They finally said goodbye to the last guest at midnight. Rella wouldn't let Chloe leave until she swore to never tell anyone her secret and she was certain the noise they heard outside the door was just the wind because there was no one there when she went to check.Stefan on the other hand was eager to get away from her. "Why don't you help us clean it would be fun?" Christian said to his friend. "That's what servants are for, it's what they are paid to do."If looks could kill… After he said that, Stefan put his hands in his pocket as he made his way up the stairs. Rella found herself watching him go, there was something about the way he carries himself that was fascinating. "I don't think he realises he only has one help." Christian interrupted her thoughts. "I don't think he realises anything that goes on around him." Rella said.Poor Lacy the maid there was so much to clean up and it would be too much for one person to handle Rella was going to hel
Vanessa Wilkins also known as 'Van' stood in front of the cheval-glass in her tiny bedroom, a blank expression on her face reflecting her state of mind at the moment. She didn't want to think, she was done thinking and any related action might just make her head throb. Right now the lump in her throat felt like it was choking the life out of her so she took a deep breath through her nostrils and exhaled through her mouth.She had minimal make-up on, just the occasional talcum powder and lip gloss― she didn't want to entice him any further and appear to be trying too hard for him― which she wasn't. Yes she liked him, but prostituting herself to him she didn't like.She was wearing a short black rubber-dress that clung to her body like a second skin with half the bodice made of lace. Her hair fell on one shoulder and she looked like she was attending a funeral–perhaps she's mourning her innocence that would soon be snatched before the night was over.Van let out a defeated puff of breat
When Van woke up the next morning, she was alone. Tears of disappointment burned her eyes but she blinked them back. What did she expect, that he'd stay and cuddle with her? Of course he'd gotten what he wanted, he'd made it pretty obvious since the very beginning that he wanted sex with her. When she refused the first time, he offered to pay for her father's heart transplant and just like that, he had her eating from the palm of his hand. There was a manila envelope on the night stand and a note was propped against it, she reached out and grabbed it. Your payment, just like I promised. You weren't that bad. J. This time, a tear did slip. He was treating her like she was a common slut, even rating her performance. She sniffed, angrily wiping her eyes and the morphed her expression to be cold and hard; she was doing this for her father. The familiar buzz sounded from her cell phone and she frantically dug into her purse for it. ''Karl, is something wrong?'' she a
Rella stretched languidly on the king sized bed turning her face away from the sun streaming through the window. The thought of having to face her reality one more day made her want to bury herself but there's nothing she could do about it except be brave and face each day with courage. It's not everyday that one gets stuck with a husband who can't stand your guts. Her phone vibrated on the the night stand, she picked it up to see her mom's number flash on the screen. Rella rolled her eyes before she received the call. "You wouldn't guess what's happened." "Good morning to you too mom." That was it straight to the point no 'Rella good morning or how are you' as much as her mother's nonchalance pains her heart Rella is beginning to learn to shake it off. The woman cares about no one but herself. "What have you got in your bingo card today?" "Don't be rude. Your party last night was such a success it has become the talk of town. I went to have
"What's the update?" "I'm afraid there's nothing unusual to update sir." "What do you mean?" "Mr Diamond if you are suspicious of your wife's affiars I can assure you nothing over the top is happening right now. I didn't check in because I didn't think it was worth reporting." "I am paying you to drive my wife and report what ever she does so yes even the little mundane activities should be reported." " I apologize. " " Now tell me what did she do all day." "She did some shopping at the mall for presents then we went to the Grace and Mercy orphanage so the kids can get the presents and then she got a call from her friend Miss Wilkins I believe whose father had just past away."All the while he was relating Rella's activities for the day, the chauffeur was standing stoically with his hands in front if him and no expression on his face. "And?" "That is all." You're kidding. Stefan stared at the chauffeur in c
"You didn't have to." Mrs Salvatore protested as Rella picked the dirty dishes on the table after her. "No I want to help." Rella insisted. "But you're a guest." Rella smiled. "Don't worry it's my pleasure. Dinner was delicious." "Oh do not flatter me." " No really it was superb I might have to come here often for a sumptuous dinner." They both laughed.Stefan had dragged her to what was one of his many business meetings disguised as family dinner but Rella ended up warming up to Elise Salvatore and her little family, she had two kids a boy and a girl Andrew and Samantha who were both so adorable Rella couldn't stop gushing about them they were five and seven years respectively. And Rella found herself thinking, this was what a family dinner was supposed to look like Frederick Salvatore had to insist there were no talks of business at the table. After dinner was done the men took their coffee to Salvatore's office upstairs while the women remaine
