Drake’s POVI opened my eyes, and for a moment, the world around me was fuzzy. My head seemed to have taken a sledgehammer blow, sharp pain throbbed around my skull and made me wince. I saw more clearly now that Valerie was crouched beside me, wide-eyed with concern. She was biting her lip, her hands shaking, hovering near me as if she wasn't sure if she should touch me or pull back. She was so close, so concerned, and it brought a surge of conflicting emotions inside him."Drake, are you okay?" Her voice was soft, tentative.A few times I blinked, just to shake off the remnants of whatever had knocked him out. The flashes, the overwhelming surge of images and feelings, they were still so alive in my mind. I could see fragments of faces, places, and memories that did not belong to me. Yet, they were like intruders, real and so invasive."Drake?" Valerie's voice cut through the fog inside his head.I sat up more slowly, muscles tense as I pushed myself off the floor. I glanced around t
Drake’s POVI sat back in my chair, the shock of the old woman's words washing over me like some sort of cold wave. My heart racing, I tried to wrap my mind around all that she'd just said. My brain wrestled with the impossibility of her claim. I found myself staring at the old woman across from me, her sharp, knowing eyes locking onto mine in a way that made me feel exposed and vulnerable."You… You're my grandmother?" I finally stuttered, disbelievingly thick in my voice.The old woman nodded very slowly, her expression somber but steady. "Yes," she said quietly. "Though you've lived your entire life not knowing the truth."My head reeled with questions, but one stood above all the rest. "If you're my grandmother, why didn't I know about you? Why did no one tell me?"The old woman took a deep breath; her fingers absently traced the cracks in the old wooden table between them. "Because your father made sure of that," she replied, the bitterness lacing in her voice. "He wanted to
Drake’s POVI sat in stunned silence, the words of the old woman sinking in. Flashes that had plagued me for so long ones that had been mere fragments of confusion-suddenly sharpened into focus. My head pounded, and blistering pain seared through my skull, but this time, I did not pass out. I knotted my fists, the knuckles white, as I fought to breathe through the pain, to make sense of everything I heard.It was no longer disjointed flashes but a whole, vivid scene unfolding in front of me. I was a child again, playing with the old lady, who was my grandmother. Her wrinkled hand lay affectionately on my shoulder as she read stories to me. I felt the look of warmth in her eyes and love in her touch, and then all of a sudden everything became pitch black. My mind had gone blank, and the memories faded, as my grandmother said they were.But now, they were coming back. It was all coming back."You were always so full of life," the old woman cut through the storm in my head. "Even after y
Drake’s POVCharlotte stood frozen in front of me, the blood had completely drained from her face. Guilt was written across her features, but she bit her lips into a thin line, trying to compose herself. My heart was racing, my anger bubbling dangerously close to boiling over. I could hardly restrain myself as I waited for her to respond.Finally, after an eternity, Charlotte spoke a few words in a voice softer than before. "Drake… it wasn't my choice. It was your father. He asked us to keep it a secret. He didn't want you to know."I sat and stared at her with trusting eyes. "My father? This was all because of him?"Charlotte nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, he made sure none of us told you the truth. He thought it would… protect you.""Protect me?" my voice rose again, the disbelief was in every word. I took another step closer, closing the space between us, my eyes fixed on her. "How is lying to me, about my family, my entire past supposed to protect me?A certainty flickered in Char
Valerie’s POVI sat amidst this seclusion of trees, which gently swayed with every oncoming wind. It was the place we would come to whenever life was easy and we could break loose from the world and just be with one another. I thought he was the man I would spend the rest of my life with, the man who promised me the world. But now, that world seemed torn from my grasp.He had accused me of sleeping with another man. The words cut me deeper than I thought possible. After everything we’d been through, after all the trust I’d placed in him, he had believed the worst of me. The heartbreak of it made me small like a fragment of myself had been shattered beyond repair.A twig snapped behind me. I jerked out of my reverie and whipped my head to the side, heart racing. I hadn't expected anyone to find me here, at this quiet, secluded spot.There was a figure standing just beyond the line of trees. Tall, broad-shouldered, familiar.Drake.I didn't know what to say, or what to feel for a long,
Drake’s POVI blinked my eyes open, squinting at unfamiliar surroundings. My head pounded and the faint morning light bleeding through the curtains only worsened the ache. I groaned and lifted a hand to rub my temples. The bed beneath me was soft, much softer than my own and for one confusing second, I wondered where I was. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.This wasn't my room.Panicking, I sat up abruptly, my gaze going about the space. The floral curtains, the wood dresser, and that sweet, sweet scent of vanilla and lavender reassured me of one thing, I was in Valerie's room.What the hell.? My voice came out hoarse, my throat parched. I tossed my legs over the edge of the bed and instantly regretted that action as my body lashed out in protest at a wave of dizziness. I clasped my head between my hands trying to recall the events of the previous night.At this point, the door creaked open, and Valerie strode inside. Wearing nothing more than a plain T-shirt with leggings, her ha
