Rexford's POV

Nothing is as frustrating and annoying like someone scrutinizing a contract they're going to sign in the end.

Like man, go ahead and sign the fucking papers and lemme get the hell out of here! It's okay in our line of business to be extra careful when going into contracts and agreement, I get it.

But when your lawyer has read it thoroughly and found no faults, I don't see the need in going over again.

And in doing so wasting someone's time.

Pulling the hand of my shirt up a little, I checked the time on my Dolce and Gabana watch and realized I'll be very late amd miss a very very important meeting if he doesn't sign anytime soon, the soon being seconds from now.

My hand reached for the glass of wine we discussed the clauses of the contract over and brought it to my lips, gulping half of the content down in frustration then loosened my tie with the other hand, I looked around impassively.

Although deep down I wanted badly to punch that fake macho prick right here, who's behaving as if he's lending us the whole world, in the fucking face for being so arrogant.

To think of it, why the hell is mother transacting business with him, when she can get dad or anybody else to fund her pipe line project? Why does it have to be him?

I only realized I had slammed the glass to hard on the table, in my pissed off daze, when red liquid splurted on my hand.

Marco Tuscany flickered his gaze to me briefly then my now stained hand before looking down again, puffing on a cigar. "Someone seems to be rather impatient." He commented, eyes glued on the damn papers before him. "I'd advise him to hold his horses.

"Coming from someone like you, I'm quite surprised." I said, wiping my hand with a tissue, "time is what we business men don't have and from your years of experience, I'm sure you know time is money, like they say." I chose to ignore his first words and comment on the last.

"Young boys always are in a rush." He said again, shaking his head and looked at me, "I'd rather waste time than lose millions of bucks because of a tiny error I ignored while doing business, Rexford."

I've never hated the way someone pronounced my name ever than right now and that Italian accent added is mood souring.

I glanced at the watch again, it was way past visiting hours which only means, I'd have to wait for another time after I get back.

"Being too careful is one thing but trying to be stupid and annoying is another, I believe you know this as well?" My bad mood right now has skyrocketed, I jabbed him, wiping my thumb on my lower lip.

"Mind your words boy. Your mother wouldn't be too happy to hear of this." He warned in that same tone he uses to scare people, too bad it had no effect on me like he wanted.

"True," I chuckled, he's talking as if I don't know my own mother.  I had to agree with him on that. I very well know mother will skin me alive if this deal goes down the drain because of me but I won't let this opportunity pass me by. Not everyone is like the masses who will even kiss his feet just for his money. After all he isn't the richest in New York, I can anytime find someone better and more respected by all and sundry for mother.

"But you shouldn't forget she won't appreciate you wasting my time when there are more important things that I need to take care of." I declared with an arrogant smirk, cutting eyes at him.

Marco looked like what I said was the most boring thing ever till he switched to being arrogant as always. "Nothing can be ever important than my money, even your mother knows this that's why she came to me."

He made me want to throw on his face my glass of wine then spit at him with the way he just elevated himself pompously above everyone else, it's sickening.

As if keeping me here long wasn't enough to send me seething, his haughtiness is beginning to get irritating, almost sending me on a murdering spree, no lie.

"Funny how you keep talking about money when you aren't even the richest." I was quick to throw that one thing this man is known to hate : questioning his position at the apex of the wealthy people list in New York.

Marco is a well know wealthy man here, no lie, I must give him that. He's respected because of the fear he instills in people and that's beginning to make him think he rules over New York.

So he can do whatever he wishes anytime, anywhere and to anyone with out a care in the world. After all they are in for my money, if that isn't his slogan, I don't know what else it is.

Money my foot, this man doesn't own even half of what Andre Archambeau and his family own in the whole of Manhattan, talk less the other boroughs of this state or half of Michele's net worth, being the second richest here, yet he keeps running his mouth endlessly about his non existent money.

Like fuck off!

