Avery looked at Jacob, angry that he could give him such a morning surprise but Jacob only shrugged his shoulders.“Not my fault.” He replied. “She insisted.” And then, he walked out of the room, leaving Avery to deal with the girlfriend he had lied to his family he broke up with, just to prepare himself for the agreement with Margery.“Well, look who it is”. Jasmine said, walking over to him. To his surprise, she slid her hand behind his head and gave him a sultry kiss on the lips, one that lingered for a moment and one he definitely enjoyed.“I saw you went out with someone new last night.” She said, using her hand to clean off her lipstick from his lips before touching his hair. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed a date for the party last night? I would have flown back to the city for it.”Avery moved away from her hold and sat behind his desk, crossing his legs while wondering just how to tell her he was a married man now.“I didn’t want to bother you.” He replied.“I was surprise
“What do you mean by wedding?” Margery asked her daughter, turning to look at Avery immediately. Avery on the other hand quickly gestured with a nod of his head to Jacob and the latter escorted the other men out of the office.“Is this what you do?” Zoe continued, clearly angry to the bones, making Avery wonder just what the hell to say to get her to calm down.“Calm down, Zoe.”“Was this how you agreed to sell me off? In this room? Like I was a piece of property?” She asked her mother.“What the hell are you talking about, Zoe?” Margery asked.“You promised me that there would be no wedding.” She screamed at the top of her lungs at her mother. “You said sign the fucking papers and get married. I told you that I wasn’t in the right state to exchange vows with anybody or walk down the aisle, but you never listen, mother.”Okay, it was indeed time for him to intervene, unless the fiery slim woman would be pulling at her mother’s hair.“Calm down, Zoe.” Avery said, moving closer to stand
Avery stared at his brother, breathing heavily over him, still daring him to repeat the ridiculous statement he just made. Aaron always tried to get on his nerves and using his problem to mock him was just so much he could take.“I didn’t say anything wrong.” Aaron said, shifting on his seat and giving everyone on the table a surprised look. “I only asked a question. Why in the world are you triggered?”Avery made a move with his shoulder until his mother stopped him, placing a hand on his palm. “That’s enough, Avery. Sit down.” Felicity said to her son with an ounce of fear in her heart. No one wished to mess with him when he was pissed because he could do more than breathe down your neck.“You could ask your son to stop making ridiculous statements, mum.” He replied, while Aaron shook his head at him.“You don’t know what the hell you put us through last night with your act. We were almost mocked, Avery.”“Getting mocked will be the least of your problems if you dare repeat what you
Zoe couldn’t believe her eyes as she struggled to release herself from Avery’s grasp. The look in his eyes screamed danger and if she didn’t do anything about it, he was going to kill her.“Let go, you are hurting me.” She pleaded with him, her eyes becoming teary due to fear and the feeling of getting strangled to death.She tried her best to search for anything to use against him on the bed, but couldn’t find any. Even the pillows were far from her and by the way, what would she be using the pillow for?“Let go, Avery.” She pleaded again, closing her eyes from the pain and terror.“Who the hell are you? and why are you in my room?” He asked her.Who was she? She wondered. This was the same question he had asked her at the party, only that this time, his voice wasn’t flirty. This voice was dangerous and it belonged to a dangerous man.“I am your wife, Avery.” Zoe replied, freeing herself from her thoughts and concentrating on the situation at hand. “I am your wife, please let me go.”
