Josie's Apartment.Very early the next morning, Josie stood up to prepare for the day's work. Walking into the bathroom, she stood in front of her mirror only to notice how rough her hair was. "When last did I wash this hair?" She asked herself as she picked up her toothbrush and toothpaste.Sighing, she opened the tap and started brushing her teeth and all of a sudden, she stopped."Hey! Josie! Why do you have to drink before you go? Stop drinking now!" She heard Isabella's voice in her head."Ah, what was that?" She asked, hitting her head with her other hand. "Stop it now, Josie. Drinking won't help at all." Isabella's voice continued."I have to tell him today. He finally called me out." She heard herself reply.Washing her face, she sighed as she remembered taking a few drinks when she went to see Isabella before meeting with Noah the previous night. "Did I get drunk?" Shaking her head vigorously, she proceeded to take her bath. Few minutes later, she was already prepared for w
"Yes. I'm her friend!" Josie replied as she looked straight at the guy only to open her eyes wide in surprise like she had just seen a ghost. "You. . .You. . ." She stuttered."What are you doing here?" He asked."Who are you?" The lady asked him."Why did you allow this lady to come inside? Do you really not know how to act in someone else's house?" He asked, ignoring her question before facing Josie. "You! How did you get here?""I should be asking you that!" Josie snapped. "What are you doing in someone's apartment?""Someone's apartment? Who? She?" He asked pointing to the lady. "Did she tell you that?""I asked you who you are just now." The lady said."Hey! Asher, I still don't understand you. Can't you hear her question?""Do you know him?" The lady asked her."Hey, look here," He referred to the lady. "You don't remember, right? I had to leave my own apartment and spend the night out in a hotel just because of you!""Why did you?" She asked."Because brother asked me to!""Bro
FEW DAYS LATER.York Police Station.Looking out through the window in his office, Jared Nittolo held his family pictures and thought about the memories he had with his sister, years before her accident. He lost his whole family before he was seventeen. His mother died when he was three. His father re-married and also died two years after remarrying. He could barely remember what the man looked like, asides from the pictures he had of him. His step-mother also died unfortunately after giving birth to Annette, his junior sister and he had no choice than to live with their grandmother who also died before Annette turned seven. When his grandmother died, he was left alone to take care of Annette and that was when he luckily met with the Hernandez family. Hannah Oliver; Asher's mother, was a friend of Jared's step-mother and she was the one that helped him in taking care of Annette, the very first time she fell sick after their grandmother died and since then, he had been very close with
Roosevelt Kitchen.Josie dropped Drake that morning with the promise of checking on him some other time before going to work. It wasn't a very busy day at work and although she was used to the fact that Asher was always watching her without doing anything, she felt his absence. He was fond of coming in late but that wasn't a problem to Josie since she would end up doing all the work alone. That very day, he didn't show up at work. Every twenty minutes, Josie would look towards the door waiting for him to come in, but there was no sign of him. After the afternoon course, she gave up on the fact that he would still come.Noticing her, Isabella walked up to her. "Have you tried calling him?" She asked her."Who?" She asked, even though she knew who she was talking about. "Asher." Isabella replied, making a face to show her that she didn't have to pretend not to know who she was talking about."Why should I call him? He should have called me if he wasn't going to come. If we know we'll m
"Congratulations!" Josie shouted as she placed a box on his table. "What's that?" Jared asked."I heard you got promoted as the Team leader, so I came to congratulate you." She explained, smiling. "I brought soup for you too.""To congratulate me?" He asked, looking at what was on his table."Yes!" She replied still smiling."How did you know so fast enough to bring me something? Those that are close to me are not yet aware apart from my juniors. We're not that close yet and besides, I just got promoted this morning.""Is that so?"Folding his arms, he sat back, resting his back on his chair. "You didn't bring that to congratulate me right?"Clearing her throat, she drew the chair in front of her closer and sat down facing him. "You're very fast in catching up with things, Squad lea. . .No. . .team leader Jared.""What is it?""I just need a small favour from you.""Which is?"She hesitated and then sighed, "Asher's number."• • •Josie's ApartmentPacing back and forth in front of h
Flashback."Will you go in with me or wait here with me?" She asked him smiling.Sighing, he turned to look at the rain that was falling and turned to look at her. They had both been at the garden and were returning back home when the rain suddenly started falling. Annette loved the rain and she was fond of playing and dancing in the rain."Will you go in with me or wait here with me?" She asked him again."Fine, I'll go." He replied and immediately, she grabbed his hand. "One, two, three, go!" She shouted as she ran into the rain with him."Hey! Annette!" He called as he followed her, having no other choice. "You'll get wet!""I didn't force you to join me!" She shouted so he could hear as she danced in the rain."Why do you like playing and dancing in the rain like this? Especially when we're together!""Just because!""What's the point of playing and dancing in the rain when you'll catch a cold later when
