The Triangle of Love

The heavenly silence of the early morning was cut short by the blaring sound of the alarm. Exhausted, I couldn't move an inch of my body. I stretched my hand to get my phone that was under the pillow on my right side. Still battling with sleep, I managed to check the time, and it was midnight.

I found myself lying down, my face forced into the pillow, I cursed silently. Why on earth did I just wake up so early? What is wrong with me? this insomnia seemed determined to deny me of excellent sleep every single night.

I thought and hoped today would be different, I took sedatives and tried to eat light, so I could have a good night's sleep as prescribed by Emily. Here I am fully awake.

Perhaps I should indulge myself in self-pleasure. So I could return to sleep. I put my hands into my pants as I searched for my clit to rub vigorously so I could have an orgasm that would lead me back to sleep. My vagina is very dry, and the friction started hurting me. And the sensation was not pleasing.

Well, seems the insomnia has won this battle again. I sighed. The sudden realization that today was my birthday and the alarm was not my wake-up alarm, but rather an indication that I was born this very day as I turned to look up at the ceiling.

The beam of light rays reflected on my chandelier that was situated at the center of my ceiling as I gave a focused stare at my ceiling.

"Damn, today is my birthday?" I mumbled.

A bit of surprise flooded through me as I thought about the importance of the day to me, but as I compared it to my previous birthday out at the orphanage home, there was no utter difference between my birthday and normal days of the week and months.

At this point sadness began to mix up with the little happiness I was experiencing, I had no bloodline family to celebrate this day with me, or a boy special in my life who made me worth looking ahead to the birthday.

Just my foster parents and my foster sibling who wants to fuck me.

As the alarm went off again, this time around I looked at it and smiled, and I said, "At least you remember today is my birthday". I let it blare for a while, soaking the atmosphere and giving me the relief that today is special to me in a kind of way.

After turning off the alarm, I tucked my phone under my pillow, pondering the conflicting emotions stirred by my unknown parentage and the uncertainty surrounding my birthdate determined by the orphanage.

Questions flooded my mind, fueling the familiar anxiety that often accompanied reflections on my past. Yet, despite the absence of answers, I resolved not to let sadness overshadow my birthday; this year would be different.

Sleep started to creep in a little, and I was lost in thought, maybe sleep.

"Happy birthday!" The sudden blare of music interrupted my thoughts. That jolted me immediately.

Turning from the bed, after a sleepless night spent contemplating my life, I was greeted by my foster mom's warm embrace.

"Oh, my baby girl," she exclaimed with a radiant smile.

After a sleepless night I spent contemplating my life, my foster mom gave me a warm smile that lit my day up,

"Oh baby girl," she said as she hugged me deeply, her chin resting on my shoulder, and she whispered

"Come on, today is your day. You're 23 years old, baby girl," she said, gently patting my back.

"Mom," I began, the weariness evident in my voice, "I am tired, I didn't sleep well last night"

"Huh!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, that's on you, baby girl. Come and eat your cake."

As I stretched my arms, Jack interrupted me with a slight nudge on my head

"Happy birthday sis". The awkwardness was bewildering, but the pretense was perfect.

Our eyes had a gentle meeting, and immediately we stopped looking at each other.

"Jack, thank you so much," I replied,

"Mom please can you stop the music, it is hurting my head"

As Mrs. Rosa stood up from the bed, to get the cake, and stopped the music I lay back on the bed trying to catch a glimpse of sleep.

"All alright that is enough sleep for you tiger"? Mrs. Rosa said as she cut a piece of cake and brought it gently holding it with both hands.

She stretched out the cake delightfully, the cake looked attractive, but I wasn't desiring some cake.

"Mom, can I pass?"

"no, you won't pass". Mrs. Rosa replied, "It is a family tradition that the celebrant tastes the cake early hours of the morning".

"hmm mm".

Of course, it is a traditional approach that the Rosa's have kept for a long time, I was part of the family for almost six years and I have never missed the first cake oath.

But this time around I wanted to be alone, I felt I was not wanted here again. I would rather not narrow it to my late-night discussion with Jack.

Of course, I have been feeling withdrawn lately from Rosa's, I would like to find my real parents. I think I am old enough to get an answer of who I am, and where I come from.

