LAURA
Sitting on my chair in front of my dressing mirror I tried my best to wear my make-up, but it was not working. My hands were shaking. Today I would be having an interview with Robes and whatever I said would be concrete evidence against Eric who had done me no harm. I just had to keep up with the lie. For my mother’s sake. Suddenly, my phone rang, and I looked at the caller ID. It was Rena, my best friend. I didn't want to take the call at first, but I took it. “Laura, have you seen the news online about Eric Sloan? They said your blog was the one that posted it but I corrected them. It can never be you. Maybe your blog was hacked,” she poured out, I couldn't help but heave a heavy sigh. Thank goodness Rena had fought for me. Anyone who knew me would know that I would never do such a thing. “It was me, Rena. I was the one who posted it,” I dropped it, breaking her heart. My voice low and heavy with guilt. Rena was silent for a while. “why… You what?” She asked, after recovering from the shock. “I did it.” Rena heaved a sigh on the other end of the line. “But… but how? I mean how did you get to know Eric Sloan?” she asked, I was silent for a while before she continued. “Have you seen him? Where did you take that photo? That photo was taken in a bar and you and I know you are an introvert’’ I couldn't help but awkwardly break out in tears. “They have my Mother.” “What!?” “They have my mum. The people who sent me those photos have my mum. They said if I don’t do it, they will kill her. I had no choice,” I replied in a hoarse voice. “Laura, I don’t get it. You mean your mother has been kidnapped, and you did not tell me?” She asked, her voice hinting she was angry. “You had an exam. I did not want to stress you. That’s not the problem now.” “What could be bigger than your mother’s kidnap, ehn Laura?” I picked up a comb to comb my hair before packing it into a bun. “An interview with Robes.” I replied. Rena screamed from the other side. I was sure she was jumping on her bed by now. “An interview with Robes! Oh my gosh! With Laura, like Robes, the Robes we know?” She asked, her pitch higher than usual with excitement. “yes.” I responded. She screamed again, “Laura, I am happy for you. Oh my gosh, you are about to become a celebrity!” “It’s about Eric Sloan,” I replied and the screams and excitement died at once. “They want to interview you about your blog post? That’s bad. The Sloans are powerful. They have some African country’s GPA as a network.” “I know, I am in a big…” A loud bang from the other side cut her short. “Who’s that…” “Oh, it’s Benjamin. His university asked their class to go home. They are investigating them. Someone reported that they had drugs with them.” She explained. My heart sank into the depths of my stomach. Benjamin and my brother attended the same university. Hope Julis will not be affected. “How the hell will a whole Harvard student be taking drugs? I mean, what’s the need to go there if you want to do drugs? Laura? Laura? Laura, are you there?” Rena asked. I jolted out of my thoughts, ended the call immediately without saying goodbye and left. Thank God the cab I ordered was here. *** I made my way towards the podium, clutching tightly to my bag as I tried to hide my nervousness. The interview started, and they started asking me questions upon questions; what I was doing at the bar when he came in. If I'm in support of the LGBTQ community. Was I in contact with Miss Bella Warner? I answered all the questions strategically. I had prepared myself for these questions. The night before, I had set up all the questions I could think of. “Do you think you owe Mr Sloan and Mr Avery an apology?” The interviewer asked. I cleared my throat and sat upright “No. I think they should be thanking me” “Why is that so? Who are you for them to appreciate?” The interviewer asked with a sharp edge. I felt completely uncomfortable. I could feel the interviewer’s burning hatred. Her sharp glare and tone made it clear that she hated me. “Well, having such a strong feeling in secret is the worst thing that can ever happen to someone…” “And you don’t think that revealing someone’s secret is worse?” she asked, cutting me off my statement. The last question immediately got me tensed up. What I expected was just a normal question and answer, not the interviewer directing furious questions at me. To salvage the moment, I squared up my shoulder to remain confident, even though my heart was beating faster than normal, and I was also