Layla
"You're really Louis Lindgren?" My eyes widen.He nods. "Yes, I'm the first son. It seems you know about my family name.""Of course. I've known about it since..."I trail off, not wanting to mention that I've known about the Lindgren business rivalry with the Partridges since I was married to Nathan.Thinking of something quickly, I force a smile."Uh.. I've seen the name in so many business articles. I've also seen your father a few times. Now I see the resemblance. I was wondering where I've seen you before."I know I'm not being completely honest with him, but I don't yet feel like talking about the period of my life that involves Nathan. Maybe I never will. It still hurts me.To shut him out, I switch conversations and say, "I thought you said you would only show me who you are, not tell me."He chuckles. "At this point, you're already on this private jet with me so I'm already showing you. Besides, we're almost there."When the private jet touches down at the airport, we descend from the airstairs together and there are so many bodyguards on sight dressed in black suits and black shades. They're spread out all over the area as they communicate through ear pieces."I'm curious. What do you think?" He looks down at me."What do you mean?""What do you think of all this?" He gestures around with his hands."You mean the bodyguards?" There are so many of them surrounding us that I assume that's what he's talking about.He chuckles. "No, I meant the airport. Tell me what you think of it.""Oh... it's great.""Then I guess I have great taste.""It's yours?""Of course."As I look ahead, I begin to pay more attention to the surroundings, but once again, there's too much security around us.Once we get to the limousine, the chauffeur opens the door to the backseat for us but Louis walks ahead of me and instructs the chauffeur to return to his seat.Then, he holds the door open for me, his pearly whites on full display."Your ride awaits," he says.I can't help but chuckle softly at his gesture. What a gentleman he's been so far.When he takes me to his home, it's a mansion just as grand as anything owned by the Partridge family.He even takes me to several businesses he owns, all by private jet, which still doesn't surprise me and it's all because of that black card.A few hours have gone by since I found out who Louis is but his family name still pulls my heartstrings when I think about the rivalry with the Partridge family.But no matter how I feel about it, it's time to be out in the world and do everything I want.~NathanIt's been over three years now since the divorce and it should've marked my new beginning filled with brighter days but on the contrary, things didn't work out the way I hoped.This whole time, clashing with my siblings has only gotten worse and we rarely see eye to eye. The three of us don't even speak to each other unless there's a board meeting or something.The few times we run into each other is when we end up going to our parents' gravesites at the same time. Their deaths still greatly affect me until this day. It's because I had a heartwarming conversation with both of them right before they got on that jet.This whole time, I've also kept two toys with me. One is blue and the other is pink. I've never forgotten about the miscarriage. The more time has passed, the more I've imagined myself in Layla's shoes. If this can leave me feeling this sorrowful, how was it for her back then?I haven't heard anything about her since the divorce was finalized and it's been years since I contacted her mother. She didn't care about her own daughter.Apart from not hearing Layla's voice for three years, I haven't even seen recent pictures of her. It's almost like she's disappeared on the face of the earth.I also haven't reached out to Pamela to find out from her where Layla is. I just felt like I should forget it all. However, it's not been easy. Maybe it's because of how I now feel about the miscarriage.With all this going on around me, I don't even feel the same type of thrill I felt three years ago when Miranda and I were going strong. I thought those flames would last but my stress was much stronger and eventually, it put those flames out.The two of us are still together but it's just not the same. It's not even because she's no longer attractive. She still is and has always been. The problem is that I just don't feel that spark anymore.Lately, I even ask myself where it all went wrong with her. Everything seemed fine between us while I was waiting for Layla to sign the divorce papers.As I sit here in my office, there's so much paperwork that I decide to take a break.Just then, James, my best friend, comes into my office. He runs the legal department."Need a coffee?" He gestures with his hand, extending it towards me and waving the cup."Thanks." I lazily reach for it, then drink it all at once."Whoa, you might want to slow down there.""Like that's actually going to make a difference." I slam the cup on my desk. "I think I figured out what exactly I need to do to stop feeling this way.""I've heard this so many times in the past