Novels by Angelina Marbell

Claire's POV "Mom?" she asked, confused tone creeping into her voice. I blinked, dragged back to reality, spreading my lips to a firm, anxious smile. "Oh, sorry." I shook his hand quickly retracting my hand. “You okay?" Sophie asked, inspecting my countenance. “Yes," I said too hastily. "I'm just tired, that's all."". Ryan smiled cordially at me. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Mrs. Lawson. Sophie never ceases to tell me about all of you.” I smiled blushfully. "Good things, I hope?" “All good things," he smiled. That very same smile I recall that evening—the one which made my heart pound and head spin. I tried to avoid looking and said, "I'm glad to finally get to welcome the man that my daughter won't stop talking about. Congratulations to both of you." Sophie smiled and snuggled back into him. "Thanks, Mom." Ryan pointed to the car that was parked along the road. "Shall we? Dinner's waiting, and my mother will be delighted to meet you finally.” The drive to his house

Claire's Point “And Thats done.” I said as I turned off the stove. Looking at the clock, I noticed it was few hours past mid-noon. Just then, my phone rang. “Sophie.” "Mom! I just landed! Where are you?" Sophie's excited voice was over the speaker. "I'm so glad I can see you!" My heart skipped a beat. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so glad that I can see that you're home. I'm going out right now to come pick you up. Just hold out for a few minutes, baby." "All right, I'll wait at the gate of arrivals," she said. I ran to my room, changed into a new blouse and jeans, made my hair braided the way I thought was proper, and grabbed my bag. I was grinning all the way as I walked there. God knows I needed that. I needed that following all the fuss surrounding Daniel and the office. I needed her. I needed love and peace. The moment I saw her at the airport, standing over by her suitcase in the light blue jacket, I nearly burst out crying. "Sophie!" She turned around, and she was smiling. "Mom

From Mommy's Point of View "Sophie filled my ear. "I've been trying to call you since last night. Where on earth were you?" The tension now makes sense to open my heart from the very sound of her own: "Sophie," I breathed, rolling up into position. "So glad to hear from you." "I missed you. I was calling to inquire about how you're doing, you know?" She was still giving me grief. "You've gone silent for a while. Fine?" No. I paused. "It has. Not been easy," I said quietly. "Work was a disaster." "Oh, how?" She was still being all talky. "Did someone get on your nerves, again?" I sighed. "Letting me go would appear to be one," I said to him. Refraining from sex with him was poor work performance in his mind. The shocked shout of Sophie snapped that silence. "He what?" "Honey-" "No, mom. That's disgusting," she said. "I'm serious, I'm going in there and telling that slime something. Who does he think he is?" "You haven't lost a hair," I was able to get out on a weak smile. "B

Claire's POV I opened the door. Daniel was sprawled out on my couch with my bags all around him. I close the door quietly behind me. “What? Going through my things? The fuck you looking for now?” He looks annoyed as he angrily tossed the angry purse. “I'm looking for money; you vanished last night without giving me any.” I breathed heavily and didn't want to argue, but seeing him here made me realize how low my standards were. “You could have just asked.” He laughed. “Asked who? You weren't here. Where were you? You smell of liquor; your dress is wrinkled; your hair is in a mess. Seems to me you were out all night.” I walked past him, throwing my bag onto the table, and said. “I had a bad day.” “A bad day? Is that why you are out all night and come home to this, walking into this house looking like that? What do you want people to think about me and my honor? You could have set an example of being a good wife instead, you are becoming something else, like a …” “Watch it,”

Claire's POV “Boss requests your presence in his office, right now.” My colleague said and walked away. Wasting no time, I stood up and went to his office. I knocked softly and entered. He sat on his chair, tie loosened,and if I had known any better I’d say he had sex in this office. "Close the door," he ordered. I complied and sat on the other chair in the room. He stared hard at me. "Your performance has dropped lately. Numbers are off, deadlines missed. Are you alright?" I managed a smile. "Everything's fine, sir. Just a rough patch." He took a deep breath. "You say everything is fine but you can’t even send a simple mail without making a mistake.By the end of the week, you'll be out of here, and that promotion? Well, it is going to someone else-someone hungrier. By the time I thought of my mortgage and car payments, I blurted out, "I can do something. Tell me how I can improve my performance. I want that promotion. He smirked, leaning closer. "Easy, as I want you on this