Lawrence pulled over at Olivia's family apartment parking lot, and he turned to the two girls who had been talking nonstop in the back seat.
“We are here.” He announced to them and stepped out of the car, they both got down and Olivia glanced at her family house.
She had grown up in this building since she opened her eyes as a baby, they had not moved, and it had been a happy place for her and her family.
Not until she went to further her education in Hawaii, but something about the place changed.
Lawrence took out her luggage from the boot and walked over to her. “Would you stare at it all day like you haven't lived here for many years?” He questioned her when he saw her staring.
Olivia turned to him and exhaled softly. “Perhaps it's because it's been three years since I saw the building.” She softly said.
“What are you talking about?” Lawrence shook his head at her like she was stupid and walked ahead of her, heading inside the building.
“Come on, Olivia,” Chloe told her and linked arms with her as she pulled her towards the apartment.
“Olivia!” A young woman in her late thirties called out as she saw her daughter come in, and Olivia's face lit up.
“Mom!” Olivia beamed as she rushed into her mother's open arms, and Juliet embraced her daughter with a smile filled on her face.
“How was your trip?” Her mother asked, pulling her at arm's length.
“It was fun, I was too excited on my trip back here, couldn't wait to see you again.” Olivia grinned.
“You look so great.” Juliet scrutinized her daughter and then cupped her cheek. “You turned into one hell of a pretty lady, if you weren't my daughter, I wouldn't have recognized you.” She complimented her and Olivia blushed.
“Mrs. Juliet, aren't you overreacting?” Lawrence chipped in and they both turned to look at him. “She didn't change at all, she still looks the same.” He added, pointing at her.
“She did change,” Chloe voiced out. “Can't you see her hair that was kinky then had become all straight up and so soft and her entire image changed,” Chloe said, pointing from Eugenia's hair down to her body.
“She became curvy too, Olivia, you looked like you did some butt surgery, your hips, and butt look bigger…” Her mother added as she glanced down at her daughter's waist.
“Mom!” Olivia felt embarrassed now as she glanced from Lawrence, who was currently staring at her waist, to her mother. “I did no surgery!” She added, and her face turned pink as she quickly glanced around the room.
“I don't see dad.” She quickly asked them to shift their thoughts from her, and it worked.
“Oh, he should be in his room,” Juliet said softly as she turned around and called out. “Honey!” She shouted. “Come greet your daughter, she is here!”
Olivia glanced at Lawrence, who looked away from her and touched the corner of his hair, and she pressed her lips together.
“I'm coming, honey!” He called out from inside.
“Take a seat,” Juliet told them, and they all sat down, she sat next to her daughter.
“Thank you, Lawrence and Chloe, for bringing her here,” Juliet spoke up, and they nodded.
“We couldn't wait to see her,” Chloe said with a smile. “I feel like a part missing in me is back.” She added, and they all chortled.
“Ollie baby!” A deep voice clamored out as Olivia saw her dad and got to her feet and rushed over, she embraced him.
“Dad.” She grinned with smiles on her face and then leaned back and glanced at his face as the smiles on her face gently disappeared.
“Dad, you have become thinner than when I last saw you.” She didn't think twice to say it out, and He glanced at his wife who gently lowered her gaze, and he forced a smile as he looked at his daughter.
“I also said it when I saw him.” Chloe agreed with Olivia since she usually comes around to help Olivia's mother.
“I am okay, just been dieting lately to look healthy.” He lied.
Olivia felt something was wrong, but she brushed it off even when she saw her father's expression look pale, and it seemed he was stressed out a lot.
“Okay, but you still look healthy to me either way.” She said to him and flashed a smile. “It's good to see you, dad.” She grinned.
“I will go set the table, I am sure you all must be hungry,” Juliet said, getting up. “Go change into comfortable clothes, Olivia, your room is still the same.” She added and walked over to the kitchen.
“I will go help her in the kitchen,” Chloe said, and went to the kitchen with Mrs. Juliet.
Olivia smiled and made her way to get her luggage, but Lawrence grabbed it.