three years." James takes a seat and crosses his legs, his expression inquisitive. "What haven't you done to make yourself feel better, hmm?""I haven't changed places."He scoffs. "Like that's actually going to happen."I blankly stare at him for a while and just then, he takes me seriously."Wait, you're serious about this?" He leans forward."Yes. I've been thinking about it for a long time now. I'm thinking of going to New York." I lean back in my seat and let it swing lightly as I face the ceiling."But if you leave, what about this company?""It's not like I can't leave people to run it. I've done it several times before.""And what will you do in New York?""I'll get my hands on a company that needs my expertise.""Wait, you mean one of those run down businesses? I know how much you want to keep yourself occupied but come on, don't do this.""I can build up any run down company and make it glorious once again. You know this pretty well.""Yeah, I know that, but-""I want you to come with me.""When do we leave?"I chuckle at his sudden change in attitude. "That was quick.""Wherever you go, I go. So tell me what exactly we're doing.""There's a company I've been looking at and I'll need your opinion on it.""Cool. Hey, will Miranda be coming, too?""She'll obviously want to come with me.""I hope you're not doing this to get away from her.""You know that's impossible. She'll always follow me wherever I go.""Whatever you say."~After leaving the office, I drive to the salon to pick up Miranda and she looks glamorous, but not even that excites me.As she rushes to me by hurrying down the stairs, her bouncy hair frames her face but I'm not even blown away by the sight of it."Hey, babe." She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me on the lips. "What do you think?" She points at her hair."You look beautiful, as always." I wrap my arm around her waist with little effort as I open the car door for her. "I've made reservations at the restaurant for dinner.""That's perfect because I'm starving."As I drive to the restaurant, I turn on the radio just to fill the silence between us. There's a feeling that's been growing stronger, at least on my part. It's the type of tension that remains unspoken but I'm sure she feels it, too.It's probably because until now, I've been unable to make her my wife.LaylaAfter years of hard work and dedication in my studies, I finally graduated.This whole time, Louis has been there for me and on several occasions, he's confessed his feelings for me. but I just couldn't reciprocate.What I went through with Nathan left me deeply scarred.Every year, I've found myself feeling sorrowful on the day I had the miscarriage and what happened afterwards. I thought I was completely past it but each anniversary has made me feel almost the same.This year’s anniversary is coming up soon and I'm hoping it'll be different. It's because I won't let it get to me.This is the reason I've been hesitant this whole time to give Louis a chance but after so long, I feel I'm ready.I also focused on getting a job right here in New York and finally, I got hired at Tech-Beet. I'm working in the finance department.Louis hasn't been too happy about it because he's been offering to give me a job at one of his companies, but I don't want to work for someone close to me in
LaylaLouis is so excited on the other end of the line that it takes me a second to respond as my lips curve into a smile."I need you to say that again," he says to me, his voice laced with anticipation."Nope, you heard me the first time." I chuckle."Wow! you have no idea how you've made my day so much better. Let's have lunch together in a few hours." He sounds thrilled."Hmm, I won't be up for it.""Too busy thinking about how long you've made me wait?""Hey...""Just kidding. I'm glad I never gave up and trust me when I say you'll never regret it."Louis has been so good to me that I don't doubt him at all.~When I return to the office, I slowly walk through the isle and usually, everyone's focused on their computers, typing away and the keyboard noises and printers going off, but none of them are in the mood.While I'm worried about my job, it's worse for some of them since they've been here for a long time. This was their whole source of income and now it might be the end of
Nathan I'm hoping I made the right decision by coming to New York. Drowning myself in a lot of hard work here at Tech-Beet should help block out everything else on my mind. I still can't believe James decided to come with me just like that. I guess he'll always follow me wherever I go, for as long as I want him with me. As the new Tech-Beet management team is announced, the two of us stand right next to each other backstage while he fixes his necktie with enthusiasm. His name is about to be announced. Even from this distance, I can see one section of the staff as they give a round of applause. Once James is called to the stage, I pat him on the back and proudly watch him get up there. When my name is finally announced, I walk to the stage with my head high and force myself to give a half smile. Now that I'm right on the stage, I see the other half of the crowd. As everyone continues to give a round of applause I casually look around at everyone. But suddenly, my gaze