"I don't see anyone being the richest apart from myself, in the whole state."

"You don't need to look any further, just take a look around you and there! You have your answer."

I saw he was about to say something but then his lawyer, a criminal lawyer as he is, held him from leaning in and spitting whatever comeback he had. "This is leading to something that will result in a scandal and that is what we can't risk to have another this month." He reasoned and I smirked, almost laughing.

He be looking for scandal all the time, another habit of his which keeps drilling holes in his pocket.

Touching my temple, I shook my head, when will the human race ever learn?

It took five minutes of reasoning and another for signing and I was out through the door of the hotel restaurant with a file of a closed deal in hand.

It didn't come easy but I managed to have that bastard sign it. That alone was enough to sprinkle a smile on my face, on the brighter side, this is the last time I'm ever going to see his face after a week of tossing me about like a coin.

I juggled the file and my car keys as I approached the parking lot with a smile which dropped when I remembered Imogen.

Damn that prick! I was supposed to visit her at the rehabilitation center before my flight to Manchester this evening. That branch of our company which is headed by Uncle George is currently undergoing financial crises and I've been asked by dad to head there and salvage the sistuation before it collapses.

Seeing as the situation is right now, it's six o'clock and I gotta head back home and prepare my suitcase ahead of my flight which leaves in an hour time.

I guess I'd have to visit her some other time when I get back, for now imma have to make do with video calling her all the time to check up on her progress so far while I'm aware.

Hopefully, she will recover quicker than the last time and have her with me, I miss her so much and every single day, I wish things were much different than they are now.

If time would revolt back to those days things begun, I wish Imogen never took mother's advised and reasoned with her own brains and stuck by Michele's side.

She would have been a lot happier in life and wouldn't take to drugs to escape her fucked up life. Instead, she would have been married to him and prolly with kids to grace their union, living happily ever like the princess she is.

To the world she isn't but to me she is. I'm are of her faults, Imogen is no saint. Actually she's a devilish vixen with a rough past who's now broken.

Unlike me who had sunk below to the point of no redemption, Imogen picks herself up and strives to be better than her current state.

Sometimes I envy her, I wish I could too and put my past behind me, moving forward and living a new life.

But I can't, I don't know my past keeps reminding me. There's never a single day I go to bed without thinking of the gravest mistake and injustice I metered out on an innocent woman.

One will think I'm sane because I have a smile on my face every day as I live my best life. Little do people know the emotionally and mentally disturbed person I am.

I sighed, looking around to see everyone moving but not me. Then it hit me, I stopped in my tracks as I thought about my messy life, yeah life do be like that sometimes, you'd start behaving weird.

Two cars away from me getting to mine, I was met with unforgettable past and trump card to a future of peace and happiness, Adelheid Bernburg.

Every breath was knocked out of me as I just watched her come my way, flung on both sides by my adopted sister, Monae and Mrs Steele.

For how long I don't know, our gaze met and inside those hazel eyes, I saw the same old things that have been the reason for my life now--hurt and betrayal.

Lost in her eyes, I was sent into retrospection. I felt transported to that night.

That ugly night I did the worst thing no despicable person could do. Suddenly it was just Adel and I, she was lying in her own pool of blood, clutching her stomach and shouting for help.

I only stood there and watched as she cried out, not making any attempt to help her even though I knew there was something wrong just not with her but the baby as well.

No, not the baby... Our baby.

I killed my own son, my own flesh and blood in a fist of anger and revenge. I sent my female friends to attack, beat her and make her feel what my sister felt that night when her brother hurt her as well.

That was what I thought cause I only saw the half truth. And the same half truth, I've realized is more dangerous, I stood by that and watched my baby gradually die and Heidi glancing my way with these same look in her eyes---

I took a step back as I zoned back to reality. You can call me callous, heartless and any name you want because I am that to those who know about this.

In fact I admit I am but after all, I am human. I still have a heart and I can swear I haven't been the same again since that night.