sweating under the air conditioner. “No. And I think you should stop making it seem as if I did something bad!” I glared back, not knowing where the confidence came from. “Well, you did. You released someone’s secret for the public.” She blasted back. “You seem to be so concerned about Mr. Sloan and Mr. Avery. What about Miss Bella, who was tied up in a relationship for a year?” I asked, not ready to back down. “Did she come outside to talk about that? So what made you think you could expose both of them?” Robes fired back my question with numerous ones. “Well, I am a blogger. It’s my job” She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh, I am an interviewer. It’s my job to know about your thoughts and opinions, right?” “Yeah.” “So it’s okay if I get someone to read your mind and expose all your sexual fantasies and dark secrets, right?” I furrowed my brows and sucked in a deep breath at her last statement. What was she driving at. She was gradually making enemies for me. “That’s not what this is all about,” I replied calmly, trying to pacify the tension. “Oh yes, this is what it is all about. You become a blogger and you decide to expose people’s secrets even though you are not sure.” “That’s not it, I was just helping Miss Bella.” “And did she consult you to help her?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. “No, but…” I stuttered. “I think you have a great hatred for gays because if you don't, you would talk about other things and not someone’s sexual life.” She concluded. She turned towards the camera to face the audience, cutting off the interview. She smiled at the camera. “Anyway, it will be all for today. Don’t get confused. Gays will continue, but I just decided to interview her since it is a very delicate matter.” She stood up and shook hands with me. “This has been a lovely interview with me, your host, Agatha Sloan, and your blogger, Laura Karma. Till we meet again. Bye.” Immediately the camera went off, Agatha walked up to me, her eyes reduced to a bit. She glared at me, giving me morbid chills. She leaned forward and whispered, “I will make you pay for everything you did to my brother,” with those words, she left. Fear crept into my skin. No wonder she was so harsh to me. She was Eric’s sister. I took my bags and walked outside. Immediately, I stepped out, journalists rushed towards me, asking numerous questions. I stood transfigured on the spot, staring at the thousands of reporters. I tried to open my mouth, but no word came out. Slowly the noise died as they made way for a man in a blue suede pair of suits. My heart skipped a beat as I could recognize this man anywhere with the drama going on between both of us. It was Eric Sloan, the same man I was forced to label a gay. He walked towards me until we were two steps away from another. He stared at me for a while, hiding his expression between his dark shades. He pulled it after a while and watched as his blue eyes stared at me. “Miss Laura karma. May I have a word with you?” He asked as he stretched forth his hands, inviting me to take it.Laura's POV The D-Day for the final hearing from the court came. Agatha, Mrs Corazon, Larry and I were present in court with others who simply came to watch the prosecution. When the judge walked in, we all did the respectful thing as Aaron was brought in, looking ragged and weightless. My blood boiled with rage and anger as I tried to control myself from where I sat. I couldn't wait for the final hearing to be over and spit on the bastard's face. He would be getting what he deserved anytime soon. I glanced up when I got warm hands on mine. “Everything will be okay, Sis. Mum must get justice for her death.” My brother, Larry assured beside me, and I nodded with a small smile. “Yeah, she would.” Soon, the hearings resumed, and we all watched as Aaron's lawyer kept trying to deny all the evidences pinned on his victim, Aaron, but ours was stronger to identify the wrong. Eventually, the cases and consequences of actions were read out, and it was time for the judge to give the fin
