I am excited about next month, are you?
“…Wow!” Halle gasped as she stared down at her reflection in the full-length mirror.Her hair was pulled up into a style she never imagined she would ever be able to carry, and an elegant bun that left a few curled locks down the sides of her face and some rested on the back of her neck. The makeup wasn’t too heavy but June made sure to highlight all of Halle’s features, bringing out a certain brightness in her eyes she never imagined she had.The dress felt soft and light on her skin, that provocative dip in the chest area didn’t go as low as she thought it would but it did show a generous amount of her chest but not so much that she would uncomfortable.She paired it with black heels that June had brought at the last minute.June stood behind Halle, both her hands clasped in front of her as she also took in the sight of her handwork.“Martha wasn’t kidding when she said you were good,” Halle voiced, her eyes meeting the woman’s through the mirror.June replied with a simple sh
“You…you clean up quite nicely,” Halle said awkwardly, worried about what he would think if she just straight up told him what was actually on her mind.Would he see her as a weirdo and get creeped out if she told him she found him so stunning that she couldn’t breathe?Yes, he definitely would feel creeped out. Xavier flashed her a magnificent sight of his white teeth and pulled the lapels of his tux forward.“I do, don’t I?” He claimed with a cocky grin. Halle’s lips curled up and she visibly relaxed in his presence.Martha had joined them in the living room a few seconds later, she wore a white dress that made Halle realize the woman would be the center of attention tonight.She graced everyone with a smile and clapped her hands excitedly with a content and satisfied expression.“You all look amazing!” She smiled, her eyes landed on a spot behind Halle and her lips slowly turned into a sneer.“I am not interested in looking like we're a couple tonight Tobey,”Halle could
Soon he pulls away from her, creating the distance she so desperately needed to clear her head. She could not think with Xavier so close and Halle feared the worse, this was everything her mother and sisters warned her about. An uncontrollable feeling that would feel like it consumes your entire being, leaves you lost, leaves you longing, and leaves you feeling like nothing else would ever matter, nothing else would ever feel this wonderfully intense. Alive. That was the word she used to describe the feelings he stirred in her. She had to keep it down, at least for tonight. Have fun! She reminded herself as the door opened. Flashes from cameras and yells from the paparazzi immediately drowned the silence of the car. Halle’s eyes widened in shock, she hesitated to put down her feet not being used to the attention. No one knew her but they all looked curious, their cameras flashing, their eyes narrowing like they were all trying to get a better glimpse, eagerly awaiting her desc
The second Halle stepped in, it felt like she was stepping into a fairytale picture, one that she had only seen in books or movies. The scene she was met by was breathtaking! The hall—no, the ballroom was spacious, so wide that it contained at least five hundred guests with still enough space left for the decorations, the performers, the tables and chairs, the servers, the buffet tables that stretched from one side of the room to another. Above her head hung crystal chandeliers, at least ten of them hovered over their heads, glowing red, a light blue, and a very bright golden color. The lights foregrounded the deco which was a blend of plain and bright colors coming together to make a magnificent view. The tables were covered in black and some white tablecloths, the chairs were all black, and in the middle of the tables rested different varieties of colorful flowers that didn’t take up much space but were still enough to beautify the table and make Halle just want to get a closer
“My name is Greg Satoshi and I would like to welcome you to Stone Corporation’s 50th Anniversary, it is a pleasure to see you all,” Woah. 50th Anniversary. There was a round of applause and a little excited chatter, everyone was obviously excited about the event while the rest at Halle’s table looked like they’d witnessed it a hundred times. Which they probably had. “I’ll like to welcome Miss Martha Stone, our director to give us a few welcoming words,” The applause became louder as Martha was called. Martha blew out a breath and in a split second, a wide smile replaced her frown and she stood up and strode gracefully to the podium. There seemed to be a few screams in the crowd like she was some sort of rock star coming to perform. “Our employees worship Martha like she’s some kind of God,” Xavier scoffed like it was annoying. “Well that’s probably because she’s a much better boss than some others…” Victoria giggled and wiggled her brows in Xavier’s direction. Halle caught t
"Why thank you,” Halle replied with a bow making the woman seated next to her burst into laughter again.“I honestly thought I would end up snapping at someone if I heard one more praise or compliment,” Victoria let out, she set her glass down on the side table and ran her hands up and down her silk dress.It looked so soft, Halle’s hand itched to touch it as well.“This is really a lot...” Halle sighed as she looked into the crowd, she noticed that a few steps away, Martha had Xavier by her side and they were talking to a couple whose eyes were widened in shock and their lips stretched with smiles that looked uncomfortable as they spoke to Xavier.Not everyone knew who he was.“I wonder how you guys do it...”“It isn’t easy...” Said Victoria still looking down at her fingers seemingly lost in thought.“That much I can tell you,” She sighed, “My brothers are men with a lot of power but they don’t really have to deal with the shit Xavier, Martha and I deal with, so they don’t u
