*FRENZY* They all started moving slowly except for Olivia who stood rigid in a spot with her head tilted upwards. Mason followed her line of sight and saw the snake hanging on a chandelier right above her head. “And you said it can’t fly!!” Michelle screamed scrambling further away up the stairs. “Move away from there, Olivia.” Derek said but she just stood there in shock. ‘So dramatic.’ Mason thought shaking his head. “I- I can’t move.” She stuttered and he rolled his eyes moving towards her. “I should have a clear shot from here.” One of the guards said and Mason stopped mid-step to look in the guard’s direction before telling him how stupid he was. “It’s a fucking chandelier, it’s going to dro-” He didn’t finish his sentence because everything slowed down as he watched the dumbo’s finger moved to the trigger. He pushed forward and the next thing that was heard was a gunshot followed by a crash. Olivia was underneath Mason as he had shielded her with his body. The chandelie
*PARTY* It was Friday and Olivia was waiting at the parking area for Ace as usual. She didn't find any of her classes interesting at all, either she zoned out or doze off and the time just seemed very slow the whole day. She hasn't seen her dad since the beginning of the week. He had come back from somewhere last week Saturday and was surprised to hear of what had taken place in his absence. He had laughed at the whole issue and Olivia had decided to ignore him. However, he promised to scold his friend for gifting her a snake and that was when she eased up. That night, Peter had informed everyone that he had a trip to go on and doesn’t know when he will be back, he was gone before Olivia woke up. That same day, Ruby came home from God-knows-where after being absent for a few days and she seems to not be in the mood for anyone, not even her sister, Michelle. Ace had told Olivia that Peter will be back home today and Olivia was excited realizing how much she had really missed him
*TOUCHING* Had Mason known that Olivia has zero tolerance for alcohol, he wouldn’t have taken it near her let alone offering it to her.The worst part of it was that Scarlet was nowhere to be found. He has seen many people misbehave after getting drunk but Olivia? She took the cake. He looked towards her again and this time she was sitting gently beside him after he dragged her away from the pool she was trying to jump in. He took her silence as an opportunity to look around for Ace and Derek but there was no sign of them so he called Derek. It took a lot of rings with him pacing around before Derek picked up. He explained the situation to Derek and told him to get Ace so they could leave. And what he wasn't expecting happened. When he looked back to check on Olivia, she was gone. He sighed heavily and started looking around. He was starting to get upset now as this was frustrating him. He spots her at the bar where she was dragging a bottle of Vodka with a man twice her size.
*AFTERMATH* Olivia jolted up from the bed sweating profusely. Her head was pounding and her heart pumping abnormally. She just had a nightmare. She breath in and out trying to steady her heartbeat. In her dream, she saw herself in a tank and looking up, Mason's face could be seen and he was grinning at her. He would switch the water on and Olivia would start shouting but he would drain the water whenever it was up to her nose, he kept on repeating the process until it was time to drain the water again but he didn't and Olivia started to drown. The last thing she heard was his wicked laughter before she woke up breathing heavily. ‘It was just a dream, it was just a dream. Mason would never do that.’ While she was calming herself down, the memories of the previous night started coming back to her. When she started remembering all what she did, that's when she felt like the dream she just had might just come to pass. She looked at the clock and the time was twenty seven minutes p
*AFTERMATH* Olivia didn't reach the stairs before she was tackled to the floor and she felt something wet all over her face. She opened her eyes and the dog was licking her face. The dog looked even bigger from the position she was on the ground. ‘Yuck !!’ The dog was soon dragged off her and she couldn't even get angry when the bodyguard started laughing. "My bad, miss. I should have held on to the leash tighter." He said after a while and Olivia was still cleaning her face. "It's fine, you can call me Olivia though." She said. "The dog actually loves you." He said walking closer. "Try patting its head." ‘Uhh?’ "I would rather not." She said taking a step back. "Come on. I promise he's the gentlest among the other dogs." He persuaded. She took a half step forward when she saw he wouldn't give up. She stretched out her left palm and after what felt like forever, her palm touched the dog's head and she wasn't attacked like she expected. She moved more closer using her two
*SCARED* Olivia was sitting in her third class of the day waiting for the lecturer as she scribbled in her note. Yesterday's church service was fun, Scarlet had went with her and Ace. Derek did came down with some bruises the last time she saw him. ‘Mason's handwork.’ Scarlet's relationship with Michael was now going smoothly and he was not angry anymore. Scarlet likes Michael a lot judging by the way her face lights up whenever he was around. Olivia believes that Scarlet was the closest friend he has since she has never seen any friend with him. "Olivia Summers!!" She heard and jumped in her seat. "Yes sir?" She answered Mr Thompson. "Will you please focus?" The lecturer sighed and she nodded sinking into her seat trying to avoid the several eyes looking in her direction. Almost all the lecturers knew her by name and she doesn’t even know half of them. ‘When did he come in?’ Olivia wondered referring to the lecturer. "Probably while you were daydreaming." A voice spoke be
