On Ugo's insistence that she was okay, the two friends found themselves on the dancefloor alongside Daisy's parents. When the song ended, they pulled apart and started toward their table. But Daisy felt fingers circle her wrist and when she turned her head, she found herself looking into the eyes of Willock Hampton, Manuel's younger brother. "I’d like to have the next dance," he said, his mouth curved in a boyish grin. There was no sign of the angered man she'd seen arguing with Brett the other night. Ugo stepped forward, looking at her friend for cues. Daisy's first instinct was to refuse Willock, and then she looked around. "You don't plan on causing a scene today, do you?" He tugged her into his arms. "I would never do that. I’ve got her," he said to Ugo, sweeping Daisy off. "You look fantastic, Daisy. I love your hair." Daisy managed a tight smile. "Thank you." "Relax," he said. "You’re so stiff. I won’t bite." "Sorry. Just want to be sure I don’t offend whoever y
When the new week arrived, Daisy left her apartment as New Daisy. With a well made-up face, soft lipstick and her new tinted bouncy hairstyle. Ugo had left earlier as she was rushing to beat traffic since her workplace was a bit far from Daisy's apartment. Daisy locked her apartment door and exited the elevator cheerfully, feeling pumped and ready to act like someone else, someone who wasn’t heartbroken and lost and angry. The SUV was at the curb when she stepped outside. Ben didn’t bother to exit the car, knowing she wouldn’t accept a ride. It puzzled Daisy that Brett would have his chauffeur wasting his time hanging around, just in case she might have him drive her somewhere. It didn’t make any sense unless Brett was feeling guilty. The morning at Lex and Gibson went by swiftly. "You look good, Daisy," Donald said when she first joined him in his office. "Are you doing all right?" "Not really." She replied truthfully. "But I’ll get there." Donald leaned forward, settin
Brett's breath hissed out at having those crude words thrown back in his face. "Don’t say that Daisy, don't..." "Daisy..." He called and her eyes trailed to the ring and bracelet she gave him. "You can take those off and trash them, Brett. There's nothing left." "Never, I never take them off. I won’t. Ever." His right hand released hers and he reached into his pocket. She watched as he slid the ring he’d given her before back onto her finger, and then he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, then pressed his lips to her temple. "Wait for me, Daisy...." He said. Then he was gone. The elevator began its descent. "What the hell is this?" She whispered, confusion-ridden. Her right hand curled into a fist and she backed away from the
"What the hell happened to my boyfriend?" Daisy exclaimed. "I thought we agreed you need to ask him?" "I did. But what do I get? He tells me not to stop loving him, to wait for him, to trust him. For god's sake, what the hell am I gonna do with such ridiculous answers!" Daisy lamented. She stretched out her left fingers, showing Ugo her ring. "He gave me back my ring today. And he’s still wearing the one I gave him, both the bracelet. I told him to trash them, but he said he won't and he would never take them off. Do you have any idea how confusing that is? They’re not just rings, they’re promises we made to each other. They’re symbols of ownership and commitment. Why would he still wear his? Why is it so important to him that I wear mine? Does he seriously expect me to wait while he screws Lana out of his system?" "Is that what you think he’s doing, really?" Closing her eyes, Daisy chewed at her lower lip. Then she let her head fall back. "No." She sighed. "Does Manuel Hampton
Lana's words pierced Daisy like a sharp sword. "And that right there is your moment, Lana. But you have no idea. If you've been paying attention, you would know that he’s hurting right now. You're talking about opportunities, this is one. This is your opportunity to be there for him, to be his friend. But you have no clue, do you?" She started heading back to the elevators. "And have a nice day." She called over her shoulder. Lana slammed her door shut angrily. When Daisy got back to the SUV, she told Ben to take her to Graham bank. "I have an appointment with Manuel Hampton." Ben paused in the act of closing the door and stared down at her. "Bret will be very angry, Daisy." She nodded, understanding the warning. "He'll get over it as time goes on." The building housing Graham bank stared back at them in no time. Once Daisy stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor where Graham bank was situated, She notified the security of whom she ca
He was on her in an instant, one hand in her hair and the other on her ass, his mouth on hers in a violent kiss. He wasted no time, his tongue thrust between her lips, plunging deep and hard. Daisy moaned and gripped his waist, pushing onto her tiptoes to deepen the contact. His teeth sank into her lower lip with enough force to hurt. "You think you can say a few words and end us? There is no end, Daisy, I told you." He flattened her into the wall. Pinned by a six feet, two inches of violently aroused male, Daisy sighed in fullness. "I miss you," He whispered. She grabbed his ass and urged him harder against her. Brett groaned. "Sunshine...." He was kissing her deep, shameless desperate kisses that made her toes curl in her pumps. "What are you doing Baby?" He breathed. "You’re going around, stirring up everyone." "I’m less busy now. There's no one to satisfy sexually since I dumped . So yeah, I've got time o