Ron’s POVI stood like a statue in the doorway, my eyes darting back and forth between Valerie and Drake as shock paralyzed me where I stood. The tension in the room was already thick, it seemed to close in even tighter as the silence drew out. For one fleeting instant, it almost appeared that my mind couldn't grasp what I was looking at. Of all the things I might have expected this morning, this surely wasn't among them.What are you doing here, Drake? " I finally asked, confusion and suspicion rife in my voice. The air was alive with tension between the two men, a silent rivalry between us had bubbled just below the surface for so very long.Drake crossed his arms, leaning back from them slightly, a smirk forming across his lips. It wasn't an expression of amusement but one of defiance. He was in no mood for pleasantries now, not with me. "Why do you think I'm here?" Drake retorted in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "Your darling Valerie here thought I was like one of those men she
Drake’s POVI slumped forward, elbows on the desk, and stared blankly at the heap of papers in front of me. The numbers, graphs, and reports all smeared together into a meaningless mess. I rubbed my temples, trying to force myself to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Valerie.I could not get the picture of that morning out of my head, standing so close to her, feeling the magnetic pull between us. There was something different in her now, something I had never seen. She had always been on the periphery of my life, someone I used to know, someone whose existence I barely acknowledged. Yet, now, a strange and undeniable attraction stirred inside me, something I didn't understand and quite frankly didn't want to.I shifted in my seat, trying to push the thoughts away. I had work to do, important work. There were greater things to take into account than my confusing feelings for Valerie.Yet the image stayed with me, frank and insistent. Her lips, I had noticed them as I stood c
Valerie's POV Two weeks later.The doctor attended to me while the nurse administered a pill for me to take. It's been two days since I was rescued. A lot has happened over the past two weeks. Now I am here for the test results which were conducted two days ago.Charlotte had kept me captive for a week and two days before I was rescued. How Drake and the police found me was absurd but I was glad Charlotte was behind bars.I was glad to be free even though I stayed a week and two days in captivity.*Flashback*“Here's your food, pig. Make sure to eat up and be done in five minutes. I'll be back to collect the plate.” Charlotte hissed and spat into the food before placing it on the ground in front of me.She pulled at my hair and confirmed the tightness of the chains around my body, hissed again before scurrying out of the dirty dark room where I had been kept captive for only God knows when.For four days,I hadn't had anything except water. Charlotte had made it a point of duty to spi
Drake's POV My chest region wanted to explode. It was exploding already,my heart racing as I listened to Valerie's voicemail.Ron had forcefully taken the company from her? How? I thought they were working together in pulling me into mud? Is she making a mockery of me or is she damn serious?She sounded serious. Her voice dripped with fear and uncertainty like she didn't know the next step to take. I dialed her number but I didn't go through. Something was off so I decided to go home. I wasn't expecting her to be home but at least I could corner her while she's packing out of the house.I quickly entered my car and the driver sped off at full speed. We pulled up in front of my lawn for ten minutes. I quickly alighted, sprinting into the house.I quickly made it to her room, knocking frantically on her wooden door but there came no reply. I knocked thrice and still no response.What if she's in the shower?I tried to be considerate but then she had identified herself as an enemy. Fr
Valerie’s POV I didn't know if Drake had received my voicemail or not but I hoped he did. This was all my fault. I should have listened to Jasmine. I tried calling Jasmine but the network connectivity of my surroundings was poor and I couldn't reach her.Luckily,I got lifted by a cab driver riding along my path and he brought me down to Drake's house. I got down from the cab, thanked the driver, and offered him a few bills which he kindly turned down before revving out of the lawn. I felt grateful for his kind lift after I had spent close to an hour trying to find my way home.I sluggishly carried myself to the porch, approached the door with a soft knock.My legs began to tremble beneath me. Here I was standing in front of Drake's house,a man I had just taken his company and a few valuable assets from him and handed it to his stepbrother.No response.I knocked again, this time louder and more pronounced.Shortly after,the door creaked slightly, opening to reveal Mia's face.“Welcom
