OLIVIA At that moment, my heart stopped pumping blood. I became ill. I was inclined to head back to the hospital and receive another medication. Cyril has destabilized my system. “I can explain.Please forgive me. It's not what you think,” Cyril apologized. He was edging closer to me. I quickly edged backward. I was harnessing evil thoughts in my head that may send me to jail if executed.“Give this phone to him and take me out of here. I need to go on vacation in Singapore,” I urged Kate while handing Cyril's phone to her. “Vacation?” Cyril echoed. “Why are you going on a vacation? What about the business? Are you just going to abandon everything like that?” Cyril protested. I just realized how selfish Cyril was. He only cared about himself. I noticed this awkward trait, yet I agreed to marry him because I thought he would change. I just realized that a leopard never changes its spot.I nodded my head disdainfully. Getting into an argument with Cyril would only become a wast
OLIVIA We finally arrived home after the terrific experience with Cyril at the hospital. I don't wish to experience such trauma ever again. I was adamant about getting out of the car. Kate had already stepped out of the car while I was drowning in my pool of wretchedness. She was about to go inside the house when she noticed I wasn't anywhere to be seen. She made a U-turn, heading back to the car. “What's wrong? Why aren't you out?”“Don't worry, I'm fine.” I lied. My facial expression could tell that something was eating me up. How do I explain to Kate that I was still obsessed with Cyril? The incident that occurred at the hospital was still playing in my head like a movie. No matter how hard I try to ignore it, I still find myself dwelling in the past. “And you expect me to believe that? Come on, is it about Cyril?” Kate asked me. She has worked with me to the extent that she now predicts my next move. Getting her to believe me won't be easy.“Yes, it's Cyril,” I nodded my h
OLIVIA “Hey, chill. Why did you jump off the bed like that? I thought you said you didn't want to see anyone?” Kate teased me with a burst of wicked laughter.“Stop it. That's not funny,” I quickly cautioned her. Weirdly, Adrian had to meet me in this pathetic condition. We weren't going on a date, but I wanted to appear smart and agile in his eyes if we were going to be long-term business partners. “Did he say he wanted to see me?” I asked Kate, even though I knew Adrian was here for me. What could he possibly want to do with Kate?“Isn't it obvious?” Kate rolled her eyes without actually saying anything.“Why these questions? Does it matter who he came to see or what he came for? I thought you were down with migraines?” Kate asked. She was surprised to know the reason for my eagerness despite my condition.“Kate, this is one business I've been waiting all my life to seal. If this isn't the right time to make that happen, then I don't think the appropriate time would ever come,”
OLIVIA "What else did she tell you? I got closer to Adrian. I was scared that Kate might have said a lot in my absence. “Okay?” Adrian edged backward and avoided me like the plague. I felt so stupid in front of him. My level of confidence dropped drastically. “You know what? Let's forget about it and get back to business,” I told Adrian and changed the topic. I was becoming too desperate. It was obvious. Even the blind could see that. “You're freaking me out right now. Did I do anything wrong?” Adrian asked me. He was starting to feel guilty. “No, you didn't. Why would you say something like that?" I said, forcing a smile. I act like I'm fine, but deep down, I was desperate to know what was discussed in my absence. “Do you want me to leave? Is this a bad time to come?” Adrian stood up, wanting to leave. He had a feeling that I wasn't comfortable with his presence. “No, please stay.” I quickly held his hands to stop him from leaving. Accidentally, we made eye contact. I could
OLIVIAUntil Adrian walked away, I couldn't get my eyes off him. There's something special about him that makes me want to call him back. I never wanted him to leave. Just the few minutes I spent with him, I felt like a real woman again. He rejuvenated the sparkle in my life. He was the missing link I needed. “Is he gone?” Kate rushed to the living room and startled me. “What's wrong with you? How would you walk in like that?” I scolded Kate. I was so rooted in Adrian that I never saw her coming.“Yes, he is gone.Guess what? We just sealed the deal. He promised to send the contract to my mailbox,” I told Kate. Her joy knew no bounds. One would think she owned the company.“What are you going to do about him?” Kate asked me after the brief celebration. “What about whom?” I avoided her question like a plague and sauntered to the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey. I poured a small portion inside a glass. Before I could take a shot, Kate snatched the glass from me.“No alcohol.Remembe
OLIVIA “You must be excited about this, aren't you?” Kate teased me.“Am I?” I blushed and smoothened my skirt as though it were rumpled. I was acting like a child without actually knowing it. “Yes, you're. That's not bad If you ask me. I haven't seen you this excited before. If going out on a date with Adrian would restore your happiness, then I won't judge you,” Kate told me. That was the best thing I've heard in a long time. “Thank you so much for everything,” I rushed to hug Kate. I couldn't hide my excitement. Adrian may call it a dinner, but I don't see it that way. He wants to have a proper date with me. Calling it a dinner was the only way he could convince me to show up and it worked. I wouldn't have been comfortable dressing up to go have a date in another man's house while I got a man for myself.“Enough of the emotional talks. We got a date to plan,” Kate said excitedly as she opened my wardrobe searching for the perfect outfit for the night.“Dinner, Kate. It's not
