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
For the next three weeks, Aspen drowned Alessa in meaningless work. “Get a dozen of all the flowers you can think of. I want to see them before I decide on one.” “Make wedding invitations. I already have them but I want backups.” “Steam all my clothes. I want to look perfect the week of my wedding. “Get me a list of this makeup. I have a few test runs…” and the list went on and on. However, it did help that keeping busy meant not seeing Kyle. Though she wondered how much of that was her choice. It almost seemed like Kyle didn't want to see her. He was never outside of his room these days. Until finally three days before the wedding James added something to the list. “Can you go to this address and pick up Kyle’s tux? He has a fitting today but won’t be able to come home after.” He coldly asked while Alessa was heading up to the main room to follow more of Aspen’s instructions.“Okay,” Alessa meekly said. When she arrived at the shop it smelled like sandalwood, and the baby blue wall
Dinner was a somber affair at the mansion. No one talked besides Aspen yapping about her last trip to Milan. Alessa meanwhile threw daggers at Kyle, still upset about their interaction from a few hours ago. He in turn smirked at her. When everyone had downed their meals and cleared out. Alessa and Kyle were left alone. Alessa, still staring, Kyle, still smirking. Till finally Kyle broke the standoff and said, “I was thinking of turning in early. When will you come by?”“Keep wishing Danny! After what you said to me—I have half a mind to move out.” Alessa yelled.“Fine. Leave. Move into the penthouse apartment. I’ll join you.”Alessa slammed her hands onto the table and got up. Kyle did the same thought with less aggression. “How can you pretend like nothing happened? Don’t you remember what you said to me?”“I do. If you don’t, I’ll repeat it.”“You know nothing about me.”“I know plenty. I know what makes you tick. If you know what I mean.” Kyle smirked, eyeing Alessa up and down, p
Turns out it was almost the last thing Alessa did. Alessa got to the PHAT office and metaphorically chained herself to her work. She looked at the column and started reading it. It talked about a hat some actress was wearing at some premiere and how it was a mishap of the century. As she read, her phone buzzed. Kyle was sharing his stream of consciousness with her and also pictures of his bed, him shirtless, and other body parts she had just seen hours ago. To distract herself Alessa became highly critical of the way Fashion Fever was written and moved some periods and commas around, then came to its initial spot, then back again. She then changed whole sentence structures and the meaning of the whole article started to change. Now the hat was the boldest choice anyone has made this century—oh well. Around 10 pm Alessa gave up ignoring Kyles's messages and gave herself permission to look at his latest message, a picture of him making dog eyes at her. She couldn't help but giggle.
The next few hours, days, weeks, maybe even months passed with Alessa being in and out. when she was up she was unable to move or eat or go to the bathroom. Most days she was too drugged up to remember. Until finally, the haze slowed down a bit. She started to remember conversations she had with James or Madison a few days earlier, though she didn't know how much earlier. Then, one day she remembered being so conscious that she knew she had a third eye surgery coming up in a few days. Slowly the time-traveling from one day to the next started decreasing. She even began moving. Every Wednesday or Thursday someone came to get her out of bed. Help her learn to walk. But what really helped her fully come back was her conversation with her doctor. He was younger than she expected when he pulled up a chair next to her bed and checked her heart rate. Then he asked the room to be cleared. So James, Madison, and John slowly shuffled out, Madison keeping an eye on Alessa as she did. “How
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