“Are you refusing?” Kyle asked.Alessa took a deep breath. Her words stuck in her throat due to confusion. She wouldn’t have ever expected Kyle to ever give in to Jason. “Why, that’s all I am asking. I thought you hated me. Why would you pay for me? Go to someone else.” Alessa demanded.“He doesn’t have anyone else but you, apparently. Should I call and ask? James talked to him last time.” “James? You made him do your dirty work?” Then she whispered to herself, “And he actually did it? Damn it, James.” “Those clothes,” he pointed at the box in her hand, “on now!” Then he moved out of the way so Alessa had a clear path to the bathroom.“Kyle!” “Let me call your pimp.” Kyle flipped his phone out into his hand. Alessa placed her hand on it. “This shouldn’t be new to you, right? Since you're his only girl, you must be used to this?”How can Alessa tell him that she had never looked at anyone else since then, and she had no plan to do so?“You want to do it this way? Ruined everything
John and Kyle had their fill of drinks as Madison and Alessa sipped on water. John sang loudly as Kyle cheered him on. Kyle had paid Martha a nice chunk of money to make sure they had the bar to themselves. “I am getting married!” John finished once he was done with his performance as he climbed onto the bar, dancing to no music. “You know, I can get used to cheap liquor. It tastes quite good. “That’s good. You might need to get used to it.” Madison softly said. “What?” Alessa inquired further, but Madison just gave her a tight-lipped smile and shook her head.“Let me get this guy to the hotel. I am also very sleepy. See you tomorrow at the church, maid of honor?” Madison said, getting up. “What about Kyle?”“He paid for you, so you deal with it!” Madison shrugged.“Paid who?” Alessa asked but Madison and John were already staggering out. Alessa then turned her attention to Kyle who was sleepily sitting on the same bar stool he tormented her from all day. She had no choice but t
Madison had asked Alessa to wear a black dress so as a good maid of honor she followed the instructions. She wore a black flowery halter dress she had and tied her red hair with an equally black bow. Kyle had spent the night in the bar and must have snuck out before Martha started her day because he was nowhere to be seen. Martha, who still believed that Alessa was working as one of Jason’s girls, made several comments about Alessa’s night with Kyle so Alessa assumed he left before Martha even got to the bar.Alessa had the day off today, and it was good because she needed it for what she had planned. She took Martha's car to drive to the airport, which was at least an hour away. This also required her to ignore all of Madison's phone calls. She waited for almost an hour before her complaining guest hopped in her car. “This is what he sent, an almost broken minivan to pick me up?” She moaned as soon as she got inside the car.“This is a secret wedding, remember?” Alessa reminded he
Alessa hurriedly turned towards Kyle and the boy. She saw a hole in the shirt on Kyle’s arms and blood, and she yelped. Kyle meanwhile was fighting the blonde boy to gain control of his gun. The gun shot a few more shots, but fortunately, they didn’t hit anyone still in the room.“What are you doing, get out!” Kyle yelled at her, his voice strained. Another shot was fired, it hit a bottle in the back of Alessa. “Now!”“No!” She yelled. “Sir, please. Put the gun away.” The blond kid said nothing. “Do you want to get in more trouble than you already are? You shot a billionaire?” “Wh—what? Who?” His eyes flashed at Kyle. Then his eyes widened at the gunshot wound on Kyle’s arm. He shoved Kyle aside and grabbed Alessa. He had the gun pointed at her temple and her neck under his grip. “Don’t come closer to me or I will shoot her.” Kyle backed away with his hands raised, not even winching even though Alessa was sure this action was causing him pain. “Don’t do anything stupid!” That was a
It was later at night. The light from the sun and the cop cars were all gone now. Mark’s feeble attempt to scam Kyle out of money was easily squashed. Now, Kyle and Alessa sat on a fence made of wooden logs that separated the bar from its neighboring establishment facing each other. Both their hands intertwined. Kyle’s thumb rubbed Alessa’s. They had been there all day.After James had taken Aspen to a hotel at Alessa's request. Alessa decided to spend time with the love of her life. For however many hours she was allowed. “What happens after today?” Kyle asked after kissing her hand. “I am more interested in what happens tonight.” She giggled, getting closer to him and kissing his neck softly. She felt him swallow. “I was thinking of thanking the man who saved my life.” She gently touched the bandage on his gun wound. “How exactly were you—“ Alessa slipped her bridesmaids dress down her shoulder exposing her bare shoulders. “Oh, I see.” Kyle’s voice quivered. He swallowed hard aga
It was a mad dash the next day. Kyle had warned Alessa that if she wasn’t packed and ready to go by six in the morning, he was going to call the whole thing off, so Alessa had packed all her belongings the night before and was ready to go. So when Kyle showed up to her room—ten minutes early— Alessa was ready. She only had one small bag of things to take anyway.“That’s all you're bringing? You know you're moving into your permanent home, right?” Kyle demanded.“That’s all I have,” Alessa informed. “I’ll get you all the stuff you want once you mine,” Kyle said, though his tone wasn’t light-hearted. It was more a warning, a threat. “Kyle I don’t think Aspen—““I don’t want to hear it. I am not a pawn you get to play so I do exactly what you want me to. I am a person. You’ve now used sex twice to manipulate me. You don’t get to call the shots anymore.” He earnestly cut her off. Then he grabbed her bag and her hand and they made their way out. Kyle made no effort to talk to Alessa as