I only party endlessly to try and forget the images and cries of a baby that haunt me every fucking night!

Heidi in a flash looked away and I could have sworn I saw tears gathered in her eyes.

And that broke me, "Adel." I called softly,before I could stop myself from using my pet name for her,  my voice came out as a breath. I was only a tear away from crying right now.

Her name being uttered stole the attention of the other women and they looked in my direction, swiftly, I averted my eyes elsewhere.

I respected Nae and Mrs Steele too much that I couldn't bear to see the look im their eyes. I didn't have that strength to see what they think of me now as they have come to know the truth, I'm sure.

"What is he doing here?" I heard Nae ask, I'd have said she's asking to infuriate Adel more if I didn't know her.

"Do I even know?"

"Heidi." I corrected myself this time around.

"Rexford." I've always l9ved how she says my name and today was no less. "What do you want from me, again?" Swallowing thickly, she asked, boring her teary eyes into mine.

"I'm for peace this time I swear," I replied, clarifying the again because we both know what that meant and was quick to ask in desperation, "can we talk?"

"Are you crazy? How dare you ask that?" Her voice was filled with incredulity and I didn't blame her. "You and I have nothing to talk about."

"Please." It was time to neg and I'll be willing to put my pride a d ego aside and kneel down on both knees if the need be. Het forgivess meant a lot to me. "I won't take much of your time."

Heidi scoffed, rolling her eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks and I wanted badly to wipe them. "Forget about you taking much of my time because I am not going anywhere with you and you know why? It's because you and I have nothing left to talk about, everything was said that night, Rexford Winchester."

Shame mocked me. I posted my head, blinking back tears then raised it up to look at her. "I know it's impossible to erase everything that happened and lessen or even take away the pain that I caused you." I told her, "I won't try to justify my actions either. Just know I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, I'm deeply sorry--"

"You're seven years late Rexford, there's nothing you will say or do today that will change anything so please for the love of God, just leave and pretend today never happened or you and I ever shared a past."

"Adel--"

"Please don't call me that, ever again. Don't think because we never ended things you still have the right to call me that." I had a feeling I knew what words were next, I shut my eyes, unable to think of that.

"It's over, goodbye."

It's over. The words hit me hard, I would have laughed in her face and ridiculed her then but now, I wish I never heard them from her lips.

I'm not expecting another chance from her. Ive hurt her so much that I can't even wish for that but deep down I wish all this was just a dream and that Heidi and I aren't done for good.

She's too good for me and I don't deserve her yet I still want her. One thing I never told anyone and denied to myself is my love for Adel. I realized only too late I actually loved her.

And today that love isn't permitting me from accepting I have lost her.

I blocked her from walking past me, grabbing her hand, "Heidi please--"

She snatched her hand and pushed me way, even then I still grabbed onto her and pulled her to me. "For the love of God, Rexford! Go away from me, is that too difficult to ask?!"

"I get it but please listen to me just once and I promise never to show my face in front of you, ever again."

"Why would I listen to you? The Rexford I fell in love with hated my brother and I so much, he lured me into his trap with lies. What else are you going to say now just because the truth is out in the open? Hatred doesn't vanish all of a sudden, to me you'll always be that Rexford and no one else. Excuse me."

"I'll never get tired of stalking you just so you forgive me--"

This forgiveness I seek isn't just about me but her as well. I've accepted my fate that for the rest of my life I'll never have any woman I can call my own, I can always have any woman I want if I wanna get laid but never love.

And for her? She needs to move on and find someone else but harboring the hatred against me will only block her from experiencing her second chance to love.

I only want that at least one of us leaves here today, lighter and carefree with a new hope to life and openly I want her to be that person.

"I forgive you, yes. There you have it! Can you please leave me alone now?"

"Heidi, no one knows me as much as I do and I know you haven't forgiven me. I don't deserve it but please, forgive me sincerely--"

"You know what Rexford? I'm so done with you."

