SAM
My body is shaking with fury when I see Gabrielle at my apartment door. Those things she did to my relationship, to Phoenix, and to myself make me want to strike into her, grab her hair, and drag her down to the lobby, then kick her to hell.
I don’t know what stops me from doing things like that, perhaps I’m a better person than her? If this only happens before Phoenix is back into my life I already punch her face.
But she is not the bitchy Gabrielle—the insensitive, empathetic, and vicious woman. Right now, she cowers down while Phoenix is grabbing her and growling on her face.
“Let her talk, Phoenix,” I say calmly to Phoenix while rubbing his back. He is losing his temper on her, but I can’t blame him though because we both had suffered a lot in her hands.
“I’m done listening to her, Samantha. She almost ruined our relationship, and now that we are back together, she shows up again, and this time on our do
PHOENIX My heart is still pounding in my chest since I saw the News about an hour ago. I don’t know why I feel guilty even if I’m not the one who hurt her—maybe because we had a history, and I loved her once somehow? Or perhaps I’m one of the reasons why that woman manipulated her into doing something horrible? I feel Samantha gripping my hand tightly. She kept telling me that Gabrielle will be okay throughout the ride to the hospital. I take a deep breath when we step inside the hospital lobby. According to the News, Gabrielle was the one who called 911 before the drug dealer killed Suzanne right in front of her own eyes. She must be so terrified and shocked, and she will never forget that extreme brutality of the murder of once she believed was her mother. I feel so bad for her, and I can see based on that News earlier that she was also beaten by those assholes. “Phoenix, are you ready? That’s her room.”
PHOENIX Six months later… Do you know it’s difficult to wake up someone who pretends to be asleep? And do you know when someone doesn’t like doing has always found thousands of reasons to avoid it? Well, yeah because I’ve been there—waking up someone who pretended to sleep, and gave me thousands of reasons every day. “Princess, I swear to God I will drag your sweet ass to the doctor if you won’t get up and get dressed right now!” I shake her shoulder under the blanket, but she never budges. She covers herself when I shout her name from our bedroom door. I’m already on my second cup of coffee, waiting for her to wake up until I decide to come to our bed and shake her. Now, I can’t wait anymore because I had to move our doctor’s appointment three times just for this week. “Go away, Phoenix! I need some sleep!” My wife slips her hand out of the blanket, gesturing to shoo me away. “Samantha,
SAM Mom looks in my direction and smiles when she notices me approaching. “Morning sweetie, I didn’t hear you came home last night. I must be in a deep sleep when you arrived,” Mom says, pouring coffee into my mug. “I’m sorry, mom. It was Amy’s birthday party last night. I couldn’t come home early because I carpooled with Maya and Garrett.” I take my plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and two strips of bacon she offers. She hands me a cup of coffee. “You didn’t mention to me about going to a birthday party, sweetie. You also forgot to send me a message.” She looks at me with her famous worried look. I sit on the stool of our small kitchen counter and start sipping my coffee. “Yeah, you worry too much. Did forget I’m twenty-one and not a twelve anymore? Don’t you have duty tonight?” I munch my breakfast quickly. I only have twenty minutes to get to the coffee shop where I work as a part-time waitress.
PHOENIX I had no plan on coming back to this place again after what happened in my life years ago, but after almost six years, here I am. I’m back. In fact, I even bought establishments and a house. I can’t stand staying at our old house—it only reminds me of a tormenting past. I was surprised to hear from my father’s lawyer that I was included in his Last Will. After what I did to him, he still considered me as a Williams. There’s still a part of me that still hated him for what he did to Mom, to my family, and to me. Hate is a strong word, but it did change my life. After working for my brother’s company for four years, I started my own business for three months now. When I bought the new house in Hillside, I know I will be staying here for a long time. I bought three establishments and made a few changes; from staffing, interior, foods, menus, and supplies. I’m surprised by the profits for three months
SAM My smile won’t just wipe away from my face after talking to Phoenix. A unique name to a gorgeous God-looking guy. Just his face, women will spread their legs for him. He’s also funny. His deep husky voice makes him sexier. My jaw just drops when I look at him—his disheveled brown hair looks freshly showered. Those thick eyebrows and wicked gray eyes surrounded by thick eyelashes gleam in the moonlights. And my God, those full red lips, and not to mention the bulging biceps that make my fingers itch. I can even see the hint of his pack abs through his shirts. I’m sure the V down there was drool-worthy. I can’t even believe I actually told him about what happened earlier with Tyler. How he laughed so much at my failure of guessing his brother’s name, and those laughs—he makes my heart beat faster. But I’m sure I’m not going to see him again.Well, there’s nothing wrong with daydreaming, right? I’m
PHOENIX I yawn, rub my eyes with the back of my thumb, then close my laptop after reading the email from the manager of the coffee shop I recently bought. I can’t help but think about the parking lot girl—her eyes, her laugh, and the way she jumped when she finally guessed the right name. It just...she makes me smile. I know one day, there’s a possibility of crossing our path again. This town is not that big, but the question is when? I wake up just when my alarm goes off. After my breakfast, I shower, then I wear a shirt and jeans to look more casual. I will check first the restaurant since the nightclub will open at night. It’s almost eleven when I get out of the restaurant, and everything is under control. I answer the call from Mom when I get inside the car. “Mom, how are you? Did you take your meds on time?” “Oh, honey, I’m good. Don’t worry about me. How about you? How’s your business?” She sounds
SAM I can’t believe Phoenix is Alex Williams who owns the coffee shop where I work, and I almost burned him. I thought I lost my job, but I’m grateful that he saved me from my ex. I’m so humiliated that he even held my hand in front of my friends. What will they think about me now? That I am flirting with the owner to keep my job? Every time our skin touches, I always feel something—the tingle is always there, and I don’t want to let go of his hand—it just feels good to have someone holding my hand—someone like him because I feel that I can trust him—I feel safe in his arms. “Care to explain what just happened over there?” I ignore Big D, instead, I take my soiled apron and put it inside my bag to wash it later. “Have you known him before, Sam? He’s our boss. He’s rich and a playboy. I don’t want you getting hurt again.” My face heats because he’s right at some point. “I know now he’s our boss. I
PHOENIX My blood boiled when I heard she took him back. Why she has to take him back? That asshole doesn’t deserve someone like her—she’s too good for him. He hurt her once—cheated on her, and he’ll do it again. Cheaters don’t change—that’s their nature. Was that the reason why she denied my friendship? Did he threaten her that day? I had to excuse myself from them, otherwise, they’ll see the dark side of me, and I, myself don’t like this part of me. I get outside of the apartment to release my anger, and I want to punch every surface here. But before I can do that, I hear the door open, then footsteps follow. Can this be her? I’m not ready to face her after ignoring her earlier. “Phoenix, are you okay?” Thank, God it’s Maya. “I just need some air. I’ll be there in a minute.” I can’t even face Maya. I’m so ashamed about how I reacted. I’m sure everybody noticed that what Sa