All Chapters of Withstanding the Odds: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

We talk for minutes more, only stopping when more and more people come into the isle. Eventually our conversation leads us to the line, where we check out our books giggling when the woman behind the counter winks at our choices. Afterwards, we head to the local café, not a block away from the library, and grab a seat with a coffee in one hand and our newest books in the other."So, where did you grow up?" Clara asks while she takes a sip from her mug. The coffee shop is one that is meant to have a cheesy theme. This one's theme is futuristic and so far, they have missed the marker tremendously. Clara is currently sipping form a mug that has a Star Wars logo on it."Kind of everywhere. I moved around a lot as a kid, but my brother and I settled here in New York a little over a year ago." It's not exactly a lie, but the last thing I want to do is scare Clara away by proving just how messed up my past and present are. "What about you?""Right here. I grew up in New York but always loved

The kiss is everything I've wanted, everything I have desire, and everything that is absolutely wrong. And when the kiss ends, and Bronson proclaims his undeniable love for me, I freeze."I made a mistake Nikki. It's you I love, you're the one I want to be with. I made a mistake with Cassandra. I'm in love with you."Cassandra. his fiancé. The woman he one day plans to marry.What the hell are we doing? Stepping back, I stare into Bronson's eyes, watching as his face forms from lust and care, to confusion and dejection."Bronson, this isn't right. You're getting married. You can't say that you've made a mistake.""I don't love her Nikki." He states bringing my hands back towards him. "And she doesn't love me. We have an agreement. Our marriage is for our image. She's always cheated on me; it's never bothered me because I know where we stand.""But you were against us before. What changed?""I never wanted to not be honest with you. I was going to tell you about Cassandra but the deepe

"I did nothing of the sort." I point my finger out at her as the other hand slams down the bottle of bourbon. Clara has now come around towards the kitchen and stands directly in front of the bar where all of my past haunts me. It's ironic really, watching as her anger courses through her as she stands in front of the items, she has sent to torture me."You did Bronson. You know your choices cost father and mother everything they were working hard for. Raul called and you came running to him. We warned you, everyone warned you that he only wished for someone to carry on his legacy, but you didn't listen, and now look. Look at what you have to offer. Your soul is gone, even I can see that.""Enough." I shout. I am done with this conversation. Done with my sister accusing me of things that are simply untrue. She says she came here to speak with me, to explain why my family no longer hates me, hates who I've become, she's doing a terrible job of it. "I need you to leave.""Is that what yo

To say my father was disappointed would be an understatement.My older brother and sister, Anderson and Clara, had found their passion. Neither was what my father wanted, but in his mind, neither had stabbed him in the back either. Anderson was a police officer, and Clara was doing well as an artist. My father hated that they didn't follow in his footsteps, but he still had one more child, one more person to get his claws into and to bring him aboard.He still had me."So, when I broke his heart and told him I wanted to not only get to know my grandfather, but to one day take over his business, he refused to speak to me. That was over four years ago."Nikki's eyes water as I finish my story. The bottle of bourbon half empty in front of the two of us on the coffee table. I had never told anyone my story before, and when my grandfather retired a few years ago, passing the torch down to me, I was well and truly alone."And none of your family has spoken to you either?""Not exactly.

It's been a few days since the Clara surprise. Bronson has been working nonstop, leaving us no time to speak about how things stand between us. It's been a strained presence here in the penthouse, and to make matters worse, Bronson is still sleeping each night, wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, with his fiancé.I know we didn't end things well between us that day Clara stopped by, but to announce his feelings, only to have him recede them, is exactly why I couldn't give myself to him. But that doesn't exactly stop me from thinking about that kiss, about the way he spoke to me, about his feelings for me.To top things off even further, Mick has been trying to get a hold of me, making me feel nauseous each time I ignore his calls. I finally gave in last night and messaged him, telling him I've been attempting to get closer to Bronson, which is why I haven't been answering his calls.Rand has been all but obsolete here. Each time I see him, I give him a pleading look, but he merely nods his