*MALIYAH*It’s a cool evening and I was seated on a chaise lounge in the balcony reading a book.Hearing footsteps,I turned around to see Ben walking up to me.“Hey,baby.”He cooed and leaned,pressing a kiss against my temple.And then,he moved around and knelt down in front of me.“I have something for you.”I smiled.”What is it?”“Come with me.”He stood up and held out his hand to me.I excitedly took it and we headed out of the house.We came by the parking lot where I saw a brand new car.“It’s a Mercedes Maybach and it’s yours.”He informed me,handing a smart key to me.“Wow!”I exclaimed,taking in how luxurious the car looked.I moved closer to it and he urged me to open the door.I unlocked it with the smart key and opened the door.As I ran my eyes and hands through the inside of the car,I was in awe of the sheer beauty of it.“My God.Ben,it’s so…it’s so…”I didn’t even know the right word to describe the car.”Thank you so much.But what’s the occasion though.It isn’t my birthday.”
Charlotte sat on her armchair with her legs crossed.She had spent days thinking and thinking of what to do.She recalled how tensed Madam Valentina had looked about not wanting Ben to ever know that she had any plans of hurting Maliyah.She had never thought she would see the old woman ever being scared of anyone.And that kinda made her understand that she too had to be careful.It appears Ben wouldn’t let a single person lay an hand on that girl under his watch.And if she wanted to ever get back to him,she had to keep pretending she was a good person,a righteous person who couldn’t hurt a fly.Should she just pay someone in that house to take care of Maliyah, quietly?They could poison her food.That way,she could end two birds with one stone.The baby and that wrench.She shuddered recalling it would be too risky to end her life in Ben’s house.He might figure out who did it and that would automatically ruin her chances with him.She really had to follow Madam Valentine’s advice.Wh
“I don’t know why he’s still keeping you around but I know very soon,he’s going to find his way back to me so enjoy your time with him while it lasts.”With that, Charlotte sauntered off.Her words didn’t get to me at all.I already knew what I was signing up by wanting to spend the rest of my life with him.I knew I had to put up with a grandmother who didn’t like me.And now,an ex-fiancée whose ego was bruised that he had left her for someone like me.As long as he wants and loves me,nothing and nobody else mattered.*******************Drew picked me up from work that day and as he drove home,I heard him answer a phone call.“Yes,dear.I already paid for the cake…I’d go pick it up tomorrow…yes,he could invite his classmates if he wants to…just get the permission from their parents…okay…love you…”Oh,I barely see this man smiling.I glanced at his finger and saw what I hadn’t noticed in a while.He was married.“Are you having a party,Drew?”I asked,wanting to make small talks with him.
*MALIYAH*I blinked and opened my eyes.The face that greeted mine made me smile.Feeling pressed, I got off the bed and put on a robe.I walked into the bathroom and eased myself.Standing in front of the mirror,I loosened my robe and stared at my small baby bump.I was almost five months pregnant now and it’s been quite an overwhelming experience knowing a life was steadily growing inside of me.Each time Ben and I go to see the doctor for my antenatal care,I was always so happy to watch how much my baby was growing.Ben and I had decided we wanted the gender to be a surprise.We wanted to wait until the very day I give birth to know if it was a boy or a girl.We had set up the baby’s nursery.We had bought clothes already.Unisex baby clothes.Yeah,we were that excited to be parents.My mom and Aunt have been to Ben’s house to visit me,sometimes spending the night and I often go visit them at her house as well.Even if she was still pretending she hadn’t completely accepted Ben,I knew she
*MALIYAH*It’s noon the following day at the boutique when I was told that someone was here to see me.Getting to the front door,I was surprised to see Esme.“Hello,Maliyah.Can we talk please?”She asked and for the first time,she looked friendly and kind.It felt odd because she had always been harsh and mean to me.Curious about what she wanted to talk about,I led her into my office.I offered her a seat and then I sat opposite to her.She was quiet for a while and she looked kind of sad.I asked someone to bring us some juice and I impatiently waited for what she had to say to me.“How is Mr Graham?”She finally asked after what felt like an eternity.“He’s…he’s doing okay.”I replied.“I’m glad.The truth is I had expected you to walk me out of your boutique as soon as you saw me.”My lips thinned.”We might not have gotten along but I don’t have any grudge against you.Afterall,you were only looking out for Ben and I saw how much you care about him like a mother would.I found that amaz
*BENNETT*I had a business meeting at a restaurant downtown and as I walked out of the company,I’m stunned to see Charlotte crying towards me.“He…Ben…he.”She wailed and flew right into my arms.“Charlotte.”I called,trying to pull her away from me.“It’s Rowan…he…he was involved in an accident.He…he didn’t make it.”She wept.Rowan was her immediate younger brother and the last child of her parents.I didn’t know much about the boy but the few times I had dinner at her father’s house in the past,I saw that he was a very cheerful and care-freed boy who was still in college.I don’t know if it’s because I had experienced losing two people dear to me before but I always felt terrible each time I hear about people losing their loved ones.So I tried to comfort her.Letting her know that she should be with her family right now.Though I found it odd that she came right up to me but I guessed she saw me as a friend and I didn’t want to reprimand her for that right now.She got a call that her
