It was going to be a tough and maybe long battle. Miriam noticed the sky had turned into a dull gray color as she glanced upward. The storm was almost here.
She was afraid her children, most particularly Tessa who had always been sickly since birth, would become wet from the pouring rain. If the rain got to the little girl, she'd surely catch cold.
"Tessa, Edwin and Cedric, stay in the car." Miriam warned her children before opening the door of the taxi. "I will alight for a while and find out what's going on."
The kids all yelled, "Mommy, watch out!""
Pippin the parrot stuck his head out of Tessa's pocket again.
Tessa stroked its soft head and gave it a piece of food. "Hold on tight, Pippin. We'll be home soon!"
I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to hit your car. The cab driver was offering a heated excuse. "The lady shouldn't have come. She got three children and she brought along so many luggages. I just happened to back the car on yours when it wasn't moving."
Spotting her, he gestured accusingly at Miriam. "You better settle for this!"
"What?" Why don't you?
But before Miriam could answer, the Rolls' window had already begun to sink.
"Ignore it. "The president is busy."
The man in the passenger seat said something to Miriam.
Sure enough!
The man in the suit nodded and, before he left, told the cab driver to be more careful next time.
As soon as the driver of the Rolls-Royce opened the door, Miriam glanced automatically into the back seat - and was confronted by what looked like a half-naked man with blood all over him.
tattoo of a wolf head? The tattoo of the wolf head!
Miriam's jaw dropped. Her heart jumped into her throat and she just stared at the tattoo.
The vicious wolf was watching her, its blood-red eyes glowing softly in the darkness cast by the man who shared his life with her and would soon be no more.
It's him!
Yes it is him! "Move!"
Miriam was suddenly pushed by the cabbie and fell to the ground.
She looked up again, but the Rolls-Royce had vanished.
Looking at the empty road ahead, Miriam could feel her mind whirring.
Was he in the car with you just now? The children's father?
A gigolo during Sultry Night, wasn't he? Then, why was he with such terrible wound in that fancy car?
Cedric angrily shook his fists at the taxi driver.
"Stop screaming at me, brat. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten this unlucky," cursed the cab driver.
Before you hit that car, you were also the one who was overspeeding. We don't care about it. Edwin retorted in a vibrant voice. We are not at all responsible for your mistake! You violated a traffic regulation. We can easily report you!
"Yes, you misbehaved with Mommy." I'm going to complain against to Police about that! , said Tessa angrily pointing towards someone on middle road . "A traffic policeman is there!"
Pippin on her shoulder immediately gave a cheep. "Police on traffic! Police on road!
I'm off. Go away! I not fly to where you want any more."
The taxi driver then turned opened his trunk, threw their luggage in the street and sped off in anger.
"Hey!" How where you able to do that?
Miriam stood aside with the children, gripping her shopping bags.
Reginald Deveraux, who sat in the rear seat of the Rolls-Royce car, glanced up at her and back through the rear window-pane.
That lady looks familiar. Where did I see her last?
"Mr. Deveraux, I'm going to give you the anesthetic now!" exclaimed the doctor who was taking care of his wound.
"Don't worry." The man was looking at a document in his hand. There was a lot of blood flowing from the wound on him, but he didn't appear to be feeling any pain.
Well, maybe just a little. I'll bandage up your wound.
The physician scowled as he started sewing the incision. The doctor was already worried considering there was no anesthesia involved.
His sun kissed skin sparkled under that harsh white light. His expressions didn't change but his muscles contracted from the extreme pain.
But first on Monday morning, Miriam took the children to kindergarten to Mrs. Della.
She had sent her resume to thirty-five companies the last week. She had interviews at seventeen but was rejected or put on hold by all.
She wasn't approached by the prestigious Evergreen Enterprises for an interview by any other reason but a post!
Odd. Why did the largest company, in every industry, Evergreen Enterprises call me when no SMEs would hire me?
It wasn't until she'd reached the HR department that she discovered who's plan it was. "You're it?"
"It's been a while, Miss!" he said glaring at her. "You still look good."
My father had fired you from Carlisle Corporation, Nigel Forsythe, and told you never to return to Westcliff for as long as you lived. How could you dare to come back?
Miriam remembered him. He had been vice president of Carlisle Corporation and when he had made an attempt on her Richard had fired him. She hadn't expected ever to see him again after such a thorough seeming vanquishing
The Carlisle clan has beyond its prime. Do you still believe that you are the wealthy heiress? Nigel laughed.
You have no value. You received this job from me!"
Miriam glared at him before taking off running.
Miriam, this is your last chance. I can tell you, you won't get a job in Westcliff unless you want to work as a bar hostess if you go out of this door!' Nigel sneered.
'Fuck You!' Miriam shouted as she stormed out of his office.
Never would I be brought down by someone as low life as him!
When she left the building there was a crowd at the door.
A man in his forties. He had doused himself with petrol, had a lighter in his hand and tried to threaten us all.
"Keep back. Step away. Now, let me see Reginald Deveraux!"
While the bodyguards stood watch, the crew all stayed outside. A couple of his superiors tried to talk him down. "Please Mr. Duvall, please stop. We can talk about this. We'll figure it out.
Slow down? What did he do to me, you know? I screwed up and pissed him off, and he just fucking destroyed me! How do I stop worrying about that?" Horace Looney shouted.
His words brought Miriam back to her father, Richard.
I still don't understand why Carlisle Corporation went out of business. We were doing so well.
My Father was already dead before I was born.
"Mr. Deveraux has arrived!" someone said.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom was stopping, and Miriam glanced up. A guard stepped aside for the car and weaved his way through the crowds to reach it, but at that point the crowd did not part to let him through. Instead, hurrying up to stand in front of it, Horace called out, 'Reginald Deveraux I want an explanation now!'
Nobody said a word as they all slowly turned to look at the black Rolls-Royce.
That car belonged to the scariest, most powerful person in Westcliff!
Miriam glanced at a man who was mindlessly staring at his cellphone in the back.
His bodyguard and driver waited up front for him, likewise silent. The room went quiet.
The expressionless man then made an idle movement of his hand. The car surged forward, with the obvious intent of running Horace down!
Even Horace was astounded by what was happening. So shocked was he at the other's inhumanity that he stood petrified.
Miriam rushed forward and dragged him aside just as the motor car whisked past them.
The man in the car looked up just then and saw Miriam. He glanced at her, his face a study.