I ran at the sound of Claire’s ringtone on my phone and hurry to pick it up.I’m relieved to hear Claire is safe and calm on the other line. I worried about her safety after what happened to our child and what Jordan had tried to do to her. I was still have my private investigator look into the “incident” that caused the demise of my son. I neglected to share that with Claire. I knew that my mentioning of it would drive her into depression. She was keeping busy to avoid mourning her loss.Claire tells me that she was nominated for one of the biggest achievements as an architect and I can’t help but beam with pride. Claire was brilliant. I offer to escort her in an effort to spend some time with her and celebrate her success and to my surprise, she agreed.It may seem like the smallest of steps but for me - this was a leap and I was glad to have it.I order Elena to assist me in picking out a dress for Claire’s big night and we head to a few boutiques. I announced to Charlotte that I h
I sat at home as Leo left. It was odd for him to not tell me where he was going but I assumed it had something to do with that wretched Claire. Just as I am about to leave my bed and snoop, I get a phone call from an unknown number. I answer it, catching my breath as I hear the contents. ‘This is a collect call from an inmate here at our federal jail center. Please press 5 to accept this call.’ I press 5 hastily trying to see who would be contacting me from prison. “Darling, how are you?” I hear my fathers’ voice on the other line. “Daddy? What happened? Why are you in jail?” I sit in shock as I listen to his next few words. “I made some bad choices with the family business and I’m be charged with money laundering, embezzlement and tax evasion. Darling, I wanted you to hear this from me. I’m ashamed of myself.” “We’ll find a way to get you out, daddy. I’ll call Leo.” “Darling, I’m counting on you to help me. I need a good lawyer.” I hear him say just as the line cuts o
After a successful day of work, I head back home to Jasmine’s, excited to get ready for my very first nomination tonight. The cab ride went by quickly. I go inside to find Jasmine smiling at me from the kitchen.“Leo told me the news! Congratulations, babes!” She comes from the kitchen wide open arms. A Jas hug adorned with a smile was just what the doctor ordered. I extend my arms and laugh slightly as we hug.“Thank you! I didn’t think this would ever happen for me and it wouldn’t have, if I didn’t have your help.”“That was all you!” Jas says as she pulls back.“Yeah but if you didn’t let me stay here - I would’ve never been able to focus on work or even start working in my field.” It was true. Had Jas not invited me to stay with her, I would’ve never been able to have focused on making use of my career. A token of my success was owed to her support.“Nonsense! But someone did leave a surprise for you on your bed and I’m sure you need to start getting ready.” She smiles as I look c
I watch as Leo slowly undoes the wax seal on the envelope in front of a waiting audience and smiles as he reads the card.“Today’s ’New Best Designer of the Year’ award goes to none other than Claire!” He looks directly at me with a smile. I hear applause growing around me and see everyone has turned to me. I make my way to the stage and am handed a medal along with a plaque showcasing my name. I smile as I begin my acceptance speech.“Thank you to all of you here tonight for this nomination! I am forever grateful for the acknowledgement you’ve given me. I never thought this would be possible for me and I’d like to thank a few special people in my life as well. Leo, you believed in me and you’ve supported me throughout the resurface of my career and I’m thankful for you. And secondly, I’d like to thank my friend Jasmine for her endless support and healing hugs. I’m extremely grateful to you all tonight.” I stand back and turn to leave and watch as Leo continues to announce - smiling s
I watch from around the corner as Elena watches the television in the living room outside my bedroom. What useless help she is. But then I see exactly what she is looking at. Leonardo is announcing the Architectural Success Event and to my surprise - Claire is also there. I tip-toe back to my room to make a call to Leo’s mother. Certainly, she wouldn’t approve of this and she would have no issue in vocalizing her disdain of Claire. That would help Leo see his way back to me.“Hello Mother!” I play kindly as I hear her pick up.“Hello Charlotte, what a late hour to be receiving your call?” She says politely.“I’m sorry for my absence but I wanted to know if you saw Leo on television today?” “I did. He did a fine job announcing the nominees and the winners of each award.” She knew? She saw Claire attend the event and said nothing?“Did you know Claire was there?” I ask quickly as I felt left out of the equation.“I did. She’s been awarded a marvelous reward.” She says without a hint of
I ensure Claire made it into Jasmine’s home safely before getting back into the town car. Part of me wanted to invite myself in and show Claire how proud of her I really was but I needed to respect her decision. She had asked for the divorce because she needed it and as much as I wanted Claire to return to me, it would have to be on her terms. Not mine. I sit down in the town car and tell the driver to take me home. Just as I see the house fading from my view, I get a phone call from my mother. “Hello Mother, is everything alright?” She had never called at this hour. This must be important. “Leo, I think it’s time we talk about your future. I’ve asked Charlotte to leave the house after her mentioning that she is able to walk again.” She says promptly. Mother had always seemed fond of Charlotte until now. I wonder what has Charlotte said to make her feel otherwise. “What’s going on, mother? I remember you always being fond of Charlotte.” I word it carefully as to not disrespect
