STEPHEN
The glamour that shone from the Brovard Hotel as we approached was stunning. I was overwhelmed with anxiety about the evening. I mean, I had been bombarded with this agenda. I do not even know why I accepted, but here I was in a black SUV that pulled up at the entrance of the hotel. Henry, who was driving stepped out to open the door for me to come out and honestly, I was scared. Scared to ruin the suit, scared to dirty the shoes. This life was way past me and unlike before, I actually minded about everything in my life. It was a lesson I had learnt from my arrogance.
I moved to the other side of the car where I opened the door for Anne to alight too. I held out my hand and contrary to what I thought and unlike always, she took it for support, so I helped her out of the car. She looked into my eyes, the storm of their icy blue depts. Holding my gaze. I froze. I mean, Anne had never done this with me before, but here she was rewriting my entire mental run down and then… she smiled. I melted. How was I supposed to take that in? In spite of the fact that her beauty had already me speechless I couldn't help but notice her always-so-black shiny hair that cascaded down her bare back exposed by the armless midnight blue gown that had a slit which ran to somewhere above midway her thigh blended with silver stilettos that peeped from beneath her gown. The silver earrings down to the necklace that rested on top of her boobs with a snowflake that matched the silver sparkles of her gown. Her beauty was otherworldly.
Closing the door behind her, she looped her arm with my own hitching my breath as we walked down the red carpet. It was really nice how she placed a hand on my chest one of them holding the lapel of my suit. Slowly and cautiously, my hands slid to her waist holding her in place for the red carpet photo. My insides turned feathery as my heart fluttered in joy. I could not really point out why I reacted this way, but I knew at that moment that I would live in this trance for eternity if I could. After everyone had arrived, or so I presumed, the speeches began, then the toasts, talks about using the gala constructively and more boring stuff. I had for so long fallen out of this world that it made no sense to me anymore. I recall only coming to when we had to click our champagne flutes in appreciation of the last speaker and then the mingling began.
Anne made her way to a table in the corner so I followed. Leila really liked cold milk and so did Anne, so I used the same theory and picked some red wine that sparkled in the glass like vengeance…or at least that's what Leila described it as the first time we met. I took a seat after placing the glass in front of her and making sure she didn't mind my presence.
"Is it okay if I talked to you for a bit?" I began. She scanned my face then flicked a hand which I read as a 'go ahead'. "Miss, I have been thinking and failed to come to an answer. May I know why you brought me here?" After what felt like forever, "you can call me Anne. For today." Seriously! Was this lady for real? I had just asked her a question.
"Thank you, miss…sorry, Anne. As I was asking, why am I here?" I tried again. I mean, my curiosity was getting the best of me and yet she only gave me a distant look just before looking back at her glass of wine which she swirled slowly allowing the tension to rise as though to allow me realize a mistake I had made.
"Did you open the envelope?" she finally spoke dodging the question. "Yes, I did and about that, I have been meaning to thank you Anne, but I don't think I need it." I picked it out from my coat and placed it on the table just before sliding it towards her.
"It was for the children and your wife, but I will not debate with you." I heard her say just before waving over a waiter and giving it to him as a tip. I was astonished, but that was until what she said finally hit me. "Did you say 'wife'? I do not have one."
"Who then is she?" she asked as she placed her phone on the table with a picture of us holding hands and Keira and Kayden standing in front of us. Why did she even want to know? Was she…jealous? No, she can't be, you idiot! What makes you think that a lady with such influence has the time to be jealous of your affairs with some other lowlife? My conscience retorted and I must say, it had a point. "That's Harper. She is the one who takes care of my children." She nodded. I smirked. The was still a possibility of her being jealous and the thought of it made me happy. But then, judging from the look on her face, she didn't look the least bit concerned.
Soon we were just there in a comfortable silence or at least for me as I listened to the calm music that played in the background, creating a tranquility that only hid the nasty intentions that flooded the room. At a distance, people took the mingling seriously, the talked, danced and others feasted. Typical of this class of people. Speaking of which, why then was Anne staying away from the people yet this was her class of associates. What made her this way? I pondered this matter till one of them people approached us.
