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ZESA RUSSO When they were done setting up Jaylen’s room, I went up to see what they had done. Finn followed me, holding a glass of spiced apple syrup with clementine. I felt my heart swell with joy and satisfaction at the sight before me. It was a whimsical themed room. It had a tree mural wallpaper and a two-toned palette of soft and dreamy tones of pastel blue and white, creating a soft, dreamy, cloudlike backdrop for a room filled with traditional vintage-style furniture and lighting. A floating cloud suspended from the ceiling and on the floor was a light blue tartan plaid rug. It had a classic pattern with muted colors. Beside the white Venetian cast iron crib was a glider chair with a modern twist to the traditional wingback chair style. To the right of the glider chair was an oval mirror and an antique chest of drawers. There was also a shelf with children's books on it. “It looks like a prince’s room.” Finn commented, to which I nodded in agreement. My little pri
ALEJANDRO ORTEGAI sat at the dinner table in Sophia parent’s home with Sophia and her parents, alongside my father, Manuel, as I pondered on why Marie turned herself in, claiming to be the mastermind behind Isiah’s death? How did I miss such a thing? I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from sighing, since it would draw attention to me. I just wanted this cursed dinner to be over, so I could have more time to think about what to do to get the woman of my dreams.There was this fire that burned inside of me whenever I saw or thought of Zesa. That woman was perfect, but at such a time she failed to set her priorities straight. I expected more from her, to be honest. There was nothing hard about leaving Levi and coming to me. Absolutely nothing. I’d tried to be the nice guy, gave her some time. It seemed she had her mind made up. She would not come to me. At least not on her own. She needed some boost. She wanted to make me the bad guy.“Alejandro,” Sophia whispered, rubbing my th
ZESA RUSSO Having a child was a ton of work.Don’t get me wrong. Jaylen was the sweetest and most adorable child I’d ever seen. He had his mother’s brown hair and Levi’s eyes. He was so cute. Whenever I saw him, there was this need to squeeze him. Not because I hated him, but because he was cute. I couldn’t explain it, though. I looked it up on the internet and I was told it was called a cuteness aggression.It was eight p.m. and Jaylen was fast asleep in the next room, giving me time to rest in our bedroom. Levi was yet to be back from work and I felt so bored. The only thing I could do was bake and that would take the paltry amount of energy I had left. I didn’t have it in me to stand, either. So, I stayed in my room, legs akimbo, on the bed. After a few minutes of resting I took a shower and changed into matching brown pajamas. As I applied lip balm, I heard someone come in through the front door. At this point it could be anybody. It could be Malena or even Finn. They a
ZESA RUSSO Rolling my bottom lip into my mouth, I climbed out of the bed and stood bare in front of him, ready to have a taste of what would soon be buried deep inside of me. I tugged at his shirt. “Take it off.”He obeyed immediately, stripping out of his white button-up shirt. I stood up and caged him with my arms so that he leaned back, propping himself up with his elbows. His eyes followed my every move as I ran my hand over his chest, loving the feel of his skin under my fingers. His breath hitched as I lowered my mouth to his stomach, running my tongue over his taut stomach, licking when I felt like it. He flexed his hands with the urge to grab onto something. I played with the waistband of his boxers, and I couldn’t help the smile that made its way to my face when a growl rumbled in his throat.I gripped his length, and on instinct, he bucked his hip into my hand. I bowed my head to swipe my tongue over the head that was dripping with pre-cum. He gathered my hair in
NINA MEYERS Four months later… One thing was getting out of prison and another thing was coming out to see the person you hated most caring for your child. The worst part about it was that I couldn’t see him even if I wanted to. Alejandro had strictly instructed me to not go anywhere close to Levi, Zesa, and even my son. Sometimes I wondered what was going through that man’s head. I couldn’t understand him. Despite his warning, I still needed to see my son for myself. It had been four months since I last held him in my arms and breastfed him. I needed to see him. He was going in for a checkup today and it would be one of the few opportunities I would get to see him. I followed behind Levi’s car as he drove Zesa and Jaylen to the hospital. That woman ruined everything. Yes, I sold my right to be with Levi for fifty million, but I had my reasons. I needed the money. People say opportunities knock once and I couldn’t let it walk past by my door without making use of it. I slowed down
ZESA RUSSO The hairs on my neck stood on edge as if sensing an unseen danger. I didn’t see the danger, but I felt it. Something didn’t seem right. As Levi and I walked out of the hospital, it became stronger. I glanced around, searching for what made me uncomfortable until Levi’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts. I glanced down at Jaylen. My heart ached when I remembered what we were told at the hospital. The doctor suspected leukemia. A blood sample and we would go back for the result in two days. For the first time, I prayed for a negative outcome. It would break me if it came out positive. He felt like my son and the thought of him being in pain hurt me. Levi drove us home, frequently checking the rear-view mirror to see if I was doing okay. While he was worried about me, I was much more worried about Jaylen who was in the back seat with me.“I’ll be going to see my mother today. She’s been asking to see me.” he informed me, his grip tightening on the steering wheel
