OWENI watched Scar from my office window, saw her walk out of the back hallway, cigarette between her lips like she didn’t have a damn care in the world. But I knew better. Scar never wasted her time. If she’d pulled Mae aside, it was for a reason.And if she’d given Mae that knife…That meant something was coming.I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers against the desk. My phone sat in front of me, silent. Mae hadn’t called. Hadn’t texted. But I knew she was thinking. Probably overthinking. She did that a lot.The door opened without a knock, and Marco stepped in, shutting it behind him.“She ready?” he asked, nodding toward where Scar had just been.“She will be,” I said.Marco let out a low chuckle. “Still got faith in her, huh?”I looked at him. “You don’t?”He shrugged, dropping into the chair across from me. “She’s got guts, I’ll give her that. But guts don’t mean shit if she makes the wrong move.”I already knew that. Hell, I’d been the one telling myself that since the
MAE The club was suffocating tonight. Too many people, too many eyes. Even in the dim lighting, I felt watched. Like every move I made was being studied, every breath measured. I stepped through the VIP entrance, keeping my head high, my face unreadable. Owen was waiting. Marco beside him, arms crossed, expression sharp. Scar lingered a few feet away, casual as ever, but I knew better. She missed nothing. I ignored the tension pulling at my ribs and walked straight toward them. Owen’s eyes locked onto me the second I stepped into view. “You’re late,” he said. I lifted a brow. “Traffic.” He didn’t smile. Didn’t blink. He just studied me, like he was trying to see past my skin, past my words. I held his gaze, steady. After a beat, he gave a short nod. “Let’s go.” I followed them into the back hall, past security, past the offices. The deeper we went, the quieter the club noise became. By the time we reached the underground level, it was nothing but silence. The basement
MAEI barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the blood. The way it soaked through Eric’s shirt. The way it dripped onto the concrete, too red, too real.It wasn’t real, though. That was the whole point.But it felt like it was.By morning, my body ached with exhaustion, but my mind wouldn’t shut off. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of last night pressing down on my ribs.Eric was safe. Joan would believe he was dead. Everything had gone according to plan.So why did I feel like I was still drowning?My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it without thinking, half-expecting Owen.But it wasn’t him.It was Joan.My stomach twisted as I stared at the screen.JOAN: Come see me.No explanation. No details. Just an order.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to sit up. I should’ve expected this. He wasn’t the type to just take someone’s word for it. He’d want to see me, to look me in the eye and decide for himself.A test.Another one.I exhaled, rolling my shou
MAEAs I walked out of Joan's estate, I could not shake off the feeling that there's a possibility I was being watched. I had to keep one thing in mind. I have to be extra careful knowing that one wrong step would lead to big disaster. Disaster, I mean blood bath, death that I may even be part of.I had thought Eric was my last rodeo. Why the hell was Joan saying I should get ready for something bigger? To him, Owen and Eric were out of the way, what other thing was much more bigger than that?The drive back to my apartment was a blur. My thoughts were consumed by the events of the past twenty four hours. I had faked both Eric and Owen's deaths. What if Joan knew all this while and he was just playing along? What if he was waiting for the right time to pounce? Cold shivers ran through my spine. That won't be good.'Mae, this isn't the time to be afraid. You're way deeper into whatever was going on. Backing out now would be very dangerous.' A voice in my head warned.I scrubbed my fac
OWENMae had asked if I would let her kill Eric if everything wasn't staged. I gave her a positive response.I would rather lose Eric, than lose her.Seeing that Eric wasn't a traitor after all an I still wanted to keep him, made me mind a way out of keeping both him and Mae alive.I had a new plan in mind. I was expecting to Joan to call Mae to his house. I wanted to know what he would say.Mae wasn't aware that I knew of all her conversations with Joan. I had her phone tapped. Once it was turned on, I could hear whatever she was saying.I wasn't doing it because I suspected her, no, not at all. I only cared for her safety. I was awake since five am waiting for Joan to call Mae.I went down to the bar at around seven am. Then my phone buzzed. I looked at it. It was a notification that Joan was calling Mae. I listened to their conversation.I was satisfied when I heard that he believed that Eric was dead. I turned off my phone. Now, it was time for my plan. I instructed Marco to go pi
MAEApart from needing a decent sleep, another thing I desperately needed was what Owen was doing to me now. He was devouring my lips, taking possession of what he owned. I was losing my damn mind as his tongue drew shocking waves from my body.For a moment, I wished he wasn't involved in this silly underground business. I wished he was a normal man, no drugs, no guns, no killings. Just Owen. Maybe he would own a tiny coffee shop down the street, or have any other decent job. And I would be his loving wife making beautiful babies for him.'Mae, stop having impossible dreams. It's never happening. Being involved with the Mob boss, that is the man passionately kissing you right now, will create unending problems.' I told myself.Mry thoughts went back to our kiss. The urge to sleep utterly vanished from my mind. I needed more. I needed him right this moment. I could feel his growing arousal under my bum.'What's stopping you, Owen? Take me now!' My head screamed. I did not mind if he wo
