BECK- PRESENTI struggle to calm my nerves before I enter my home; the last thing I need is to blow a fuse before I get words out of her. I must remain logical, or this confrontation will get us nowhere. With a huge sigh, I open my door and walk in.I'm thinking about Sofia’s suggestion about fixing her house and hiring an entire security team for her protection when the sight before me chases all thoughts from my head. I have never supported the saying that men have a one-track mind, but the way mine segues towards erotica scares even me.I've seen Sofia doing yoga before and thought nothing of it. But seeing Beth bent with her butt in the air, in those leggings, does things to me. I watch like a creeper as she turns and folds into another equally provocative position. Is this what she does when I am away? Has my security team watched CCTV tapes of her doing this? The thought is oddly infuriating, so I turn to glare at the closest camera to me.“Beck!” Hearing her startled voice make
BETH- PRESENTWhat is going on? How did we go from there to where we are now? My skeptical heart warns me that this is just a diversion tactic, that he is doing this to take my mind off my anger; and I hate him for it. Unfortunately, my lady parts have other ideas, they don't mind. They want us to go right back to where we stopped when Sofia and Alex interrupted.My body trembles when he blows softly on the back of my neck. Do I have such little control over my libido? I don’t want this, I won't allow him to win. So why is my body sagging against his? Why have I resumed the nasty habit of sniffing him? But he smells delicious! If I could capture his essence and sell it as a fragrance, I'd be a millionaire!What am I thinking, I resume my struggle which only succeeds in rubbing me against his erection. He inhales sharply.“Do you wanna play?” He whispers into my ear.Nope. The remnants of my logic debates. If you allow him to distract you this time, you would never win any argument wit
BETH- PRESENTWhere does my naivety end? I am angry with myself. When will I consciously start making better and smarter decisions? I know the kind of man Beck is, he has shown his true colors time and time again. So why did this afternoon happen? Why is a part of me hoping that he would miraculously revert to the sweet child I knew him as? I silently pace in my room, cursing my stupidity. He did not promise me anything, just a haven from the crazy Terezo fans. Why then am I expecting more?My ringing phone is a welcome reprieve to my inner monologue that is leading me nowhere. Even though it’s an international number that I do not recognize, I answer the call anyway. Lately, I have been receiving hate mail and calls from Terezo fans, so I am usually more skeptical about calls. The fact that I’m looking forward to having a row with one of them is a testament to how angry I am.“Hello.” I insert forced cheerfulness in my voice.“Hey, Beth.” I am so unprepared to hear Alex’s voice that
BETH- PRESENTBeck unceremoniously reminded me this morning that tonight is his father’s ‘not so surprise party’; like my nerves would let me forget about it. His birthday is in two days, so they hope that he wouldn’t be expecting it today; especially because it is a working day.I have been avoiding Beck since our scene in his home office; not because I am ashamed of my actions or anything, but because Emma and I have been working tirelessly to build a case against him. For his part, he mostly acts as if I am not there and I am thankful for small miracles. So I am a little surprised when he approaches me while looking good enough to eat in his black three-piece suit, that my heart skips a beat.The last thing I want is to be in the same room with Beck’s family who mostly thinks the worst of me. No doubt Teresa will be there, I am not ready to face her, all things considered. Worse, Alex will not be there. Emma wants me to act naturally like nothing is going on, so I have to attend wh
BECK- PRESENTI will never admit to this, even though Rosa has accused me of the same several times this evening, but the reason I'm waiting at the entrance is not to greet the guests like I have been claiming to do. I'm here because I am waiting for her.Each time someone approaches the entrance, I'm eager to see if she is the one; impatient to see her, and how she looks in the dress I selected. It was uncharacteristic of me, but I wanted her to fit in. I know tonight will be hard on her, and that I should have introduced her to the family before this. But I have been busy, avoiding her, and with work.“You look ravishing tonight,” I whisper to her when we get in an elevator together. Her cheeks redden, but I can't tell if it's from my compliment, because she just glares at me. “Try to take it easy tonight, no need to put yourself out.”“Not putting myself out involves my not being here. So except you're offering to take me home, to my house, your words mean nothing to me.” She didn’
