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
Bridget’s pov.I feel like the worst person on the planet.I stare at Antonia even though i always knew something like this would happen.Call me crazy, but i wasn’t lying when i said i knew Antonia was someone special.I met her for the first time in high school. She was the silent type. Antonia has alwas been the kind of person to think first and act later.A twinge of guilt rocks me to my core, so deep i feel something bitter at the back of my throat. I know i’m not lke her, and during our early years, it made other girls despise her. Antonia was bright, and studious, and pretty. Antonia was everything they were not.I’ve always known she was a very special person, and now she has a father that can prove that.“Is something else going on Bridget?”The dreaded question leaves Antonia’s lips and floats into my ears. I swallow, and chuckle in what i hope is an easy going, well mannered way. I never learnt how to chuckle. I only know how to laugh… well. I ask, “Why would you think anyt
Antonia’s pov.Bridget is more like herself after our little talk in the kitchens. I should be happy.More than happy even, i should be ecstatic. I should be smiling in happines at myself. At tthe fact tthatt i was the one who was able to sense something was wrong with my friend, fix it, and then get her back to her usual self.I should be proud of myself, except pride is the opposite of what i feel.I feel so ashamed.Bridget was so honest with me back there. She showed me the reason why i have and will always have her s a bestfriend. She was so accepting of the fact that i was keeping something from her, and something this huge too for that matter.Much more than that, she told me she’s always known i am special, and i believe that, because she has never given me any reason to doubt that.She’s always been my rock.Always been the most constant, most special person to me, though we aren’t related by blood. Just friendship.My friend asked me a question, and when i should have been
~Malachi.~It’s been seven days since Antonia left the hospital.Seven days since i agreed to letting her go because it portrayed a better judgement.It’s been seven days since i learnt the reason she’s become so bold too.Seven days, and i see her name on every broadcast and every billboard i drive past.Antonia was never someone i could trap down. I should have known that.But in seven days she’s shown me she only allowed herself be trapped. She surpressed herself because of me.~ Antonia’s pov.If anyone told me my life could change further in the span of one week, i would have told them they were liars and they were just trying to make me feel special.Right now, i do feel special, and these past seven days have been nothing short of a dream.The room of investors applaud softly as i get up and when i look at them, there’s one joint thing i see in their eyes. They’re fucking impressed!I always knew i was picking up one thing or the other whenever i attended Malachi’s meetings. I
My sthomach begins to turn the closer we get to the industrial district of the city.I can understand that Malachi ignoring me has struck more than a nerve in just me alone, but going out of my way to get him to notice me feels like a bit of a stretch doesn’t it?I can’t even blame Bridget for this because i am the one who began moping about this in first place.I thought my phone would be blowing up with calls by the end of the first day. I did ask my father not to get the media involved, so maybe that’s a reason i haven’t heard from the man who kept me captive in a hospital for days.I know i am lying to myself though. Malachi has heard of this.Theree’s no way he wouldn’t have. I’ll just have to make peace with the fact that he does’t care, and that is funny, because i had thought he would.I don’t know why i expected him to.I just thought he would. Trust Malachi to retain his pride and composure though. Maybe it’s time i startd having some.“He won’t be in the meeting.”The words
I enter the room full of big men in their expensive suits.The audience is slightly differrent from what i have become used to. Usually i’d be facing a table of middle aged men, but that isn’t the case here.I’m facing a slew of men much like Malachi, or Tieran.Bridget curses under her breath, because the intel we just received was correct, which means what is coming next is also known to us, and it’s a shame really.Skye always manages to ruin the nicest things.I take my seat and Bridget takes hers. I insisted on her being in this meeting with me because i thought i would have to face Malachi somehow.I didn’t want to do it alone.This isn’t Malachi, but it’s close enough.“You’re late.”Cerebrus Thorne. Owner and founder of CB distribution. Acting CEO of the company too. He’s intimidatiingly handsome, but i know someone who’s gone under the knife when i see one and he has, more than once. Enough that it’s noticable.“We were held back a bit. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”
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. “