It was late into the night. Only a few servants were left in the mansion as the household staff had started to retire from their duties to go back to the servant quarters provided by the Sanchez family for the resting hours of their staff.Ava walked down the staircase in a silky night robe. She found her way to the kitchen and poured out a warm cup of milk for herself. She could not sleep. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Noah and his new wife Lola. “Lola...” Ava muttered with disgust. Charlotte and Bianca were useful and she was grateful to have them both help her out. During their little tea time together, both the mother and daughter had been sympathetic to her, and together they had devised a plan to make Lola leave. She could not wait to get rid of that girl! * * * “So that’s it, grandfather, I will sort it out, with Lola’s help of course,” Xena said as she giggled. “Just leave it to me!.”Xena and Lola were with Grandfather Sanchez in the garden to spend the afternoon tog
“A Pivot Viceroy fountain pen?” Aria suggested as her gaze turned towards a row of fountain pens laid out carefully in a see-through show glass. “Or a journal, a tie, or cuff links..” Aria kept dishing out her suggestions but Lola’s attention was no longer there as she could not draw her eyes away from a particular fountain pen. It was a stainless steel pen with engravings on it. “I think the pen is a good idea,” Lola said as she smiled and made up her mind. Xena who was done with her video call returned to the room and overheard Lola’s last words the instant she got back. She walked over to a session and picked up an object she had noticed before the video call came in. “Lola.. Aria?” She called as she smirked. “I think we should include this in the gifts. What do you think Lola? Is Noah into stuff like this?.” Xena asked with a cheeky smileLola and Aria turned over at the same time surprised to see that Xena was back already, only to have their mouths pop open on seeing the ite
“Even King Entertainment?.” Aria exclaimed as she sank back further into her seat in dismay. ‘It was terrible enough to have to share Lola with all these people and now even agencies were out to get her.’ she thought frustratedly.“King Entertainment..” Lola mused. “That reminds me, Richard Kings offered that I consider joining his agency,” she muttered as she remembered the card the man had given to her. “Wait up.. Are you serious?.” Josh asked as he raised an eyebrow. His uncle must adore Lola to the extent of personally inviting her over to join his agency. It was unusual for Richard to act in such a manner and he wondered why he did what he did.“Yeah..”“I can’t believe this. You kept something that huge away from me??.” Aria said with her voice starting to rise. She sounded really angry.“I’m sorry babe. Skipped my mind.. was not planning to accept his offer anyway..” “Why not?. It’s a perfect stage for you to grow.” Josh said as he reached out for a napkin on the table.Being
Lola felt tipsy but she held onto Aria’s body tightly before the girl’s wobbly movement caused them both an accident on the street. Soon, the cab for Aria arrived and Lola repeated the address once again to the driver before the vehicle zoomed off.The raindrops which she thought would have ceased persisted. At first, it could be ignored as the fall was light, but now that she stood under the night sky without a covering, her clothes were starting to get damp and she felt a little chilly.Lola looked back at the bar behind where she and Aria had spent most of their evening drinking and longed to be within its comfort again. They would probably still be in there had the bar owner not announced that they would be closing up the bar soon for the night.Lola had only started to weigh her options which included finding a shade to take cover or waiting for her cab in the rain when the rain suddenly increased its drops.“Darn it.” She cursed loudly and just as she made to take cover anywhere
Infinity Jewels HeadquartersCEO’s Office...Noah stood at his favorite position in his large office, by the floor-to-ceiling glass wall that offered a magnificent view of Rosewoods. It was his second day away from home and also the most important day to stay away from it. After today, everything would go back to normal.He had indulged himself in more work and dropped a message off for Lola that he would not be coming home until Monday. The sky was blue and clear and the rain had long ceased. It was his birthday yet he had received no well wishes, messages, or calls from anyone which was fine by him as it was proof that no one remembered. It was in fact, perfect. That way no one would bother him. Lola had called him earlier in the day, telling him that she would be hanging out with her friends later in the evening. While Xena had called right after, with an invitation to attend their high school reunion together in three days, an offer which Noah had instantly declined. Two knock
Flash BackFifteen Years Ago...Game arcades, swimming pools, standby waiters, and alert bodyguards.The party was in full swing as many children were present. Everywhere was noisy as they played around the makeshift amusement park happily. Ava and Andy Sanchez, Noah’s parents had specially set up a field in their family’s estate for their son’s tenth birthday. This was not the main party prepared for Noah as a bigger dinner banquet had been organized that evening for their son. The newly turned ten-year-old Noah who only got to experience such fun a few times a year on his birthday as his parents always declined party invitations from other parents tried to be cheerful as he got pulled in on rides by classmates and children his age whom he rarely communicated with in elementary school. Most of the children present were unfamiliar as he had no friends except for Tyler and his younger sister, Xena. “Where are the parents?.” He heard the event photographer ask as the man stood confuse
The day after Noah’s birthday party was a Sunday and the mansion was a bit bubbly as all members of the Sanchez family were home. After joining the whole family for breakfast in the morning, Xena proceeded to drag Lola into her living quarters by hand. She had preordered outfits from Secret’s latest clothing collection and they had been delivered to the estate that morning.Noah, who had been abandoned at the table with his parents and grandfather by his wife and little sister looked at the two women who were happily walking away from the table and strangely felt that Xena was starting to spend way more time with Lola than he did with her. The two women had only just stepped into Xena’s familiar quarters when Xena hurriedly shut the door behind her and turned back to face Lola with twinkling eyes. Lola, who was starting to get familiar with Xena Sanchez’s cunning antics quickly let her guard up as she looked back at the door wondering if it was too late to back out. “Why that look?.
“Ohh...such a handsome smile. You should smile more often dear. You look so adorable.” Maria commented happily. “Pfft.” Lola almost spat out at her mother’s compliment of Noah... adorable?.. who? This stoned-faced man??.“Mom.. that’s enough. You would make Noah uncomfortable..” Lola said. If this continues she would have to deal with a headache soon.“Uncomfortable?.. are you uncomfortable Noah?.” Maria asked.“No Mom I’m not,” Noah said as he smiled more adorably at Maria and observed Lola’s reaction from time to time. He seemed to be enjoying her tensed-up expressions. It’s been so long since he felt this free or played around this way.Maria nodded at his response satisfied as she turned to face Lola. “See?.. he’s not uncomfortable at all.” Then she turned back to face Noah. “Why don’t you have your seat or let Lola show you around the house? I prepared lunch already before you both arrived and I made just enough for at least three servings,” she said as she left to serve the foo