, I hate that I was right. This is a woman I loved once upon a time, and had she not been the person she is, I would probably have continued to love her. I laughed casually on the doorframe, observing her on the bed, which she had flopped into. How had I not seen the snake in her before I married her? She deceived me more than others, and despite myself, I wish she hadn’t. Is it possible to love two women in the same way? I was very sure I would have continued with her if I hadn’t found that she was the lying, thieving daughter of a gun. Or maybe not. I had already begun to give up on our marriage right after it started. That was when I realised my love for Lana. The truth is that I have loved her all along and tried to deny it, even to myself. I had forced Kathy into my head and created an image of her that did not exist, and I compared that imaginary Kathy to Lana just so I could prove to myself that I did not
How did the control slip from my fingers? Kathy now had all the control, but I could not let her see that or know it. I pushed my hands deep into my pockets to hide the fact that I was quite nervous. She was right; everything she said was true, and I should not be justifying her stealing my money, even in my head. I clenched my jaws as I hacked my brain for what to say. She had agreed to sign the divorce papers; that was good for me and should have been enough, but why did I feel so dirty? So used?I turned around and looked out of the window, then my phone rang. I sent Kathy a death warning, and if she liked her life, she would listen and pick up the call. “Freda.” I said, lowering my voice to a degree so it sounded colder and icy. For as long as I can remember, I have always referred to my mother as Freda—her own name—and calling her mom or mother always sounded so weird to my ears. “Where are you?” she asked, her tone even more icy than mine. Hermione always referred to her as t
The car arrived at exactly 2:00 p.m., and we got to Lukem at 2:15. We were quite early, just in time to join the board meeting, which was currently ongoing. Sally smiled at me and patted my back. “You will crush this, Lana. I believe in you.” She smiled, and I nodded. I was a nervous wreck. I had been quite confident when I left him, but now I was not so sure of everything. It had been so long since I lived this life. It had been so long since I was at the top, and now that I was getting back to my feet, I felt like I was staggering again. Sally flashed me another encouraging smile, and that did not help the dread that had taken root in the pit of my stomach. “Hey, hey.” She called out slowly, tilting my chin up with her index finger. “Where is that confident and hardworking woman who has taken life by the balls?” Her eyes took in my watery eyes, and she drew me in for a hug. “I don’t know if I can do this.” I cried. “Everything feels so... so different.” “Hey, ssshhh...” she dre
Andre’s POVYou would be surprised at how much clothes contribute to moulding and shaping how people see a person. How much of a person's character it affects, which is why typically they have that saying, ‘dress the way you wish to be addressed’. Once you were dressed a certain way, it had an effect on the first thing people thought when they laid eyes on you. Although many people would disagree, the human mind was really just black and white and nothing in-between. They were lines that we had drawn unconsciously in our minds, and many things were to this effect. The lives that we have lived, the society that we have lived in, and the events that, over the years, have shaped our beliefs. A lot, but it was always the same thing. And my mother wasn’t different. By the time we arrived at Ranhold headquarters, I had Kathy change her dress into something more presentable. Something more acceptable was said by my mother. I wondered how the old bat had even found out I was back in town.
“Toast to more wealth.” Freda announced, raising her glass in the air. “Cheers.” “Cheers.” I and Kathy resounded, except I was a little less enthusiastic. I don’t think my mother noticed, though. She brought the glass to her lips, took a sip, and then set it on the table. “Now, let’s get down to business. Shall we?” Freda said, settling into her seat. We all did. “The Lukems have their stocks pivoting high on the ceilings, eh?” She smiles, and the lines around her eyes crinkle. She was getting old, and that age was beginning to show on her body. Her once porcelain skin now had a few wrinkles here and there; I spotted more veins every day, and I also noticed the dye, which she seemed to use more often than before. I nodded. “They seem to be getting better these days. They did change most of the board members recently.” “Yes. It’s been bought, and you know what’s interesting? It’s the fact that it was not bought by another company or cooperation. No, we weren’t willing to take that
Cameron gave me a light kiss on the lips. “You look beautiful in that dress.” He said. Sally had made me change into a dress ‘fit for galas’ immediately after the board meeting. A tight—it hugged me so tight that I could barely breathe—black dress decorated with metallic gold roses and a gold clutch. A dress did make a person. “Thank you.” We had just arrived at the venue for the gala, and Cameron and I were still seated in the back of the black limousine Lukem provided us. My head was resting on his firm chest, and all I thought about was the speech I was going to give. Lukem was not throwing this gala just to announce their new CEO; it was also to invite new and big investors to do business with us. Sally had, in some way, convinced them that making me the face of the new Lukem would guarantee us that. It was only a business strategy, but it made me nervous. I had never been in the limelight before. Maybe I would have had the chance if my father had stayed alive to keep his comp
Our car stopped at the entrance of Sol’s conference, and I could see that the event had already begun. Kathy sat quietly by my side, and for the third time today, she was wearing something different. I stepped out as the driver opened the door and walked around to help Kathy get out of the car. In the eyes of the public, we were still husband and wife and happily married following my divorce from my previous marriage. It was not going to be easy keeping up the façade, especially as my head and heart were somewhere else, but it was only for a few hours, and I’ll be done with her. She hooked her hand with mine and smiled for the camera. It was so easy for her to fall into these roles that it scared me. It made it hard to know when she was being her real self and not putting up an act to get what she wanted. The conference hall was filled with top businessmen and women, most of whom he recognized. Lukem had really outdone themselves this time; no one would leave here today, as I still