Wrong Ride, Right Lover

“Stormchase has accepted your request.”A blue cab stopped steadily just outside a lofty and luxurious skyscraper.It was the busiest area in B City and the skyscraper belonging to Marriott International was none other than the city’s landmark. The Jane European-style building had a shiny crystal chandelier within and the wordmark “Marriott International” emitted a majestic aura with its exquisitely vivid lines and patterns. It looked like a palace under the shower of lights.Monique Xander just received a task from Stormchase. Her passenger was supposed to hop in her car there.“Hello, this is your Stormchase driver. My car is blue and my car plate number is A2219. I am already at the Marriott Tower so you can come down now.” Monique Xander smiled lightly, her gentle and clear voice like a silver bell.“Alright.” A deep and magnetic voice like a phantom came through, she felt an unnerving coldness from the other side of the call.Monique Xander shuddered.‘Such a cold voice, I’

Monique Xander usually helped out in a luxurious café during the earlier parts of the day and took over a cab at a car rental center in the afternoon before picking Little Nomi up. Little Nomi would usually sit on the passenger seat and take naps if she was tired. That was how their usual days went, tiring but wholesome.Monique Xander was just about to hop into her cab when she heard someone calling her.“Miss Xander, you’re here.” The loud voice extended the word ‘Miss’ on purpose, which caused passersby to look over.It was a bald 40-year-old man known as Old Xavier.Old Xavier was the car rental center owner’s relative. He would tease her every time he saw her. Monique Xander always avoided him whenever she saw him.However, he was standing right behind her car. There was no way that she could hide this time.Since he was her boss’s relative, she did not want to offend him. Monique Xander replied chirpily, “Yeah.”“Look, you’re a young lady, getting some other jobs can earn

“Grandfather?”Monique Xander’s heart ached, even more, when her grandfather was mentioned. Images were flooding in from her deepest memories and getting clearer.He had been by her side since she could remember. She only got to know about her parents through other people.Her mother, Miranda Xander was a beauty, but she was lazy and an overreacher. She intended to get married to a wealthy man but she ended up having a matrilocal marriage under her father’s match.Her mother had always looked down upon her father and they were constantly fighting. She eventually found another man.They got a divorce and her father left with all the assets following that.Her mother left the country after the divorce and never returned.Monique Xander was still young at the time. She was only two.Her grandfather had been really kind to her, so kind that she thought that it was fine to not have parents, so kind that Yvonne Xander was jealous of her.Her food and clothes were of the best quality

“Hello, this is your Stormchase driver. My car is blue with the car plate number A2219. I am in an alley right beside RK Bar. You can come out now.”Monique Xander could only hear background noises and other people talking from the other side of the call. She ended the call when she was certain that her passenger could hear her.A drunk woman with her hair hanging loose got into her car after a short while.“Retch.” She raised her head and retched twice after she sat down. Monique took a few tissues and turned around to hand them over. She was going to advise her that a young lady should not drink so much.Her words got stuck in her throat the moment she saw the person in the backseat, her hand paused mid-air, trembling. Her fair and delicate cheeks grew even paler.It had been five years since she saw that familiar face. It was no other than her cousin, Yvonne Xander.Yvonne stared at the pretty face in front of her in shock. She even sobered up a little.The dim rays from the

“We’re going to your grand-uncle’s house for a visit later. Mommy bought the bangle as a gift for your grand-aunt since it’s been a while since I last went back.” Monique Xander held Little Nomi’s chubby hand as they walked out of the jewelry store.“Grand-uncle?” Little Nomi’s huge sparkly eyes on her chubby face were filled with curiosity as she looked at Monique. She heard her mother mention him once or twice, but she never met him before.“Yes, your grand-uncle is my uncle. He took me in when I was young and treated me very well.” Monique lowered her gaze to meet Little Nomi’s as she explained with a gentle smile on her pale face.Her heart was filled with warmth when she thought of how kind her uncle was to her when she was young.Little Nomi heaved a sigh with her tiny mouth. If he really treated her well, why did he never visit? Her mother was extremely easy to please.“Grand-uncle was the one who treated you well, why are you giving the bangle to grand-aunt?” Little Nomi w