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CHAPTER 8
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2025-01-30 08:23:41
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Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 9
BLAINEAS SOON as I got back into the building, I spotted Jordan striding towards me and I braced myself for what was sure to come.“The fuck is she doing here? I thought we already discussed this.” He seethed as soon as he got to me, confirming my suspicions.“In my defense, it was a spur of the moment decision.” I said, putting my hands up. It was a lie. I knew what I was going to do when I traced her to her apartment. I don’t know why I felt drawn to her, but I knew I wanted to see her again.“She tried to kill you. That’s kind of what we’re trying to avoid, Blaine.” Jordan’s sarcasm was biting.“So have a dozen other people.”Jordan shook his head. “I am not going to let you make a terrible decision just because you want to get your dick wet.” He started to stride out.“You think that’s what this is?” I called after him. “She snuck weapons past our security and made it up to my office where I basically baited her. You think any of these other people here would have thought twice
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 10
ABIGEALWHEN I got off the last obstacle a full ten seconds ahead of Abel, everyone’s eyes were on me. I was used to being stared at like I was a freak of nature, but it didn’t stop me from feeling uneasy. “Is there a problem?”Warren cleared his throat. “Miss Starr has set a record of finishing the gauntlet in 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Let’s see who’ll beat that.”Oh. The gauntlet? We’d had similar in the military and my division especially used to challenge each other on the obstacle course for fun. I could walk a balance beam with my eyes closed. The consequences for failure here were more extreme, but all I had to do was not consider failure as an option and I was good to go.“Superwoman.” Abel chuckled as we walked back to the line.“Shut up.”I crossed my arms and watched as the rest of the people went through the gauntlet, shook my head as I mentally assessed them.Poor form.Balance issues.Lots of hesitation.Lack of creativity.But who was I to judge?At the end of it, when
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 11
ABIGEALBARELY A month ago, I was earnestly flipping through newspapers looking for a job that wouldn’t bore me out of my mind. That wouldn’t under stimulate me. Now here I was sitting on a guy’s back and pulling his leg backwards until he rapidly tapped the mat. I guess I got what I wanted.I got up and went to stand by the edge of the mat beside Abel while the guy lay on the mat panting before he got up and limped away, his head hung in defeat. “Girl, is there anything you aren’t good at?” Abel whispered.“Cooking.” I deadpanned.“Now that cheers me up, because I make a mean pecan pie.”“I do love pecan pie.”“Wait till you taste mine.” Abel said. The next match was called and Christa and another woman stepped onto the mat.“You know the rules. No weapons, no foul play. Good luck.” Warren drawled and the girls started to circle each other. Christa immediately went on attack, forcing the other woman to put her hands up. It didn’t look like she was slowing down anytime soon, leaving h
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 12
ABIGEALEARLY THE next morning, Abel, Matteo and I left the compound in a Sedan that was probably way more expensive than it looked. We hadn’t been given any more insight as to what was next on the itinerary. While both men were getting restless, I remained calm. Whatever it turned out to be, I was going to dominate it. I had to.The vehicle stopped in front of a sprawling bungalow with a perfectly tended front garden and interlocked tiles leading the way to the front door, where a man who I assumed was security waited.As we approached, he gave us a curt nod and opened the door, ushering us in with a wave of his hand. I hoisted my duffel higher on my shoulder as I stepped in, taking in the tall windows that let in a lot of sunlight and the tasteful furniture in muted colours.Waiting for us, bathed in a particularly strong shaft of sunlight, were Blaine Daniels and Jordan Alonso.Jordan’s cold gaze swept over me before he addressed us, wasting no time with pleasantries.“Morning. Con
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 13
ABIGEALI WAS sitting alone in the living room when Abel came back. The sun was just beginning to lighten the sky as he stepped in, eyes bloodshot and shoulders drooping. He stopped when he spotted me and tilted his head. “You were waiting up for me?”I shrugged as I got up. “I couldn’t sleep.” It was mostly the truth.Abel sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. “How are you so unfazed? We just watched someone we knew die right there.” He pointed to the area of the floor where Matteo had lain last night.There was no trace of blood or any sign at all that someone had died there, but the smell of bleach still permeated the room slightly.“Ex-military,” I answered shortly. He nodded. “Somehow I’m not surprised. Bet you’ve seen lots of dead bodies. Bet you think I’m weak for reacting this way.”I shook my head. “Watching your comrades die is not a flex. I don’t think you’re weak.” Hell, I wished I could still react that way. Maybe then I would feel more normal. Instead, fury bur
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 14
