Ciara Mendes "Ciara, although I've never met this guy, I genuinely think you should go out with him." I picked up my phone from the tiled floor beside the bathtub, where Zendra sat playing with the large doll that Giovanni Haynes had given her.He had shown up on Wednesday with a jar of Sugar Daddies, just like the one I kept on my desk, as a gesture of apology for eating the last one. Zen and I were on our way back from lunch when we encountered him on the first floor. As soon as he saw us, he stood there with his mouth slightly agape, but the surprised expression vanished when Zen, pointing at him, asked, "Aunty, who is the pweety man staring at us?" He smiled warmly at her in response. On Thursday, he showed up again, and I considered calling security, but he asked if he could gift Zendra a doll nearly as tall as she was, leaving me unable to say no. All she had to do was look at me with those large blue eyes, and I felt as though she had delivered an eloquent speech to
Ciara Mendes The door of my small office swung open, and in walked Mrs. Florence, elegantly dressed as always. She wore a stunning blue silk suit, and her curled hair cascaded gracefully down her shoulders. “Ciara, I found your next story,” she announced. Before I could respond, she dropped a magazine on my desk and took a seat opposite me. On the cover was the man who had been stalking me for the past few days. “Lit covered a story on the number one most important man in LA, as their title says, but they only covered the boring stuff,” Mrs. Florence said, leaning in with a glint of excitement in her eyes. The picture of Giovanni Haynes on the cover did him little justice; the photographer had clearly missed the mark. I would never admit it, especially not to that self-centered man-whore, but in person, he was undeniably more handsome, with an intriguing charm that the photograph utterly failed to capture. He was leaning against one of the sexiest cars I had ever seen,
Giovanni Haynes Dining in such a small diner was not typically my scene, but I couldn't complain since Ciara had chosen it. I waited for her on the patio, surrounded by palm trees and watching the vehicles pass by. I must say, it was a very calm and comfortable environment.“Cousin, I’m telling you, that woman is crazy! You should take a break for a while,” Mateo says on the other line. "I'm beginning to think you're right. I've overlooked her mischievous and vindictive behavior for far too long.""I can't believe she had the audacity to threaten sweet Heather," Mateo said, his voice laced with disbelief. I chuckled at his statement, sensing the gravity beneath his humor; Miss Lambert was truly unlike any woman he’d ever dated. Yet, that never stopped him from flirting shamelessly with her every time he walked into the office."So when can we discuss my percent in Anton Industry?" Mateo asked, shifting the conversation."Not anytime soon," I assured him, my focus dri
Ciara Mendes I glare at the caller ID that has appeared on my phone screen for the fifth time. I know that if I don't answer soon, my mother will show up at my door, and that's the last thing I want—right up there with the end of the world."Hello." "Don't 'hello' me, Ciara! I've been trying to reach you repeatedly," she scolds."What do you want, Mother?" I ask lazily, scrolling through Amazon in search of a new dining table. After a dramatic sigh, she replies, "Bridget and I are having dinner at 7 PM tomorrow at her favorite restaurant, Golden Palace, and we expect you to join us.""Oh, as much as I'd love to join you both, I'm afraid I can’t make it," I say, sarcasm dripping from my tone. "I'm leaving LA for work tomorrow.""It's always work with you; you're just like your father," she retorts. "Never had time to do anything with the family.""What family, Mother? We haven't been a family since Dad and I caught you cheating on him—just like your daughter di
Ciara Mendes Never leave a woman waiting. I remember my dad telling my cousin, Enrico Mendes, this when he came to live with us during our senior year. It was around the same time that Eve was recognized by someone from a well-known modeling agency in New York.He had secured a date with Betty Crocker, an aggressive yet beautiful cheerleader who had a crush on him. However, Eve thought it was more about Betty wanting to be with him for his looks and his wealthy background.Enrico wasn't genuinely interested in her but decided to accept her invitation to go out after she asked him for the third time—mostly out of pity. On the day of the date, he became caught up in a game of pool with Micah and completely forgot about Betty, arriving two hours late.When he finally showed up, Betty's frustration boiled over, and in a fit of anger, she splashed him with orange juice, leaving him drenched and shocked as the reality of his poor decision sank in.Giovanni had said he would be
Ciara Mendes This wasn't my first time on a private jet, as my dad owned one back in high school, but I can confidently say that this one is much more luxurious. The seats are upholstered in rich red leather—no surprise, given that I remember him mentioning it was his favorite color. The interior features a stunning blend of red and gold, and I must admit, it is truly beautiful."Take a ride on that disco stick and forget your problems, love." I nearly choked on my saliva while reading Eve's text. Giovanni sat across from me, his gaze fixed intently on me, and I silently thanked my luck that he couldn't see what had caused my sudden flush. Eve and I had talked last night, and I detailed my situation with Giovanni Haynes. As I expected, she launched into her theories about the universe conspiring to bring us together, insisting it was a sign—blah, blah, blah. While I couldn't fault her for believing in all that attraction, free spirit, and energy nonsense, I remained ske
