The sun rose and set, stars glistened in the sky and disappeared, and days and nights passed, but she remained limp and unconscious on her bed.
Cool air surged around the room as the fan howled heavily on the chair, pointed towards the bed; and a bowl of cold water sat on the headboard.
An older African woman with tanned skin sat at the edge of the bed with a wet cloth clutched in her hand as she glazed down at the pale figure lying on the bed.
MJ laid unconscious on the bed, with a bandage wrapped around her head. Her chest rose as she breathed steadily. She had been changed into a set of printed pyjamas, and half her body was covered in bed sheets.
"What if she never wakes up, Sandra?" A panicked voice asked. "It's been two days."
"Then we will have two funerals." Sandra Cooper answered without missing a heartbeat, and cold silence se
She knew she would not hear the end of it from her neighbours and Mr Brown tomorrow morning, because her apartment had become a source of noise and disturbance in the entire building. People were going in and out, and some even banged on the door late at night, disturbing the people's sleep.Thankfully, she would be leaving for New Zealand in two days, bringing the people back their sense of peace. She sighed loudly as she pulled the door wide open and stared at the woman in front of her door with a confused expression."Can I come in?" Lola asked.Sonya lifted her chin, looking defiant. "Why should I let you in?""I had no one else to go to." She sighed and stepped aside. Lola walked in barefoot, her face stained with dry tears.Sonya closed the door and stood against it with her arms crossed. "Do you need some alcohol to numb the pain
Black.The colour of coal.The colour of night.The colour of pain. Darkness.The very same colour that tore them apart. And today, it was the colour she wore right before his memorial service.She crouched down beside the vanity, staring blankly at the wedding pictures that littered the top. Now that she thought about it, their love story was scandalous; a young, black, Zulu woman who ran off with a white man during the apartheid regime.Her peers were not happy, the remaining of her family were disappointed. But none of that mattered. She was n love with the man, and he loved her just as equally if not more.They moved settled in England in 2000 after travelling the world together, and they lived as happily as any people in love did. But it was not all gold; his family despised her
"I don't think that woman likes me." Logan wondered as his eyes skimmed across the huge hall.The memorial service was held at one of the biggest halls in London, and the place was already piling up with people. The place was packed with mainly businessmen and women from all around the world, board members from all Billings Corporations branches, workers, family members, and friends.Logan watched as Sandra and Olufe welcomed people at the entrance. His eyes kept shifting to the door, expecting to see MJ."Do you think she's going to show up?" Antonina asked, noticing the strained look on his face.Logan sighed. "I hope she comes."At the entrance, every "sorry for your loss", "our sincered condolences", and "He was a good man"; felt like a cold blow to Sandra Cooper. Minute by minute, it felt difficult to stand there and not lose herse
The first thing that occurred to MJ when she stepped into the room, was how packed it was; and then the first thing she thought when she spoke, was how every single person was looking at her. But the moment her eyes landed on the casket sitting at the podium, everyone and everything else disappeared, and she found her feet taking her to the front.She stood in front of the casket with her back turned against the crowd, and placed her palm on top. A flash of the murder hit her sight and a gunshot echoed in her ears, causing her to grip the casket for dear life. She closed her eyes and released a sharp breath. "I stood outside this building for more than an hour and stared at the stars, hoping that they hear my call. I stood out there and listened to all of you talk about what a good man Alastair Cooper was. But the truth is, your words mean nothing." A chorus of whispers rose, and people started shifting in their seats; but MJ did not pay atte
"Did you speak to her?" Antonina asked the moment Logan walked into the room.The hall was almost chaotic as people were starting to leave. Antonina felt out of place since she did not know anyone except for her companion and business partner, Logan Parker. She only caught a glimpse of Jorge and MJ, but never got a chance to speak to either one of them.Both she and Logan were rendered speechless by MJ's words of remembrance. They did not know much of her story, Logan had since lost interest in anything related to MJ, up until she spoke.Antonina could see the conflict in his eyes as he tried to remain still. He was fidgety and kept playing with MJ's watch in his hand while trying to get a glimpse of her face as she spoke with her back turned against the guests. Antonina had to hold his hand down to keep him still, as Sandra was giving him a suspicious look.
MJ could not remember the last time she came to this house. She did not remember whether it was before Alastair adopted her or after she started the business; but she could never forget the house that was once her shelter.The old, brick-layered mansion still stood out amongst the beauty of the social elites of London, its red-tiled roof giving it a classic look. The yard was bare of any vehicles, it was free of plants or lawn, and the place that was once a pool, was replaced by an ugly fountain and a mini garden after one kid almost drowned.The interior of the house was modern and yet traditional, filled with imported accessories from South Africa and Nigeria. The couch in the sitting room resembled the skin of a leopard, and the pale walls were decorated with traditional, seamed mats and other Zulu and Tsonga gears.The walls along the staircase were decorated with pictures of every sin
"Thank God you came!" Javier said anxiously as he pulled the woman into a bone-crushing hug. He had been edgy since Alastair Cooper's funeral, and his paranoia had increased.He had been on the lookout from the day he decided to mess with Samantha Grayson, and now that he had seen Miss Sandoval; he was all over the place. He snapped at everyone and barely listened to reason. Everything made him angry, more especially seeing his wife, Danielle."Why did you call me here? What if someone sees us? Where is your wife?" Brianna asked as soon as she pulled away, the panicked look in her eyes making Javier rethink his decision. "Javier, we spoke about this; we can't be seen together." She said in her deep voice.Javier sighed and threw his head back in frustration. "I know." He breathed. "I know and I'm sorry." He looked at her with sad eyes. "I love you, Bree." He said and pulled her into anothe
The place smelled just as he had expected if not worse. The smell of disinfectants, meds, and death lingered in the air, every sweep of breath sending him on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The sounds of ambulances; the sight of nurses, doctors, and sick patients; and the colour of the walls, gowns, curtains, and sheets, filled his heart with hatred.It reminded him of what Carmen did to him, and it hurt more when he remembered how MJ was involved. It reminded him of how she had succeeded in breaking him; she had fooled him from the start, and he fell for it without thinking twice. Being at the hospital was like a trigger, but there was no escape for him; it did not matter where he was, the memory of MJ Billings would always haunt his conscious.He did not know whether it was the doctors, Jorge Billings, or the woman lying on the hospital bed; but Logan Parker felt like punching someone in the face.&