*SCARED* "Mason !!" Olivia exclaimed. He rolled down the window and told her to get in. She definitely doesn't need to be told twice. The car was warm and she could sleep in it all day. She met Mason's eye which was already on hers, he shook his head before taking off his Red hoodie and then he threw it on her face before starting the car. She pouted as she wore the hoodie and she was really really holding herself back from repeating history. The smell of the hoodie surrounded her but she talked herself out of sniffing it. "Where's your phone?" He asked. "I left it in Michael's car, Michelle and Scarlet had a misunder-" She starts explaining but he cut her off. "I know what happened." ‘Okay.’ "How did you find me?" She asked curiously. "I thought no one was going to find me." She added silently. "I will always find you." He said clearly and loud enough without taking his eye off the road and Olivia just sat there rigidly looking straight ahead with her eyes wide. ‘Dear hea
*FIRST KISS* Okay, so Olivia has officially avoided Mason for two days after she slept off in his room. He wasn’t in his room when she woke up that day, she remembered how she had sprinted back to the guest room so he wouldn’t meet her in his room. She just had the urge to avoid him after that day. He made the job easier for her because he wasn’t available as before, he didn’t even visit their house. Olivia’s plan went out the window when she got to the parking lot today and saw that only his car was there. Ace and Michael’s car were nowhere to be found. She stayed a few steps away eyeing the car contemplating on whether she should approach him or not. She took out her phone and called Ace. He picked up and he sounded like someone who just finished a marathon. He told her something came up and Mason will take her home, he hung up after saying that even though she was the one who called him, which made Olivia assumed that he must really be busy. She sighed softly and dragged he
[OLIVIA] [A YEAR LATER.]................. Bare footed, with the heavy clothing weighing me down, I ran. Without looking back, I willed my feet to continue moving with just one destination in mind. The sound of the unrelenting footstep behind me pumped my adrenalin till I saw the door wide open and thanked the heavens. I ran towards Abigail and hid behind her using her as a shield as I breath heavily. She was looking around in shock trying to find the source of my problem. Few seconds later, Scarlet came running through the door with her eyes immediately spotting mine. She came to a stop seeing her mother in between us and she bent over trying to catch her breath too. “How are you able …..able…to run so fast in what you are we…wearing?” She managed to speak out. “Oh heavens! Why are you chasing the bride, Scarlet?” Her mother asked. “She was trying to dump that on my dress.” I pointed to the container in Scarlet’s hand. Michelle suddenly came behind her and snatched the containe
[MASON]“You know, I told my brother you were there when he was born and he thought I was lying.” Willow said pointing at the boy who was busy playing a game on what I assumed will be her phone, he was very absorbed in it that he wasn’t paying attention to us at all.“He wouldn’t remember. He was two years old the last time I saw him.” I chuckled.“Yeah, that was when we broke up.”“Wait, how old is he?” Olivia asked.“He’s ten.” Willow answered.“If you guys broke up when he was two, then that means Mason was …..seventeen years old.” Olivia reasoned. “At what age did both started dating?” Olivia looked at me with accusing eyes.“Fifteen, we are the same age. We dated for two years but we’ve known each other longer than that.” Willow answered and I wished they could bring up another topic already.“Fifteen? Is that legal?” Olivia pinched my butt again and I actually winced this time.I’m definitely getting my revenge later.“It’s called puppy love, Olivia. They got together as virgins
[MASON]I was relieved after confirming that Marcus had indeed taken guards with him, the ones that stay in the background and blend in staying hidden unless there is really a threat.All I know is the Don’s presence here comes with a lot of danger. Him stepping out of his safe zone and domain will make his opponents think that he is now vulnerable enough and they would do anything to try to get the upper hand, even if it means harming someone in his life, whoever it may be.That was why I’ve been extra careful about Olivia’s movement since the Don arrived. Her dad is the Don’s shadow after all. We just finished a meeting when I had received Olivia’s text that comprises of pictures letting me know that she and Gray were not in the house.The meeting comprised of the Don, Gerald, Carlos, Peter and I. Dad didn’t beat around the bush at all, he had went straight to the point. He apologized to Gerald without letting his pride get in the way.They apologized not for killing his brother who
