LOGINAmelex was forty minutes by normal driving but Damien made it twenty-six.The waiting area outside the ICU wing was filled with people who had their own problems and were waiting for the news that would decide their fate…it had a gloomy vibe, sickening and depressing. Mrs. Sterling was in the chair nearest to the corridor, her handbag on her lap and her hands folded over it like she was trying to control her nerves. April was beside her with her mother's hand in both of hers, and the look on April's face showed how frightened she was although she's trying not to show it. Lauren was there and Victor beside her, so close as he tried to calm her nerves too. She happened to have gone with Victor to go see Ava's parents when the health issue came up which is why they were able to get to the hospital on time. Ava rushed into the building not noticing Damien was still behind, her mother immediately stood up and rushed to hug her as she cried. Ava patted her, trying to calm herself, her mo
The Cole's were in a grocery store. Damien had suggested it earlier, surprising Ava because the house staff was in charge of that. "Come with me to the store," he had said, when Ava was mid-way through a sketch at the dining table, she's on a break but it didn't stop her from getting inspiration."The store," she repeated like it was a foreign language. "Yeah, for groceries." He added and she looked up wondering why someone that has a full household staff and had likely not purchased his own groceries in years, wanted to go grocery shopping.She placed her pencil down, “why?”"You said last week that the kitchen was out of the particular type of olive oil you use." He had explained "But…I said that to the housekeeper.""Well, I was in the room. Come let's go get it" he stood up while she had looked at him for a moment before she stood up and went with him. —The store was large, well-lit and filled with lots of eye-catching things. Ava pushed the trolley while Damien walked beside
Damien took Lucas from her, steadying him by the arm. Lucas went with him without much protest since he was dozing off, though he turned back once to look at April with that same softened expression.She looked away, while Damien's personal driver appeared beside her and held out his hand. She blinked in confusion."Lucas's keys," Damien said over his shoulder. "Check his jacket, they should be in his pocket."April reached into the jacket Lucas had left hanging over the wall and found the keys. She handed them to the driver, who nodded and walked toward the car park.She watched Damien fold Lucas into the passenger seat and watched the door close. She stood on the pavement with her bag still on her shoulders as she watched Damien's car pull out and disappear down the road.The car park was quiet as she stood there for a moment. But then she noticed Damien’s driver beside her, she almost screamed in fear.“I'm sorry, Mr Cole asked me to take you home”he explained and she calmed down
The week ran down till it was Thursday. Maya, one of April's colleague who did the evening shift Tuesday to Friday, sent a message to the staff group at half past two saying she had food poisoning and needed someone to cover for her. The group chat was quiet but there were several read receipts and then one by one, the people who were on shift stated they couldn't extend since they had other things to do. April read the message too, she looked at the time and at the message again. Maya was supposed to continue from where she stopped as the evening shift ran from five until close and she had already done her full day but no one was stepping up to replace Maya and even though she's tired and had plans of going home to help her mom with dinner, hang out with her dad and also sleep at a reasonable hour, she had to help Maya out. She looked at the message a third time.She typed: [Don't worry, I'll cover for you]Maya typed, “Thank you so much, April. I owe you one”The manager also sen
More days passed and April was getting used to the way things went. The lunch crowd at Soleil arrives all at once, with no warning and zero patience.By half past twelve, every table in April's section was full and the counter had a line that curved towards the door. She moved through it, her notepad in hand and a smile planted on her face. Her body felt like it was on autopilot while her mind ran the checklist, “Table four needed a refill…table seven had been waiting eleven minutes for their order”she noted“Ooh, the gentleman at the counter wanted to know if the kitchen could do something without pepper” she knew the answer was no but she needed to still go and ask. She liked this and that was still the surprising part. She found that the movement of it suited her…the way there was always something to do and it left no space for her thinking of unnecessary things.Her phone buzzed in her apron pocket but she couldn't check it, not during the rush. It took a week before she learnt
The dining room of the Cole's was always too large for two people. It had been built for gatherings, for the kind of family dinners that filled all twelve seats and required the staff to move between courses in an organised, soundless choreography that large houses demanded. But now it was Jonathan and Marie, at opposite ends of the long table, with the space between them and the clink of cutlery the only sounds being made.Marie had something bothering her, Jonathan noticed so he asked as she refilled her wine. "Amber called," she said.Jonathan didn't look up from his plate yet. "What did she want?""To talk," Marie said. "But she sounded calm.""Good.""She has been calm for weeks," Marie said. "Even with Adrian out of the country." She set the glass down. "It's unusual."Jonathan looked up, but not because the information surprised him, he was just accessing whether the information was worth his attention. "Damien is the calm one, but…Maybe Amber has decided to change? There's
The television flickered softly as news anchors spoke rapidly…“…a shocking turn of events…”“…Damien Cole announces engagement…”“…to a married woman…”Mr. Sterling laid on the hospital bed as he stared at the screen. His face was pale with worry. Beside him, a well-dressed doctor adjusted his dri
Days later, A big wide hall was getting decorated…The hall shimmered with wealth, crystal chandeliers hung like falling stars, Golden lights reflected off polished marble floors and every table was dressed in silk and glass.The hall stinked with luxury, power, and control.Reporters filled the ent
The day was slowly coming to an end as the sun was beginning to set. Ava stepped out of the fashion house, looking tired as she yawned but stopped.Because someone was waiting, leaning casually against a car. It was Livia.A slow smile spread across her lips.“Well… look who it is.”Ava didn’t react
Damien stepped into Obsidian Lounge. His expression was unimpressed. His eyes scanned the space once and found him.Lucas.At the center of it all, surrounded by women. He was laughing, drinking and being too loud. Damien sighed, regret already settling in, he walked over.The moment Lucas saw him,