Halle breathed through her nose in an attempt to calm herself, she was being squished by both men with their heavy weights. They pinned her to the wall like she was about to become mashed potatoes.A gun.It was pressed against her rib, digging deeper past her dress and into her skin.“Start walking…” The green-eyed man said from behind her as he moved his feet and in turn moved Halle forward as well.“Don’t make a fucking sound or I’ll shoot you, then I’ll take you against your will,”OhGodohGodohGod!Why did this always happen to her?Halle sucked in a deep breath and began to walk slowly, following the men’s instructions even as her panic grew the closer they got to the darker part of the building.“Where are you taking me?” “Somewhere your man will give anything to find!” The other man snarled in her ears as he held her other hand and dragged her forward like she was a rag doll that didn’t feel any pain.Halle hissed as she felt the man’s nails dig into her skin, anger
It was quiet.The only thing that could be heard was their silent breathing, his eyes bored deep into hers and at that moment, Halle felt like her heart had come to a standstill.At that moment, nothing else mattered but she and the man whose fists were covered in the blood of another who hurt her, whose dark and seemingly empty eyes still burned with anger because of her, whose lips quivered slightly, and then his legs finally left that of the probably dead man on the floor.Xavier stood to his full height, making Halle’s hand slip from his shoulder, he caught it just in time and placed it on his chest, Halle could feel the hard and fast thumps of his heart beating against her palms.Her eyes widened slightly when she looked at their hands, the stark contrast his bloody hands and her now stained hand created.What had she just witnessed?She breathed out slowly, willing her feet to stay planted on the floor and not run for the hills like her reflexes told her to.Something tol
“Do I really need to be blindfolded for this?” Halle asked with a warm chuckle. Xavier just grinned mysteriously in response, guiding her by the shoulders through what sounded like a set of heavy doors given the echo. “Patience, Flower. I promise, it’s worth the surprise,” he assured her, amusement and excitement dancing in his tone. Halle smiled and cooperated as he led her slowly ahead a few more steps. Her heart swelled, trusting Xavier so completely even when she couldn’t see. After everything they had endured, Halle knew without doubt he would never lead her anywhere dangerous again. “Just a little further,” Xavier coached. “Watch your step.” His sturdy hands on her waist aided Halle in navigating what felt like a small staircase. A few more shuffling paces forward and they finally halted. Halle quivered in anticipation. “Can I look now?” “One moment…” She heard the smile in Xavier’s voice just before he moved behind her and untied the blindfold at last. “Now you can open your
When Halle awoke late one night from another vivid episode of panic, Xavier recognized a shift had finally occurred. He gathered her quaking frame close while she wept, exhausted and heart sore. “Shh I have you, just breathe,” he soothed until the tension slowly left her muscles. Halle clung to him like an anchor amidst stormy waters even once fully awake. “I’m scared, Xavier,” she admitted in a small voice once sufficiently calmed. “Scared she’ll find us again.” Xavier steeled himself before answering gently. “Then it’s time I put real end to this. For your peace of mind, and our son’s future.” Halle’s arms tightened around him briefly at the implication. But she simply nodded bravely when she pulled back. “Just promise me you’ll come back safely. I can’t lose you.” Her palm cupped his bearded cheek with profound tenderness. Turning his head, Xavier pressed a kiss into her open palm. “I will always come back to you Halle,” he avowed passionately. His piercing gaze bore into hers,
Xavier paused in the open doorway, gazing at the scene before him – Halle curled protectively around their three week old son as he nursed, her expression tired but content, Damien was at the edge of the bed, curiously watching and asking questions, his wide eyes innocent and childlike, just like it ought to be. Xavier’s heart swelled at the simple domestic sight, still scarcely able to believe he had nearly lost them forever.Halle had begged for Damien to be close, so the second they left Halle’s birth country in Africa, he had Monty bring the young boy out from hiding and back with them, where he belonged. After Halle had been safely recovered and gave birth, Xavier wasted no time whisking her away to a secluded estate where they could focus solely on healing without fear of Martha’s lingering reach. And healing was no small feat after the trauma Halle had endured. Though her physical wounds were minimal, the psychological toll left lasting scars.She was plagued regularly by v
