Seven
1758 Words
Fiona laid on the large expanse of her bed gazing blankly at the ceiling of her room. Her blue eyes tracing the outlines of the white surface and gliding over to the light bulbs on the walls above the wooden door. She looked away and picked something from her side on the bed then raised it to her face.
It was a few photographs of Mason and Ciara doing their daily duties outdoors, from hanging out together with their child to other things. She traced the pad of her fingers across the face of Mason who was about to get into his car at his work place. She let a crooked smile appear on her face before frowning.
"It's so bad how much you tossed me away, Mason. This dream you're living now, belongs to both of us and not with that tramp called Ciara. Lex should be ours not hers," she whispered and clenched the photos in her hand so tight that her knuckles were turning a bit white.
Fiona sat up on the bed and threw the pictures away with a shrill. She gripped the front of her hair and began to weep.
"How easy was it for you to replace me?!" She yelled at the top her lungs and got off the bed then knocked the bedside lamp off the table. "Why did you hurt me like this?! You could have just let everything slide. It was just one mistake... But, you made everything worst for you and your tramp when you killed my brother."
Fiona clenched her fists by her sides and glared hard at an object ahead of her. Her eyes narrowed and chest moving up and down in fury. Her fumes, were interrupted when her phone rang and she hurriedly picked it up and answered.
"Yes?" She said then paused. "Oh, it's you." She laughed momentarily. "You know, it still marvels me how you managed to fool them. The best award goes to you for acting so well. You are simply amazing. The way you manipulate them is so-Oh okay. I had to say it. What did you call me for?"
Fiona walked around the room while her caller spoke to her until she stopped in front of the window of her room and smiled.
"You think it's time I show myself to them, right?" Fiona asked and smirked. "Okay. I've been waiting for this moment."
The call ended and the dark haired woman put down the phone to her side. And gave out a hearty laughter before twirling around, her shoulder length hair moving to the movement.
•••
Ciara smiled down at Lex and made faces at the giggled child before pulling out his baby stroller from the trunk of her car and expanding it to its proper form then jogged to the backseat where Lex lay in his seat. She unfastened the straps across his body and carried him out and into the stroller where he began to bounce.
"Calm down, buddy. I know, we're going to see daddy," she said and shut the doors after picking up his baby bag then locked them. She walked back to Lex and tucked him in nicely then gasped. "My phone."
Ciara stood straight and spun around, only to come face to face with someone she was never expecting to see soon and on reflex, her fist connected with the nose of the former lover of her fiancé. She moved back immediately while rubbing her hand with the other.
Ciara watched with furrowed brows and rushed over to her son protectively while the woman was bent over and groaning in pain.
"What are you doing out of prison?" She asked in distaste while watching her closely until she stood up straight and touched her red nose tentatively.
"Wow, I really deserve this," Fiona said and chuckled. "And to answer your question, I was granted parole after a lot of proving that I can be on good conduct. You don't have to be scared."
Ciara scoffed. "You expect me to believe you, Fiona. And why is it so coincidentally that you show up when we finally begin to face threats here and there. Just what do you take us for?"
After Ciara had asked her question, she observed a flashing expression on her face but was covered with a blank look.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ciara. I swear, I have been out of prison for a week now and I was just thinking maybe I need to see any of you to prove just how sorry I am for ever hurting you. It even sickens me that I almost killed you when you were carrying a child."
Ciara hissed. "That's a lie, you wench. You couldn't care less for Jerome's baby in you when you aborted it and you think I will believe this rubbish you utter?"
Fiona frowned. "Listen, I know I wasn't in the right frame of mind and I am really being sincere when I say I am sorry for what I did. Prison has changed me."
"It's been only a year in there and hell, it takes stronger criminals like you almost half of their lives there to change and you expect us to hug you and give you rainbow cakes?" Ciara spewed and turned in the direction of the handle of Lex's stroller.
The woman with a hard look on her face, pushed her son towards Fiona and paused beside her.
"You better get out of our lives like you easily walked in before things gets out of hand, Fiona," she whispered through gritted teeth then walked away quickly.
