Chapter Three

KELSO~WASHINGTON DC***

Hailey entered the house steadily, she found the way to her room without switching the lights on. By now, her parents would be asleep, that's her guess.

She entered her room and flung her bag to the floor, she then dropped herself on the bed. The activities that occurred earlier that night started flowing into her mind.

If only she hadn't found a place to hide, she doesn't know what would have been her fate.

"Who the hell is he? Carrying those hefty bodyguards along with him?" She mumbled to herself.

"Five million dollars?" She scoffed.

"F**k him for thinking I'm gonna succumb to his demands. I hope we don't cross paths again, or else, I'm just gonna kill him" she mumbled to herself.

She stood up from the bed tiredly and went to the bathroom to have her late-night shower. She returned and met her mom in her room.

"Mom, you aren't sleeping?" She asked in surprise.

Leah smiled.

"Why would I sleep when my daughter isn't back yet?" She asked back.

Hailey went to her closets and took her nighties, after putting them on, she went to join Leah on the bed.

"You shouldn't be worrying yourself about me anymore, I'm not a kid" she muttered.

"It must have been hard for you alone, right?" Leah suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry. Your dad and I are sorry, we hate the fact that you stress yourself just to make us happy" Leah said.

"Oh c'mon, why are you talking this way? I love it, right? And, I'm not complaining" Hailey said.

Leah pulled her into a hug.

"My daughter is just the best. I wonder why Jaime can't just be like you" she muttered, referring to Hailey's brother.

Hailey chuckled silently. Her brother is the laziest person she has ever come across on earth.

"Just leave him mom and focus on the restaurant," she said.

Leah nodded with a smile. She broke the hug and pecked her on her forehead.

"Get some sleep, you need it," she said and she stood up from the bed.

"Mom" Hailey called just as she was about to take a move.

"Hmm" Leah looked at her.

Hailey bit her lips. How could she tell her she lost one of her jobs?

"Nothing, I just wanna say good night" she quickly faked a smile.

Leah smiled.

"Goodnight to you too," she said before leaving the room.

Hailey exhaled loudly when Leah was finally out of the room. She laid down on the bed and drew the bed covers around her.

"I'm so tired," she moaned softly. Her eyes closed and she allowed nature to take its place.

****

CHARLES'S MANSION***

Charles stared at his reflection in the mirror, his hand went to his cheek and he quickly withdrew it as he groaned out in pain. He's presently in his room.

"F**k! Who's she? How could she just hit me that way thinking she's gonna go scot-free?" He stared down between his legs.

He chuckled but that turned to a frown immediately.

"No girl has ever refused me not to talk of hitting me... She's surely gonna pay for this" he stared at his red cheek in the mirror.

"Definitely" he muttered.

****

KELSO~WASHINGTON DC***

"Sis, are you just gonna be lying in there?" Jaime half yells as he enters Hailey's room. He's dressed in his uniform, he's a high school student.

Hailey closed her eyes tightly, pretending as if she didn't hear him.

"Hey? Hailey?" Jaime called as he moved closer to her. He brought his hand closer and shook her arm severally.

"Are you dead?" He asked when Hailey did not move.

"F**king go away" Hailey snapped angrily as she opened her eyes.

Jaime smiled.

"Anyways, Mom asked me to call you out for breakfast. Bye, I'm off to school" he waved and then left her room.

Hailey pulled the bed cover away from her as she got to her feet, she stretched her limbs for a short while.

"What do I tell mom now?" She found wondering aloud.

She went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and then to do her morning business. She returned and then dressed up before leaving her room.

She met her Mom and Dad in the living room, preparing to have their breakfast. Her eyes went to the clock on the wall and she itched her hair slowly.

"Good morning" she greeted.

"Morning" Leah and Sebastian, her dad, chorused at the same time.

"Where's Jaime?" Hailey asked as she settled herself on a chair.

"He went to school early, he claims to have an early morning assignment" Leah muttered.

Hailey nodded as she served herself breakfast.

"Are you okay?" Sebastian asked.

"Hmm? Why?" Hailey asked.

"If you can't cope with the numerous jobs you're doing, let us know. We can just focus on the restaurant alone" he said.

"I'm fine, Dad. Besides, Jaime has to go to school, remember?"

Leah sighed.

"She's just too stubborn," she muttered.

Hailey and Sebastian laughed.

"I can say she got that from you," he said.