Kyle didn’t come up till nighttime. Alessa pretended to sleep when he did. She was afraid if she was awake, they would get intimate. Kyle didn’t sleep on the bed and Alessa heard him make his way to the couch by his desk. Alessa stuck her head up slightly to verify and got caught. “You're up?”Alessa sighed but didn’t answer him and put her head down. “Well, today didn’t go well. Still, I stood my ground with him. I told him I love you and that no matter what, I’ll find a way to be with you.” Alessa bit her lips. Why was he so adamant about being with me, she thought.“I want you not to worry. We’ll be together in the end. I’ll fight for it.”“I want to talk to Uncle Frank myself.” Alessa finally broke her silence. “Why? He isn’t going to—““I don’t care. Don’t I have a say in this? You're already forcing me to sleep here.”“Forcing? We had a deal!” Kyle yelled.“Which you're backing out of.”“I am not. I never agreed to your stipulations. I agreed to Aspen’s, and I have no probl
That afternoon, Alessa was back in her dungeon room and so thankful for it. However, it didn’t help that her neighbor—aka James—was giving her the cold shoulder. Regardless, she thought, boy was it nice to be home. That was until Aspen found her. Alessa, as she unpacked her very little belongings into the same cabinet, heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, she came face to face with Aspen. Her nose pinched. “It’s disgusting down here,” she scoffed.“Can I help you?” Alessa said, rolling her eyes.“Yes, you can actually. I need help with the wedding. I want you to help me.” Aspen folded her hands over her chest.“You do realize I spent the night with your fiance right? I may not be the best person to be involved in your wedding planning.”“I see this more as a punishment for you.”Aspen curtly said. “the man of your dreams gets ready to make someone else his wife, and you’ll be helping plan that day!”“Punishment? I was the one rooting for you two. Why do I need to be punish
5 years later… “Put the flowers right there.” Alessa directed her oldest, now four-year-old daughter, Melissa. “You put the flowers right next to hers.” She told her youngest son, Ross, almost three years old to do the same. Then she placed the flowers in her hand on the grave as well. “Thank you for looking over me, for looking over us,” she prayed. Urging her kids to do the same. They loosely repeated their mother. Tears were starting to well up in Alessa's eyes. “Sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve been here.” “Don’t cry. It’s okay. He is looking down and smiling at how far you’ve come.” Madison said putting her hands on Alessa’s shoulder. “He is thankful you came into my life,” Alessa said. “You're the reason I have all of this.” She pointed at her two kids. “Kyle had something to do with this.” Madison laughed. “What did I have something to do with it?” Kyle joined the cluster which included Madison, John, and their four kids. Aspen and James. Alessa and their two ki
Kyle took her hands as soon as Alessa got to him. “We are all gathered here today to join this okay-ish man and this wonderful lady.” James started. Kyle glared back at him. James cleared his throat. “Ok sorry.” He added. “The couples I hope have written their own vows because this is as far as I’ve got in my speech.” Kyle gave James a look of disbelief but he nodded and Alessa, who wasn’t told they were doing this, blankly stared back. Kyle took out a piece of paper out of his tux pocket and began reading, as Alessa began panicking. “Alessa, from the moment I met you, I knew you were my person.” “Took you long enough to admit it.” James quibbled. Alessa agreed with a small nod and this helped easy her nervousness. Kyle glared back once more at James. Then Kyle continued, “I know the journey here wasn’t a straight line. I am not sure it was ever a curved line. We’ve been to hell and back and somehow back again. It was more than most people see in a lifetime, but today, a
Alessa ran down to the fifth floor, where the elevator was stuck, and met with a cluster of firefighters. “Move. Move. Move.” They all shouted as someone fiddled with a box full of wires next to the elevator. “Kyle!” Alessa said. It looked like the elevator was a room that had fallen ¾ into the ground. You can see the top half of the elevator and Kyle, the second half was hidden underneath the floor. “Hey babe. This is my bride.” Kyle proudly told the firefighters. “Sorry for this mess Miss. We’ll get your groom out shortly.” One of the helmeted men said. Alessa kneeled down so she and Kyle were eye to eye. Kyle rested his chin on the ground and Alessa rested her forehead on his. “I thought something horrible happened!” Cried Alessa. “I am okay. Wish I could just jump out of here but I’ve been advised against it.” Kyle pecked Alessa’s lips. “I did learn a lesson in all of this.” “Yeah? What’s that?” Alessa asked, raising her eyebrows. “My wife is always right. Learned the
