It was a beautiful Friday morning and Annabelle had just finished getting ready for work and walked into the kitchen to grab a quick cup of coffee as she was running late.

She had to go drop the kids off at school first because her mother wasn't feeling very well that morning and had to stay in bed.

After checking up on her mum who assured her that she would be fine in no time, she dashed out of the house.

She walked into her office and was greeted with the sweet smell of fresh roses. Her eyes quickly went to her table where a bouquet of red roses were neatly laid.

A smile came on her face.

David.

"Good morning madam." Her secretary Darlene came into the office with a wide grin. "This came in for you about an hour ago."

Annabelle smiled as she picked up the small fancy note beside the bouquet and read:

For the most beautiful woman in the world.

D.M

Her heart warmed and the smile widened to a grin. He really was something. The past few days had been a dream come true for her and she knew that this time, it was forever.

***

Later that morning, she got a call from Dominic. She hesitated as anger reared up in her as she remembered the things he had done, but then decided to pick.

"Hello Dominic." She said, trying to make her voice sound as normal as possible but it ended up being flat.

"Hi beautiful, how are you today?" He asked cheerfully.

"Fine, fine thank you." She replied drily.

"I haven't seen or heard from you for days now," he said. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything is fine." She replied. "I've just been...very busy of late."

"Ok but don't get too busy for me please." He joked. "Can we have dinner tonight please? It's been a while since we did."

She winced. David had already asked her to dinner last night. And even if he hadn't, she wasn't sure she would still have gone out with him.

"I'm sorry Dominic but I already have a dinner date tonight." She said.

There was a brief silence on his end then he inhaled sharply.

"With who?" He asked in a menacing tone.

"That shouldn't be any business of yours Dominic," she almost snapped. "What's important is that I'm engaged tonight."

There was another silence, then she heard him take deep breaths.

"It's ok Annabelle, next time then."

"Thank you." She said and he hung up.

"Good riddance." She muttered and dropped the phone.

***

Her secretary said goodbye to her when it was closing hour later that evening and left but she stayed back to finish replying some emails before closing for the day.

Just as she finished replying the last one, a knock came on her door and she started.

Who could that be? She had thought everyone would have left by that time.

"Who's there?" She asked but there was no reply.

She should have locked the door!

"W-who's there?" She repeated, trying to keep her voice strong.

The door gently opened and Dominic's smiling face came into view and she breathed a sigh of relief. Why was she even scared when the security were outside and operated 24hrs?

"Hey there pretty." He grinned but she thought for a second that the grin looked menacing.

She gave a hesitant smile.

"Dominic!" She said a little too loudly. "I wasn't expecting you here. Especially after our talk earlier."

He shrugged. "I know but I just wanted to see your face again. You know it's been a while since we last saw."

"I'm sorry about that," she replied slowly. "I've been very busy as I had told you."

"But you should never be too busy for me, Annabelle."

He snapped and she slightly flinched. He didn't miss the action.

"I'm so sorry Anna. I didn't mean to snap at you, I'm just stressed out."

She stared at him for a moment then shut her computer down and picked up her handbag to leave.

"I'm leaving." She said flatly. "Call you later."

She took a step towards him expecting him to move out of the way but he maintained his stance.

"Move Dominic, you're standing in my way." She said, her heartbeat picking up a race.

Something was off and her instinct was telling her to leave the place immediately.

"Why couldn't you just let things be as they were?" He asked, his face contorting with anger and grabbed her arm. "Why?"

"What are you talking about?" She snapped. "Unhand me this instant or I'll..."

"What? Scream for the security?" He leered. "They won't hear you sweetheart. Have you forgotten your office is on the top floor?"

"Let go of me Dominic," she struggled but he held on tight. "What has gotten in you?"

"You!" He snapped. "You are the reason why I'm acting this way. If you had just let things be as they were between us after you resurfaced then this would not be happening!"

She shook her head. "What on earth are you talking about? Let go of me!"

Her phone rang and her eyes lit up when she saw just who was calling. David.

She was about picking the call when he dug his fingers into her skin and she winced but unobtrusively picked the call without him knowing.

"Let go of me, Dominic!" She screamed into the phone so that David could hear. "You can't come to my office and manhandle me like this!"

