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It was around seven o'clock in the evening now, about five to six hours since I had arrived there in London.. So far the atmosphere has been great and it was just so relaxing to be away from work for once but of course that didn't mean I was that destructed to not check up with Sammy to know if everything was still fine at the bank..It was that hard to stay away from my work..Just now I was on the phone with Sammy asking him about everything but I trusted him...I knew he and uncle would take care of everything in my absence.."How did the interviews go for that secretary post ?" I asked him , remembering he had said they would be held today
"Very good actually "Sammy said "But there were lot of people that applied ,so we'll continue with them tomorrow"
I nodded even though he couldn't see me "You know my standard man, so don't disappoint me"
"I won't and you don't need to worry about anything here man ,me and uncle will take care of everything over here " Sammy reassured me once again "You just focus on what's going on over there and stop worrying "
I signed as he chuckled " Right, you right "
I should really learn to relax sometimes but I really couldn't help it but worry anyway..We talked some more,me and Sammy about some other things after we were done discussing work..He kept bombarding me about that woman he met at the graduation ceremony..Once we hung up ,I relaxed back on my seat as I tried to re-focus back on whatever was playing on that flat screen in front of me..
Wait..was I really watching TV?
I hardly even did that back at home..It has always being work ,work, work and work with me.
"Bro how about I take out to feel London's night breeze" Karan said excitedly , entering the lounge room where I was sat still watching TV..That was the longest time I had ever watched television in my entire adult life..I was even surprised at myself.."You mean we should go out ?""Yeah come on bro ,it will be fun" Karan suggested as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck , looking everywhere but me "You know we really didn't get a chance to go out together and just have fun..I really don't know how it feels to go out with your sister and just have fun together ,get what I'm saying ?"I understood exactly what he was trying to do..He was emotionally blackmailing me ,only if he knew how emotionally resistant I was..But then he was right ,it wouldn't hurt to going out with my baby brother and have some fun together..It has been a long time since I went out anyway.."Alright I get it big guy ,so before you start being emotional and gradually start to piss me off with tears, let me just go and get myself ready "I stated sarcastically , standing up from the couch to which he just laughed"Sure ,man this is going to be fun "He uttered excitedly as I walked past him towards my temporary room to get myself ready for tonight..**
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Karan slowly parked the car on the available spot which we struggled to find because it was so fucking crowded there..I mean those many cars made that vividly clear..We pushed our way to the VIP section helped by one of the club bouncers..Our table was already set according to the way we wanted it and two of Karan's friends were already there..He introduced them to me and vice versa..It was weird to go clubbing with kids , I mean I was thirty three years old for fuck's sake and Karan was only twenty four and obviously his friends were on the same age group as him but there I was anyway..I had decided to go normal this time ,the person who was here at the club wasn't Danelle McKenzie the business tycoon but just Danelle..I just wanted to bid in with the regular people for once besides I didn't want anyone to recognise me and then boom the paparazzi are everywhere..God knows how I hate those freaking journalists, they didn't know how or when to back off..And I really didn't like it when people are all up in my business..Suddenly a flash of silky red caught my eyes..My jaw almost dropped as my gaze landed on that woman.. Her silky silver hair was left floating with its curls covering the sides of her absolutely pretty face..Her pale skin and modelled body curved around that sexy silk dress with a long slit exposing her full long right leg..She was talI, small waisted just the way I liked my women.. Instantly, I found myself heating up just looking at her swaying her hips side to side ,her bare slim arms stretched above her head as he jammed with the song on the dance floor..My eyes involuntarily moved from her face down to her not so bigger boobs..I could see a piece of tattoo in between her breasts ..And realising that I was staring for too long and of course sexually torturing myself , I shifted my gaze back to her face again and that was when I saw that she was already staring back at me..I didn't want to look like a coward which I was obviously not ,so I gently smiled at her and sent her a quick flattery wink..And sure that was my award winning smile right there and she widely smiled back then I looked away ,not willingly though plus I just wanted to look at her until she doesn't know what to do but I didn't want to look like a creep.."Heyy there handsome"A light voice said next to me and I quickly snapped on the same direction and there she was ,that girl in a red silky dress."Hey" I smiled, staring charmingly back at her"I was wondering if you wanna dance" She whispered softly in my ear after leaning way too close to me, literally pressing her boobs on my side and I just gave her a content smirk..And fuck ,she smelled so good.."Yeah sure" I said standing up and stretching my hand out to her..She took it in hers as I walked us to the dance floor..It has been a while since I had anyone to mess around with..Have been cooked up with work for the past weeks that I almost forgot how it actually felt to have another body pressed against yours, so diligently..My arms were tight around her waist with hers wrapped around my neck..We locked eyes for while but then she shyly turned away biting her lower lip..I slowly moved my hand down to her butt givung it a tight squeeze which extracted a soft moan from the beautiful girl's throat and then she shyly giggled biting the corner of her lip before burying her face on my chest..Fuck that was so cute and hot too.."You wanna get out of here beautiful? "I asked huskily just close to her ear and I looked at her as she pulled her face away from my chest to look at me"Yeah lets get out of here "She said softly ,her cheeks damn red from blushing so hard and I just gave her approving smirk, grabbing her hand in mine as we pushed out the club to my car and drove straight to a hotel that was bit close to that club....STILL TO CONTINUE>>Author’s Note!