Eric's POVI stared at Tyler's moving lips as he blabbered something I didn't pay attention to. And when he was done, I asked. “Are you done?”“Wait, you haven't been listening to me the whole time, dude?” He replied with widened eyes. I scoffed, returning my gaze to the document I was filling earlier.“No, I wasn't.” I muttered. I finished filling the important information on the document and handed it to Sofia, my new assistant.“Here you go, Sofia.”“Thank you, Sir.” She flashed me a smile.“Um, Sofia!” I called when she turned to leave the office. “Yes, Sir?” She turned to face me.“Can you get me info about M&M Corporation? I'm longingly expecting to buy it.” I replied with a knowing smirk. She nodded immediately. “Sure, Sir. I will look into it and update you.” “You can leave.”“Okay, Sir.” She muttered before scurrying out. I didn't miss the look on Tyler's face as I gawked at him.“What?” “Did you just realize what you just said, Eric? You want to-”I groaned, leaning on the
Agatha's POVI didn't fail to see the defeated look that pictured on Aaron's face when I walked into the auctioning hall uninvited.Yeah, I wasn't invited, but I got to know at the last minute. Bea eventually succumbed to my demand and told me everything I needed to know. I was doing all these without Eric's approval. I needed to save his company from falling into the hands of Aaron, and I knew how defeated and shock he would be by my sudden presence.It took a great effort before the crowd got back themselves and resumed clapping as I placed my bidding. Jackpot. I had gotten back what belong to the Sloans', and no one would ever try to take it.As I turned to walk away from the crowd, Aaron suddenly stood up and stormed out of the hall.“Mr Walker!”“Mr Walker!”“Why did he leave??”“Is there something wrong?” I heard murmurs from the crowd of people as I rushed after Aaron. What was he up to this time?The sounds of my stiletto clicked as I raced faster towards the direction he we
Sasha's POVWhat I had feared most was starting to become a reality. Aaron was letting this sudden revenge rule over him, and he wasn't ready to back out.After I had disclosed to him how Agatha showed up and escaped with Laura, and her Mom, he became angry. The news of Me shootings her mom made him stop breaking any frame he came across with at least.Not in this Earth would I have believed that someone like Agatha Sloan would be able to know such kind of place, and without the fear of being caught and killed, saved Laura. Ever since I was a maid in the mansion, I've witnessed, several times, her hatred for Laura Karma. She never loved her from the beginning, what changed?“Where are you going?” I asked, stomping my right foot on the floor as I watched Aaron appeared on the stairs, a wolfish grin plastered on his face, his hands dipped into an eccentric tuxedo that he wore.“Aren't I allowed to leave this house, Sasha? Come on, don't start.” He rolled his eyes, brushing past me.“No
Agatha's POVI stepped out of my car, in front of Bea's apartment. I saw her arranging some files in a box with a young girl who had a striking resemblance to her, assisting her.Without hesitation, I marched towards them, and before she could look up properly at who walked in, I slapped her hard across the face.Fuck you. I wanted to curse at her, but I refrained with so much withheld. I left Laura to Eric back at the prison of a place when my tracker pinged on my phone, and directed me to Bea's place. Furthermore, I couldn't even disclose the truth to Eric when he asked because I didn't want him to get worried. If it had to do with his company, he'd definitely be worked up.Recently when I got my hands on the copies of Aaron's phone calls and other files from Clara, I also got to figure out something. Bea was fucking betraying her own boss.Bea held her cheek as she stared at me, her brows knitted with confusion. “M-Ms Agatha... Why did you do that?” She gathered her voice as I sta
Agatha's POVLaura collapsed on the floor, like how I'd predicted. I noticed her pale state earlier. And immediately, she was taken into a ward where she was examined by the doctor while I waited impatiently.I really prayed silently that she wouldn't be traumatized by the earlier incident. Her Mom was gone... That was the harsh truth, and there wouldn't be any reverse.Though, I never knew Mrs Karma until today but noticing the interaction between the Mom-and-daughter, I could tell that they had a strong bond. The thoughts of seeing Laura go through misery made my heart to constrict.Immediately, the doctor walked out of the ward. “Doctor... How is she?” I asked with a glint of hope blazing in my eyes.“She'll be conscious any moment from now. She passed out as a result of the shock she received earlier, and it's a miracle that her baby wasn't scathed. I guessed that was due to how healthy she has been. Do you know what kind of foods she eats?” He replied.I sighed in relief, glad th