Leverage

The Past

Jacob Sterling

Jacob Sterling was a very prominent figure in the business industry. He was a very known figure in the world. The ideal man with the ideal family who very graciously adopted his bastard child that he had during an affair with a young college student back in his 30's when his marriage with Sheryl was on a rocky path.

The world only knew about Marcella's existence. They have never seen her and he ensured to keep it that way. Sheryl ensured that she was tucked away in the corners of my estate. It wasn't fair on the poor child, but it was necessary. She was home-schooled her entire life. It's strange for an eighteen year old to graduate without ever having to step into a high school but it had to be done. He was protective of her and wanted to shield her from his rivals and scoundrels like him and wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of her. Money and power ensure everything. Everything else just gets buried under its power and stature.

My wife never berated or behaved ill with Marcella but her existence was a constant reminder of my loose moments. They were civil towards each other and Marcella knows that Cheryl is not her mother but my wife, Sheryl usually liked to pretend that my daughter didn't exist. I know that her very existence reminds her about the rocky foundation of our marriage. For ours was a marriage of convenience. Between two prominent families to bind business into family. We were childhood friends, very good friends. I tried but we never be more than friend. As we grew old we learned to grow accustomed with each other and embrace each other's shortcomings. Two different individuals in marriage bound by integrity and loyalty much like a business merger.

The very foundation of our marriage that we spent years keeping upright came all crumbling down when I fell in love with Devora Smith. Barely legal when I first met her, I was 31 back then. She was a young budding artist, sophomore at the prestigious Dupemont University.

Marcella has never known her and she has only bits and pieces of information from what I have told her about her when she was a child. Devora is a sore topic between us. Her mother was a bright student pursuing college on full fledged scholarship. We met at the infamous La Mystifique art studio where she was employed as an intern. I had an affinity towards art and made it a point to often visit art studios all across the globe and while being on a business trip in Dupemont I visited La Mystifique where I met my daughter's birth mother.

Her poor mother did not stand a chance against my rich, handsome, charming self. I was a bit of a scoundrel back then and had my fair share of women behind my wife's back. Soon I swept off her feet. She was probably under the delusion that her knight in shining armor was finally here to sweep her off her feet and solve all her problems. Little did she know that the man she was involved in a tryst with was already married with a new born son.

Initially, Devora was just a distraction for Jacob. He was only looking for a good time. Something different from his mundane life and her cherub face, her sweet smile was like a breath of fresh air from him. She was a petite thing with caramel long locks that framed her cute plump face. He sought solace in their companionship that bloomed into something more as time passed by.

He would often visit her when he was in the city. They loved dining in quaint little places where they would talk for hours about their hopes and dreams. About their wildest fantasies often considered too whimsical for the mundane reality. Their love for the art and abstract was another thing that they felt strongly about.

As time progressed Jacob couldn't help his attraction towards the young lady who was slowly creeping into his heart. He also knew that she reciprocated his feelings as well. The passionate look in her eyes when she was with him was enough for him to understand that because it was only there when she talked about art or to him.

Guilt began festering into his bones when he was beginning to get romantically involved with Devora. The poor girl didn't even know his real identity. He was just plain Dean Jacob for her that worked a regular job and had a passion for art like her. He was selfish. He admitted that. He knew what he was doing was wrong and this relationship could make only make things go downhill for him. But it was too late to consider about the consequences, he was already in too deep.

Jacob reveled in the calmness and peace that came with Devora. It was very unlike the razzle dazzle glamorous life with Cheryl. Honestly, at this point he wanted to be part of the both. It was unfair to them, but it was the very first time in his life that he felt in control of everything. Growing up, everything was planned out for him. From his education to career until his marriage, he never had a say in anything.

He tasted freedom with Devora and he planned to keep her a secret for a very long time. He knew it wasn't fair on her part, she thought she was the only lady in his life but he was married and there was no undoing that. He could never leave Cheryl. She was his wife, the mother of his child and a good friend since they could barely talk. He loved them both, his wife and girlfriend. Just in different ways.

He bought an apartment in Dupemont where he settled into a whole different world with Devora. After months of dating he finally persuaded her to move in with him. It was a good thing that Sterling & Co had newly opened a branch in Dupemont and that gave him the perfect opportunity to spend the weekdays with Devora and fly back to Locksfield before the weekend to spend time with his family.

He always made sweet love to Devora at night when both of them came home from work. His appetite for Devora was insatiable. There wasn't a place they haven't fucked on from the carpet in the living room till the balcony, everything was christened by them.

Their passion was raw and carnal; the heat of it engulfing them both. Their romance continued for four years until one day Devora found out she was pregnant.

Author's Note:

 Hey lovelies! I hope you like this new chapter that focus a bit on the past and the character of Jacob Marcella's father. I will be updating every week and if you want frequent updates please vote, share and put your valuable comments. Also don't forget to add this book in your library to get notified whenever I update.

Until next time.

xoxo