31****Maurice's POV****Ever since the robbery incident, I had secretly contacted the team for Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). Fortunately, I had a close friend who worked in SWAT, our friendship started since we were ten. He lost his mom way back, when he was eight and was wrongly treated by his father's new wife. Then in school, he always arrived very late, his homework unattended and his eyes very droopy. His stomach rumbled with hunger whenever he sat beside me, and at the close of school one fateful day, I found him picking leftover candy from the sport field at St. Phillips. Our friendship begun that day, and I shared my lunch with him. While we ate, he narrated his life experience to me. ‘His father was being kind to let him continue at St. Phillips' he had said. His step mother had vehemently kicked against that. Days later, Sebastian began to drop by at my place before we headed for school. He constantly met with my parents before we left, and although we didn't have
32****Maurice's POV**** The view I met when I got back to work a week later made me stop right in track. Outside the building of Venus Group, was a white 2018 Honda Accord designed with white ribbons neatly crossed at the middle, and tied in a bow at the handles and plate number.On getting closer to the car as well as the entrance, some members of Venus Group began to troop out one after the other. Mr. Mark came first, followed by Natalie, and then my Chinese colleague, Liu Ling, before the bald headed Mr. Locke joined in. Just as I thought, ‘It was for me!'“Congratulations on acquiring your official car, Mr. Maurice Brown! You have served Venus Group steadfastly and worked tirelessly in making this company flourish greatly" Mr. Mark said with a smile and then continued.“I specifically ordered that this model be made available to you this morning, because of the unproblematic period of your probation. You are special and honored in this firm, Maurice!" He finalized, while the oth
33****Natalie's POV****Kevin had sent his aides a day before, to pick me after I was back from a spa session at Zen Spa and Beauty Center.My phone chimed the moment I had refreshed and relaxed on my settee, munching a plate of cookies. Flipping the text message open, it read; “Hi sunshine! My men will be at your place shortly. Make sure to look your absolute best when you come over. Don't say no to your future husband!"‘The nerves!' Did Kevin think I supported his idea for marriage? Fine... I understood that my dad intentionally wanted to build his relationship with Mr. Fidell, and maybe have his way in dating Louisa, but I wasn't giving in to marrying Kevin. Do I love Kevin? Yes... I do, but then there's Maurice!. My father had willed the ownership of his gold mine land to me on my last birthday, which I was thankful to have secured during my rape incident. Notwithstanding the fact that the Fidells were wealthier than us, the gold mine land was enough for me to establish myself,
34****Natalie's POV****“Natalie! Natalie!"“Nat!" Maurice called, jerking me rigorously. From where I lay, I was able to discern the apprehension on his face and in his voice. I could see clearly, but I felt strangely weak. I made to utter a statement, but then I felt a movement in my pants and in my palms. The little boys scurried over. Immediately, the weakness I felt seized.“Are you okay?" Maurice asked, holding my head firmly to his chest. I searched about myself with my right arm, my arms twitching in worry. My eyes widened in panic when I noticed what the boys had done. “Shit! My purse and cell phone!"“Huh?!" I heard Maurice say. “The little boys! They..."The two magicians joined in the run. I wasn't done with speaking when I saw Maurice scamper over, his athletic heels swallowing the wide distance between him and the boys, drawing him closer and closer to them. Distraught, I joined in the run, dusting the accumulated dirt off my pants. “Maurice! Hey!" I exclaimed,
35****Kevin's POV****“Son!" I heard faintly in my sleep. The voice came louder, “Son!" ‘Urrgggghhh!' my head banged. My mother was at it again. Returning the pillow I had used to block my ears in the right position, I checked the time from the alarm clock on the cabinet closest to my bed. It was exactly 4:15pm. I wondered where I went wrong by making my mom stay in my apartment. She opted to stay in a hotel instead but I refused, trying to play the good forgiving son, right?! I guess I brought this upon myself. I walked towards the dining in the sitting room, still on my shirt and shorts. My mom was sitting right in my best chair at the dinning, munching cookies in a plate and gulping it down with a pack of orange fruit juice. ‘Was I seeing clearly?'“Mom?" I called. “Yes, baby boy!" She responded, smiling at me. “You are holding a pack of fruit juice, I just want to be sure I'm not dreaming" I continued. My mom seemed dazed at what I said, she adjusted the edge of the blac
36****Maurice's POV****On this day, I summoned the courage to confront Natalie on her marriage with Kevin Fidell. Mr. Mark had earlier decided to give all of his interested employees a treat. ‘All work and no fun makes a grumbling employee!' he had said after the general meeting on Friday. A picnic was stated to take place the next day at Tropicana Beach, which was situated at the outskirts of Esturnburg. I woke up that Saturday, happy and energetic. Opening my blinds, I inhaled the fresh air, happy for a great morning. Having freshened up some minutes later, I began to prepare for the picnic, putting my paper towels, a foldable umbrella and a water bottle into my beach bag. With that done, I wore my flip flops and hat, wiping my spectacle clean before wearing it back and adding a sunglass to my bag just incase.My mother had prepared pan cakes and creamy coffee for breakfast, so I stopped at the kitchen to take a few bites of pan cakes and some sips from the coffee. I walked towar
37***Natalie's POV***Two days after, the sound of chirping birds woke me up. It was Monday and I was to get ready for work. Checking the alarm clock that stood close to my bed, I roved my eyes to see the time. Thank God it was 5:30 am! I needed more sleep and I definitely wasn't ready to step my foot in Venus Group today. I was simply avoiding Maurice. I tossed on my bed, clinging tightly to my giant pink teddy bear and even when I tried to catch some sleep, sleep never came. My thoughts wandered on Maurice, to Kevin and then to Jane. ‘Was I a bad person to have soiled her plans on having Maurice as her man?'I still couldn't bring myself to answer that. The alarm clock came blaring soon, and it was only then I discovered I had been tossing for an hour. “Urrrrgggh!" I groaned, covering my ears with my pillow and trying to put off the damn clock with my left hand. The alarm clock seemed far and I kept stretching my arm till I landed on the floor. “Oucch! Shit!"That same moment,
38****Kevin's POV****Natalie was beaming with smiles, alongside my mom at a corner in my room. In three days, I will be getting married to the only woman who had been able to capture my heart. For the past years, I never retained any woman I slept with, but Natalie was different. The first time I found out about her, her identity and face struck my fancy and then it multiplied when I realised she was my first love in High School, and we were oportuned to meet again.I sighed, ‘I should have put an end to my plan then, right?' Hapless as I was, I couldn't.Natalie had built a very cordial relationship with my mom, the very moment they met at my place. Today was their second time meeting. “My pretty pretty daughter in law!" My mom teased. Natalie smiled widely in return, I could tell from where I stood that she was blushing. “Let me leave you both to get the privacy that you need" my mom continued, winking playfully. Natalie and I shared eye contacts. “Catch y'all later, okay?!"