Mia walked casually into the room and sat down on the king-sized bed, before looking at Zoe in the rudest manner. The girl sure had a lot of learning to do when it came to manners. Being extremely rich doesn’t make one this bratty.“Why were you screaming in the house like you saw a ghost or something?” She asked and Zoe shook her head.“You were here all this while?”“Of course.” She replied. “Avery asked me to come, so that you don’t think something is wrong. And I can see why he would want that.” She added, giving Zoe a grim look.Zoe walked to her and looked her in the eye. She didn’t sit, she just hovered over the eighteen- year- old girl. “Something happened last night.” She said. “And I was very scared. I need an explanation. Is Avery crazy?”“No, why would you think that? By the way, you claimed you dated my brother before marrying him.” Mia replied. “You should know about what happened last night and why it happened.”Zoe closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Just why the he
Zoe didn’t respond to his greeting. Hell, she had nothing to say to him and she wasn’t sure she had found the voice to speak to him yet. As she stood, Mia strolled into their space and Avery turned to his sister.“All done.” Mia said as she leaned on the wall, looking at the both of them.“Thank you, Mia.” He replied and to Zoe’s surprise, walked up the stairs and to the room they shared. Zoe opened her mouth in shock before turning to look at the teenager who only shrugged her shoulders.“What do we call that personality?” Zoe asked, forcing a chuckle out of her. She really might start to like Mia.“That is the what you have to deal with personality.” Mia replied, before walking out the door.Zoe shook her head, still confused at Avery’s reaction to her. She angrily took the stairs and pushed open the door of their room, not minding if he was naked or not. Thankfully, he wasn’t. He stood by the bedside, searching for something in the drawer of the bedside table.“Don’t you have anyth
Avery sat at his desk the next morning, his chair facing the window and backing the door of the office. He had hurriedly left the house just so he didn’t have to speak to Zoe. Last night was weird enough and he was tired of having weird moments with her.She was scared of him and didn’t want him near her. Yes, he understood why she would be, but the fact that it affected him pissed him off. He never used to care what anyone thought of him. When he had married her, he wasn’t expecting to be emotionally attached to her. Not this fast at least.Maybe sleeping in the same bedroom was too much. Maybe it was time they had their different spaces. For him, it would stop all emotional attachments and for her, it would keep her safe.From himself.The door to his office opened and he turned his chair to see Aaron stroll casually into the office, an annoyed look on his face. Avery smiled. He was having a bad day already and it wasn’t even noon yet. That actually made him feel good.“Fire her.” A
‘Avery Trent set to marry actress Jasmine Rodriguez’ Zoe stared at the television, mouth agape. Her husband was on the screen, dressed in suit kissing a woman that wasn’t her. Not that they had shared a kiss before, aside the meaningless one in the elevator the first day. But what the hell was that headline? Did Avery plan to marry another woman that wasn’t her? She remembered the name Jasmine had been said during her first meeting with his family but Avery said he had broken up with her already. Zoe shook her head and was about to turn off the television when the sound of feet coming her way took her attention. She turned to see Mia dressed in a very short dress, walk into the sitting room. For someone tall and slender, she does know how to wear ridiculously small clothes. Zoe turned fully to give her attention and Mia’s eyes flew to the television. “Ohh.” She exclaimed. “Looks like you will be getting a co-wife.” Then she looked at her, wearing a funny look. “I hope you have no
Zoe went round the little church Avery had picked for them in her simple floral white dress. She had pleaded with him that she didn’t want anything extravagant so he had done his best to get something small in the province close to their vacation home in Maples.Everything was finally going on well with her life. She and Avery were now in a place that she could never have imagined and they were going through life together. Sometimes he sends Aaron messages, to assure him that they were still brothers, but as usual, Aaron ignores them. As a couple, the both of them had visited Francis’s grave together in Maples, bringing him flowers and she had assured Francis that she forgave him for the lies and deceit while they were together.Zoe continued to look at the statue and altar in the catholic church where Avery had agreed they got married because he wanted everything to her taste. She was grateful for him and knew for sure that the both of them were going to have a good life together.“Z
‘I need you home right now’ kept resonating in Avery’s mind even as he dropped the call. He looked at Jacob who was busy surfing through the media, looking for ways to savage the remaining reputation that they had left.“Zoe said she needs me home.” Avery said to Jacob and the latter lifted up his head to attend to him. Avery stood up from his work chair and began to roam around the space between his work table and the window.“She needs you home can mean so many things, Avery.” Jacob said, watching him keenly. “What are you getting worried about?”“She needs me home could also mean that she is tired of the life I am leading with her and wants an out.” Avery responded, watching Jacob who sighed.“If she wants an out, then you have to let her go.”Avery shook his head immediately, knotting his tie that he had loosened when he had been working. When he put on his suit, he turned back to face Jacob.“I cannot live without her, Jacob.” He said. “I have to let her know that I cannot live w
Zoe woke up in the morning to an empty bed. She yawned weakly and rolled off her side of the bed, wondering where the hell Avery had gone to so early. The wall clock in her room read twenty minutes past eight which meant he was supposed to still be in the house.She searched the bathroom and the closet but he was nowhere to be found so she made her way down the stairs. The maids she met on her way greeted her differently and with pity as if they knew exactly what she had been through for the past two days. In the dining room, Kara brought a cup of coffee to her which she accepted with gladness in her heart. Finally, she was in the comfort of her home and could eat anything she liked. That wasn’t possible when she was at the mercy of Aaron.Zoe sipped her coffee, watching Kara who was looking at her with keen eyes. She smiled when she lifted the coffee from her lips at the young girl.“Did you miss me?” She asked, making her blush. “Where is Avery by the way? Have you seen him this mo
