ALEXANDER'S POV I stared at my phone, tightening my grip around it until my knuckles turned white. Who was texting me with Mirabelle's number? This was obviously murder, and whoever it is seems to be enjoying the game."Call the number," The detective ordered.I called it immediately, It rang, but there was no response. I called again, and again, yet no answer.The next message that came into my phone paralyzed me."Hey Lover boy, I also have baby Rubby."The words on the screen blurred as fear rushed through my veins.The detective, too, seemed impressed, if not scared.A cold chill ran down my spine. My heart pounded violently against my ribs as I frantically dialled the number again. Each ring felt like a lifetime, each second stretching into unbearable eternity. No answer. I tried again. Still no response."Call her again," the detective in charge instructed, his eyes dark with suspicion. "I mean Rubby."I obeyed, my fingers trembling as I redialed Rubby's number for the hundred
RUBBY'S POV It was Alex on the TV again; different news channels carried the news with terrible headlines.I stared at Josh, the stranger who had taken me in, as he sat stiffly on the couch, his eyes locked onto the television screen with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.The flickering images reflected in his pupils, but his expression was what unsettled me the most. It was raw, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place, anger and hatred? Or something more sinister?“Josh?” I called his name softly, not wanting to startle him, but he didn’t respond.I tried again, louder this time. “Josh?”His head jerked up as if just realizing I was still in the room. His lips pressed together briefly before forcing a tight-lipped smile. “Sorry, Rubby. Got lost in thought. Let’s go.”"What's with the face?" I asked refusing to buy the lie of being lost in thought. He noticed the change in my mood and flashed me the most fake smile I had ever seen."Rubby, I hate reporters. They m
ALEXANDER'S POV "You've gotten the culprit, why are you still holding me?" Kevin blurted. I was disgusted with the fact that he had already concluded I was the culprit.While I was escorted to another room, my father walked into the station, his presence commanded so much respect that he didn't need to speak before I was ushered out, same as Kevin."Haven't the interrogation section ended?" Dad asked staring at me with an expression I didn't quite understand. He looked disappointed and sad, but what was more evident was fear. "The DNA results prove that Alex was with her at the time of her death and struggled with her, too," the lead detective said."According to the autopsy, how long has she been dead?" Dad asked, scanning the room with his eyes as though afraid that a wild animal might come out at any moment from them."Here is the file," the detective said handing the file over to him."Alex was in a meeting with the press when this happened, so I would advise you to do your duty
ALEXANDER'S POV I dialed the number for the fifth time yet no response. Bastard! I muttered through gritted teeth."Alex," I could hear Mom's distant voice. Dad was behind her as they walked over to me."Listen to me son, we can't solve it with Violence.""Tell that, son of yours, If anything happens to Rubby, if even a strand of her hair is hurt, I will kill him.""Son, I...""I am not your son! Do not call me your fucking son!""I'm sorry," Mom cried and held me by my T-shirt, "Listen to me please.""You hid it, for how long now?"Before she could respond, the number sent a text."Sweet Mom, you thought you'd gotten rid of me?"I dialled the number again; thankfully, he took it this time."Hey, Mom," He said, sounding so casual."This isn't mom, this is someone who would make your life miserable. Bring Rubby back, if you dare hurt her, I will find you, and I will kill you."He let out a humourless laugh that felt very humiliating and insulting."Oh, the famous Alexander Wolfe, or
RUBBY'S POV "Alex right?" Josh asked eyeing me suspiciously."What's with the eyes?" I asked, forcing back my laughter."Nothing. How were you able to get his number?" He asked, fiddling with his fingers like a teenager in love."My Gmail. I had it saved there, so immediately I entered it into the phone, every saved number popped up.""I see," Josh whispered, his face was an expression of both sadness and jealousy."I'm scared," I blurted suddenly."Why?" He asked and came close to me."The media, the police, everything," I whispered."Rubby," he whispered and held my hand gently, rubbing it gently with one hand, and stroking my hair with another.He was so close, I couldn't afford to breathe. I wasn't comfortable with it, but I wasn't uncomfortable either. It felt so normal, as though I had been there before."It will pass," he whispered. "But you wouldn't be seen in public immediately, You could stay with me till the matter is resolved."I nodded in response, my eyes darting from h
RUBBY'S POV "What!" I exclaimed, staring at Josh, while my heart pounded.This was the least of the things I wanted to hear now."Another condition please," I pouted my lips and joined my palm.He didn't say a word, he just shook his head in response.My whole being screamed at me to refuse, but the more I thought about it, the more guilt I felt.He had helped me, given me a place to stay and even believed me, yet all I've ever done was think the worst of him. Maybe, I thought, I could use this way to apologise."Josh," I called out gently.He raised an eyebrow. "What are you scared of? I've got a balloon bed; I could use it while you use the other one. I just want your company tonight. I'm not a bad person I swear, but if you insist, I won't force you."I bit my lower lips as he spoke. He looked so vulnerable at that point that I was torn between caution and pity. "Separate beds?" I said to be completely sure."I promise."I took a deep breath, then nodded in agreement. "Okay, just