"When are you leaving for work?" Leah suddenly asked.

Hailey choked on her food, Sebastian handed a glass of water to her and she gulped it down almost immediately.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded.

" I was given a day off today. My Boss won't be around today, so the restaurant will be closed for now" she lied smoothly.

"I'm glad you're finally gonna be taking a break," Leah said with a smile.

Hailey felt guilty for lying to them at that moment, but then, she had no choice.

****

MONTERIO INVESTMENT***

Charles, as usual, got out of his car when his car arrived at the company. The guards bowed their heads and he simply nodded his head before entering the company.

"Good morning, sir,"

"Good morning, Boss"

Charles simply waved his hand at them till he went out of sight.

"Now that the secretary post is vacant, this is my chance right now" Tiana smiled.

"What do you mean?" A girl beside her asked.

"Just watch me," Tiana muttered and walked away.

"What's up with her?" The girl wondered aloud, she shrugged and then went back to her post.

***

Tiana adjusted her dress when she got to Charles's door. She arranged her hair and raised her skirt a little bit higher, making sure her slender legs were visible.

She knocked on the door and she heard a faint 'come in'. She opened the door slowly and entered the office.

Charles raised his head and furrowed his brow when he saw her in his office. What was she doing here early in the morning?

"Good morning, sir," Tiana said as she walked to him.

"Do you need anything?" Charles asked, ignoring her greetings.

"Do you want me to make you your coffee?" Tiana asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"No, just get out," Charles said.

Tiana was taken aback by his sudden reply. She decided to still try further.

"If you need anything, just let me know sir. I'm pretty good at other things too" she said.

Charles accessed her and smiled. He deeply understood what she meant by her last statement.

"Do you wanna lose your job?" He asked.

"Sir?"

"Just get out before I lose my cool," he said.

Tiana stared at him for a while before rushing out of the office. What exactly is wrong with him? Isn't she beautiful enough?

Charles adjusted himself well before settling down to business.

The image of Hailey kept popping into his head and he stopped working. He placed his hand on his forehead and inhaled deeply.

"Who exactly are you?" He muttered.

No matter how much he thinks about it, the fact that she's proven hard to get makes him crave her the more. And once he wants something, he must surely get it.

****

HOURS LATER***

The door suddenly flings open loudly, Charles frowned but when he saw Mr Monterio with Celine behind him, he needed no soothsayer to tell him what they were here for.

He faced one of his workers that followed him into the office

"You can take your leave, I'll call for you later," he said.

"Okay sir," she said before leaving.

"How dare you?!" Mr Monterio roared immediately as they were alone.

"What do you mean?" Charles asked, pretending as though he doesn't know the reason why they were there.

"How could you do that to her? How could you suddenly call off your relationship?!" Mr Monterio shouted.

"Because she's a cheap bitch, and I'm not ready for relationship shit," Charles said.

"I'm fine on my own, forcing other girls on me only makes me hate you more" he added.

He faced Celine.

"By the way, you were sweet. But too bad, I don't date cheap girls. When you're done, please excuse yourself cos I'm really busy right now" he muttered.

"Charles!" Mr Monterio shouted.

Celine ran out of the place almost in tears, she just felt humiliated.

Charles ignored Mr Monterio as he picked some files, glancing at them repeatedly.

The door opened and Jace entered, he bowed his head in respect when he saw Mr Monterio in the office.

"We shall talk later," Mr Monterio said and left the office.

"What's wrong?" Jace asked.

"He just loves disturbing my life," Charles muttered.

Jace chuckled but it quickly turned to a frown.

"How could you? You left me yesterday without a word, are you truly my friend?"

"You were busy with your f**k mate so I decided not to disturb you," Charles said.

"And... I found something interesting" he suddenly smiled.

"What?"

"You'll get to know," Charles said.

Jace shook his head, his friend is something else... Really!

****

J&H RESTAURANT***

"When are you leaving for your work? It's past one already" Leah said to Hailey. Hailey is currently assisting her in the restaurant.

"I'll be leaving now, Mom. Make sure you don't stress yourself too much, okay?"

Leah smiled before nodding her head.

After attending to a few customers, Hailey removed the apron and went to the passage leading to their house.

She went to her room and quickly had a short bath. Afterwards, she dressed up and left the house.

"I hope I don't come across some useless perverts today" she mumbled to herself, referring to her encounter with Charles the previous night.