BLAINEI DIDN'T bother knocking as I strode into Jordan's office, Abigeal following behind me. “We have a problem.” I said curtly, then stopped short.Melanie was standing at Jordan's desk and turned to look at me over her shoulder. She smiled. “Hi, Blaine. I haven't seen you in a while.”I swallowed and forced a bright smile. Melanie is my best friend's girlfriend who was once mine. Hehe complicated right?“Mel, hey.” I crossed the room to hug her, trying hard not to breathe in her scent or to be too aware of her hands on my back.Get it together. She's marrying your best friend.When I released her, her hazel eyes slid over my shoulder to rest on Abigeal. I cleared my throat. “Right. This is my new bodyguard, Abigeal Starr. Abigeal, meet Jordan's fiance Melanie.” I concluded the introductions.Abigeal nodded once in Melanie's direction. “It’s a pleasure.” Her face said anything but.Melanie smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. “Congrats on your new position. You'll love B
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 15
ABIGEALI WALKED around the house, studying the space before giving an approving nod. “This should do. Not small or big enough to raise suspicion, and the furniture doesn't look brand new.” I concluded.“About time. I was starting to think we were house hunting for you and not me.” My target muttered from where he stood, arms folded and leaning against one wall. My eyes drifted to his biceps before I took my gaze away.He had been a lot more irritable since our conversation in the car, and hadn't smiled at me once. I preferred it that way, like being under shade after staying in the sun for too long.“Do you think anyone would believe you lived in a cottage-type house? Or the one big enough to be a hotel? This is more suitable for a single rich guy who thinks he's living the life," I said.“I am living the life.” He retorted and I barely withheld a scoff. “Either way, it's perfect.”There was a moment of silence then he spoke.“Why do you hate me?”His question had me looking in his
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 16
ABIGEALTHE NEXT few days passed uneventfully, if uneventful involved discovering a bug in my target’s car or spotting multiple tails whenever we drove to the house.I mostly kept to my room except when he was at the office, then I hung out with his secretary Chris, bored out of my mind. I desperately wished for activity.Activity came just after midnight four days after we set the trap. I was sitting up in bed cleaning my daggers when I heard the soft clicks of a lock being picked.I smiled to myself as I sheathed the knives under my baggy sleep shirt and padded barefoot to the door. I waited until they got the front door open then left my room quietly.The lights were off and visibility was aided only by the lights from the lamp posts outside coming in through the windows.My eyes adjusted to the darkness quickly enough to see the shadows moving fast towards the staircase, halted only by the dagger I threw at one of them.His yell, a mixture of surprise and pain, drew the attention o
Last Updated : 2025-02-05
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Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 69
ABIGEALI TIGHTENED my grip on my fork for the umpteenth time and let myself relish the thought of stabbing Heather Green to death with it. As her high laugh floated to my ears again, I imagined her blood splashed across my face and the look of shock that would be evident in her eyes just before they film over in death.Why such violent thoughts, you may ask?“Oh my God, do you remember.” Giggle. “Do you remember that time in seventh grade when Andrew” Giggle. “Andrew with the surname that's had to pronounce? That Andrew? When he put that whoopee cushion on Mr. Davies’ seat and he sat on it and got so embarrassed that he actually peed himself?”Blaine's aunts seemed to have done a good job of raising their kids, as the children exchanged horrified glances when she said that. “That's horrible. Why would he do that to a teacher?” Juan asked?Under Gabriela's disapproving stare, Heather immediately sobered up. “The question you should be asking is why would anyone do that to anyone,
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 68
ABIGEALAT THE end of the workday, Blaine and I stood facing each other with our eyes narrowed. The silence was all-encompassing and tension hung thick in the air. “Ready?” He asked.I scoffed. “I was born ready.”“Let's go, then.”We raised our right fists at the same time, then smacked them onto our open left palms three times. “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.” Blaine presented a rock. I looked at my scissors and sighed.“I win.” He smirked.I wasn't going to concede defeat that easily. “Best of three?”“Just let me enjoy my win, girl.” He shook his head with a smile.“Alright. Wonder what would happen when people find out you were afraid of losing to a woman.” I said casually, folding my arms.He laughed. “I'm not afraid of losing to a woman if she beat me fair and square, but fine, we'll do it your way.”We played two more times and I held back a groan while he smirked triumphantly, holding out his hand. “It appears I win again.”“I'm just having an off day.” I replied as I droppe
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 67
ABIGEAL“WON’T YOU come give your old mother a kiss?” The woman said. Jordan merely looked at her. “You didn’t have to come here. I could have booked you a hotel room.” He said. She laughed like the idea was absurd. “Book me a hotel room? When my son has a big ass house in the city?”Her eyes left Jordan and landed on Jasmine who had stopped grinning. “I don’t appreciate being dragged all the way here because of you, young lady. The next time you decide to evade the bodyguards and bribe your way through an airport, I won’t be there to do damage control.” She reprimanded coolly.Jasmine lifted her chin. “I asked if we could come see Jordan, you said no. I asked if I could come see Jordan, you said no. What else did you want me to do?’Jordan turned cool eyes to his mother. “She asked to see me and you declined? What were the terms of our agreement?” She rolled hers. “Yes, believe everything she says, because mummy is the only one capable of telling lies because she’s so bad.”“Um.”
