“What do we do now?” Jade asked, turning to look at Racheal.“I have to go in.” She said, already opening the door.“I will come with you.” Jade said.“That would be too suspicious. I will wait for you to get back to the car, then I will dial your number and put my phone in my purse so you can hear me.”She thought of Steffan, he might call, and her line would be engaged.He can wait. She did not think he would find Skylar in the ten minutes it would hopefully take her to get the permit, and get out.Jade looked down at the straw purse her friend was holding, and nodded.“Racheal.” She called as she got out of the car.She looked back.“Your scarf.”Racheal paused, and remembered.She felt her head and took the scarf off and gave it to Jade.Then she opened the door, and looked up at the front windows of Chloe’s house.All the blinds were drawn shut. She looked down the road, the street was still quiet.She casually walked out of the car, past the well-tended lawns and up to Chloe’s f
“You wouldn’t dare.” Racheal said, as she felt the jagged edge of the knife scrape her skin lightly.If there was anything she realized after two months in Yin, she was valuable, and she doubted anyone would really risk harming her. There was Steffan’s wrath to think of too.Chloe let out a laugh.“You are trespassing on my property. I can do anything I want with you.” She whispered, moving her face close to Racheal’s. Racheal stared in the woman’s green eyes. She did not like what she saw there.Chloe had the knife too close to her throat for her to move though. Or she could just take a risk and step back. She doubted the woman would hurt her, but what if she was a crazy person like Thalia? She might just hurt her, damning all the consequences.She felt the woman’s hand settle on her hips. She winced. “Stop.” She hissed.“Does Steffan stop when you ask him to?”“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.” She wondered what everyone’s deal was with Steffan. It was sick that th
“This way, Ma’am,” Isaac said. They had stopped in front of the main villa building, the building that housed her former suite. Racheal walked towards it as if in a daze.The one thing everyone said she had, the one thing her father was so proud that she had, what everyone said made her powerful, she had lost it. She had lost the love of Yin’s citizens“Ma’am.” Isaac said, getting her attention. He was standing before the glass elevator she had ridden so many times in the past. She got in, and he stepped in after her, punching the number to the highest floor.She stared down at the busy lobby as the elevator shot up. She walked out still feeling numb, and Isaac led her to the president’s private quarters. Danna Sherrod was sitting there, but she did not say anything.She just watched her walk in, and take a seat far from her in the living room. This was the same living room that Spencer Sherrod had told her about her new office, and she had watched the news broadcast on the te
Danna Sherrod froze in shock, staring at her daughter, her hand over her mouth, then she started weeping afresh.Spencer Sherrod stood facing the window his wife had been facing before he walked in.He stood very still, his hands behind him.Racheal turned to Steffan with wide eyes. “What happened to her?”Steffan shook his head. “She would not talk. She would not talk to anyone.”She saw he was making an effort to stay in control of his emotions, but he was breaking inside, the look in his eyes was similar to the look he had when he told her about Malorie.Sophie moved away from the wall, and began to edge close to Skylar.“Ma’am.”Skylar turned, her eyes like molten fire.She picked up a glass sculpture by her side, and hurled it at her maid. It missed her by inches, and crashed into a wall at the far end.Everyone froze.“Get the doctor,” Spencer Sherrod commanded, turning around.Two of his securities hurried out, to find the villa doctor as Skylar flew up from her seat.‘I don’t
Racheal stared at father and son, trying to make sense of what they were saying.What did Steffan build for Spencer that meant so much, the thought of it coming down frightened the man so badly?Did this have anything to do with what Chloe, Delbert and even Ben talked about?Both men stared at each other, as Danna Sherrod sobbed harder till a voice broke into their circle.“Your excellency, about your daughter.”Everyone turned to look at the doctor with expectant eyes.“She is awake. She is fine, but we found a high amount of heroin in her blood, and she seems to be suffering some withdrawal symptoms.” The doctor said, “Were you aware she was a substance abuser?”“How dare you?” Danna Sherrod said, and slapped the doctor. "Do you know who you are talking about? My daughter would never abuse drugs.”Everyone froze in shock.The doctor looked hurt, but he quickly repaired his expression.“The tests showed a large amount of the drug in her blood.”“You are still saying it.”“Mother,” St
Racheal stood outside the hospital much later as she watched a sleeping Skylar being wheeled into a waiting ambulance. She was being transferred to a rehabilitation center just outside the capital.She slipped her hand in Steffan’s who was staring at the ambulance as the lights blinked in the night. They watched the ambulance drive off.“Let’s go home.” He said, gripping her hand more firmly. No one knew where Hamza was. She should have asked Skylar when she was still in her good moments.They climbed into the car and drove in silence. Racheal feared the protesters may still be outside, but when they drew close to the villa gates, she saw it was empty.She sighed in relief, thinking about how best to get out of this mess. She was still not sure she fully understood it. With all the troubles lately, she had not had time to. She glanced at Steffan, he was lost in his own thoughts and staring out of the window. As the car stopped outside their house, he slipped his hand out of he