Valerie's POV My legs vibrated beneath me as Drake walked up to me,his gaze devouring. He took the mic from me forcefully, his gaze shifting to the crowd.“I am so sorry for this misunderstanding fellas but think this lady is probably drunk and needs to be taken care of. Guards please lead her away.”Drake commanded his voice dripping with authority and power.Two men leapt forward and snatched my arms, grabbing and holding onto me tightly. They began to lead me away but Ron was quick to intercept. He landed both guard's a kick to their groin letting them retreat away and unrest erupted from the onlookers.This definitely wasn't what they planned to be their soulful entertainment but surprisingly they had no choice but to sit and watch it play out.Drake rage boiled over the surface ,his anger simmering onto his oceanic blue eyes.“ Why the hell did you do that to my guards Ron? What right do you have to waltz in here and disrupt a party that lots of money was spent on to organize? Wh
Drake's POV My car pulled up infront of a the magnificent hotel, an exact replica of a castle in fairy-tale. My driver quickly alighted, turned around opening the door for me. I stepped out of the car,the cool evening breeze caressing my skin. Charlotte stepped out as well,her arm quickly slipped around mine. She flashed me a sheepish smile, holding unto her purse tightly. I straightened out my suits, applying a fresh layer of deodorant, adjusted my glasses before making my way into the Hall which was bustling with loud music and bangers. Alot of guests had started arriving, staffs especially. Junior staffs to be precise.I looked around, my eyes dancing across the hall untill I spotted Sheila whispering into the MC ear.She seemed to be telling him to begin immediate actions since I was already in the room.The MC nodded understanding whatever she had to say. My gaze left thier faces and got focused on Charlotte who kept tugging at my suit.“ I don't want a single wrinkle in sight
Drake's POV It's been two days since i had the most terrifying nightmare of my life. Why would Valerie appear as an old woman seeking revenge? Why did she constantly accuse me of killing our baby when I indirectly and directly didn't have a hand in it.Till date, I had no answer to my question. I literally just couldn't comprehend why she had to disguise herself as an old hag. I didn't take it so literal but I knew Valerie wasn't happy with all that had been happening to her. I was going to find out sooner than later.The foreign investors and I had lost contact. Sara had stopped receiving and returning Sheila's texts, emails and calls. She must have cautioned herself to avoid being snuffed out or caught by her Boss who would probably be livid at her. I had told Sheila to keep on sending texts untill Sara eventually replies.Surprisingly,the ball solstice was to hold tomorrow. It was such a great day anticipated by a lot of people. Me ,my stakeholders and my employees,the junior staf
Drake's POV “ Wait Valerie, listen to me." I yelled repeatedly but Valerie wouldn't listen,age kept on moving, her pace gradually increasing.“ Please wait for Val. I have something important to talk to you about. The road ahead of us is quite dangerous. You need my help in navigating these dark paths. Let me help you." I urged, calling into the night air but Valerie wouldn't listen.“ Leave me alone." She managed to say, her back h at me,her pace a little.“ It's late and dark, lonely and scary. You need to come back to me. The driver is waiting. If we keep on going through this path,we might lose the driver entirely.”Valeria chuckled scornfully “ I don't mind losing the driver. I don't want to go with you. Leave me alone.”Valerie's steps increased as she surged deeper out of the light and into the darkness, navigating through the wood and thick bushes like she was quite familiar with her environment.“ You are threading into the bushes Val. Am sorry I called you out tonight. We
Drake's POV “ Out of my fucking room before I lose it. You are a fucking chameleon. You always change your skin to fit a favorable condition. You don't care about others. You only use them to satisfy and pleasure yourself. You only use them when you have something to gain. When they have something meaningful to offer." Charlotte's expression turned pitiful,tears pricked at the corners of Charlotte's eyes.“Drake, I care about you. I am not exploiting you. I care. I want to care.” she tried to touch me,my devouring gaze stopped her hand halfway.“ I want my personal space but if you're willing to give me the space I need,get out of my way, I am late for an appointment." I sneered and shot her a glare.“ Drake, listen to me." Charlotte pleaded.I frowned,my annoyance flaring.“Get out of my way,I need to use the exit door." I ordered.Charlotte's feet didn't budge,it rooted firmly to the floor.“ pl–.” I shoved Charlotte away, stepping out of the room immediately." Sleep in the room
Drake's POV 3:45 Pm. I kept staring at time,my mind divulged of any means of keeping itself occupied until I was ready to leave.Sheila had dropped the audio tape from her interrogation from twelve junior staffs. There wasn't much attached to their conversation but I was able to pick out something. They didn't have contact with the foreign investors considering there were based in the ground and second floor of the building.Sheila had promised to continue tomorrow even though I saw how exhausted she was. Interrogating a total number of twelve staff members alone was no easy feat. I had stopped her from carrying on with the interrogation considering the company had seventy staff and ten contract workers.She couldn't bear the burden of twelve,how would she bear the burden of sixty eight more staff. There were other ways to snuff out a culprit and I would find it out sooner or later.The door to my office opened and Sheila walked in with a glass of water. I asked if it's almond time