"I wanted this to go easily," he said. "But since you want it the hard way, so be it."

Before she could decipher what he meant, he sprayed something on her face and her head immediately went blank and everything became pitch black.

❤️❤️❤️

Her eyes opened slowly and she blinked once, then twice. For a moment, she was blank and confused, then started to notice her surrounding. The place didn't look familiar at all, neither was it pleasant. It was an old dusty room with broken chairs and worn out ceiling and walls. It looked abandoned.

What was she doing here?

She made to get up from where she sat but was held back by ropes. She was tied to a chair.

She started to panic as her eyes darted around the room. Was she kidnapped? How did she come here?

She racked her brain then it suddenly occurred to her as she remembered what had happened before she blacked out. Dominic.

"That bast*rd..."

"Well, well, well," a familiar feminine voice spoke from behind her. "Sleeping beauty is finally awake."

"Took her long enough." Another one said, hatred lacing her words.

"Who's there? Who are you people?"

"Shut up! You do not have the right to ask any question without permission, Annabelle."

She frowned. "Lydia?"

Lydia laughed then walked to the front and Annabelle gasped.

"Hello sister," she grinned. "It's flattering that you were able to recognize my voice."

Her eyes widened when the second female walked into view. "Ch-Chanel?"

Chanel smirked, distaste showing on her countenance. "Long time, no see."

"What's happening?" She asked in confusion and the two women laughed.

"This is just nemesis catching up with you, bitch." Chanel threw savagely.

"Girls girls, starting the show without me?"

She could recognize that voice anywhere.

Monalisa came into view, smiling in triumph and Dominic followed.

"What a beautiful picture." She said. "We finally have you where we want you."

"What is going on?" Annabelle asked, looking at each person. "Why am I here?"

"It's obvious bitch, you've been kidnapped." Chanel replied coldly.

"What for?" She asked. "What do you all want from me?"

"Now shut up and listen." Lydia spoke as she lighted a cigarette. "Dominic and Chanel here are the scorned ones and initiated the idea of kidnapping you. Mom and I are only helped because we can't miss the show of seeing you suffer." She laughed.

"Seeing me suffer?" Annabelle whispered. "After everything you both did to me? After everything I went through because of the both of you? Do you two hate me that much? You're not even remorseful for everything you put me through!"

"You do not deserve to be happy in this life." Monalisa said savagely and Annabelle gasped. "You think you can be happy while my daughter and I are miserable for the rest of our lives?"

"What has your been miserable got to do with me?" Annabelle snapped in anger. She definitely wasn't going to let them bully her anymore no matter the consequences.

The four were taken aback for a moment at her courage.

"Why should you be the one to be happy and comfortable? Why should you be the to get everything? Money, love from a man like David, children, a mother like Lady Ingrid, everything!" Lydia shrieked while her mother tried to calm her down and Chanel rolling her eyes in boredom.

"While I get nothing."

"How is all that my fault Lydia?" Annabelle asked in shock.

"You always outshine or steal my shine!" Lydia exclaimed. "David is meant to be mine..."

"Excuse me?" Chanel cut in with a stare down at Lydia.

"David was meant to be mine but you had to use your witchcraft to make him fall stupidly in love with you."

Annabelle shook her head in disbelief. These people must have gone crazy.

"You get everything while I get nothing! No man to love me, no money, no job..." she paused. "No womb."

Chanel rolled her eyes again.

Annabelle gasped inwardly and hesitated.

"Lydia I... I'm so sorry..."

"I do not want your pity!" She exclaimed. "You took everything from me! David was only meant to stay married to you for three years while I try to get him to be mine within that three years so he'd end up marrying me after the three years were up. I thought he hated you for reasons best known to him. We didn't know that what he felt for you was an unconditional love that he only concealed with a show of hatred. And if not for you, I wouldn't have had to sleep with this ex boyfriend of yours that had gotten me pregnant and I had to undergo an abortion that had destroyed my womb! You caused it all! I hate you Annabelle, I hate you!" She burst into tears and her mother consoled her.

"Are you done now?" Chanel asked nonchalantly. "So I can get this show started."

❤️