Hello My Loves, Am sorry I wasn't able to update yesterday. I was sick. I could not even stand. Still feels fuzzy. Thank you for waiting patiently. Love, J Cruz
Pepper POV“Are you hurt?” I asked the three children after leaving Victor’s office. I looked at each one worriedly, but they all had this defiant attitude toward me. Their chins raised, and they looked at Victor’s closed door with so much malice.Before I could stop him, Aaron, my eldest, marched back toward Victor’s office. He looked like he was so ready to quash his father with his bare hands. His jaw clenched, and he held his water gun. We both looked surprised when Aaron aimed the water gun at him. “You hurt my Mommy again, and I won’t be easy on you next time.” He warned. Victor and I looked at each other, too stupefied to react. However, I could see the spark of amusement and interest in his eyes as he watched my son. “What’s your name?” He asked. There was a tender quality to his voice when he addressed Aaron, and it made me freeze. I clenched my hand, listening while Aaron interacted with his father.“Aaron! You better remember it next time, Mister!” Aaron cried, and
Victor POV“Let’s talk,” I told her, but she only rolled her eyes defiantly at me. The old Pepper wouldn’t do that, but come to think of it, six years is a long time for a person to change. “Are you seriously asking me for that? It’s been six years too late, Victor. Whatever do you want to achieve with that talk?I watched my ex-wife with eyes full of sorrow and regret.Love was gone from her eyes, replaced instead by an undisguised anger. “Do you really hate me, Pepper?” I blurted out without thinking. Her chin lifted in defiance. “What do you think?” she shot back. I brushed my hair back with my fingers and looked at her face. The warmth that was usually displayed there for me was gone now.An undeniable longing filled me.Without thinking, I grabbed Pepper and held her in my embrace. She began to struggle and pushed back at my chest.“Victor! What are you doing? Stop!” She cried, pushing me away, but I didn’t let her win against my strength.I need this. Just this once. “I
Victor POVThe minute she walked inside the room, my eyes were immediately drawn to her. I can’t help it. A feeling of longing immediately rushed to my head when I realized how, over the years, she has changed her appearance. She was no longer the simple woman that I married. She now had a sense of style. All her own. Her walk, even the way she carries herself, speaks of grace and understated elegance. But more than ever, she was beautiful. There was something about her that changed, but I can't pinpoint what that was. The corporate secretary, and also one of our investors owning one percent share in the company, was talking.Then, our finance manager discussed the company assets and finances before I was called to present my report and my vision for the next five years.I rose from my seat, but before that, I gave a side glance toward Pepper’s seat. She was busy reading the documents in front of her. From time to time, I watched her in hooded eyes, conferring with Samuel Burke
Pepper POV“Are you ready?” Samuel asked after our car pulled outside the enormous building that houses Gunner Holdings, Inc. We just got to New York last night for this morning’s meeting.I took a deep breath before eyeing the familiar building that used to be my workplace for several years, and felt an unusual feeling of nostalgia. “I am ready.” I nodded.“Then let’s get this party going,” Samuel muttered before leaving the driver's seat to skirt around the front of the car to reach the passenger seat, where I sat patiently waiting for him. When he opened the door and held out his hand, I took another deep breath before taking it. Samuel pulled me out, and then we began walking the short steps to the entrance. "Do I look alright?" I asked. I dressed smartly today in my black pencil skirt and an Ivory satin sailor blouse with a kerchief tied around my neck. "You looked gorgeous!" Samuel replied almost immediately.I would have wanted to complain, but by then, we had already re
Pepper POV“What were you thinking?” Samuel asked suspiciously when he noticed the expression on my face and how I wouldn’t let up my gaze from Victor Gunner, whose car was parked directly in front of us.I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said.Maybe I sounded way too innocent, as a frown formed on Samuel’s face.“Don’t try anything funny, Pepper.” He warned. He must be thinking that I am up to no good.“And why is that? You can’t even stop laughing at my expense!” I demanded, remembering how he cracked up at my expense.Samuel had the gall to look apologetic. He turned sideways to face me. “You know, I was not laughing at you. I was laughing at the situation. Imagine after six years you were able to hold a punch against your ex-husband. That was something, Pepper. I thought the next time you met, you would cower just like before. I was glad you've grown some b*lls!” I could sense the implied appreciation in the way he spoke, and that made me feel proud of myself, too.I never thought t
Pepper POV“What happened here? Why are your nostrils flaring?” Samuel tried to make a joke out of my current state, but I was in no mood for it.I averted my face to avoid his scrutiny, but he quickly held the back of my head and tilted my chin for perusal. I hated it that he was seeing the raw hatred spreading all over my face, but Victor’s parting words infuriated me. It sets me on fire. “Pepper?” Samuel questioned when I did not deign to answer.He playfully tapped at the tip of my nose like he often used to when he was trying to persuade me to calm down, but I was beyond coaxing.I was fuming mad.Heat rushed up my cheeks in anger.Without warning, I rose from my seat and stormed out of the cafe, taking the same path Victor had taken.When I saw Victor near the exit, I quickened my steps. My heels clacked on the floor in my haste. “Wait!” I called out. I knew he heard me. I saw it in the subtle tensing of his back muscles, but Victor did not stop to turn around to face me.