They drove in separate cars to the airport. Bruce came in twenty minutes after Claire and her mother had arrived. His excuse was a buisness meeting but he was only avoiding having to stay in a confined space with Claire and her mother. It was bad enough that he would spend hours in a plane with them. Who knew what they would do to him?He nudged himself for thinking such silly thoughts. It was his plane, his captain, air hostesses. He had at the top of the power balance. They could not do anything crazy to him up there. He walked up to the airplane and into it. He saw Claire and her mother already settling in. Claire was taking selfies. Her Instagram feed was beginning to get interesting. She had to thank the almost limitless black card he had given her for that. He walked past them and chose a seat far from them but close enough to see whatever they were up to. He needed a break from all the drama happening in his life. Maybe Beijing was the place to forget these two and just live.
Maria's room never rang since the last time. She wondered why. She had expected to be worked like a mule. But, considering there were less people to attend to and more floors to clean, it made sense they had not ringed her yet. She tossed around her bed impatiently and then stood up from the bed. She walked around left and right. She knew Steele would call soon, asking for information about Bruce. She had nothing to give him. She could not wait here, he could put his threat into action and the identity she had worked so hard to maintain would be destroyed.She stepped out of her room and knocked on the door next to hers. The blonde smiley girl. She was not looking forward to seeing anyone but she had to do this. Just as she had predicted, the girl had opened the door with a wide smile already on her face."Hey Maria. How are you doing?" She asked her and Maria nodded awkwardly."I am alright. I have just been wondering. No one has rang for me in a long while, the last time was just an
"Look at me being a bad host. Would you like anything to drink?" She asked and stood up immediately so she could get whatever Maria requested."Aurora, I live literally next door. You do not have to play beneficial host. Trust me." She said this with a scoff and Aurora smiled. "I will get myself a drink and then we can continue our talk." She left Maria there and went to her little fridge in the corner of her room. She produced a bottle of root beer and opened it with her teeth. Maria was glad to see this side of her. This was the Aurora beneath the cute hair and flawless skin. She took a long swig and set the bottle on a table close to where she was seated."Is there anything else you would like to know?" Aurora asked. Maria nodded as and Aurora opened her hands in acceptance."Be my guest." She said."Where is the young master now? I have not been seeing him around." She hoped she was not sounding like Sherlock Holmes on an investigation. "How would you see him around? You barely
Claire was furious that she had to share this fancy suite with her mother. This place was meant for couples, not mother daughter duos. Her mother did not seem to care. She was the ultimate tourist. This was day two and she already had a bag stuffed with souvenirs. Claire had not seen Bruce in a while nor spent any time with him. It felt like the entire trip had been planned for them to get Bruce to see her again. Really see her. It was backfiring instead. She decided there and then while her mother rambled on about seeing the great wall of China and how magnificent it was.Now that she thought about it, they had different tour guides. Bruce's tour guide was a round, stout red head woman who liked to call Bruce "dear". They had gotten a scrawny college student who was volunteering, he was always chewing gum and pointed at landmarks with his index finger while his face was glued to his phone. The reaction they seemed to get out of him was the one time he had gasped loudly and he followe
Claire woke up earlier than usual this time. She rose from bed and went to clean herself up. She brushed her teeth and hummed a tune while she was in the shower. She was ready for the tour one hour before the time Maggie had mentioned. Her mother groggily lifted her head while she was doing her make-up and stared with a confused look. Claire ignored her. She began to mutter gibberish."Uhm, where you… where are you?" She said with a drowsy voice. Claire shook her head and a smile almost came to her face."Mom, we both know you are not much of a morning person. Unless you are about to be given a stack load of cash or luxury gifts. Go to bed. I will be back soon, okay?" Her mother nodded like a child and laid back down. A slight snore lifted into the atmosphere almost immediately. Claire shook her head and went to put on her shoes. She put on her favourite perfume and body mist and stepped out of their suite feeling confident. Her energy felt alive and bubbly. She even smiled at the do
The entire group stared at the angry man approaching them with a rush. The chanel lady almost went to hide behind Bruce. Bruce held her hand so she would stay put beside him. "Kate, what the fuck are you doing here?" The angry man asked, breathing wildly. He looked ready to throw his energy on someone."I am on a tour of the city, obviously. What are you doing here?" She tried to put some confidence to her wavering voice. Bruce held her firmly beside him."I am not the point here. You take my child and you take my money. You run away and pretend you are on a buisness trip. How long did you think that lie would hold?"Maggie and Claire can not hold the gasp of shock that escape their mouths. Bruce's eyes went wide and he could not help his facial expression. "I did not take your money. She is my child too. Do not act like you have forgotten how I carried her in me for nine months. Go find someone else to hassle." She began to find her courage and removed her hand from Bruce's grip. B
