Veronica
2:17pmThe rumbling of my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything apart from the coffee I took that morning and it was already past two. I debated between going to the diner some few blocks away called the alley, and eating lunch alone or going done to join the most of the workers in the building to have lunch. The thought of walking to the alley alone was not welcoming, because the fear of running into whoever it was that was stalking me made Goosebumps break out on my skin. I pushed my swiveling chair back and picked up my cafeteria card, my decision to have lunch with my coworkers already made. Naturally, because I didn't exercise, I tried my best to take the stairs to go have lunch sometimes as a way of burn some calories, but with the hunger plaguing me and the fear, I took the lift with the rest of the workers going down to have their lunch. I pressed the up button for the lift and waited for it to arrive. Once it did, I went in and was waiting forHunter3:27 pmI stood watching her wave at me, a huge grin on her face showing her pleasure at seeing me. Honestly, I had no intention of seeing her this afternoon, but I missed her even though I saw her the night before. Mother had been adamant about me continuing my relationship with Veronica if I didn't plan to tell her about our shared past and I agreed with her, but I didn't want to lose the only woman that has managed to make me feel anything remotely romantic since that horrible time in my past. It had been that bad for me, that I couldn't even get it up with any other woman no matter how hard I tried. I had tried dating other woman, but when it came to sleeping with them, I found myself unable to beat the shadow of my past. Esther would say the reason it was like that was because I couldn't forgive myself and I would agree while still disagreeing with her. Yes, I couldn't face what I did, but I have learnt to move on from the past, knowing I couldn't change an
Mark pushed one of the men guarding the entrance into Adams office, his face a mask of anger. Adam sighed as he watched the man he had hired to protect him fall on the ground like he weighed nothing heavier than a feather. He didn't blame them one bit; Mark was on another level. If only he had stayed fighting instead of running off to play financial expert."And to what do I owe this-" Adams was saying when Mark rushed at him, holding him by the lapels of his maroon suit. He slammed Adam into the closed blinds and began to chock poor Adam."Where is Dulce?" Mark's voice was not friendly and for a second Adam forgot to be fearless as he felt Mark's hot breath on his face. He tried to release Mark's grip but it only made him angrier as he lifted him off the floor, still using the lapels."And why would I know where Dulce is?" Adam asked in return, feeling very uncomfortable from his position. He chanced a look at his bodyguards and found them staring at what was h
Veronica4:57 pm (Monday)Having finished my work at the office, I shut down the computer, carrying some folders into my laptop bag to finish up some work at home. I had a lot of financial reports to go through and send to Evans and I needed to finish that. As I packed, I wondered what I would do if I didn't get promoted to CFO. It didn't slip my notice that I had a lot of things against me; I was young, I didn't have enough experience, and the most important of all, I was a woman. In the history of Caremed, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in not only the state but the country, no woman has been anything higher than assistant manager. I wasn't stupid or naive enough to think that my excellent record will work for me, as long as I had two full breasts and one vagina, I wouldn't stand the chance of being appointed. Evans would only acknowledge my application to make it seem like he was open minded and futuristic in thought.Sighing, I carried my bag an
Bainbridge precinct6:51 pmJameson walked into the precinct that evening. He looked around, searching for the officer he was looking to speak to. When he saw him, he walked towards the man, giving a brief nod to the people in the precinct saying hello. He hadn't been to the precinct since the time his daughter had been missing, and going back into the redecorated station was something he wished he never had to do. It was his love for Kelly that made him do what he hadn't done in more than ten years."Robert!" He called the young man in his middle thirties and Robert turned to look at him. Jameson saw the shock that passed through Robert's rather flat features before he gave him a welcoming smile that was tinged with discomfort.Back when his daughter had gone missing, Robert had just joined the police force, and he had helped them a lot till his daughter was finally returned to them. Robert had gone to search every angle, every corner, doing even mor
Hunter8:35pmI watched as Veronica said goodbye to the nurses as we were about leaving. I wondered when she had found the time to bond since she was just admitted this afternoon. When we got she looked at me and smiled."Let me guess, you're wondering when and how I became close to them." She said."How did you know what I was thinking?" I asked, pulling open the passenger car door so she could get in."Probably because you were looking at me with a slightly surprised face, " she commented and I closed the door and walked quickly to the driver's side."You can't blame me for being surprised," I reversed the car out of the lot, placing a hand behind the head rest of her seat as I turned slightly to look at the rearview windshield."I've been a regular for various reasons, It's an achievement actually." She said, and I turned to see she looked proud of it. I shook my head, wondering where
