That realization took Wyoming out for a loop. Sometimes, it feels to her like she lives not just a double life but a triple life with no sense of who she is anymore. She was so confused. Only a few weeks into this charade, and this early, she already felt lost, feeling an overwhelming sense of indecision and losing her direction.She has started to lose sight of what she intended to do from the beginning. She had forgotten that all these things are just temporary - gone within a year. She felt like she walked straight into a series of mazes with no end in sight. She had been too caught up with the present that she had forgotten what kind of future awaited her. A bubble gurgled in her throat. In this story, there was no happy ending waiting for her, a mere underling. She had to stop deluding herself into thinking she was the protagonist when she knew full well she was not. For a while, she got entranced, but this will all be gone in a poof come morning. Dreams were not made
“You seemed off. Problems?” James commented after he observed Cayden getting up from his desk repeatedly during their meeting. He looked like he would rather be somewhere else than in the boardroom - his natural habitat before his marriage. James recalled how Tori complained of having difficulty in tearing Cayden off his desk when he got his mind wrapped up on something. But today, he was different. Cayden looked bothered and could not concentrate on his work. It was so out of character. James frowned, watching his friend’s perturbed expression. “What’s up? Did you get any news about Tori?” That is the only explanation James could think of to warrant Cayden's unusual behavior. Cayden was not one to be easily shaken out of his routine, except when it had something to do with his ex, Tori Hutton. He saw how gung-ho he becomes on anything about Tori, and he concluded his friend's agitation might have something to do with it. But Cayden only looked blankly at him and app
“Where did they go?” James’s eardrums almost split at the banshee-type hysterics that Kate Ryder emitted once she realized that Wyoming and Cayden were gone. He held his palms up, looking helplessly at Kate wearing the same confounded expression. Cayden took advantage of their inattentiveness to pull a fast move on them and shanghaied Wyoming. ‘Now, Ryder is pissed off. Great Ellish.’ James muttered under his breath as he tried to pacify this crazy female. “Will you stop shouting? You are going to get my ears split in no time.” He grumbled in anger when Kate did not let up about how unfair Cayden was, taking her best friend without informing her. “I don’t care. Your best friend took away my best friend. My rescue.” Kate enunciated each word before looking helplessly down at her casted foot to whine, “Now. Who is going to take me home?” He looked exasperated. Isn't it obvious?“Me! I am going to take you home!” He volunteered, miffed that he did not consider her for th
They ran out of Costello’s right after the waiter served their desserts, and Cayden knew why they did that. When the waiter came to their table to place two plates of Tiramisu, they both looked at the famous Italian dessert with revulsion. The food was great!The Tiramisu, Cayden was sure was up to par just like all the rest prepared by its Sous Chef Costello himself. The problem lies with their stomachs. They could not accommodate another bite, despite having been wonderfully prepared.Their eyes connected over the table and something in their eyes flashed. Wyoming did not understand how easily they understood what the other one wanted. In a beat, they both stood up, abandoning their table and walking briskly to the restaurant’s main door. The confused waiter, or cameriere as the Italians called them - Cayden shared that bit of information earlier, watched them leaving. They were evading Costello's ire - the famous chef is also well-known for his explosive temper - so they opted
Wyoming moves briskly after being jolted awake by the sound of her phone notifying the arrival of a new message. Her heart started to beat its usual erratic beat seeing it come from Cayden. After kidnapping her at the hospital and bringing her home Saturday night, she had not received any word from him except today. That night, he snatched her sleep away from her. Cayden’s actions bothered her. While she appreciates their being friendly with each other, she could not understand why the need to go overboard and make her misinterpret. The kiss, for example. Wyoming did not know why he did that. Had he forgotten about their contract? Should she assume more from the kiss?For two nights, she tossed and turned - unsure of how to make of his action. Then, she remembered what her father said. Protect your heart. Wyoming realized that even if she wished for things to happen differently, they won’t. She was no Cinderella, and Cayden was not her Prince Charming either. The sound
Wyoming covered her face with her hands, too embarrassed by the words her straightforward best friend dished out in front of Cayden’s managers. She was uncomfortable as well since some of them eyed her with impassive gazes but refrained from saying anything against her for fear of earning the boss’s displeasure. The ground that held the company was still shaky because of the arrival of Cayden, and most people, especially those in the top managerial posts, tended to cotton up to the new boss to gain or maintain their footholds in the company. Some would blatantly challenge Cayden’s authority, Matt Burgess shamelessly stood up to question Cayden with this recent move. “Are you out of your mind?” Matt Burgess bellowed in a verbal attack on Cayden, who remained impassive, standing behind his Wyoming's chair at the head of the conference table. “I do not know where you learned this from, but your plan is a failure from the very beginning. Why use an inexperienced actor when you can