I took a piece of the cake, and savored its delicious flavor, my eyes lighting up with delight. "I know you like it," Mrs. Rosa remarked, watching me indulge.

"You can stop now, sweetie. We have more to do for you, and I don't want you to fill up too soon," she gently urged, taking the cake away.

As Mr. Rosa nudged Jack, the two of them left my room. I couldn't help but admire Mrs. Rosa's calm and welcoming demeanor towards me, contrasting with the awkward silence between Jack and me.

Yesterday, on my way from work, I asked Jack to pick me up when he finished with the client at the restaurant. On our way back, he confessed his love for me.

He had been harboring it for a while, and he couldn't help, but reach out to me, and he wanted to have sex with me.

Despite not being blood-related, the idea of a romantic relationship between us, foster siblings, felt unsettling. It became clear that his care and affection stemmed from ulterior motives, shattering my perception of him.

Today, on my birthday, instead of his usual enthusiasm, Jack appeared distant. Standing up from my bed, I straightened my arms and adjusted my pants, gazing into the mirror to admire my grown appearance.

I then checked my schedule in my diary, marking off my goals for the day. Retrieving my phone from under the pillow, I called Emily.

"Happy birthday!" Emily's joyful voice greeted me.

"Thank you, Emily," I replied, juggling the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued marking my goals.

"So, where are we going?" Emily inquired.

"I'm not sure. I haven't decided on a place," I admitted.

"We could go clubbing tonight," she suggested.

"I don't know if my schedule allows it," I responded, feeling uncertain.

"Sandra, why do you always prioritize work?" Emily's frustration was palpable in her tone.

"It's the only way to get by, baby girl," I explained, focusing on my diary.

"So there's this new club I want us to go to. Emily said.

"What about it"? I asked

"The owner is known as Alex, heard he is a handsome and rich man, so there will be numerous wealthy men out there to pick from". Emily said.

"Are you pimping me?". I said restfully

"Of course I am". Emily replied sarcastically, "You haven't had good sex in a long time, I want you to get Fucked dutifully, consider it my birthday gift". Emily added

"hahaha"

"True you need it, baby girl"

"Alright I will consider the idea"

"Hopefully, I'll have some leisure time. I already had cake this morning," I added.

"Wow, who made it for you?" Emily asked.

"Mrs. Rosa," I replied.

"Lucky you. She cares about you," Emily remarked before saying goodbye.

With my diary goals checked off, I returned it to its place on my shelf, where I kept my favorite books, each one a cherished gift from the family of Rosa over the years. They symbolized the gratitude I felt for the life they'd given me outside the orphanage.

Despite twelve years passing since leaving the orphanage, recurring dreams plagued me, their meaning elusive. Planning to join my foster family for breakfast, I freshened up in the bathroom, brushing away any signs of sleep.

In my thick socks, flannel pants, and sweatshirts, I was prepared to go for breakfast. I looked at my messy bed, hesitant to make it, I said to myself, "Why make it, just to mess it up again?".

I stepped out of the bathroom, went straight to the table, took my phone, and headed out of my room.

As I opened the door, I overheard a commotion coming from Mr. and Mrs. Rosa's room. It was loud, and the noise was penetrating the walls of the room down to the hallway, and the vibration shook the hinges of the door.

"I hate what you're doing, Edwin!" Mrs. Rosa's voice, laden with tears, echoed through the hallway as she emerged from the room.

Startled, I stepped back, trying to remain unnoticed. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice strained with emotion.

The awkward silence in the early hours of the morning after I saw tears running done the cheeks of Mrs. Rosa. We all sat at the breakfast table, as she silently served all of us breakfast. Jack could not look at me directly. He just caught a few glimpses of I looked away, his face was always down.

Mrs. Rosa, even though I tried to give her a signal to explain what was going on, she did not budge. We were having the beacon as breakfast. I reached out to assist Mrs. Rosa as she went straight to the oven to get the cake for my birthday.

"Honey it's okay, you can sit down". Mr. Rosa said as she tried to collect the gloves from me.

I could visibly see the disappointment in her eyes, as she stared at me. It looked as if she were about to cry, but she just kept holding them back. She struggles a bit with me.

"What's wrong Mom?". I asked inquisitively.

