Rafe strolls out of the bathroom after a few minutes and begins making up the bed. I stand still on my spot, nervous. I look through the large window of the room and see the downpour of the rain. If it has stopped raining, I could've escaped this awkward moment. I can't tell if Rafe is feeling the same discomfort or not. It would be surprising if he's not because it is literally the first time we'll sleep together. I again bring my eyes on him and observe that he smoothens the bed covers of both the sides. He sets the pillows and then the single comforter. I become more uneasy. He is making it certain that I'm spending a night in this hotel room with him. Once he's done, he sits on the bed and looks at me, "Aren't you in mood to sleep? Why are you standing?""Umm." I move my gaze around, "I should first freshen up myself." "Okay." He unfolds the comforter.I stride to the bathroom and lock the door. Sighing aloud, I see myself in the mirror in front. I'm blushing. The pink tint is
Few weeks later*Coming out of my car, I slip up my sunglasses at the top of my head and look up at the Howard's Constructions' main building. I close the door and lock my car.Walking through the main doors, I make my way to the elevators. The employees who know me greet me. I respond to them with a wave and smile. Then I reach the designated floor and go to Dad's office room. I've decided to see them after rejecting their umpteen number of calls. I knock once and enter in it. Mom is there too as per my expectations. "What now? Why have you been pestering me with continuous phone calls?" I remove the glasses from the top of my head and hold them in my hand, "And why did you call me here?"Dad comes to me, "How have you been? I've heard you've cancelled your divorce with Rafael. That's a relief."I roll my eyes, clenching my jaws. "Answer your Dad, Freya. That's not how I taught you." Mom interferes, "We've been worried for you since you've broken your contact with us. I understand
"It's confirmed now." I hear him sigh on the phone, "that you'll work there and I'll work here. We have to work now at separate places.""Hmm. Indeed." I enter my room and look around, remembering how my office here looked like. It's weird, indeed. To be back at my old workplace. So much has changed within me and in my life.I visited Howard's main building a few times in past weeks, but didn't get a chance to see my office. "But I was used to seeing you around me, Fay. It was good working with you and getting to see you whenever I wanted. It will be difficult to be habitual with this new setting." He becomes downhearted. I smile as I understand what he meant."Yes. It was a good time. But that's how our situation is now." Rafe and I have different responsibilities. He's the CEO of his own company and I'm the CFO here at my family business. Life is going to be very busy from now."I'm not liking the situation." Me too.I say in my head. But I don't tell him that, thinking, he would
Happy Reading!--------++++---------I see myself in a white bridal gown, standing against my dresser's mirror. I softly touch my glowing hair, then my face. The dress is mermaid style, elegantly defining my curves. It is fitted from above then loosely drapes down, leaving a long tail behind me. The broad round neckline is adorned with small diamonds. They are possibly real. My reflection as a bride makes me cry. I lower my head and silently sob. My wedding wasn't supposed to be like this. Mom and Dad have really crossed all the limits.I'm unable to get hold of Rafe. I don't even know whether he knows about our wedding or not, whether he'll come today or not. I'm doubtful that it's the latter. I only know that he was on some business trip and that he has been ignoring my calls. I can imagine what he would be going through. I grab my phone and again make a futile attempt to get in touch with Benjamin. At this point, I'm not blaming anyone for anything but myself. Everything is my fau
"No." Mom's voice breaks down, "Don't say this." "Mrs. Howard, I need to go back to Church for a daily prayer session. Besides, we have to accept that this beautiful bride has to return home." Priest argues.I slide down the veil from my head and ruffle my hair. The crowd continues to shrink. People now would have gotten the hint that there is no wedding here anymore. "My daughter's life will be destroyed." Mom begins sobbing, turning to Dad, "Mason, why are you not doing anything. People will gossip about our daughter. That's not how I wanted her first public appearance.""I'm out of ideas, Amanda." Dad says out of frustration. Sighing, I lower my head on the floor. They still have hope, but I don't. I don't know how I should be behaving right now. I want to cry too like Mom, but I'm too astounded to do that. "Amanda, you need to calm down." It's Rafe's mother. "Calm down? Are you Eastmonds out of your minds?" Mom raises her voice, "You should have told us if Rafe had problems w
*3 Weeks ago*• Freya •Legs straight out on a convertible sofa-bed. N*****x on my tablet with black pepper potato chips.Perfect setting to kill my time and to avoid my Mom's high-pitched ever complaining voice.I laugh my ass off on the stupid, funny punch lines of comedies. Life seemed great like this as if I had no care in the world."You started again."The same voice. Argh."At least for once act like an adult." Her voice became clearer and louder as she came closer to me.I shifted my eyes from my tab's screen on her, pushing my snacks away and groaning. "Mom, please not right now. I'm not in the mood."If there would be competition about who is the most derisive among all. My mother would have won first place, I swear."When you're in the mood to listen to me? Tell me the time and date, Freya." She appeared in front of me in her fancy outfits, crossing her arms on her chest. She was for sure coming from one of her social gatherings.I bit the inside of my cheeks, controlling my
• Rafe • "I have talked with nearby localities and collected general information about the area and my analysis says that it would be profitable for both of us. . ." I crossed my legs, leaned back on my leather chair, causing it to stretch back further. The person who was addressing us right now was the representative of a construction company, interested in working with us. He was explaining his proposal with the help of power point slides.I was sitting in a large conference room at my office. It had a large oval-shaped glass table, surrounded by chairs. Father was here too with his few board members. In his presence I couldn't even crane my neck because he would think I was not giving my full attention. I needed to at least pretend through occasionally nodding my head at the presenter (whatever his name was). He was also stopping his gaze on me after every few minutes. Obviously he knew who I was. I was an important person in this construction company. I was the son of my father
• Rafe • It had been a year now since I was trying to learn and understand each and everything about my family business. Recently I had just one definite goal and that was I had to prove myself responsible and eligible for a CEO position of Eastmond Builders. This would sort out some of my problems for instance Father and Mom would stop dictating my life. Even I would be fully independent to run the company according to my ways. I would be a free man and even powerful.From a young age I was told by my family that I was the only heir of Eastmond, that I had a responsibility to keep our family name alive. My parents made sure this thing should literally run in my blood and they tried every method like reminding me about my responsibilities on and off, sending me to a renowned business school. After years of struggles now it felt like I was at my final stage. Once I would take over the CEO position, I would be there where I should be. I stopped my Miata sports car right in front of H