7:00 amHunterIt had to be close to an hour since I woke up and for the life of me I couldn't bring myself to get up from the bed. Silently, I gazed at Veronica as she slept, looking peaceful and calm, and I wondered what I had done to deserve the miracle of her. Her presence in my life was the most beautiful and the most troubling thing in my life. With her, I slept peacefully, but I worried immensely everytime I was awake. Still, if I had to choose between not knowing Veronica and being alone, and knowing her and feeling anxious I would lose her, my choice would always be the latter.She shifted her head on the pillow, mumbling quietly as she did so. A shrill sound of a cellphone interrupted the serenity of the morning and I immediately located the ringing phone so I could stop the noise. I picked up Veronica's phone, planning to end the call and put it on vibration, when I saw the caller ID displayed mother, with two pink revolving hearts beside it.I
Bainbridge island7:28amKelly watched quietly as Betty dropped the receiver after speaking to her daughter's boyfriend. Her position by the foot of the stairs, made it easier for her to listen in on what Betty had been saying without being seen. She didn't understand what the fuss was about. Why did they want a daughter that didn't want them in return, why did they keep suffering and praying that she would return home when she wasn't interested in doing so. When they had her and her child, what more could they want again.Betty suddenly turned, her excitement palpable as she walked towards the stairs, pausing she she saw she wasn't alone."Kelly, you're awake. I was just coming to check in on you." Betty smiled that open smile that made Kelly feel special just the way her mother's smile did."I woke up early and decided to help prepare breakfast," she told Betty, giving her a smile in return."Are you sure you're up to it?" Betty cautiously asked
San Francisco(Florence's house)8:35amJared sat down, looking around the kitchen he had seen a handful of times. It was tastefully decorated, blending with the yellow wallpapers and the polished wood cupboards. He knew Cynthia was responsible for decorating most parts of the house if not all and he considered asking her to decorate his living room and dining area. He had arrived last night to tell her he hadn't been able to find Tom when he saw her laughing with her daughter and her daughter's fiance.He had decided to leave her be since she looked happier than he left her that morning. It was a thing of surprise when opened the door to a knock and saw her standing in front of him, her honey colored hair being carried by the slight wind that had blown pass. He had felt this insane urge to fix her hair but he resisted, informing her instead that her hair had been in disarray. She had given him a shy, yet endearing smile as she gingerly fi
EpilogueWriter's povThe smiles on the faces of the guest as they watched Hunter kiss Veronica couldn't be qualified with any English word. They all shared in the happiness of the Most unlikely yet likely couple of the year. Diana smiled as Mark kissed her cheeks, while rubbing her over grown tummy holding twins. Cynthia and Paul were also smiling, no baby yet, as Cynthia had infertility issues, but they didn't let it ruin their joy or their love. Kelly watched as Leon held her baby, feeling content and at peace. Her father had been released, his paralysis had not been permanent, now able to work after treatment. Personally, this writer would have loved it if it had been permanent, but she was all about forgiven9and second chances. Thomas had been found guilty and was given a sentence of sixty years with no chance of a parole, but Robert, his wife, Jameson and sometimes Veronica, without Hunter's permission, were occasional visitors. He had confessed to all hi
Veronica's povI looked around the room I had been locked in when I woke up, quickly taking in the double bed, the flat screen TV, the door I knew led to the toilet, and the brown closed curtains. I would have yelled but I couldn't as Thomas had gagged my hand and tied my hands and feet. I wondered how long I had been out as I remembered struggling with Thomas. It felt weirdly familiar and I couldn't say why. According to the picture, Hunter was supposed to be the one that kidnapped me since he was the one I left with, but he wasn't the one that kidnapped me now, so what was going on.I totally didn't remember anything as I had been heavily drugged, but would I have allowed the man that raped me be the one that I felt most comfortable with?Something wasn't adding up and I didn't like it. I saw the doorknob moving before I heard the sound and the door opened. Thomas came in, carrying three bags filled with things. He saw me sitting on the bed and smile
Hunter's povI slammed the door of the car, causing some birds resting on a tree to take flight over my head. I looked around the place, wondering why it looked totally decrepit like it had been abandoned."Welcome to bridgeforest." Leon said, spreading his arms round as he read what was written on the old and dusty signboard that had other illegible hand writings on it."It looks abandoned." I stated the obvious as I turned to watch Leon."If you go in, you'll find police tape around some areas of the forest. It was sealed off after the rape and kidnapping incident that took place there." He informed me. I already knew this, not the tape surrounding the cabin, but the incident that took place. It was clear that if the place was a crime scene, it would have been closed off." You ready? " he asked, waiting for me so we could go. I nodded and then he began to walk towards the wood.It took a while before we could get t