I could feel that it was only a matter of time before Leo’s mother voiced her displeasure of me to Leo and sung praises of Claire. I needed to act quickly if I was to fulfill my vow of never allowing Claire to return to him so I quickly grabbed my phone and quietly texted my henchman. I knew better than to call with Elena close by. That useless woman would make matters worse by foiling my plans in order to protect that wretched Claire.“I have another job for you.” I type and hit send.“Find someone else. I’ve seen the papers. Your daddy’s assets are frozen.” “What a vile thing to say to those who pay you.” I had always kept a separate account for emergencies. I had well-enough to pay for this request.“Unless you can pay, my answer is no.” “I can pay.” I type back as I send a payment of $50,000 to his account. He must’ve received it by the reply.“Okay, I’m listening.” Exactly what I needed to hear. “I need you to pay my last request a little visit. She’s no longer pregnant but no
After my monumental night of success, I returned home to Jasmine’s, where she was waiting for me to tell her about my night. I was exhausted after our talk and decided to head to bed. I had a few contracts to overlook in the morning. As I laid down, I remembered the kiss Leo and I had shared. The love behind it was truly genuine. I knew that he wanted me to invite him in but I decided against it. I didn’t want to give him false hope when I wasn’t sure. So many things had happened in the last few months of us being apart. I still hadn’t forgotten the feeling of watching him run to Charlotte time and time again. The same Charlotte that still lived in his house at his request.I decide to get some rest after that thought. My late-night pondering would only open up the gates to my grief.I wake up to a glimmer of sunshine touching my face. It was already morning. I got ready and called a cab. After reaching my suite, I pulled out my tablet and began working diligently on a few blueprints
Claire and Jasmine listened closely to the conversation I had with Charlotte on the phone. They felt triumphant as I played my part. “Well she seems convinced.” Claire smiles as she sits down on the couch beside me. “Now, we just have to get Julia and Leo ready to rub it in. The letter said six o’clock, right?” Jasmine confirms.“Yup. I already texted Julia and she said she is getting ready. She wants to make sure she is dressed for the occasion.” Claire seemed a bit nervous but she did it well.“You brought your nice suit, right Leo?” “I did and before you ask, it’s black.”“Good, that means it’ll match with Julia.” Jasmine smiles as her need for color coordination is satisfied.“How do you think Julia will act when she’s faced with Charlotte?” Claire asks quizzically.“I’m not sure. But I should get changed. Julia should be arriving in the next thirty minutes to debrief before we head out.” I stand and leave the room to change. It felt odd to be going to dinner in the company of
It’s late morning when I awake from my nap. The medication they gave me was great at silencing my dead mother but horrible for my energy. Every dose I’d taken had driven me to a long deep rest that encapsulated my hours. I grab my phone and see blog and tabloid notifications - my favorite reading material as I was able to read about myself multiple times. Although, I was glad for my absence in these apps as of recently. The last thing I wanted was to be paraded around as a lunatic.I open the first app to read about today’s events and see Claire is plastered on the front page.“Billionaire’s wife trades high life for loving longevity?” I continue reading as the article names a ‘Nathan Carter’ as Claire’s new love interest and describes their poolside manner as romantic and intimate. Did she really trade Leo for this guy? He wasn’t nearly as handsome as Leo. I look up his net worth isn’t even in the same caliber as Leo. How stupid of her. I continue to look at the photos and I’m struck
I watch the movements of Charlotte’s ankle monitor and to my surprise, it hasn’t move at all from the primary residence. I checked its connection and gps settings. Only to find that everything was working perfectly.Leo informed me of his and Claire’s plan to seem separated in the blogs to make Charlotte more confused and less hyper-fixated on hurting Claire and for some reason, I feel like it might’ve worked. Claire hadn’t had a run in with Charlotte and she hasn’t left to see Leo either. Did her psych hold have something to do with this?I ask the officers providing surveillance at Charlotte’s residence to check in every two hours, just in case. Charlotte wasn’t a dumb woman. She was cunning, fast and maniacal. If she were planning something then I needed to be top of it before anyone got hurt. Surprisingly, the only alert I’d been given was a visitor to Dahlia. The view was partially obstructed but they believe it wasn’t friendly as the woman left without entering and Charlotte sla