BETH- PRESENTWhat a chore! I have smiled so much tonight, my face hurts. I can’t believe Beck abandoned me to go dance with Teresa. I can; but how could he! Domenico is being a good sport; I assumed he would lay into me like I can see he is itching to do, the minute he saw me. But he doesn’t and I can’t help but think it has something to do with Mr. Vaughn Pierce who is still glaring at me.“So tell me, Elisabeth, how are you finding the party?” The man with the thick French accent asks.“I’m having the time of my life, sir,” I reply with dry humor. Domenico’s eyes settle on me briefly and then return to the argument he had been having.“I bet you are.” Mr. Vaughn Pierce chips in, voice dripping with condescension. “You must feel like Cinderella at the ball.”“Hardly sir.” I fire back, unwilling to let him walk all over me, “this isn’t my first rodeo. Although sir, I must admit that I am surprised that you know your Disney princesses. I assume you spend a lot of time indulging your d
BECK - PRESENTWhatever Domenico Caliri wants, he gets. I have accepted this reality, and have even found ways to bypass his usual shenanigans. But how do you boycott your father’s retirement party?Alessia is being a raging a bitch, no surprise there, and I have been avoiding her. It is little consolation that Dante is here. Sofia, of course, hits the drinks the minute she arrives. I am surprised that Alessia managed to get her to attend. She must have blackmailed her somehow, why else would she be here? When I search for both women, I immediately notice them glaring daggers at the dance floor.Beth is dancing with Dante, a carefree smile on her face as they talk. I admire the balls on that woman, creating a place for herself in my hostile world. I am not ready for the stab of jealousy I feel towards my brother though; not because of anything romantic, but because she is comfortable with him. She’s never that way with me. I want to match over to him and claim her from him, steal her
BETH- PRESENTWomb for hire! Is that how low these people think of me? I’m done! Done putting up with this foolishness. All night, judgmental eyes followed me but did I complain? No! I took it like a champ; but no more! I’m done trying to change the opinion these people have about me; people that it is unlikely I would come across after today.I silently fume while I scrub the vileness of Bastien off my hands in the restroom. How did my life come to this? I would gladly trade this nightmare for a lifetime of taunts from Mia and Stacy, at least I know that they acted out of jealousy.When my hands begin to shrivel, I reluctantly dry them and walk out of the restroom only to bump into none other than Alessia.“Pardon me.” I apologise, trying to walk around her, but she grabs my sleeve instead. My stomach churns at the memory of the last time a woman from their world accosted me in the restroom, but I square my shoulders instead and face her. God, I cannot stomach any more drama tonight;
CHASE- PRESENTThe tiny bundle in my arms squirms for the millionth time and I adjust its weight in my arms. From the bundle, a sneeze escapes and the blonde sitting beside me turns to me with a smile. She coos at Rebecca Caliri and the baby regards her in turn with wise blue eyes.“Isn't she pretty?” She asks me. Before I can reply, a voice from behind shushes both of us.Oh God, get me out of here, I silently scream in my head as the wedding march begins playing on the piano. Elizabeth is a vision in white, walking down the aisle. The backyard has been transformed, lit with several blinking lights, shining in the darkness. The tree house has been transformed with roses of various colours rioting in their brilliance and fairy lights.The stars are shining brightly, and one of the reporters hanging around the premises, waiting to get a picture of the event, even commented on their brilliance. According to him, even the heavens are in support of this union.So why am I here holding a b
BECK- PRESENTI know the jig is up the minute Rainbow jumps to her feet and runs out, shouting,“I can't do this.”. I don’t like pity, but I pity myself as I watch her leave, feeling empty.“Go after her.” Chase prods me. “Go now, or I will.”I understand what he means, so I take off after her. I do not run, but take slow strides, using the time to organise my thoughts. There is only one place I expect her to go, so I go in that direction. True to my assumption, she is at the foot of our old treehouse. I had also renovated it, and the stairs are sturdy enough for her to climb, but she doesn't go up them, just looks up.“When did you know that I was pretending?” She asks me without turning to me.“I figured it out last week. Even though you claimed to have amnesia, you were hostile to me. I could tell that you blamed me for your accident, and after Teresa confessed, I understood why. I am so sorry, I never imagined that she was crazy.”“I did, I've been there.” She finally turns to me.
