GRACE
I was done with work before 4am, hence I was able to rush home and catch a short nap before day broke to take Laurel to school. Jody was on bed with her when I got in, so I crashed on the couch, feeling totally exhausted from hours of typing without getting any sleep. Our editor in chief worked with us through the night, thus, none of us could steal naps as we usually did whenever she went home on time as supposed.I remember director Lance calling me up to his office once to ask me to sleep. Come to think of it, he was great to me a lot of times and if I was a normal woman without so much fear or an ugly past or so much responsibility, maybe I might have given him a chance. The 7am alarm on my phone woke me up. I scrambled to my feet, aroused Laurie and started preparing her for school. But what I really wanted to do was crash and sleep like someone in a coma.Jody was already preparing for work as well. Some of her clothesCONNOR.Marcus and I had driven straight to Laurel’s school after he got the information.I only wanted to watch her from a distance. See how she fared in class and interacted with her fellow friends. But I couldn’t bring myself to go too close.Aside from the fact that she had no idea who I really was, the media people were constantly monitoring everything I did, and they were surely going to pounce on any clue they got about her. I knew how much that was going to affect her regular life.I would never let my need to get close disrupt her life. However, I couldn’t stay away. It was really unfortunate that I was completely unaware of her existence for six years. I wasn’t there when she took her first breath or first step or first words.It was definitely something I would regret for the rest of my life, but I also had to live in the present. There was a lot of time to amend, to watch her sing rhymes, clap wit
GRACE.“Oh my god, Gracie,” NK muttered covering her face with her both hands after I finished narrating to her and Jody what was going on. To NK mostly, because Jody knew pretty much already. They were the only people I could bare my souls to this way. I knew they had my back, and cared genuinely about my happiness.NK and I sat on the long couch, while Jody leaning forward on the love couch. Laurel was napping peacefully on the bed.“I’m so… I don’t know what to say,” NK exhaled loudly and held my hands in hers, squeezing them gently. “How do you feel about this?” she asked gazing with genuinely worried eyes at me.“Yes, Gracie, what do you plan to do, cuz like you said, he’s not looking like he’s going to back down just cuz you tell him to.” Jody chipped in, hugging herself repeatedly. She still appeared much shaken with what happened with Laurel.I dr
GRACE.Christopher Miles got to my door step at exactly few minutes to nine the next morning in his usual, disorganized look. He was wearing an over-sized winter coat over a shrunken shirt. It rained early this morning, so I was sure everywhere would be as forlorn as my mood.I asked him to come in, but he declined, explaining he was going to stay out to arrange his camera as he left home in too much of a hurry.“Grace?” he called from outside. “You know the interview is taking place in his home office and not at his main company right?”Oh, I had no idea. What the hell is Connor Shelby planning anyway? The entitled bastard! I scoffed.“Sure Chris, let’s go,” I said, emerging from my house and shutting my door.We used Precious since Chris didn’t have a car. I hoped she would be able to take us as far as Shelby Mansion which was at the heart of London. We drove in silence, as Chri
CONNORHer hair was tied up in a ponytail. I wondered if anyone had ever told her she was prettier with her hair down. My hands itched to set them free.Portia came into my office with a glass of water, handed it over to the jumpy Grace who stared at the glass like she didn’t know what to do with it, until she realized I was watching her and she proceeded to gulp the glass’ content at a go.She wiped the back of her hand against her soft, vulnerable-looking lips in a manner that made me crave to suckle them, before handing the glass over to Portia, mouthing a “thank you” to the secretary as she turned and left.“Are you ready?” she asked once more and placed the recorder on the table with a long white sheet of paper and note pad on her laps.I was ready, as long as she would let us talk.She was trying quite hard to act distant, her way of pushing me farther off from her.&ldqu
GRACE.“What?!” I was almost yelling, but I couldn’t stop myself. How could he think of doing that to me? The recorder was still running, making me unable to say anything more implicating, so I beseeched and pleaded with my eyes. Don’t do this to me, Connor Shelby, I beg of you!I wanted to shriek at him so badly but was scared I could aggravate the situation. And all he did was stare at me with an amused expression and a smile at the corner of his lips.“What d-do you mean she’s here, Mr. Shelby?” I tried not to stutter, raising my hands and clasping them together in supplication.“I swear, I’ll do anything, just don’t give me away like this, pleeeease” I mouthed to him without making a sound.“Sure?” he mouthed back at me with laughing eyes and I nodded vigorously.“I mean,” he spoke up now, something the recorder can catch. H
