“Is everything okay?” I hear Jasmine ask as she brings me some water.“Someone’s framed Matthew. They planted drugs in his apartment and made an anonymous tip to the police and he’s expecting a baby . .” The last part shocked me and saddened me more than the rest. Matthew would be a father soon and he had turned his life around, only to be put in jail and I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that this was all my fault.“He’s having a baby?” Jas was just as shocked. “Did it bother you to hear that?” I knew what she meant.“In a way, it did. I was excited for him but I felt this heavy feeling in my chest. It made me think about all I had lost. And the grief I never allowed myself to experience.” I look down at my hands as I feel the lump in my throat becoming larger. I was happy for him but part of me would always wonder what it would have been like to have my son.“It’s okay, babes. You can always try again. Maybe it just wasn’t your time yet.” She always said that God’s time was neve
I quickly send a link to my private investigator from Claire’s tablet and within minutes, I receive a call. “Hello?” “Hey boss, I got the picture you sent me and I’ve got some news.” He says as gravely. “What is it?” I feel the anger rising. “That’s our guy. I got the CCTV footage from when he fled the scene and got a good look at the guy. I was going to send you a picture in the morning but I see Claire has beaten me to it.” He remains silently waiting for my response. “Do you have a name?” I need more than just an ID. “Still working on it. I think all the attacks he committed on Claire, you and Charlotte were all connected but I still haven’t pieced them together. I did, however, find out that he is considered a hitman for hire.” That gave me an idea. If he was a grunt worker who considered money over morals then that’s just how we can find him - money. We just had to plant seed and see where it goes.“Put out a word to all known grunt workers that I have a job needing to be d
I hear the ringtone I had set for Leo when we had first began dating and rush to untangle myself from Francisco and the sheets. Francisco was fast asleep and knew not meddle in my affairs with Leo. I pick up. I knew he couldn’t forget about me. “Hi Leo, I’ve been waiting for your call.” I make sure to sound concerned and relieved to hear from him. Hoping he’d feel guilty about leaving without a word a few days ago. “Hey Charlotte, I’m surprised to hear that, especially since I’ve seen that you haven’t been home lately.” Shit. He did go home. I’m sure that little cleaning lady told him of my absence. I’d make her nothing but a fond memory once Leo and I are back together.“Oh. I had left to keep myself busy from worrying about you. The house feels empty while when you’re away.” I play innocent.“Well there’s something I’d like to call you about if you’re not busy.” He sounded serious and I didn’t like the way this was going.“I’m never too busy to talk to you.” That part was genuine
I allow myself a moment to breathe as I shower and try to wash away the image of my attacker’s face. Why had he attacked me? Why did he attack Leo and Charlotte all those years ago? Who was he? Who was he working for? I try to wrap my head around every possible answer but I’m left stumped. I knew Charlotte was no saint after what she’d done to me but she was also attacked by him so it couldn’t have been her - especially with what Leo told me had happened that day. Leo was the target and Charlotte saved him. It explains why he always chose her - guilt. She sacrificed herself for him. I turn the water off and as I exit the shower, I find Leo has taken Jasmine’s place and was standing there shirtless. “You think I can get a quick shower in? I don’t particularly like smelling like jail.” His attempt at a joke made me smile ever so slightly. Making light of the situation was better than sobbing with me. “Don’t drop the soap.” I retort softly as I move away from the entrance of the showe
I hear the softened defeat in Claire’s voice as she agrees to move back into our home - with me. I want to say that I felt victorious but that would be a stretch considering the circumstances. Claire wasn’t ready to come home nor was she ready to come back to me. It was simply an arrangement to ensure her protection.I would be lying if I said I wasn’t the slightest bit excited to see her move back in. With Claire there, the house wouldn’t feel as empty as it has these last few months and maybe after these ordeals are dealt with - she’d choose to stay. Maybe, she’d let fix what I had broken in her.I step out the shower and put on my boxers and find Claire practically hypnotized by her own reflection in the mirror. I make my way towards her and watch carefully as she doesn’t move. It was almost trance-like.“You may feel like a disaster but you’re still a brilliant woman.” I say as I kiss the top of her head and grab her hand. She follows in soft and silent foot steps as I lead her to
I wake up after the peak of the morning sun touches my face. Entangled in Leo’s arm and feeling at least a bit more at ease with the events of the last few days. Nothing had happened since my attacker had fled in that cab and the idea of Matthew’s innocence eased after Leo had spoken with Mason, the lead detective on my brother’s case.I sit up and think back to last night. I had given into the comfort of Leo and we had sex. He shared so much passion and I missed the feeling of his touch but I didn’t want him to believe this was an act of my forgiveness and return to him. We were in a good place and I might have ruined it with what I had done.Pushing my thoughts to the side, I decide it’s best to finish some blueprints in my suite and send them out for delivery. Work was a great distraction from everything that’s happened and I still had much to do. I feel Leo stir behind me.“Good morning” I hear from behind my shoulder in a rasped tone.“Sorry if I woke you.” He needed rest after t