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 66
ABIGEALI STARED straight ahead as Blaine drove in the direction of the headquarters, arms folded and staying silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him throwing me glances until he finally sighed. “Abigeal, I can hear your angst from all the way over there. Spit it out.”I turned towards the window and debated staying stubbornly silent or speaking. “Nothing.” I said eventually. “No, nope. We're not doing this.” He replied instantly. “There's clearly something on your mind. I want to know what it is.”I cast my eyes to the roof of the car. I was reluctant to speak because I'd be tempted to murder him if I told him and he laughed at me. “Okay. You fired me last night for saying things how they were- and you can't say I was wrong- yet this morning, Anna sweet talked you through it and now you're taking me back to work without an apology or a reinstatement or anything. Looks like an abuse of power from where I'm standing.” I said on one long breath.“Abigeal.” Blaine said my na
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 65
ABIGEALTHE FIRST thing I noticed was the pounding headache. The next thing I noticed was the presence of something or someone else in my bed. I rolled out of the sheets, slipping a hand under my pillow to grab the dagger I always kept there, but my hand came up empty.“Looking for this?” I whipped my head up at the familiar voice, feeling my eyes widen in shock when Blaine Daniels dangled my dagger in the air with his eyes still closed. “Yeah, I thought you might. I didn't particularly feel like getting stabbed, so I took it.” He threw it in my direction and I caught it by the hilt. “You can have it back now.” He turned on his side and fell silent.But I wasn't done with him yet. “What are you doing here? And why the fuck are you in my bed?”He let out a long sigh. “It appears that I have just won a bet against myself. Or lost one, depending on your point of view.”“Answer the question before I do something we won't be able to come back from.” I threatened, keeping my grip on the
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 64
ABIGEALI SNUGGLED closer to the warmth near me wrapping my arms around it. It was solid but somehow felt like it was made for me, and I let out a contented sigh. This was the stuff dreams were supposed to be made of.Dreams.Was I dreaming?The warm cottony feeling I was wrapped in certainly felt like a dream, but the constant motion did not. I frowned as the back and forth rocking pulled me further and further out of my dream state until I blinked and opened my eyes.I slowly came to realize I was going up a flight of stairs, but my legs weren't the ones moving. My legs were suspended in the air with the rest of my body. I blinked in confusion and slowly turned to look up at the person carrying me.I should be alarmed, but because of the warm fuzzy feeling, all I could conjure was a mild concern. “Oh no, am I getting kidnapped?” I yawned.My…kidnapper?...snorted. “There's not much I could do with you.” His voice sounded oddly familiar.I frowned. “I take offence to that. There's a l
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 63
ABIGEALI WALKED out of the bathroom and back to the bar. Michael and Anna were watching me warily as I went straight for my unfinished drink and gulped it down. “Next bar. Now.” I said. Anna didn't argue this time. We collected our things and left the bar. The cool night air hit my face as we walked outside. I turned to my right as we made our way back to Michael's car and locked eyes with Blaine who was about to get into his own car. I stopped walking as I stared at him. He still looked angry and after a final shake of his head, got into his car and drove away.I got into Michael's car and slammed the door. Michael met my eyes in the mirror. “Um. I can take you home if you're not feeling up to a night out anymore.” He said tentatively. “No. Tonight isn't about me. Where's the next bar?” I answered, the last part directed at Anna? She pulled out her phone and gave Michael the address.This bar was not that different from the first. The only big addition were the two poles in the
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 62
ABIGEALI'VE SEEN Blaine angry before. I've heard him yell, watched those eyes darken till they were almost black. But nothing could have prepared me for the way he looked at me now. Like the only thing keeping him from strangling the life out of me was the distance between us.I wanted to walk up to him. I wanted to explain that it wasn't what it seemed. But Jordan's terms kept ringing in my head. Going near him would violate the terms and the deal would be off.So instead, I forced myself to look away and finish the rest of my drink. “Where's the next bar?” I asked Anna. “What? We just got here.” She protested. “And you're not drunk yet.”“I don't have to get drunk at the very first bar, Annalise.” I responded. “Can we just stay a little longer? The music's fire.” She pouted. In response, I just sighed and ordered a cocktail.“Don't you think you're going too fast? Maybe slow down on the alcohol a bit.” Michael said, laying his fingers on my hand. “Make that a virgin mojito, plea
Twice Upon A Star CHAPTER 61
ABIGEALMY NAME was called and I turned, hoping nothing of what I was feeling showed on my face. “Pasta. I'll have the pasta.” I said without looking at the menu, even though my appetite was gone. The server smiled patiently. “You need to pick a kind of pasta, ma'am, unless you want them all.”I glanced at the menu again but my eyes saw nothing. I vaguely remembered Anna saying something about “Fettucine chicken alfredo.” I said it and the server noted it down and went away.I found both Michael and Anna giving me concerned looks. “That's the second time you've spaced out. Are you okay? Do we need to leave and reschedule?” He asked, worried eyes moving over my face.“I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude. I feel fine, maybe a little distracted.” I tried to smile, then decided against it.“Are you sure?” Anna asked. I looked over at her. “Yeah, I am. Let's enjoy the rest of our evening, shall we?”Anna smiled at me and picked up where she left off on a topic. Apparently Michael had ask
