7

She flew into the hands of the man waiting for her at the garden. She sobbed quietly into his body. He caressed her hair with one hand and the other hand around her waist holding her tight.

She pulled away from him when she felt calmer.

"Are you now a poet?" Sandra raised her phone and read out the text message he sent to her.

"Sticks and stones are hard on bones

Aimed with angry art,

Words can sting like anything

But silence breaks the heart,

Now that we know what happened,

Can we be together again?"

The man burst into laughter. "Sandra dear, all I did was type and send, your father composed it himself."

Sandra smiled, her eyes glimmering under the moon light. She wiped away a tear that dropped. Her marriage to Bruce had broken her father's heart.

She remembered that night, how could she forget? when she had broken the news of her pregnancy and marriage to Bruce. That was the first time she stood up to her father and she lived to regret it. He removed her from his will, disowned her and cut all ties with her. He would rather not have a child than have one married into the Morgans family.

Her mother wailed and begged for one of them to change their mind, but she was her father's daughter, she was as stubborn and as proud as him. She chose hell over her safe haven.

"Your father misses you," the man murmured as he held her hands "being away from you has been hard on your father."

"I know, it's been hard on me too." She sobbed lightly.

"When he saw those bruises on your body during the talk show, his heart broke."

They walked farther away from the party, hand in hand reminiscing about the past.

"I still have unfinished business here," She broke the silence. "I need time."

"How much time do you need?" he asked tentatively.

"A month." She stopped walking, he stared deeply at her, she aged so much. Someone who didn't know her in the past would not notice, of cause she always looks beautiful. Even now she looked dazzling under the moonlight.

"A month, what can you accomplish under a month? just let i and your father wrap this up."

"I can accomplish quite a lot."

"Sandra....."

"Please allow me finish this myself." She pleaded.

"Fine. How can I be of help?"

She smiled, revenge they say is best served cold but she will serve hers hot and watch Bruce burn.

"I need money...lots of it."

.....,,,,,,,

Bruce rubbed his palms together in amusement as he watched William rush into the garden trying to find him. William began pacing around in despair, his eyes darting around the garden rapidly.

"3...2...1.." Bruce counted down quietly.

"Ah Mr Bruce, just the man I was looking for." William shouted as he hurried over to Bruce's side.

"I see that you found much joy in my little present."

"That..um.." William laughed nervously. "How did you get ahold of these?"

"Oh these?" Bruce brought out the pictures of William kissing and hugging Sandra at the front door. "It doesn't matter." He lighted a cigar and took a strong puff and exhaled it all intentionally on William's face. William coughed.

"I am sorry about the way I spoke earlier."

"You need not worry," Bruce assured him. "As long as you do as you are told."

"I will..I.."

Bruce raised his hand, shutting William up.

"Do not interrupt me," Bruce bristled. "William let's do this the old fashioned way."

"What do you mean?"

"This is so cheesy..Go on your knees and promise to be a good boy."

William felt a deep chill go through him, things were not going well for him. He just came back from America few weeks ago. Then he had no idea who Bruce was, Bruce had approached him when he was at a bar drinking alone.

In the beginning, William paid no attention to Bruce. But when Bruce started talking about upcoming models and actresses and how they would do anything to get fame. William began wondering if he could join in the fun, even if it was just once.

As though reading his mind, Bruce had leaned closer to him and said, "You know I have a lot of connections in this town."

"So...?"

"I can hook you up with one of the girls."

There was such a nice unpretentiousness about him. William found himself giving in to the temptation, agreeing and setting date and time for the hook-up. It was much later when he discovered that the lady was Bruce's wife. If only he had found out earlier, he wouldn't be in this mess.

Bruce watched William go down on his knees.

"And.." he said provisionally.

"I will be a good boy."

Bruce clapped. "That wasn't so hard now was it?" he gave William a light pat on the shoulder. "Let's be good friends." He smirked.

He started walking away when Gabriel ran to him and started whispering in his ear. The smile disappeared from his face, he listened attentively with his eyebrow raised.

"Get me everything you can find on that man." He ordered with a deep frown. "I will kill that damn bitch..."