"C'mon please--"

"Just leave Rexford, it will be best for the both of you. Especially you, you don't want Michy to hear about this or do you?" Monae reasoned and I shook my head. Sadness filled me as I watched Heidi walk away with tears streaming from her eyes.

"Of course no, I haven't gotten one of them to forgive me yet. I can't risk incuring the wrath of the other sibling." Def not. I have her a small smile, reaching for her hand. "Please do me a favour and tell her how sorry I am for what I did to her and that I'll always carry the guilt. She should forgive me for her own sake and move on, that will make me happy."

She smiled back, nodding. "I'll make her away of that."

"Thanks."

**********

Normal isn't something I'll ever be again in my life.

Today, I've lost the last chance I could have gotten to free the demons inside of me who're stealing my sanity by the minute, the very same demons who keep reminding me that I'm fucked up forever.

Up until today after I met Heidi at the restaurant, I nursed the idea of working for her forgiveness. I was still blind to the truth but I had regrets for a long time back.

But today every hope I had is gone and I'm eternally going to remain the broken soul I am. I can't sign up for therapy to cure these nightmares, I've tried so many times they never worked.

The only therapy I need is Adel's forgivess which I won't be getting ever.

Killing the engine, I opened the car door and stumbled out of it, as if in a daze.

I have no idea how but I somehow made it home, safely in one piece despite the heat in my head.

Trudging like a lifeless soul. No scratch that, walking like the lifeless soul I am cause as of now till I leave this earth, I'd be just but a walking dead. I made my way into the house and somehow managed to get my feet to carry me up the stairs.

As I approached my mother's door, I heard noises which I made out as moans, erupting from her room.

At first I treated it as my mum and dad having some fun after their sex life took a major break years ago then I remembered dad is on a business trip, far away from our continent.

He can't possibly fly back just to get laid, in this short while when I had talked to him before going over to meet Marco on mother's request earlier today.

I sensed something wasn't right here. The sounds couldn't just be ignored, if not for anything I have to check and be sure it isn't what I'm thinking it is cause there are so many thoughts running through my mind right now.

I feel as if my head is about to explode.

The sounds only got louder and louder as I got closer that I can say it's ringing through our whole floor. I had to cover my ears cause it was beginning to disgust me when I noticed it was my mother moaning.

My first instinct was to peek inside seeing the door wasn't closed shut and after doing so I couldn't believe my eyes, I opened it wider.

The two were so engrossed in satisfying their sinful desires they were oblivious to me standing at the door watching them, disgusted and mad.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever taken him as that type amd even if I did, there was a small probability I'd have thought he would have done this with my mum.

I was mortified and felt betrayed, watching my own best friend, have my mother bending over for him as he gripped her waist like the reins of a horse. Ryder pumelled deeper into her sending her over the edge, her eyes rolled back as she bit her lips.

Disgust, anger, betrayal and worse of it all I felt stupid. Very stupid for not seeing this when the signs were so clear in front of me.

Ryder all of a sudden found my house and guest room comfier to live in than his plush penthouse in 5th avenue. He's been living here for close to two months now and mother treated him like a son, she doted on him so much.

I thought she was being nice since I told her he's my best friend and you know mother to be so extra when it comes to us.

Little did I know HE WAS SCREWING MY MUM! My mum was his slut all this while and I was so blind to that. Now all the nights I woke up hearing muffled noises made sense to me.

I was disgusted and repulsed by the disgraceful scene in front of me, I hastily walked out on them and slammed the door in fury.

There wasn't the need for any confrontation, what I saw was crystal clear enough.

Such betrayal from a friend and mother only ended in someone being dead and God help me so bad, I don't end up adding yet another number to the list of people I've killed to make it two.

***********

"Rex, baby, please it's not what you think."

Haven't I heard this so many times in five minutes?

My jaws