LOGINBrandon “I'll be spending the night at the Ritz Carlton,” Salma said, completely ignoring all I had just said about loving my daughter. “You almost fell twice,” I said, “you're staying at my place.” I expected her to protest but she said nothing, only stared out the window. The ride up to my Penthouse was quiet. When I opened the door to let her in, I realised it was the first time she had ever been here. She did not comment on my minimalist taste or monochrome aesthetics. She simply asked, “Where's your bathroom?” I led her quietly into my room—my room which I never shared with anyone. I held my breath as she stepped in. Her eyes swept the large bedroom which had as little furniture as possible, giving it the same feel as my office. She gazed at the floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched across one side of the wall which made it possible to gaze down at Dallas as though the beautiful night lights were a part of the room. Her eyes took in the monochrome design—charcoal black and
Salma “He's uhm… he's…” but my body gave out before I could give her a definite answer. I found myself suddenly supported against the frame of Brandon's body. “Are you okay? Let's get a doctor in here,” he said, worry lines creasing his forehead. I stood upright, plopping my frame into the nearest chair I could find. “I'm alright,” I said, “I'm just…” but Leona was looking at me, and I did not want her to think that her sickness had caused my exhaustion, “I'm fine.” A nurse walked into the room and asked for Brandon. “That's me,” he said, following the nurse out of the room. Rita and I exchanged glances the second Brandon stepped out. But if it was Allison who asked, “You're keeping this a…” she allowed her voice to trail off as she looked at Leona. “Mommy?” Leona turned to look at me by her side, “You need to see a doctor.” I smiled warmly at her. “I really don't, sweetheart,” I told her, “I'm not leaving your side.” It did not matter how exhausted I was, my place was by Leo
Brandon“Of course I'll get tested,” I said. There was no arguing about this. I would do anything to save Leona's life. Salma hiccuped, “Thank you.” “Where is she?” I asked her. She responded with a hiccup. “I'll get her some water,” Allison offered, standing up. I could sense that Allison had a thousand questions, but this was not the time for questions. She returned with a bottle of water, and after chugging some down, the hiccups relented. “She's at Medical City Children's Hospital,” Salma said, “I came to ask Allison to take a look at Leona. If… we can't find a match so the doctors are talking about managing her symptoms and she's getting worse…” her voice trailed off into a sob. “I'll take a look,” Allison said, then she turned to me, “And Brandon needs to be tested because he is… is a…” “He's…” I saw Salma shut her eyes, “he's her father.” I finally heard the words I had wanted Salma to admit to me for a while now. But hearing her say them did not make me feel better at
Brandon “I take it you and your husband are yet to settle?” I asked Allison as I placed my car in drive, backing out of the parking lot of the restaurant. I glanced at her and I saw that the expression on her face looked like something heavy was weighing on her mind. “He had an affair once,” she said out of the blue, “it was very intense… they had a child together,” I could hear the pain in her voice. “I am so sorry, Allison,” I said, “I had no idea.” “No one knows,” she said, “it happened a year into our marriage.” She looked out of the window listlessly. “And the same signs are there again?” I asked her. “I want to believe that I'm paranoid,” she said to me, “but I can just… I just know something is up.” I remembered what Terri had said to me earlier. Maybe the rumours about McCoy were true after all. “You can't believe the rumours,” I said softly, “but you can get a private investigator if you want to be sure.” She turned her head so she could focus her gaze on me. “Ther
Brandon I was not having a good week. I was dealing with the possibility of Salma taking Leona out of my life forever. And I was dealing with corporate espionage at the same time. If the page from Leona-S was missing and investors found out, it might cause issues all over again, and I did not want that. It would also drop the market value of my product. I could not have that. So I called a mentor who had helped me turn away from medicine a few years ago into medical technology. Mr. McCoy. He was waiting for me in front of Baylor Hospital. “Mr. McCoy?” I hollered at him as I approached the entrance of the hospital. He saw me and waved. “Settled with your wife yet?” I asked him. He shook his head, “I'm doing everything I can.” “Is that why you asked to meet here?” I asked him. It was an odd location to meet up. I had suggested talking at a park or a restaurant, but he had insisted we meet at the hospital. “Yes,” he said, “I needed witnesses to let her know I was with Brandon
Salma Dr. William left and I was left with Josephine and Rita to comfort me. “What if… what if…” “Look at me, Salma,” Josephine said, her tone strong, “no what ifs. Leona is going to get through this, okay?” I looked at my baby on the bed. She had emaciated in the short time she had spent in the hospital and my heart was torn to shreds all over. “I can't do this,” I said, standing up and walking out of the room. Every time I looked at her, my heart broke all over again. I began to wander all over the hospital with no place in mind I wanted to be. Somehow, I found myself on the rooftop and walked to the very edge. I looked down and for the first time, I truly understood why people sought an escape in death. But that would be too selfish for Leona. She did not deserve to lose her mother while she fought cancer. But if I did lose her… If I lost my baby girl to cancer, then I would have no reason to live another day. I wouldn't want to. Life would lose all meaning to me. Leona w
Salma A part of me felt like a fool. I had allowed myself to get lost in lust with Brandon's green eyes and throaty sexy voice. I had allowed him to run his rough fingers over my skin, brushing against my nipples like… The honk of several cars behind me brought me out of my reverie. I could not t
Brandon “I'm just making sure you're not getting into the pants of your business dates,” she returned with an air quote. “Clearly, you do not trust me…” “You're damn right I don't! You chased that woman to the airport this morning. Why would you do that?” Her eyes were red with anger. There was
Brandon I was in my office responding to emails when my secretary, Rose, called to inform me that I had a Dr. Gascon who insisted on seeing me. My heart thudded in my chest at the name. Even though I disliked her, my heart still raced at the mention of her name or whenever she walked into a room
BrandonI was drawn to her like a magnet. I could not stop looking at her and although we were in the middle of a clearly tense argument. I wanted to kiss her, be on top of her, and inside her. I wanted to suck on her full peach lips and plant kisses down her throat. “Oh, my goodness! Brandon McCl