"If it is not the one and only Anne Varline in flesh. Who knew you'd actually attend this gala? Anyway, that doesn't matter. I just couldn't help but notice how much your reputation surpasses you being it that this is the first time I am seeing you. I am Jeremy Stone." He held out a hand to her and like I expected, she did not even look at him. Instead, she stared intensely at her glass as though studying something inside the wine. I couldn't help but snicker earning myself a death glare in return. "I am sorry," I mumbled. "You are of no significance to me, midget," he replied. Such a rude dimwit. "Anyway, Miss Varline I have been looking forward to meeting you and I'll take it to my luck that you are here. I have been meaning to propose an idea that we work together: Lenten Industries and Varline Inc. But then, we could also work out something between you and I in better ways if you…"
"Who the hell do you think you are talking to like that?" I held my tongue a little too late, but then, I could have helped myself either way. This Jeremy guy was shameless and I was not going to let him talk to Anne like that. "Who do you think you are to raise your voice at me?" The argument continued, "I am her…" I soon trailed off stuttering at the realization. Who was I to her? Needless, to say. I was nothing to her; nothing but the guy that threw her tray down, the one that cleans her first class room and the guy that escorted her to the gala. Why did I really care anyway? I sat in silence as I awaited Jeremy's scorn after the venomous laughter he'd been choking on had come to an end.
"What is your name anyway?" Jeremy began and just then Anne place her glass on the table drawing both of our attention to her.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stone." She arose from her seat, anger chills radiating from her. At that point, I was convinced that Anne had lost all hints humanity. That lady was something else. Her bone chilling gaze bore into his soul as she spoke.
"I too have heard about you, though not much. I was hoping to be impressed not ignoring all the disappointment I am currently registering." She stepped away from the table and Jeremy stepped back.
"You wanted to know his name?! I will spell it out for you when the time is right." What did she mean by that? She moved out of the room and just as I made to follow, "where do you think you are going?" Jeremy held me back. "Did you not hear what Anne said to you just now?" I bit back. "Who did you say you are to her again? Oh, you don't need to answer. I already know who you are; her pet." It stung. No matter how much I did not mind being Anne's pet, Jeremy had nailed his point right where it hurt.
Choosing to ignore this big stone in my shoes, I only walked away as he laughed hysterically waging war, but before I could leave, he called out from behind me, "remember, pet, she is mine." My blood boiled and Anne may not have been mine, but for all I knew, she did not deserve a jerk like Jeremy. Out of the hotel, the vast compound welcomed me. Where was I going to begin looking for her from? Stranded on what to do, I walked to the maze garden. There, I roamed carelessly inside the maze and that's when I heard a voice. A song and I could have sworn it was Leila singing. I didn't know when I closed my eyes to listen to that voice that seemed to hold all the pain in the soul of the person. At that point, I couldn't help myself. I couldn't help the dark walls that flashed across my mind. Walls that I had once leaned against. Once when I still had Leila with me. This song reminded me of the times she would sing when she felt she could not go on anymore; the times she wished her life would come to an end. What kind of person had I become then? Thoughts of Leila flooded my mind and I felt streams of tears wet my cheeks as I thought too of what could have been had I not been that kind of person. I wished that from wherever she was, Leila would know how much I had changed just for her. What else did I need to do just to have even the slightest chance to let her know how much I regret my actions each passing day? I heaved a sigh coming back to reality as the silence finally hit me. Why had the person stopped singing? Soon, all I could hear were muffled sounds. Sounds of choking and struggle. I panicked. Anne was in trouble. 'What makes you so sure?' my conscience asked and it had a point. What made me so sure? I thought to drop it, I mean, what if she had called Henry to pick her up? Wait, could she do that? Could she really just abandon me here? I soon began to find my way back out of the maze when my phone lit with a text from Henry. Well, think of the devil. What did he have to say? I opened the message and I had barely read it when a call came through. Henry was calling. What's with this guy? I thought as I answered.
"I am sorry to bother you, Mr. Vendetta, but are you with the lady?" "No, why? is something wrong?"
"No, it's just that I have been trying her phone for the past ten minutes and she has not been picking. The Miss never behaves like this. She always has her phone and leaves a text when she cannot answer a phone call." "Do you mind getting to the point?" I said getting really impatient. What if something had happened to her? I wouldn't forgive myself. 'Whoa down there a bit. Since when do you talk like this? What have you got going on in your head about that lady?' My conscience stepped in again and it was like cold water had been poured on me. Why did I feel this way? I guess it's just because she and Leila have a little in common. I thought as I dashed back into the garden to check and confirm my suspicions having ended the call from Henry. A few rights, more lefts, quite the number of wrong turns and I was standing a rose bush that I could have sworn I was seeing for the sixth time. How was I supposed to get to Anne if I was being this way? I fell to the ground slouching my shoulders as all the drive I had earlier had been driven out. I was deflated and hadn't yet found Anne. Why was I being so unhelpful? Since when was I so inefficient? Was this why she preferred Henry? Henry! The name resounded in my mind making me grit my teeth. He couldn't possibly be better than me, could he? Images of him closing the door to Anne's office behind him with a smirk on his face flashed my mind. Are you sure he smirked that day? Fine, he didn't but for some reason, I felt like he felt victorious having her attention instead of me. I did not like this guy. At that, I stood up filled with more resolve than I had previously and began to move through the garden following my intuition only. Yes, intuition. I had been to Brovard severally before and to this garden specifically many times too. In fact, this was where I got to meet Leila and that is why I was set on letting my gut feeling lead me.