[OLIVIA]The unfamiliar lady was staring again but then she smiled widely and that was when I realized, I wasn’t the one she had been glancing at, it was Marcus. The first time I noticed her gaze I had been sitting next to Marcus and now I’m also sitting beside him after Julius arrived.“What the fuck?” Marcus mumbled out still staring at her.The lady stood up and was coming towards us.“Who is she?” I asked.“Your fiance’s ex-girlfriend.” Marcus replied with mischievousness glinting in his eyes.“What? How come she is here?” I asked looking back at the lady who was still approaching us.“Mason didn’t tell you they met before you came here? They saw each other coincidentally and talked for a while.” Marcus asked and even though I love that he was telling me the truth to every questions I asked, the way he was so blunt about it amazed me.Now remembering, Mason did tell me he met with her. He had mentioned it when I had confronted him about Anastasia’s comment the first time she saw m
[OLIVIA]We all sat in a circle speaking one after the other with smiles on our faces. Leo was in Julius’ lap with the man’s hoodie held tightly in his grasp, I guess he felt like he was going to disappear again.Laurel had her head on his shoulder with her eyes still dripping and she was occasionally wiping it away. We all just did as if it was normal, the woman was very excited to see her husband again.Turns out I had misunderstood earlier thinking the man was Leo’s biological father. I didn’t know Leo considers Julius his dad nor did I think he would still remember him since he was very young when Julius was put away but the young boy did, he remembers the man who loves him immensely and always read him bedtime stories before sleep.Besides, Laurel said ever since Julius was locked up, she will always show her son pictures of her husband and bring up memories about the three of them just so Leo won’t forget Julius. It was hard because her doing that meant that Leo would be constan
[OLIVIA]“You better shut your mouth, Gray.” Marcus warned.The little boy reached Marcus and hugged his legs while Marcus patted his head. After they were done with their greeting. Marcus took his hand and they walked towards a woman seated on a spread-out fabric. She was already watching us.She smiled as we approach and then stood up.“Lauren.” Marcus smiled before giving her a hug.“I’m so glad you could make it. This one wouldn’t stop asking me when his uncle Marcus would be coming.” The woman said and the little boy looked embarrassed hiding his face behind his palms.So adorable.Marcus knelt on one knee removing the boy’s palms from his face.“Happy birthday, Leo.” He said before stretching out the container of fish rolls and the little wrapped box towards the boy.“My birthday gift?” The boy asked with a tone that made me wonder if he has never received a birthday gift before.“Yes. It’s all yours, buddy. Open it when you get home.” Marcus replied and the boy smiled happily n
[OLIVIA]“Come on Marcus, are you going to ignore me forever?” I whined.Mason has been gone the whole day and I’ve been very bored staying at home. Marcus was still holding a grudge against me because of what happened two days ago. His laptop slipped from my hands, it wasn’t intentional but he does not care whether it was intentional or if it was an accident.I even said I would buy him a new one but he declined. To be honest, I do not think any damage was done to the laptop at all after it fell but Marcus had snatched it away from my hands when I went to pick it. The screen was still on and there wasn’t even a crack. Nevertheless, he claimed I had ruined it and was yelling at me.What upset him the more was the fact that Mason had threatened to break his bones the next time he talks or yells at me the way he did. He has been ignoring me ever since but right now, I really need a companion before I go insane.“Should I cook for you?” I asked him and watched him blink rapidly biting h
[MASON] Everyone was outside preparing to go back to the hotel as the Don refused to spend the night in an unfamiliar environment. I just learned that the hotel they were staying at belongs to one of his close associates and so it was completely safe for him and his family.It was very dark outside and I plan on sending an extra security detail after them. Not being paranoid but one can’t be too careful. Carelessness however brings about nothing but disaster.The Don called me aside and we walked a few distance away from the others.“I just wanted to say, happy birthday.” He said with a slight smile.I checked my watch to see that the time was two minutes to twelve and I chuckled. It was almost the second day and past our birthdays.“I’m still on time.” The Don chuckles and I do the same.“Thanks.” I replied and he nodded before taking out something from his pockets and handing it to me.It was a flash and I was immediately curious to know what was on it.“I’m sorry, for everything.
[OLIVIA] Marcus was in his seat chattering away with Scarlet who was very excited on hearing the new happenings in his life. Thankfully, Scarlet had a rethink at the last minute earlier and pause in her plan of hauling her heel at Marcus. “Soooo, still no girlfriend?” Scarlet asked her brother who cringed at her question. Marcus shook his head and she shifted forwards staring at him differently which made Marcus stared back at her skeptically. “Just tell the truth, brother. Are you asexual?” Scarlet asked seriously. “All because I don’t have time for dating right now?” Marcus rolled his eyes at her. “Then, when will you have the time? You are pushing thirty!” “Get off my case, Scarlet. Here, have this!” Marcus shoved some food into her mouth and she glared at him while chewing at the same time. The sight was quite funny to me and almost everyone at the table found it funny too. “I need to attend to a situation. Will be back in a few minutes.” Mason whispered into my ears and