“I will send it into your room for you.” He informed her and took it in with him, and Olivia turned to her dad.
“I will change now, dad.” She informed him, and he nodded, and she went into the room behind Lawrence.
He placed her luggage beside her bed and glanced around her room.
“It hasn't changed much,” Lawrence said softly and Olivia glanced around her room, he was right, it was still small but neat.
He had been in this room before, they usually studied here with Chloe, since they rationed studying at each other's homes.
She could think back to the day Chloe didn't turn up since she went on a trip with her mom, she had stayed alone here with Lawrence.
It was the first night she attempted to kiss him while he dozed off, he still didn't know, but she had brushed her lips against his that night.
Olivia gently smiled since she had acted perverted, she often wondered if he would have loved her back if he knew about the kiss that day, but she feared letting him know since they may never become friends.
“You should change and come out.” Lawrence, who had stared at her for a while and saw her in a daze, said out loud.
His words pulled her out of her thoughts, and she pressed her lips together and nodded.
“I will be with your father.” He said and turned to leave, but Olivia quickly grabbed hold of his arm and he stopped.
He gently stared at her hand on his arm, then he raised his eyes to look at her.
“What is it?” He questioned. “Do you also want me to take your dress off you?” He asked, and Olivia's face quickly turned pink.
She left his arms quickly. “No.” She quickly said and covered her chest with her arms.Lawrence didn’t sound like the person she knew three years ago, he was suddenly open-minded and straightforward.She lowered her gaze, and Lawrence glanced down at her and exhaled sharply.“Then what?” He questioned and Olivia lifted her eyes.She was silent for a while, trying to pull herself together, as his words from earlier had clouded her mind.“Why didn't you tell me you were back in Seattle?” She asked him, the last time she spoke with him, he had told her he was in Los Angeles.Lawrence touched the corner of his lips. “I didn't see the need to tell you that.” He said coldly.Olivia studied his expressionless face. “Aren't you being too harsh on me lately, Lawrence?” She questioned.She considered him her best friend, but most times he treats her like she was unimportant.“You didn't tell me you were leaving Seattle three years ago.” He clenched his jaw.“I had to leave in a hurry,” Olivia s
Standing next to the French window of a spacious office, a man in a well-tailored suit stood with his cell phone in his left ear.His right hand was in his pocket as he listened and waited for the person on the other side of the line to pick it up.It rang twice, but there was no answer as he was redirected to voicemail.He put down his cell phone and drew a sharp breath, his eyes darkened, he rubbed his forehead with his hand and glanced at the image of the lady he used as his cellphone wallpaper.He ran his hand through his hair and made his way back to his desk.Furthermore, he placed his cell phone on the glass-top desk, which fits perfectly with the modern hi-tech interior.Likewise, he pulled his chair back and sat down on it as he pressed the intercom. “Roy, to my office now.” He ordered and soon the automated door of his office was opened and Roy, a young man in his late twenties, stepped into the office.“Mr. Asher, you sent for me.” Roy quickly said as he approached his desk
Olivia and Chloe left Chloe's family home after spending some time with Chloe's parents.It was late afternoon when they headed towards the bus station. “I didn't get to see your brother today?” Olivia asked Chloe.“Oh, him?” Chloe turned her attention to Olivia. “He went hiking,” Olivia said nonchalantly, like none of her brother's business was hers.“He still does that?” Olivia's eyes dilated, she could still remember that was one thing she admired about Chloe's brother, his hobby.“Yes, but he has become so annoying lately,” Chloe frowned. “He does things in excess, most times he leaves for one of his travels without informing anyone, he causes numerous headaches for my parents, they worry about him when he is old enough, and it pisses me off most times since he doesn't even care for our parents.” Chloe was vexed as she said this.Olivia drew a sharp breath. “That is too bad of him.” She now wished she had not brought the topic up, seeing how paranoid Chloe had become.“If only he