This is an unusual set-up, we normally have a nice breakfast together before we all go to put on various endeavors. It seems as if my birthday will not be a wonderful one. Well, I have never had a stunning birthday.

As I went back to sit at my table, I watched Mr. Rosa rally around like a disturbed puppy seeking milk from its mother. I was very persuasive about the fact that something about me came up in that discussion with Mr. Rosa, and she would rather not tell me. I sat on my chair my arm across close to Jack's chair and I watched her do everything without the help of no one.

The autumn of silence seemed to become worse and more awkward when we heard the footsteps of Mr. Edwin Rosa, I could read the dead silence according to Jack and Mr. Rosa, seems the trio was hiding something from me. I became more inquisitive. Likewise, I stood up from my seat, headed straight to the door, and signaled Jack to join me with my head.

Jack stood up from the seat he was sitting on, crossed the table, and headed towards me, immediately Mrs. Rosa gave Jack an eye sign not to tell me anything.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?". I exclaimed,

The dead silence in the house made me furious, and I became angry, my pulse increased so much, that I wanted to tell out of frustration. Today is my special day, I want to make it special for me, and my foster family is not helping at all.

"You know what, I am not doing this with you people today". I said as I raised my hands with a gesture.

I walked straight from the door, passing Mr. Rosa who was about to take his seat at the breakfast table, and headed for upstairs.

"Sandra". Mrs. Rosa called out pitifully.

"Yes, mom". I replied.

"Why this everyone weird on my birthday, today is supposed to be a special day for me and this is what I get". I added as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I could see Mrs. Rosa trying to voice out something that choked her in her treat, but she couldn't the more she tried to talk. Mr. Rosa gave her that dead look in the eye not to speak at all.

"Dad, what's the problem?". I asked as I walked down the stairs towards Mr. Rosa.

"Nothing, to worry about love" He nodded as he bit his lip and his eyes wide opened.

"Sit down hun". He added with a gesture.

"Well I don't know what to say, right now, but this is your birthday; it should be a happy day for you."

"What's your age again? twenty-two, twenty-three?"

"twenty-three". I said.

"Well that is nice, you have come of age"... Mr. Rosa said as he jiggled a little with a sinister smile.

Immediately, Mr. Rosa looked at him abruptly, and he recollected himself, arranging his should be and sat upright.

"I do have a gift for you, I don't have it here, but I will get it when I take you to the office". Mr. Rosa said.

"Well thank you, Dad". I replied my arms folded and my back pressed against the chair.

Mrs. Rosa was done with the cake and served us at the dining table alone, she looked physically stressed. The one thing about Mrs. Rosa is that she would love to work alone when she has a problem going on, and this is that moment. The tension between Mrs. Rosa and Mr. Rosa was so obvious, that I knew something bad happened after she came out of that room, really in tears.

After breakfast, I went upstairs, he was to drive me to work as Mr. Rosa Instructed him.

"Oh my God, where is Dad?". I said, "Well I am driving today". Jack replied, "Finally you spoke to me, how wonderful and thoughtful of you". I replied sarcastically.

I made a turn and crossed through the trunk of the car went to the passenger seat, opened the door, and joined Jack in the front.

As I sat there, trying to adjust my work bag, I looked in the mirror to check if my makeup was done properly,

"About last night". Jack said as he hesitated a little bit,

"Yeah". I replied as I stopped looking in the mirror and looked straight into his eyes.

"Well forget about it, pretend like it never happened". Jack said with shame on his face.

"Why should I?" I replied sarcastically with a smile on my face.

" Well, you should, I was drunk last night and I have come back to my senses"

"uhmmm. I don't believe you, Jack"

"I mean it, Sandra".. Jack's eyes dilated and became wide.

"Everything I said last night, was from the place of intoxication". He added

I laughed sarcastically because I knew deep down he was lying, he just had the boldness to come plain disguised as alcohol intoxication.

"Oh my fucked God Jack, I believe you"

"Believe what"... Mr. Rosa interrupted us

For a minute I was scared, and I jolted immediately as I turned back to look at him.

"For how long have you been standing there Dad"... Jack asked.

"Not too long".. He replied with a smirk on his face.

