Sheila's POV
A tiny finger poked at my face, as I slept on the large, warm bed. It rained through the night yesterday and for me, it made sleeping even more enjoyable. The sound of soft giggles assaulted my ears and I frowned with my eyes still closed. How does she manage to so bubbly every morning?I opened my eyes to be met with wider, blue ones.... very similar to her father's. Madeline Wolfe, the nine year old daughter of André Wolfe, who had been keeping me company for the past three days. I got to know that André is indeed a single dad, which leaves Madeline to be by herself most times, since he's basically a very busy person. She had been showing me around the large, grand mansion and even pointing out places that are considered forbidden and out of bounds...which happen to be a lot. Sometimes I find myself enjoying her company, other times I find her a bit overwhelming. This morning was one of those "overwhelming" moments. I've always wanted to have children of my own with Dylan but now I was starting to realize how little I know about children. This one is definitely a lot to handle.Madeline had always made it her duty to come wake me up every morning but this morning, she seemed to be even more excited. Her father, André hasn't been seen around since our last discussion. He just ran off to God knows where, leaving his daughter with a random stranger in this big mansion. There were also a handful of maids present though."Good morning Maddy!" I groaned out to the little girl, who was busy running her hands through my messy, red hair. She seemed to love doing that."Guess what's for breakfast?" She chirped in excitement."Mmm... Pancakes?""Yeah. With scrambled eggs and some bacon. Oh, I think some frittatas and sausage too." She smiled, probably amused by the look on my face.Ever since I've been staying here, their choice of food for breakfast never ceases to amaze me. Their breakfast was my whole meal for a day! My stomach growled at the prospect of having such and I gave Madeline a sheepish smile."I call dibs on the ribs." She suddenly shouted, before storming out of the room. Woah! There's ribs too? I quickly sprung up from the bed.I gave myself a once over in a nearby mirror. My skin looked much paler, due to my lack of exposure to the sun for a while. My disheveled, red hair was looking like a damn bird's nest. I could see however, the results of the good food I've been eating. I was getting a little thicker... barely noticeable, but still there. My brown eyes stared back at me, so much worries within them.I wondered what André was doing with that piece of information I gave him. He has no doubt done a lot for me, but it's not still enough to look the other way when it comes to Dylan, my boyfriend. Hopefully he's somehow able to get him out of prison and bring him back to me, so we can be together again. I was starting to miss him even more. I missed how Dylan would play with my hair, with his deep, soothing voice, he would lull me to sleep. Dylan was always there for me. His smile, his kisses and touches were always making me complete. Without him here, it felt like my world was at a complete pause. It was kinda scary.I suddenly took in a deep breath to calm my growing worries. For now, I'll go out there and have breakfast like a totally normal person. With that resolve in mind, I exited the room and was soon walking down a familiar hallway with various paintings hanging on both sides of the walls. No matter how many times I passed these hallway, I could never stop myself from staring in awe. Like...how many rooms are needed by just one man and his nine year old daughter? There's probably some more people living here, apart from the maids of course. And who the hell has so much paintings on their walls? André Wolfe of course.I soon got to the large dining area but instead of seeing Madeline there, I was met with a calm, scrutinizing gaze from an elderly man. He was clad in an expensive looking tuxedo, had some kind of staff/ walking stick in his hand. He was wearing a hat, so I couldn't see his head but I could tell they were full of grey strands of hair...like his beards. Also, he had a kind of semblance to André and I suspected him to be the latter's father. He was smoking from some kind of tobacco pipe and he suddenly took a deep puff, before talking."It feels so good to see my granddaughter being her lively self again." He gave me a faint smile, as I just remained rooted in my place, not knowing what to do or say. This is definitely André's father and Madeline's grandfather. There's no doubt he's very wealthy and dangerous too. André didn't tell me I would be meeting his Dad but then again, I am literally in his house."I should be thanking you." He said, looking dead in the eyes."M..me?" I found myself stuttering, which made the old man smile.He suddenly snapped his fingers and a maid quickly hurried to his side, taking away the pipe of tobacco he was smoking, much to my releif. I was starting to feel my eyes water."Old habits." He chuckled, making me look down at my fingers nervously."Come have breakfast with me." He said, patting a chair beside him on the long dinning table, filled with different kinds of food.I was in awe of the quantity of food on the table for just "breakfast". I've had breakfast down here with Madeline before, but the menu had never been this...extra. I was practically fighting my urge to openly salivate.Slowly plopping myself down on the chair he pointed out to me, he nodded his head for me to go on and eat. I wanted to ask him about the whereabouts of Madeline and even André, who I haven't seen for days.Madeline's laughter suddenly echoed through the hallways and we both turned to look towards that direction. She was dragging along a tall, handsome man, who didn't seem to be too pleased."C'mon uncle Marco, she doesn't bite." She said to the man, who also happened to have the same shade of blue eyes as André. Must be his brother."Grandpa! Uncle Marco is scared of a lady." She shouted out, making the man roll his eyes. The elderly man chuckled beside me."I swear, it's like she's on