Landon's POV I trusted AJ to handle the situation and make sure she remained blacklisted.He didn't disappoint because in no time Mr Fredd of Fact Central Media released an official speech, publicly apologizing and indirectly shifting the blame to Mabel. I made sure her face was on every channel. I made sure she was dragged roughly and mercilessly through the streets of Twitter.The next few days, she stayed out of sight. She never left the house and no one came to visit either. I had eyes everywhere monitoring her movement. And when she didn't leave the villa for days, I assumed she was grieving over her dead career or plotting a comeback, or both.I wished I could see her look of helplessness but I was too busy with setting up the company.In less than a week, it should be officially open.After a brief video conference with some of my potential partners, I informed AJ that I needed to visit the Villa; he stared at me in surprise, which I completely ignored.I instructed him to b
Mabel's POV After the incident, Nora and Belinda were not happy with me at all and they didn't try to hide it. Belinda especially seemed pissed, she wouldn't smile at me or even try to hold a conversation with me like she usually would.Nora, on the other hand, tried her best to attend to my every need like a maid would, just not as cheerful as she used to be. To be honest, it caused my chest to tighten even though I didn't want to care.I didn't get it because they watched him bully me and tear my years of hard work into shreds. Yet, the moment I retaliated I was the bad person.Sad, but anyway.I got a call from Dylan, asking to meet at a restaurant. I hadn't gone out since the interview, though the dust was starting to settle.I chose to go with sweatpants and a hoodie; first a cap, then the hood over it.My sneakers matched my outfit. I didn't want to be recognized by anyone, I didn't want public attention.I picked up my phone, ordered a ride, and went downstairs with both hand
Mabel's POV “Who was that?” Dylan asked as he pulled out a seat, right across from me. His eyes studying my expression as if to read my mind.“No one,” I said curtly, leaning back into my chair.“So, she's a ghost?” He eyed me, obviously not buying my shit.I fought the urge to burst into a howl of laughter.“Maybe,” I responded uninterestedly.“Am I a joke to you?” His eyes lingered on the card Olivia had left on the table.“Do you want to be a joke?” I shot back.“You haven't seen me for days and the first thing you do is pick a fight with me?” I asked, tired of his childishness. Why try to pry into someone's privacy if they don’t want you to?His eyes flickered in amusement, followed by his lamentation.“You always manage to turn things around and make it seem like my fault!” “Whose fault is it then?” I asked him. He opened his mouth to say a word but he shut it back almost immediately, eying me.I sighed in exhaustion. I have a lot of problems, letting these little things get t
Mabel's POV “I see you have a knack for pissing people off,” Dylan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.My aunt is being dramatic again. I sighed flatly, climbing on the porch, I rang the bell again.The door forcefully opened, her angry face coming into view. “Don't touch my door again!” She warned, staring lasers at me. She pushed the door shut but I quickly put my right foot to wedge the door.She glared at me coldly but my grin only grew wider. “I went shopping for you,” I said, raising the shopping bags in my hands so she could see.My aunt is very materialistic; every time I got her upset, all I had to do was buy her stuff she could show off in front of her fellow unmarried friends. Especially those who teased her for not having a child.I saw her eyes brighten, but it disappeared almost immediately as if it was never there.“ Wait! There's more.” I pointed to Dylan.“You see that bag you always wanted?” Her eyes brightened again and I knew I was making progress.“I got it f
Mabel's POV I staggered backward; I am in danger?But why would my dad knowingly put me in danger? It didn't make any sense.My heart raced involuntary as their words hung in the air. My father would never have evil plans for me. I know that. Even though this sounded scary, I had to trust my father's love for me.Taking a few moments to practice my breathing technique, my slightly quivering hand pressed the doorbell.There was a moment of silence inside. Probably wondering who was at the door. I could feel the tension radiating from the inside. I sucked in my breath and yelled, “I forgot my phone,”Still silence. As I stood by the door waiting for them to finish whatever was holding them, my mind created a lot of scenery even though I tried not to give it too much meaning. I might be overthinking.The door slowly opened revealing Aunt Rose who stared at me as though trying to ascertain how much I had heard.If I wasn't suspicious earlier, then I was definitely suspicious now.“Is t
Third person POV A man dressed in a white shirt that hugged his biceps and fitted blue jeans, approached the counter to order a drink. “Get me a shot of Tequila.” He said to the bartender.“I'm on it.” The bartender replied cheerfully, getting to work immediately. In a few moments he got his shot ready.“There you go.” He said, placing it on the counter with a prideful smile plastered on his face as if he had won a medal.The young man sat on the stool, his elbows resting on the counter. His eyes darted to the lady beside him whose head was lazily resting over the counter with her hair pouring over her face, preventing him from getting a clear view of her.For some reason he was drawn to her, but he couldn't understand why.“Is she drunk?” He asked the bartender.“I think so.” The bartender replied, cleaning a glass with a paper towel.His eyes lingered on her for a moment, then he asked again,“How much did she have?”The bartender thought for a while and responded, “Five shots.”“Y