Brett stared straight ahead, his profile turned rigid and Daisy pulled her hand out from under him and twisted the other way, giving him her back while she looked out the window, his silence killing her. "If I lose you, Daisy," he said hoarsely, "I have nothing. Everything I’ve done is so that I don’t lose you." "Speaking in riddles won't cut this Brett. I need more." She rested her forehead against the glass. "If I can’t have you on the outside, I need to have you on the inside, but you’ve never let me in." They drove in silence, crawling along through the morning traffic. "After my parents died," he said softly, "I had a hard time dealing with the changes. I was always their center of attention, their world literally. Before I could grasp the whole situation, my Aunt moved into the house with her then boyfriend who later became her husband." "Manuel." H
"Oh Brett... Don't do this to yourself. You were a child in the hands of an adult who knew all the right buttons to push."Brett's eyes grew dark and Daisy pressed her lips gently to his own, tasting his scanty tears in the process. "I love you." She repeated. "And I believe you. Brett, none of this was your fault."Brett's hands found her hair. Holding her in place, he ravaged her mouth with desperate kisses. "Don’t leave me, please. You're the only thing I've got going right now. The only one that makes this fucking world habitable for me.""Honey, look at me." She paused and drew away from their passionate kiss. "I’m going to marry you. Leaving you went out of the window a long time ago." He inhaled sharply, looking at her face. Then he pulled her closer. His hands went careless and rough as they slid over her. "Thank you so much Daisy. For giving my life a meaning. I'll love you for the rest of my life."Daisy planted a kiss on his lip, shutting him up. "Are
We were now in an open corridor. Rocco stood like a statue at the end of the room, staring into space. Two other guards stood at a reasonable distance, taking the same stance. I snatched my hand back from him, crossing it over my chest. "Good. Then that's settled. But make no mistake, he turned "I'm going to take my pleasure from you, how and when I deem it fit." He threatened. "You dare not!" I challenged, creating a distance between us. "Really," he mused. "Let's see how that goes." "Every single thing about this situation is disappointing," I corrected him, feeling my jaw quiver. I had a temper. So I try so hard to always remain happy and positive. And that was why I surrounded myself with people that really love and care about me. They all knew and understood how bad my temper used to be. As a form of control, I would always remain cold and calm in situations I have no power over. Until I grab a full picture of the situation. But then, in some conditions, I almost alw
I was awakened by the distant sound of the television. Immediately I opened my eyes, I saw Maxine cropped up on a chair at the end of the room. "Welcome back to the land of the living," he muttered. "Where are we?" I croaked, sitting up on the bed and surveying the empty room that had only a bed and a television. Maxine stretched his arms, and sighed. "Home, The Garden." "Thank God." I sighed, before realizing what he meant. "You mean your home is referred to as The Garden?" "Mhmm." He hummed. "Gross." I spat out. "It's a good name." He stood up. "Hollis totally owe me for this." He murmured and left the room, not even saying a goodbye or any other word. My throat felt raw, and my body, emotionally exhausted. I could feel dark isolation seeping through the room like deep depression. I just wanted to go home, to go shopping, boat cruises, clubhouses and the courtroom. I wanted my life back. But even I know I couldn't. Not with the continuous attempt on my life and wi
Maxine gripped the steering wheel and side-glanced me. "Put your seatbelt on, this is going to be fun." I did as I was told, and he hit the red button on the rearview mirror, which caused the garage door to slide open. We drove out onto the gloomy street. Maxine didn't let go of the gas pedal until we were driving well above the speed limit. Darkened street signs flashed by. He sped through a red light, swerving around a car that was patiently waiting for its turn. 'What was the point of making me wear my seatbelt if he was planning on killing the both of us by crashing the car.' With an extended grin, he weaved us in and out of traffic. Eventually we moved away from the city streets and onto a country road. We picked up more speed, but at least there were no other cars to play chicken with. I was able to unclench my teeth and my stranglehold on the security bar against the door, using my free hand to wipe my newly dampened forehead. The car air-conditioner couldn't do anyt
The next time I woke up, the sun was already setting. I was feeling better, rested, though my joints and muscles ached from the lack of movement. As for the bump on my head, it was only sensitive to touch. there was no more throbbing. My hair on the other hand was a tangled mess. My head felt naked when my hair was down. I searched my pockets and then the barren room for anything that I could use to tie it back. The only thing I found was the glass of water that had been refilled, and that I greedily gulped down. The bedroom door had been left open, and hollowed sounds from a Television could still be heard. As soon as the smell of food tickled my nose, my stomach grumbled. The last meal I had eaten was the vegetable sauce my mother made specially for me. How long ago was that? My brain was still too foggy to count back the hours or the days. The thought of my mother sent chills down my spine. I haven't heard from my parents and I knew they would be worried sick. Letting my sto