More rights, a few uneventful turns, and finally, I saw her bundled up in a corner of the center of the maze. Was she crying? I began to walk to her while all sorts of second thoughts about what I was doing ran through my mind. She needed help. She really did and that was what I was here for, but now that I was here, what was I supposed to do? Hesitantly, I reduced the distance between us, walking as though I was on molten lava. Suddenly, I realized something was off. Why wasn't she moving? I quickened my pace reaching her in only two strides just to realize that she was unconscious. What was I supposed to do?
Lost on what to do, I held her in my hands thinking about all possible things to do and I had come to nothing so far. Suddenly, she started to struggle as if convulsing. Her eyeballs moved against her lids like they wanted to be let free and yet she didn't. I watched as she held her breath and also as a single tear tore its way down her face. I let out a shaky breath just as I held her close to my chest. After all that was all I could do now that I knew that she was not unconscious. She struggled on for a while then she calmed down. I sighed in relief. I felt her shuffle against me, perhaps she was trying to find a comfortable position.
"What are you doing here?" I stilled. Had Anne spoken or was I now hearing things? My gaze travelled downwards hesitantly till it locked with her own. She was awake. "What are you doing here?" she asked again with so much emotion laced in her voice that it broke my heart. I had never thought that she was capable of such emotions. 'At least this proves that she is capable of love.' My conscience suggested and I brushed the thought away. Now was not the time to be thinking of such. I opened my mouth to answer, but hardly had I began to speak when spasms of – I don't know what – worked through her body. More tears flowed down her cheeks as she quaked more and more. What could it be that shook her like this? I didn't know when a tear of my own streamed its way down my cheek. Why did someone have to go through such a thing? Slowly, we rocked back and forth as I whispered sweet nothings into her ear even when I knew it was not what she needed at that moment. We stayed like that for what felt like hours till she had calmed down.
ANNE
"…Hi, I am Jeremy Stone." He held out a hand for me in greeting then smiled flashing images of him through my mind. Did I know him from somewhere? I saw the thick curtains that clouded my memory and the grim smile that was plastered on his face every time he came to assault me, but this was not going to get the better of me and so I stared into my glass. This was the best I could do. I battled my raging relapses as I watched the two bicker like the kids they were. For some reason, I had had it when Jeremy asked Stephen who he was to me. Why did that matter to him anyway? I placed my glass down in anger winning over their attention. "Nice to meet you, My Stone," I began with my anger howling like a raging storm at the gates of my composure. I stepped away from the table to leave, but felt the need to conclude this bickering first. I had to leave Jeremy with something to think about while I think of something too.
"You wanted to know his name?! I will spell it out for you when the time is right," and with that, I was out of the hotel and walking to wherever my legs carried me since they held a daunting familiarity to the place. Soon, I found myself in a maze garden; at the center of it. As I approached the seat that was in the center of the maze, a melody formed in my mind. It was faint at first, but then as I continued over to the seat, it became louder to a point I could make out the words of the song. It was a slow sad that seemed to hide a world of pain beneath. I had never heard this song before – not that I listened to music anyway – but then something about it was a little too familiar. Trying and failing to ignore what was going on in my mind, I couldn't help but just sing the song in my mind. I must say of course that my voice surprised me. So much that when I heard myself, I kept quiet for a moment to make sure it wasn't someone else singing the same song as I. Just when I thought I had escaped the ringing of that song in my head, it came again and again, and so I sang. Yes, I sang, and at that moment, it felt like the only aspect of this world that understood how I felt. I felt empty. I had been filled with anger and hatred – rage – but at the end of it all, no matter how helpful they were when it came to fueling me, they all left me feeling empty at the end of the day. Honestly, I had soon grown to embrace the emptiness within, but with how I am feeling right now, it was like something had changed. What could have caused me to be like this?
The bench came into view, and my breath hitched. There I saw him sitting, and yes, I turned to leave.
"You do not need to leave," he called out as he stood and walked towards me, holding out a hand in greeting. I took it and there, he brushed a peck on my knuckles carrying me back to the thick curtains where my hands were bound to each side of the headboard. He brushed a peck followed by kisses on my hand, trailing down my arm towards my body. Tears streamed down my face in hot balls of anger as he once again vandalized my already frail body even despite the five-month-old baby bump that stood seemingly in his way. What had I done to deserve this? He tore the clothes off of me, dumping the shreds of it somewhere next to me. He took a hold of my bare bosom, bringing his filthy lips to it.
