The cold night air hit my face as we both burst out of the door and the hairs on my arm stood erect. I was still grappling with the information that the bar owner was the one I had seen in my Villa.I had every right to call the police on him right now and maybe get this place searched. I mean, he had a gun that day but I had no evidence. I shivered, shaking the feeling that swept through me as I remembered the feel of the metal behind my back.Still lost in my thoughts, Mark pushed me into the car. He hastily and roughly fixed the seat belt around me as though I was some kid he needed to take home with immediacy."Where are you taking me?!" I clumsily pulled at the belt as I threw the question at his moving figure. He went around the car. The car slightly shook as he climbed in and slammed the door closed.His face was set straight, staring ahead as he blatantly ignored all the questions I threw at him."Where are you taking me, Mark?!" I asked deadpan."I'm taking you home! We're go
As I pulled up to dad's mansion, I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the inevitable confrontation. I knew he wouldn't be pleased with me showing up without Mark; he always wants me to scurry after Mark like some lost puppy. For a while, I'd admit, I had actually scurried after him. I had practically changed my life to satisfy them. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.I made the short walk to the mansion's courtyard; the courtyard faced the well kept garden. I had admired the garden when I first came. It was where I preferred to spend my time whenever they were fawning over Bella. The garden looked even more beautiful and we'll tend to. I was sure mum must have gone bunkers as she instructed the household gardeners on how to trim it right.The area was already bustling with activities. The servants were already up and down attending to the guests - young and old - that were seated around tables, each person clad in luxurious outfits and jewelry. Some young
The feeling that coursed through me was heavenly. And for the first time since I announced to Mark that I didn't want to stay married to him again, I felt free.After my announcement, the courtyard was shrouded in pin drop silence. Their eyes alternated between Mark and I then between dad and mum.I could see some young girls immediately shooting their shots. The already deep neckline of their dresses become even deeper, their amble blossoms half on display as they cast flirtatious glances at Mark. I didn't blame them. In truth, Mark was like a diamond among the many men in town. Who wouldn't be excited to grab such a man if there ever was a whisper that he was back in the market?Bella looked pissed, her hold still on Mark's arm.I wished I could capture the look on dad and mum's face right now and frame it. Their eyes bulged as they turned to me; I couldn't tell if it was out of panic or anger at me.Throughout the years I had been with the family, I had learned that Michael's famil
I stared at Mark in disbelief, my eyes widening incredulously as his demand echoed in the room, harshly bouncing off the walls. His determined eyes were fixated on me, his lips were set in a straight line and his arms that were folded across his chest hinted at his seriousness."You're saying I have to give you a million dollars as a breakup fee?!" The words burst from my lips and my voice resounded in the room. "What the actual hell! A million dollars?" The absurdity of his request was incredulous."Yes, you have to give me a million dollars before I sign those papers," he answered calmly as if he was asking me to pay him a measly sum of three hundred dollars. The nonchalant demeanor with which he responded only did more to heighten my disbelief than make me come to terms with his demand."You can't possibly be serious," I exclaimed, the words tumbling out of my mouth in a mixture of disbelief and frustration as I got on my knees on the bed, all strung up. "You're a billionaire, and
My words had barely left my mouth when Bella's trembling voice reverberated in the space. "Mark!' Her voice quivered with raw emotion and her eyes glinted with unshed tears as she gazed at him, "Stay," she whispered. "My friends are all waiting for you. If you leave, they'll mock me endlessly."I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her dramatics.It was her fault if her friends mocked her. Ever since she returned from her elopement, she had made me look like the villain before her friends and anyone who cared to listen. She would always tell them that she and Mark were the real deal and I, who had always envied her, had taken the opportunity to force myself on Mark when she went abroad for her medical treatment. The bitterness of her accusations still lingered till this day. I had felt betrayed when I had heard it. When I had thought I was saving her name, painting me bad was all I got in return.I rolled my eyes some more when I saw Mark's expression softened. Even in my grasp, I felt
Mark, after wishing dad a happy birthday and giving him a wrapped gift he had gotten for him, had said a succinct goodbye to him and mom and we left. Dad's smile kept faltering as he looked between Mark and I.The ride home was fun. Mark had taken us home with the car that brought him and Bella.Bored, I had decided to taunt him. I placed my palm on my chest, "Poor Bella," I sighed, letting my shoulders droop as I turned to him, "how will she get home now that you've left with the car?"He hadn't said anything. He jaw just remained clenched as he fixed his gazd outside the window.I sighed again. "I hope her heart doesn't hurt so much when she's trying to go home or when her friends laugh at her that her lover left her."I caught his pinky finger on the palm he pressed on his lap twitch.I needed more than that. I sighed, suddenly changing the topic. "Now, I can't see the Italian bar guy again," my chest rose higher as I sighed loudly. "I guess I'd have to meet up with him some other
In a couple of hours, we were down to a more feasible solution. Since the cash flow was too low, Grace and I were the only ones who volunteered to lend our savings to the company in our personal names. The overbearing shareholders claimed they couldn't take such decisions without properly informing the shareholders.After, we summed everything up, we were quite confident that it would keep the business afloat for the mean time while all plans are effectively acted on."How did such a dumb employee even get hired in the first place?!" I turned to the HR team. "What have your team been doing?"Grace's response beat their hesitating one, "This isn't the first time. I have had to relieve several employees of their job myself because they were just outright incompetent. In the three years you were absent, without your firm hand on the board members, they have been stuffing the company with their unwanted incompetents. If you don't fully come back, the company will be ruined by them.""Oh G
BELLA'S POVIf dad hadn't chosen such a dumb excuse, I wouldn't be struggling to keep him by my side now.Since dad had told everyone that lame lie, I had no choice but to go with it after I returned. I had carefully capitalized on it and told it to Mark at every chance I got. He pitied me and he had been loving and kind, always coming at my every beck and call to hold me in his arms and assure me that everything would be fine and he would always be there for me. But now…I reflected on the past few days and hissed again. Now the lie was barely effective now that Sydney was more involved.Or maybe my acts weren't believable enough? Perhaps I should meet up with a doctor and make him lie, then I would get Mark to go with me and...I hissed and threw the ideas out the window. It was enough that Sydney knew about it. I didn't want more ears to hear. What if the doctor later decided to betray me?I hissed again. If dad hadn't chosen this excuse for my absence then I would have been able to