Florence. A groan slid past my lips the moment I stepped my feet into my room. Jolts of pain seared around my joints and ankle as I wobbled towards my bed in the far corner. I never really liked it because it wasn't all that comfy, but right now, I would take that brick of a bed over anything. I sighed the moment I slumped onto the bed. Without wasting any more time, I kicked my feet in the air and flung my shoes from my legs. They'd been hurting throughout the journey back and if I had taken it off a moment later, I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said my toes would come off with it. Tiny tendrils of pain shot up my feet as I moved my toes, a feeble attempt to bring life back to them. I winced every now and then, but it was nothing compared to the hammering in my chest. It'd started the moment Dominique walked in on Blake and I at the gazebo. I had no idea why, but the moment he stepped in, my heart started this erratic beat only I could hear. I saw the anger in his eyes an
Florence. Time seemed to slow to a halt after that moment. I felt my breath hitch in my throat. I found it hard to breathe as the air around me felt choked up. I could feel the air crackling with tension so thick you could slice through the air with a pie knife and cut out a huge chunk enough to go round, but a part of me told me Dominique wouldn't be the least interested in that pie, not even in the slightest and I wouldn't blame him honestly. Something churned in the pit of my stomach. Rage perhaps? I wasn't sure, but all I knew was that I'd had enough of all of his shenanigans and his verbal insult since the day I'd stepped my foot into his house. I wasn't exactly sure which hurt more; Dominique's temper or the fact that Aliyah had betrayed me. Again. Anger bubbled through my veins at the very thought of it. So this was the main reason she was here yesterday. Just to get information. She didn't care that I was genuinely upset with her. She had no care in the world that s
The rain splattered on the sidewalk, licking up the roads and a bolt of lightning flashed briefly from the dark-night sky, shielding everywhere with light for a moment only for the darkness to return. I snuggled closer into my pillow, but the sound of the rain beating down on the old tin roof wouldn’t let me sleep and I turned to the other side of the tiny bed, muttering something unintelligible. Jeezz. Goddamn nature wouldn’t let me catch a breath. I’d exhausted myself the whole day cleaning up the house and doing whatever requests my stepmom and my half-sister tossed at me and this was the time I had to myself before I had to be up by three a.m. the following morning for another round of chores. It was a fucking sickening routine, but it was my life, and there was absolutely nothing I could to change it. No one cared anyway. Grunting, I stifled a yawn, getting out of bed to use the toilet just down the dimly-lit hallway when the sound of a door being slammed stopped me dead in my
FLORENCEAfter my dad was carted into a long black van, I stared for the longest time at the door, inwardly praying that this wasn’t real. That I would eventually wake up and all of this would be a distant memory, belonging only in the dream world. But, my stepmother’s voice sliced through my daze like a sharp knife and I turned to face her, my neck suddenly heavy for my head. “Make sure everywhere is sparkling clean,” she barked as if she was talking to a dog and Jenny shot me a mean stare as if daring me to challenge her mother’s authority. I dared not. I simply nodded, dragging my limbs off from the floor to the kitchen. Jenny met me halfway, landing me a hot slap. For a moment, I stood there, too stunned to speak, my ears ringing loudly. What did I do this time? “That is for being such a loud mouth. If it wasn’t for your stupid speech, those men wouldn’t have taken my dad away.” The way Jenny called him ‘my dad’ like she owned him, one would think he wasn't my dad as well. And I
I packed the last of my things, dragging my feet on the floor. Today was the last I would spend here as dad had informed me a ride was on its way to pick me up and I took one last glance around a room I’ve known for years. It was small, a tiny space I barely slept in, but the room was painted in bright pink–a color that reminded me so much of sunshine and rainbows. That was what my mother was to me until she died. When she took her final breath, a piece of me went with her and was buried six feet below the ground. Heaving a deep sigh, I tried to push the thoughts of my mother away from my head, but they kept coming back, haunting me like a moth drawn to a flame. Why did she have to go? Couldn’t it have been me? Maybe then, I wouldn’t be suffering the way I was now, doing housemaid duties in a house my mother once had a share in. My head swelled with anger at the situation and my fingers bunched together, about to form a fist when a knock suddenly came on the door, interrupting me. Th
I didn’t know who I was expecting to see, but it was definitely not him–the Dominique guy who’d airily walked in that night. He was sitting languidly on the sofa, dressed in blue white-washed jeans and a black singlet that showed off his toned arms, and he looked up as I walked in, a hint of annoyance in his gaze. I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me–not at all. He frowned, his eyes never leaving my body. My face flushed with heat at his intense stare and I was angry at myself for responding that way to a man who’d treated my father like shit. He wasn’t a good man, yes, but he was human and as such, he ought to be treated as one. Whatever had happened to him where he was taken to that made the animosity grow stronger towards me. I was curious to find out, but one part of me–the part that was rational–pulled me back. I didn’t want to get hurt by what I found. Dominique looked at me like he was irritated that I was standing in his pristine living room, and I could tell by the express