"I beg of you," I strained my already sore throat, my words coming out in a whisper as waves of agony quaked my body and a slap was whacked across my face rendering all my pleas vain. "What was it I told you about ruining my time with your never ending drama?" my captor asked just before he soon left the bed. I thought he was going to leave probably having lost interest, but what I saw when I lifted my head a little to check. I found him dressing down every bit of clothing just before forcing himself into me as always, my pleas unheard. I could only turn my face away from the assault on my body. Whatever happened, I assured myself that I had to leave this place.
Warmth soon enveloped my body as I noticed another presence. "What are you doing here?" I asked when I opened my eyes to the person holding me that I was yet to recognize. At my question, I felt him still against me just before his eyes locked with my own. I couldn't help but find the obsidian of them beautiful. Even with such a pleasant destruction, I couldn't ignore the shame of my tears washing over me while on the other hand, he only stared blankly at me. Had he not heard what I asked? "What are you doing here?" I asked again with an edge in my voice. This time, I saw his open his mouth to say something, but before I could make out anything he said, images of the thick curtains flashed through my eyes while the sound of his belt as it kissed my skin echoed through my mind. Proof of what these relapses had made of me became visible as spasms of fear subdued my helpless self. This was too much for me to take in. I let the rogue tears run freely down my cheeks as I felt the darkness within pulling me under. Honestly, I wanted to go too. I wanted to give up and be freed from all these memories and relapses and confusion that offered no solace. They had no answers. I shut my eyes tight not wanting to be seen by anyone like this and soon stopped fighting the darkness as I had made up my mind to give up and give in to it. I was going. Suddenly, I felt Stephen pull me closer to himself just before he started rocking me back and forth and when I thought that was it, he started whispering sweet nothings into my ear. What was supposed to be the meaning of that? His actions had taken me up by so much surprise that I had to put a pause to my self-pity.
Willing myself not to contemplate over Stephen's actions, I proceeded to think about my own life. I mean, Stephen wasn't the biggest of my problems for now, or was he? I shook my head to get those thoughts out. Why was I having these flashes? Were they really a part of my memory? Well, if they were apart pf my memory, why didn't I remember them? Why couldn't I place them? All I knew about them were the bits and broken shards of my episodes. How vivid they were also perturbed me. Speaking of which, was the girl in these relapses and nightmares me or was I the cruel captor in my previous life and the karma of it was catching up with me? Okay, that couldn't be possible because the girl's experience directly affects me…but then, I had never been pregnant before, or had I? I shuffles to test my firm belly which I was going to take for a no. so why were things happening to me this way? My thoughts ran wild as the young night slowly grew with Stephen still rocking me in his warmth.
I woke up with a start at the shuffling in the distance; humming, sizzling, and a ding of what I concluded was the toaster. Was it Stephen? I slid out of bed objectively and was immediately hit with a cold breeze that carried the morning tweets of the song birds. I moved to the bathroom to freshen up passing in front of the mirror and stopping to peep like was one of my morning habits. What was I wearing? The eerie color of the shirt I was wearing hit me making me involuntarily scrunch up my face. It was green. Where had it even come from? I proceeded to freshen up readying myself to give Henry a piece of my mind about my colors and how he should fix my wardrobe. I mean, I had recently began seeing clothes of colors that made no sense to me.
"Henry, what did I tell you about…?" I stopped short when I saw Stephen setting the table with a glass of milk, pancakes and waffles. He was doing too much. "Tell me about?" he asked pulling me out of the trance I was falling into. I could only look on in confusion. He chuckled and asked his question again matter-of-factly just before settling his gaze on the shirt in my hands.
"Oh, where did I get this shirt from?" I finally asked. Stephen dropped his gaze to the floor and mumbled an apology. What?! I exclaimed mentally just as the night before filled my mind. Memories of how he enveloped me in his warmth till I was calm, the conversation we had or more like the monologue he had while I listened – it had something to do with his past. I remembered how the night span far before he thought of calling Henry to let him know where we were. After that, there is nothing else, so I looked at him for an explanation and he swallowed hard.
"Honestly, when we reached here, you were deep asleep and Sir Henry and I were at a loss on what to do about your outfit and so I picked up one of my extra shirts that I always kept in the car which we made you wear before I was tasked to undo the dress. I only kept quiet regarding him for a moment. Probably uncomfortable by my lack of a response, "I am sorry again, Anne. Please forgive me." "Don't worry about it," I brushed it away, heading for the dining table just before pausing, turning back and adding, "for now," with a smirk.