ALEXANDER'S POV All through that night, my heart hurt. I felt like a sharp pain as though a knife had been pierced through it. I tossed on my bed, wishing for sleep, but it was far away.My mind raced with a million thoughts. What was he doing with her now? Why would he call her sweetheart? Are they sharing the same room?I reached for my phone and started typing a message. "Hey Rubby, you might not understand now, but the man with you isn't who you think he is. Please come back, I miss you."My finger hovered over the send button as I debated whether to send it or not. Finally, the latter won, and I cleared the whole message.Morning took forever, but when it finally came, I made the most of it, and soon, I was seated in my office despite the murmurs coming from my staff.Hours later, I finally stood to take a look. The commotion outside my office grew louder now, a woman crying, the endless clicking of cameras and the lines of question the reporters threw at her. I stood by the wi
RUBBY'S POV My whole body trembled in fear as I sat up. My body was drenched in cold sweat and my breath came in ragged gasps. It's just a dream, I muttered to myself. A nightmare.I looked around the dark room as though I was still in my nightmare. The room was so quiet, except for the sound of Josh's heavy breathing. I stared at him for a moment, wondering if dreams had anything to do with reality, or if perhaps he would twitch his eyes, but I saw nothing.I swallowed hard, placing both hands on my chest and heaved a deep sigh of relief.It had felt so real, the blood, the terror, his fake smile, everything had felt so real. Again, I placed a hand on my chest trying to steady the wild thumping my heart did. I needed to be calm, or else I would find myself in a hospital later in the day; it was just a nightmare, after all.But the more I convinced myself it was just a dream, the more I felt it was more. Perhaps it was because I kept suspecting him, so my mind probably chose to pla
RUBBY'S POV "I'm ready to leave," I said while drawing imaginary images on the floor.I couldn't bring myself to look at his face, or else I might be tempted to stay."Already? I just got home.""I know, but I didn't plan on spending the night in the first place, mom might be worried now."Alex tucked his hands into his pockets, with a look of reluctance that carved deep into his expression."But your mom knows you are here; I mean, you told her, didn't you?"I shook my head. "You seem to have forgotten how I ended up in your house for the night," a wave of embarrassment washed over me as I remembered the events of the previous night."Rubby," Alex called out softly again. He just knew how to do it, how to make me change my mind even when I didn't want to. I shook my head, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "Alex please stop. Don't ask again, if I'm forced to stay, I won't be happy."He took a step closer, begging with his eyes more than his words. His lips looked redder than it was las
ALEXANDER'S POV I pulled into the driveway, letting the car engine idle for a few seconds before I stepped out. The house was quiet; I had expected all hell to be let loose since Annie was in the same house with Rubby.The lights were on, which was quite funny because there was no eclipse of the sun or the moon. But it wasn't even the lights that caught my attention, it was Annie. She was seated on the edge of the front steps like her world had come crumbling down. She Looked lost, bitter and even tired.Her shoulders were hunched, while her arms wrapped tightly around her body like a discarded soul waiting to be picked up.I stood still for some minutes watching her. She was so lost in thought that she didn't know that someone was standing there.She swiped her hand across her cheek, not once or twice, but three times. She was crying. She sniffed softly, her back rising and falling faster than it should. She looked behind her again, maybe to be sure Rubby wasn't coming, then swiped
ALEXANDER'S POV "Dad, I didn't wake up dry; I woke up normal," I answered and plastered a fake smile on my face.Dad smiled. "You are a grown boy now."One second, he was smiling, and the next minute, his eyes darkened."BANG!" He slammed his fist against the table so hard that the tea cup beside him rattled and toppled."You thieves!" He suddenly shouted, rage evident in his tone. "You snakes! Backstabbers! You want to take everything from me huh? Sign the documents already, sign them now!"The outburst sent shivers down my spine. I looked at Kevin who had a satisfied grin on his face. He must have found out that anger triggers this outburst and leveraged it to get himself entertained.Josh's mother sat still. Not even once did she blink like she had also waited for that outburst. My mother, on the other hand, looked somewhat confused, yet sat on her seat.Seeing that nobody made any attempt to move, I stood immediately and moved forward."Dad," I muttered. "It's okay. You are safe