Halle drifted slowly up towards consciousness, clinging to the last visages of a dream where she was enveloped in tender warmth and comforting strength. Even semi-conscious, she instinctively recognized the sensations cocooning her now were real, not imagined. But after endless days and nights of torment, believing rescue could only manifest as a fantasy, Halle desperately avoided opening her eyes fully. What if this beautiful illusion shattered the instant she woke up? The possibility made her heart seize with renewed panic.No - the arms cradling her were solid, the scent of juniper and fresh rain surrounding her unmistakably Xavier’s. This precious peace was real, it had to be. Halle focused on steadying her breaths, mentally grasping for fragments of memory through the haze still clouding her thoughts. Flashes filtered back now – the frantic escape attempt, searing contractions hitting, Xavier appearing through her delirium of pain like a saving vision…the sweet sound of her chi
A FEW HOURS EARLIER… The scorching sun beat down as Xavier surveyed the sprawling, dusty streets from the backseat of the nondescript sedan. It had taken tremendous resources and calling in more favors than he could count to get boots on the ground in this remote country so quickly. But nothing could deter him from his mission – finding Martha and making her pay for taking Halle.Taking the woman he loved and then sending him papers to sign while at it. Xavier gritted his testy as he thought about the phone call he had gotten from his aunt, she’d sent papers to his mail…asking him to sign over everything to her, that was her endgame. If she couldn’t get it from Damien as she’d originally intended, she’d get it directly from the man himself. Xavier had agreed to her deal but…he wasn’t really going to sign those paper. Stone was his legacy and he’ll be damned if he let’s and overly ambitious bitch take over and ruin everything he’s built. His mind wandered inevitably to images of h
Too spent to argue, Halle permitted him to gently help her ease down onto the padded nest now warming her chilled legs. Though hardly ideal accommodations, at least she was off the frigid concrete floor. Monty seemed satisfied with his efforts.“I must inform the Don that you have been found before he burns the brothel down,” he announced. Before Halle could wrap her mind around the significance of his deliberate phrasing, Monty had disappeared back down the cellar corridor with a final instruction tossed over his shoulder – “Try to focus your energies, I will be back as fast as I can.”Xavier…was here, for her. Halle couldn’t hold back her relieve tears but of course that feeling was short lived. Then Halle was alone again with her body’s urgent demands. She closed her eyes, trying futilely to center her wild thoughts through the intensifying contractions. But it was impossible to find any inner calm or fortitude. Not with her heart pounding anew wondering how much longer until
Halle’s heart hammered violently in her chest as the first contraction seized her swollen belly. There was no denying it now – the terror and physical exertion of her escape attempt had triggered full blown labor. Her child was coming, ready or not, even as Martha’s henchmen battered viciously to break in.“Shit!” Halle cursed under her breath as she held her belly, the pain hitting her unexpectedly and making her whole body sway and her legs shake. Leaning heavily on the dusty desk, Halle fought to stay upright and quiet through the painful tightening. But despite clenching her jaw, a low moan still escaped through her gritted teeth. The dampness soaking her dress kept spreading. “Why are you so impatient…” Halle cursed through gritted teeth, trying her best to stay up right so as to prevent any complications. From down the cellar corridor came another resounding crack – the stubborn old door’s hinges were splintering rapidly under the men’s force. In mere minutes they would be
Halle awoke with a gasp, her heart already racing. Today was the day – the day she would finally attempt her escape from this nightmare. She lay still for a moment, focusing on slowing her breathing and gathering her courage. The gloom shrouded the cramped room, but Halle’s eyes discerned the packed bag hidden beneath her cot containing the supplies she had managed to secretly squirrel away over the past week. The last week had been utter torment, forcing herself to endure her mother’s assaults and the groping hands of repulsive men trying to lay claim to her while pretending total resignation. More than once she had nearly faltered, the will to fight slowly being crushed out of her. But she would gently caress the swell of her belly. She could not – would not – let this place and its monsters claim another child if there was any hope of escape.Moving slowly to avoid any sounds of creaking, Halle eased herself up to sit on the edge of the mattress. Her heavy, cumbersome belly m
The days dragged by in agonizing torture as Halle remained trapped in her personal hell. Time ceased to hold meaning within the dingy confines of the small room that had been hers as a teenager under her mother’s cruel control. The peeling walls oozed with memories of past suffering, the very air thick with hopelessness.And now, heavy with her unborn child, Halle felt more trapped than ever. Her mother’s daily visits always ended with fresh bruises blossoming on her skin, dark reminders of her powerlessness. When not enduring her mother’s rage, Halle spent the empty hours curled miserably on the cot, arms wrapped around her belly as if to shield the precious life within from the darkness pressing in around them.On the fifth night, Halle lay tense and sleepless, every creak of the old brothel putting her nerves on edge. She stared dry-eyed into the gloom, too weary even for tears. The baby’s steady kicks were her only comfort.When the familiar scrape of the main door opening reached