Jason. Madelyn left like hours ago. Grandma was still in the confines of my office, waiting for my return so she could round up her four hours lecture on how I treated Madelyn. Old ladies, and their ability to talk for ages! I had to leave my own office under the pretense of going to request for a file I needed from the financial team. “ Has power switched hands in this company, Jas?” I shook my head in response, “ Then, tell me why you have to go get files yourself when their are over hundreds of employees who would gladly go the end of the earth to get things done for you.” I learnt a lesson though. Never disrespect any lady in the presence of my grandmother. “ You look tired, Mr. Black. Probably get some rest or go home..” the receptionist began. When I left my office, the only place I could think of having a little rest to catch my breath, was at the reception. I loved sitting there, dressed like any other ordinary worker a
Madelyn. “ Mummy, let's go say Hi to daddy and grandma.” They were literally telling me to walk into the devil's den again and risk getting insulted after what happened few hours ago. “ Sweetheart, mummy is tired already. Let's reschedule for tomorrow, okay?” “ Mummy please. We won't stay long. Okay, ten minutes. Ten minutes and we would be in a taxi heading back home.” I could never say no to my kids, even if they requested for the most impossible things I could offer. So, I got my shoes on and apologized to the trio for having to keep them away from their father knowing just how much they wanted to meet him too. After seeing the whole company gaze at me and my kids, I kinda wished I had for once said no. Daniel called him daddy in the presence of his employees and clients. The attention we were getting was something I hadn't bargained for. But then, I see Black whisper something to the feminine figure whose back was turned to us a
Natasha. Seeing Jason mess around with a female other than me made me more zealous to get him. I specifically want to see the look on her face when I send her an invite to our wedding ceremony. I stood there and bore the insults. I heard him call me an acquaintance and nothing more. I saw him stare at her with doting affection and love. And it made me more bitter. But at least it increased my determination to get Jason. I have known Jason since we were kids. His father used to be my mom's highschool lover but things didn't work out for them. Mr. Black met Melissa, Jason's mom and they got married instead. Few years later, he happened to run into my mom, his one time lover and best friend. As at that time, my mom just met my dad and they were still getting to know each other. Mr. Black already had Jason, I think he was about six years old then. His father still loved my mom, so did my mom love him in return. But they couldn't be together anymore, not with Mr. Black married and not w
JASON. A week later. I was busy in the office, like every other day. It's a Wednesday and Felicity had just dropped a couple of files for me to go through. I was engrossed in my work until the telephone rang. “ Hello, it's CEO Black. How can I be of help?” “ Mr. Black, it's Andrew on the line. I tried reaching you through your mobile phone number but you never answered the phone, so I decided to call the office line.” Andrew Peterson, one of the most competent investigators in the city. A week earlier, I decided to run a background check on Madelyn, especially about the other two children who look a lot like me and refer to me as their dad but she claims they're not mine. I figured I would have a hard time forcing the truth out of her, so I decided to hire Andrew to find out as much as he can about Madelyn. “ Hi Andrew, I'm immensely sorry for not answering the phone. I placed it on silent because of the workload on my desk. So tell me
MADELYN. Over the course of time, there's nothing I have been more scared of than my kids being taken away from me. They are the sole reason I'm alive, they are the only reason I'm still sane. They are my biggest motivation to never give up. My lovely little angels and the best gift I got after the incident with my father. Whether or not I got them out of a one night fling with a stranger, it doesn't change the fact that I'm proud to have them. When they came of age and begun to ask questions about their father, I started to fret. What if their father was a well-to-do man and they had to chose between me and him? What if they wanted nothing more to do with my broke, sorry ass? It was more reason why I didn't want them to ever find out about their father. Whoever he was, I was sure a time would come when my kids had to pick between their dad and me. As I wept in grandma's thighs, she stroked my hair slowly. Slow, gentle and affectionate strokes to ca
MADELYN. “Hi, you've reached Xavier, please leave a message.” I gave up after trying to reach him on phone for the tenth time today. Ever since he dropped me off at the graveyard, he's been distant. I have only bumped into him twice and he just exchanged pleasantries and moved briskly. On three occasions, he sped past my house without dropping by as usual, regardless of being in a haste or not. Now it dawned on me that he has been staying away because of my wedding to Jason. But why? He never told me how he felt about me. Okay, I think he did once but he waved it off the next minute. With him, you can't be sure what he's thinking or feeling? I don't even know this man too well, despite being friends for six years now. “ Ma'am. Excuse me ma'am.” I jolted back to life instantly. Phew, it was the cab man. I had totally forgotten I was in a cab home. Xavier was giving me a hard time and I just couldn't figure out what the problem could be. “ I'm
MADELYN. My jaw dropped and I clutched my chest. I needed to get a hold of myself first. But I found it impossible to take my eyes off him. I just had the worst nightmare of my life and the supposed villain in my dream, tends to be my friend who hasn't visited in a while now, and then I wake up terrified from my dream only to find him in my room. I'm still trying to connect the dots. But first thing first, how did he get in? “ Xavier, you scared the shit out of me. Besides, how did you get in?” His eyes creeped the fuck out of me and for some reason, I kept seeing his face flash in my head after that horrible nightmare. The room was silent as a graveyard and I heard the clock tick loudly. Turning my gaze in it's direction, I found out it wasn't even 8pm yet. All I had planned on doing was take a short nap and then freshen up and prepare dinner. But, I slept off. “ Xavier?” Okay, he's beginning to scare me. He hasn't answered
MADELYN. What in God's name was I doing? Gripping the ends of the shirt I had on, I literally froze to the spot with mouth half opened. Maybe the words froze too. I couldn't say a thing, no matter how hard I tried. “ What does it seem like she's doing, CEO Black?” Oh hell yeah, it's Xavier to the rescue. On any other day, I'd be glad he said a thing in my defense, but not today, and not to Jason either. “ Xavier, just shut the fuck up!” Great, at least I didn't go dumb. I can finally speak. I catch Xavier winking at Jason. Something doesn't feel right though. It's like they knew each other and from the way, Jason kept shooting him a death glare, I'm pretty sure they ain't the best of friends either. “ Madelyn, ask this man to leave. We were in the middle of something before he barged in like he owned the house!” “ Hey, uncle Xavier, that's my dad you are talking about!” Chloe points a finger at Xavier as she stood up for