~Bridget's pov.~It’s becoming very hard not to hate all the men of the Finn family. Malachi’s father was okay, but the younger generation seem to have serious issues.I trip on the darned heels I'm wearing and swear as I almost take a direct dive into the cold hard ground. I don’t even care if I fall. I need his help and he’s walking the fuck away from me.“Tieran, wait! I can help!”My wobbling steps are nothing in comparison to the distance his long legs cover in powerful strides. The sound of an elevator door coming open floats into my ears, and then they close and I know I have missed my chance.He’s gone, and after I had to lie in wait at his main office just to discover this place, I'm not happy about it, “Coward!”I call the name out loudly and with venom. I don’t care if he’s going to hear me. He should. Maybe then he’d grow a pair of balls and come back so we can do something about his nephew who’s keeping my best friend hostage!I turn back to look at the receptionist sta
Antonia’s pov.I never imagined leaving a hospital would be one of the things I'd consider a triumph, yet this feels like one. The doctor is looking at his reports delicately and he’s nodding to himself.His voice is calm as he speaks, “You’re fine Mrs Finn, and you’re free to go too. Mr Finn has asked that this report be sent to him, so I'll do that.”I roll my eyes mentally. Of course he will.I give no further response except a casual nod. The doctor begins to look at me like there’s something else he wants to say, and I actually predicted this would happen. The thought came to me, and I nodded to myself saying yes, he’ll probably try to tell me he relates to my situation on some level, though I doubt he can ever truly relate to being held captive by a man with the aid of other men… Unless he can, in which case I’d rather not hear the story. I’ve gone through enough trauma for a few months. I forgive him and the nurses. There’s no need to hold a grudge I'll never be able to do an
The grounds of my father’s mansion are as stunning as when I first saw it, except this time, something much more valuable than this mansion is sitting in his wheelchair outside the large oak double doors.Ian’s voice confirms my suspicion, “He’s really worried about you.”I nod in agreement with that comment. I can see that. I can see it in the blank look in his eyes and the tired creases on my father’s forehead.He’s waiting for me, and it hurts my heart as much as it warms. I'm seeing him here. Because I've had to put him through this. I get down from the car when Ian parks and I walk over to him. My father rises when I come into arm’s reach and he pulls me into a hug.A deep feeling of remorse rises up in me when I notice how tight he holds me. Tears sting my eyes and my voice comes out scratchy when I speak, “I’m so sorry, Dad. I’m sorry for making you worry. I never intended to. I’m so sorry.”My father only keeps his hug with me tight and I can hear how fast his heart is raci
“Hi, I understand you’re Bridget.”My father’s voice is as warm as an indoor fire. Bridget’s voice is cold as ice from the shock as she nods and responds, “Yes, that’s…. That’s me. It’s an honor to meet you Mr Elcot. I’ve heard so much about you.”My father smiles warmly at her and the sound of whirring distracts all three of us for a while. My father’s wheelchair rolls of its own accord to the entrance of the mansion and stops there. I help him over and he sits.He has to exercise his legs, and they’re strong enough for a thirty minute walk, but he’s still chairbound. I’ll have to speak to his doctor on that.“I’ll leave you two to speak in private. I think your friend had a lot of questions, Antonia. I’ll be at the table.”I smile thankfully at my father and turn to find the look of shock in Bridget’s eyes has deepend. My father’s chair wheels him away, and the minute he’s far enough Bridget descends on me with questions.“That was Damien Elcot, wasn’t it? THE Damien Elcot?”I nod a
For the duration of the lunch, Bridget does nothing other than speak to my father.I can tell tthat she’s still shocked by all that has happened. I think she’s more than surprised to be honest. I think she’s astounded, and mayb a bit hurt that i didn’t tell her of this earlier.I expected her to react like this. I realise i’ve been expecting a lot of things lately, and none of them good. I do that thinking if what i have expectd finally happens, i might not feel so bad. I do that thinking if what i have anticipated comes, i’ll be a little less hurt.I don’t think that’s working here.“Will Antonia live here now?”At the mention of my name, i’m pulled out of my thoughts and i look blankly at the other two peopled seated at the table. My father’s eyes are searching mine, and i can telll he’s also wondering what’s wrong.Bridget has been warm and welcoming of him. I did expect her to grab a fork and threaten my father while directing the pointed edges at him. I also expected her to rail
Antonia’s pov. My boss and husband Malachi Finn chats excitedly with his first love in the office. I stand outside, and through the glass door, I can see a warm smile on his face. It’s a smile I've never seen before. I know the right thing to do as a competent secretary would be to leave, but as his wife, every bone in my body screams at me to go in there and tell them to stop it. I know I can't. For the three years we’ve been married, Malachi has never treated me like his wife. He’s only ever seen me as a secretary. He’ll talk to me while we’re at work because I plan the company calendar, handle negotiations with his clients, and make sure he’s ready for every presentation he needs to be ready for, but at home, he ignores me. Laughter comes in from Malachi’s office again and my heart throbs with a strange kind of pain at the sound of his laughter. It’s rich, and silky. I dart a peek towards his office once more and my eyes fall on Skye Rogers. I stare at her because everyth
Anguish and pain rip through my already raw heart, and for a while all I can do is look at him. I stare at the annoyance on his face and the rage gathering in his eyes. I look away as tears well in mine and I stare at the floor as I blink them back, asking with a steady but tired voice, a voice that poorly hides how much this hurts me. “How can you say that, Malachi?” Malachi’s voice still bears cold fury as he responds with spite, “It’s true, isn’t it?” His words are like arrows lodging into my chest, driving me closer to breaking down. He doesn’t stop there. He goes on in an irritated, annoyed voice, “I would never have married you if it wasn’t for my grandfather. You’re a nobody who wormed her way into my life, so let’s not act like this marriage is something it isn’t.” My mood worsens because I realize he still believes I drugged him that night. A night that means so much to me, is like a stain to him. A stain he will never get to rub away as long as he’s married to me. “
The funeral draws something out of me. From the fact that no one in the Finn household seemed to care that my grandmother had died, down to Malachi’s nonchalance about her death and his sustained anger at what happened with Skye. My heart throbs and aches while I have to carry out the preparations for the funeral myself and the day comes on a windy morning. “You should eat something, Antonia.” The concerned voice from behind me says but I can’t seem to hear it. Another voice comes, “You look stressed, Antonia, and…. This isn’t the time to stop eating. You’ll get over this.” I nod dully as memories of my grandmother come back to me. Memories of her braiding my hair, then loosening it out to brush it again. She’d tell me often of how she’d met my grandfather. How he’d loved her and pursued her endlessly for her love. How they both ran away from home, to start a new life in the city, and how they’d lived content lives in their small house. A tear rolls down my cheek because I prom