❤️ Hi! You made it. You really made it. First of all, THANK YOU for reading all the way through. Whether you binged this at 3 a.m. under your blanket or kept up with every update like a loyal legend, I’m sending you the biggest virtual hug. This story means so much to me. It’s about love. The kind that isn’t always easy, or perfect, or what you expected—but the kind that’s real. The kind you choose over and over again. If this story touched you, made you cry, made you laugh, or made you yell at your screen—same. 😭😂 So whether you're a McKenzie, an Anushka, a Reyan, or someone still figuring it all out—thank you for being here. I see you. And I love you for it. — [Rae] 🤍
18 Years Later... The house was quiet in that way Anushka had come to treasure—full of life, yet settled. Afternoon light poured in through the tall windows, casting a soft glow over the framed photographs on the hallway wall. She stood in front of one in particular—the one with the garland. Her father, frozen in time, smiling in his signature crisp white kurta, the corner of his eyes crinkled in amusement. A marigold mala had been laid gently across the top of the frame. It had been five years since he passed. She reached up, adjusting one of the garlands so it sat straighter, her fingers brushing against the cool glass. A breath caught in her throat, the kind that never really left. “I hope you see her,” she whispered. “I hope you’re watching.” The front door creaked open and a burst of laughter spilled in—sharp, bright, unmistakably theirs. McKenzie entered first, hair pulled back into a messy bun, basketball tucked under one arm. She kicked off her sneakers without breakin
ANUSHKA’S POV The world looked different on the day we brought him home. I noticed things I hadn’t noticed before—how blue the sky really was, how warm sunlight could feel even through car windows, how every red light felt like an eternity when you had a six-pound miracle in the backseat. McKenzie drove like a retired Formula One driver, one hand tight on the wheel, the other hovering like a shield near Reyan’s carrier. “No one’s even close to us,” I murmured with a smile. “Not taking chances,” she muttered, eyes sharp in the rearview mirror. “These streets are full of amateurs.” I turned to look at him. Our son. Bundled in white, cheeks pink, his head swaying slightly with each bump in the road. His mouth puckered in sleepy protest, his tiny fist peeking out from the wrap like a question mark. Everything in me softened again. My body was sore. My back ached. My stitches tugged every time I breathed too hard—but none of that mattered. Not when he sighed like that. Not
The keys hit the marble floor with a metallic clatter. "Where are the damn keys?" Danelle muttered, half-shouting, as she scrambled across the foyer in bare feet, heart thundering. "I'm fine!" Anushka insisted from the doorway, one hand bracing her belly, the other clutching Aunt Pooja's arm. "It's just a slow trickle. Not a flood." "It's your water breaking, Anushka, not a spilled glass of juice!" Danelle shouted back, finally snatching the keys from under the entryway bench. Her hands were shaking. Karina's voice floated in from upstairs: "Grab the overnight bag! It's in the closet near the nursery!" "I packed it three weeks ago!" Danelle yelled, halfway to the garage now. Anushka groaned, waddling after her with the kind of grace only a nine-months-pregnant woman on the brink of labor could possess. Aunt Pooja jogged beside her, heels clicking. "Did you call the hospital?" Danelle shouted from the car: "I'm calling on the way!" By the time the SUV pulled out of
A few days later... The courtyard of the McKenzie mansion had been transformed into something between a prayer and a dream. Bright marigolds cascaded from the pillars in thick orange garlands, swaying gently in the breeze. Strings of jasmine curled around golden mandap arches, their scent sweet and heady. Clay incense holders released delicate tendrils of sandalwood smoke into the warm afternoon air, mingling with the soft sounds of veena music drifting in the background. At the heart of it all sat Anushka. She was draped in a deep wine-red silk saree, the borders glimmering with antique zari embroidery. Her bare belly—round, full, and radiant—was gently encircled by a soft golden waistband. Bangles shimmered on both arms, her wrists a medley of green, gold, and red. Around her neck sat an heirloom temple choker, heavy with history, and in her coiled bun, tiny strings of fresh mogra flowers peeked through. A red bindi, centered perfectly between her brows, glowed like a third eye u
DANELLE’S POV Four months later..... The double doors of the conference room clicked shut behind me as I exhaled the kind of breath that only quarterly board meetings could suck out of your lungs. “Great job in there, ma’am,” James said, falling into step beside me, his tablet balanced like an extra limb. I gave him a nod, loosening the button on my blazer. “Tell legal I want the paperwork for the Oakland merger on my desk by five. And no spin—just the raw draft. I’ll redline it myself.” “Yes, ma’am. And the delegation from Lagos rescheduled—they’re flying in next Friday.” “Book the suite at the Peninsula for them. Full hospitality.” “Already done.” "Good." The elevator dinged, and we stepped out onto the executive floor—quiet, carpeted and pulsing with the low hum of power that only the top tier ever heard. James kept pace beside me, flipping through his digital calendar. “Also, I confirmed the Q3 audit with Price & Knox. They’re sending someone senior this time,