~Sunday, the day of Beth's Piano Recital~ “Hurry up, Ana! I can't be late to my own recital.” I heard Beth yell out from her room where she was probably struggling to wear her shoes. “What are you talking about? I'm literally out the door. You're the one who's gonna make us late.” I replied from the kitchen, chuckling lightly. I had a piece of bread dangling from my mouth, with Liam in my arms. I fed him and ate simultaneously, as I tried to hurry up for Beth's piano recital. Beth came out of her room and sighted me feeding Liam. “Oops,” I said. I gave her an amused look, with a raised eyebrow, a slight smile, and a hint of 'I've been caught and I know I'm in trouble, but I'm not going to try to talk my way out of it' written all over my face. She laughed and shook her head. “Where's my purse?” She asked, looking around for it. “Under the throw pillow. And come here for a minute. I want to look at you properly.” She found her purse and came to meet me where I sat. S
AnaTony stared at me with bloodshot eyes, his chest rose and fell as he took in heavy, angry breaths.“Did you really think you could run from me?” He approached me menacingly, the trudging sound of his boots echoing in the deserted restroom.I took a step back and soon my back was touching the wall and there was nowhere else to run to. I felt trapped and helpless.“What do you want from me Tony? Why are you doing this?”“You. I want you. And nothing is going to keep me from having you, not even you.” He cackled and wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.I couldn't understand Tony's obsession with me. Since when is it a crime to reject a man you weren't compatible with? And so what if it happens three years into the relationship?“Please, just leave me alone. Please.” I begged, as my voice quivered in fear and desperation.“Not until you give me what I want,” he snarled and approached me.“Okay okay. Fine, fine. I'll do whatever you want.” I was desperate and said a
AnaI went to bed that night thinking about the crazy events I went through that day.Being a single mother was no small feat and I greatly missed the feeling of having a present partner to protect me.My mind went back to Tony and a shiver ran through my spine at the possibility that he would've harmed us if Terrence hadn't gotten to us just in time.And who knows what he might be planning now that I outrightly rejected him and physically hurt him. He could turn out to be more dangerous and unpredictable.I had to think of a way to keep me and my family safe. Maybe I should accept Ben's offer and move in with him already.But how was I going to explain having a child and a sister? It could be detrimental to the whole arrangement and I didn't want to put Liam and Beth in the crossfire between me and Ben.I had to think of something, and fast.I heard a soft knock on my door and Beth peeped in.“Why are you still awake? Can't sleep?” I asked.“Yeah. I'm worried about you. I don't want
Ben I pressed my fingers to my temple, wincing in discomfort as I listened to the voicemail from Ana. The swivel chair swayed gently as I tapped my knee repeatedly. I was relieved she had finally come to her senses and agreed to move in. However, the mere thought of having her close at all times excited me and for the life of me, I couldn't tell why. My business deal with the investors was still hanging in the balance and the company was in dire need of some heavy cashflow so I needed to close the deal with them as soon as possible, otherwise, I could have a ton of angry unemployed workers on my hands. I left my seat and paced around my office, thinking of the best way to break the news of her coming to Mama Canda. I don't want her getting too excited or making a lot of fuss about it. The status quo must be respected and Ana is not to disrupt my daily life. But first things first. I brought out my phone and texted Ana: 'Be ready. Movers will be coming to pick you up tomorrow.’