Jake couldn’t remember how often he had played the game ‘catch me’ when he was younger, but one thing he was sure was that he didn’t like being caught. He didn’t like it then and he definitely didn’t like it now. He hated what a certain brunette was doing to him. He didn’t want to feel or care or show that anything mattered, but It was just one night and her innocence changed his views and dominated his mind, now he couldn’t look at her without conjuring up the image of her face tainted with colour against his pillow and how her dark hair splayed around her. He couldn’t forget how extremely exquisite she had looked with her eyes shut as she sighed his name. Her skin as soft as silk he couldn’t forget the feel and he could think of nothing right now but to have her in his bed again naked beneath him and all his. He felt a stir in his groin and he swore loudly. He's never really dated much and didn’t sleep around either but the few he’s dated, none has ever left such a las
Pulling her unto the dance floor, Josh held her hand in his and draped the other on his shoulder. Van's jaw slacked in a stunned disbelief. ‘’Vanessa are you alright? Say something.’’ He held her as they waltzed, but she was unresponsive. Was heaven punishing her right now? Why did Josh Hamilton have to be here...? It was her best friend's wedding reception not their high school reunion! and those two bitches, were they waiting to make another humiliating video go viral on the net? Was she going to let that happen again? No. In a flash she snapped out of her daze and snatched her hands from his taking a giant step back. To his credit Josh didn’t look surprised at all. ‘’Why are you here Josh Hamilton and what do you want from me? What was that all about?’’ she gritted irately. ‘’I’m here for you, I want you, and I was only defending you.’’ He replied answering her questions. ‘’Defending me?’’ she said incredulously, she could feel her an
Walking down the aisle towards the man of her dreams had always been Rella's dream. Yes she was a hopeless romantic and right now her focus was on the man at the altar. There was just him, everyone else seemed to fade away and when he smiled up at her there was no doubt in her heart it was all for her. No more pretense, no more lies, no more deceit, she wasn't walking down the aisle towards someone else's fiancé in someone else's dress no, she was walking down the aisle towards the love of her life who sees the real her in her own gorgeous wedding dress. Stefan was impatient for the ceremony to end not because he wanted to get it over and done with like the last time but because he couldn't wait to have her all to himself. Never in a million years had he ever thought that he might end up madly in love with anyone to the point that he couldn't start a day without her infectious smile and he couldn't end his day without tasting her lucious lips. They exchanged their vo
" I've missed you so much it hurts. " Stefan murmured against her neck. They managed to make it back to the bedroom before he could devour her on the stairs. "I've missed you too." Rella said a moan escaping her lips. She cupped his engorged member and Stefan stiffened and pulled back. "I think we should stop before things get a bit too heated." "Why? In case you haven't noticed I want you too." "I don't want to hurt you. You just came out of the hospital." "I'm not an invalid you know." "I'm just being cautious." " Such a spoil sport."Stefan chuckled. "why don't we get you to bed… " "You're leaving, please stay." Rella protested. "I'm not leaving." Stefan assured her before he climbed in after her and gathered her in his arms. "Try not to wiggle too much." "Like this?" Rella said wiggling her behind against his crotch.Stefan hissed out a curse while she snickered. "Fiend." It
Stefan realised too late that he didn't get flowers, but no matter he was going to get her back first and then he'd give her all the flowers in the world. He punched the doorbell in anticipation, a woman in her late forties almost identical to Evie Cortes stood by the open door and Stefan knew without a doubt that he was at the right address. "May I help you?" "Uh, good evening ma'am my name is Stefan and I have come to see Rella.Marjorie stared at him long and hard then assessed him from top to bottom and her eyes widened for a second before it was gone in a snap. "Rella isn't here." She told him and Stefan's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. " What, but I was told she'd be here? " " You were told wrong. I haven't seen my niece in a while. "She must be lying. Stefan thought. But what reason does she have to lie to him? If Rella wasn't here, if she didn't come here at all then where could she be?This isn't how he envisioned the day would end. No,