Mabel's POV A dull ache in my waist and another one banging in my head interrupted my peaceful slumber. A painful groan escaped my lips as I held my onto throbbing head with both hands.My eyes squeezed open but they were hit by the sudden brightness of the room, instinctively closing them back. “Argh!” I groaned, my throat aching from the dryness.“You're awake!” I heard a familiar voice call out. “Does it hurt a lot?”“Dylan?” I called, but it was more like a question. The surprise was evident in my voice. What was Dylan doing here? “You slept for too long, I was starting to get worried.” He said quietly, rubbing the back of my palm softly.“Can you open your eyes?” His free palm rested on my forehead, feeling my temperature. I heard him sigh in relief.“The curtains,” I managed to say, hoping he'd get the cue and close the curtains.“Oh, yes. Sorry,” he responded and I assumed he went to do the needful.“Is it better now? Try opening them again.” He returned to stay by my side o
Mabel's POV Landon stood completely still with both hands locked away in his pockets, his eyes bloodshot and his jaw clenched. He looked like someone possessed by a demon and for the first time since I met him, I found him intimidating.There was unspoken tension in the air from the anger radiating from his body. My back leaned hard against the door, as if to merge my body with it. “Don't come closer,” I warned. My voice came out pathetic rather than imposing, despite my effort to keep it steady.He approached steadily, unfazed by my warning as though my voice was an encouragement to close in.This Landon looked different, he looked nothing like the Landon who would bicker with me.To be honest, at this point, I preferred the former one.“Don't come any closer or you'll get hurt,” I warned again. Deep within me, I knew I didn't have the strength to fight. My body aches all over; everywhere hurts and it seemed like he could tell.I didn't want him to come closer, I still reeked of
Landon's POV I let out an exhausted sigh, wondering who let her in. Resuming my steps, I walked toward her, my expression returning serious.Her eyes glistened in delight as she saw me. “Landon!” She exclaimed excitedly, scurrying to my side, clinging onto my arm like a toddler.“What are you doing here, Lisa?” My voice came out a little icy despite my effort to mask my displeasure.“Why didn't you tell me you were returning to the US? I read it on a blog, why did you do that to me?” She asked, blinking her long artificial eyelashes as she stared up at me.Looking down at her, I saw every reason why I shouldn't tell her about my moves. She's too clingy. I hate clingy women.“You didn't answer my question.” I reminded her, my patience running thin.Her eyes roamed my face trying to study my mood, sensing that I wasn't joking around, she responded slowly,“I heard you're recruiting employees for your new company and I thought it was the perfect place to start my career.”“You're a lit
Mabel's POV With my phone gone, there was nothing to do and because I wasn't used to staying idle, the boredom was killing me!I rearranged what I had turned upside down earlier while looking for my phone, it was a little too much because the entire closet was emptied. Nora had offered to do it, but I refused; I needed to do something, anything to kill the boredom.When I heard that the driver had returned, I couldn't contain my excitement, I literally slid down the railing like a kid rushing to get candy only to meet an empty feedback.Dejected, I returned to my room and lay on the bed, facing the ceiling with my mind going wild.My mind suddenly drifted to Olivia. The card!I sprang to my feet and rushed out of the room, hurriedly climbing down the stairs.“Where is Belinda?” I requested.Nora watched me for a while as if wondering what I was up to this time “She's in the backyard,” “Thank you.” I ran out of the door and dashed to the yard. I spotted her watering what looked like
Landon's POV I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window inside my office with my hands sealed away in my pockets not staring at anything in particular, just waiting patiently for AJ to get the information I wanted. Mabel crossed the line this time. Our marriage may not be intimate but she had no right to sleep around. She had no right to spend the night outside her matrimonial home! This was a disrespect to my pride. If anyone heard about this, my reputation would be made a joke. My jaw hardened at the thought of Mabel being with another man. My wife! The amount of disrespect! Just wait a little longer until I get all the information I need.She still had the guts to call and request for her phone, not even the tiniest feeling of remorse. What a shameless woman!I rounded to my desk and picked up her phone, thinking of what to do with it. I thought about flinging it outside the window but later decided against it. That would be too easy. I might need it later, you never know.Dropping