Writer's povRobert opened the door of the room and came out, scrubbing a hand down his face as he walked out. His wife had been so tired lately and she couldn't get up as early as she used to as she felt tired. He dragged his feet to the kitchen so he could get a cup of coffee so he could start his day. He stretched and lifted the coffee beans from the first cupboard. It closed with a small bang. He turned to pick up the coffee pot sitting patiently on the isle in the middle of the kitchen."Lovely house!" Robert heard before he could finishing turning. He walked back some steps, looking at the relaxed figure of his half brother. He wouldn't have been that scared if he had known he was there. His eyes quickly roamed the other's body. He moved back to the isle, resting his body on it when his hands went to the spot under the isle where he kept his gun."Looking for this?" Robert saw the gun he been trying to get in his half-brother's palm. Even though the way th
Hunter's povI turned to look at Veronica who had been pretty strong so far, that was till we got on the plane. At the airport, I noticed she was always looking around like she was jittery. I confirmed that by suddenly calling her and she jumped, before proceeding to tell me lies about how she was doing great."I am doing great!" She said on a slightly hitched voice and a thumbs up like she was encouraging me. I shook my head and turned back to check the departure time."We can still go back, and you'll call and send him a gift or book a cruise for him." I said, dragging my eyes to look at her. Her response had been to shake her head, taking a deep breathe in before she told me she was not backing down. Don't get me wrong, I was exceptionally proud of her and her courage, but I knew it was never easy to do something till it was time to do it.Now, she had her fingers digging into the arms of our business class seat. We were both watching a comedy movie sh
Writer's povTom rubbed his palms nervously together as he waited for Duncan to come pick him up. He kept trying to remember the plan and not fail because his freedom from debt depended on what he was about to do. Thinking of the night he cried to his mother about being in trouble, he took his phone from his back pocket and pressed the speed dial number one. He waited for her smooth, calming voice to come on, but the voice he heard was totally different and unexpected."Who is this?" He didn't even bother with a greeting, although he found the voice slightly familiar."Good morning to you too Tom." The man said, irritating Tom more. " This your neighbor from the front." He said, purposely not mentioning his name. Tom saw red, wondering why his mother would be with the middle-aged muscled ex-cop infront at that time. As if he could read his mind, the cop said."Don't worry, she's fine. Your mother and I have been meeting for coffee recently, and we'v
Writer's povMark opened the door to his room, stepping in tiredly. He wondered how he was supposed to prepare for the match the next day especially when he had been so busy to train. Luckily he had been training everyday, unwilling to let that part of his former life go as it was kept him fit and strong. He had just finished talking to Cherry, telling her a story of his time in the orphanage. Cherry loved listening to her father's stories from his time when he was younger,but her all time favorite was the story of him and Diana."I wish I can have a love story like yours and mom." She sighed, looking up at him from the bed, very disadvantaged in height even with him seated. Mark didn't know how to feel about her having a love story like his and his wife because it hadn't been easy at the beginning."I think it's better you have your love story, with a man that will cherish and honor you for life.""But that is what you have with mom? Is it ba
Writer's povDulce turned to look at the person causing the commotion at the door. What she found was totally unexpected. Adams strolled him into the room, walking like he had no care in the world. Everyone turned their heads towards him, watching him as he slinked close to where she stood. He seemed oblivious to the attention he was getting. Philip ran towards the corridor where he had seen Mark enter.Dulce hitched to slap Adam for daring to come to for the wake, but she held back, using one hand to hold the other. Adam made a big fanfare, clearing his throat loudly as he dipped his hand into his suit pocket to bring out a white envelope."I am so sorry for your loss Dulce. Simon was a great man." He said, his eyes totally revealing the insincerity of his words. "At the hospital, I tried to offer my help in paying all the bills but Mark decided to interfere and I couldn't." Diana came to stand in front of Dulce, using her body to shield her. He looked at
Vanessa's pov"Whew!" I exclaimed as I packed the last of my things into my bag, looking around the room incase I might have forgotten something. Nope, I hadn't.I zipped up the bag, wondering how I accumulated more things when what I brought hadn't been as much. You'd think I bought more things and in a way I did get new things, I just wasn't the buyer of those things, I was only the receiver. Helen I found was a serious shopperholic, who especially shopped when things weren't going as well as they should. Hunter's sister, Adriana, too was a hard shopper, buying anything and everything as long as it caught her interest. I got involved in it because they both loved gifting, giving me things when they bought in twos or threes. I had gotten a lot of things I wouldn't even need like a cute dog head tooth brush holder, a twirling shaving stick and many more. It was worth mentioning that I also got some new clothes and dresses. I had throughly enjoyed my stay with them in X