•••
"You can't be serious, Ciara," Mason said with a hard look on his face and a glint of vexation in his blue eyes.
"This is all too soon for someone of her nature to just get out of prison," Elizabeth said with a thoughtful look on her face. "Unless, whoever helped her get a parole is of great status and influence. Her crimes were too much, though she didn't kill anyone but she can't be granted parole so easily."
Mason bit the nail of his thumb while rubbing his forehead. He dropped his hand and flickered his gaze to Ciara who was rocking Lex who was unusually quiet and he wouldn't be surprised if his son was slightly uncomfortable after meeting the woman he dated before his mother.
"I just want to protect my family," Mason said while his gaze lingered on Ciara and his son. "I don't want any toxicity in my life and I just want to get married to the woman I love and nurture my son in the best way a father can."
"And I'm sure you'll do that," Harry supported and placed his hand on his shoulder. "We should not give Fiona any reason to make her pry too much."
Elizabeth rubbed her temples and sighed heavily through her lips then looked at everyone of her friends. She made eye contact with Ciara who had been quiet after she had explained everything to them and offered her a sympathetic smile.
"Have you been able to contact Jack Deon about the threat to his branch here in Birmingham?" Ciara finally asked and they fell silent for a moment.
"I did as soon as possible but I have to see him face to face, that's why I will be going to see him in New Jersey, where he's currently having a business meeting," Mason replied which got Ciara frowning.
"Is that even necessary?" Ciara asked.
"Yes, Ciara. We need to know our next step into this threat and who knows, it might just be from a competition and not a personal threat," Harry replied and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
Ciara sighed. "If you go then, when will you be back?"
Mason stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked over to Ciara. He took one hand out and ran his fingers along her cheek while staring down at her in her sitting posture. He gave her a sideways smile when she looked up at him with worry in her green eyes.
"I'll be back as soon as possible, baby. I know this is the first time I'm traveling for a business meeting but I'll be back once we've resolved everything," he said and leaned over her face then kissed her forehead.
"I'm just having a bad feeling about this to be honest," Elizabeth spoke up and adjusted her glasses then swallowed.
"You always say a lot of negative things," Harry said and shot her an indignant look.
"Don't worry, I won't really be alone. Elizabeth and my personal assistant, Twinkle will follow me," Mason stated much to Ciara's displeasure at the mention of the young woman working for Mason. "Now now, my love. Is that jealousy I see?"
Ciara pouted and glanced down at Lex who was now asleep in her arms in embarrassment. She flinched when he crouched down in front of her, held her cheeks in his large hands and captured her lips in a short yet passion filled kiss.
"Does this tell you that you're the one for me alone?" Mason whispered against her lips then smiled.
Ciara chuckled. "You don't have to prove anything to me."
"Aww and gag," Harry said with added effect of putting his index finger into his mouth.
"Yeah, take your love into your bedroom. Yuck," Elizabeth stated and smiled a little.
"I hate two of you," Ciara said.
"You don't hate them as much as I do," Mason added with a scowl.
•••
Jerome gazed down at his work tablet for a moment before someone knocked on his door, he hummed and the door opened, revealing his secretary who let herself into the airy office with a blank look on her caramel face.
"Sir, someone's here to see you."
"And who is that, Vera?" He asked curiously with raised brows. "I'm not expecting anyone until after lunch."
"Sir, she says it's urgent," Vera said and stuffed one hand into the pocket of her work pants. "Should I let her in?"
Jerome stared at the woman for a thoughtful moment and realized that she looked tired and maybe needed to eat her lunch, so he nodded and didn't miss the look of relief on her round face. He chuckled.
The door closed after Vera had left which got him to resume his attention back on the tablet until the door was knocked again and Vera stepped in and motioned for whoever it was to walk in and as soon as he raised his head to stare fully, his eyes clashed with familiar blue ones and a beaming smile.
He dropped his tablet.
"Hello, old friend. Mind if I sit?" Fiona asked with a smirk aligned on her lipstick coated lips.
- Writer
