“Alright then… he showed me an interesting estate development proposal that he would like us to invest in. A fully serviced condominium would be quite remarkable in Charlestown. Especially with the community college planning to take on executive programs for company CEOs both local and international. Perhaps it would be the move we need to lure more investors to Charlestown … but I’m surprised to see you strike it out as not viable. I told him that must be a mistake—”
“I saw the proposal, and I already gave Mr. Anderson my reply,” I said and pointedly checked my time. “Would that be all? I have a plane to catch--” I added, impatiently.
I knew I was being a bastard, but I seriously can’t be in the same room with my father for more than ten minutes without wanting to kill him. ‘I need to get this over and leave,’ I thought to myself.
“I was hoping your father could influence your decision—” the other man said, looking a tad taken aback. I supposed his planned intervention wasn’t going his way. If only he knew he had just severed himself from every future opportunity with my financial and engineering institutions.
“Edward Sterling doesn't run or own Evan Sterling Banks and Industries. And if you have done your homework very well, you will know that I don’t allow sentiments to impact my business decisions. I refused to fund your business proposal because there are lapses and consequences I could not afford. I assure you if I had thought it a perfect fit with Evan Sterling Bank's Vision, I would have signed it immediately.”
“Um… Anderson, could you please give me and my son a moment? Please,” my father said. Ringing for a maid to take the other man to the visitors’ waiting room. Anderson looked a little lost. I’m certain he knew he could have approached another investment bank other than mine, but mine has the resources he needed with the expertise to undertake such a large project in no time, and take it on in full force. But I haven’t driven myself like a mad man these past years to attain the level the company was at the moment to let some sentiment and greed put me and my team in a bad light.
Once the door closed behind them, leaving me alone with my father, he said, “You know it is rather rude to pointedly ignore me in front of a visitor.”
“My apologies, I thought it unnecessary for forced sentiments,” I said, looking him straight in the eye, something I knew he hated and considered an act of disregard.
“Did you really refuse him for all that nonsense you just spewed or did you do it just to spite me?”
“Don't flatter yourself, Edward Sterling,” I said, noting how calling him by his real name made him grow red in the face with anger. “I don’t do business like you — I make sure I never do business like you. The land he is planning to use for his proposed estate is already occupied by low-income earners. Partnering up in such a project will bring a lot of headlights on the company, and angry people, a lot of angry people—”
“And since when has that been a problem?”
“Since a particular Sterling decided to do an under the table business with a drug lord, and got himself involved in money laundry which I had spent the last years burying, and making sure it stays buried to keep my mother’s family legacy and your fucking family name clean with my very own blood!” I snapped.
I saw him blanch for about a minute, looking away, and then he reverted his gaze to meet mine and said, “Is that really the problem, Evan? Or you just hate me for making you lose her?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about. And if you are done wasting my time, I will take my leave,” I said, walking briskly to the door as if I couldn’t wait to escape him and the memory he was trying to provoke inside me.
“I could say I am sorry, but then see us all now — scandal-free, highly reputable, and still filthy rich. We are like demigods in this country. I thought it was the right thing then, and now, I know for certain it was—”
“Goodbye, Edward,” I said, pulling the door open. And if not for the fact that I knew the house was swimming with servants, I would have run. But I forced myself to hold my head high and strode out of my childhood house of nightmares. I even stopped to exchange pleasantries with the footman before slipping behind the wheel of my car.
I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I drove out of the estate. I gripped the steering so hard my knuckles turned white. Letting out a shaky breath, I felt my eyes blur with tears. I shook my head sharply like a bloody junkie and took calming breaths. ‘I will not let him drag me back to that memory lane. I have survived thus far and I will continue to do so till I draw my last fucking breath,’ I thought with determination.
A few minutes later, I was already on the tarmac. I checked my time as soon as I settled inside my Jet, and let out a sigh of relief, then groaned when my phone rang with an incoming video call.
“Yes?” I said, arching a highbrow at the idiot.
“Good, you made it. Do I need to put a tracker on your phone?” Jacob said and I couldn’t help laughing. He was relentless. I gave him that.
“See you soon, fool,” I said fondly as he laughed. I ended the call. The smile wiped off my face immediately. Pressing a button on my armrest to summon one of the waitresses, I sat back and powered my tablet to find some pending work to occupy myself with.
“Yes, Mr. Sterling?”
“Evan!” I snapped, raising a stony gaze at the brunette, she grew red in the face and mumbled an apology. “Get me a bottle of brandy,” I said dismissively, returning my attention to the tablet screen.
In no time, I got lost with work and managed to eat what the stewards served without being cognizant of where I was.
My work tends to do that for me. I love working with numbers. It has the ability to make me shut out everything and immerse myself in it for hours. So, when the pilot announced we had reached New York hours later, I was a bit taken aback. Checking my time again, I saw it was already 12 midnight. I sat back, feeling a bit tired. It’s been quite a day. I rubbed my eyes as the plane made its descent.
I chuckled to myself when I exited the jet and found two drivers waiting for me. One was the one I arranged from my New York office, the other was from Jacob. And as soon as my feet touched the asphalt floor, his call came in again.
“You are beginning to worry me, Jacob,” I said in exasperation, and he roared in laughter.
“Let my driver take you to the hotel and send yours home. I told you I got you covered!”
“Alright, see you in a bit,” I said in resignation. My driver was already packing my stuff in the boot of the Jeep he came with, and I signaled to him to follow the Bentley Jacob sent. I thought it best to have my own driver at my disposal in case I needed to get away earlier than planned.
