DARLENEDinner on the rosewood dining table was frosty, and it wasn't just because we'd been holding back on the cooker for the electricity bill.It had more to do with Stella's attitude, the way she was stabbing at the cold chicken sandwich with the bread knife would have sent a medieval knight running for the hills."I've just about had it with you Ella, what is with the attitude today?" Mum barked, slapping her knotted hands down on the table so hard Dad's sandwich rattled in his white ceramic plate."Oh I dunno, maybe it's the fact that my parents think it's okay to sell off their fucking daughter to some drug lord for a fat check!""Language!" I hissed reflexively, just as a huge wallop of smoke left Mum's ears as she pushed back in her seat."Now now, no one's selling anyone off pumpkin, Darlene's doing what's best for the family-" Dad's easy voice soothed before Stella cut him off again as I glanced between the two of them, the sandwich frozen half way to my mouth.Shit, this i

"So this is the day." Ironic because one thing I thought I would never have to do in my life is sit in front of the mirror to have some cheesey soliloquy go on between me and my reflection. Truth be told, I never thought that there would be a day that I would be putting on a wedding dress for a man whom I have spoken to, just one or two times. I guess that some things happened beyond our control. Sometimes, you get to see yourself doing and being the very things that you would have last expected from or for yourself. Like me. Ordinary girl like me, getting married to a man as rich, affluent and influencial as Alexander Mckenzie. An ordinary girl like me looking this beautiful on my own wedding day. "Wow," I spoke again, surprising myself with yet another word of soliloquy. I couldn't help, but stare at the mirror and admire all there was to admire about myself. Truly, I had never looked this beautiful before. I had never had so much preparation and work done on me by people who

When I was seven, I had a homework partner for the very first time. It was a middle school science project that the school was hosting to show off kids like me to the public. So, because of this, we were told that we were going to have to present our science project to a number of people, and explain what he did to get out works the way they were.I hated public speaking.I hated public anything.So, to say that I was shaking in my boots was the least. I was scared stiff. I was so nervous that I had occasionally burst into untriggered tears, many times that I couldn't count.I had grown to be more social and bubbly in nature as I started to join my father in the bakery and I guess I could say that Life gave me no choice. Somehow, I needed to be his selling point, and my bright personality was what always moved people to want to come over to visit the bakery.Some people came to Dad's bakery just to see me smile. Mum had always told me that my smile was going to do many many good thing

The workers and staff at Alexander Mckenzie's mansion were the most warm hearted people I had ever met.It was easy to tell that the man treated them with so much respect and it told with how much they paid their service to him and now, me with smiles on their faces and a warmness in their tone of voice."You're so beautiful," One of the women had said to me for about the hundredth time that evening and even though I was so exhausted, my smile came naturally and my eyes reciprocated appreciation.And really, I was so exhausted.People always told fancy stories about how their Wedding Night was going to be and how magical it was going to be for them and their significant others, but no one ever really talked about how much all you would really want to do is come back and slouch on the bed to doze off into a very deep sleep.As much as I would have loved to envision and daydream what a perfect wedding night would be like for me and Alexander…I thought more about sleep right now.But st

Can I kiss you?" Darlene's pretty eyes flustered before me, the glow in them brightening more than ever, and God knows she was the prettiest thing my eyes had ever seen that way.Her skin, under the sunlight, was as white as snow, and the golden hue cast a fine shadow upon it. She looked like milk. Very beautiful, very dainty, the most gorgeous thing ever. And the sexiest too.No woman had ever been so bold enough to make the first move before me.So, having her ask to kiss me, excited a nerve deep within me and at that moment, the things I wanted to do to her—"Afternoon, Mr an Mrs Mckenzie."We were interrupted by a new voice, and on cue, Darelene and I had our heads turning to the woman in front of us.Instantly, I was able to tell that it was one of the Picnic staffs. The plain white shirt and blue trousers she had on— which I was certain was their uniform— was right in front of our faces, struggling with that bright grin on her tab face, for attention."Afternoon," Darelene wa