ALEXANDER'S POV I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Dad sat at the end of the table, Josh sat with his mother directly opposite me, and Kevin sat two chairs away from me, and my mother was missing still.The room was so quiet, too quiet for a meeting filled with power-hungry men and women.I adjusted my tie for the fourth time, feigning a calmness I didn't feel.My eyes moved to Josh who sat stiff as though he was holding his breath. He hasn't spoken to his mother since I came, and neither has Kevin."Where is your mother?" Dad asked.I shrugged my shoulders, "I have no idea." In his sober state, he was mean to me, in fact, mean to everyone."You have no idea?" He repeated.I nodded and said no extra word."Can't we start without her? Does she hold such an important position in the family that we have to wait for her first?" Kevin suddenly asked.I kissed my teeth, I had no response to his question, and even if I did, Mom was the least person to defend."Kevin, you seem pressured,
RUBBY'S POV "Shit! Not now." I muttered.Annie stepped out, with Alex's mother. They discussed in hush tones, and Alex's mom handed her a door card, Alex's own, I presume.Annie looked scared; I couldn't tell if she was being threatened or if she was scared of Alex's reaction when he met her home.After a few minutes, Alex's mother climbed into the car and drove off, while Annie walked towards the house. I held my breath, ready for any type of confrontation."Click, click," her heels sounded on the tiled floor; soon, I stopped hearing it and assumed she had stopped in the sitting room. I was wrong. Before I could get to the door to Alex's bedroom to lock it, she walked in.She shivered at first as though she had seen a ghost, then her chest fell in relief when she realised it was me."What are you doing here?" She asked and crossed her arms."I should be asking you," I shot back."You are crossing the line, Rubby, or whatever it is you are called.""Yeah, you are right. It's Rubby."
RUBBY'S POV "I honestly do not know," Alex replied rubbing his temples."It's been years now, yet I've not been able to prove that I am innocent. That is why, I am so scared whenever you are around him."I reached out for his hand. "You don't have to be. I know what I want.""Thank you," he muttered and blinked continuously."It's okay. You should learn to cry in my presence."He nodded, biting his teeth hard, and still forcing back the tears."How is your Dad? I should come to see him soon."I curled up against him. "Yeah, Dad is fine. He would be happy to see you. I've been lying to them that everything is fine. Act like it whenever you see them okay?""Okay, understood." We lay in that position for a very long time. He stroked my hair gently, till I felt sleepy again."I will go to my family house tomorrow; I need Dad's saliva. I want to check by myself if Mom is saying the truth now."I raised my face. "Are you sure about that?"He nodded."I think since you doubt Annie, you sho
RUBBY'S POV I knew I should have walked away; I should have picked up my pride and left while I still had a sense of control, but how could I with the way he looked at me, like he had been waiting for me the whole time to be able to break down? Still, I could have asked him to stop after the first kiss, but the way he touched me shattered every wall I had built around my heart. He was so fragile, as though I had his heart in my hands, what would you have had me do?"Alex...." I whispered breathlessly.His hands glided to my waist but began trembling when he held me. It was like he was scared that I might disappear or get mad if he held me tightly. But that was the exact reason I had brought that gift in person. I was needy, desperate to be held by him, desperate to be handled right.He kissed me like he was starving, like he had been dying of thirst and I was the only drop of water left in the desert. "Easy," I muttered when I meant the opposite. I wanted so much for the whole dra
KEVIN'S POV I hissed and stormed away through the hallway with my fists clenched so tight that my nails dug into my palms.They both followed me till we were far away from the study and then Josh ran forward and blocked my path."Why would you say such things to him," Josh shot at me."Do you care?" I fired back. "How did you even find your way back into this house?""It's my father's house still," Josh answered."No, I wasn't talking to you," I turned to face his mom, whose face held no expression. "I was talking to you, how did you find your way back here? You must have leveraged his Dementia to sneak your way in.""I won't sit here and watch you talk to Mom like that," Josh fumed."I think the right phrase is "your mom," not the way you said it."My mom flinched at the statement I made but didn't move from the spot still; she folded her arms and stared at me as though she regretted my very existence."You want the seat so desperately that you openly let him know you plan on killin
KEVIN'S POV My knuckles turned white as I drove violently home. I had never been this embarrassed and disgraced all my life.How dare he? How dare that old man who is suffering from Dementia?I slammed my fists on the steering wheel continuously as I drove. "Mom," I muttered. How does it feel to have a favourite child, huh?All of a sudden she shows up, and the chairman talks such nonsense."Mr Wolfe!" I shouted as soon as I entered the house I bumped into Alex's mom who sat totally unbothered by the whole situation."Oh, it's a pity; some people can't even relate to what a mother's love means," she muttered.I knew she was referring to me. Though it hurt, I couldn't show how deeply those words wounded me.I turned to leave, but she blurted another disgusting word."I would rather be a devil than choose which child to love."I stopped abruptly and turned to her. "If you are talking to me, come say to my face, you coward. You should be ashamed of how much your son hates you. Look,