Few hours later, Josie kept on rolling restlessly on her bed without taking her eyes off her phone. It had been over two hours since Asher alighted from Richard's car and there had been no sign of him returning back. She had the thought that he came down to save her from her brother's question and since he got down few miles away from their apartment, he wasn't supposed to spend more than ten minutes. She tossed her phone up and down as she waited for him to call her. She had called him once that day already, and her pride wouldn't allow her to call him again the second time. I'm not waiting for him, she told herself. I just want to know if he's still coming. Just then, her phone rang making her jump up quickly only for the excitement she felt to melt down quickly as it came. Sighing, she picked it up. "What?" She asked in a down tone. "What?" Isabella's voice sounded at the other end. She had known Josie for a very long time to know why she must have sounded that way. "Hey, Josi
Hernandez group.After the general board meeting, the board of directors dispersed the boardroom, leaving Chairman Gabriel Hernandez and Chazz together with their secretaries.Chairman Gabriel's secretary carried his files on the table while he stood up to leave. "Chairman Gabriel!" Chazz called him as he stood up to meet him. Rachel Lakes, Chazz's secretary carried Chazz's files too and with a wave of hand, Chairman Gabriel dispersed the two secretaries. "What is it?" He asked him."I was just wondering if you have time to take coffee with me.""Chazz, there are more important things to do than sitting down somewhere with a cup of coffee." He replied like he had already prepared his answer before the question came. "Especially you, you have a lot at hand to take care of. The idea you raised today at the meeting was a very nice one. I like that. But don't just focus alone on our resources going up. Also think about ways we can satisfy our customers with our services."Chazz knew he
Not quite long after they left Nest bridge, Jared escorted Michelle home. The walk home was silent, even though they both had a lot to say to each other. Not able to hold it in any longer, Michelle broke the silence when they got to her place."Team leader." She called. Uhn.""Thanks a lot for today. It felt like a date.""Date?" Jared asked surprised. "Uhn.""That wasn't a date. We just took a break from work. If you want to go on a date, we should go on a proper date, not this kind.""Ah, but it was nice all the same. Thanks a lot." She told him smiling. Jared smiled too as he stared at her. "You too, thanks for your time. So, is this where you live?""Uhn." She nodded. "Just over there." She pointed and just then she saw her father. The smile on her face faded away as she saw him come down from a luxury car. She became confused as to who her father was with and just then, she caught a glimpse of the person as the car drove away."Did something happen?" Jared asked, noticing her
Isabella's rooftop house. "I haven't still figured out why you had to follow me here." Isabella pointed out as she poured hot water into the coffee she was making. "I told you already." Josie replied. "I just wanted to make sure you don't go out drinking on your own." She added."And I told you I can't. My sister is with me, remember.""Ah, that's right! I've forgotten Sister Barbara is with you.""It's obvious that you've forgotten." Isabella teased her as she brought the coffee to her. "There you go.""Thank you!" "When last did you visit me like this?" Isabella asked as she sat beside her. "Hasn't it been long? Let's see, I think it was before Asher joined us.""How about you, when last did you come to visit me?""You always go home to see your mother whenever I come by.""That's a lie.""I'm really serious. Fine then, I'll come over tomorrow.""No!" Josie replied quickly spilling hot coffee on herself. "Ouch!"Isabella rushed to get her a napkin. "Ah, what is wrong with you?! I
Del mar Street.Jared, Michelle, Tessa and Eric were involved in a hot chase of a criminal. Jared was in the car with Michelle and they conversed with Eric and Tessa who were also in another car."Have you seen him?!" Eric asked Jared."Uhn!" Jared replied. "I'm on his trail!""Keep going, we'll meet you at the next intersection!"The criminal kept on running as Jared chased him with the car. Soon, the criminal took a turning where cars couldn't pass. "There, there, there!" Michelle exclaimed. "He took that route."Jared parked the car quickly and they both came down quickly. "Squad leader, I know this area very well. If you follow him, I can take another route to intersect him." Michelle suggested. "You. . . Will you be fine on your own?""Don't worry about me. Let's worry about catching the criminal first. We don't have much time. I'll meet you!" She told him and took off. "Be careful!" He shouted after her before taking the route the criminal took. Michelle kept on running whi