Mabel's POV The next morning, I woke up feeling so much better, if not for the unbearable smell of antiseptic agents. Nora slept soundly on the couch in the room as she was already exhausted from crying herself to sleep.After about 30 minutes, the doctor came in with a different nurse. They checked my vitals and everything else before concluding that I was good to go.He handed me a prescription and evenly discharged me.Nora led me to the car outside the hospital, where the driver was waiting; opening the door, she urged, “Please get in.”But I didn't move an inch. I didn't need to.She thought I wasn't paying attention; so she repeated, “Could you please get in the car?”“No,” I replied bluntly, slamming the door shut, and walking away. What do they take me for?She hurried after me, quite taken aback by my defiance “Where are you going?”“To take a taxi,” I responded uninterestedly, stopping by the side of the road and peering into the distance.“Please, Ma'am I have orders to ta
Mabel's POV I closed my eyes and opened them again, I didn't see anyone! I wrapped my arms over my shoulders as I felt a cold shiver run through my spine.As creepy as it seemed, I was glad it was just my mind playing tricks on me. How much fear did I have for Landon to start hallucinating?I shook my head vigorously, brushing the thought off. The plates were still on the bed so I moved them and placed them on the stool.Realizing that I was still in my towel, I hurriedly replaced it with the gown I had worn before.Just then, I felt an intense stomach ache and a sudden urge to use the toilet. Without hesitation, I dashed to the toilet, heaving a deep sigh of relief.“Phew! That was close.”After I finished with my business, I cleaned myself up and went back to my room.I lay on my bed, thinking of what to do with my life now that I was back at the Villa. I had spent years building my career only for one cold-blooded being to crash it in the twinkle of an eye.Should I use my savi
Mabel's POV Landon stood completely still with both hands locked away in his pockets, his eyes bloodshot and his jaw clenched. He looked like someone possessed by a demon and for the first time since I met him, I found him intimidating.There was unspoken tension in the air from the anger radiating from his body. My back leaned hard against the door, as if to merge my body with it. “Don't come closer,” I warned. My voice came out pathetic rather than imposing, despite my effort to keep it steady.He approached steadily, unfazed by my warning as though my voice was an encouragement to close in.This Landon looked different, he looked nothing like the Landon who would bicker with me.To be honest, at this point, I preferred the former one.“Don't come any closer or you'll get hurt,” I warned again. Deep within me, I knew I didn't have the strength to fight. My body aches all over; everywhere hurts and it seemed like he could tell.I didn't want him to come closer, I still reeked of
Mabel's POV A dull ache in my waist and another one banging in my head interrupted my peaceful slumber. A painful groan escaped my lips as I held my onto throbbing head with both hands.My eyes squeezed open but they were hit by the sudden brightness of the room, instinctively closing them back. “Argh!” I groaned, my throat aching from the dryness.“You're awake!” I heard a familiar voice call out. “Does it hurt a lot?”“Dylan?” I called, but it was more like a question. The surprise was evident in my voice. What was Dylan doing here? “You slept for too long, I was starting to get worried.” He said quietly, rubbing the back of my palm softly.“Can you open your eyes?” His free palm rested on my forehead, feeling my temperature. I heard him sigh in relief.“The curtains,” I managed to say, hoping he'd get the cue and close the curtains.“Oh, yes. Sorry,” he responded and I assumed he went to do the needful.“Is it better now? Try opening them again.” He returned to stay by my side o
Third person POV A man dressed in a white shirt that hugged his biceps and fitted blue jeans, approached the counter to order a drink. “Get me a shot of Tequila.” He said to the bartender.“I'm on it.” The bartender replied cheerfully, getting to work immediately. In a few moments he got his shot ready.“There you go.” He said, placing it on the counter with a prideful smile plastered on his face as if he had won a medal.The young man sat on the stool, his elbows resting on the counter. His eyes darted to the lady beside him whose head was lazily resting over the counter with her hair pouring over her face, preventing him from getting a clear view of her.For some reason he was drawn to her, but he couldn't understand why.“Is she drunk?” He asked the bartender.“I think so.” The bartender replied, cleaning a glass with a paper towel.His eyes lingered on her for a moment, then he asked again,“How much did she have?”The bartender thought for a while and responded, “Five shots.”“Y
Mabel's POV I staggered backward; I am in danger?But why would my dad knowingly put me in danger? It didn't make any sense.My heart raced involuntary as their words hung in the air. My father would never have evil plans for me. I know that. Even though this sounded scary, I had to trust my father's love for me.Taking a few moments to practice my breathing technique, my slightly quivering hand pressed the doorbell.There was a moment of silence inside. Probably wondering who was at the door. I could feel the tension radiating from the inside. I sucked in my breath and yelled, “I forgot my phone,”Still silence. As I stood by the door waiting for them to finish whatever was holding them, my mind created a lot of scenery even though I tried not to give it too much meaning. I might be overthinking.The door slowly opened revealing Aunt Rose who stared at me as though trying to ascertain how much I had heard.If I wasn't suspicious earlier, then I was definitely suspicious now.“Is t