something." Marco complained, looking at his niece in a funny manner.Madeline kept dragging him till he was also seated at the table, opposite where I sat. Grandpa was seated at the end of the table, right between us. Marco took a few seconds to look at me."Ooh...my brother found himself a redhead." He wiggled his eyebrows, making heat rise up my cheeks."Jeez, uncle! You're making my friend uncomfortable." Madeline said from where she sat beside me, filling up her plate with some ribs."Is that so? What's your friend's name? I'm sure she already knows mine." Marco smiled at me. Damn! This family really had good looks in their genes."Sheila." I replied him this time, making his smile widen. He held out his hand from across the table and I gave him mine, albeit reluctantly.He placed a firm, but gentle kiss on the back of my hand, making me smile too. I've actually never been treated like that."That's a name quite fitting for a stunning redhead." He remarked, earning a groan from Madeline."He's already got his cooties all over you." She whispered to me, making me chuckle."I heard that." Marco said, feigning an offended look."Let the girl eat already." Grandpa told Marco, who just raised his hands in mock surrender.The rest of the breakfast session went on mostly in silence, except for Marco getting up occasionally to take some phone calls and Grandpa encouraging me to eat some more food, whenever I attempted to stop eating. At some point, I was looking at Madeline for help, but the latter was too busy stuffing her face with pancakes. By the time we were done, I was practically overfed and couldn't bring myself to move. I grew up in an orphanage. Meals like this were considered as luxury... and I was grateful to have such.Marco started saying something about driving Madeline to school and Grandpa was already leaving too. Something about business dealings he had to get to. I was soon left all by myself in the big mansion, with maids who just went about their duties, ignoring me like I was invisible. Ugh! I'm going to be so bored. Wish I had access to my Sketch pad and pencils. Now would be a great time to draw something... anything.I stood up, intending to head over back to my room. I was about to go down into the hallway I came from, when my eyes caught the sight of another section of the mansion. It had large, beautiful stairs that led to it and the paintings were much of a darker shade, giving it a kind of mysterious look. I became instantly drawn to it. I wanted to climb up the stairs and walk right into it, unveil the "mystery". Madeline had earlier made me understand that it was off bounds and only her father ever entered there. That was his living quarters.Andre Wolfe isn't particularly around now, so what's the harm in checking out the place? Just a quick look and I'll be out of there.With that, I quickly dashed up the stairs till I came face to face with a large, double door. I slowly pushed it open, only to be met with what looked like a mini library. It had lots of books lying around. The walls were covered in grey paints and more paintings were hung on them. Hyperrealistic paintings of wolves, just different colors and sizes of wolves. Some were creepy and some were looking innocent but it didn't make me stop wondering why someone will have these much paintings of wolves.I moved further into the library to see some antique guns and swords in display glasses, with lights shining down on them. André sure has a thing for art and collecting artefacts. More paintings of wolves again. Now that I think of it, his surname is "Wolfe", guess he took it quite literally. A very billionaire thing to do.A picture of baby Madeline suddenly stopped me in my track. A blond woman was holding her on her laps and smiling for the camera. That must have been Madeline's mother. André was also standing very close to them in a protective manner. I guess he's never really been much of a smiling type, because I could see how ingenuine his smile was. He looked like he was very wary and uneasy about something. I was about to reach my hand out to the picture to touch it."Looking for something specific?" A deep voice startled me all of a sudden, making me yelp in shock and surprise.I turned around to look at the culprit and my eyes widened. I thought he wasn't home!Sheila's POV"I don't understand." I said to André, clearly confused by the information he just gave me."My sources have searched all the facilities in Russia, where your boyfriend could possibly be and they found nothing." André said, leaning back on his seat.We were currently in a place that seemed to be his home office. We were seated opposite each other with a huge desk separating us."For someone who is allegedly innocent, your boyfriend sure knows how to hide." He said, looking pointedly at me."Anybody would be hiding if they were told someone like El Narco was after them." I suddenly said back to him without thinking.He raised one of his eyebrow at me."So you admit." He said, leaning forward on the desk to look at me. I looked away from his intense gaze."Why do I have a nagging feeling that you're way more involved in this than you claim?" He asked me."Because I'm acting in the defense of someone I love?" I snapped."Dylan has been the first and only boyfriend I've ever
Sheila's POVThe only thing I saw was red, as I marched furiously to where I knew André would be. For the past few days we've been together on an exclusive, private island of his; André's idea of a "honeymoon". We would occasionally pose for pictures from paparazzi and random photographers, just to keep up the "married couple" image. It was exhausting in a way, considering the fact that we both knew better. In my hand was a newspaper with a headline and a whole shitty article about me. Normally, one would be overjoyed to appear on the news or whatever but not when I'm being labelled as a "Billionaire's latest slut". I fastened the robe on my body, in an attempt to give me a little more decency, as I was wearing a ridiculously tiny piece bikini. It was my first time wearing things like these and I've been out swimming and tanning all day.I felt my anger and frustration increase some more, as I ran up a long flight of stairs. Why does every house he own, need to have so much stairs? W