****

MONTERIO'S INVESTMENT***

"Don't you ever rest? Stop being a workaholic" a girl said as she entered Charles's office.

Charles took his eyes from the computer to face her. Jace already left a while ago.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"Why? Do I need some permission before coming to my brother's office?"

"What do you want?" Charles asked after some time. He knows his sister, she would never visit him if she doesn't need something from him.

"Erm..." She played with her hair, smiling sheepishly.

"Erm, brother.. You see..."

"Do you need money?" Charles asked, cutting her off.

She quickly nodded her head.

Charles dips his hand into his pocket and brings out his black card.

"Oh my! You're the best!" She giggled as she collected the card from him.

"Don't spend it rashly or else you won't like the outcome?" Charles said.

"I won't, brother," she said.

"By the way, when will you be done?" She asked as she made herself comfortable on a chair.

"When I'm done with this... Why?" He asked.

"Nothing, I just want us to leave together"

"Lilian..."

"I mean no harm, trust me" Lilian quickly said.

"Can we go out when you're done? I miss you, home is boring without you" she pouts.

"Fine, let's do that then," Charles said.

He continued his work while Lilian pressed her phone where she was.

After a while, he rounded up his work and then picked up his phone on the table. He turned to Lilian to discover she was already dozing off.

He smiled before getting to his feet, he walked to where she sat.

"Hey" he shook her slowly.

Lilian opened her eyes and smiled when she saw him.

"Are you done?" She asked.

He nodded.

She got to her feet and held his arm.

"Let's go," she said.

They both left the office, they met some employees on the way who bowed their heads when they sighted their Boss.

"Are you leaving now, sir?" Tiana asked as she smiled sweetly at him.

"What do you think?" Lilian asked.

She faced Charles with a smile.

"Let's go, brother" she muttered and they both left.

Tiana turned to look at them with a frown on her face.

"Who does she think she is?" She mumbled.

"The Boss's sister. If you want to have the boss, then you must win her heart first. You know, he doesn't joke with his sister" Amelia, another worker said.

"Whatever, I just hate the way she acts," Tiana said.

"Get back to work and don't idle away," Amelia said and then walked away.

Tiana scoffed.

"So annoying," she muttered.

****

The guards opened the door for Charles and Lilian when they got outside of the company.

"Where should we go, brother?" Lilian asked after they both settled inside the car.

"You decide," Charles simply said.

"Let's stop at a grocery shop nearby, I'm suddenly craving junk food," Lilian said.

Charles turned to her, staring at her in disbelief.

"Why? The fact that we're rich doesn't mean I can't eat junk food, right?"

Charles shook his head before facing the driver.

"Take us to any grocery shop nearby" he ordered.

"No, I have a place in mind," Lilian quickly interrupted.

"Just do as she wishes," Charles said.

The driver nodded, he started the ignition and the car zoomed off immediately with Charles' guards driving behind them.

****

WEGMANS GROCERY'S STORE***

"Is this the place?" The driver asked when Lilian asked him to stop the car.

"Yes"

Charles raised his head from his phone and stared at his surroundings, he scoffed before facing Lilian.

"Really? This place of all places?"

Lilian smiled.

"I just love the attendant here, she's so pretty. Let's go, brother" she said, getting out of the car.

"I'm gonna wait in here for you, go ahead"

"I'm not going to accept that, don't you miss me?"

"Fine, let's just go," Charles said in defeat.

He came down from the car and his guards did the same from their car.

"Welcome sir and ma'am" Hailey smiled when she saw them coming in. She's the one in charge of the place in the afternoon, her Boss usually picks up her children from school and then goes home afterwards.

Hailey raised her head from the table and a frown formed on her face when she saw Charles.

"You?" She scoffed.

Charles too wasn't left out. He was also surprised when he saw her.

"Did you stalk me here too?" Hailey asked.

"Do you know each other?" Lilian asked, staring at the duo.

"Well... You can say yes" Charles said as a smirk found its way to his lips.

"How about I make you pay for what you did last night?" Charles muttered, staring intently at Hailey.

"I'm never gonna fall for your tricks," Hailey muttered, raising her chin proudly.

"Really?" Charles chuckled.

An evil thought crept into his mind and he smiled, he was surely going to do everything to make sure she ends up in his bed. Any f**king thing.

No girl can humiliate him and then go scot-free.