LOGINSEREIAI didn’t bother telling Valerian, he on in his phone when I left the office and I know I could have waited or told him about this but I didn’t. I grabbed the first cab I saw outside the building and gave him the address of Liyana school and we zoomed off. My hands shook in the car and I had to place them between my thighs in the hopes that they would stop shaking but they didn’t. The driver watched we through the rearview mirror with a concerned look on his face but he didn’t ask any questions. Luck wasn’t on my side today because the traffic was heavy and every stop we made at the red light, made me feel more anxious.I kept checking my phone waiting for a call from Liyana’s school, telling me that the man had left but no call came in.---The school soon appeared through the car window. The red bricks and white gates, the same place where i had dropped Liyana every morning now looked like a fortress. I threw money at the driver and ran towards the front doors, it was lock
SEREIAI braided Liyana’s hair with shaky hands as I remembered yesterday’s occurrence while she sat on her stool, kicking her feet while chattering about a new song she learned. "Mommy, you're doing it too tight." She complained pulling me out of my thoughts. "Sorry, baby." I whispered, loosening my grip on her hair. "Better?" I asked and she nodded.I soon finished with her hair and it was now smooth and neat— in perfect pigtails with ribbons she had picked out herself. She turned around, looking up at me. "Mommy, why are you sad?" She asked and I let out a small smile before kissing her forehead."I'm not sad, baby, I’m just tired." I responded and she nodded in acceptance, children always did as far as you told them with enough certainty."Ready for school?""Yes! Miss Emma is gonna show us the caterpillars today! They turn into butterflies!" She exclaims with glee that seemed to rub off me."That sounds exciting."She grabbed her backpack and ran for the stairs.---Getting re
SEREIAI was still in the floor when Valerian found me, he crouched down so his face would be at the same level with mine, his steady hands reaching for my shoulders as he whispered. "Sereia. Look at me." I looked up at him— into his calm eyes, I took in his controlled demeanor, his acted like nothing had happened here and like that last hour was just another thing that occurred in passing. "We need to go to the hospital," he said and my throat immediately closed, I shook my head frantically. "I can't." I whispered and his grip tightened in my shoulders not to hurt me but to let me know that this was non negotiable."You can and you will." He ordered as he stood up and pulled me up with him, my legs felt like water but I stood up non the less. "I'll drive us.” "Liyana." My voice cracked as soon as I remembered my baby. "She saw—""She's fine, Gracie has her." He reassured me as he held my face, forcing me to look at him. "This was not your fault. Do you hear me? You didn't know."
SEREIAToday was a new day and I woke up with this sudden surge of happiness, I had decided that I wasn't going to let Aurora and Annabelle win.The sun was shining and peeping through my window, birds were chirping and for the first time in days, my chest didn't feel heavy.At this point I was already tired of being angry and sad, I was tired of hiding in my room and letting Annabelle make me feel small.So I decided to be nice.I got dressed quickly and headed downstairs before anyone else woke up. The kitchen was quiet this morning, as the chefs moved around quietly prepping for the morning.They did this everyday and I low key felt bad even tho they were getting paid."You can take the morning off," I suddenly said causing all of them to look up at me. "I'm making breakfast." I added and they exchanged worries glances."Ma'am, are you sure? Mr. Ashford expects—""I'm sure." I cut her off as I reached for an apron, tying it around my waist. "I've got this." I murmured.They hesitat
SEREIAI sprinted across the parking garage— heels clicking against the concrete and all, as my bag bounced against my hips.The car was already pulling away, how the fuck did they forget me here."Wait!" I called out as I ram towards the already moving car like my life depended on it. “Stop the car!! I’m still here.” I yelled hoping they heard me and thank goodness they did because the car suddenly pulled to a stop. Immediately I reached the car, I pulled the door open and entered inside, still breathless from my sprint. Annabelle’s face twisted into something that mirrored annoyance immediately I entered, she was already sitting in the middle sit with Valerian beside her, and as for Valerian he just stared at me with a perplexed look on his face."Oh, sorry." Annabelle's voice was sweet. "We almost left you! I didn't even notice you weren't there." She added with a smile and I just ignored her, buckling my seatbelt.She tilted her head, studying me. "You must have been running.
The car ride was pure torture, Annabell sat between I and Valerian which meant she was closer to him than I was and every bump in the road she made sure to lean into him and every turn the car made she brushed his shoulders."Oh, Valerian, is that the building where you have those meetings? The one with the glass facade?" She pointed out the window, leaning across him to see.He nodded. "Yes.""Beautiful. Everything you own is so beautiful." She settled back, her hand landing on his forearm like it belonged there.I stared out the window as I watched the city blur past us, Valerian didn’t move away, he just sat there in silence letting her touch him.I wondered if he felt her touch the way I did, like it was a brand.---We pulled into the Nethrix and immediately we walked in, I felt it, eyes, everywhere. People stopped walking, talking and they turned around to look at Annabelle like she was a movie star that had wandered into the office.She walked besides Valerian, chin high as a s
SEREIA The mansion on the upper East side where the Metropolitan Arts foundation held the event looked like a fortress of gold and light and as the black SUV pulled up to the curb the flashing lights from the paparazzi blinded me for a split second.They were huddled like vultures near the red car
SEREIAI stood in Valerian’s office clutching a stack of files that I had spent the last two hours working on. Valerian had been on a call for the past ten minutes his low voice speaking in rapid-fire German to the person on the other end.He didn’t bother to look at me but his hands moved, pointin
SEREIAThe four days of house arrest was finally over. “Mrs Gable, who was the nurse Valerian hired wasn’t who I expected her to be.She was sweet and showed this grandmotherly love, she had spent most of her time tucking me in or making sure Liyana was having enough cookies.“You look so much bett
SEREIA The room that had been once filled with elegant music, chattering guests and champagne flutes was now akin to a court room.It was like I was a defendant standing in front of the jury which was a sea of the most powerful people in New York.It had been a little over a minute and Selena stil