Olivia and Chloe finished their sightseeing at the Waterfall Garden Park.It was late and there seemed to be a celebration around the corner, so they decided to stay and watch the fireworks.“I heard the fireworks would start by eight this evening,” Chloe told her, and Olivia's eyes dilated with excitement in them.“I would love to watch it, but right now, I feel so hungry.” Olivia rubbed her lower abdomen and Chloe glanced at her.“I thought you wouldn't say that, but since you mentioned it, I know a place where we can get meat close by,” Chloe told her.“Aren't we going to miss the fireworks if we leave now?” Olivia blinked, glancing in the direction of the event.“We still have an hour before the fireworks, and the place is close by,” Chloe said, pulling Olivia by the hand. “We better hurry and get back if we want to see the fireworks.”“Okay, let's go.” Olivia agreed and they both made their way with Chloe leading her.All these while she had recognized some places, but other part
Chloe halted and was in shock when she saw Olivia bump into him and was caught by him, she blinked when he saw how he had gripped her arm and how her friend was struggling to free herself.“Hey, let go of her!” Chloe shouted as she rushed over and Asher glanced at Chloe but didn't pay much attention to her, he turned his gaze back at Olivia.“Answer the damn question!” He said again, this time, his forehead creased, and it terrified Olivia, Chloe stiffened, she was easily afraid, and she had no strength of her own to fight him.Roy had watched Asher all these while and could see what was going on, and he understood how Asher can be when he is angry.So he rushed over to stop him after remembering what Asher had said about making the first lady he sees his wife.“Mr. Asher,” Roy called out and quickly stood between him and Olivia as they turned their attention to him, this giving Olivia the perfect chance to free herself.“We have to go, Mr. Asher, I'm so sorry.” Roy apologized in Ashe
Asher returned home and placed down his coat on the chair and sank into the sofa.He shut his eyes as he recalled the video he had seen of Jane kissing Gray, but what annoyed him more was hearing that they had been meeting for two years, and he had no idea all this while.“Shit!” He groaned and curled his hand into a fist, opening his eyes.He picked up his cell phone and glanced at it, there was still no call or message from Jane, he angrily tossed the phone on the chair and got to his feet.Taking off his shirt, he walked into his room, took off his trousers, and walked into the bathroom to take his bath.He stared at the mirror in the bathroom, his eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes were red even though he hadn't cried, but deep in his heart was bleeding.This was a betrayal he never foresaw, he wanted to have her as his wife, and he loved her so much.He was ready to give up everything just for her, but what did he get, her betrayal, she was in love with another, she cheated on him a
She got dressed in her pajamas and was about to climb on her bed when she recalled the noise she had heard from her parent's room.No one had called her for dinner, and although she was filled with eating dinner with Chloe, still she was disturbed by the feelings she had been getting ever since she got back.Olivia decided to head out of her room to check on her parents, if Lawrence hadn't called her, she would have heard what they were saying.She pushed her door open and walked out of her room, making her way to her parent's room. She knocked on the door and didn't hear a response, so she let herself in.Once she peered in, she saw her mother sitting on the bed sobbing and her father wasn't there.Olivia was shocked, as this was the first time she had ever seen her mother cry.She rushed over to her side. “Mom, what is wrong?” She quickly asked, a worried line appearing between her brows.Juliet glanced up, she hadn't expected Olivia to see her in this state, she quickly wiped off h
Asher arrived at the company the next day, his driver pulled over in the parking lot.He got down wearing a well-tailored black suit, and a coat over his shoulder as it was cold.He made his way into the company, his expression was hard, the twinkles in his eyes gone.Not only that, but he was greeted by staff who said his name as he made his way towards the CEO'S exclusive elevator, but he didn't glance at them nor respond.It shocked a few staff who knew him to be more of a friendly person, he usually came in with smiles all over his face and his eyes twinkling, but now there were no sparks.“Do you think Mr. Asher is having problems with his marriage preparation?” Clara, one of the staff who had just greeted him and gotten no response, asked her colleague.Rita scoffed and turned to Clara. “Seems like you are hoping something would go wrong with his marriage preparation.” She knew Clara didn't settle well with the news of Asher's marriage.“Everyone knows that it should be me and A