VALERIE'S POV The whole table went silent. No one daring to speak for anyone again, even Patricia looked properly shaken up. She was most definitely not expecting me to know about the secret account.I was yet to locate the account though, but currently, knowing it's existence was just enough.My eyes landed on the account manager that didn't stand when I came in. "How about you?"He held my gaze for a few minutes and turned to glance at Barbara, as though asking for permission. She leaned in to whisper something in his ear like a four year old, something Mily would do. I snorted a laugh at the thought and gently relaxed on my seat, stirring my coffee a bit. Everyone watched in anticipation, waiting for the inevitable and finally Aunt Barbara spoke up, "We've reviewed our accounts and they are perfect. No discrepancies, you can check them out yourself." A loud bang sounded on the table causing everyone to jump as she dropped a load of files. "Rob," she called, "Give it her"I let
VALERIE'S POV I went back to my office after the meeting and started working on the stack of documents on my desk. There were so much jobs to be done. Tons of designs to approve, projects to conclude, project sites to visit and lots more. And also, let's not forget the Sky Castle project as well- Hudson's project.Argh, I don't even want to think about it. That project alone was heavy duty and it's excellence being tied to Hudson made it all the more worse.I could feel an ache coming on just from the thought of it. I sighed, putting down my pen to relax on my soft ass chair. "It's moments like this that I'm grateful I'm rich." I mean, imagine thinking about handling all these workloads without the comfort of this leather seat, "Just terrible!"I stayed like that for few minutes, enjoying the silence before finally repositioning myself to resume work. "I better get started with concrete plans for Hudson's building. The last I want is that dick head having a reason to run his mouth
VALERIE'S POV After having a light lunch at the Red Bites just like Rob had 'instructed', I headed home. There wasn't anything urgent that needed my attention at the office anyway, and besides I had already dealt with at least half of the documents on my desk. Surely, a half day off wouldn't stop the company from running now, can it? So therefore, here I was tied up in a white apron preparing dinner for the kids. It has been quite a while since I made them dinner myself, "Should I slice the vegetables, ma'am?" one of the new help asked. I turned from the boiling pot to check behind me at the sound of her voice. She quickly pointed to the bowl of carrots and "oh, I haven't done that? I will get right to it don't worry." "Please ma'am," she insisted, her voice calm but still held a sense of urgency in them. "I was sent here to work and help out. If the chairman finds out I'm doing the opposite then... I don't... I don't know what he might do to me." I sighed and took in he
Valerie's POV I stood up from the floor where I was cowering in anxiety and raced to the door with all my will power, leaving back all the dark memories that threatened to consume. Those double doors had never looked so beautiful, just standing there, shining like the key to my salvation. And finally, when I reached the handles I swung it right open, the warm breeze of the evening immediately hitting my tear stained cheeks and I slammed the door shut behind me. Trembling from both adrenaline and relief as I relaxed my back against it. Just as I thought I was safe, sharp excited screams suddenly filled the air and shook the devil out of me. "Surprise!!!" I stood frozen, my panicked eyes wide as I slowly took in the scenario in front of me. Everyone was present, Papa, Nanny Beth, the kids and even the staffs of the house, both old and new. Each person blinking excitedly at me while holding unto balloons and roses. By the side in the spacious yard was a long line of buffet, hel
HUDSON'S POV "So you see Madame, it's a win win situation. You help me, i help you." I said with a small smile and clapsed my hands on the table. I had just delivered a top notch offer on a platter of gold. An offer that would send all those old bastards who called themselves my investors crawling on the floor with greed and excitement. An offer she wouldn't get on a normal day, but instead of excitement all i met was the same expression that she had on ever since she got here, totally blank. I could understand though, a person of her caliber ought not to show weakness to anyone to avoid being taken advantage of. I applaud her skill to maintain But I was getting fed up at the same time. Time was not on my side and she knew that, so what's with all the silence? "So what do you say?" I asked, " Madame?" my tone a bit forceful. She cocked her head to the side at the change in my tone, but could you really blame me? I was the person in the position of need, I needed her on
HUDSON'S POV "You cannot do this! This should be illegal!" Cornels yelled, red veins popping on his forehead. "I can't do what exactly?" I asked calmly, a smirk playing on my lips. This dumb ass man thought he was the only one authorized to play the game, he had some nerves. The other investors had already filed out, leaving myself, Paul and red faced Cornels in the room that was used for the meeting, that obviously ended in my favour. None of the other idiots that had planned this whole coup with Cornels even dared to speak for him. Such traitorous old bastards! The minute I walked in, okay, maybe more like barging in since it was a supposed secret meeting to leave me stranded and then the assistant sent as Madame Joyce's representative appeared and announced her newest investments, every other person on the board of investors quickly switched sides in the blink of an eye. Could you believe that? If you didn't know, you would think Cornels was on drugs to even propose tha
