JENSYNI sat across from Lev in the coffee shop that buzzed with customers and the occasional clink of mugs finding their bottom to the saucers. Lev had his elbows on the table, far too relaxed to be sitting in a coffee shop. I smiled at him over the rim of my mug and he returned a smirk. It took a lot of persuading before I came here. I thought his offer to have coffee together was a joke until he called yesterday and reminded me about it. I didn't tell Linden though, not because he wouldn't refuse that I go but because I just wanted to do this one on my own and have him wonder where I went.And as far as I am concerned, I am enjoying every bit of my time with Lev.“I used to write,” I murmured, watching the foam in my drink dissolve, I then used my spoon to shift it to a side and scooped it onto the saucer. Lev had shifted his attention to me now.“In high school. I finished a book, actually.”He lifted his mug to his lips and took a sip. “You mean to say a whole book? What's it a
JENSYNI balanced the cookie jar in the bag and realised the body was smudged with flour. My hands brushed it off and I hissed in irritation at the mess I'd created. My palms wouldn't stop sweating even though there was flour on it.This was dumb, but I had to be here. The guard waved at me in the car that brought me. When I got out and walked to the front door, it opened before I even knocked. One of the maids greeted me with a soft smile.“Mrs. Rawlings, welcome. I'd go get ma'am.”I nodded and took my seat. The house now smelled better than the last time I came here. I placed the bag of cookies on the floor and held onto the handles like it would give me so kind of protection from what was in this house. Every sound, every distant him made me wonder if I'd hear Derek's voice.Please let him not be home.I pray he wasn't because all I came here for was to see how Willow was faring. I had called her before coming and I wanted to hear the softness in her voice, the way she sounded l
THIRD PERSON'S POVJames ended the call and pocketed the phone. He didn't notice the hum of printers around him nor the distant conversation floating in his space. Every pulse in his neck throbbed terribly.He was minutes away from seeing her.The drive to the aging building of Yellow Oak Home For The Elderly was slow and uneventful. He got there safely and studied his environment. Vines crawled broken bricks, paint peeled on the walls in wide strokes. The building looked like it would collapse anytime. He could turn back and hope the building would come down overnight the person he was here to see.When he got to the counter, the attendant didn't ask him many questions. He had been the one feeding James about the turns of events.James was searching for his mother. The woman who abandoned him when he was three years old. “Follow me to her room,” the attendant echoed, leading James towards a corridor that stretched like a rubber band under the flickering lights.The air was hot and s
JENSYN“Linden, stop!” My voice cracked from my throat and bounced off the walls. Linden's arm was halfway in the air again, jaw clenched, moving towards River. He didn't seem to hear me, his breath was wild, his eyes blazed with anger.“Don’t,” I snapped, stepping in front of River. “I said stop! What is wrong with you? Don't hit him again!”My eyes travelled to River's body. He was already up, steadying himself on a chair. He winced, a rough groan leaving his lips. He wiped the blood trailing down his nostril with the back of his wrist.“What the hell is wrong with you?” River demanded, eyes narrowing at Linden. His voice was low from pain. “Is this how to say thank you? Shit, I saved your wife from God knows what, and you walk in throwing punches.”River was pissed and that only added to Linden's anger. Linden's eyes remained locked on River's. “Shut your mouth! What the hell was she doing here, then?”I knew I had to step in before things got out of hand.“Get out,” I said throu
JENSYN Cold whipped every inch of my body, pushing into my bone marrow. I was numb, but a part of me was aware of my surroundings and I clung to that feeling that I knew what was going on. I had to stay awake even though sleep shrouded my senses. My throat burned. I should scream. But no, I couldn't —not with the dirty gag pressing against my mouth. At that same time, I felt a rough hand caress my body. It pressed my forearm, then moved to smoothen my hair. It was as if the person was trying all in their power not to hurt me by mere touch. Panic flared in me, then defied me. I couldn’t slap the hand away. My wrists ached from the ropes biting into them, so tight behind my back. Heat radiated through the seat beneath me. The low hum if something—was that a car? Was I in a car? Yes, I was in a car. I tried to open my eyes and saw headlights reflecting off the window. In that state, I registered muffled voices coming from my front. A man and a woman. They were whispering, deba
LINDENThe restaurant booth smelled of roses and scented candles. The lights, warm and dull, hung from the ceiling that adored the small space. I adjusted a red throw pillow on the velvet couch, then adjusted it again when it fell. I wanted the arrangement to be perfect, too perfect to have been set up by me, and I hated how much I cared about it.I was about to make a lifetime decision with Jensyn, and I didn’t know what the hell I’d say to her.This wasn’t supposed to mean anything.It was still Christmas. Jensyn had gone to pick her mother up to stay with us. I didn't want to talk about this issue bothering me in the house with her mother there. I wanted us to have a private discussion. This was all I could think of. Jensyn and I were married—only on paper. Twelve months of no attachments. I had nine months left to get what I needed from my father and move on. Jensyn had nine months to claim three percent of my shares, amongst many things I promised her. If any of us broke that y