Se connecterPOV: Missing Nichole “You're moping?”“Am not.”“Yes you are,” Janka flicked a brush full of water at her face.“Hey, quiet it. You're going to cause more damage than fix.”She noticed the splash on the canvas.“Have you heard from him?”“Yes. He called me at lunchtime.” She looked at her phone. “ That was two hours ago.”“He’s been gone for three days only. You’re sullen, moody, and distant.”“I’m not sleepy,” she grimaced at Janka. “I’m sexually frustrated.”“I guess if I had gotten used to nightly romps with a man like that and had them taken away from me, I’d be frustrated too.” Janka teased her.“Tell me about it. Doesn’t help he knows how much I like his deep V ridges, lines (which are at his hips), and he took a very strategic selfie this morning and told me he wished my tongue was as right there,” she shivered. “I could almost taste it.”Janka chortled at her. “Slut.”“I am desperately missing Nichole while he is overseas. He’s not going to be home until Monday; it’s three m
POV: Called AwayLaila woke to the sound of Nichole grumbling and fumbling for his phone where it sat vibrating at the end of the bed. The room was still dark, the early morning light barely filtering through the curtains. She lifted herself on one elbow to squint at the clock on the bedside table, then flopped back down with a groan and pulled a pillow over her head.“It’s not even six, Nichole,” she muttered into the mattress as he ended the call.There was a pause. A heavy exhale.“I have to take a flight to Singapore.”The words sliced through her sleepiness. She shoved the pillow aside and pushed herself upright. “What?” Her hair fell messily around her shoulders. “Singapore?”“Yes… Singapore.”“Why? Is everything okay?” She searched his face immediately, her irritation replaced by concern.“Yes. It will be.” He dragged a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “Want to come?”She stared at him incredulously, trying to process how they’d gone from sleeping peacefully to discu
POV: GuiltLaila felt Nichole’s arms wrapped around her tightly and she leaned into his chest. Today was a hard one. Yet she stood in the middle of the bedroom, the steam of her scalding shower hanging like mist around them, Nichole hugging her as if she were the most important person in the world. She felt her stress melting away, dissolving into the warmth of his skin and the steady rhythm of his breathing. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The house was quiet. The world outside their bedroom door felt far away.How can I make tonight up to you? His words were soft in her hair. “I feel I screwed up on such a massive scale. I hate to know I disappointed you.”“I wasn't disappointed, Nichole.”“Not even a little?”“Well,” she sniffled, “maybe a little. I was very much looking forward to painting you. I've been wanting to do so for a while, but I never seem to have enough time to do such things.”He leaned back slightly so he could see her face. “Is it too late?”“It's nearly ten a
POV: LateNichole came into the house around ten thirty. It was after nine when he had realized just how late it was getting, and guilt had started to creep in. She had been home since six. He’d sent Laila a message at seven to apologize and say he’d be home as soon as he could, but she hadn’t responded. The lack of response had sat heavily in his chest the entire drive home.The house felt quieter than usual when he stepped inside, the soft hum of the refrigerator and distant ticking of the clock echoing faintly in the stillness. He noticed the housekeeper, Matilda, was still there and he frowned. “Matilda, you’re here late.”“Laila asked me to be her muse. She got wrapped up in her work again and when I interrupted her to remind her of the time, she was very excited,” she said, clearly flustered but smiling brightly. “She said she was inspired by her grandmother’s painting and now wants to do an entire collection of the beauty of women. She told me you’d be home late and I should wa
Revenge Chapter 61POV: Making Plans“Hey, I'm heading out now, I'll see you tonight. I should be home on time.” Nichole called to her as he stopped in the entrance of the sun porch.The morning light streamed in through the tall windows, catching in his dark hair and making the navy of his suit look almost black. He adjusted his cufflinks as he waited for her response, briefcase tucked neatly under his arm.She was working on the painting for her grandmother and it was coming along nicely. She’d done multiple rough drafts and stretches, experimenting with shadows and highlights, trying to capture the exact tilt of her grandmother’s chin when she smiled mischievously. She looked over her shoulder and catcalled him. “Wow. You are looking good enough to feast upon, Mr. Fernando.”He laughed at her words, that deep, warm laugh that always made her chest feel lighter. It had been just over a month of staying at his place, and she admitted it had been the best month of her life. After get
POV: Dinner with the Fernando’s Later that evening Laila smiled nervously as Apolonia reached for her hands and then tugged her into a tight hug, rocking her back and forth excitedly. “Um, okay wow. Hi.”“Hi” the woman smiled back, “you look gorgeous. I'm so sorry for last night. Everything was a shit show, wasn't it?”“It wasn't your fault,” she shook her head, refusing the apology.”“Yeah, it was the giant bogus, fault for forgetting who the most important person was,” Elena smirked as she smacked her brother in the back of the head as she stepped to hug Laila. “Though we did all get caught up in the drama of the Williams. Sorry, Laila. We let you down, I promise to be a better sister to you.”Her words stunned her, and she blinked but before she could respond Goncalo was moving. Goncalo stepped up, his arms wrapped around both her and Elena. “Welcome to the family, look where the men are hotheaded and then women are worse than the men.”She giggled as he kissed both her cheeks and