Sheila's POV"Champagne my lady?" A waiter smiled at me, holding up a tray of glass flutes. "No, thanks. I'd prefer water." I politely declined, to which he just nodded and moved on.I sighed as I looked around the hall, filled with rich and influential people. I knew I was attending the event as André's wife, but I still couldn't help but feel out of place.I was clad in a black, high slit dress that did little to hide my full cleavages and seemingly increasing curves. Apparently, André has a knack for women in provocative dresses. He wanted to show me off like some trophy, a prize he had just won. No wonder the press keeps referring to me as his latest slut.I was getting bored sitting by myself and watching the men and women around, flirting and exchanging pleasantries. My mind flashed for a second, to the main reason I'm present here today; El Narco.A small part of me couldn't help but feel like André was finally tired of protecting my ass, he was finally giving me up to El Narc
Sheila's POVHow could I not see it earlier? I had been so focused on escaping El Narco, that I walked into an even bigger fire. André Wolfe was that fire and he almost consumed me tonight.I made my way towards my room in this annoyingly, huge mansion. André was with his father in the hospital, so he should be pretty occupied for the whole night. That should give me enough time to pack my few belongings and hightail out of here. I have to get away from all this. I never wanted my life to come with this much drama.Getting into my room, I grabbed a small leather bag and started rummaging through the wardrobe for a few old clothes of mine. I made sure not to take any of the stuffs that André had bought for me. My belongings weren't much, so it was pretty easy fitting all of them into one bag."Sheila?!" Madeline's soft voice suddenly made me halt my actions. My eyes widened in shock and I couldn't find it in me to turn around and regard her.Wasn't she supposed to be at a friend's plac
André's POVI angrily stormed into my room, frustrated at the fact that Madeline had to see me like that. It's been over a month since my father's death and I still couldn't get my act together. Heck! I wasn't even around to attend my own father's funeral.I had been working overtime for these past days, spending more nights out and coming back home mostly drunk. I knew my daughter was concerned about me but I couldn't find it in me to face her. She had been spending more time with Sheila and they seem to be getting even closer. Maybe I should find comfort in that fact.I took off my suit, after pulling off my shoes. Standing in front of my mirror, I winced when I saw the battered state of my face. I had quite a number of cuts and bruises from the fight at the club, earlier tonight. I was always getting into one fight or the other these days too.A gentle knock sounded on my door, making me turn my head towards that direction instantly. I already knew who it was. "Come in." I mumbled
Sheila's POVIt's been less than ten minutes since she arrived and I was already so irked by the sound of her obnoxious laughter. I glared down at my food, stabbing my piece of chicken aggressively with a fork.We were currently eating together in the large dining hall, myself, André and this annoying, blond bitch. She never stopped laughing at every little thing André said, as they sat way too close to each other. It annoyed me that I was even bothered about their proximity in the first place. André has the right to flirt with any lady he wants, however he wants and wherever he wants. It not like he owes me any exclusivity."Honey, could you please pass me some of those sausages?" The blonde woman said to me with a saccharine smile.She looked so perfect, like a supermodel or something. Deep, blue eyes the same shade as André's. I failed to see why she wouldn't make the perfect partner for him. "Thanks, hun!" She said, as I passed her the said sausages, albeit begrudgingly.I looked
A/N: a little violent scene coming up, gotta warn ya.]Sheila's POV"Ssssh....Dad said we should let her be." I heard Madeline's soft whispers to another person in the same room."Well, I'm not disturbing, am I ?" Another voice responded and I made it out to be Harley's voice. What was she doing here?I was fully awake now but for some reason, I decided to keep my eyes closed, to know what kind of mischief these two were up to."Aunt Harley, you're going to wake her!" I heard Madeline groan out in frustration."She's been asleep since yesterday, Maddy."She needs sleep!" "Ugh, fine! Just one more picture." Harley said, making my eyelids fly open instantly. She was taking pictures of me while I sleep?They both seemed to be startled by my sudden awakening. Harley muttered some intelligible swear words below her breath and I squinted my eyes at her. Madeline quickly made her way to my side, hugging me warmly."Hey Sheila! We've been so worried about you." Harley smiled mischievously at
André's POV"Boss, it's all done." Jamie, one of my most trusted men said to me, earning a nod of approval as I went through the documents he handed me. I was pleased with the new multi-million dollar deal I just signed, and it was all thanks to his efforts. He gave me a courteous bow, stepping back to give me a much clearer view of the others. Three other of my most reliable men were present here, including Harley, who was busy rolling a blunt.We were currently gathered in my home office, where I hold meetings related to the mafia deals, so as not to get Madeline's attention. It was also linked to my personal bedroom.I was about to say something before the door suddenly clicked open, making everyone of us tense up. In walked Sheila, reddened face and a very cold stare like she had been bawling her eyes out for a while.I got to know of how Harley introduced her to the "family business" a few days ago and to be honest, I was a little mad at my cousin. I've never wanted to drag Shei