I grab my phone and lay on my bed, face the ceiling and try to distract myself. My monitor meant that my moves were recorded and that meant no late night surprise visits to Claire. I had no army, no freedom, an injury to my arm and no opportunities. I wonder if Claire had even seen my letter. It couldn’t be a violation if she were to meet with me in a public location. I wouldn’t have followed her or threatened her, technically. Or did technicalities not count in this situation?I begin scrolling through today’s blogs on my phone, not out of interest but sheer boredom when I see it. Claire seems to be cuddled up with a young man who wasn’t Leo. Not only that, but she’s pregnant in these pictures. Had my plan worked already? Did Claire move on without my knowledge? I scroll through the pictures and notice a Rolex and decide to check out who this guy was. A quick search proves telling as I see his name is Nathan Carter. A newly-made millionaire who had done contracts with Leo in the past
I rummage through my drawers for a pair of swim trunks and see my phone ringing as I’m about to change. My ex-wife was calling and seeing as I had a task at hand, I ignored it and continued to get dressed. Jasmine instructed me to wear my Rolex for the photos to make my status known when the photos go live on the blogs. I’m guessing it had to do with Claire previously being with a billionaire. Sadly for her, I am no billionaire. My company had just sky-rocketed these last three years and I just became a millionaire. Not that that Claire minds, she seems more interested in me as a person than a financial security which is something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. She saw me as just a man. Not a businessman or a successful company owner - just me, Nathan.I check myself in the mirror as I head downstairs to find Claire in a beautiful bathing suit with matching kimono, newly provided by Jasmine and her beauty is remarkable. I also see Leo gawking at her. Guess I’d better be on my be
I get dressed and make sure my sister has my son as I prepare to leave to meet Claire to get more information about my new “lover” for our meeting with Charlotte tomorrow. I see Francisco watching me closely as I check my appearance in the mirror.“You will be careful, won’t you?” He asks as he shakes his leg restlessly.“There is nothing to fear, dear. I am not seeing Charlotte today. I am just meeting with Claire and her husband.” I grab my purse and kiss his cheek before walking out the door to say my farewells to my beautiful son. “You will be good for tante Dahlia, right my little heir?” I speak with a soft voice as I kiss my son and admire his laughter. “Thank you, sister.”“But of course. Franco’s is in good hands with his daddy and I. You do not have to worry.” I smile at her response as I head out the door and into my private car where my chauffeur is waiting patiently.“Where to, Ms. Julia?” He asks as I repeat the address provided to me in French. He nods and begins the j
I had just finished eating when there’s a knock at the door. Leonardo gets it as I clean the kitchen. I see a man come in. He was short, with round glasses, no hair and seemed to be in his early forties. I watch carefully as Leo shakes his hand with controlled excitement and leads him to have a seat in the living room. I finish cleaning, wipes my hands and head over to meet the notorious miracle doctor.“Ah! You must be Claire! A pleasure to meet you.” He says as he quickly stands to greet me and shake my left hand. Leo must’ve told him that my right is the one that’s disfigured. “Oh and congratulations! I wasn’t aware that you’re pregnant!” He was so bubbly and kind that my guard slowly melted away. “Please, have a seat. You must’ve traveled a long way to get here.” I gesture softly as he sits down and offers for me to sit next to him. I sit down just a few inches from his side and smile.“Please don’t worry about my travels. This is my passion. Leonardo said that you had been in a
Logan and Lucas. The names of my beautiful boys, under a tradition my family has kept through generations. Claire doesn’t know how happy that made me. The fact that she even considered my feelings about their names and my traditions - even after the situation I’ve gotten us into.I roll over to see it is five in the morning on my phone. The doctor should be here in two hours and soon after, Julia will be arriving to assist us in our pursuit to confuse Charlotte and remove her aggression towards Claire. I try to gently wake Claire as to not startle her.“The doctor should be arriving in two hours, Claire. Would you like to shower and get dressed?” I ask quietly as she stirs.“Okay, but I can’t get up. I need a little help.” She says groggily.“Okay. Don’t move, I’m coming.” I get up and walk over to her side of the bed, holding my arms out for her to adjust into as I gently roll her towards me and help her up. She grunts in discomfort. “Is that okay?”“Yes. It’s just a little hard to m
It’s close to midnight when Leo and I finally settle into bed. I decide to let him stay the night as it was late and I always felt worried about him being out late at these hours.“You said that there was someone coming to see me bright and early tomorrow. Is it Elena?” I ask as Leo settles into bed beside me.“No, but I can have Elena brought here first thing tomorrow. I’ve called a doctor who specializes in your condition and he’s confident that he can repair your hand and reverse the muscular atrophy that’s taken place. I’ve scheduled him for an evaluation to see what he can do.” He pauses as he watches closely for my reaction. I look at my splint with tunnel vision and hear his words echo through my mind. “What do you think?” He says quietly as he continues watching me.“I could carry my boys?” I ask with tears in my eyes.“Even at the same time.” He reassures me.“I could start my career again?” “Anything is possible.” Anything is possible? Is that really true?“You did all of t