Five

Sienna Williams hadn’t expected the nerve-wracking and gut-wrenching emotion that came with seeing her ex-boyfriend, the man who broke her heart in the most vicious way so soon. She had prepared to face him, along with the rest later that evening, and now, as their gaze locked, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t sure how to react.

Aaron DeMarque looked handsome, more handsome than she’d seen in the pictures of him and his family. He’d grown beards over the years and they caressed his sharp jawline, giving him a rough yet gentleman-ly demeanor.

It felt like an eternity before Sienna blinked and took in a deep breath. As Aaron rounded the vehicle, staggering for her side of the door while stomping the vehicle with his hands, Sienna ordered the chauffeur to drive off.

“Drive! Fast!” Sienna said in a stern yet shaky voice, her heart pounding against her ribcage. Her hand clutched to her chest as she turned on the spot, eyeing the raging man running at full speed behind them.

“Mummy, who is that man?” Brylee’s voice came through the vehicle. Sienna’s head shot towards her daughters, staring at them in bewilderment.

“Yes mummy, who is that man?” Rylee interjected.

Sienna sighed, spreading out both her arms and taking her daughters in a warm hug. She kissed both of them tenderly on the head before speaking up. “It’s no one you should worry your tiny brains about,”

Brylee and Rylee giggled when Sienna tickled them. “Mummy, stop!” Brylee yelled out, uncontrollable giggles slipping past her lips.

“Please, stop mummy!” Rylee yelled out again.

“Okay okay, I’ll stop on one condition,” Sienna said, her eyes darting between her kids. “That during mummy’s party this evening, you’re going to be good girls and stay in your room,” Sienna said. Brylee and Rylee exchanged mischievous stares, a sinister smirk appearing on their lips. To this, Sienna gulped.

“We want a hundred bucks each,” they said in unison.

Sienna gasped. “What?”

“Yes! Daddy uncle Damien always gives us money in exchange for something. You want something from us, that’s going to cost you, mummy,” Rylee said, folding her arms around her chest in a bid to appear sassy.

“Excuse you! You trade with your uncle daddy Damien?” Sienna was shocked.

“Uh, duhh,” Rylee answered as though it wasn’t obvious. “We caught uncle daddy Damien having sweet treats when he wasn’t supposed to. He gave us fifty bucks each to keep his secret,” Rylee said.

“Rylee! You weren’t supposed to tell mummy that,” Brylee interjected and Rylee gasped, covering her mouth in the process.

Sienna was gobsmacked at the exchange she just had with her kids. However, she couldn’t help but smile. They had succeeded in taking her mind off the encounter she just had with Aaron, fleetingly though, because she still had to face him come nightfall. At least, that, she will be prepared for.

The vehicle swiveled off the highway, negotiating a bend that led to Sienna’s fortress. Tall beautiful trees surrounded each side of the road. Behind them, Sienna could spot houses which belonged to her personnel. Sienna began to see other vehicles the closer they got to the house, she assumed it was the governor and his entourage.

“Why are there so many vehicles, mummy?” Brylee asked.

“Someone important came to welcome us,” Sienna answered. The vehicle came to a halt and immediately, a guard appeared next to the vehicle and opened the door. Rylee got off first, then Sienna and Brylee.

Damien approached Sienna, he leaned in and whispered into her ears. “What took you so long?”

“I’ll explain later,” Sienna dismissed. Then, she took both her daughters hands in hers and walked towards the governor with a smile on her face. As Sienna walked toward the governor, his entourage bowed to her and when she finally stood before him, he bowed down too, and it made Sienna swell up with pride. She had never expected someone of such high caliber would bow before her, especially a man who contributed greatly to her misfortune. Perhaps he didn’t recognise her? Sienna wondered.

“Mrs Williams, I welcome you to our great Portsmouth. It’s a privilege for us to have an important personality like yourself in our town,” The governor said. He took Sienna’s hand and kissed the back. Sienna fought the pile of disgust that settled in the pit of her stomach. She removed her hands from his without portraying how she felt about it.

“Thank you Mr. Governor for the warm welcome. I appreciate you for coming all the way to welcome me,” Sienna says with a poised composure.

“Nonsense! Call me George, Mrs Williams,” The Governor smiled at her before directing his attention to her daughters. Visibly, Sienna stiffened.

“And who are these little angels?” He asked, bending to the level. Rylee and Brylee smiled brightly at the Governor.

“I’m Rylee and this is my sister Brylee,” Rylee did the introduction, tapping her chest when she called her name and pointing at her sister when she called her name.

George chuckled. “Well, aren’t you two rays of sunshine,”

Sienna swallowed a gulp. Her hand fisted in a knot at the sparkles that appeared in George’s eyes as he switched his gaze from Rylee to Brylee, who beamed at him in excitement. Sienna was about to tell George off when Damien appeared next to her, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. Then, Damien pulled both girls behind him, signaling with his index finger to one of the guards to take them to their room.

With the twins gone, Sienna could finally relax. “Why don’t we go in, Mr Governor?” Sienna questions, tensely and purposely addressing him by his post of responsibility. If George took any offense, he didn’t show because he walked in first while Sienna straightened her clothes. Then, Damien placed his hand on Sienna’s lower back as they walked in.

“I don’t want that man anywhere near my kids,” Sienna leaned in and whispered to Damien.

“Want me to teach him a lesson?” Damien asked. As they walked, Sienna pondered on a response.

“Not yet. Find out more about him and then leave the rest to me”

______________