OLIVIA I went down and shut my eyes to pray silently. I can't recall the last time I did that. My brain isn't functioning properly. It was the only thing I could think of. Cyril slowly drove past me and stopped. I'm pretty certain he was contemplating if I was the one inside the car.The windshield was tinted, so he couldn't see me. I patiently waited for him to leave and he did. “Gosh!That was close!” I did a cross sign. I was struggling to breathe. This was the reason I asked Kate to go home because I knew Cyril might show up. I had no idea that it would happen so fast.Without hesitation, I drove towards the main estate gate where I met the chief security. I had the urge to stop and confront him for telling Cyril that Adrian had stopped by the house. On second thought, I figured that he might want to call Cyril immediately and blow out my cover. It's quite obvious that he's on Cyril's payroll just to keep an eye on me. It wasn't difficult locating Adrian's estate. I was alre
OLIVIA I was praying that Adrian wouldn't find me in this pathetic situation. The dinner date that was supposed to lighten my mood has suddenly become my mourning ground.I tried calling Cyril over the phone, and he wasn't responding. I've never been this scared before since I got married to Cyril. I wasn't certain what the security at the estate must have told Cyril, but I'm pretty sure it has everything to do with him acting up this way. To think that avoiding security was going to save me from trouble, I had no idea that I was heading to my doom. “What did I ever do for security?” I asked myself rhetorically. I've been good to him. I can't recall offending him to be hated that way. I texted Cyril and he refused to respond. He read my texts and chose to ignore them. At that point, I wanted to go home. The dinner suddenly became meaningless to me. Staying out for too long would only worsen my situation. I know Cyril too well. It's challenging to influence his decision. I waited
OLIVIA"Stay calm, ma'am. You're not helping matters," Officer Julian called me to order.I ignored him, saying, "Don't you dare tell me to stay calm. Didn't you hear what he said? He accused me of something I know nothing about. Now that's insane.""You were the target. We were paid by someone to kill you," the criminal finally confessed.His confession sent tiny shivers down my spine. I lost some brain cells and stood up from where I was.I now know what it feels like to be agitated."Who sent you? Start talking now," I moved a step closer to the criminal.Seeing how close I was, Adrian rushed to pull me back. "Don't do this. Let him speak. I understand how you feel right now, but this isn't the way out."I stood back. I forced myself to stay calm, but deep inside, I was a burning furnace.I was being consumed by the desire to kill the criminal even before he was done with the confession."Some lady called Rene. She gave us your photo and asked us to kill you," the criminal confesse
OLIVIAAfter a failed attempt to kill me, the gunmen abandoned one of their members who had no gun in his possession.As he tried to escape, Adrian pounced on him and struck a powerful punch that tossed the masked man to the ground.As though that weren't enough, Adrian continued to punch the masked man until the police arrived at the scene and arrested him.After the arrest, we all rushed to meet Uncle Dante, who was in a pool of blood, struggling to stay alive.His eyes were slowly shutting down as we got to him."Don't leave me, Uncle. Please stay back," Adrian cried as he rested Uncle Dante's head on his lap.That was my first time seeing Adrian cry. As I tried to console him, I fought back my tears."Please take care of Olivia. She's got a heart of gold. Don't let her slip away from your palms." Those were Uncle Dante's last words before he passed away.All efforts to revive him proved abortive. He must have suffered severe internal bleeding as a result of the injury sustained f
OLIVIA“Damn! This party is the bomb. See what we've been missing all along,” Kate told me at the party. She seemed to be having fun.She wasn't far from the truth.I can't recall the last time she attended a party of such magnitude.Cyril is such a joy killer.The son of a bitch is deprived of a life like this due to his insecurity.“I am glad you're having fun. But don't get too drunk. We still got work for tomorrow,” I reminded Kate.Adrian joined us some minutes later, shortly after I saw him with Uncle Dante.“I hope you're having fun already?” he teased Kate.“More than fun, Adrian. You've got no idea what this means to me. If Olivia doesn't get married to you, I will,” Kate joked as she continued sipping her vodka.Then she stormed out to allow Adrian and me to have some moments of privacy alone.“My uncle wants to see us. He asked me to bring you to his table,” Adrian said.“Shall we?” He stretched his hand forward to hold mine.“Of course.Why not?” I held his hand.As we wal