Stefan smiled as he took out the gold band with a heart shaped diamond atop it. It couldn't be more perfect conveying all of his feelings at once. She's going to love it he was sure of it. "You've found her." Stefan shut the jewelry box before he turned to find his grandfather leaning on his cane by the bedroom door "The love of your life." Because that's what the ring is meant for, his grandmother's ring given to her by his grandfather before they got married which has been passed down the family for many generations now. "Not yet in a manner of speaking but I will." "When I saw your grandmother for the first time I knew she was the one and I did everything I could to make her realise that I was the one as well." His grandfather explained. " I know we haven't been able to see eye to eye since your parents died and I know that you think me controlling and insufferable but I try my best to raise you well. Everything I've done good or bad were all for you
Stefan made a mad dash home after he was told she discharged herself. He didn't wait to kill the engine before he was flying out of the door and running towards the house like a mad man. "Rella!?"He yelled out her name. "Sir is something wrong?" Henry the butler asked meeting him halfway through the living room. "My wife, is she here?" "Madam hasn't been back since both of you left yesterday." "You're sure?" "Absolutely." Stefan walked past the old Butler and made for the stairs holding on to the possibility that she might've come home without Henry's knowledge.He pushed open their bedroom door calling out her name once more but there was no answer. He threw open the closet to find everything intact; no item was out of place. She'd taken nothing with her. Stefan staggered back, it was all he could do to avoid breaking down completely. He whipped out his cellphone and began making calls. " I'm sorry Stefan I don't know wher
Rella's world had slowed down in that moment when she saw Stefan's horror mirroring her own, when she realised that they were both thinking the same thing. Everything that happened after that was a blur. She heard him yelling to someone to bring the car around and then he was lifting her up. The ride to the hospital took a lifetime. "I'm sorry but your wife's had a miscarriage…"They were too late and now the doctor is saying she's lost her baby. She tuned out the doctor's words after that first damning sentence. Everything was spinning and she couldn't breathe. Rella started sobbing while Stefan turned and left the room–he probably couldn't wait to get away from her. The doctor was still talking to her but Rella had since tuned her out, her voice getting drowned by the silence in her head–normally there'll be a roaring–but there was utter silence that Rella was afraid she wasn't in her skin anymore.Rella was oblivious to when the doctor left the room and Van was there w
It was on a magical evening one month later that her best friend Van and her husband Jake Calloway renewed their vows and it was everything they both could've hoped for. Family and friends who weren't present the first time they said their vows were present today. Van was surrounded by family she thought she never had and right there under the arch in the shape of two swans decorated with daisies, her friend said her vows again. Rella was happy for Van of course, after everything that's happened her best friend deserves to be happy but she was also jealous, she could not help this foul feeling churning in her guts that made her wish she was in Van's place instead surrounded by so much love and not in this sham of a life she was living pretending everything was okay. But this day was Van's happy day and so she smiled throughout the whole ceremony unitl her cheeks ached. Rella glanced sideways at Stefan who was sitting beside her, she knew if he could help it he'd be far from her
Van hated hospitals. Especially when it reminded her of her dad's condition, and how much he suffered before his passing. Hospitals are filled with gloom and despair. People die in hospitals and she couldn't shake up the thought that Jake might die just like her father.No, she had to believe that nothing would happen to Jake, that he wouldn’t share the same fate as her father because she didn't think she had it in her to survive another tragedy. Jake’s friends; Christian, Dave and Max, were all there including Rella her best friend and her husband Stefan Diamond who's also Jake's friend. They'd arrived a few hours ago and were as worried and afraid as she was but they were trying to make her feel better instead. Rella had held her hands through out the waiting period while Jake was being operated on and Van had cried on her shoulders voicing out her fear. Her grandfather had called to hear how Jake was doing after Jake was transferred to the recovery room some time late
Over the next few days it was safe to say that Van's relationship with Jake was getting better. Jake was determined and patient. If there was anything she loved about him it was his resilience and ability to focus and get what he wants. Van also loved his warm smile, his strength and his ability to love no matter what. She felt giddy with his courting, like she had the first time he asked her out. Van pressed the phone against her ear and smiled a good natured smile like she never had in a while. Her heart almost on the verge of exploding with joy and happiness and everything that was good. "Look out the balcony, I have a surprise for you." Jake told her and when Van looked out she saw him standing outside the gate holding out a banner that read: I love you Vanessa Wilkins Montenegro. Van still wasn't used to being referred to as a Montenegro but she was certain she would get used to it pretty soon. After her father’s death Van thought that she and her