133"Why did you come here? How did you know Maggie?" Bruce interrogated Claire once they had time alone to themselves in The Forbidden City. He wondered what her plan was this time."What do you mean?" Claire asked, trying to pretend she had no idea why he was asking all these questions was the best option she had. She lived on the fake it till you make it principle. "Oh, you know very well what I mean. Stop playing the fool. No one is here to listen in on us." Bruce said this with a voice that sounded like he was speaking through clenched shit. Claire looked at me and ran her hand across his jaw."Loosen up, darling. Someone would think we found some lost jewelry or outrageously expensive artefact here." Claire said and pulled him to a step so they could sit down. He grudgingly followed her and sat with her."So?" He asked impatiently. He had deliberately been avoiding Claire and her mother. He had arranged schedules for both of them and they were never meant to cross paths, if not
Maria could not believe what Hugh Steele had asked her to do. She had thought this was going to be an easy mission. In. Out. And her bag of cash. She already planned out what she had to do when she finished with this. She would take the money, go to a new city with a new identity, find a job and settle down. It was not supposed to be this hard. Steele's voice still rung in her ears like a ring tune."Step 2, Maria. If you fuck this up, you fall alone. I will not pick you up from whatever trouble Bruce puts you in." He had warned her and she already knew this. She knew when he had approached her the first time through his right hand man. The man had warned her that if she chose to do this, she was on her own if everything went south. It was funny to her how they kept using the word "choose". She did not have a choice. Steele made that clear when he showed her the videos in his possession. He had the power to ruin her life permanently. She was supposed to sneak into Bruce's office and
"My Dad? How is that possible? How did he know that I was here?" Jade looked at Bruce, wondering if he had a hand in what was going on. "Did you know he was coming?" She asked Bruce and he shook his head. "Bring him in," Bruce ordered. "Yes, sir." The butler left and he had no time, she returned with J. J. Fulton. Jade gasped when she saw her father. His clothes were faded. His hair and beard were unkempt. He had lost a great deal of weight too. She wondered what was wrong. He had enough money to take care of himself even without working. He could only lack money if he lost everything in a gamble and she knew that her father would never do such. Jade actually expected more from her father. Sure expected him to multiply the money he had. Or, was he this way because he missed her? Jade wondered. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Jade." He turned to Bruce and placed his palms together. "Please forgive me for having a hand in your parents' death. I don't deserve your forgiveness, bu
"She'll be there all her life?" Jade's mouth hung open as Bruce and Archibald broke the news to her. She was packing to leave for Beijing and hence had little time to be at Claire's trial.It's been weeks since Claire got arrested. She was sentenced to stay imprisoned for life."I think she deserves it," Jade added and Bruce nodded in agreement."She threatened to throw her child off a tall building. Of course, she deserves something worse than a life imprisonment," Bruce said."And her mom?""She's going back to her hometown. I gave her some money to take good care of herself. She has her flaws but Claire's mother does not deserve the pain her daughter caused her.""Jade, tell me you're not still thinking of going back to Beijing," Mr. Archibald chipped in. "I thought both of you got married."Jade and Bruce exchanged looks. Mr. Archibald was right. They were once married and have never had a divorce."You can go back first. I'd prepare the divorce papers," Bruce said and Jade nodded
"Sir Archibald-" Bruce's voice trailed off. He was short of words."What is it now? Don't tell me you're not happy to see me."Bruce looked at Jade and then at Mr. Archibald and smiled. "Of course not. I'm very happy to see you."Bruce got out of the chair, rushed to Mr. Archibald, and gave him a hug. "I was scared that I would never get to see you again.""You were scared and you did not bother to call me.""You told me not to. That you wouldn't answer even if I did. I'm sorry."Mr. Archibald smiled. "You're like a son to me. I will always answer whenever you call."Bruce pulled away from the hug and smiled. "I was so dumb not to have realized that much earlier.""And I should not have tried to force you to marry Tricia." He turned to Jade and smiled. "I should have forced you to find Have instead."Jade smiled nervously. "We don't intend to get back together. I'm leaving immediately my work here is done and that is to make sure Bruce gets his properties from Claire.""And, how does