An awkward silence filled the room, the shame on both of our faces that we couldn't look at each other throughout the entire trip. We arrived at the office station, where Mr. Rosa runs a small financial firm, I am his secretary while Jack served as his assistant. We got out of the car.

Mr. Rosa ordered Jack to get us some coffee, which was unusual because I usually get coffee for the three of us.

Mr. Rosa and I headed for the office room, as we got into the elevator, he turned around and looked at me.

"You say you are twenty-three years old?". Mr. Rosa asked

" I am"

"good, good"

"So do you have a boyfriend or something?"

"No Dad", this is embarrassing". I said as my face was covered in shyness.

"It is nothing to be embarrassed about".

"I know Dad, just that".

"What?".. Mr. Rosa interrupted, his eyes glowing for a response.

"Nothing Dad".. I responded

"Good, good"

"Alright ".. I replied and also nodded.

As the elevator opened, we both stepped out simultaneously and headed separate ways. Mr. Rosa turned immediately

"Sandra"

"Yes Dad "

"If Jack brings that coffee, I want to see both of you in my office, I need to discuss something significant about the firm".

The awkward silence in the room, as Mr. Rosa paced frantically as he told Jack and me about the financial problems.

"Where did it start"?. Sandra asked

There was no answer, everyone remained calm, the room filled with despair, I observed Jack was not remorseful about the news at all, I was inquisitive too. Know why we would be in so much financial debt that our work building is about to be taken away from us.

I turned to Jack, hoping he would reply to me

"Can you tell me what happened"? I adjusted my chair to look him straight in the eye.

"Well". Jack was about to say something,

"Don't say anything, Jack". Mr. Rosa interrupted,

"Why shouldn't he ?". I asked

"Well let's say I made some financial decisions, and it is affecting us". Mr. Rosa replied

I looked at Jack because I was not convinced about what my foster father just told me.

"Is this true?". I asked Jack

"Yeah, yeah".

"As a family, I called you all here because you are the most important people in this company". Mr. Rosa said, "Well, thank you for the accolades". I replied curtly

"You don't have to be rude Sandra"

" I am not rude Dad"

"Then why the face"

"Because you said I am part of the company, and yet I had no idea about the financial decisions you took"

"Well, I have a solution". Mr. Rosa said as his voice began to rise.

"What is the solution". I asked, "Jack are you not saying anything?". I asked Jack as I turned to him.

"What do you want me to say?"

"I have a plan". Mr. Rosa said repeatedly.

"We just have to make some necessary adjustments then we can know how to forge ahead". He added, "This meeting is over".

Jack hurriedly left the room, without turning back.

A few hours later, work was done, and it was time for closure I got a call from Emily...

"Hey birthday girl,"

"Not doing fine". I said sulkily

"What's the matter?"

"It's work"

"Well that can wait"

"Well, I have made plans for both of us". Emily added

"What plans?"

"We are going to the club, and I want to introduce this amazing guy to you"

"hmmmmm, what's his name?"

"My friend Annie works at his firm, he is a wonderful guy, I heard he would be at the club, so I want us to meet him"

"So you've never met him ?". Sandra asked.

"Well no one knows him that much, he is not an accessible type of guy"

"But then again I have a VIP ticket to the club he would be in tonight, so we just have to go and party with him". Emily replied.

"Well, you should have told me that you don't know him?". Sandra replied.

"hahaha, pulling your legs so you could come to the party". Emily replied as she defended herself.

"Can you come by at my place, so we could dress up for the show?".

"Yeah, sure". Emily said.

The phone went dead, I packed my books, cleared my office went to Mr. Rosa's office to inform him I was about to go. As I got into the office of Mr. Rosa

"Hello dear, I know I told you I would arrange the payment". Mr. Rosa said on the phone.

He was frantically speaking on the phone, I wanted to stand back so I would not eavesdrop on his call. To my shock, I heard

"I love you baby".

"I know, I know Esther it's been weeks since I have not seen you"

"I miss sex with you so much". He said as he scratched his head.

I withdrew back so he would not see me. A few seconds later, he looked towards the door, he saw me and suddenly changed the conversation and finally ended it. The phone went dead.

"Hello, Hello Sandra,". He said nervously,

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Not for so long". I replied.