Cayden’s announcement shocked everyone. As for herself, Wyoming did not know how to react. Cayden resolved the setback due to the absence of her partner and acted decisively in this time of crisis. Although she prepared herself for any untoward incident that normally happens on the set, she did not bank on this one or the twist that followed. Cayden would be her partner. A small smile laced the corner of her lips. In truth, she had been fidgeting earlier - nervous at the prospect of meeting her photoshoot partner for the first time.She did not know the model personally because, like her, he was a start-up chosen for the role in a last-minute audition the team conducted after Cayden did a showdown with Matt Burgess in the conference room. In truth, Wyoming prefers a partner she knows personally to ease up the tension inside her, though she restrained herself from making any demands, owing to the fact that she did not want to add more fuel to the fire. Cayden giving her the big
They broke apart self-consciously. Max's unannounced appearance, doused the fire their self-imposed seclusion created away from the outside world. Awareness that they were not alone sharpened, and so did the feeling of awkwardness, making the air around them thick in their silence. Wyoming berated herself when reality set in, questioning herself and the sanity of her own actions. How did she allow herself to drown in his kisses? Max’s untimely arrival saved her. It was a blessing in disguise. If Max did not arrive to interrupt them, where would that kiss lead them? Probably, too hardcore petting or worst. Wyoming did not want to think how far she would allow herself to go with just a kiss.Red-faced in shame, feeling that she caved into her basest instinct, again, made her reassess herself and rethink, widening the gaping silence between them. Finally, Cayden broke the ice, but it only added to the awkwardness between them. "I have been waiting for this girl to come back
Cayden backed off, afraid to anger Wyoming in her delicate condition. After Wyoming climbed into the car, Alicia turned around to talk to him. “It’s best if we take her, Cayden.” He nodded. He did not want to argue with the elders or raise Wyoming’s hackles in her sensitive condition. He was right, it seemed, when Alicia added, “Her hormones are acting up making her blood boil every time she sees you. If she’s indeed pregnant I am sure the baby would take after you.” Alicia teased leaving him in a daze. “Mom!” Wyoming called out from inside the van, prompting Alicia to bestow an apologetic smile his way before closing the car door behind her. “Pregnant.” He murmured to himself while he tried to wrap his mind around the possibility. It wouldn’t be impossible since he and Wyoming spend most of their night doing the deed. Cayden watched in a daze as the van moved forward before blending into the morning traffic. It was a long time before he decided to get back to the house a
Wyoming woke up feeling at ease. She had no idea what woke him up, it was just that her nose had become sensitive. She smelled something that she found not to her liking. She sniffed the air, her nostrils scrunched up in distaste. “What is that awful smell?” She asked hoarsely, opening one eye to check if there was something wrong with their room only to see a semi-undress Cayden hovering above her. His hair dripped wet from the shower. She smiled warmly at him. In a daze, she propped herself on the bed, her hands stretching out to put them around Cayden’s neck. With eyes sparkling in delight at her warm reception, Cayden leaned forward to peck her lips. She meets his downward motion with an upward motion, sniffing at the same time. That was when her nostrils started to twitch scrunching up in distaste for she smelled something not suitable to her taste. “You smell disgusting!” She cried, covering her mouth with her palm to avoid smelling that awful smell. However, the stench s
Giggling sounds and laughter filled Wyoming’s ears. Surrounded by her family, her heart felt full. She blushed when she remembered Cayden and her were supposedly hiding from their families. Now, looking back toward the living room, she saw everyone looking at them, smiles wreathing their faces.Overwhelmed with shyness, she buried her face in Cayden’s chest, as if he could hide what they were doing previously from their onlookers. Cayden threw his head back at her natural display of shyness. His laughter started as a low rumble in the pit of his stomach crossing his lungs and finally coming out of his mouth. The sight of him looking so carefree and happy caught her in a daze, affecting her in ways she did not understand but could only feel.“Mommy! Daddy!” Connor’s shout distracted her from her intent perusal of Cayden’s face. She turned her head to the direction of the sound and saw Connor running toward them, his little feet creating a soft thud as his shoe collided with th