It was a week later. Alessa looked perfect as she examined herself in her bathroom full mirror. Her lace white dress hugged her in all the right places and fell in a circular pattern around her legs. Alessa walked out to meet the girls. As soon as she did, Madison handed her her white and pink bouquet. “Thank you!” Alessa smiled at her. The girls—Madison and Aspen—were in the penthouse, in Alessa’s room. The herd of people who usually fix Alessa's hair and makeup had already done their thing and she was now just waiting for Kyle. He of course decided to work today of all days despite Alessa warning against it, saying, “With everything going on, work did fall on the back burner. I’ll just run to work and be ready by the time we have to say our vows.” “I think you should put your hair up. The ceremony is outside, and it’s windy and cloudy today.” Madison warned back on the couch she had been sitting on as Matthew cooed in agreement in her lap. “It looks better curly and out like i
Alessa and Kyle walked all around the venue to ended up by a hidden back door. Kyle led Alessa up a set of stairs until they ended up at a balcony. The same balcony they had their first kiss at. “No one else is allowed up here,” Kyle said as they walked over so they could be under the string lights. “But what about the party? Shouldn’t I mingle? Get introduced as your fiancée?” Alessa asked. “There is time for that. I just wanted us to spend some time together. I haven’t had the chance to see you alone since the night you told me we were having a baby.” Kyle sat Alessa down on one of the many scattered chairs. He took a seat right across from her, still holding onto both her hands and playing with her ring. “Won't hiding out on the roof of your party interfere with your message, what was it? Rebrand and reassure. Camelot, a family business again!” Alessa asked. “Eh, let it. One party isn’t going to change the damage Frank did to Camelot’s reputation.” Kyle shrugged and kissed Al
Madison was back. Alessa was really excited about that but there was just one problem, she and Aspen couldn’t get along. Kyle and John had decided with everything they have all been through the past few years, they wanted to have a party to celebrate, a masquerade ball to be specific. “It will be for my birthday this time. Lord knows we need a celebration.” Kyle had said. Now, Alessa was stuck dress shopping with a very pregnant Madison, who was hormonal, and Aspen who didn’t hold her tongue. Alessa twirled around in all different dresses in front of a large mirror while the girls commented behind her. “I like the white one better. You are going to be a bride eventually after all.” Aspen said as she sat next to Madison on a couch the fitting room held. “She can’t wear white for the ball, it isn't her wedding that day. It’s just a ball. Wear this blue dress. That’s the color you wore last time.” Madison said pointing at the dress Alessa was currently adorning. Alessa gave anothe
Alessa had just finished telling her side of the story to the cop who was kind enough to come to the penthouse to ask her instead of making her go into the police station. She was still in bed. After Kyle carried her into their bed last night, she had slept for close to 17 hours. Kyle had been by her side the whole time. He had just left now when the cop had asked him to. She told him all about Jason threatening her, almost rapping her, about Jackie’s situation and help. She also gave detailed descriptions of how Jason and she got into a fight after he pointed a gun at Jackie. “After sending Cindy away I tried to get the gun out of his hands—I don’t know who pulled the trigger,” Alessa said.“What about Frank? Did he have a gun?” “No, he didn’t.” “Why did you shoot him then?”“Because he kidnapped me.” Alessa matter-in-factly said.“So it was revenge?” The cop asked.“No, it was fear. Fear that he was going to hurt me or Cindy or Jackie.”“A handicapped old man?”“A man who orches
“Come on now Jackie. You are supposed to be on our side. That was the only way we could ensure that little Cindy was safe.” Jason said. “At least for now. Eventually, she could work for me. Say at the age of 15? How does that sound?” Jason laughed. “Wouldn’t you agree Frank?”A few seconds later Frank hobbled into view. “Keep your perversions to yourself.” Frank moaned. “Jackie, go tie up Alessa. I am giving you one more chance.”“Stay away from her and stay away from my daughter.” Jackie gripped the gun harder.“Jason. You like touching the filth. Tie her up.”“My pleasure!” Jason said, moving towards Alessa. Alessa hid Cindy behind her. Jackie fired a shot but missed Jason. “You little bitch.” Jason yelled, turning his attention towards Jackie. “Jackie, Jackie. I need you to relax. You forget, I still have Adam tied up to some really bad stuff. It can put him away in jail for a very long time.” Frank warned.“I don’t care about him. He probably deserves it. He lied to me. Now all
“See this is why you leave things for girls to do. Just so you know James, we find out anything anyone is hiding from us.” Aspen said. Aspen, James, and Kyle were back at The Milton. Aspen had been feverishly researching for Jacqueline Hue on her phone.“What did you find?” Kyle said before James could defend himself. “From your FBI friend, we know she got arrested in Ohio, which is where she had her child, and where, up till now she was living. Till Adam got in trouble and he probably hid her and his child away somewhere.” Aspen hashed out. “We already know this, what else.” “Right, but Jackie—that’s the name her friends and now enemies call her—has an Instagram. Of course, it’s private but the girl world is small. Someone I met on a business trip a few years ago follows her. I reached out to her and she shared some pictures, and guess what I see.” Aspen turned her phone towards the boys. On it was a picture of Jackie. She looked young there, but the picture looked old. In it, sh