“Welcome to New York, sir,” the chauffeur greeted me, and I nodded politely, slipping into the car. I chuckled when I saw an unopened bottle of brandy tucked on my side of the seat with the tag, ‘for Evan’, dangling on its neck. I felt a tad bad that he had to try so hard to make me attend his wedding.
I decided then I was going to try and enjoy whatever he had planned. Even though it's been a while since I found anything enjoyable. A pang of profound sadness filled me inside.
“I do not want to hear about your sexual escapades, Evan Sterling!” she said through gritted teeth, still glowering at me. I made her widen her legs for me as I fit myself in between her legs. The dress she wore had ridden up, giving me the chance to place my hands over her naked thighs. “After you, I didn’t want anybody else. I was obsessed with making sure you stayed mine,” I said, stroking her naked thighs. Her eyes softened. I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I had had time to think about my reactions, and now, I know when Edward showed me that video, I accepted it to be true as a result of my experience, but I walked to the chalet to get confirmation from you. But of course, you weren’t there, and I didn’t come after you because I was scared to confirm it. So, deep inside me when I accepted that you had fucked my father for money. I didn’t believe it. Otherwise, I would never have had sex with you when I saw you at Jacob’s bachelor’s party. For me to believe it, I
I felt Estera's hand slowly slip into mine as we drove through the Sterling Estate gate. I opened my hand wide, giving her room to interlace her fingers with mine. She leaned across from the passenger seat to rest her head against my shoulder and I stopped the car so I could reach for her. Cupping the side of her face, I made her lift and crane her neck to receive my kiss. I pressed my lips against her forehead then her lips. Kissing her slowly as if we have all the time in the world. She let out a shaky breath when I let her go, gazing lovingly into my eyes. "Don't be scared. Nothing or no one here can hurt you ever again. I need us both to put this to rest. We had an amazing time here, on this ground and I want us to take that back. Separate it from the nightmare that came after. I hate this place…." "Evan…" she whispered, raising her hand to cup my chin. I let out a soft chuckle. "I need to let him stay buried and not continue to hurt us…to hurt me. Please," I said. She nodde
Evan had prepared a special table for my aunt, his mother, and Mary Antoinette Dallas. My aunt—I could see–-had rescued Ashley and Ameera and had taken charge of our boys and when we approached the table I saw four men in black suits, hovering close to my aunt Sophia and the boys. I gave Evan a side glance but his eyes were held forward. Lowering my gaze, I saw how the men monitored the boys' every move and let out a sigh. Evan was quite serious about our children’s safety and with the look of it, it seemed he couldn’t even take a risk when they were with family. Mary Antoinette Dallas beamed at me. I gave her a warm smile, pretty glad the other woman was much better despite the ravaging chemo after her surgery. I had thought she might resent me a little when she found out about Evan’s duplicity in regards to his marriage to her but the woman took it in her stride. With Charlotte Sterling's help, she went back home to pay her last respite to her mother and bury the tortured soul. I h
I have indeed come a long way to be wearing a 30 million dollar diamond embellished bridal gown, and an equally sparkling tiara that contained about 2,000 tiny cut diamonds. I was almost afraid to move. But the very sight of the tall, broad-shouldered, handsome man, waiting with the bluest intense eyes in the front of the room drew me forward. Evan -- was breathtaking! He wore the traditional black tuxedo with a white undershirt but with a custom-made hand-printed silk scarf, knotted with two loops in the form of a bow tie around his collar. However, there was nothing traditional about the price tag. He went all out for this wedding anniversary slash renewal of wedding vows. My heart skipped a beat at the knowledge that this beautiful man was all mine and he loved me with all his heart and soul. The lighting of the cathedral was dimmed and as I moved the light shined off the diamonds, creating a wonderful sparkle. I let out a shaky breath and my aunt Sophia looped an arm to mine, l
I doubt anyone was as happy as I was to know Cole Foster was doing fine. Now I can breathe easily. Being without Estera and my boys these past few days has not been easy for me. I was constantly checking my phone and seemed impatient in my dealings.Edward's funeral was a private one. I had figured only my mother and I would be present with the minister, of course, and a few chosen staff, but then Estera's aunt had shown up. An act that got my mother pretty emotional.I never did pay much attention to the relationship between the two women in the past. I knew now they were closer than just an employer and employee and I was glad someone was there for my mother other than me. I figured Mary Antoinette would like to be present for her mother's funeral and had Antony buried immediately. I heard no one showed not even his employees. That showed the kind of man the fucker was. Aside from handling all the burial arrangements, I was also keeping taps on Gaius’ case. Estera’s parents’ lawyers
“I’m sorry … I should have known better and gotten help--” “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault. I am just glad you weren’t taken from us—” “Please, tell me Doctor Benjamin and Doctor Rasheed got off unhurt,” he said. “They are fine — traumatized, but fine,” I replied. “Thank God. What happened to Edward Sterling?” “He died … the police killed him when they discovered their men weren’t responding to their radio call anymore.” “Shit. I tried to help them. He didn’t let me.” “You could have bled to death too if Evan hadn’t risked speaking with Edward to make him let you, Ashley and Ameera go.” “He must feel like hell … I know I would. Having a man like that as a father must be tough.” “He is happy you are alright—” I said. He sighed. “Where is he now?” “In Charlestown … helping his mother take care of Edward, Antony, and Anastasia Dallas’ burial arrangements--” “Shit! She didn’t make it?” “No…” “Her daughter?” “Mary Antoinette is responding to treatment, although she is