BETH- PRESENTTeresa attempts to murder Billionaire’s baby mama.Billionaire heiress committed to mental facility.Terezo fan club disbanded, leader faces lawsuit.Encore magazine temporarily shuts down, promises to bounce back.Dr. Lara Kent, arrested… medical license suspended.Teresa Vaughn Pierce put in a straight jacket after suicide attempt.The headlines are merciless, almost as merciless as the times I was dragged online. It is poetic justice, but I take no pleasure in her current suffering. As someone who has loved Beck for years, I can understand how she became obsessed with
BECK- PRESENTNever has the sight of Alessia comforted me so. But there she is, poised like a Valkyrie ready to go to war as she stands over Teresa. I quickly dart to the gun and kick it farther out of her reach. At the back of my mind, I am thinking about the fact that Alessia, one of the people I was sure hated me the most, had just saved my life.“Wait,” I frown, “baby brother?” I arch a brow at her and she flushes.“Well, I am older. Pappy did place you in my care.” She replies, studiously avoiding my gaze. Despite the situation, I burst into laughter which causes Teresa to scream.“Don't laugh! I was supposed to follow you into the afterlife. We're supposed to have our happily ever after in our next life! Why isn’t anything going my way!&rd
BECK- PRESENTMy face must look as dark as I feel because everyone goes out of their way to avoid me when I resume back to work. It's been over a week since I took my impromptu leave to be beside Rainbow. Now that she's awake I have no reason to be by her bedside, or so Mary insists; especially if she doesn't remember me, and for some reason, my presence seems to agitate her. The doctors say that amnesia is common with head injuries and that I should be patient, but patience is not one of my strongest suits. The last thing I feel is patience.The first person I see when I make it into my office is Alessia. What is she doing here and why in my office so early in the morning? I'm a bit surprised to see concern on her face, it's not an emotion I am used to seeing her direct my way."Are you okay?" She asks.
BETH- PRESENTSomeone is trying to kill me. I panic and try to escape, but everywhere is pitch black, so dark, I cannot see my feet under me. I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't work.What is going on? I can't move my body. I want to escape this lonely dark place. I can feel the passage of time, but I don't know exactly how much time has passed. Somebody help me! I call out with my mind and, like an answer to my plea, I hear a voice."Hey, baby!” I feel hands run through my hair and I feel a mixture of happiness, anger, and anxiety. I have to get away from those hands, someone is trying to kill me. I'm near hysteria when the voice comes again.“The doctors say that our daughter is fine and that you are too. They put you in a coma so that your brain can heal;” Daughter?
BECK- PRESENTWhen was the last time you saw a grown man cry? I don't cry because it is unsightly and makes me feel emasculated. But seeing Beth hooked to life support breaks me in ways I didn't think possible. It brings back memories of my childhood and my mother’s accident. That feeling of waiting helplessly for a miracle can be overwhelming. In my mother’s case, she had been rushing home to watch a recital of my latest hobby when she got into the accident. In this case, Beth had been running away from me.“Why don’t you speak to her?” My blurry gaze settles on Mary. “The doctor says that she can hear us, and I'm sure she would like to hear from you.”It's been three days since the accident, three days in which I have only left her side to do the bare minimum needed to survive. My once immacula
BECK- PRESENTVivid images of days spent in this place flash like a kaleidoscope. I remember Mary, she had filled the void that the loss of my mother had created. I remember goofing around with my brothers, Jace and Embee. Shining brighter than the colors she used to wear is Beth, my Rainbow. I remember cuddling in the treehouse trading stories with her. I remember everything; every laugh, tear, argument, and banter.Before I can collect my thoughts and sort through the images rushing through my head, I hear the sound of a gun cocking behind me.“Turn around slowly and put your hands where I can see them.” A shaky voice instructs. What is going on? I comply and begin turning slowly. “Don’t try anything funny, or I will shoot.”When I turn around, I see a frail-lo
BECK- PRESENTI drive to the address that Mr. Phil gives to me brooding throughout the drive. That snake had purposely taken Beth away from me just to provoke me, I know this. Why then did I beg with such desperation for him to tell me where she is?An emotion that had been nagging me all evening shoves its way into consciousness. I am not a man that has ever lied to myself, and I am not going to start now. I will admit that Elizabeth fascinated me from the start. Meeting her had given me a strong sense of deja vu; and after finding out that we have a history, it had made me feel closer to her. I will also admit that I had been too cowardly to delve deep into the history we had, rather I skimmed the surface of the report I had been given by my security agent because a part of me had been scared of what I'd find.But she intrigues me. I'd