After leaving behind everything that Daniel had ever gotten me, down to the tiniest piece of underwear he paid for, all I had left were my own personal belongings and my car.
That had been a gift from my elder brother back then, back when I was not so obstinate about marrying Daniel, which has come down to be a total mistake now.
Driving through the winding roads leading to the exquisite areas of this entire city, as I get closer and closer to my parent’s estate, my heart keep beating faster and faster, wondering if I am making a mistake here. I could just disappear on what I’ve saved up over the years and move to another country or something. Maybe reach out to my elder brother and let him know everything that has happened and he should let my parents know…
As all of these thoughts cross my head, I get closer and closer until my car comes to a stop in front of the gigantic gates.
I take in a very deep breath before pressing down on my horn, and within ten seconds, the automatic gates swing inwards, a fairly old man waving at me as I drive past… as I look around the place, I realize just how much has changed within the past three, just how much I have missed the place.
I park the car silently and walk up the doors, letting myself in through the doors, the passcode still hasn’t been changed all these years.
The first thing I do as I walk inside is take a deep breath, my mom’s thick smell of cinnamon and cardamom tea that she takes religiously every morning still hangs in the air, as sweet as I remember it to be.
As I walk past the hall, shushing anyone I meet on the way so they won’t yell and announce my presence, I walk past the guest room, bar room and then into the living room, where as always, I meet my mum watching a movie, her cup of tea cold and forgotten on the small stool beside her while her eyes are red. She has watched the movie so so many times that her tears have dried up but she still manages to have red eyes every time.
Melissa Graham, beautiful woman as she is.
The ending monologue of the movie brings her into the shaking head phase and I almost chuckle. ‘Just as Raees had said, I haven’t been able to stop feeling the regret of his death.’ By the police character after they shot and killed the main lead, the same one I was named after.
Just then, she turns around and sees me, her face lights up, not in anger, or regret, or hatred, or disappointment like I had expected but in relief. “RAEES!” She screams, almost bringing the house down.
Words fail me and unexpectedly, tears spring into my eyes and doesn’t even take seconds before she wraps me in her hands and the tears fall my own eyes to her shoulders. “Mom, I’m sorry. I’ve missed you so much. I am sorry.”
“It’s okay darling…” She mutters sniffling as she pats me on the back still hugging me. “I’ve missed you too. Welcome back my dear.”
As she’s still hugging me, we both hear the sound of descending footsteps. “After watching that movie over a million times, I can’t believe you will still yell out his name like that. Does his death suddenly hurt you so—” The rest of the words die in his throat as my Dad’s gaze falls on me. “Raees.” He mutters, his face crinkling up in a smile.
Oh how I’ve missed my Dad.
Jacob Graham,
He’s what they call ‘beekeeping’ age, with his white streaked hair and beard, his mildly old eyes that has grown old and yet is still sharp enough to see through his thick glasses, those kind eyes fold up into a smile, one that I have missed so damn much.
How did I go three years with no contact from my parents because of a man? A man like Daniel at that?
“Welcome back home my daughter.” My Dad mutters as he pulls me into a hug, I am not the same height as he is, about a head’s height higher but he’ll always be taller, like my mum too, as she stands aside, watching the father-daughter reunion.
I have always been my father’s favorite while my brother was my mums’. But because I wanted to marry someone that my parents did not approve of, for reasons best well known to them at the time, and now to myself too, I had left home.
And my welcome is just as warm as though I had never left.
“You came in time for breakfast.” Dad says, his lips still curled upwards, a somewhat proud look in his eyes.
“I’m sorry Dad, please forgive me for my stupidity.”
“Honey, you never offended me. There is a saying to let a child touch the fire to know how it is. Whatever has happened has happened, I am proud of you for summoning the courage to come back to your mother and I.”
I smile, wiping my eyes. “I see how the Raees bug still has Mum in a twist. I caught her finishing it as I walked in earlier.”
My Dad laughs. “You’d think she’d have outgrown it now. I wake up every morning and she’s gone, by the time I freshen up and come down, she’s either at least two hours into it or she’s done watching. At this point, even I can probably say the lines, word for word.”
My Mum laughs at both of us. “The daughter I named after the best movie in the world is ganging up against me as soon as she walks through the door? Especially with the man that was here when she wasn’t? I am fed up of you two. Come on, the table has been set.”
Almost like I had not disappeared for three years, not disappointed my parents, we all walk to the dining room, where true enough, the table has been set for breakfast, I sit opposite my parents on the large dining table.
“Welcome back ma’am.” One of the older staff women greet me as she serves the food and leaves.
It’s a delicious looking plate of ricotta and spinach ravioli in a creamy marinara sauce with toasted panko and garlic parmesan roasted zucchini.
“Wow. Still eating healthily?”
Mum chuckles. “We’re balancing it now.” She laughs as she digs in. “So, how is Daniel?”
“I asked for a divorce yesterday, I had it finalized too.” I remark as I eat without showing too much like it’s not a big deal. But they both paused and put down their forks, so in the end, so do I.
“Are you okay honey?” Dad asks, looking slightly worried for me.
“It’s fine Dad. He cheated on me and made me do something I wouldn’t have done. I realized he didn’t love me so I chose myself.”
“That is impressive of you.” Mum reassures me and presses softly on my palm from across the table.
Dad chuckles almost inaudibly. “Thank goodness you came at the right time. I’ve been getting a bit worried.”
“Worried?” I frown and glance to my mum whose facial expression gives nothing away. “About what?”
