Grayson stared quietly through the frameless glass window towards the vast garden of the Wellington estate on a Tuesday morning inside the family library. He stuck his hands inside his pockets, waiting for the visitor his brother had told that wished to see him.“Grayson?”He turned at the call of his name and he stood still for a while when he finally came face to face with Sheridan Blackthorne, Duchess of Luxembourg. He took his hands out from his pockets and bowed to her formally.“It’s good to see you again, Lady Blackthorne,” Grayson greeted calmly.“Lady Blackthorne?” Sheridan asked with a slight hint of amusement. “Whatever happened to Auntie Sherry? I’m sure that I am still that woman to you.”“I’m not sure if I still have the privilege to call you that,” Grayson answered carefully.Sheridan walked towards him with a smile and raised her arms, placing them gently on his shoulders. Applying pressure with her palms, Grayson bent down and finally pulled her into a hug. She rubbed
Jordan looked up with an irritated expression, from the menu that he is reading when he heard a commotion at one side of the empty restaurant of The Fresh Fusion on a Wednesday lunch time. He frowned when he saw familiar figures, who seemed to be harassing someone that is trying to get pass the reception podium.The maître d looked harassed at the situation.“You think that you are so high above us that you pretend not to know us?” Sissy Barnes mocked coldly. “You had everyone completely fooled that you’re dead! Was this a plan of yours? Fake your death and then come back alive a few years later? You do always love some attention to yourself!”“Did you come back to seek your revenge?” Jenna Ferguson-Hamilton, Sissy’s mother added. “Putting us on a bad light when you got engaged was not enough, huh?!”“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the harassed person answered. “Please. Just leave me be. I’m not bothering you.”“Oh, but you are,” Sissy snapped. She reached out and gripped th
Maya stared at herself at the mirror, looking at her reflection with calm eyes, as she wore an emerald green elegant strappy V-neck knee length dress that features a backless and crisscross back design. She paired it with a glittery strappy, 6-inch sandals, diamond earrings and natural make-up except for her bright red lips.She looked down at the 5 Carat Double Halo Cushion Cut Diamond in White Gold engagement ring that Grayson gave her, which she knew belong to his grandmother. She raised her hand, admiring the ring and feeling guilty at the same time.It has been a month since she is rebelling on Grayson by ditching her bodyguards most of the time. One month of suppressing her heartache when she discovered the letter he had written to Elizabeth Blackthorne as well as nursing her jealousy by going out with Jordan.“Nathan called me because Steven’s been reporting to him that you’ve been ditching them again and again, Maya,” Grayson said hardly over the phone several days ago. “What’
Jordan opened the door for Maya and gently helped her out of his car the following day. He handed his car key to the valet after he closed the door. He instructed the porter to take her small weekend bag to the room he had reserved for her to change later in the afternoon for an opera and orchestra show in the evening and for her to stay overnight.He matched her pace, staying behind her, watching and admiring her. He hid a grin as he recalled a few hours ago when he expertly drove through the heavy traffic going towards the hotel and ditched her bodyguards, who are on their own car following them.When Maya had noticed that they’re missing, Jordan lied through his teeth and told her that they might have got stuck in traffic and that he had told them where they are going.Maya walked up the few steps of The Grand Pinnacle Hotel, oblivious to the fact that some employees of the hotel are staring at her curiously while some guests and customers are looking at her admiringly, most especi
Maya opened her eyes and rubbed them gently, adjusting to the sunlight that came through the window of her room back in the villa. She slowly sat up and reached for her phone to turn off the alarm that she had set.She massaged her head gently to ease the headache she is feeling and then looked at herself on the screen of her phone. Her eyes are still puffy from the crying that she had been going through for the past two days.After heading back home to Montleigh Villas after staying overnight at The Grand Pinnacle Hotel after attending an opera and orchestra show, Maya had not foreseen the events that would unfold the moment she came out from Jordan’s car.Upon Jordan’s gentle insistence, they had some breakfast first at the hotel’s main restaurant before heading back home. Maya had enjoyed the entire duration while taking some mental notes that she could follow or improve once Aurora opens.Jordan then set off back to the villa, taking a different route and passed through a road tha
Maya finally went out of her room after taking a long hot shower to ease her headache. After putting on a comfortable silk top, pairing it with plain dark pants and ballet flats, she went down and met Yasmine, who is opening the curtains at the living room.“Good morning, Madam,” Yasmine greeted. “I already brewed some coffee and will get you a cup.”“Thank you,” Maya answered as she placed her bag on top of one cabinet and checked if she had everything inside. She looked around the empty room before walking towards the dining table. “Where’s everyone?”“Mr. St. Claire had an early flight back to CF State this morning,” Yasmin replied as she served Maya her coffee. “He also told me to inform you that he gave the bodyguards some days off.”Maya only nodded, gripping her cup.Great, she thought wryly. Adding more to my guilt.Feeling guilty after reflecting on her fight with Grayson, Maya tried to make amends with him the following day by inviting him to go with her to The Oceanview Hot