AnaI woke up to the annoying sound of a vehicle beeping persistently just outside my window.I turned and peered at my alarm clock through heavy eyes, 6:30 am!I screamed into my pillow and threw off the covers in irritation. I went over to the window to see a moving truck backing up into my front porch.Isn't it a little too early for this? Or is it that the almighty Mr. Pierce cannot wait to tie me down as his fake wife and to continue his evil machinations.I hurried to my front door, yanking it open to tell them to either keep it down or come back later. I knew I was literally walking into trouble with my own two feet and I damn sure aren't in any hurry.A professional-looking mover, clipboard in hand, greeted me with a nod.“Morning, ma'am. We're here to move your belongings to Mr. Pierce's residence.”I glared at him. “Do you know what time it is? Can't this wait?”The mover shrugged. “Sorry, ma'am. Mr. Pierce's instructions were very clear. We need to get everything moved tod
Ben I pulled out of Ana's driveway, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Things were falling into place. Ana was finally on board with our arrangement, and I could focus on landing that business deal. As I drove, my mind turned to the tasks ahead. I needed to brief my security team on the new situation and make sure they were prepared for any potential threats. But why was Ana suddenly trying to avoid moving when she was the one that called me herself the previous night? It didn't make any sense. I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead. I couldn't let personal feelings get in the way of our arrangement. This was business, after all. But as I pulled into my driveway, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't control. Mama Canda greeted me at the door, her usual warm smile in place. “You left this morning in such a hurry. Is everything okay?” “Someone is moving into the house today,” I replied, handing her my keys. “She
AnaI took a deep breath and stepped back inside, the silence of my home a stark contrast to the rising chaos outside. I headed straight to Liam's room, gently shaking him awake.“Hey, baby, time to get up,” I whispered, trying to sound cheerful.Liam rubbed his eyes with his tiny fingers, yawning in his sleep. I had a second thought and decided to leave him to continue sleeping for now.I headed to Beth's room, knocking softly on the door. After our argument last night, I was doubtful she was in the mood to talk to me but I tried nonetheless. “Beth, can we talk?”Beth opened the door, looking sleepy. “What is it, Ana?”I took a deep breath. “We're moving to Ben Pierce's house today.”Beth's eyes went wide. “What? Why?”I filled her in on the basics and the things she needed to know – the protection from Tony, the new life. I of course left out the part where Ben had threatened to throw me in jail if I didn't bend to his demands.Beth listened, her expression growing increasingly susp
BenAfter my disastrous presentation, I took a break from work and drove home. I needed to freshen up, eat one of Mama Canda's special meals so I can think more clearly and strategize for the postponed presentation.That was the initial plan.But somehow, I spent the rest of the day reviewing security protocols and briefing my team on Ana's arrival. They knew the drill - keep an eye on her from a distance and make sure she wasn't being followed.I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of me. My mind kept wandering back to Ana. What was her story? Earlier today she had been a little bit erratic and that was suspicious. What secrets was she hiding?'Get a grip, Ben,' I muttered to myself. This was just a fake marriage, a business deal. Don't let it get personal.I sighed, rubbing my temples. Focus, Ben. Suddenly my phone rang. I checked the caller ID to see that it was my father, but my father never calls unless it was for something very important, like business.He
Ana30 minutes later when Beth had finally calmed down, I took her up to her room and tucked her into bed. Then I headed down the hall to Liam's room. I hadn't seen my baby since I left in the morning.When I entered his room, I found a maid playing with him while cleaning up his room at the same time.Being a single mother myself, I was impressed by the way she expertly handled Liam and kept him occupied while doing something else. I chuckled to myself. The power of multitasking which appears to only be borne by women.As I watched the maid and Liam interact, I couldn't help but feel a pang of gratitude towards Ben for hiring such a wonderful staff. Being a boy Mom was no easy task and Ben's staff had made sure I took a well-deserved rest every now and then.The maid, whose name tag read "Maria", caught my eye and smiled warmly. "Hello, Mrs. Ana. I was just getting Liam ready for bed. Would you like me to finish up?" I shook my head, walking over to Liam. "No, Maria, thank you. I
AnaBen and I arrived home just a few minutes past 7:00 pm to find Beth sitting on the patio crying.Without waiting for the car to come to a complete stop, I jumped out and rushed towards Beth, my heart thudding widely in my chest.Why was she crying? Did something happen to Liam? Was it Shirley again?Oh, I'm going to kill her with my bare hands if she had anything to do with this!“Beth, what is it? Why are you crying?” I asked, my voice laced with fear as I crouched down close to her. “Is Liam okay?”“Everything okay?” Ben asked, slowly approaching us, his face filled with something that looked like fear. “Where's Candace?” “It's Alex,” Beth whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she spoke. Who is Alex? I thought, and then it clicked. Alex is the ex-boyfriend that nearly hurt Beth.“What about him?” I asked, “Did he try to contact you again?”Beth stared at me, a sorrowful look in her innocent eyes. “He's dead, Ana. Someone killed him.” He finally said, her voice quaverin
AnaWaoh! I felt a flutter in my chest at the intimacy of the question. "That's a pretty personal question, Ben," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. I wasn't expecting that. I thought to myself.Now what do I say? Do I admit the truth, or do I lie and hope he doesn't prob any further?Ben grinned at me and cocked his head. "Hey, I'm your husband. I'm allowed to ask personal questions."I smiled, feeling a sense of ease returning. "Okay, fine. When I'm lying in bed at night, I'm usually thinking about..."“What?” He prompted, his eyes shining with child-like expectation.“You.” I finally said, and held my breath.Ben's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Oh? And what am I doing in these thoughts of yours?"I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, but I tried to play it cool. "You're usually doing something very charming and romantic," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.Ben laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I see. And do these thoughts of yours usually end with us living
