COLEHer soft body pressed up against mine for the first time in weeks and as a result, I hesitated a little before holding her in return.She steadied herself on my lap, her two legs going to stay on either side of me.She was talking, "Oh my God, I'm so happy, I cannot wait to open up this new clothes store that I am planning… It is going to be a unisex store, yeah?" She paused and stared at me as if to make sure that I was following her story.Amused, I gripped her hip and hummed, egging her on."Okay, so, it's going to be unisex, and you must be my no 1 buyer! Here’s how it works: If I tell you that someone is trying to take your spot as the best buyer in my store, you do not simply sulk in a corner or appear like you do not care. You know what you do? You up your game! Yes! Buy something bigger and better, so you reclaim your spot as number one. Is that understood?" She was too happy, she even rocked against my jeans, not noticing how I struggled to make sure I did not get hard e

AUBREYI spent the rest of the day trying to help my sales reps attend to as much customers as I could. Cole had just told me that he had called a friend or two to tell them of my store, but the people in here at the moment were certainly not one, or even two.I kept running around even with three sales representatives working by my side. I could not complain; the dresses were even more pricey than the prices of the stuff I sold at Aurora springs and they were selling out fast, we even got tips on top of the money we made."Sold out." I told the woman who stood before me with regret in my tone. The dress she had wanted to get would have looked amazing on her, I could tell just by seeing her.She looked sad too. "Did you guys just launch? This place is so beautiful, and has so many trendy items."I nodded with a big smile, "We just launched, ma'am. Super happy with the response so far."She smiled back, "You deserve it. I mean, excellent customer service, from the sales reps to you."

AUBREY It was finally Saturday, and Cole had called earlier that he had gone to pick his parents from the airport. He asked that we got ready, as he would soon be on his way to come pick us up as well. I had gone to the store, but I returned home by 12pm and I dismissed Grace. Purity kept asking questions about Cole's parents and whether I thought they would like her. I reassured her as much I could, even if deep down, I was dying only thinking of how much they would judge me when they got to know who I was. I called Denise after I finished dressing Purity up, because she wanted to show 'Auntie D' her outfit. I stood at one corner of the room dressing up as they conversed, "Oh my goodness, baby, I'm going to cry from how gorgeous you look! Your eyes match your dress so well—" "My daddy got it for me!" Purity cut in proudly and Denise gasped, "Oh, it's precious! Daddy's girl, huh?" She asked, grinning from ear to ear like Purity. "Spin around for me!" Purity picked up her dres

COLEI had never known rage like this before. As I watched a driver take my girls out of my gate, I started to wish that this whole thing was some cruel joke.Something kept speaking inside of me, asking why I was being so concerned, knowing that I did not want to get married to her, anyway.Probably because I knew that while this whole relation by law thing did not mean much to me, Aubrey was thinking too much about it. She had probably, no definitely begun to see whatever was going on between us as a sin, one which she would not want to involve herself in ever again.Her eyes were so red when I got to her, and she would not stop crying. She did not even let me take her in my arms for a harmless embrace, only kept asking for Purity, and when she finally got her, she begged me to unlock the car we had come with, after which she hopped inside with a confused Purity.I watched them leave with my daughter staring daggers at me, probably thinking that I had hurt her mom. I would rather h

AUBREY"Calm down, Aubrey. What is it? Is there a problem?" Cole asked from the other end, but I was too busy sobbing, my back pressed against the door as I thought about the 101 things that could have happened to my daughter."Aubrey? Fuck. Stay where you are, I'll be with you shortly." He told me just when I leaned off the door with tear-filled eyes, pulling the door open as I let my phone fall off my hands.The initial shock had started to wear off and now, I could not help but wonder if my daughter was somewhere around here as well. If she had been killed as brutally as her driver and hidden somewhere around the house. I tiptoed over the body on the porch and started to walk around, not caring that my neighbors had started to look at me like I was insane.I started asking even, "Have you seen my daughter?" My first target was an elderly lady who looked like she was about to shed a few tears for me. "She is six. A blonde, cheerful kid, about this height…" I tried to describe Purit