*MALIYAH*It happened so fast.I didn’t get the chance to think twice about how dangerous this was especially in my condition.The only thing on my mind was saving the child and getting out unscathed.But as I pushed the child to the other side,the car rammed powerfully against me.*****************BENNETT*I ran into the hospital that was mentioned to me on the phone.I was still at the board meeting when I received a call,informing me that my wife had been in an accident.I could barely breathe as I made inquiry at the receptionist’ desk and I’m told she’s in the operating room.Operating room?Fuck!How serious was it?Two of her boutique’s staff were around,they were the ones whom had probably called the ambulance and me.I was too tensed to even ask them anything right now.I paced to and fro in the hallway.I was told it happened at the front of her boutique.I have a million thoughts running through my head at the same time.But the only thing important right now was knowing th
*BENNETT*Maliyah woke up the following evening.Mrs Roberts was the first to notice the twitching of her eyes before she finally opened them.Felicia hurried out to get the doctor while I and her mother rushed closer to her.“Maliyah,dear…Thank God…thank God you’re awake.”Her mother cried rubbing her hair,gently.“Be…Ben.”She called,weakly.My heart bled as I held her hand.“Wha…what happened?”She asked,staring at me and then at her mother.“You were in an accident.”I replied.And that seemed to make her remember.”Oh…the…the girl…”“She’s fine.You saved her.”I bit out.She tried to move her right arm but winced.“You shouldn’t move right now.You’re hurt.”I said to her, softly.And then she moved her left hand and I watched,ruefully as she placed it on her belly.“Is…is the baby alright?I…I hope I didn’t hurt the baby.“I stared at Mrs Roberts and she was staring back at me.How do I say this to her?I was barely coming to terms with the loss.“Ben…Mom…”She called,noticing how tensed
THREE MONTHS LATER…*MALIYAH*“He just got here.”I announced to the others and we quickly took out positions.As soon as Ben walked into the house,we turned on the lights and yelled.“SURPRISE!”“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!”We began to sing for him.I knew he won’t be overly thrilled but he tried his best to look thrilled.He had said before he’d prefer spending his birthday with just me.But I wanted him to be surrounded by other people,to know more people found him amazing.In attendance were Logan,Leah,Timothy,Miles,Simon,Madam Valentina,my mom and Aunt FeliciaI could his smile fade as he saw Madam Valentina and I quickly walked up to him,whispering and warning him not to chase her away.He had been talking into forgiving my mom but he won’t forgive his grandmother.He always says what his Grandma did was unforgivable but she was remorseful about it and I felt that was all that matters now.Not that things were back to the way they were with my mom,I was still pretty wary of her but she
*MALIYAH*I moved in with Ben that day because I just couldn’t spend another day away from him.The following day,I got to the office super late.It had been hard for Ben and I to go our separate ways to work this morning.He had dropped me off at the front of Mobilotech and it was another struggle to get down from his car.He had to walk me into the company’s lobby hand in hand and we eventually let go of each other,promising each other that we would close from work early.“Look who finally decided to show up.”Timothy teased when I walked into his office to submit some documents to him.“I’m sorry…I was stuck in traffic.”That made him laugh,because it was an obvious lie.“My God,look at you,you’re glowing.You two are so in love.I was watching from my window…he practically walked you into the company,I thought he might just start work here because of you.”I laughed.”I’m missing him already.Tim,can I close early today?”“No.”He chuckled.“Please…”“Maliyah,look at the time…you’re very
“You’re always in my head.”He said to me.I was going to go up in flames.“You’re in my blood.”I let out a shaky breath as he continued thrusting into me with the vibrator.“You’re in every one of my fucking veins.”Oh I needed him,I needed him right now.“Ben…Ben…wait…I need…I need your cock.”I panted,trying to control the movements of my hips to prevent myself from coming.“I want you inside of me when I come.”I murmured.He grinned at me.I gasped as the bulbous head slid from me.He knelt on the bed,positioning himself between my legs,nudging my legs wide with his powerful hair roughened thighs.I tried to catch my breath as I looked up at him,I tried to calm the thundering of my heart,the roar in my ears, but all I wanted was to feel his weight on me…in me.He was poised against me,I could feel him.One push and he’d be inside me.He leaned down over me, his legs opening me wider,his forearms resting next to my head as he looked straight down into my eyes.His jaw flexed before h