OWENThe kiss at my club made me change plans for today. I decided Mae would be staying with me in my room for the next one week. I may even extend her stay with me, even though I get hold of Joan.I was expecting her accept my offer of staying with me in my bedroom when I told Kael to take her thing there. Rather she blatantly refused, threatening to strip herself in front of him.I succumb to her demands. As for Kael, I would bring a replacement soon, a female to be precise, so Mae won't ever pull this stunt on me.I went back to my room mad. I was going to punish Mae later for having the guts to threaten me. What was on my mind this time was to get rid of my clothes and hit the showers. I still had that burning arousal from the club.Out of the shower, with a towel round my waist, I began to think. 'Was Mae mad at me for stopping the kiss or not having sex with her in the club? Because we were cool, until after that kiss.' She would have to answer that later. Let her sleep first.I
MAEOwen nearly saw me naked, and he was unapologetic about it. He had the nerve to tell me he has seen me naked. He didn't even try to stop ogling at my half naked body.He was truthful. We had made love to me sometime ago, my best sex still.I changed into shorts and tank top from the wardrobe, then fell on the bed. I squirmed at its softness. 'Have I ever felt this softness on the bed I shared with Eli? It feels like heaven.I felt my muscles relaxing, my mind going quiet at the softness of the bed. A gentle smile spread across my face as I drifted off to sleep. My mind going totally blank.I woke up, I don't know how long I slept but I could feel I actually did have a good sleep. I stretched my body, a smile on my face. I reached out for my phone on the night stand. It was two pm in the afternoon. I really did sleep.My phone buzzed with a message notification. It was a message from Eli. It read, "You said you will be back early. I was waiting for you."I totally forgot I told him
MAE"Thank you very much, you have fed me properly today." I took a large gulp of yoghurt. My stomach was really full."That's one of my responsibilities to you." He wiped the corner of my mouth with tissue."What's today?" Suddenly I remembered about my medical checkup."Today is Friday. The end of the month.""Damn! I have my antenatal checkup today.""Really? There's still time. Tell me the schedule the doctor told you." He brought out his diary, waiting for my response."Every four weeks for the next seven months, and every two weeks till the ninth month.""Fine. I will have to be reminding you from henceforth." He closed his diary after taking note of it.Owen took me to the hospital, the exact one where I was told I was pregnant.It was same doctor that told me I was pregnant. She recognized my face."Hey Rivera. Hello." She greeted Owen and I."Hello Doctor.""Please, take your seats." She gestured with her hands. "How are you both doing?""We're doing very fine. We're just a
MAE"O... Owen, you're here?" I stuttered. Why was he here? Is today not supposed to be his wedding? He wasn't supposed to find out this way. The look on his face made me swallow hard. He was mad angry."You're not answering my question, Mae. Are you pregnant?" His face has no expression.Scar quietly excused herself, leaving me to deal with my problems alone. So much for female solidarity."Yes Owen. I am." There was no need lying now. He must have heard everything by the door. Lying would escalate to more problems that I wasn't ready for.I could see a flicker of happiness in his eyes for a moment before the annoyance took over. "How long are you gone?" His eyes went to my stomach. I had no bump yet."A month. I found out about it early last week." I said quietly, my eyes avoiding his."For that long, and I'm just knowing of it now! Mae, what other things are you hiding from me?" He folded his arms. " I have finally figured out the reason you have been avoiding me. You think I won't
OWENAfter I agreed to let Mae go to Joan's house as an insider again, I instructed Marco to find someone that will have an eye on her, some sort of a bodyguard. Since it was only two times a week, I would only be worried for those two days only, unlike before where worry was my best friend.We made love again bringing those sweet feelings to my heart. After I had dropped her off at Casa Eleganza. I went back to my club. I wasn't done going through those footages. The pictures I have so far were mostly those working as servers in the club.Eric would have a lot of work to do.I went through the last parts of the footages, new faces were that of the security men, Marco and a woman.I zoomed the video of Marco and the woman. It was same woman I had seen him with when I had my first meeting as regards to Joan's disappearance. He was holding hands with her and saying things that are barely inaudible.It felt strange though. Marco had never shown interest in woman. I wonder what this woman