ZESA RUSSO Sophia’s suspicion proved to be correct when Levi told us that Nina’s correctional officer said she didn’t wish to see anyone. Nina would never not want to know how her son was. Even when I went to see her the last time, all she wanted was her son. She would not turn Levi away. I mean, it was Levi. The man she wanted. There were two questions on my mind now.Where was she hiding, and what was their plan?Knowing Alejandro, he would not just get her out just so he could stare at her face or drink tea. Something was brewing and it smelled foul. Was this another plan put together to split me and Levi apart? What exactly was happening? I dove into my purse for my phone and excused myself from Levi and Sophia to call Finn.“Hey, boss.” He greeted, his tone telling me he was gleeful. Not wasn’t the time to be all peaches and rainbow.“Alejandro got Nina out of prison.”There was a silence on his end of the line. “Come again?”“Nina is no longer in prison.” I repeated,
ZESA RUSSO “I have a confession to make.”Eric’s full attention was on me, a hint of confusion sparkling in his green eyes as I came to stand in front of him, bouncing on my toes. I felt bad. I’d lied to him or simply did not tell him who I was. Either way, I felt awful. If Finn had kept quiet, I would have gotten to know more about this man.“I am actually Zesa Russo.” I confessed.There was silence between us for some seconds.“What?” he asked after a moment, as if he hadn’t heard what I had said.“I am Zesa Russo. I own Techya.”His eyes were blank. Their owner was alive, but it was only visible by the shallow rise and fall of their chest. Was what I said that shocking to be able to destroy him so thoroughly he didn’t even seem present in his own mind?“Eric.” I called, joggling him while Finn exhaled like a drama queen behind me.“How?” he asked, looking at Finn as though hoping he would say otherwise.“She is Zesa Russo.” Said Finn in a nonchalant tone. “Now, if you do
ZESA RUSSO Fifteen minutes later, Levi arrived at the orphanage. It made me happy to know that he’d stopped by somewhere to get the kids gifts because he had bags upon bags of gifts. While the nuns shared the gifts amongst the kids, Levi joined me in Juliane’s office. I still hadn’t swallowed down what she had said. Was it when we did it in the car? But it had been over three weeks since then. Dear Lord, please save me.“Hey,” I was forced out of my thoughts when I felt Levi’s hand on my thigh.“Huh?” His eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. “You’ve been spacing out.”“I have a lot on my mind.” I responded, managing a small smile for him. To change the subject, I turned to Juliane who was staring at me before I even looked in her direction. She had succeeded in dropping a heavy bomb on me and she knew it. “What were you saying about the adoption?”Juliane averted her eyes to Levi. “Mr. Del Campa, earlier I suggested adoption to your wi
ZESA RUSSO Ever since the release of Veltrina-50, Techya got more attention from companies abroad and a lot more than normal in the country. I was proud of the researchers who made it possible and, because of that, increased their pay. They deserved that much. Back then, I thought we would be unable to perfect the drug, but the result exceeded my expectations. I’d just wrapped up a meeting with the researchers to thank them since I could not do it at the time of the release.With Leandra by my side, I made my way to my elevator, only stopping when I saw Eric come out of an elevator. We’d failed to talk about things the last time we saw each other. I looked over my shoulder at Leandra. “I’ll be up soon.”“Alright, ma’am.”I walked over to him, noting how he had a file with the company’s name on it. His brother must have given it to him.“Eric,” I said, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. He turned around with a smile that immediately disappeared and his expression turned bu
ALEJANDRO ORTEGADISCLAIMER: This chapter contains slight sexual harassment. Read at your own risk. {After the first _}THREE WEEKS LATER I was livid with the betrayal of Enzo, Sophia, and her father. They cast me aside, and left me to suffer the very minute I found myself in a ditch. Even my father would have done the same if he hadn’t been caught trying to flee the country. The pain of knowing that he wanted to choose himself and leave me to suffer on my own sank deep into my flesh and into my bones.I stood before the court as they announced my sentence before Zesa Russo, whose face looked like it hurt from smiling too much. She reached into her purse and pulled out a rainbow colored handkerchief to wipe at her nonexistent tears. What did she offer Sophia that was just too irresistible that she let go of her so-called love for me? Was it always that easy to get rid of me if I proved to be useless to her? Had she lied to me the entire time?I looked at the man beside