*MALIYAH*I tried to ease my tensed muscles,to calm the erratic breathing,the roaring of my blood,but only managed to gasp again as he rocked back and forth once more.“It’s okay.”He groaned.”Relax”I swallowed at the blunt pressure,squeezed my eyes shut and tried to do just that.I shifted my hips a little on the bed in a futile effort to ease his way, for a better angle,to help alleviate the feeling of fullness.“Easy.”He ground out.I was holding myself taut in anticipation of his next retreat and entry.I could feel it,but my muscles wound tighter,nerves strung taut.My body just wouldn’t cooperate.It felt as if he was breaking into me all over again.He moved completely out of me and I quickly held his hand.“No…please…don’t stop.I…I just…it’s been awhile since I…”I paused,not sure if I should talk about the men I had tried to be with in London.“I don’t want to hear about your sex experience with other men.”He informed me,calmly.“Does that make you love me less?”I asked,my heart
*BENNETT*“Kiss me,Ben…please.”She urged,pulling her face close to mine.I caressed her gently in my arms.She was warm and soft.I lowered my head and molded my lips to hers.Fuck!I ran my tongue over her lips and between them.I groaned at the shaft of heat that arrowed down right into my cock and tightened my balls.I dipped my tongue inside her mouth,once,twice, a third time before I pulled sharply back.God I had been avoiding kissing or touching her,because I knew that would wear off the tiny bit of resistant I had left.I took a deep breath in a futile effort to stem the rapid thud in my heart and fight the urge to kiss her again.But when she rubbed herself against me,I gave in again.I pressed my lips against hers.Maliyah nibbled along my bottom lip,used her tongue to taste the shape of my mouth.The soft,tentative moments caused a curl in my gut.I felt her soft breath fan out against my mouth as she pulled back and that sigh was my undoing.Before I had the time to think about
*MALIYAH*It’s a Saturday morning and I awoke without Ben in bed.I knew he wasn’t going to work today.Running my hand through my hair,I walked out of the bedroom and went in search for him.I found him at the gym.I leaned against the door as I watched him do some exercises.I nibbled my lower lip watching him do some pulls up.He was bare chested and his muscles bulged with his every movement.I squeezed my thighs together feeling hot and bothered.Oh God,I wanted him to touch me so bad.I stood there,watching until he was done.When he started to gulp down a bottle of water,I finally walked in,trying to keep my hands to myself.“I might just take you by force,Mr Graham.I don’t know how long I can resist this temptation.”I said to him.I could see he was trying hard not to smile.God,how much longer was he going to make me chase him?Not that I was tired of chasing him but I wish he could just give in a bit.He clearly was still very much attracted to me and he’s equally been trying
*MALIYAH*Things were pretty messy at the office that day.With so many calls,the news of him coming out was pretty scandalous,because it also had to do with a divorce.People were throwing shades,saying whatever they felt about the whole thing but Timothy was unbothered.I could tell he wasn’t fully unbothered though.He loved his family and it would make him happy if they accepted him.But he didn’t really care about what the public thought though.He felt people who didn’t know him personally had no right to judge him.Hell,he had even set up a date with Miles.Miles seemed to like him too but was still pretty hurt by Timothy’s rejection in high school so he was currently playing hard to get.I hope they could get back together soon.At the close of work,I walked out of the office,excited to go see Ben.I frowned seeing someone else at the receptionist stand.My mom.The receptionist had called earlier that she wanted to see me but I had specifically told her to send this woman away.
*MALIYAH*Since he might not come down for dinner,I’ll bring it up to him.I dished out the meals and headed upstairs with the tray.Getting to his bedroom,I walked in to finding him pulling on a sweatpants.“Jesus!”He seemed,startled.”Why are you still here?”“Let’s eat together and get some sleep.”I announced,setting down the tray.When I turned to face him,he was covering his bare chest with a robe.“You could’ve at least knocked.I could’ve been naked.”He lashed out.I laughed.”So?Well now that you mentioned it,I want to see all of you…I’ve missed seeing you.”I purred and started walking up to him.He walked back.”What is wrong with you?Where the hell is Timothy?I thought I heard the sound of a car.”“He knows I belong here.”“You don’t belong anywhere near me.Get out.”“I don’t want to.”I backed him against the wall.Oh how the tables had turned.He used to be the one chasing after me.Not that I mind being in this position right now.It’s actually quite fun.“Maliyah,go home.Stop
“I don’t care what happens to me now.I just want to be with him.”“Then don’t give up.Don’t give up on him.He needs someone.He needs love.He’s just scared to say he needs you.You have to show him that he doesn’t need to be scared,okay?”I nodded.”Thank you,Emily.I should have come see you sooner.”She hugged me,tightly.”Thanks for being alive,Maliyah.Drew will be so happy knowing you found your way back to Ben.”I sobbed into her arms.A sound came from the door and I lifted up my head to see a boy and a girl walking in,obviously returning from school.I wiped my cheeks as I stared at them.“Aiden has gotten so much bigger.”I cooed.“He’ll be thirteen in a few days.”“Mommy.”The little girl ran up to her and hugged her.“How was school,baby?”“It was fine.I learnt a poem.”“This is Ava.”Emily introduced.”I was pregnant with her when Drew…passed.”Oh.I hope Charlotte rots in hell.“Hello.”Aiden beamed at me,politely.“Aiden,this is Ben’s wife.”And then he frowned.”I thought she…”“It