Madison was about to speak when Lake lifted himself to a sitting position on the sofa he was lying on. “It’s late, dude. There are plenty of rooms. Do you prefer sleeping on the couch, or did you have a bad date?” Lake was ready to tease him and wasn't going to let him use Madison as a backup. He really hoped that something real would happen between them, but if Sebastian wanted Michelle, then he should steer clear of Madison. “There was no date,” Sebastian revealed. Both Madison and Lake were surprised. Was this a new form of prank? “Why?” Madison was the first to ask. Nevertheless, Sebastian’s response was directed at Lake. “Look, Lake, you and Ezrah saving Madison was heroic. That’s what made me give up.” His phone buzzed in his suit pocket, and he brought it out. “My dad is calling.” Both of them fell silent as he answered the call, but Ezrah, who couldn't sleep either, returned downstairs. Usually, he and Lake would chat through the night until sleep overtook them, but th
Michelle was studying a new script delivered to her when her intercom rang. “Ma’am, Butler Rudolph is here to see you.”She was taken aback but guessed that Rudolph must have been sent by Ezrah. What a smart move? Ezrah knew how much she respected the butler and would not refuse to see him.“Let him in,” Michelle said to the secretary.About to place the handset on the receiver after the call, the secretary replied. “He said your bodyguard would not let him in.”Slowly, Michelle understood that Butler Rudolph must have come earlier but was restricted by Rush.She was growing tired of her bodyguard’s odd behavior. “Send him up. I will meet him up myself.”Butler Rudolph returned and before Rush could question him, the door to Michelle’s office opened and Michelle stepped out.“Rudolph, it has been a while.”Butler Rudolph beamed. “Oh Madam, the news broke my heart but I’m glad to see you alive.”He glanced at the angry Rush and asked Michelle. “Can I come in please? Your bodyguard paid
Michelle did not feel threatened, as this was her office.Rush did not try to free herself from Ezrah’s hold, wondering what Michelle thought about him. Would she accept the roses because Rush mattered to her, or would she choose a different means of freedom?“I’ll call the cops,” Michelle’s fervent response sounded after a while. But Ezrah tightened his grip on Rush. Regardless of whether Michelle accepted the flowers, he was determined to make Rush pay for what he did to Madison. He was not going to let his loved ones live in fear because of him. “He’ll be dead before they get here,” Ezrah said seriously, his tone softened as he added, “Please take the flowers.”When he stretched his hand, and due to his other hand caging Rush, his suit button opened, revealing his white shirt stained with blood. Michelle frowned a little, took the bouquet of red roses, and instantly threw them in the bin. It remained exposed as the bin could not close due to the size of the white roses from But
Rush followed Michelle to her office, wiping his bleeding gums and nose with a white towel.He did not plan to leave her alone for even a second. “There is no problem, Michelle. I will go see a doctor.”He did not want to see a doctor but to avoid the conversation when Michelle turned her computer to face him.Unfortunately for him, Michelle was in a bad mood due to all she had seen.“Rush, what did you do to Madison? I saw the footage on the surveillance cameras. You sent the woman with the roses away twice without asking me about it. Those roses were meant for me, weren’t they?”It was not that she wanted the flowers, but the fact that Rush was being dishonest with her. There was no remorse in his eyes as he responded to her. “They would have just ended up in the bin like those ones.” He gestured to the roses in the bin, glad that Michelle had only taken it for Ezrah to release him. The fact that she cared for him warmed his heart, and he did not care that Michelle was upset.“Rus
Rush’s mind was filled with memories, both sweet and bitter.He loved Odette so much, but just like Michelle, she was so beautiful that she attracted the attention of a lot of men.Afraid of losing her, he began to restrict her movements, including forcing her to quit her job.They were engaged, with the wedding preparations pending, but Rush would not let Odette out of his sight. He wouldn’t allow her friends or family to come close to her, lest they give her bad advice.One day, he had an emergency in the office, so he locked Odette in the master bedroom.When he returned, she had drowned herself in the jacuzzi.Rush could not forgive himself for driving her to suicide, especially after he saw the message she sent to a friend, which he quickly deleted before calling the emergency services. Odette was pronounced dead, and Rush lost his mind. He wanted to keep her to himself and ended up losing her altogether.This was the reason he couldn’t be too hard on Michelle. There was also th
Whatever Rush was trying to feed her heart, it did not seem to be working for Michelle.This confession only filled her heart with pain and bitterness. No longer was Madison avoiding her, but Michelle wanted to know exactly how Rush did it.“You mean you attempted to kill Madison? When? How?”Rush scoffed as he glared at her. He no longer cared if she hated him but would not allow her to slip through his fingers.His method was to use fear to get her to come with him to Los Angeles, so he confessed everything.“The assassins I sent failed, but I have better ones.”Michelle shivered at his words. The fact that he sent assassins after Madison. Was that the reason why Ezrah was injured?Rush could only assume her quietness meant fear. “What? Why do you think that some of the men who came close to you in Los Angeles died horribly?”Michelle was beginning to piece a few things together. A lot of men tried to hit on her, and though she was never interested, she did not miss the news of thos
Mr. Newman did not know how to make it work, but this was a matter concerning siblings.“She’s in Johannesburg, South Africa. Look, I will find time to come visit, and we can talk more about it.”Michelle had a tight schedule and equally had some movies to shoot, so a trip to Johannesburg was out of the equation for now.Though feeling betrayed, she still could not be upset with Mr. Newman, as he was like a father to her.His intention must have been to help Rush, but perhaps he was just as disappointed as Michelle was feeling now.“Okay. I will call my parents. Thank you.”Michelle’s mother answered on the first ring. “Michelle, are you coming over tonight?” She was ready to prepare her favorites but was met with the same question as before.“Mom, do I have a twin sister?”“For the hundredth time, Michelle, the answer is a big no.” This issue was a painful one she tried to forget, but suddenly, Michelle began to bring it up again.“Mom, you are lying to me, why?”Her sorrowful tone c
Madison thought carefully. She always kept tabs on Ezrah’s whereabouts, but if he never told her, then he was with Lake.“I don’t know where he is, and he doesn’t have any appointments so far. He might be with Lake,” Madison replied.Michelle thought otherwise. Being with Lake would have been reasonable if Ezrah was not soaked in blood.“Are you sure he isn’t at the hospital? He was bleeding when he left the office,” Michelle sounded disturbed, and Madison couldn’t help but notice it.“You sound as if you care for him,” Madison remarked.Michelle shook her head at the statement. It was far from that. Knowing what Rush had done, it was her responsibility to ensure that everyone involved was okay.She did not deny it. “Well, I would not care if I had not seen it. Besides, I would not have time again anytime soon.”“Aside from the company responsibilities, I have to make myself available for some shoots starting from next week.” Michelle responded.“Then call him,” Madison suggested but