I wave at Leo as he drops me off at my suite. Hoping he doesn’t notice how tightly I’m clutching my bag -out of nervousness. “Call me as soon as you’re ready and then we can head out to eat, okay?” He smiles as he placed a kiss on the top of my head. A strategic way to calm me.“I will.” If I can survive the pending heart attack I feel coming on. I walk into the building, trying to make it to safety quickly, and use my key fob to access the elevator. I wait patiently as I wait for it to reach my floor. I check over my shoulder before unlocking the door to my suite and breathe a sigh of relief as my auto locking door closes gently behind me. I allow a deep sign to escape as I slide down against the door and take a moment to breathe.I then pull out my tablet when I hear a small creak. It catches my breath as though the air had been sucked out of the room.Slowly, I look up and see a man turn in my seat behind my desk but it wasn’t the attacker I’d remembered.This man was dressed nic
I dropped off Claire and decided to get take a trip downtown to my office. I had a few meetings I’d neglected for Claire and with her wanting to finish some contractual blueprints in her suite, I thought it’d be best to focus on work until she was ready. I had called the restaurant on the way there and made a reservation. In fact, I rented out a whole section of the restaurant. Ensuring there would be a private area with no people so that Claire would be able to enjoy herself and be a bit more at ease. Once I arrived at the office, I began my first meeting with a potential contract and excused myself as my phone rang. I felt something was off. I had just dropped off Claire ten minutes ago? She couldn’t have finished her work that quickly. “Claire, is everything okay?” I listen carefully as I hear static on the other side and her interaction with an unpleasant voice. “Claire!” I try to reach out to her as I grab my office phone and dial 911. “911, what’s your emergency!” “My wi
I wake up early and head downstairs where I can smell an amazing breakfast brewing. I’m met in the hallway by Jas who seems to have woken from the same heavenly scents.“Wait, you’re not making breakfast?” She looks at me confusingly as I return the same glance back at her.“Jas, I can’t cook. I thought it was you.” I say with a shrug.“Well, I’m not that great of a host.” She shrugs as we both think and reach a moment of realization. Was Claire cooking? We rush down the stairs in unison to find Claire adorned with an apron that covers only the front of her pregnant belly as she takes some bacon off of the griddle. On the table, there is an array of foods. Waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, maple syrup and French toast. We watch in silence as we see her continue to pull food from the griddle and plate it. It isn’t until she tries to move the plates to the table that she notices us. She jumps for a moment and then lets out a small smile.“I didn’t know you were guys were standing there
I leave the hotel with more confusion than when I had arrived. Dalia had brought my ex-lover Julia. A woman I thought to be dead and she had brought her alive and well - carrying my son. I try making sense of it all as Enzo drives me back to the safe house to wait for the attorney to appear and collect payment.“Is everything alright, boss?” He asks as he drives.“No.” I respond blankly as I stare out the window, recounting what I had just witnessed.“I can go back alone and end this, if you’d like.” He offers as we continue driving.“No. No one is to touch Dalia without an order.” I say strongly.“What happened up there? I was almost certain you’d have killed her by now.” He asks.“She brought a gift for me. She brought her sister and my son.” I admit as we reach the house.“Julia’s alive?” He asks in shock. My men were aware of my relationship with her from the very beginning. An effort on my part to make sure she was also protected.“Yes. I saw her.” “We have an heir.” He smiles a
Tick. Tick. Tick.I watch the clock on the wall strikes an hour since my arrival and I’m thankful for the ticking of the hands being the only noise in my roomWhy would Leo put me here? I’m not crazy. Claire is the problem. I curl my knees up to my chest and hug them tightly as I sit in the luminous lighting against the cold wall touching my bed.“I have to get out of here.” I whisper to myself as if someone would even hear me.“You can leave these walls but I will never leave your side.” I hear the echo of my mother’s voice.“What the hell do you want from me? You’re dead. You’ve been dead.” I say in snarky tone as I look into her cold eyes. She stood at the end of my bed.“I want you to confess.” She says gravely.“What would I have to confess?” “That you killed your own mother.” “I’m not doing that.” The memory of a corpse was not going to convince me to confess to killing my mother. I turn away from her and face the wall as I lay down. “You don’t exist. You’re just a figment of