Ciara Mendes Who goes on a business trip to Fiji? According to Giovanni, he was meeting some clients there who preferred to hold their meetings in Fiji, claiming they were weary of the typical corporate atmosphere and found it more relaxing in this beautiful setting.We were currently in the elevator headed to our suite, which I had previously deemed completely inappropriate. However, the front desk clerk explained that it features two bedrooms, ample space, and secure bedroom doors, which changed my perspective.She whispered the last part to me when Giovanni was out of earshot, and I truly appreciated her discretion.The hotel was simply beautiful, and the tranquil environment completely calmed my nerves. I had blocked my mother's number after she tried reaching out again, which made me feel more content than I had all week. "Will you be free tomorrow?" I ask, keeping pace with the baggage porter as we navigate through the grand lobby.Giovanni strolls next to me
Ciara Mendes I woke up on the bathroom floor, suffering from an excruciating headache and intense stomach pain. The stench of vomit clung to my hair and clothes, making the situation both disgusting and embarrassing. My mouth tasted like acid, reminiscent of what I imagine old, dirty socks would taste like.I brushed my teeth before crawling into the shower, scrubbing my body until I finally felt clean. As I stepped out, I grabbed the glass partition to steady myself, my head swirling as if I had been spinning in circles for hours instead of just showering. After getting dressed in a simple pink bodysuit and jeans, I debated whether to go back to sleep or get something to eat. My hunger won out, as I was absolutely ravenous. Rubbing my neck and back as I entered the kitchen, I winced at the dull aches reminding me of the previous night’s antics; I guess that's the price I pay for getting drunk and crashing on the bathroom floor like a wild teenage girl."You look lik
A.N: I want to thank all my beautiful readers for making it this far. Thank you so much for all your support, please believe me when I say you literally mean the world to me❤️ I hope you enjoyed all chapters.Ciara Mendes "I hate this one. It makes my butt seem nonexistent," Eve frowned as she glared at her reflection in the mirror on the platform she was standing on. Bridget, unfazed and casually sipping the wine the boutique's manager had offered, replied, "That's your sixth dress—you're the most insatiable woman I have ever met." She smirked, enjoying the spectacle while Eve continued to experiment with styles, eager to find the perfect fit that would make her feel fabulous.Eve muttered something inscrutable before turning toward us with a look of exasperation. "Who designed this anyway? I thought it was supposed to be a wedding dress, not something my grandma would wear to bed." "I see what you mean," I chimed in, nodding thoughtfully. "That bow does nothing
Ciara Mendes Six months have passed, and I still find myself reminiscing about those words. As I absorb the scene before me, I reflect on my sister's remarks. Initially, Bridget opposed my decision, insisting that I would be throwing my life away; however, Dad was supportive, and surprisingly, so was Mom. Despite the time that has gone by, I still grapple with whether I made the right choice and if Bridget’s concerns were valid. Can I truly embrace the role of the good stepmom while the biological mother pursues a better life for herself and her the children in her life?Giovanni's brown eyes gleam with happiness as he cautiously approaches me outside the hospital room where Rhea is settled after giving birth to a baby girl, cradling the little bundle in his arms. Witnessing his elation transforms my despondency into something brighter—contentment. I remember how apprehensive he was about becoming a father, initially paralyzed by the fear of falling short; but over t
Ciara Mendes "You can't be serious," Eve says."What did you expect me to do? Can you genuinely expect me to feel bitter towards someone who is sincerely sorry for her actions? I wanted to hate her; believe me, I did. But after learning nearly everything about her, I realized that hating her would just be petty. Besides, all of that happened before I started dating Giovanni.""She's pregnant with your boyfriend's baby," Eve argues, trying to make me see reason."The same boyfriend you slept with to get back at his own cousin. Don't make me regret meeting you, Eve."After everything she did, she has no right to judge my choices. I only decided to meet with her because she has always been there for me, and I can't let what happened years ago destroy our friendship. I forgave my mom and sister; I can forgive her too. "I guess I deserve that. I had no right," she said, looking down at the burger that surprised me a bit when she ordered it. "It's your life, and I should jus