Jordan, from his position, watched quietly as Maya looked around her surroundings before occupying one chair in the hotel’s outdoor dining area on a Thursday morning. He observed how her eyes moved frantically from side to side.“I want you to be several feet away from Maya Griffiths. Watch her for now,” Jordan said over his phone after calling his lead bodyguard, whom she had met several times. He watched when his bodyguard did what he instructed and saw how her face became relieved when she caught sight of him. “What the hell’s going on, Maya?”After listening to Cassandra about the weird behavior she observed from Maya two days ago, Jordan had been monitoring her when she came in this morning since she did not come yesterday. He remembered approaching her a while ago, trying to be calm and innocent and wanting her to open up whatever’s been bothering her.However, what he remembered and stayed on his mind when she turned towards him. She had on a frantic and frightening look on her
Maya looked at her phone the following day after finishing her lunch to check on the location of the car that she had booked. She stayed inside the lobby, waiting for its arrival. She looked around the vicinity and spotted one of Jordan’s bodyguards that she had met a few times, talking with the concierge casually.Somehow, his presence made her feel relieved from everything that she has been going through for the past few days.But she also wondered what he is doing there. Maya caught some conversation a while ago from the hotel manager that Jordan is currently out of town to take care of some personal business.Gossip even spread from the employees that Jordan must have finally moved on from his dead fiancé and had finally met someone. They all talked when they will be going to meet the lucky woman.“I’ll be there in five minutes,” a message from the driver came, interrupting her thoughts.When the vehicle finally arrived, Maya went out through the doors and thanked the porter, who
Ten Years Later… Jordan took a sip from his coffee and frowned through his sunglasses when he saw who seemed to be a paparazzi took a quick photo of him on a bright Wednesday morning at one of the quaint cafés in E Country. His eyes followed the man for a while before he finally reached for his phone on the table when it notified of a message. He read the message that Mason had sent him before opening the attached file of a certain contract for his hotel. “Jordan!” A warm voice called out. He looked up and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Maya walking towards him with a smile. He stood up from his chair when she is near and bent down, giving her a soft kiss on her cheek when she finally arrived. “Have you waited long?” She asked after he pulled a chair for her and sat down. “Not too long and caught a paparazzi take some shots,” he answered with humor. Maya gave him an apologetic look before looking up at the waiter and took the menu handed to her. She scanned for a few
Grayson, with his arms crossed over his chest, watched the doorway of the delivery room on the VIP Floor Level, where Maya has been wheeled in over an hour ago. He uncrossed his arms and massaged the back of his neck to get rid of the strain that he is currently feeling.It was a late Tuesday evening when he received a call from his butler that Maya is on her way to the hospital, informing him that her water broke and started having contractions. Finishing his meeting with his tenants, he immediately went to the hospital.“Hey, I’m here. Didn’t I tell you not to walk too much?” Grayson said softly as well as chiding her, when he entered her room, where she is breathing in and out deeply while she went through another contraction. He took her hand from Yasmine and let her squeeze his tightly while his other hand rubbed her back. He kissed her head lovingly and smiled down at her. “Looks like we’re finally meeting our son in a few hours.”Maya, with tears in her eyes, looked up at him a
Three Weeks Later… Maya stood quietly at Jordan’s garage and watched as his bodyguards carefully loaded several luggage at the back of one SUV. She clasped her hands in front of her and waited for him to come out from his house. After a while, Jordan appeared at the front door, carrying Spencer in his arms, who has his one hand over his eyes, sobbing lightly. Jordan, on the other hand is assuring him gently, telling him to stop crying and assuring Spencer that he’s going to call him every day. When their eyes met, Jordan removed Spencer’s hand from his eyes and kissed him tenderly and whispered something to him. Maya watched as their son hugged his father’s neck tightly and kissing him on the cheek again and again. “Now, promise dad that you will take good care of Mommy,” Jordan said after a while. Spencer nodded, crossing his hand over his heart, making a promise. Jordan smiled satisfactorily and after one last hug and kiss, he gently handed Spencer to Lila. “Let Lila take you b
