She would never try it again, never!Orla thought, scenes from last night flashing through her vision as she dipped the fork into the piece of steak that was on the plate in front of her.Violently clanging the fork against the ceramic plate, she was venting her aggression on the innocent object and she felt bad that she was just pitiful.Last night was a night of discomfiture, hell embarrassment, the biggest one of her life. She couldn't even look Callan in the eyes after acting stupidly last night. But he noticed her struggles with the steaks.He shot her a side glance but turned away very quickly to eat his food. The fork was in one hand while the other hand supported his phone. He was working again, as he always did."I can change the steaks if they are too hard to cut." Dora, Callan's chef at the penthouse, said when she noticed Orla's behaviour towards her food. "I made them soft, I don't know why you…""They are soft." Callan chimed in, picking up the glass to sip some water. H
Callan was the first to step out of the car, followed by David. Orla remained inside, taking in the beauty of the enormous building standing in front of her. She conceded to the fact Callan was rich and she shouldn't expect less, but not this mighty. She was the daughter of a billionaire, her father was rich too but she had never seen an eight thousand square feet mansion looking so exquisite before.All her life, she had been confined to her room and not allowed to leave the house unless she had to go to college and her father's chauffeur always made sure he took her to school and back home every day. She had zero time to socialise the way her sisters did. She had always been the unseen daughter, the one her father didn't want the world to know about. She was the forsaken daughter.She lacked a social life, just the internet kept her sane sometimes, but even that wasn't like real life."Welcome back home, Boss." David tendered the car keys to Callan when he had parked it in the gar
I am patiently waiting for the day he'd throw you out of his house and come for me.Those were the words Mia uttered before ending the call. Orla marvelled at how someone could call her sister just to spew those mean words at her.Mia's words almost paralyzed her mind, she tried not to dwell on her harsh words but it wasn't all easy. Just when she thought she was free from her family, Mia was frustrating her again. It had been three days since she called, but the words were still fresh in Orla's head.She didn't think Callan would throw her out. It wasn't certain, but she felt he wouldn't and sometimes, her instincts were always right.And if Callan wanted any of her sisters, he would have gone for them before he married her. He didn't want them and he didn't want her either. She assumed he just didn't want a wife from the Sullivan family.She roamed around the flower garden, plucking from the Allium. It was her third day in the house and she was yet to finish her touring—that was how
The night stars were beginning to align in the skies, Orla stood next to the window side, eyes intently on the dim moon that glimmered between the skies.A memory from her childhood traversed her mind and she smiled…broadly, she wanted to fill her head with that pleasant memory when the door to the bedroom flung open, the sound impeding her alone time.Her eyes swiftly moved across the room, to the doorpost. She saw Callan walking into the room with some files in his hand. He dropped the files on the vanity table and slumped on the bed, tiredly spreading his arms all over the place. He had left the room after he took his evening bath, gone for hours and now, he was back.Orla moved away from the window side, pulling down the curtains. She ambled towards the bedside. It was close to midnight, and her sleeping time had passed but was yet to close her eyes. She tried, but the sleep wasn't coming to her. She had to inundate herself with the view of the night stars when she couldn't sleep
"I want to do a different one for you this time, Callan." Liam scribbled down the last measurement he took of Callan on his notepad. He sat on the armchair in his office and flashed his friend a tired smile."You good?" Callan asked, his eyes stony. He sucked at caring, it always didn't seem genuine even though he meant it."Yeah, just nervous and shit. You know? I was nominated and I am kind of nervous about the whole thing. What if I don't win? They shouldn't have added my name to the damn list." Liam's forehead folded into a crease as he kneaded his long lean fingers against his temples."You are good. You should not worry about that. Winning or losing doesn't change the fact that you are good.""Oh oh," Liam guffawed at his friend's words. "Did that just come from you? Callan Barlowe is giving me some words of encouragement. Strange man, am I with the right person?" Staring intensely at Callan, he laughed again. "What the hell happened to my cold friend? Did marriage change you no
The dress was gorgeous. Liam went all the way out this time. Orla knew Liam was good, but he outstripped her expectations."This is beautiful," she remarked for the tenth time that evening.She gushed at herself, her eyes unmoving from the V-neck, open-back red gown that enveloped her. Running her fingers through the silky material, she let out a smile. The front slits ran from both thighs down to her feet, hiding her toes and revealing more skin. She loved everything about the dress, it suited her perfectly, analyzing her slender frame in a glamorous way. Sexy. That was the best word to describe how she looked right now."He took his time to make this," the brunette applied the final touches of makeup to Orla's face when she sat back, stretching back to take a full glance at her handiwork.It was perfection at its peak, the colour combination blended with Orla's skin, leaving it smooth and glossy. She nodded her head in gratification."I have to take some pictures, the boss needs to
Orla's heart skipped a beat when she sighted the gate. She had left the house in despair the last time she was there, now she was back again.The gate automatically pulled open and David drove in, he found a perfect spot to park the car. With shaky hands, Orla opened the door and got out of the car while Callan stayed a little longer to give David some instructions. When they were both ready, she looked at him, but he didn't acknowledge her gaze. He took a step forward, leaving her to struggle with her overly long-dress.She had loved the dress before, but now she hated it so much she wanted to rip it off her body. Her stomach churned and she tasted bile as she walked behind Callan. He didn't care, other couples who were present linked arms with their partners, but she was left alone to walk in.As she stepped into the foyer, a sudden rush of jitteriness consumed her, almost paralyzing her. The house was the same, nothing had changed except for the different colours of balloon decora
Mia was the first to spot Orla approaching them, she called the attention of her other sisters and they rushed to the middle of the lobby, stylishly crossing her before she joined them. The other three sisters smiled at the guests, gesturing to them to drink up and eat to avoid getting involved in their drama with Orla.Mia's grip was hard on Orla, bruising her skin as she hauled her out of the lobby down to the garden. The rage that surged through her smite Orla, she almost regretted why she had to do that now. Callan wasn't near, no one was near to save her."How dare you?" Mia yanked her arm off her, flinging her away. "How dare you ruin the party?" Her palm flew up and swiftly it collided with Orla's face before she could swerve."She sure has some nerves, who the hell do you think you are?" Camilla whisked towards them, tugging at Orla's hair. She pulled it so hard that her scalp began to hurt.She was striving to get her hair off her sister's hand when Emma showed up, slapping