All Racheal’s efforts to get an audience with the president the next day proved abortive. She went to the office, although she had not planned to work that day. His P.A said unless she was invited, she would need to make an appointment to see him. When she asked to make an appointment, she was told the next open spot was eight months away. She was left speechless. This was her father-in-law. She could discuss this with him over breakfast if she had not stopped the breakfast ritual with them. She decided to wait till evening and see if she could get him home. But all three times she went there, he was not home.Danna Sherrod saw her as she turned to leave the third time.“Racheal.” She was no longer the angry woman from yesterday. Racheal stopped and bowed to the woman.“I was here to speak with the president.”“Oh. About the children.”“Yes. I would like a press conference to say that it was never my intention. And I need him to approve my request to scrap the plan.”“That wil
Racheal found a way to remain calm throughout that night and the next morning. Asad Achillie cannot be hanged for something so minor, right? Since she had not sent it to her father, it was not in the enemy’s grasp. He could honestly say the permit was not with the country’s enemies.On the other hand, she felt relieved that the man had not mentioned her name, just like she gambled on. Such a proud and honorable man would rather die than admit he was in the house of Yin’s most popular mistress, that he had lost such an important document in a mistress’s house.“Are you OK?” Steffan asked.They were walking down the stairs, he in boxing gear, she in a casual blue milkmaid dress. She clutched the Burr-basket she had made for Skylar in her hand.“Yes.” She smiled tightly at him.“If you are worried about the protesters, that is being handled. Father said we can have the press conference as soon as we get back.She nodded, not really hearing him. How would she solve the issue of Asad
“Mind Skylar’s head.” Steffan said, watching her get out of the car. Racheal cradled six month-old Skylar’s head in her arms and got out of the car. Steffan turned and walked ahead towards the courthouse. She knew he did not like this, neither did her mother, but she wanted to lead a new life from now on.She would only allow any dispute to be settled by the court no matter how long it took, instead of the torture, killing and all they had done up to the point that she had Sterling.“Maman," Sterling said, peeking his head around his father’s shoulders.“Yes, baby.”“Maman.” He said again, and she smiled at him. Steffan adjusted him in his arms as they walked into the building.It was an informal courtroom, and the biggest case in Xen. This case was what had disgraced Roslyn and made her lose the elections. Journalists waited outside for the final hearing.She and Steffan sat side by side after the judge took her seat, and the accused began to be escorted in by the cops. Roslyl
Racheal followed Steffan into his house quietly. His housekeeper greeted her warmly. She nodded at the woman. She was surprised to see Chef Bennett come out.“Dinner in five minutes, sir.” Then he paused. “Mrs Sherrod.” He bowed.“Make a place for two,” Steffan said. Those were the first words he had said, since she told him she missed him.“Sure, Sir.” Chef Bennett responded.“You kept him?” Racheal asked, as Steffan led the way upstairs. “You liked him.” He said simply.She said nothing more. He surprisingly led the way to his bedroom on the second floor. It was a dark masculine room, wide, dark and intimidating.She stood in the middle, unsure of how to act, or what to do next.He dropped his bag on the bed, and glanced at her.“I am sorry I hurt you.” She said. He paused, midway into sitting on the bed, then started to take his tie off.“That’s rare. Women never apologize.”She made a face at him. But continued anyway. “I was conflicted. I wanted to be with you, but I was
Racheal sat on the toilet bowl, staring at the pregnancy test kit. It clearly read positive. In denial, she took others. They read the same thing.She hurried back to her room and pulled on a dress. It would be stupid to make the same mistake twice. She sat nervously in the backseat as her chauffeur took her to the hospital.She waited nervously as her blood got drawn, and patiently waited for the doctor.She could not smile back as the doctor said.“Congratulations Mrs Sherrod. Would you like to see your baby?”She climbed the table, and stared at the ceiling as the doctor smeared a cold gel on her flat belly.“You are about seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor said excitedly. “Look at your baby.” She held her breath and turned.She could hear the heartbeat of the fetus as the doctor pointed out where the baby was in the sac. It was so tiny, she burst into tears.The doctor helped her up and soothed her, telling her it was OK to cry, that days like these were an emotional day for
