One Night With Mr Braxton

” She’s not dead silly! I wish she was. Maybe then, our relationship wouldn’t be dead! ”

The moment the words escaped her lips, Talia made to leave but was stopped by Colton.

” I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Calm down.” He said immediately, pinning her to the wall.

” Let me go this instant, Colton! My blood is literally boiling and unless you want to end up without balls, I suggest you let me go.” She said, undeterred.

” Listen, it’s not what you think. It’s not what it seemed like. I promise! I don’t know why you are so upset.” He said, trying but failing to caress her to submission.

” Don’t touch me! You should go search for your heartthrob, Emma. She’s somewhere out there, probably waiting for you to come save her. Seeing we have no business together, you might as well go to her!” She screamed and while Colton tried to collect himself, she pushed him away and waltzed out of the office.

On her way out, she sneered at the secretary who definitely heard everything and plotted the many ways to get back at Colton for his betrayal.

Meanwhile, Colton was rooted in his position. As much as he didn’t love the idea of Talia being mad at him even to the extent of throwing his ring at him, he felt a weight lifting from his heart and shoulders.

It was in that moment he truly realized just how much influence and power Emma held over him. Although he refused to admit it, he felt relieved hearing she wasn’t dead.

From the words of Talia, he assumed she was still in some form of danger and decided he could carry out research on his own in order to help the situation.

It wasn’t like Talia had to know.

Colton picked up his phone and with a few sentences of orders, his mind was at peace. That way, he was going to get first hand information on the happenings of the Steele family.

The next agenda at hand was how to pacify Talia. He picked up the beautiful and expensive engagement ring she’d so violently thrown away and placed it inside his drawer.

Knowing the kind of woman he was with, he took it upon himself to sort everything out and get her back beside him. Any means necessary.

On the other side of things, Talia was throwing a tantrum. She headed back home with enough fury that could burn a city to dust. Once again, she’s been reduced to a seething mess!

And why? Because of some darned stupid step-sister who has refused to let her be! Time and time again, Emma continued to be a thorn in her flesh! In sickness, in health, in life and even in death!

She followed her like a shadow she couldn’t ignore. In every part of her life, she always managed to be roped or affiliated in one way or the other. And to be honest, it wasn’t good news.

Talia shouted at the chauffeur that drove her, urging him to quickly head back to her home. She originally had prior engagements with her team at the Steele’s headquarters but due to her short stay at Colton’s office, she was now very free.

Much to her anger and utter devastation.

It didn’t take long before she got into the family house. Her mother, who was taking a cup of coffee by her window, saw her car come in and wondered what the problem was.

As opposed to her original schedule, she was headed back inside the house with a scary looking face. That only meant one thing, something had gone wrong. And with the look of things, terribly so.

Without further Ado, she left the windows and took out a large robe, covering herself and taking a seat by the edge of her bed. It was only a matter of time before Talia came stomping in; she needed to be ready for whatever it was she brought along.

Three seconds in, three successive knocks bounced off the shut doors. Having expected her daughter to waltz in with whatever the problem was, it took her by surprise. Maybe it wasn’t as serious as she previously deemed it.

” Come in! ”

The door flew open and the person of her bodyguard came into view.

” Madame! The little miss is back and in the basements, raising hell and demanding to know the whereabouts of Emma.” He reported, his stance strong and waiting for feedback.

” Hold her off. I’ll be there in a minute.” Her face turned grim. She hated surprises, even worse, unpleasant surprises.

She’d genuinely thought it was best not to keep anything from her about the supposed underground job going on but apparently, when Talia felt temperamental, there was no telling on what she could do.

One of the traits she had in more ways than one tried to train out of her body but to no avail. Quickly putting in some outfits, Mrs Steele stepped out of her room, ready to stop whatever madness her daughter was displaying.

***

Downstairs, Talia was in the alleged basement of the house, which was brought to her notice sometime ago during her little chat with her mother about the little wench that plagued her life.

” Don’t tell me you are still yet to come up with anything concrete! How can you call yourself a professional?! What is this incompetence?! ” She bellowed.

” Little Miss, please, this is…”

” Shut up! My mother has definitely gone soft, leaving you here and without supervision while you waste away your time, doing and achieving nothing!”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Everyone was on their feet. The room was getting very hot despite the fully installed and working air conditioner. No one could speak or defend themselves. After all, the person in question was a witness to it all, having just stepped in.

” I didn’t realize I’ve gone soft, child. Tell me, who hurt you this time? Why are you throwing a fit?” Mrs. Steele’s voice made Talia aware of her presence. She couldn’t miss the touches of sarcasm and slight anger depicted through her tone.

” M-ma? ”

” Come-on, leave them to their duties. We and you, we need to talk.”

Mrs. Steele’s tone was definite and Left little to no room for contradiction or debate. ” As you were.” She ordered, and everyone else got back to their jobs while she walked out, headed for her office.

Talia could only follow with a sulking face, not looking forward to being alone with her mother. A little bit less hazy from anger, she could only tell just how much anger her mother withheld gracefully, a total contrast to her ways of handling things.

Mrs Steele entered the office and Talia shut the door behind her. Before she spoke, her mother beat her to it.

” Don’t you ever! Ever again, question my authority in the presence of my workers, do you understand?!” She asked, hitting both palms on the desk.

” I’m sorry.”

On her journey over, Talia already prepared for this, having understood the possibility of her mother hearing her anger induced words from earlier.

” You are sorry? Hmph! Sorry don’t do shit else there wouldn’t be a need for police! I’ve warned you, time and time again, against letting your emotions get the best of you! Is this how you plan on heading the company? At every slight provocation, you do something stupid?!”

” It’s.. it’s just ”

” Answer me! Don’t lose all that boldness now, speak to me like the woman you ought to be, Talia! ”

” I just I’m tired.” Talia said, not having any strength in her to argue. ” I just wanted to know if there was any update on the whereabouts of Emma.”

” Then you could have met me. Not blowing up a storm and smearing my name in the presence of my workers.” She said sternly, causing Talia to recoil. ” Why are you home early? Where were you?” Mrs Steele inquired, having made sure of the fact that she was clear.

” Colton’s.”

On hearing that, Mrs Steele suddenly understood the situation. There she was, thinking her child was finally invested in the fire matters of the family. Not knowing it was just another round of boy drama.

” Where is your ring?”

” I returned it to him.”

On hearing the words of her daughter, a skeleton of a mocking smile appeared on her face, no doubt, there was a thrilling background story that gave birth to the latest string of events. One that she was more than eager to hear.

After all, her daughter was a drama queen.

*****

Inside a white room, the eyes of a lady, dressed in white and breathing through a machine flew open.

Unfamiliar with her surroundings, she made an attempt to get up but her body wasn’t cooperating. Unable to speak and frustrated, she summoned every bit of strength available in her disposal and forced herself up.

The results weren’t as expected as instead of getting her limbs up, she somehow ended up on the floor, groaning in pain while the alarm went off.