“That girl is not your problem. Do you think I don’t know how some certain girls can behave out of spite? I do but that’s not my concern. My problem is you went to that hotel and generated a fake invoice and then sent me another altered invoice for the real venue that you had already paid for. My accountant raised a brow at that one immediately because your invoice couldn’t pass authentication. I had to send one of my men to ask questions and boom, the truth became glaring. Hence, I knew the truth even before personally sending both payments to you, Smartass.” “I didn’t mean…” “Keep your mouth shut.” He interrupted her sharply, silencing her again. “You knew what you were doing. To cap it up, I received your annoying stripper madness pictures from Cassandra. I know she did it out of spite but still, it beats me. Can you explain how Cassandra and her friends got so close as to influence your

ZEE DELIBERATELY ELONGATED her bath time for fifteen more minutes before ending her bath and exiting the bathroom in a large blue towel she had found inside the bathroom rack. He was not inside the bathroom as expected and her luggage was nowhere in sight. However, there was a tray of food bearing plates covered with transparent covers sitting upon a bedside table by the bed. A note inside the tray immediately caught her eye, the words written in a familiar cursive writing- Your luggage is in the dressing room. It’s the door right by the bed. M. It was Michael’s handwriting and she knew that the letter M was his initial.  She recognized the writing because he had drawn a time management calendar for her major tasks back at school. He still wrote letter a like the way it mostly appeared in printed books. Her food too was very familiar. It was her favorite-Seafood fried rice. Surprisingly, despite her current pain with everything

AFTER STEPPING ONTO the corridor with her hand still on the door handle, she paused as she heard scurrying feet. It seemed like someone had been rushing off away and down the stairs. “Hello.” She called out but there was silence. She shrugged. Perhaps she had just imagined it. She let her eyes rest on the portraits along the hall. She focused on the black and white one where Michael’s ancestor had carried his bride. The couple had smiles on their faces. Perhaps they had been in love. Who could tell these days? She and Michael had smiled for the camera. She guessed pictures could lie. Hearing footsteps approaching, she turned her attention towards the stairs. A man in his late twenties emerged and stepped onto the corridor. He was wearing a cook’s uniform. She recognized him as one of Michael’s household members. Her eyes caught his shoes. The

MICHAEL FINISHED DRYING them off. Then he had them both covering themselves in fresh dry towels. She wrapped hers around her middle while he wrapped his around his waist, leaving his sinewy chest exposed. He took her hand in his and led her into the bedroom until they were standing right before the bed. “I bought you a wedding night present. It’s what I desired to see on you before I claim you but we both know how things didn’t go as planned. Yet, it seems like I’ll still get to see you in it.” He walked over to the closet attached to the dressing table and retrieved a box wrapped in silver leaf paper. Then he handed it over to her. “I’ll step into the dressing room for a few moments to give you some privacy.” He said, looking down at her. Sometimes, Zee still felt intimidated by his tall, handsome, and fit physique. “Thanks.” She mumbled. “Don’t mention. It’s my pleasure.” He let his eyes scan her from head to toe, the raw desire in his eyes evident

ALTHOUGH HER CHEEK was still hurting from the slap Michael had given her, Zee wiped the tears from her face and proceeded with performing her morning ablutions. In the dressing room, she dressed up in a sleeveless flowered dress and stood before the mirror, holding her hair in a single braid. She could see the faint crimson of her cheek where he had slapped her. She loosened the braid and let her hair down to hide it. Afterward, she ventured downstairs. Zee could not find any of the guards at the foot of the stairs but a door was open around there that revealed a large room with computers and other technical gadgets as well as Michael’s men manning the computers. By the open door was another closed door. She had not noticed both doors before. A few more steps took her to the large living room.