GRACE.“Explain then,” I glared at him, pouring all the rage I was feeling into his eyes.At first, I wanted to stay inside NK’s room till he left like I told NK but I just couldn’t beat to hear him plead that way.I really didn’t want to see him ever again or hear whatever he had to say, but his persistence was driving me nuts.The desperation and urgency in his voice drew me out of the house. And I thought to myself; he wants to talk right? Then we might as well just hear his loads of excuses and get it over and done with.One thing was certain, I've been a reporter for more than five years. No Tabloids can carry an information like that without the person’s authorization or the company or agency they work for. He would have slapped them with heavy lawsuits if that wasn’t the case. So yeah, I wanna hear about it too, cuz I have been scrolling through articles since NK showed me that, looking
JODYI hurried into my home after work so I could drop off the work stuff with me before rushing to NK’s place to see Grace.I called NK first as Gracie’s number wasn’t reachable to know the situation of things but NK told me Grace had left after Connor came to her place persisting that he must talk to her.Connor Shelby went to NK’s house? Jeez! I’m just surprised, not really impressed because he was still a two timing bastard. I said I was going to see Grace at home then, but NK advised against it, saying she needed some time by herself.“What about Laurel?” I asked,"Grace had gone to pick her up earlier than normal," NK told me.“Alright then, let’s just keep trying to reach her on phone and by tomorrow or next, we’ll go see her.” I suggested and NK agreed.I ended the call and sent Grace a voicemail and text messages to ask how she was d
I tried to struggle, to fight him off, but he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tighter to his rock hard body.“Jody.” He said my name in a really soothing manner with his head resting on my shoulders. “I know my boss, and I know he is not that kind of person. I’m not that kind of person too. We would never intentionally hurt the person we care about. He would definitely make things right with your friend, I promise.”My heart morphed into Jelly at his words as I wrapped my tiny arms around his neck and hugged him back. He drew back a little and rested his lip on mine, sending waves of tingles all over my nerves. I let him in as he tongue gently took control of my whole mouth and senses.I have been with quite a number of men in my life but I couldn’t remember the last time a man made me feel this safe and loved.And the sparks. I had lost faith in sparks, in ever getting that sensation of but
CONNORI drove straight to the airport after meeting with Grace and was able to secure a first class ticket to Wales, where my family home was based.Usually, it was my secretary’s duty to take care of issues like these but this travel wasn’t the usual business travel, it was my person business, so I decided to handle it myself. I didn’t call Marcus as he informed me he would be unavailable for the rest of the day.The plane took off at mid-day and hopefully, I should be getting back to London before midnight. I could never sleep anywhere that isn’t my room in my home here in central London. Although I once lived in Wales with my family when I was younger but I left home in my early teen years for an expensive Boarding schools only rich kids could attend.I didn’t want to go, in fact I begged my parents profusely not to allow me go, but my father was a dictator, so I had no choice but to leave home at such a
I wanted to hit my head on the glass table so bad, but I groaned instead, rubbing my face harshly with my palms.“I cannot do that mother,” I argued, knowing that none of the options were going to be favorable for me.“Then we do not have a deal.” she clapped twice as the maids rushed in with bowls and plates of different foods. “Be careful, Son, I might be miles away from you, doesn’t change much. Eat.” she said with a tone that indicated she was done with the conversation and passed me a plate of pasta.Even if I was hungry on my way here, (which I wasn’t) the banter I just had with my mother was enough to ruin my appetite.“How’s Courtney?” I asked about my little sister. It was actually rude of me to not have asked about her since I came.“She’s been headstrong as usual,” she wiped her mouth courteously with a sparkling white napkin. “But I h
GRACE.I went to work the next day after dropping Laurel off with NK. Life goes on and I can’t be left behind, after all, this wasn’t the worse experience I have had with Connor.I tried to cheer up for my baby’s sake, I couldn’t let her see how crushed on the inside I was feeling, but all in all, it was a relief I didn’t tell her Connor was her father as I had intended the day before.No more thinking, Grace, I scolded myself as I walked into our small crowded office. Everyone was asking how I was faring, how my health was, if I was feeling better now, except of course, Michelle.However, I ignored her and slid into my cubicle to begin the job assigned to me for the night. But before I was able to turn on my computer, one of our youngest workers, Peter knocked on the glass of my cubicle.“Director Lance says the both of you would be going for stake out tonight in the next ten minutes and you should get r
FEW MINUTES LATER. “We’ll start off with a glass of champagne each,” Director Lance said handing the menu to a standing man in tight waiter uniform.I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting opposite him, about to start drinking. I have never been an alcohol person or one who believes alcohol makes things better but lord knows I need a glass or two today.The event we initially came all the way to Mayfair for would have started, but guess what? He had figured it out beforehand. He called a day worker who ‘owed him a favor’, according to him to assist Chris in covering the event.More shocking truth: He didn’t come out here because of any ‘dumb award ceremony’ but to cheer me up because I looked like I needed comfort. Also, he had pulled it off this way because he knows I’ll never agree to go out on a date with him even if he asked naturally. Director Lance had no idea what my issues were exactly, but he was able to give the right diagnosis. I’ll
CONNORI couldn’t hold the words back.Jealously, rage erupted from me as I entered the bar following the tracker only to see Grace sitting with another male.How dare this man sit close to my woman? And even had the effrontery to call himself her potential boyfriend. It took every self-control in me not to punch him in the face.She wouldn’t be going back to that work tomorrow. Not while I’m still breathing.If she had opened her door last night when I knocked and knocked, if she had answered her phone at least once, then both of us wouldn’t have to be in that situation. I would have told her everything while we look for ways to solve the problem together.But she actually believed I left her to get engage with someone else, why would I ever do that? She had no idea how much she and our child meant to me.I knew I was going to regret saying I was the father of her child that way in publ
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