“My heir obviously. Who is going to take over the company? You know your brother can’t since he’s busy with his own responsibilities abroad, I have only you left, and now I’m old and frail and can’t do anything without these damned glasses of mine…” He takes in a deep breath and uses that disarming smile he had come to master so well, “Will you take over from me beta?”
Beta is an Indian word meaning ‘child’ or close in context, my name is Raees, an Indian origin name so he’d always used that to con me into doing things like these, but this time, not much choice do I have, and neither do I actually have anything doing…
“Sure Dad, time to put my degree to use I guess.”
My parents break out in cheers and high five one another.
“You owe me two hundred bucks.” Dad says amidst victorious laughter while my mum scowls at me.
“You bet on me, wow, I have the best parent in the world.” I say in a resigned tone and join the laughter.
*REID*Adralle.You know how in a person’s life, there are a quadrillion turning points? How there are times and moments you have done what you should not have done?Adralle is one of those times… the name smells of danger, and now it’s turned up in something pretty close, not directly, but close nevertheless, to me.It is absolutely no coincidence…As Raees stares at me puzzledly, my fists clench in my pocket because now it dawns on me.He’s always had a thing for women belonging to other people, that was his kink? And he was so good at it that he would always manage to take even the most loyal woman from her man, use her and then dump her like all they ‘had’ did not happen.He was evil, but at the time, I knew no less, and helped him in one of his acquisitions…When I learnt about it, and tried to change it, the deed was already done, and the aftermath had not been good, and for five rigorous years, I have heard nothing about him, not like I actually care anyway, but where it has ma
*DANIEL*“Are you done over there?” I ask her, peeping out of my own vantage point.Preparing the documents for an handover is already being worked on, and it’s a pretty easy work, what is taking so long now is my plan.They can only take a company that remains from me, there is no company without one existing anymore, and that works for me.It’s either nothing for them and everything for me, or nothing for either of us, and even going as far as doing this, will certainly harm my reputation but what remains to be done is not just important but also necessary.Cecelia comes out of the small side of the wall, nodding. “Done, no one will suspect any wrong involvements.”I nod, helping her out of the wedge. “Let’s go then.” I coax softly, my voice lighter than it ought to be. “We sent everyone home earlier right?”Cecelia nods, wiping her hands off on her black denim trouser. “The contract and all of that is in the car, we’re the only ones here.”“Let’s go then. Let’s see how they handle m
“Do you really think he’s going to do it?” I ask in the car as we head back home, glancing over at Reid who’s driving.“You think we asked for a lot?”“Not at all, if it were possible, he’ll be my servant for life, but unfortunately, that is against the law. I’ll settle for his company. It had been because of the same company he had committed so many atrocities, so no, taking it from him isn’t too much. But will he willingly just hand it over?”“As long as I hold something over his head, he will. The man’s a chicken, although, he won’t do so without a fight. That, I have prepared for.” He laughs slyly, barely sparing me a glance.“You are pretty evil, and calculative, you know that right?” I blurt amidst a guffaw“I know, I just tend to tone it down because I like you, and I don’t want my scary part to throw you away.”My laughter dies. We both know that wasn’t a joke and neither is it a funny response to my obvious joke.“I’m not going anywhere. Not when you dropped out of a deal jus
“He’s been released sir.”I barely raise my head, nodding absentmindedly. “Reid Caddel released him, but on what grounds?”“We have yet to figure it out but he’s been on the move since he was returned to the intersection of his home. He went home, met with that woman and they left together. A man is currently tailing them and gives updates every five minutes.”I nod again, the nail cutter snapping as I sear away another toenail. They aren’t grown yet but whatever will be a nuisance will show its signs from early stages, such as these danged nails.“Keep me updated then.”“Yes sir.” He bows and proceeds to leave before I change my mind.“Come back, I have a special assignment for you.”He turns around to me, and this time, I put down my feet, this one is important.As soon as all of these small issues around them, especially with Daniel blows over, I have to make sure that the red-head discovers the kind of man she currently is with, and just he’s not much different from the cousin he
*DANIEL*Left behind on the same cold ground that they had met and left me, I massage my cheeks unsuccessfully, restricted by the rope tied around my hands.What on earth am I supposed to do now? All I’ve got has never been just mine, and at the time, I thought I was lucky enough to have ended the divorce on a pretty silent note but now…My thinking is interrupted by the soft metal grating as the door to the place I’ve come to see as the basement of wherever I am opens. Reid had said it was his place but what basement is this well-equipped?Lord knows what kind of shady activities goes on in the room when I am not locked down here.“I see they have paid you a visit. I have been asked to return you to where I picked you from, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to return you to your kitchen, I can drop you off as close as I can of course.” The one who had pointed his gun to my feet comments snidely, his lips curled up in a funny smirk. “I hope you won’t mind?”I know he is only taunting
*RAEES*Reid helped Daniel into a better and more comfortable sitting position as soon as he nods to co-operate with us.Reid pulls up a chair, the only one in the room and motions me to have a seat, I decline, shaking my head, “You sit.”Reid smiles and nods. He sits down and suddenly pulls me into his laps.I look at him wide eyed, “Really?”He laughs gaily, peeping out my side to Daniel who’s looking at us both like we’ve grown some pair of horns. “You promised to co-operate. Now, there are parts we know, like you sending Richard but why did you need a video or picture of her in bed with another man?”“If I co-operate with you, you will let me go right?”“There are some other details included but let me say yes for now. Will you answer my question?”Daniel looks from Reid to me, then back to Reid, “I want to have the last laugh.”I scoff, “You want to have the last laugh? You were the one who cheated for heck’s sake?”“Yes, I cheated. A man’s allowed to have more than one woman in