Hudson POV As soon as the words left the mouth of whoever was at the door, I shot up from my seat and literally ran to the door. My legs had a mind of it's own at this point, with excitement coursing through me i flung the door wide open, causing it to bang against the wall behind as I yelled, "James! Hand over the evidence!"But instead of meeting James, I came face to face with a dark haired man. What the hell? My eyebrows knitted together as I assessed the the man's work clothes. "Errhm, Sir?" The same feminine voice that announced someone was at the door said. I let my eyes drift to her, and sure enough it was that daring brunette from down the hall.What was her name again, b...Blair?...Bendy? Beth...Ugh, whatever. I had to give it her though, the woman really was persistent. She had been actively trying to get on my bed for months now, always showing up randomly at my door when Paul was not close by. Where was Paul anyway?"Sir," she called again, straightening up, her boobs
HUDSON'S POV "Boss," he repeated, walking inside the office. "I apologize for taking so long boss, I had a bit of a err... situation..."I remained quiet, staring intensely at the nervous looking engineer seated in front of me.The man kept darting his eyes between James and I, while still holding onto his chair. "Err, boss?" James called out again, this time his tone was more skeptical. But I didn't acknowledge him.I was pretty sure I looked just about angry at this point but that wasn't the case at all. For some unknown reason my heart kept pounding loudly in my chest, Since James walked in. I had been struggling to control my quickened pulse rate, but it only seems to get worse as the brown envelope in James hand came into my line of sight.But why though? Was it excitement? I mean, I could understand if it was. I would finally be getting the info about that... that...ugh! That man, yeah, THAT man.I would be getting all the info I wanted about him. It was a thing of joy, wasn't
HUDSON’S POV“Do you understand now?”“First, the man you wanted left you, Amelia left you, Ethan also did, and now… your own father has abandoned you.” her voice sounded softly, almost considerate but the underlying cruelty was hard to miss. A total contrast to the nonchalant expression on her face, like even speaking to the woman on phone was not worth wasting her energy.It was enchanting, to say the very least.“No one wants you; no one wants to be with you.” She whispered slowly, “You will die alone, Charlotte. A long, lonely death. Remember that,”And just like that, the call ended. The phone sliding from her ears, every movement smooth like she had finished the deal right then and there, which she had though. The bait had been set.The bait we both agreed upon after Ethan showed up at our doorstep, with information about Charlotte. A very daring attitude from a person with his record of betrayal. Ever since he attempted to kidnap Valerie back then, he had gone off record. Which
CHARLOTTE'S POV“Oh yeah?” she sneered, sounding totally unbothered as I continued to brew with anger. “What will you do to Drake then? You see he made a deal with me; to hand over all his dealings with my family, testify against you in court, revealing all the many corpses that was buried underneath the garden in his house for you.”What?“What are you talking about you bitch, I killed no one!” I responded, my breathing shaky as memories of how so many dead bodies were used as fertilizer for the rose garden back home. Dead bodies that were as a result of several tortures and beatings given to men doing business with the heartless man that was my father!It was all him!How come this bitch was saying something else here? How did she even know about the bodies?!“Those corpses are as a result of the many murders that you have done over the years, Charlotte!”“That’s not true!” I argued angrily, losing my cool.“But Drake said it is, and he is testifying against you in court!” she insis
CHARLOTTE’S POV“What the hell are they doing?”“Why are they even together at the hospital? Just what the fuck is this?!” my voice resounded everywhere, bouncing off the walls in the apartment I currently occupied with Raymond.But could you blame me? I was pissed off!Pissed off by the stupid ass video that was been displayed on the tv screen! A video of what supposedly had happened between my man and that bitch Valerie today! Or was this some sort of trick? That bitch Valerie was pulling a stunt again?But even if she did, how did Hudson come onboard with this?! To do this with her! Act like they were all perfect and okay, when I knew they were not! They most definitely were not! They shouldn’t even be!Valerie’s schemes have been exposed! Hudson knows all about this now, I was sure of it! I watched him drive off angrily that night, away from their new place. He didn’t go home that day I sent those cameras, they had a fight. I was sure of it!So why instead of packing his things an