Jordan stared through the window from the small gap of the sheer curtain in his office the following day and watched as a car pulled up on the driveway at the opposite villa. Several cars then followed, parking by the side of the road.Grayson came out and immediately went to Maya’s side, opening the door for her. He helped Spencer out first and hoisted him up on his left side while holding out his right hand to Maya. She stepped out gently, wearing a white floral, lace dress that ended just below her knees.He bent down and kissed her for a while before pulling her into his arms.“He managed to secure a special license just right before office hours were done yesterday,” Xavier said over the phone a few hours ago. “Nathan, Callum, Thomas and Skylar, a good friend of hers were the witnesses. Spencer was made ring bearer.”Jordan just then ended the call without saying anything.He continued to watch as Grayson and Maya walked towards the main door, holding hands and smiling happily. J
Grayson stared through the window at the back of the Bentley he is riding on that night, watching the rain lightly drenching the city. He watched as pedestrians hurriedly walk or run for cover while those with umbrellas immediately opened them up.He could see couples wrapping their arms around each other as they shared an umbrella while others are hovering underneath one coat as they crossed the street.Melanie Peters, his brother’s secretary, whom Benedict temporarily lent to him was dictating his schedule for tomorrow.“Tomorrow you’ll be meeting Mr. Frederick Oldman,” she stated. “He’s the caretaker of Barmpton Keep. He’ll be updating you the accounts and operations of the building. He also informed me that he will be presenting proposals as well for a higher income target next year.”“My lord?”Grayson looked towards the front and saw Melanie looking at him expectantly.“Cancel it,” he said firmly finally making up his mind. “Take me to the airport now. I’m going back to Maya.”“
Maya went out from the car the following day and looked up at the house that Grayson had bought for them at Montleigh Villas. She looked down when Spencer took hold of her hand and smiled at him.“Are we staying here?” Spencer asked as he turned around to where Jordan is, who just got of his own car and cross the street towards them. “Will daddy be staying with us?”“Daddy will be just across the street,” Jordan answered for her with a smile.“Why?!” Spencer asked again.Maya has no words for her son.“Well, because your Auntie Meg, Cass, Grandpa and Pops are staying with me there for the meantime,” Jordan explained calmly as he lifted him off his feet. “But, guess what?”Spencer looked at his father expectantly.“Pogo will be staying with you!” Jordan then said and Spencer squealed with happiness.“Welcome back, Maya,” Yasmine greeted with a smile. “I have brunch ready for you.”Maya smiled at her in reply and turned back to Jordan. “Will you join us for brunch?” She asked him. “I co
Maya leaned back on the pillows placed behind her after she took some medication from the nurse on a Monday morning, where she was finally moved to a regular room in the VIP Floor, two days after she woke up. She looked down and made sure that Spencer is sleeping comfortably beside her. Her son had never left her side since she woke up and her heart ached at the thought of the difficulty he went through for the past weeks.She listened as Thomas recounted everything from the day, they went to confront Mary up to the day she had finally awaken. She shuddered when she knew the amount of drugs that Maverick had injected into her and the fatal shot that was meant for her where Jordan had saved her by putting himself in front of her.“Callum’s taking care of the properties from your parents,” Thomas continued softly. “Hopefully, you will be discharged tomorrow or the day after. I called Mr. St. Claire but he’s still in a meeting with some investors.”Maya only nodded and her eyes traveled
Maya reached out her hands and gently touched the petals from the field of tulips that she is walking through. She smiled as the flower bent towards her as if bowing at her presence. She looked around the fields and gasped at the awe of beauty surrounding her.She looked towards the bright and blue sky as she walked further down the fields.“It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured as she held onto her hat when the wind blew.She continued walking through the grounds, admiring the field. When she saw a path to her right, she turned and this time she found herself surrounded by fields of roses and peonies. Her smile widened at the beautiful sight.“Mommy!” A voice rang out behind her.Maya turned and saw Spencer, running towards her with a big smile on his face and his arms opened wide. She got down to her knees and opened her arms, waiting for him to come close.“Hi, mommy!” Spencer greeted with a big smile on his face as she enveloped him in a loving and warm embrace. He gave her a loud
Two weeks later…Jordan watched from the bench as the jury came back from their private conference room on a Wednesday morning. He shifted on his seat and winced a little and Adam, who is beside him, turned in concerned.“I’m good,” he assured as his friend. “Just needed to stretch out after this.”It has been more than a month since they were finally able to catch Paul Willis, Mary and Jenna Hamilton and her kids and ended the havoc that they created.Jordan was able to wake up from his coma two weeks after the incident and that was when he finally discovered the deep reason why such turmoil was made especially by Paul Willis. To his shocked, Grayson’s brother was able to find out that Paul Willis is an offspring of his grandfather from a woman he randomly met at a business summit. During that time, his grandmother had already passed away and the woman just became a passing fancy.When Dexter was informed that she got pregnant and said that she doesn’t want to be involved in his worl