DOMINIQUE.It was only when he’d left and I’d reclined to my study that I came into full realisation of what I’d done. I felt like a fool, a tool for use. I shouldn’t have let Mr. Shane go. Worse still, I’d bought into his silly idea of his daughter working for me to repay the money he owed me. How fucked up was that? Years ago when Mr. Shane and I had gone into business, I never thought things would go so awry that it’d end up with him running away with my millions on investment and it had infuriated me to no end. I had to track him down and make him pay somehow. Now, he’d found a way to buy himself out. I hit my fist on the wooden table, muttering a string of curses under my breath. Oh well, his daughter was going to suffer for it. She’d pay for the sins of her father with every sweat and tear used in building the business from scratch. I didn’t care. Someone had to take the fall. Mr. Shane had already informed me through a quick phone call made to one of my bodyguards–the one tha
Florence.I scrunched up my nose as specs of dust wafted through my nostrils. A chill ran down my spine as a familiar sensation worked its way towards my nose. I knew it was coming and I could already picture the outcome. If I didn't find a way to control it, I would sneeze out aloud again, and for the umpteenth time too. The last thing I wanted was to draw more attention to myself. No, the last thing I wanted was for Dominique to hear me. A small part of me couldn't help but think he would have a problem with me sneezing all over the place. Heavens forbid all my germs over his mansion. The moment the sensation in my nose settled, I went on dusting the furniture. I'd just finished with the center table and was currently on the huge bookshelf in the far corner. If I was being honest, Dominique didn't strike me as the kind of man who read books. Because what kind of villain read books? Okay, maybe a couple of them but you get my point. With how stuck up and ruthless he was, I doubted
Florence. Time seemed to slow to a halt after that moment. I felt my breath hitch in my throat. I found it hard to breathe as the air around me felt choked up. I could feel the air crackling with tension so thick you could slice through the air with a pie knife and cut out a huge chunk enough to go round, but a part of me told me Dominique wouldn't be the least interested in that pie, not even in the slightest and I wouldn't blame him honestly. Something churned in the pit of my stomach. Rage perhaps? I wasn't sure, but all I knew was that I'd had enough of all of his shenanigans and his verbal insult since the day I'd stepped my foot into his house. I wasn't exactly sure which hurt more; Dominique's temper or the fact that Aliyah had betrayed me. Again. Anger bubbled through my veins at the very thought of it. So this was the main reason she was here yesterday. Just to get information. She didn't care that I was genuinely upset with her. She had no care in the world that s
Florence. A groan slid past my lips the moment I stepped my feet into my room. Jolts of pain seared around my joints and ankle as I wobbled towards my bed in the far corner. I never really liked it because it wasn't all that comfy, but right now, I would take that brick of a bed over anything. I sighed the moment I slumped onto the bed. Without wasting any more time, I kicked my feet in the air and flung my shoes from my legs. They'd been hurting throughout the journey back and if I had taken it off a moment later, I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said my toes would come off with it. Tiny tendrils of pain shot up my feet as I moved my toes, a feeble attempt to bring life back to them. I winced every now and then, but it was nothing compared to the hammering in my chest. It'd started the moment Dominique walked in on Blake and I at the gazebo. I had no idea why, but the moment he stepped in, my heart started this erratic beat only I could hear. I saw the anger in his eyes an
Florence. I allowed my eyes to wander around the gardens and if I was being honest, the view from the balcony wasn't that bad. No, scratch that, it was gorgeous. I thought Dominique's garden back at home was a sight to see, but this, this was a major discovery.Flower arrangements ranging from roses, daises, lilies, even down to peonies were bunched up in beautiful spots around the garden. Other creeping vines and hedges snaked around and surrounded a gazebo in the center of it all. Fairy lights were strung high up on the wooden platform and it made me wonder what it would look like in the dark and all lit up. “I agree it it quite a sight to see.” The sound of someone's voice behind me pulled me back to earth immediately. I felt the hairs at the back of my neck stand on end immediately, a sensation I usually felt when a certain someone was near me. But with the little time I'd spent with the man, this was no way near Dominique's voice. “ It's the prettiest thing in the hous