FINN GIOVANNI After Zesa showed me what dirt she had on Alejandro’s father, I was disgusted. Harming people without remorse was really their thing. Once she’d sent the mail to a news station, I saw her happiness double. I was glad she wanted revenge as much as I did. It brought joy to my soul. In a few hours it would be released and people would want to know the truth. Their stocks would drop and they would be taken to court and humiliated. What better revenge was there than watching the person who hurt my sister go down with his father and cherished company?I trailed behind Zesa with my hands in my pocket as she made her way to Alejandro’s room where four police officers were situated outside. The two at the door moved to the side to let us in. Sophia had already beat us and boy, was she furious. Her body shook with rage as tears rolled down her face. Alejandro simply took it in with his head lowered. What was this? He wasn’t snapping at her because I knew very well he wa
ZESA RUSSO I’d never had sex in a car before. Until now.Levi unlocked the car and I slid into the backseat, taking off my heels and panties as I watched him go around the car to the driver’s side before proceeding to amp up the A/C. He joined me in the back after making sure he’d locked everywhere. “This is nerve-wracking,” I whispered softly, reaching my hand out to his groin to unbuckle and unzip the clothes in my way.“That’s what makes it fun.” He responded, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth, releasing a moan that told me he needed a release and that I was the only one who could do something about it.He lifted himself slightly and peeled down his boxers, revealing the tip of his bloodshot cock that was clearly causing him a lot of anguish, as it lay engorged over his belly, malformed in how it curved to the side. It throbbed and twitched as though happy to see me. He bucked his hips and his drooling dick rose, head pointed straight at my face.My hand hovered
ZESA RUSSO By the time I arrived at the spa, Sophia was already there and had settled in. A worker directed me to the massage room after I stripped out of my dress and draped a robe over my body. I opened the door and was pleasantly surprised by the interior that seemed to differ from what I’d seen so far. The room boasted sandy-pink walls and a dramatic tiered ceiling, which staggered upwards into a cone-like shape. In the middle of the room were two beds, both covered in crisp white sheet that with a towel on top, save for the pillows. It seemed she wanted an oil massage for me. Close to the door was a green terrazzo vanity that brought back the natural vibe the spa gave off. On one bed was Sophia with her head turned away from me while a masseuse massaged her legs. Another masseuse stood at the foot of the bed I was to occupy. I looked towards the table close to the window with two vases and a phonograph that played soft, classical music. It was soothing and created a
ZESA RUSSOOne of the hardest things I’ve ever had the displeasure of comprehending was the funeral of a child.I’d heard that one of the things a parent wished for was to be buried by their child when they become old and wither away like a flower. Not the other way around. This was clear to me as I drowned in my sorrows, feet marching into this black abyss called a graveyard. In the snow and frigid air, all I could hear was the heavy, pounding feet of others as we marched as one. I and Levi’s hands clenched together, gripping at each other as though the pain would subside if we squeezed hard enough. It was purely a superficial comfort to help console others, rather than ourselves.I stood shivering next to a deep hole that had been dug where the casket would be lowered into. While waiting for the pallbearers to deliver the body, I thought about what my life would be like once mother earth swallowed him up. How it would feel to sleep knowing that his cries wouldn’t wake me up in the mi
FINN GIOVANNI Malena and I sat side by side in an awkward silence beside Sophia who had regained consciousness and was currently crying her eyes out. We’d told her everything, and it somehow ended up with her crying. Was it out of disappointment or just the feeling of hurt? I couldn’t tell.“How could he do such a thing to me?” she sobbed, her shoulders shaking as droplets of pain dropped from her eyes. “I knew he was an asshole, but this is too much. He lied to me about an engagement,” she wiped at her tears. “Got a woman out of jail when she’s supposed to be in there serving her time. Now, how am I supposed to face my parents and friends?”“Sophia.” Malena put her hand on Sophia’s in a bid to console her. “You shouldn’t be crying over such a person. He isn’t worth it. No man deserves your tears.”“I know,” she sniffled. “But I love him.”She lowered her eyes to her thighs. “We sometimes love the wrong ones.” It was like a punch to the gut when she looked at me. “Doesn’t m
ZESA RUSSO The police were taking too long to arrive. I was losing my patience. Whilst I waited in the car for them to arrive, Alejandro drove past me. Why now of all times? Why would he come in now? I glanced around the house’s surrounding. There was no sign of Nina. She was long gone into the house, though. If she was dead, I did not know. I got down from my car after watching Alejandro go in. There was not enough time to wait. If he were to get his hands on the contract, he would not hesitate to kill Levi. I couldn’t have that. The least I could do was stall.With my heart beating loudly in my ears, I got closer to the house. Thankfully, he’d left the gate open, so I did not have to draw attention to myself by touching the metal. I lifted my leg to take another step when I heard a blood-curdling scream. I halted in my steps when I realized that the voice belonged to Nina. Something had happened. I looked down at my hands to see that they were quivering with fear with eac