HUDSON’S POVSilence settled between Val and I as we walked all the way to the ward. Our fingers still interlocked, until finally we reached the very door that held Miley’s excited laughs behind it. And then I stopped, facing Valerie right then.“What money?” I asked, but she simply blinked. Probably not expecting my question, but I heard the conversations between her and her aunties anyways. Or at least part of it, since they were already speaking before I arrived there. So…“The money your aunt was referring to” I explained, my voice calm as I waited. “She said something about a stolen money that was in Mason’s name, and you were going to be arrested for it if they called the cops. What was that all about?”“Oh,” was all she said, a deep sigh following right after. “It’s… it’s a bit personal,”Huh?“Personal?” I repeated, not believing she was about to do what I thought she would do. “How personal is this that I can’t even know about it? Mason is involved here, that’s my son, Valeri
HUDSON’S POVComing back home was nothing short of what I had expected. My kids gathered were together, happily playing games, absolutely oblivious of the current happenings surrounding me and their mom. As far as they were concerned; daddy had to take a little trip to check out a building site.A strategy Nanny Beth took to save them from the hassle of wondering why I wasn’t home for 2 days. But aside my kids, everything else seemed fine. The maids, Nanny (Whether or not she knew, she didn’t behave like it at all. But assuming she didn’t know anything will be highly stupid on my part cause Valerie tells her almost everything despite their huge age difference!) but above all, there was no Valerie.I wouldn’t lie to you, a part of me immediately thought of going back to the house outside the city, to check if she had still gone back there. But I just held back. Forcing myself to focus on taking a nice shower, eat a really satisfying meal and then catch up with my kids.The last time I
VALERIE’S POV“I-I’m truly sorry,”“I am- am so sorry for lying about that day,” I apologized, my voice breaking as I tried to keep my tears at bay. “I shouldn’t have lied! I should’ve… I didn’t know you and the kids were at the office, I didn’t know you guys wanted to surprise me so we could have lunch together. It’s all my fault! I’m sorry…”“Of course you are. You are sorry now, Valerie.” His voice sounded in the air, bitter but yet so calm. Unlike his explosive self that I had seen that day in the secret room. “But you weren’t sorry when you just lied to both me and the kids that day, running off to go clear evidences of your actions for fear that someone would get to it first before you do. Maybe someone already got to them-Charlotte had! She did send a few cameras after all; I’m guessing that is what got you agitated and also what had been bothering you days before the kids and I even went to your office!”“No! That’s not it at all,” I rushed to explain, “I wasn’t bothered about
CHARLOTTE’S POV“What? What did you say?”“They are still under the same roof? My Huddie is still living in that house? With her? with bitch Valerie?!"He simply nodded in confirmation, amplifying the horror I just heard. “How?!” I blasted, loosing my shit right then and there. “How is any of that even possible?! He should’ve left her by now! They should be fighting and him not forgiving what she has done! How can they still be together? That’s impossible!”“It is possible!” Raymond insisted, his tone similar to mine. “I saw him myself! I saw Hudson drive into that mini city of his- the Sky Walls! I saw him, and even waited for over an hour to see if he would come back out, but he didn’t! The man simply went home to his woman and kids, get over him kiddo. We need to leave the country before things get out of hand!”“No,” I responded, not wanting to believe a word he said.“Kiddo, You-“No! I said no!” I boomed, smashing the glass of water I was supposed to take my meds with. “I’m not
VALERIE’S POV“He just suffered from a mini panic attack, ma’am”“Given his age, attacks like this could often lead to stroke, full blown heart attacks, or even death on the spot!” The doctors voice resounded in my ears, sending yet another terrible ache throughout my temples. It has been this way since we took Papa to the hospital. And by we, I meant myself and Babara.Patricia came along too but quickly left after hearing he was still breathing and alive. Davis didn’t even come at all. Displaying their exact feelings towards their own father. Making me wonder even more that; what would have happened if I had already driven out of the estate before he collapsed today? What would have become of my Papa? Would he have- would he have really died? Just like that? Because his own children were too busy fussing over him instead of hurrying to get him to the hospital immediately?!“We have managed to stabilize his blood pressure for a bit, but I would advise no more shocking news to be brou
HUDSON’S POV“Daddy is making dinner, yay!” Miley's excited voice filled the air.“Yup!” I concurred, enthusiastic as I turned around to face the kids- my guests. “Good evening, pretty princesses and handsome princes! You can call me chef of sweet meals, and I will be preparing dinner!”“Yay!” Aby clapped happily as I introduced myself, smiling as she looked into the camera.“Since when did daddy become a chef? Do they learn that in business school too?” Mason asked curiously, looking around for answers. So typical of Mason, linking stuff around and asking questions as soon as they popped in his head.“No sweetie, no one learns cooking at business school.” Her sweet voice sounded in the air, answering Mason’s question. And in no time her face came into view, her smile flawless as she angled the camera to capture herself as well. “Daddy knows nothing about cooking, which is why I am here recording this moment! First time ever for the popular Hudson Rodriguiez to be in the kitchen! We ha