Dominique. A mix of emotions rushed through my bones the moment I stepped out of my Mercedes. A tall building loomed ahead, but not tall enough to shield my eyes from the scorching rays of the sun, high up in the sky. With a hand in my pants pocket, I pulled out my shades and dumped it deftly on the bridge of my nose. It was next to unnecessary though, seeing that I would be stepping into the building very soon, more sooner than I would have liked actually. The building in front of me was a huge mansion that had somehow managed to stand the test of times. It had a close resemblance to a Victorian manor. In fact, it could almost be called that, except the very modern touches that were glaringly obvious. The choice of architecture wasn't surprising, because my grandparents built the house themselves and this house was their absolute pride and joy. They were so pleased with it, they named it The Manor Mansion. The Mansion had been standing for many years now, and while I loved com
Dominique. The fear in her eyes did nothing to quench the anger in my eyes. If anything, the sight of my blazing red orbs in her brown eyes stroked the fire and rage in me. “How dare you come late?! I yelled, trapping her jaw in between my thumb and index finger. I watched as her face scrunched up in pain as she struggled to get some words out. “ Can you not hear me?!”“I'm sorry.” She coughed, her face and cheeks reddening. “ I'm sorry, sir. Please….” “That's not an excuse!” I spat and she flinched, her eyes snapping shut over each other. “ You'll tell me why you were late and why my breakfast isn't ready yet!” “Sir, please…” she stuttered as she slowly peeled her eyes open. Tears broke free as they cascaded down her cheeks, leaving a trail of glistening salty liquid in their wake. A couple of them dropped onto my fingers, but I didn't care. “ Sir, I swear, I - I swear, it's not my fault.” “Whose is it then?” I barked into her face. I let go of her jaw but just for a split
Florence A sense of dread washed over me the moment I stepped foot into the living room. Okay, maybe not dread, but something else, something else I couldn't quite place my finger on. But there was one thing I was sure of, I would rather be anywhere else than here. A wide range of emotions rippled through my being as I allowed my eyes dart from one corner to the other, like I was searching for something or perhaps, my eyes were trying to get used to the place all over again. If I was being honest, I didn't want to be here. Anywhere near here actually, that was one of the reasons I was hesitant back at Doctor Eric's office. Before his arrival for my last and final checkup I'd prayed that I wasn't completely fine. Because if I was still sick I would have no other choice than to remain in the hospital. The amount of heartbreak I had when he confirmed I was totally fine couldn't be compared to anything else. I wanted to yell, scream my lungs out till one of them would burst o
Dominique A sigh slid past my lips as I cradled my head in my hands, my fingers digging deep into my skull. Tiny tendrils of pain shot up the path that led to my skull but I didn't care. Instead, with a strong resolve, I pressed my fingers deeper, the intensity threatening to drive me insane right there at the spot. Maybe that was just what I needed. Who knew? It could always bring or birth forth a new approach or prospective to tackiling what was in front of me. I eyed the stack of papers that lounged aimlessly at the top of my desk. Various figures and statistical charts stared back at me, the numbers mocking my inability to solve them. I groaned loudly as I pressed my fists together. The urge to topple this desk over was strong, but I knew better. It wouldn't solve a thing. I'd tried every approach, every calculative method there was, but somehow, I always ended up at the same point. It was basically like I was chasing my own tail at this point with no progress. No matter ho
Florence I pressed my eyes shut as tightly as I could, as the feel of thr doctor's presence increased by the second. I had no idea why, but I felt my heartbeat increase almost immediately, the vital organ hitting loudly against my ribcage. Something cold pressed into a spot above my cleavage and I shuddered as goosebumps crept up my skin. The instrument stayed there for aa while and the more time passed, the colder I seemed to be getting. “Does anything hurt?” I jerked up at the sound of the voice, my hand flying to my chest. I watched my fingers tremble as they covered a spot close to my heart. Minutes passed before I was able to calm myself again. “Florence, are you okay?”The moment I raised my gaze to the direction the voice came from, it suddenly made sense.“I'm fine.” I sighed as I slowly brought down my hands to rest at my sides. I adjusted my hospital gown awkwardly before I continued. “ Perfectly fine.”“Are you sure?” From the look on doctor Eric's face, he wasn't b
Dominique. I hissed out loud as I stared at the papers in front of me. It felt like the more I read and glanced through it all, the lesser it made any sense. From the variables and figures, down to the most minute of details, something was wrong and it irked me, deep in my bones, but that wasn't even the worst part. The most annoying of it all was the fact that I was in no way responsible for compiling any of the statistics in front of me. My idiotic employee did. Or a prospective one rather. After I'd walked out on the business meeting the other day, I'd realized it wasn't exactly business etiquette to walk out on prospective business partners, no matter how far they were behind in the business world, or the opposite even. So I arranged something else instead. They would prepare their best pitch and submit each document. After review, they would be contacted.But here I was. I'd barely begun and the urge to fling them all out of the window was close to choking me. This was why I