Hernandez Group. Chazz sat in his office as thoughts of Josie flashed through his memory. When he thought about the dinner, he couldn't help but smile. Jodie Finn was right. He was actually looking at Josie. Just then he thought about what Jodie Finn told him. Flashback. ". . .what if I tell you that you were not the only guy staring so intently at her? What if I were to tell you there was also someone else that noticed how pretty she was, what would you do?"Present"Who could it be?" He asked himself. Picking up his phone, he dialed Rachel's number. He was about calling her when he stopped. "I can't involve her."Standing up, he walked out of his office to the secretary's office. Looking round, he could only see Lilian Morgan. Seeing him, Lilian stood up immediately and greeted him. "Uhn. Rachel Lakes, where is she?" He asked. "She was called by Director Jobs not too long." She replied quickly. "Should I call her for you?""Never mind. You come instead." He replied and left. "
Roosevelt Kitchen.After the morning course, the whole chef in section B took a break and Isabella rushed to meet Josie. "Josie! Josie!" She called her as she approached her. "What is it again?" Josie asked as she washed her hands. "Again? Hey, what is wrong with you? You've been disrespecting me recently! What exactly is wrong with you? Have you gotten yourself a new wife?""What are you saying?" Josie asked as she grabbed a napkin to clean her hand. "Take a break and stop being a nuisance."Hey, Josie, it's really true! You've dumped me! You've dumped me, Josie Maran. How could you do this to me? Uhn? How could you? I trusted you!" Isabella ranted as she faked tears from her face. "Get lost, Isabella!" Josie shouted, smiling. "No way! I won't accept this!" Isabella told her as she picked up a knife. "Who is it? Who is the person that wants to salvage our relationship? Who?""Hey, Isabella!" Josie called. "Stop it.""No way! Tell me who it is. Noah?" She paused as Noah, Heidi and
Hernandez's House. Rita sat at the edge of her bed as she held her phone in anticipation. She stood up and paced round the room. Just then, a call came in. "What happened?" She talked quickly. "Why didn't you contact me since morning?""Don't get your hopes too high." came the caller's voice. "What are you saying?" She asked. "I'm not sure, but I think this search is leading me somewhere." He replied. "What do you mean?""Like I said, I'm not sure, but I'm trying to put the pieces of what I'm finding out together. But still, don't get your hopes too high. It might not be what you expect.""Just make it snappy already. I don't want mother to think I'm taking it slowly. You know how long she had to wait. It mustn't go beyond this year.""Rita." He called softly. "What is it?""Are you fine? Are you comfortable there?""Donald Ryan." She called. "I'm okay. I told you to worry less about me and focus more on what you were asked to do. If you keep on worrying about me like that you wo
"She died," he replied to her.His reply hit Josie like a sharp pin in her chest. She was expecting something like 'she left' or 'I never got to see her again' or 'she travelled and forgot about me' or anything related to that, but she was totally not expecting something like death. "I'm. . . I'm sorry.""It's not your fault, so why are you apologizing?""I never thought it could be something like that. I'm sorry for asking. It must have been hard for you to tell me that.""No. It wasn't. I was unable to forgive myself when she died. Do you want to know why?""Why?""Because I could not fulfill my mother's dying wish. She asked me to protect her, but I couldn't. That time was the worst time for me and I regret every thing that happened." Closing his eyes repeatedly, he fought back the tears that formed in his eyes. "Enough about Annette" He told her, trying to smile. "Was there a time when you were young that you felt bad? Probably because of something that happened?""Actually, I. .
Garden."Where are we?" Josie asked looking round. "A garden." He replied as he sat on a grass. "A garden? Ah! It's so dark and I can't really see what it looks like. I guess I should come around some other time during the day to get a better look at it." She said as she sat beside him. "But, what are we doing at a garden so late at night?""Just because." He replied looking up at the sky. Josie sighed and turned to face him. "Do you need someone to talk to?" She asked and he turned to face her. "Tell me anything you want to say. I promise to listen and I won't complain."Asher was quiet for a few seconds while fixing a stern gaze at her. "What's wrong? You don't have anything to say? But you look like you have tons of things going in your head. Are you really not going to say anything?" She asked and still got no reply from him. "Ah, what is this? If you keep on staring at me like that, I might have to run away.""Should we play a game?" He finally talked. "A game? What kind of
"I'm home!" Josie removed her shoes and arranged them beside the other shoes at the entrance of the house before stepping in. "Sister!" Drake Luth called happily as he rushed to meet her. She paused immediately she saw him. "Hey, Drake, what are you still doing here?!" She walked in and dropped her bag on the chair. "Mum! Mum!"Her mother came out with a tray. "You're here?""Mum, how many times do I have to tell you not to allow Drake stay here?""There's nothing wrong with that. He's still a small boy.""He's a small boy, but it's getting too frequent. Don't they get worried at his house? I mean how can they not be worried when their seven years old son is missing.""He's not missing. He's here.""Seriously, I don't understand his parent. Hey, Drake!!""Yes, sister.""What do you tell them at home when you leave?""Nothing. They don't know I leave the house.""See, see!" Josie exclaimed turning to her mother. "See? they don't know he sneaks out of the house. Drake, you'll get them