GRACEThree days had sped by before I knew it, with a nervous feeling simmering underneath my stomach.Was I giving in too easily? I wondered as I continued breezing in and out of my daily routines of going to work and taking Laurel to school. But then, Connor Shelby looked like a man who knew how to have his way every time.One thing that bothered me most though, was what I was going to tell Laurel about who Connor was. Of course I didn’t plan to tell her who he ‘really’ was now, but she had never seen me with any male being serious at all.So I explained to her that we were going to see the man who brought her back from school the other day, while I got her and myself ready that Saturday evening.“Are we going to thank him?” she asked with an innocent confusion on her face. I had never enjoyed lying to my child but I realized I had to for now, just to protect her.“Something like that, baby,” I said, brushing her pretty bangs.“Is h
Connor was waiting outside when we drove into his mansion. He opened the car door for us, I didn’t see it coming but Laurel was so happy to see him. She literally ran into his arms squealing with so much excitement.I alighted from the car, feeling awkward in my dress, waiting for Connor to notice me. He seemed completely taken by Laurel as they both spoke in silent whispers and giggles, totally lost in their own world.It frightened me a little. Asides from NK and Jody, Laurel had never softened to someone so easily this way. Blood was indeed thicker than water. I didn’t want her to have her heart broken like her mummy, I didn’t want her to feel so attached but at the end of the day watch him leave.“Even Laurie noticed that you look different today?” Connor commented, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was standing before me and I didn’t even know how he managed to get so close to me unawares.“What do you m
CONNOR. I had reserved a place as soon as she left my office the other day. It was a seven star hotel erected close to the sea, so one can be eating dinner while watching Dolphins play around from a close distance.I was hoping Grace would like it. I realized I didn’t really know much about her favourite stuffs but I was ready to know, and tonight, we would be starting afresh like new lovers. She dazzled in her beautiful silver gown that revealed an exquisite, hour-glass figure which she had been hiding behind those unflattering lose pants and office wears. And her hair took on a more serious shine, sitting up on her head in a bun with tendrils cascading down her well-sculptured forehead.I wish she would be this way all the time, even though all I could think of was loosing that bun and letting it fall with her in my arms.We stepped off the car and were led to the VVIP section by the manager of the hotel
EPILOGUETwo years later...I carried the baby basket I had with me and gave it to Laurie, instructing her to take her sibling with her inside. I would carry the other baby shower things I brought inside myself.Yes, Laurie's sibling. I had another baby a few months ago for the man of my heart.Speaking of which, he came out from the house running towards me. He must've seen Laurie enter. He had been here earlier than us; he had to for his best man duties.Jody and Marcus were getting married!Watching them return together and settle and compromise, choosing the love they shared above all their differences, was so elating.Imagine how I felt when Jody said she'd taken in for Marcus. When she first broke the news, I thought an 'I'm having an abortion' news would follow right after, but it never came. I had expected it because this was Jody. Jody! She had said it herself once that she didn't think she ever wanted to be a mother.
GRACE POVI wanted to ask him if he was feeling well enough for us to get on the road, but with the kind of determination on his face, I knew even if he wasn’t feeling well enough, it still wouldn’t deter him. So I dressed myself and Laurie and we got on our way. To be honest, I was really curious too. Even Laurie was and she kept throwing questions of our destination to Connor who did everything but answer those questions. I remained silent the whole ride, deep in my thoughts.We had gotten far into the journey when familiarities started to spring up. They were minimal at first so I didn’t pay them much attention, but then they became much more glaring that I couldn’t just ignore. Connor was taking us to the home his company stole from me.Was he trying to absolve himself of the accusation of his Mom that day in his home?Well, I was looking forward to seeing how he could possibly explain it. Even if I could excuse him taking the ho
JODY’S POVI should’ve known he would be there. I mean, that fact was pretty obvious. If we were going somewhere to see Marcus, then naturally he would be there, or at least somewhere nearby. So why was I still shocked to see him there?Seeing him there, his shirt half-buttoned and him drifting in and out of consciousness, did a series of things that I didn’t like to my heart.I was supposed to be over him, wasn’t I? Why was I feeling these hard tugs to my heart then?When the woman smiled at Grace and introduced herself, I realised it was just that Grace had jumped to conclusion as I had guessed. I knew Connor loved her too much to do anything that could jeopardise what they had, and everyone except Grace seemed to see that.My legs took me to Marcus’ side, and I didn’t bother fighting them. I used my hands to straighten his head to face up. He opened his eyes slightly and his luscious lips curved a bit. His l