Avery held Zoe outside the warehouse as Aaron and his crew were being taken into the police van. His fear had known no bounds while driving to save his wife and that was when he realized that he couldn’t live without Zoe. Jacob was right all along. Aaron, his brother had gotten out of hand and the best thing to do to make sure that he doesn’t do more damage is to put him behind bars.He continued to rub Zoe’s shoulders, kissing her temple when Aaron was brought to stand before the both of them in handcuffs. There was a sorry look on his face but Avery was determined not to be swayed by it.“Avery.” Aaron called, trying to meet his gaze. “You are not going to allow them take me to prison, right?” He asked with a shaky voice.Avery scoffed, finally looking him straight into the eye. “Why wouldn’t I allow them take you to prison?” He asked. “You are a criminal and a murderer. People like you deserve to be in jail.”“Come on, Avery.” Aaron called. “Remember our family name is going to be
Zoe laid still on the cold ground completely ignoring the bed Aaron had asked his people to provide for her the previous day. The room was dark but she was staring at the ceiling, wondering how long it would actually take for Avery to forget her just like Aaron had threatened. That was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment because he had promised to kill her when Avery forgets she existed.She remained still in the dark even when the door opened but squinted when the light on the ceiling was turned on directly above her. Aaron walked up to where she was and looked at her but she ignored him.“Just a little while now, Zoe.” He said, drawing the chair close to him and taking a seat on it. “I was at the house yesterday and Avery is still looking frantically for you. Just a little while now before he forgets about you completely.”Zoe scoffed arrogantly at him, her eyes still focused on the ceiling which she could see clearly now all thanks to the light in the room. His words ind
Avery’s head of security was the only one watching the security cameras and he sat up when he saw Avery walk in.“You had just one job.” Avery said, trying not to scream at the top of his lungs. “You had just one job and that was to make sure you kept her safe.”“Mr. Trent, what…” Daniel stammered.“You were supposed to keep her safe and watch her at every time, what the hell were you doing when she left the house?” Avery continued without giving him time to talk.“Your wife went out in a hurry and we tried to follow her, but she was able to escape the cars.” Daniel spoke“What the hell does that even mean?” Avery screamed this time around. “What the hell is your job if she could disappear out from your sight?”“Mr. Trent, she said you knew where she was heading to.” Daniel said, trying to defend himself. “She told us she had your permission to leave the house and we couldn’t argue with that. She is your wife.”“Don’t you dare remind me what she is because I think I am very well aware
Avery shut his work laptop closed and headed out of the office. He had had quite a tedious day and wished nothing but to go home and be in the presence of his wife whether she hated him or not. At least anytime he was with Zoe, a lot of thoughts is being blocked from his head. The only thing she worries him about is Aaron but with that at least, there was a way to maneuver it. He just had to seduce her and she would forget totally about Aaron.Thinking about it now, it had been very long since he seduced Zoe and suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get home. Charlotte knocked on his office door and when he gave her leave to enter, she stuck her head and part of her shoulder in. He saw the strap of her handbag on her shoulders and could tell she too was about to leave.“Do you need anything else sir?” Charlotte asked and he shook his head immediately.“Nothing.” He replied. “You can go home Charlotte. Drive carefully.”She bowed at him and closed the door quietly behind her. Avery on the othe
Zoe tilted her head to watch Aaron and the look on his face carefully. Of course, it was him. She thought, sighing with distress. But why had she not thought about it and why the hell would he kidnap her when Avery had warned him not to come anywhere near her? She clenched her fists in anger, hating that he was two steps ahead of her just when she had thought she had the perfect opportunity to get him the punishment he finally deserved.“You keep on surprising me, Aaron.” She said, trying her best to keep herself calm. “You surprise me every single time.”“Of course, Zoe.” He replied, taking off his suit. “I am full of surprises, am I not?”The man who had brought her the glass of water, came in with a wooden chair for Aaron to sit on and he took the seat from him.“Do you not need me, boss?” The weird looking man asked and Aaron shook his head after giving his suit to him.“I don’t.” Aaron replied, smiling. “I will just have a little fun with my sister-in-law here and be on my way.”
Zoe relaxed on her seat and crossed her legs again. There was a certain thing she was feeling that she could barely understand. Yes, Aaron had confessed to killing Francis and she had it on her recorder. Then, why wasn’t she on her way to delivering it to the police together with the pictures Amelia had given her? Why was the satisfaction that he was going to surely be behind bars suddenly feeling bittersweet? Was it because she wasn’t sure how Avery would react to it? Or because she was scared Avery would no longer want her in his life if she puts his brother behind bars.The fact that Avery had become such an important part of her life up to the point that she thought about him before making her decision surprised her so much. She just wanted everything to be settled so that the both of them could savage the remaining aspects of their lives and live safely together. Was that the reason why she was stalling?“Did you just confess to murder?” She asked Aaron, who arrogantly shrugged h