Ciara Mendes "What do you want to talk about?" Yesterday, after Rhea requested a conversation, she received a phone call and quickly excused herself with a hasty apology. Now, here we are, just one hour away from receiving the results, sitting in my kitchen and munching on French fries. She appeared less anxious after I mentioned that my sister had personal matters to handle and that my mother had gone home to participate in an art festival where she would be showcasing her work. However, Rhea's anxiety resurfaced when I asked the question.She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before her eyes met mine. "I want to apologize for getting involved in your relationship. I know you might not believe me, but I never intended for any of this to happen. I was stupid and naive—" "We're only human, Rhea," I replied. "I know I should probably hate you, but I don't. Besides, babies are blessings."She snorted, glancing down at her empty plate. "Yeah, a baby that I can't e
Ciara Mendes I never imagined I would remain so composed the day I met the woman who is supposedly carrying the child of the man I envision my future with. Rhea Rivera didn’t seem like a bad person; her demeanor was nothing like that of the women I knew Giovanni typically pursued. To be honest, that genuinely unnerved me. Her blue hair, transitioning to a natural auburn color, sat atop her head in a messy bun. Her hazel eyes were fixed on the frayed edges of her ripped jeans, which she had paired with an oversized blue shirt that looked like it could fit two more people.Rhea appeared pleasant despite her silence; she didn't flaunt herself and seemed shy, which made me question whether Giovanni had truly met her at a club or if he had been mistaken. The young woman sitting across from me didn’t seem like someone who would even visit a club, let alone dance half-naked on a pole in front of eager men.At first, I suspected her demeanor was an act, a pretense, bu
Giovanni Haynes "You have reached the voicemail of..." "Still no luck?" Matt asked, strolling in just as I tossed my phone onto the leather couch across from me. "Come on, man, you did say she asked for space.""Yeah, well, tell that to Haylie." The child has been incessantly asking when she'll get to meet Ciara, and it's getting on my last nerve. He chuckles. "That's on you. I'm taking them out for ice cream, though; you should come along. Who knows, it might help take your mind off things."That's the last thing I want to do. These kids are like small hexenbiest, and the thought of potentially fathering one of my own is inconceivable. "No, I'm good," I replied."Please, Uncle," the kids chant, their eyes shining with excitement. I gave a smile to Luca, who had started to call me "Uncle" just like his cousins. "Alright," I said, getting up to grab my keys from the kitchen. But before I could head out the door, the doorbell rang. "Get that for me, will yo
Ciara Mendes The two women seated before me made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. Their piercing gray eyes scrutinized me from head to toe.My mother stood from her seat as soon as her shock wore off. "Ciara, I didn't expect you to actually show up."It had been so long since I last saw her. Her dark hair, which once matched the lengths of my own and Bridget's, now rested neatly above her shoulders in a stylish bob. She carried herself with an air of high prestige, and the glow of a good life practically radiated from her."I'm so glad you came," Bridget said, rising to her feet with a smile that I didn’t return.I watched as my older sister awkwardly brushed away imaginary wrinkles from her white pantsuit before sitting back down. My mother quickly followed suit and then gestured for me to take a seat."You wanted to see me," I said as soon as I felt the chair beneath me. "Wait just a minute, Ciara. Let's order first," Bridget replied, her tone a mix of eagernes
Ciara Mendes My fingers hovered over the keyboard for what felt like days. I had asked Melissa for permission to finish my article at home and simply email it to her when it was complete. She granted me permission but refused to let me submit it a day late, despite my claims of being in bed with a high fever and headache. I swear, that woman was becoming more and more like Mrs. Florence with each passing day.New tears clouded my eyes. The two people I care about hurt me deeply, and even though it's been two days, the tears won't stop, as if the wound in my heart is still very fresh. What hurts more is the thought of another woman carrying the firstborn of the man I was starting to fall for. What if I wanted to be the one to carry his first child? Although I know he isn't the biggest fan of children, he treated them well, and maybe I could have convinced him if time were on our side. Why am I even thinking about this? It's only been a month. I can't understand wh
Eve Malhamie "You should call your boyfriend and let him know I've made a reservation for us at The Globe." I took a sip of the appletini I had mixed earlier, admiring my freshly pedicured toes with delight.Ciara walked into the living room wearing a grey T-shirt dress and bare feet. She placed the plates of breakfast on the center table before casually tossing her feet over my lap, the cool touch of her gold anklet leaving a chilly sensation on my thigh."It's seven in the morning, Eve. What's up with the drink?" I shrugged. "Let me live a little, babe. It has apple cider in it, and I always drink some kind of liquor with breakfast." Before I could say another word, she grabbed the glass, nearly spilling its contents on my Baby Phat crop top, and replaced it with a cup of tea.I rolled my eyes at her. "You're such a killjoy. Anyway, have you heard from Micah?" "I spoke to him last night before you arrived, why?" "Oh, no reason." The truth was, I hadn't heard