All Chapters of Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies.: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

53 Chapters

Maternal Debt

CHAPTER 11JORDAN “That new PA of yours...”I kept my head down,and my eyes focused on the computer screen as I typed. “What about her?”Mother didn't immediately respond,but I was already used to her weaponised silence,so I refused to look at her as I waited for a response.“I don't like her.”“Too bad…I'm not firing her.”She scoffed,and her heavy perfume assaulted my senses as she leaned forward. “There's something evil about her…I could sense it. She's probably one of those dirty,bloodsuckers.”I finally looked up, making sure to keep on my mask of irritated indifference as I stared into her dark eyes.“Miss Smith is not a vampire,I'd have known that immediately I saw her.” I knew Maze was something though…a hybrid perhaps?I wondered silently. Or perhaps a siren, that—besides her apparent gorgeousness–would certainly explain the way my blood sang whenever she was around,like an invisible magnet was drawing me towards her.Maybe I could ask her,but what if

Last Updated : 2025-02-19

Seepage

CHAPTER 12MAZIKEEN “Alexa,play Amy Winehouse.”“Playing Amy Winehouse…”I let out a sigh as I fell into one of the couches,just as the intro to Back to Black rang out through the living room.It was a normal Sunday afternoon, I was as bored as ever, Graylin had been in his study all morning, and I had nothing to do.I'd gotten used to the boredom—or so I thought.But that emptiness I started feeling a couple months back,had continued to grow steadily–coupled with the changes I felt and the nightmaresThey'd been random at first, recurring maybe once every month,and usually before the moon got full,and also usually around the time Graylin took his monthly trips.But now,they were more frequent; each one similar to the last,and always ending with me being chased by a large,black, wolfish creature.I prepared to instruct Alexa again just as the song came to an end,but Rehab by Amy quickly started,and I paused to ascertain if I liked it enough.The buzzing phone beside

Last Updated : 2025-02-21

Carmen's Leverage

CHAPTER 13JORDAN I muttered a curse under my breath as my twentieth call went unanswered.My mother was by no means a bluffer,but she'd never actively tried to keep me away from my baby sister–she’d always threatened to,but…I bolted up from the couch as I began to pace around the room.It was almost 9 PM and I'd started the call marathon at exactly 7.But here I was,worried about two different women; Maze.She'd suddenly stopped responding to my texts and although I'd been tempted to call her–or even drive over to her house,I didn't.Tomorrow though,if she wasn't at work,no force would be strong enough to stop me from driving over to Graylin's house,even if it meant having a physical confrontation with him because of it.I raised my phone and dialed mom's number again,this time the call was answered on the third ring and I clutched my phone tighter as I heard my mother's voice in the background.“Jordan!!” Anastasia cheered,her tiny voice filled with excitem

Last Updated : 2025-02-24

A Glimpse Of Animosity.

CHAPTER 14MAZIKEEN. The nightmares were getting worse.They were to a point where I could barely get in four hours of sleep each night—a sign that the moon would soon be full,which meant a few days without Graylin.I smiled as I tapped on the screen of the iPad, setting up the rest of Jordan's schedules.Graylin's absence would give me an opportunity to finally hang out with Lin.I’d continued to give her excuses about my constant refusal,and one time during the past week,she asked me whether my fiancé had anything to do with my reluctance.And of course I told her no.It was Thursday and Jordan was in a conference meeting with some of the company's brokers when my phone dinged with a message notification from Linda.I quickly swiped away from the website I'd been stalking Jordan on and clicked open her text.“Your fiancé is here!”My heart pounded in my ears as another message came in.“I don't like him, perhaps it's ‘cos of the hostility between him and th

Last Updated : 2025-02-24

Owned

CHAPTER 15JORDAN “Yeah…it was just a silly lie.”Her easy admission undid me more than I wanted,and before I could stop myself, I'd already reached down to grasp her hand.“Why?”Maze shrugged. “I…it just happened,I didn't know what else to do.”“You didn't have to lie for him,he's not a kid.” I told her and she looked away,the pulse in her neck beating erratically.“Is this something you always do?”“What? Lie to protect the man I love with all my heart?”My chest tightened painfully at her response,of course she loved him. Why else would she be wearing his ring?But did he feel the same way about her though? Did she know who he truly was? Why'd Graylin want to marry a girl who…I wasn't sure what she was. Human? She didn't seem like it,but…“Contrary to what you might be thinking,” Maze's voice cut through my inner monologue, “this isn't usually a regular occurrence.”“Are you afraid of him?” I asked and she paled slightly,her lips curling up in a d

