Chapter 4: Meeting Justin

Olima paused at the dining room and turned to face her stepmother. She replied, "No, ma. I checked the kitchen, and there's no foodstuff left."

Mia frowned, hungry, and questioned, "Why didn't you speak up earlier?"

Olima looked from Mia to Mrs. Gina, remembering how she had helped Mia with her assignments and how Mia acted friendly with her. But once Mrs. Gina arrived home, and Mia saw her mother had returned, Mia would switch to her mother's toxic behavior.

"Hmm. And you sat here with Mia, watching television. Didn't you know that you should have come to my shop to ask for money to refill the house with foodstuffs and the things you'll need to prepare dinner tonight? Or did you actually expect us to starve with you this night?" Mrs. Gina questioned coldly.

Olima replied, "No, mother— I mean, ma..."

Mrs. Gina opened her purse and brought out some bundles of money. She counted it and said, "Here's 10,000. Before I go upstairs, take my bath, and come back down, make sure you've already gone to the market nearby and bought all the ingredients you need to prepare vegetable soup with semovita. Else...!"

Mrs. Gina's eyes narrowed at Olima again, and she dropped the money on the center table, then immediately took the stairs back up to her bedroom.

Olima rushed into the kitchen, knowing her stepmother wasn't joking. She checked all the kitchen containers to see which ingredients she needed for the vegetable soup, then hurried out of the kitchen, picked up the money from the center table, and left the house, hearing Mia laughing subtly at her as she rushed out as if being chased.

Nathan stood up immediately as he saw Olima rush out to the gate, holding a black polythene bag to her chest, dressed in a light blue gown. He asked her, "Where are you rushing to, small madam?"

"Open the gate!" Olima screamed, and Nathan knew Olima had been sent on an errand again, as she often ran out of the house like that.

Nathan opened the gate and Olima rushed out like a madwoman, nearly knocked down by a red car driving out to exit the estate street. The driver cursed at her, "Stupid lady! Where are you rushing to like that?"

Olima ignored the expensive red car’s driver who was cursing at her, as she rushed out onto the beautiful estate street and continued running up to the estate gate to go to the market.

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Inside the flashy red car sat a young, handsome black man whose billionaire parents wanted him to take over their multimillion-dollar empire and real estate businesses. His father was known for selling houses to top billionaires in their town.

Justin Robert was a dark-skinned, handsome guy, 21 years of age. His heart jumped into his throat as he saw his car almost hit the girl running out from her parents' home; he knew that mostly billionaire families lived in the estate.

With the sun gradually sinking in the west, his car drove past her, heading to one of his favorite hangout spots—the clubhouse. Justin disliked business topics and found nothing about business interesting, except drawing, watching movies in his room, and hanging out with attractive women who were willing to get into bed with him and please him as much as he wished.

Justin felt aroused as he saw how pretty the young lady looked, and how she ran carelessly, not minding how her curves bounced as she ran.

Unable to look away, as Jesse drove past her, Justin ordered, "Stop the car."

"Boss..." Jesse was taken by surprise at his young master's order and gulped, replying, "Alright, boss."

Justin was wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and sparkling black shoes. He was breathtakingly handsome and took care of his appearance, knowing first impressions matter.

Meanwhile, Olima continued running toward the estate gate, as night approached quickly. She knew her stepmother would punish her if she didn't return home early to prepare dinner on time.

"Boss, do you need anything?" the 30-year-old, impatient Jesse Andrew asked, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers.

"No, wait here," Justin replied, nervous as he saw the pretty young lady running up to his car, heading to the estate gate as well.

Justin was used to ladies throwing themselves at him, but now he had to make the first move toward the pretty young lady he saw again, having seen her before countless times but never approached her, knowing her father was likely a billionaire as well.

Olima didn't have time to go upstairs and change her light blue gown, which provocatively highlighted her figure. She slowed down after seeing the red car that had previously cursed at her stop and the side door open.

Olima thought the driver or passenger in the red car wanted to get out and scold her for her reckless run into the estate street, not even checking if a car was coming.

"Hi," the tall, dark-skinned, handsome young man stepped out from the flashy red car and spoke to her. Olima froze, staring at the tall man's face standing before her.

"No... excuse me," Olima shook her head as she met Justin’s desirous gaze, and before he could speak, "Wait—"

Olima swiftly ran past him, running faster than before, heading toward the exit gate of the estate street.

"Damn it!" Justin cursed, while Jesse smiled in the car, having watched Olima's reaction through the driver's seat side mirror.

Justin, frustrated, sat back in the car and ordered Jesse, "Start the car."

"Alright, boss," Jesse replied, waiting for Justin to buckle his seatbelt properly before starting the engine and driving off.

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Olima’s heart was still beating fast as she left the estate gate and got into a taxi.

She breathed out in relief, wondering what the young man had wanted from her, as she didn’t know him.

Olima calculated all the soup ingredients she would need to buy from the local market nearby since the main market would have closed, but she could still get foodstuffs from roadside vendors.

Arriving at the market area, Olima paid her taxi fare, and rushed toward one of the sellers by the roadside, buying all the soup ingredients she needed for the vegetable soup. She had only learned to cook three months ago; she wasn’t very good at it, but it was manageable.

Olima had never cooked before while her mother was alive, and having to learn now that her mother was gone, she felt sad and paid for all the items and vegetables she had bought. Before she could finish her shopping, night had fallen, and she frowned, knowing her stepmother would complain.

Olima had totally forgotten to ask her stepmother for money earlier in the morning. Also helping Mia with her assignments from school, Olima forgot to go to her stepmother’s shop, where her stepmother sold feminine wear. As Mrs. Gina owned a boutique in the market.

Futhermore, Olima stood waiting for a taxi, but none came to take her home while the night continued to fall.