"I am about to go, sir,". I said as I pointed towards the exit door.

"Okay, okay, see you tomorrow then". His hands inside his pocket, his chest slightly out posing a stance of control over the situation at hand.

"Goodbye sir"

"Uh-hmm. Are you going home?".

"No Dad, I am going to meet my friend for my birthday"...

"Hamm, Okay, remember to come back early,".

"Sure Dad

"Stay away from boys too". He added sarcastically

"Yeah Yeah ".

I got into the elevator and headed downstairs, ordering a Taxi from my phone to come pick me up. When I arrived downstairs, the taxi was already waiting for me. I got into the taxi and headed home. I couldn't get my mind away from the fact that the chances were high that my foster dad was cheating on my mom, I couldn't just wrap my head around it. The mixed feelings were just confusing.

"maybe that was the reason she was crying this morning". I said to myself.

The taxi arrived at our lawn, and I got out hurriedly went in.

"Hello, who is home?"

"I'm home Mom",

"is anyone there?

No one came in and went upstairs, the rooms were wide open. I opened my bag and brought out my phone to call Jack, as I was about to make the call, I heard sounds in my foster parents' door opening, and it was a man coming out juggling, it was the repair guy fixing my parents' bathroom.

"hey, Sandra".. Mrs. Rosa said as she looks me, she held the hands of the plumber man.

"When did you come back?"

"It is not been long since I came back".. I replied

"Well thank God I called the plumber to come to fix our toilet as I said earlier"..

"sure"..

"so what are you doing at home so early?".. Mrs. Rosa asked frantically.

"Well I need to get my stuff, to go for my birthday celebration"

"Okay dear have fun"..

I watched my mom hold the hand of the plumber man as they both laughed, and they went downstairs together.

The event I just witnessed was surprising, but my mind was drawn to eh fact that I was already late for the club party. I got in took my clothes, got a taxi and went to Emily's home.

I got to Emily's home she was already dressed, and she helped me prepare the birthday cake, we had a little celebration. After that, we got a taxi and headed straight to the club.

The club was filled with many people trying to get in, the bouncers were very strict they only worked with protocols.

When it was our turn Emily showed them our invites, and they let us in, as we got into the place, the noise and the sound was something I had never witnessed in my life.

It was so immersive that you would be stuck in the vibrations of the walls, we couldn't hear ourselves. We moved straight to the VIP section where we were officially meant to stay.

Meanwhile at the other end was a dashing young man who got out of his car, the whole crowd was cheering at him, he was so dead gorgeous with an athlete's body, he was given a free pass and all the women drooled at him.

"that's him".. Emily said,

"Who?"

"James. Duh". Her eyes rolling

"Oh that's James Oh my God, he is an angel"..

"Yeah he is"

"How did you know him".. I asked

"I know few people".. She replied with a smile.

"what of?"

"I don't think he is here"

"But James is a hell of a man".. I said to Emily.

I couldn't stop looking at him, as he continued to make his way to the VIP sections, along with him were two bodyguards, wearing black polo and a blue jean, muscular in stature.

Immediately our eyes clocked together, I felt like the world was about to end, it would be me and this James of a man. So lovely to keep staring, I became excessively shy as I couldn't behold his face. Lost in the thought of him

"Come here"..

Someone with a husky voice spoke to me, as I snapped back from my thoughts.

"SI?".. I replied, "Yes I mean you".. The bodyguard said to me.

As I moved towards the bodyguard swiftly in other to respond to the call

"Hey, you where are you going?"..

"Hey, I said where are you going?"

The bodyguard string armed me, I pointed at him that I was being called by someone when he turned he saw it was his boss Mr. James.

"Alright, go on".. He gave me a direction.

As I got into the VIP section, I heard Emily scream my name, and she gave me two thumbs up with a smile. I smiled back at her.

"what's your name Missy?". The gorgeous man said with a baritone voice that tingled my fancy.

I was being lit up from the inside, my hormones began to run wide I wanted him to devour me at an instant. I began to drip within my underwear, my legs shaking, as I stood there dumbfounded about how a man could be this heavenly.

"Hi hi. My. My. My. Name is Sandra".. I replied as I trembled.

"Nice name"..he said with a smile on his face.

"So what are you doing here?"