Last Updated : 2025-02-26

A truth tease

CHAPTER 16.MAZIKEEN. “Lunch time,Miss Smith.” Jordan called as he exited his office that afternoon.“Yeah,but not for you,” I replied with a small smile. “You have a meeting with your attorneys by twelve sharp,and that's in—” I glanced at my watch, smothering a smile at his irritated frown,“---three minutes.”“Reschedule it, we're having lunch together.”I hid another smile as I shook my head. “I already have plans with Linda, we're eating at the cafeteria…oh and I'm not rescheduling your meeting.”“I'm your boss,” he stated and a chuckle escaped me as I arranged the files on my desk and shut my laptop before standing.“True,but you pay me to make you do things…”“That's not what I pay you for.”“...you don't wanna do,” I added, ignoring his interruption as I walked around the desk, unable to stop my legs from moving towards him.“I already rescheduled this meeting three times.”“I don't care, do it again.”“No.”His eyes narrowed and the air hummed with th

Last Updated : 2025-02-26

Slipping...

CHAPTER 17MAZIKEEN. “I…I do understand you, but then…”“But then what?!”Again,I felt the gazes directed at us,and I adjusted in my seat as I pushed the half eaten salad away and leaned closer.“Lower your voice,Lin.”She seemed to suddenly understand that we weren't alone,casting a look around the filled cafeteria before focusing on me again.“You need to leave him.”“I don't know whether to laugh at that or not,” I replied,my tone drier than I intended. “We're getting married in two months, invitations are getting sent out next week,I can't just cancel everything.”“Yes you can.” She insisted in a calm but firm voice. “You should, please…he's a,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “he's most likely a pedophile.”“No he's not.” I retorted hotly and she slapped a hand against her forehead, frustration oozing from her like a slowly leaking balloon.I could smell it, almost reach out and touch it as it stretched thickly between us.“You know what?” I began wit

Last Updated : 2025-02-26

A taste of heaven

CHAPTER 18JORDAN. I waited until the cafeteria had cleared out before turning to face Maryann.“What is this?”“Why don't you ask your little assistant?”Something in my expression must have told her that now wasn't the time for flippancy, because she quickly straightened and cleared her throat as she gestured towards Maze.“She and the secretary lady were being overly loud and I thought to warn them…but they got violent instead.”“The secretary lady,has a name—use it.”Maryann nodded,and I glanced at Maze’s stiff back. She hadn't turned to look at me, and I imagined it was because she didn't want me to see the tears that were probably shining in her eyes.“Someone… just sent me a video of the whole thing,” I began,my gaze back on Maryann. “I had to leave a meeting early because of it,why would you act so unprofessionally?”Maryann shifted,“sir…I…I didn't mean to cause a scene.”“But you did.”Her nostrils pinched and her face turned a dull shade of red as she

Last Updated : 2025-02-27

An almost escape

CHAPTER 19 MAZIKEEN “Wrong?” Jordan scoffed. “It was beautiful between us. You felt it too.” “I'm not talking about…how it felt.” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat as I leaned down to pick up my discarded scrunchie. No man had ever kissed me like that before,not that I'd kissed many. Graylin was the only one I'd ever been with and yet,none of his kisses had ever felt like this—so good it made me want to cry. “Then what do you mean then?” “This?” I waved between us. “It shouldn't exist. I'm about to get married and you…I heard something like this was why your last PA lost her job. Let's not make history repeat itself.” Jordan frowned,his face so beautifully pinched,I wanted to reach up and smooth out the confused crease in the middle of his brows. But instead I pulled my hair up in a bun and moved past him,towards the table I'd sat with Lin and picked up my phone. He followed after me,the rapid staccato of his shoes against the floor, matching the beat of my stu

Last Updated : 2025-02-27

First Easy Step.

CHAPTER 20MAZIKEEN. “Gran's in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's.” Linda explained as she led me down a silent hallway, with the walls lined with family photos and vibrant artworks.“It's my brother's turn to be with her today but he's running a bit late.”I gave her the most understanding smile I could muster as I nodded. “How long has it been since she was diagnosed?”“About four years.”We stopped in front of a door and she hesitated,casting me a slightly worried look.“My nan can be a bit too– forward with her words. She doesn't remember much,but her mouth’s as sharp as a ninja's saber.”I shrugged, chuckling.“I've survived worse.”I saw Linda's expression fall at my response and I knew we'd be talking about a lot,later.Slowly,she pushed the door open and stepped in, holding it open for me to follow after her.Soft golden light spilled from the open curtains into the room,casting a warm glow on the plush carpet as I quickly took in the figure sitting on a swi

Last Updated : 2025-02-27

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