LOGINCLAYTON’S P.O.VMaybe three months and a week would not be enough, but one thing was certain , I wouldn't waste a single second of it.The cab ride to the hotel was quick, Morning was barely arriving, Florida sky was still greyBeside me, Yvonne sat in silence, her hands folded on her lap, I let her be. She looked calmer than she had at the hospital, and I was glad for that A new text came from my pilot. She quickly glanced at my phone as I pulled it out. “It would take four to five hours” I said to her, still reading through the text. “That's how long we have before the jet is ready."She nodded, “Al... alright" Her lips parted again like she might say something more, but she didn't. I let that go tooThe car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the hotel. It wasn’t nearly as refined as what I was used to, I had contacts all over Florida and could have secured an entire five-star floor in minutes, but I chose not to. I didn't want to turn down Sasha’s offer, especially since it was
CLAYTON'S P.O.VHow many times could I take it?This was the fourth in under forty-eight hours, the fourth time Yvonne had pulled away, drawn a line between us, yet another time she reminds me that there were limits to...us. The fourth time she had asked me, carefully, cautiously, not to cross the line more than we already have. To be hidden. To be less. To want less The cold air conditioning couldn't quell the rising flames inside of me as I waited outside Room 312. I stared at the closed door like it might reveal answers to my endless questions It didn’t.The hallway was too quiet, my thoughts too raging and loud. I shifted on my feet and leaned against the wall, there was a bench in the hallway but I didn't use it. Her words kept circling around my head in a loop.*You can’t hold my hand in public**I can't tell you**We can't change the reality of what we are*I pulled out my phone from my pocket, hoping to see something, anything from Uncle Swayer concerning the will, but th
YVONNE’S P.O.VIt was early morning when the jet touched down in Florida.The short nap I had taken on the flight had helped temporarily; it made me push my worries back and imagine the best-case scenarios, where Sasha would be fine. However, the moment we stepped into the hospital, the harsh scent of antiseptic and bright lighting snapped something inside me. All my inhibitions and fears came rushing back I forced a swallow, breathing hard through my spiked pulse. “I’m here to see Sasha Sinclair,” I say to the nurse at the reception desk, my voice sounding tight “She was brought in after a fire accident.”The nurse gives me an apologetic smile that has my pulse climbing another high ladder. “One moment”I held my breath as she browsed through the computer in front of her. A strong, steadying hand stroked my arm in support The breath I was holding slipped out of me. I don't turn to see Mr Voss, but I felt his unyielding presence by my side,“Sasha Sinclair" The nurse read her name
YVONNE'S P.O.V“What do you mean by the thing you're already doing for me?” I repeated my question A muscle in Mr Voss's jaw flickered, the blaze in his eyes slowly softened, and he heaved out a sigh. “It's nothing. Just forget it”Silence fell over us; I could hear nothing but the distant hum of the plane's engine as it soared through the night sky. My fingers curled on my lap, my mind was in havoc “I can't" I admitted “I can't pretend or unhear what you just said. You were clearly hinting at something, tell me"His gaze drifted away from me for a split second towards the window, where he watched the passing clouds, and then dragged his eyes back to me. The navy was so dark, it was almost onyx. “You want to know the truth?" Those words dripped with a chilling, dark edge. “You want to know the sacrifices that I am already making just for you, is that the confirmation you need to understand that this—" he gestured sharply between us “—isn't just some temporary casual arrangements"H
YVONNE'S P.O.V My lips wobbled, and moisture gathered in my eyes “Sasha…” Her name slipped from my lips in a whisper. “Sasha...is...”A firm, steadying grip came on my shoulders, holding me as the office spun around my head. “What is it?” I heard Mr Voss ask with an even edgeI tried to speak, I tried, but my throat was closed up. The phone in my hand trembled violently, the voice on the other end kept talking and asking questions but I could not process“Yvonne.” His tone shifted, softer but firmer. “Give me the phone.” I shook my head helplessly, my chest pounding. “Sasha... She...Florida”The first broken sob slipped out of me before I could control it. My mind had slammed into a roadblock, my heart stumbling. There were too many thoughts going on at once, along with the panic thumping in my veins Mr Voss didn’t hesitate. He gently but firmly took the phone from my grip, keeping me steady with his free hand“Yes, this is Clayton Voss speaking,” he said, calm, controlled, like t
YVONNE’S P.O.VEach hour was longer than it should have been.Every time the phone on my desk rang, my heart leaped, hoping it was Mr Voss, but every time I was disappointed. The calls were from either the Management department, logistics team, P.R., or someone else I didn't really care for at the moment Even though there was work piled up on my desk, my mind continued circling back to him. Mr Voss hadn't sent for me since and that's so unlike him.By early evening, my chest was already too tight, the weight of our conversation earlier still crushing me. I may or may not have cried a little, the tears just came on their own after a few hours of staring at my blank laptop screen.“What do I do?" I asked myself, placing a hand on both sides of my face. I would have texted Sasha for advice, but she's been very busy on Set in Florida and she might not reply till laterI needed to do something now.I pushed off my seat before I could even come up with a plan. Should I talk to him? What w
YVONNE'S P.O.V There's something wrong with Edgar Okay, there's always, and I mean always something wrong with Edgar. During our five years of marriage, he's been paranoid, angry, tired, or something. It was always something with him, so much so that I was used to his mood swings, how he woul
CLAYTON'S P.OVThe emergency wasn’t business. It was a person.Aunt Stephanie had been on my last bloody nerve long before Italy, but lately she’d gotten worse, turned into a thorn underneath my skin. If not for her, I wouldn’t have cut our trip short.Not that I feared her. Stephanie was nothing b
YVONNE'S P. O. VMr Voss seemed different, uptight today, more closed off.He hadn't smiled once or thrown a casual compliment my way. This morning, I made an attempt to start a conversation, but his phone rang and I lost the little courage I had summonedI fumbled with my purse as we entered the s
YVONNE’S P.O.V My body was something I had long stopped caring for. What was the use, anyway? When my father always made me feel worthless, when Edgar would always talk down to me, and point out my flaws ‘I wish I had a son’ ‘A boy would have been more useful to me’ ‘Are all girl children alway