MAECongratulations, Ms Rivera. You're three weeks pregnant."The doctor's words kept ringing in my ears on my way to my apartment. I couldn't describe what I was feeling.While in her office some time ago, I even had to tell her to check the name well."Mae Rivera." The doctor read from the piece of paper in her hands. "Is that not your name?""It... It is." I stammered."Why are you... Wait, you are not ready yet?" She read my face."Yeah, kind of." I said."That's okay, Mae." She smiled again. "Since you're not ready and we discovered it early enough, you can take it out."I'm keeping it, Doctor." I said firmly. The last thing on my mind at this time was getting pregnant, but since it has happened, I can't kill my baby. I have to beat the consequences of my actions."Your husband would be happy.""I'm not married." Do I looked married? I'm not even wearing a ring."Ohh, I'm sorry for the assumption." She apologized. "I hope its father would be happy.""He would. He was even the on
MAEIt was morning already and I was in Owen's arms. Making love out in the open was such an adventure. But we have to leave."Owen." I tapped him lightly. I remembered Eli. He would have been waiting for me to come back."Go back to sleep, Mae." He pulled me closer."It's nine thirty." I complained."I know." His eyes were still closed.He knew. He must have woken up before me.I succeeded in removing his hands."Mae, come back." He tried reaching out for me."Owen, wake up. We can't stay here all day." I put on my denim gown back."Staying with you makes me want to do nothing." He was fully awake now."That's sad, but I want to do something.""Ouch." He stood up from the bed.He had actually woken up, because he had his boxers on. He put on his shirt and trousers."I will be going over to Joan's today." I stated. I didn't want to waste time at all. My last meeting is with Joan was when he told me I had a bigger job to do for him."Really? Wait awhile. We just agreed yesterday.""I d
MAE I can't believe I just forgave Owen after all the promises I made to myself never to. When Eli has told me he saw Owen, I thought he was joking. But he did show up at my door, went as far as bringing me out of my hiding spot by threatening to kill Eli. This man brought weakeness to my knees by saying that the words he went to me last week. I was now convinced that he was the one who wrote them. He had a way of softening me up. I even agreed to go out to dinner with him. When he left, Eli came out of the bathroom. "I'm sorry." I could not control my laughter. "It's not funny, Mae. I nearly peed on myself." "I'm so sorry." I said again, going to him to rub his back. "So, you guys are back together?" Eli asked me. "Yeah, somehow." I shrugged. "I heard liplocking sounds and you agreed to go on a date with him. That's not a somehow. You like him, don't you?" "I don't know, Eli. My head and heart are not friends at all. I decided I would never talk to him again, and now he sa
OWEN"Where does she live?" I asked. It was two minutes past six am in the morning of the next day.Last night I was supposed to sleep like a baby because my woman has forgiven me, Scar turned it upside down by telling me news about Eve's death. I was happy, no doubt but a part of me was on high alert. I had some thoughts. It's possible that Joan's kidnapper could also be Eve's killer. And whoever did this wants to keep me to my toes.I decided that I would meet with Scar, Eric and Marco tomorrow morning, very early."Not that far from Joan's. Sometimes she sleeps at her house, sometimes Joan's." Scar replied. We were sitting on a round table.I had want to set this meeting only with Scar because I put her in charge of Eve, but then I did some thinking, it's best if Eric and Marco were aware of this as well. This was a clear sign that someone has their eyes on us."Did you ever speak to her?""Yeah, I did, just two times. The first time I met her at a pharmacy store, we didn't really
OWENI was so prepared for this moment. I had two things on my mind. It was either Mae was lying or she was back from her grandparents' and her roommate has refused to tell me when she returned.At this point, nothing else mattered. I only wanted to see Mae. That was the main problem I was facing now.I walked stealthily to her room, having a rethink of what I would say to her. I got to her door front and knocked.No response as usual.I knocked again.Eli answered.I wasn't supposed to see Eli. Mae should have been the one here. It meant one thing that he must have seen me coming here and decided to alert her."I'm here to see Mae." I stated."Mae is not around. You were here this morning." He said. "She's in the hospital with her grandfather."I gave a weak laughter. It had been a lie all along."She is. Let me in." I said simply."She isn't."I looked him dead in the eye before I shoved him and forced myself inside. In a split second, I had my elbow over his neck. He chose the hard
MAE"About Joan, what is the latest on him?" The last time Owen and I spoke about Joan. He did not tell me the details of his plans."Owen wants to go for Javier and Don Paulo. And Eve too." Scar said."Eve? I haven't heard that name around here?""She is an insider. She was the one who told me about Joan's schedule on the day we were meant to capture him. Owen suspects her.... Wait, why am I even telling you this? You are no longer with Owen. You have no business knowing about his affairs.""I'm already involved in this. There's no way I would be left out.""I'm sorry, Rivera. I can't say past that." Scar stood up from her seat.I feel that she was keeping her loyalty to Owen. She was right. I'm no longer with Owen and Owen is no longer my boss. So, I'm invariably an opposition or enemy.I went back to my apartment. Atleast, she told me a vital part of what I wanted to hear. I needed to eat pizza so I made an order for two boxes."Did you go to see Owen?" Eli questioned."No, why wil