OLIVIA Anxiety spread from my face and traveled down to my lungs' region as I stood at the prosecuting area, waiting for the judge to pass the final verdict regarding the allegations against me of being responsible for Cyril's condition.I lost count of how many times the case has been adjourned. I've lost all hopes of getting a favorable ruling. Currently, the only thing left inside of me is emptiness and fright. I might as well confess to the crimes I never committed just to be free from this dungeon of calamity and frustration.I looked behind me and saw Kate resting on the chest of Adrian. Poor girl! She's been through a lot this period. And she isn't even the one accused falsely.I drifted my attention back to the judge to avoid missing out on what she had a say.“So here's my verdict,” the judge said before she took a deep pause to put on his glasses. I was yearning for her to be done talking. Her silent treatment keeps raising my blood pressure. From the look of things, I
OLIVIAMy legs quivered as I stepped outside with Adrian. They suddenly felt too heavy to move, as if some unseen force was dragging me back.The moment Kate saw me approaching the car, she rushed forward and embraced me. I fought back my tears.She thought the kidnapping had broken me. She had no idea it was something else entirely.Adrian looked equally disturbed. Just like me, he wasn’t happy. Sadness was written all over his face.That was when Kate sensed something was wrong. She pulled away from my arms and turned to Adrian. “Can you please explain what's going on? I know this isn’t about the kidnapping, so don’t lie to me.”After Adrian narrated everything to her, Kate lost her composure and fumed. “What the fuck? That ain’t true! Olivia had nothing to do with what happened to Cyril. They barely even spoke because I was there to kick him out!”As much as I appreciated her defending me, I wished she had done it back in Lily’s office—to prove my innocence where it mattered.“Now
OLIVIA“What did you just say? Rene did what?” I lost my cool and jumped from my seat.It took the joint efforts of Adrian and the detective to calm me down.“Don't tell me to calm down! Didn't you hear what she said?” I blasted Adrian.I expected him to take my side—or at the very least, caution Lily about the false accusations thrown at me.“Ranting won't solve anything. We need to take this case lightly,” Adrian said to me.His words somehow calmed my nerves. But deep down, I was burning with curiosity. Why would Rene point fingers at me when I hadn’t even been in New York at the time of the incident?“Over to you, Detective. Why would Rene file a report against Olivia? Olivia hasn’t been to New York in recent times,” Adrian questioned Lily.For the first time in a long while, I was genuinely proud of him. That was the move I had hoped for.“Just a moment, please,” Lily said, shuffling through the files on her desk.“Oh, yes. I found this one.” She handed the file over to us and as
OLIVIAI still can't wrap my head around what happened in the last couple of hours.It still seems like a dream to me. I never, for once, imagined that I was going to survive the assassination attempt.I had already accepted my fate—that I was going to be shot dead in the head with reckless abandon. Suddenly, Kate and Adrian showed up when I least expected it.“Hey, Olivia,” I heard a voice calling my name. I disregarded the voice since I couldn't recognize it.I drifted back into my thinking mode until I saw a hand wave across my face.Looking next to me, I discovered that it was Adrian. Apparently, he'd been trying to get my attention, but I seemed not to be bothered.I wasn't even conscious of my surroundings anymore.“What's running through your mind this time? Do you want to see the Detective?” Adrian asked me while we stood next to the car.“Nah! That won't be necessary. I'd rather wait for her to summon me to the interrogation room. Want to take this one step at a time,” I told
ADRIANDetective Lily finally led us to the wood where Olivia was tied up around a tree like a sacrificial lamb.Lily wasn't wrong when she told us that she had been to the woods before to apprehend some criminals.Olivia wasn't alone in the woods. She's got two hefty men standing right in front of her. From a distance, I could tell that they were cold-blooded murderers.Right in front of her was a man pointing a gun to her head while she cried her eyes out.“Did you see that?He's trying to shoot her.We have got to save her now.We can't let that son of a bitch accomplish his mission,” I called the attention of Lily.At that point, I was tempted to snatch the gun from her and shoot the assassins from close range.“I saw them!I'm just waiting for the perfect time to strike, so I suggest you shut the fuck up,” Lily whispered, yet it still managed to get on my thick skin.I drifted my gaze at Kate, hoping that she was going to take sides with me. I was wrong.From the look on her face
ADRIAN"Stop the damn car right away! I know what I heard. Would I be joking about something like this when I know what's at stake?" Kate screamed at me.That was the moment I knew it wasn’t a joke, just like I had thought.I stayed calm to observe the situation. Suddenly, I heard Olivia screaming. "Please don’t kill me! I don’t want to die. Somebody save me! I don’t deserve any of this. I am ready to give up an outrageous fee for my freedom!"At that moment, I felt like punching myself in the face for doubting Kate when she initially revealed what she had heard."Do you believe me now? Why don't you apologize for doubting me?" Kate demanded.I snapped. "Get down. We need to go inform the cops about our discovery."As Kate and I stepped outside the vehicle, we saw a female cop approaching our direction. It was obvious that she had something important to say to us."I was about to meet you. What's your name again?" the female cop asked.I glanced at Kate, waiting for her to respond, bu