Ana***7 Days Until End of Contract***Two hours later, Kelly and I were finally done arranging stuff in my new office.Ben had sent the interior designer as promised and she did a fine job painting and decorating the space, and for that, I gave her a very generous tip, because she more than deserved it.As I stood by the window admiring the new decor, Kelly smiled and nodded in approval. "You're officially settled in, Mrs. Pierce," she said, gathering her things. "I'll let you get comfortable. If you need anything, just buzz me."“Thanks, Kelly,” I said and lightly touched her arm.Just then, the door swung open and Ben walked in, a warm smile on his face. "How's the new office?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room."It's perfect," I replied, feeling a sense of pride and ownership. "The designer did an amazing job."Ben nodded approvingly at the colors, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "You deserve it."We chatted for a few more minutes, discussing
AnaOmg! My new office? He really wasn't joking about getting me my own corner office.My eyes shone with joy and delight as I continued to follow him without further questions.As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and pride. My own corner office? It was a dream come true. I had always wanted to prove myself as a capable and independent individual, and this was a huge step in that direction.Ben led me to a door with a shiny new nameplate that read "Ana Smith, Executive Director." I gasped in surprise, my eyes widening with delight."Ben, this is...wow," I stuttered, my hand reaching out to touch the nameplate.Ben chuckled and leaned against the doorframe, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I told you I'd get you set up," he said, his voice low and husky.I turned to him, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Ben," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "This means so much to me."I felt a flutter in my chest as I gazed up at him, my heart overflow
AnaTerrence was already standing and waiting by the car as Ben and I came down from our respective rooms at the same time, as if on cue.Ben smiled and winked at me from across the foyer and my face turned red in a blush.Silly girl, I cautioned myself as I gracefully got in the back seat, followed by him.Usually, Ben would sit up in the front with Terrence but today was different. He wanted to sit close to me.His broad shoulders filled up the small space, and the heat from the closeness of his body radiated towards me, making my skin tingle with awareness.Flashes of the kiss we shared earlier in his bedroom flooded my memory and sent warm thrills across my entire body.I was giddy with excitement, but then I glanced at my wristwatch and grimaced, a frown creasing my brows. “We're so late.” I noted, my voice tinged with worry.“Says who?” Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.“I mean, aren't we?” I replied, glancing at my wristwatch again. “It's almost 10:00 am.”I turned to look at Be
AnaLike a lost sheep being taken to the slaughter, I followed Ben as he took me by the hand and led me to his bedroom.I'd never been in his bedroom before and as I stepped through the door, the unmistakable scent of cologne filled my nostrils, making my head spin.I knew that scent. It felt familiar, like a warm hug. Where had I smelled it before? I wondered, glancing around the cozy, elegant space.“Make yourself at home,” Ben said, nodding towards a plush cushion beside the bed. "I love your room," I said, taking in the calming colors and comfortable furnishings. "It feels like a sanctuary.”Ben chuckled and nodded. “That's the same thing you said last night.”I did a double take, my eyes narrowing at his words. “What? Did I…Was I here last night?”“No,” Ben laughed and handed me a glass of water. “But maybe. I'm not sure.” He added, still laughing.I rolled my eyes at him and accepted the cup. “It's not funny, Ben.”“Aren't you curious though?” Ben asked, and slowly approached m
AnaI woke up with a start, my top drenched in sweat, and my head pounding from a terrible hangover. Where was I?The slice of bright light seeping through the window blinds indicated that it was morning.I glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. 7:30am.I must've been really exhausted last night that I had fallen into such deep sleep. I don't even remember waking up in the middle of the night like I usually do.I rubbed my eyes and sleepily glanced around the room.My clothes were scattered all over the floor, trailing from the door up to the bed. I winced in pain as I tried to recollect how that came about.Oh god! Did I sleep with Ben? Did I shamelessly throw myself at him?I stumbled out of bed and headed straight for the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, my vision slightly blurred by a piece of straying hair.I walked past a mirror and paused, daring myself to take a look at the mess I must've made of myself last night.I succumbed, and as I gazed into the mirror, I was
BenAna and I danced together, laughing and spinning to the beat. For a moment, I forgot about our deal, about the future, and just let go.As the night wore on, we played games, told jokes, and even had a heated debate about the best pizza topping— Ana was adamant that pineapple belonged on pizza, while I was horrified by the suggestion.At one point, Remi pulled out a guitar and started strumming a lively tune. Ana grabbed my hand and pulled me into an impromptu karaoke session. We belted out a ridiculous duet of "I Will Survive," complete with over-the-top dance moves and dramatic arm flailing.I sang along to the beautiful tunes, never mind that my voice was already cracked from yelling on top of my voice all night.But I didn't mind, because for the first time in a long time, I was having the best time of my life with the woman I— love?Love? I caught myself midway, shocked to realize that I'd fallen hopelessly in love with this woman.I watched her happy face as we sang, my hea