It’s late when I get a call from Chief Commissioner Mason.“Sorry to bother you, but I have some news. If it alright if I stop by?”“Of course.” I reply as I get up and wait for the front door bell. It had to be important if Mason was stopping by at this hour. Did something happen to Leo?I open the door the moment it rings and I see Mason waiting, I motion for him to come in and lock the door behind him. We walk over to the living room and sit down.“I didn’t bring juice this time since it’s late. But I did bring you a fruit cup.” He holds it out for me and I smile softly as I take it.“You’re lucky it’s close to juice.” He lefts out a small laugh at my response. “What’s going on?” “Well I got a call from Leo just an hour ago.”“Is he alright?” I interrupt.“Yes. Charlotte was in sort of manic episode and refused to leave his house. She threatened to kill you.” I catch my breath in my throat and feel a knot forming in my stomach.“W-why? I left Leo alone.” I stutter as I feel my bod
After my meltdown and discovering some things in Francisco’s past, I began hearing my mother’s voice again. She was haunting me and I knew I wanted to see Leo to calm myself. I drive the only car available to his house and knock on the door. Elena cracks the door open and tells me that Leo is not home. A answer I refused to accept. She stood in my way as much as Claire. I try shoving the door open but she slams it shut in response and locks it. Feeling defeated, I sit on the doorstep and stare at the pavement for what felt like eternity. Then I see Leo’s driver drop him off as he parked the town car and I wait for him to notice my presence. I expected him to at least be happy to see me but his face expressed nothing but disdain. He didn’t expect me or want me there.He tries to tell that he will never choose me and that it’s Claire - it’s fucking Claire. And the next thing I know, the Chief Commissioner is detaining me at Leo’s request and taking me to the car. How could Leo do this
I arrive at home and see an unknown vintage car is parked on my property. I was in no mood for company unless it was Claire’s. I send a photo of the license plate Mason and he asks that I remain inside as the vehicle belong to the mafia leader Francisco who has just escaped prison. But I see something even more shocking as I get closer to my front door. Charlotte is there sitting on the pavement outside my front door. Her hair is disheveled and her clothes are wrinkled. She looks to be a complete disarray. I text Mason back, letting him know that Charlotte was here and there was no sign of Francisco. “Charlotte?” I ask in disbelief as I approach the front steps. “Oh. Leo, I’ve been waiting for you to get back.” She looks to have been crying. “Are you okay?” I ask as she begins to stand. “No. I was thinking about what you said and I think you should reconsider. I would’ve waited inside but Elena refused to let me in.” “That’s because you’re not welcome here anymore.” I say coldly a
I missed sleeping in an actual bed as I stretch out my limbs and see it is the next morning. The attorney texted and confirmed his flight. Soon he’d arrive here, pay Charlotte’s father a visit and come to collect his payment but I had to sense in waiting for him. I needed to catch up to whatever Dalia had done while I was locked up.“Enzo!” I beckon my henchman and watch as he comes in.“Have you seen or heard anything about Dalia? Enzo was always on the avenue and overseeing our territories. If the streets were talking, he’d be listening.“Last notice I got was that she was staying at the Hilton hotel just downtown. I placed a few men there. They haven’t seen anything suspicious.” “Good. We’re going to pay her a visit today.” I smile lightly as I imagine the fear in her face as I come to find her. And for a second, I feel guilt. Her sister would be disappointed if she were here to witness all that had happened.I get dressed and have Enzo drive downtown. The drive is lengthy but I w
I see Nathan’s face line with confusion at the mention of Jordan. I knew our line of work wasn’t large and there must be something he must’ve heard about Jordan.I hear him question the name I had just mentioned.“Yes. I dated Jordan. He’s the owner or was the owner of a construction company here in the city and I had gone to architectural school with him years ago.” I explain.“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.” He seemed to be upset in his remembrance of that name.“Did you know Jordan?” I ask curiously.“Actually, yes. I did a job or two with him when he first opened his company. I thought he had a pretty good vision but come to find out, he’s been fucking my wife.” I could see the rage painted across his face. Jordan had overstepped once again and this time, he involved himself in someone else’s marriage.“I’m so sorry, Nathan. I didn’t know. Was this recent?” When had this started? From my understanding, he had been going through mediations and his divorce for jus
I peak downstairs as I hear the front door open. I hoped to see Claire had returned. I’ve taken a liking to her company. I see her come in with her husband behind her. And the from the looks of it, he didn’t enjoy my waiting. I come down the stairs casually and head to the kitchen. I grab myself a soda when I hear footsteps behind me.“Spying on my wife?” I hear Leo say from close behind me. I turn to see he is just an arms reach away.“I just wanted to make sure she made it back alright.” I say as I open my soda and take a drink.“Why wouldn’t she? She was with me.” His tone was unenthused.“Well, she disclosed her attacks. I felt it was only right to check on her.”“Is that all?” He asks presumptuously.“What do you mean?” “Well, I’ve heard the news that you’re going through a divorce and I just want to make myself clear when I say this - Claire is my wife. She is carrying my children and I won’t tolerate you disrespecting that.” He stands firm - assuming it’s an intimidation tacti