NathanAccompanied by James and my new team, I lead the way as we move through the office, checking on what everyone's up to. While it's my intention just to see the faces of the people I'll be working with, it's only one part of my reason for doing this, the other part being to find Layla. I know she's right here.I have the option to just mention her name and be guided to her workstation, but I feel that'll only begin to raise questions, and I still wish to keep things as they are.After moving through several workstations, I approach the finance department and before I can even get inside, I know I've just found her. She still uses the same fragrance from when we were still married.There's the possibility that it could just be another person using the same brand, but I'm certain she's the one because this is the only place I haven't yet checked.After I step foot inside, I stop in my tracks right after I make it past the doorway when I spot her in the corner.Her other two collea
Nathan It takes me a moment to process what just happened and right at that moment, there's another loud bang against the door and I hear Miranda grunt a few times. She sounds furious. "I thought I heard something," James says from the other end of the line. "Is everything okay over there?" His voice is laced with concern. "Yeah, it's just Miranda. I'll see you at the office tomorrow." After shoving my phone in my pocket, I approach the door in a hurry, wondering what she hurled at the door. The moment I unlock the door, she swings it open from the other side and I almost fall backward. Finding my balance, I shake my head at her as I straighten up. "What the hell's wrong with you?" I ask, my eyes scanning her figure. She's still in her lingerie. "What's the meaning of what you said to me when you walked in?" She glares at me, placing a hand on her hip. "How dare you tell me to put some clothes on?" My expression turns blank. "I just had a very busy day. I'm not in the mood rig
Layla"Why should I quit?" I look down at the phone like Pamela can see me."Isn't it obvious? Your ex-husband is your boss," she replies from the other end of the line."Is that enough reason for me to quit?" I then press my lips together to finish off my lipstick application."Are you saying you want to work for him?""I just want to wait and see what happens.""Why do you want to wait when you know he's definitely going to fire you?""On what grounds? That I'm his ex-wife?""Actually, firing you isn't even the right thing to say. You've done nothing wrong, but it's like you said, you're the one most likely to be laid off because of how you recently started working at Tech-Beet.""When you put it that way, you're right. I'll most likely find out when I go to work tomorrow. I'm leaving the company anyway, so I won't look weak in front of Nathan by handing in my resignation letter for personal reasons. It has nothing to do with my job and I refuse to let him get to me.""I like the so
Layla As I brace myself for the inevitable, I imagine that Louis is about to lose interest in me. His eyes will lose their warmth, and his hands will leave me. However, the unexpected happens. "I know you're divorced." He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You do?" My eyes widen in shock. "Not long after I met you, a friend saw me with you a few times and told me about it." "That means this whole time, you've known that I was married to-" "Yes. Listen to me. I don't care that you're divorced." His voice is filled with conviction. "That's why when I found out, it didn't change the way I felt about you. I still wanted you, and even now, I still want you." I part my lips to speak, but it takes me a moment as I'm at a loss for words. "There's, there's something-" "It doesn't matter what else you have to say. I still want you." He smiles at me and I chuckle with relief, my vision blurring a little from the tears in my eyes. "I also have something to tell you."
Layla Sitting up and turning to face Louis, I narrow my eyes. "How did you know about that?" He chuckles. "In our line of work, news travels fast, especially among rivals." "I see." I lay back down but this time, I face him. "I don't know the reason behind your divorce with Nathan, but when you feel you're able to tell me about it, I'll be waiting." He's so understanding and gentle that it makes me smile. "It's okay. I can tell you now. He wanted a divorce because I had a miscarriage and seeing me made him depressed. Also, he was no longer attracted to me and was openly cheating on me." "Then I can already guess how you felt when you saw him today." "I hated the sight of him, just as much as I did back then." "Then why don't you quit?" "I don't have to quit. I'm certain I'm getting laid off. Besides, that bastard won't miss the opportunity to put me out of a job." "And you'll just take that?" "I'm prepared for that to happen." "Sounds like you have a plan." "I