With a stiff neck, I scanned my surroundings. there wasn't much to decipher. I was in a small room, lit only by the bedside lamp that was on the table next to the bed. There was an armchair with a rose velvet cushion in one corner. The walls were bland and frameless. After waiting for another bout of nausea to pass, I went to the window, holding on to the small table as support for my shaky frame. Outside, the sunsetting sky was of resilient palettes of shady hues, and I was peering over the shadows of endless rooftops. Wherever I was, it was high above a city, at least twenty stories high. Down below, a yellow cab was waiting at a red light on an otherwise empty street. I couldn't decide if I was still in Lilycity. I thought I had a fair recognition of the clock tower that stood at the center of the city square, but it was too distant and I was too tired to be sure. My hand pressed against the glass. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed, then slowly and painfully moved to
There was a flash of light and distant noises. My head felt like someone was taking an ice pick and pouring heavy chipping on my skull. I decided that death couldn't be this painful, so I was probably not dead or this was what hell was supposed to feel like. My eyes were pried open, and a light came flashing again. This was followed by a groan, like a bear cub. 'was that me?' I managed to flutter my eyes open without anyone's help. Inches away from my face, someone was holding a pen-sized flashlight. I couldn't focus enough to see him, but I could definitely smell him. Light scent of woodberry and some chemicals I remember enduring the mixing process once I snuck into the chemistry laboratory during practicals that were meant for students offering science courses. The ceiling was swimming. I thought I was going to vomit, and I had to let my eyelids drop to stop the spinning. Slowly, the muffled sounds became words. "What's your name, sweetheart." Asked the man with the flashli
I climbed down carefully from the grey van that picked me up from the house. I was going to see a cartel Boss. So there are quite a lot of things that could happen today. It's either I end up dead or I succeed in striking a good deal that will keep my father alive and give my family enough time to pay up the crazy-absurd debt they leveled against my Father. If the stars are in my favor, the money might even be forgiven. But in all, one of these things was going to happen today and I pray my dead body won't be drawn out of the industrial looking premises. As I stood looking around, I got a nudge behind from one of the men. "Move!" He barked at me and like a crippled roach revealed by a light from a handheld torch. I had to put both of my feet to good use. One of the men walked in front, leading the way, while two others walked behind me. "Stop." A baritone voice from a guard stationed at the gate yelled at us. "She's going to go in blindfolded." He read out a rehearsed instruct
The silence at the dinning table felt excruciating and painful. I forced most of the mashed potatoes down my throat and swallowed hurriedly each time, unable to feel the taste of the meal. When the silence became too unbearable, I shifted my meal and turned to my parents. "Let's hear it, what's the problem?" "Eat Ugo." My father said, tapping me gently on the arm. "I'm full, and even if I'm not, I can't take more. I've lost my appetite. What's going on, what's with the silence and brooding, did someone die?" My mother was the first to shake her head. "We didn't lose anyone. But we might as well loose someone if we don't find a solution." She said, "Ada..." My father called in his usual peace-loving manner. "Ugo is not a child, honey. The earlier we start taking....the better." "Please talk to me... anyone. Dad, Mom." "Honey, it's nothing serious....." "Your father was accused of stealing from his company." My mom interrupted. "What?" I looked at my father, hoping he would as
UGO I took in the orderliness of the little room that had always served as my safe space for the longest time. All my childhood memories were still intact, almost as I had left them. My mother had taken it upon herself to preserve all the good memories, making sure not to alter the shape of the room and the position of things as I left them. I tried recalling the last time I visited Lilycity. It's been well over two years. Fairview had found a way to draw me into its tight grasp and sapped me off all my free time. I sighed, recalling my mother's tears at the airport when she came to pick me up. I was initially skeptical that she would be the one to pick me up, but then she somehow managed to convince me with my father's support that she has recovered perfectly since her intestinal surgery. "Poor woman." I murmured regrettably. Pulling my hair into a tight bun, I sat down on the only chair in my room, took in the beauty of the modest-looking room and smiled. What my room lacked in