Wyoming got out of the bathroom, a large towel draped around her body, and another one wrapped like a turban around her head. She was about to pull the towel from her head to rub her hair with it when she stopped suddenly. She debated within herself whether to go back to the bathroom and wait for him to leave the room or feign nonchalance.Choosing the latter, she walked inside the room she shares with Connor and stopped a few paces before Cayden.Then she remembered if he was here. “Who is taking care of Connor?” The idea that Connor is playing by himself somewhere inside the house or maybe outside on the beach had her hurrying. She moved about the room, opening a closet to get a change of clothes. In her haste, the towel knot loosened, threatening to fall off her body. She clutched the front with her hand while her other hand held her change of clothes.The towel on her head fell off. Cayden saved it. He held the towel and gently pulled it off her head. “Thank you.” She mu
“Argh!” Wyoming’s fingers clenched, her teeth gritting in frustration while Connor and Cayden, the duo from h*ll did another trick that left her breathless, her body humming in unreleased tension. “Mommy, put some sunblock on my back and daddy’s,” Connor demanded, handing her a bottle of sunblock lotion and turning around, so his back was facing her.She opened the cap, applied some to her palms, and lathered her son’s small back with the lotion.“There, all done. You can now go swim in the water with your dad.” She told him while she placed the bottle of sunblock aside, careful that her eyes led her astray. She had been trying so hard to ignore the rippling muscles on Cayden’s exposed back which he also displayed alongside her son’s. Cayden previously followed Connor’s lead and presented her back to her as well. She smoothed sunblock on Connor but not on Cayden. However, her eyes betrayed her every time. She could not help but look at Cayden’s back, filled with ridges and cur
Contrary to what she initially thought, Cayden did not bring them back to New York, back to their old house surrounded by their family. When their plane landed and she got out, she was surprised to find out they were nowhere near JFK International Airport. In truth, she missed her father and would have wanted to bond with her mother. She braved the longing to be with her parents to protect herself and her son from Cayden. She had mistakenly thought that putting distance between them was enough for her and her son to get away from Cayden’s peripheral. Only to be corrected when he came barging in on her despite the distance. “Where is this place?” She asked, looking at the expanse of trees and dirt around them, totally opposite of the City that never sleeps. She was still miffed with him for trying to blackmail her into submission, but she could not totally ignore him. The man is huge and his presence was not one to be ignored. All through their flight, she was fully aware of t
Chest heaving from anger at the audacity of this man to lie to her through his teeth, Wyoming all but cried, “Liar!” The bitterness of five years ago came to her in full force, flaming the rage inside her. Gaining her memory has intensified the pain like it just happened a while back. She clenched her fist, struggling from her confinement. It was futile, though. With Cayden’s buffed body, he had her trapped very neatly. She did not know how he was able to become this muscled man and still evoke the same feelings from her. His body and her body might change. He became bigger and muscular, and she became softer and fuller due to childbirth, but when their skin connected, it was as if fire sizzled between them.Wyoming could feel the hardness of the wall digging into her back, yet she did not even flinch. The anger gnawing inside her was more powerful than the physical pain. “You can not win me over with all your lies. My son belongs to me. He is mine and you can not take h
“Where are we going, Collins?” “It’s a secret.” Wyoming fidgeted in her seat but did not press Collins for more information. She was surprised when he asked her tonight. They do not usually go out because their finances are tight. And the few times they did, it was always with Connor. “Relax. We’re not going far,” he told her, seeing her getting all worked up. “I’m just not used to leaving Connor at night with a sitter. You know how he wanted me to lull him to sleep. I’m worried that he’ll raise h*ll when we don’t come back at his bedtime hour. “Don’t worry about Connor. He knows Lizzie and he won’t make a fuss.” He assured her. Lizzie lives next door - a single mother of a four-year-old daughter, Samantha. “To ease your mind, why don’t you call them?” Collins suggested.Thinking it was a great idea, she took her phone from her purse and called Lizzie. “Wyoming? Did you forget something?” Lizzie’s soft voice permeated her ears causing her to feel a little self-con
“I am fine, mom.” Wyoming insisted and rolled her eyes for the second time during that phone call. Her mother has been deluging her with phone calls these days and it has become quite annoying. “Will call you back, mom. I have to fetch Connor from the kindergarten. The school notified me they will be released early today.” Wyoming paused, listening to what her mom said on the other line before responding to cut the overseas call. “Yes, mom, of course. Will call you some other time, bye.” She expelled air after she hung up. “Your mom’s pretty difficult today,” Collins commented after she dropped her phone. Wyoming did not like how it sounded coming off from him. He did not even know her. The only interaction they had was when she was at the hospital back in New York and there has been nothing significant about their conversations, mostly getting to know each other, etc. In an offhand manner, she shrugged her shoulders to make light of it. Her mom, she knew, could be a bit