GRACEThe call ended abruptly before I even had the chance to reply the person. Irritated by the unknown female’s audacity, as well as a pang of jealousy, I redialed the number only to realize it was Connor’s business number. One I didn’t bother to save.Why would another female be calling me with Connor’s number? I wondered, getting up on my feet and absentmindedly grabbing my winter coat.“I only left yesterday and he had the guts to hang out with another female? Let’s not jump into conclusion just yet, Grace, breathe… I said to myself looking down at my friends who were staring at me like I had suddenly lost my mind.“Who was that Grace? What kind of call made you get up like that?” NK asked me sharply, concern written on her face.“Uhmm,” I hesitated, wondering if it was okay to let them know, well dammit! “A female just called me with Connor’s ph
CONNORI sat on the high stool facing the counter in my favorite bar, listening to You’re My Universe by BTS and Coldplay play softly in the background.Ever since Grace and Laurie left the house, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I understood her anger and resentment and knew that she had every right to be mad at me but I wasn’t expecting her to find out that way. I couldn’t believe even my mother knew about it.Of course she knew about the properties my father acquired before I took over the family’s business but I didn’t know she knew the house at the outskirt of London belonged to Grace. And using that against my relationship with Grace was something I really, really didn’t see coming.“Been a while, Mr. Shelby, what cocktail would you like today?” Bill, my favorite bartender asked, dragging me out of my thoughts. I raised my head to stare him, forcing a warm smi
GRACEWhen Connor and I came back from his mother’s place, he was trying so hard to act like everything was alright, and nothing was wrong. But I wished he wouldn’t act that way.I wanted us to talk, to talk about his mother because as much as she wouldn’t stop me from seeing Connor, I wouldn’t want any of his family member to be against us being together, especially someone as important as his mother.She was extremely important to him so her opinion should count too when it came to our union, to an extent. Also, I was trying to understand why Connor had never mentioned anything about my parents’ house to me all these while. I kept thinking about it all the way from Wales to London but couldn’t wrap my head around how strong his reasons could be. Why didn’t he tell me about the house? My parent’s house, the only thing I got from my parent after their death. The same house I had to give up
THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW.Marcus stared at Jody in confusion.How could someone change their mind so suddenly? He understood how spontaneous Jody could be but he couldn’t quite put a finger on why she changed her mind so abruptly. While he was leaving her office few minutes ago, he thought they were really over until she called him back, accepting his offer for them to talk, and eat.He planned to ask her to give him another chance. Another chance to make her happy. He couldn’t live without her anymore, anyway, so he was ready to do all it took to make her take him back.But currently, he was feeling himself get hard just from her words. His dick pushed out of his pants as her nearness snapped awake his hormones.“Marcus?” Jody called, snapping Marcus out of his train of thoughts.“Let’s eat,” Marcus tried again, handing Jody her own plate but she took it from him and placed it
JODY“How are you my boyfriend, Marcus?” I asked with subtle irritation laced in my voice, as I took my seat after I was able to gather my equilibrium.I couldn’t believe Marcus would come to where I worked and introduce himself as her boyfriend. What he did made me feel some sort of warmth inside but I caught herself quickly before she fell for his charm again.She still loved him to the point where it hurt so badly, but she has promised herself never to take him back again.Never.Never, ever. And she meant it.She gazed at him evenly as he sat uncomfortably on her visitor’s chair adjacent hers. He was gazing at her as well, but his gaze was saying so much, words she could hear loud and clear even though he didn’t speak out a word. “Jody can we talk?” his expression was serious.“We’re talking right now, aren’t we?”“No,
GRACEI sat in the car clutching my child to my chest a little tighter than normal as hot tears streamed down my eyes. I patted her hair to keep her from seeing me cry.I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. My heart was tearing into tiny shreds and sinking at the same time. My hands trembled, I held on tighter, my chest burned and my head swelled. Connor’s mother’s words were like knives targeted straight into my heart.And if her words were meant to hurt me, she succeeded because they really hurt and what made it worse was my child was sitting right there hearing them.I don’t care if she doesn’t want us, neither do I care about her acceptance of me and my child. The most important thing was me not giving up on my child for any reason. I knew what I was going to go through when I decided to keep her all by myself and I went ahead anyway.I struggled with my child, the both of us wen