Jade stopped before a hotel."This is where I stay.""Why stay in a hotel when you have a family house?""It's sold.""No, it isn't. I bought it back.""You did?" Jade's face brightened, then it became dull. "Claire now owns all your properties, so it's hers now.""I bought it in your name," Bruce said dryly and got out of the car.Jade beamed. "Thank you."She was here because she wanted to give him his money, but knowing that Bruce still cared made her happy."Then we should go there, instead of staying in the hotel. I'll quickly go to my room and get a few of my things."Bruce got back into the car and Jade got out.She walked into the hotel. After about ten minutes, she came out with a traveling bag and dropped it in her boot.Jade handed out a debit card to Bruce immediately after she got into the car. "It has your five hundred million."Bruce took it from her and mumbled a thank you."What about Mr. Archibald?" Jade asked, breaking the silence that lingered between them as she d
Bruce's eyes flung open. His breathing was back to normal and his heart stopped beating fast. He felt everywhere was brighter too. He guessed right. The door was opened and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion immediately he saw who opened it. "Jade?" "Bruce." She ran to him to check if he was alright, but when she touched him, Bruce slapped her hands away from his body. "What are you doing here?" "If I had not reached here on time, you would have died." "That's what you want, isn't it?" Bruce scoffed. Jade shook her head. "If I wanted that, I would not have risked my life to save you." "Risk your life? I know you're on Claire's side. Stop the pretense. I know you somehow found out that I had a mp3 player that could land Claire in trouble. You told her about it and like you wanted, she was not absent. As a result, the case was dismissed. " "That's not true," Jade said, defending herself. "I was the one who took the audio recording. I asked the old man to give you
"He is your son too. Are you seriously going to kill your son?" Bruce could not believe his ears.Claire scoffed. "He is your son. Not mine. According to the contract I signed, you did not need a mother for your son. You only wanted an heir. You planned on paying me off so I could leave the child I would give birth to with you.""He is your blood. Don't tell me you're this heartless.""You know what poverty is like. You know what being powerless is like and what being powerful is like. So you should understand when I say that I want power and money. I want to teach those who have ever looked down on me a lesson. I want to be able to get what I want whenever I want. I want people to look at me with respect. I want the kind of money you have without being at your mercy.""Claire, don't I give you what you want whenever you ask?""You can wake up one day and decide you don't want our marriage again. What should I do then? I refuse to be at the mercy of a man. I want to have your money. I
It's been two months since Bruce saw Claire. She was nowhere to be found. He involved the police, and his men and searched for her himself but he still could not find her.Finding Claire was the only exciting thing that had happened in the space of two months. He worked from 7 am till 9 pm, then from work, he would go to the bar.Once in a while, his eyes scan the bar for Jade. The night before his first trial was the last night he saw Jade. He never saw Jade again after that day.Bruce looked around his office. The furniture was sleek and modern. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave the office a good view. He placed his hands on the mahogany desk, his eyes on his phone.His phone rang and he picked up the call immediately."Have you found them?""Ava still lives in this city but Naomi has relocated," the caller said and Bruce Ace nodded."Text me Ava's address."The last time he saw them was the day Claire ditched him on their wedding day. He smirked, remembering how they had looked do
Bruce Ace sat on the wooden bench. His eyes moved around searching for any trace of Claire. The courtroom was filled to its brim. The judge was visibly annoyed at everything that was happening.Murmurs filled the air.It's been an hour since the trial should begin but Claire, the plaintiff, was absent.The judge finally raised his court to talk. "The plaintiff seems to be nowhere to be found. In this light, the case is therefore dismissed."Bruce Ace frowned.He was ready for her.He has something to prove his innocence. Something to show that Claire was the guilty one here.Bruce was fixed to his seat. Refusing to get up. If this was the case, everybody would think that he had paid her off to shut her up.They will think he was the cause of her absence. Not like he cared what they thought of him but he wanted to shut her up the lawfully way.He wanted everyone to get a glimpse of what he had to go through because of women.Bruce finally left his seat and headed for the exit. His body
"Claire?"Claire raised her head from her food to see who was calling her. Her eyes flew open."Jade."She frowned."Oh my! How have you been?" Jade asked, joining her at the table. "Where have you been?"Claire raised an eyebrow, wondering if Jade had no idea of the ongoing case between her and Bruce. The news was everywhere. How would she not know?"Are you talking to me?"Jade smiled. "I know we don't have a good past. The issue with my brother and Bruce and stuff like that, but now these people are no longer in our lives, so I think we should be nicer to each other now.""Have you not seen Bruce?""I've seen him." Jade's face fell. "I saw him in a bar yesterday. He only talked to me when he did not know who I was. When he did, he yelled at me and left. He was telling me something about his wife trying to kill him to get his property and that she had sued him for beating her up which is not true. Do you know how he has been?""You don't know who I am?" Claire asked, just to confirm