The president is dead did not cover the horror of how Spencer Sherrod had died. He stared at his father’s coffin the next morning as the priest talked on and on. He had wanted to kill this man. He had wanted to kill him with his own hand, so why was he reacting this way to the man’s death?His mind kept going back to how Spencer had looked in the video he had seen. He was headed for a meeting, surrounded by his guards, edgy and nervous, and alone.The old woman had come from the crowd, begging an audience. He had hesitated, but asked them to let her through. The woman had hugged him, even as his guards had yelled that it was against protocol.One had even reached out to pull her away. Then flames. He shook his head as he remembered the explosion sound. They had quickly found out the woman was the journalist’s aged mother. The journalist Spencer had killed at Racheal’s office.He felt someone squeeze his arm. He looked down at the little woman. She was the only good thing in
“We should start moving. I don’t want Limuel’s men to find us here," he said as he stocked the fire. She dropped a plate of Ramen in front of him. He smiled up at her, and she smiled back.He did not mind if he lost all his wealth, and became doomed to this kind of life, as long as he had her. She was all he wanted now, all he had ever wanted really from the day he met her.“It will be a few hours still before we can start moving.” She responded. He nodded and picked up his meal. She walked closer and sat beside him. He turned to her, caressed her cheek, and kissed her lightly. She returned his kiss, enthusiastically, the way he remembered, the way he liked.He loved how much she loved his touch. They were soon grappling at each other, their meal forgotten. He squeezed her warm soft body as she moaned his name and dug into his back. He savored the warmness of her, the fullness of her curve, the lusty way she matched his thrusts, squeezing tight around him.He did not want to
Racheal sat shocked, staring at Steffan’s face, just barely able to see it in the near darkness. But she could see clearly enough the honesty in there. His blue eyes were clear and honest, open and pleading.“You should have said that when I wanted to hear it.” She said, shaking her head, starting to move away. But he held her.“I should have. I was a fool not to have.”“I even told you once that I loved you. You said nothing.”“I am sorry.”“Stop apologising. It won’t fix anything," she said, trying to pull away. She did not have to hear this, she did not want to hear this. It would make leaving him that much more difficult. It was easier walking away from a man who hurt her, and had never admitted to loving her even once. But now…“Racheal.” He said, taking her face between his hands. “I love you. I have always loved you. My heart stops at the thought of losing you. The day Isaac told me you were dying, the day you sent that divorce document, my heart completely stopped beatin
“I thought you changed. Apparently, you did not," Steffan said finally, looking away. “You are still as stubborn and careless as ever.”His words stung her.“Careless? You sound like I got some warning that a certain Limuel was after me and ignored it.”“I tried to warn you. I sent a dozen messages, tried to make an appointment,” he blew up.She shrank back. Well. There was no way she would have known. She had his number blocked, so there was no way she could have seen his messages. She still did not know how he had gotten her new contact number by the way. She could not think of any of her staff who could have given him her personal number.She knew he was in contact with Isaac, but could Isaac have given him the number?“After all that has happened to you, I don’t know how you can still put yourself in danger like this.”“One could say I was in danger, hiding with you in a storm like this. At least Maman would think so.” She said quietly, lowering herself to the floor. That got
“What are you doing?” Racheal asked as she watched Steffan walk towards one of the many couches in the room. He said nothing.He placed a bright flashlight she suspected he must have found wherever he found the axe on the floor, lighting the whole room up. He raised the axe, and began to hack at the couch.She stared at him in shock, at first not understanding what he was doing. Then she turned back, and shut the heavy bolt on the door. He had to make fire somehow, or they would freeze to death before the storm was over. Between the both of them, they could probably buy a million couches for this family.She walked further into the living room, past him, checking the whole place out. The only place that was open to them was the hallway, the open kitchen in the living room, and a tiny bathroom at the end of the hallway. All the other rooms were firmly locked. She was not very eager to ruin their locks like she did the front door.She walked towards the kitchen, and turned on th
“What? Why?” Racheal screamed in confusion as she watched Limuel’s guards pull a limp Steffan up.Then they began to pull him to pull him away, his tall frame causing his foot to drag behind him.“I had a suspicion he might come here.” Limuel said, pulling out a big cigar.“What did we do to you?” She asked, looking from Limuel to Steffan, who was being dragged away.“I have no problems with the Sherrods. Just you.”“What?” She asked just as she saw Limuel’s toddler run out of the house. The guards tried to stop the child who was not warmly dressed for the weather. The toddler screamed. He just wanted his father.Lukas Limuel turned at the commotion. “Let him through," he said, standing up. The child broke through the barrier of guards, and ran into his father’s arms.“I don’t have the time to explain anything. I hear your mother has suddenly returned from the dead. I believe she will pay a decent price in exchange for you as compensation for what your family did to us.” Lukas sa