Chapter 1- I have a Man

[Olivia]

“Olivia, we've heard enough of your empty promises, you have one month to decide if you'll settle down or hand the company back to your grandma,” my dad's voice was firm but I detected a hint of disappointment like he was tired of me giving silly excuses.

My eyes snapped open, my mind reeling with the possibility of what he just said, a month? To find a man? I felt like I was being cornered, trapped with no escape.

“Are they selling husbands now at the mall?” I thought to myself, my heart raced like a runaway train.

I knew I had to do something, but what? The clock was ticking and my future was hanging in the air in front of me.

I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. “Fine, I have a man!” I declared, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I wanted to keep it a secret till I put some things together before introducing him to the family.” I blurted out avoiding eye contact with my Dad

My grandmother's eyes widened in shock, her mouth agape. “You have a man? She repeated, disbelief etched on her face.

I nodded, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Yes, I do! But…he's…he's on a business trip right now. Once he's back I'll bring him home.” I added trying to sound convincing.

Inside, I was dying. How did I just blurt that out? I couldn't believe my own words, but I think it's the best option, I thought to myself, at least even if it didn't work out anytime soon I could always claim he was still on a business trip.

“Then be sure to bring him home once he's back, but if it's another trick of yours and you don't intend to get married anytime soon, you'll have to step down, and that's final.” My Dad thundered, his voice dripped with venom.

I rolled my eyes at him, frustration etched all over my face, I picked up my black Dior bag that had been lying freely on the couch, and adjusted my heel to sit perfectly on my legs. “I'll be leaving now, I have some things to do at the office,” I said to them as I stormed out, still bitterly annoyed by their sudden attitude.

And who said marriage has anything to do with managing a company? All my cousins who are married, I can see how well they've been doing in handling their businesses- by causing trouble from one end to the other, sometimes Grandma will talk to me to help them sort their messes, and if marriage is supposed to determine how good someone can handle a company, why am I then doing better than them?

I stepped out of the sitting room, standing in the middle of our mansion, I looked at the garage where my black Range Rover was parked, I did not have any work to attend to, I had just said so to them to leave their annoying presence, the fact that my dad was even on my grandmother's side was the most annoying part of it, shouldn't he be on my side as his only child? What's with all this marriage stuff?

I stood still contemplating what to do, my eyes still settled on the garage, contemplating if I should head to my apartment. I live two hours away from my family's house. I sighed heavily as I settled on going the other direction, opposite the garage, I headed to the garden. I needed the fresh air and the warmth of the beautiful flowers to clear my head a bit. This small garden is my favorite place to be whenever I come home. Where my worries melted away and my soul could breathe.

As I entered the garden, the soft rustle of leaves and sweet fragrance of flowers enveloped me in a sense of peace. The warm sunlight casts a gentle glow, highlighting the vibrant colors and delicate textures of the blooms. I felt a sense of calm wash over me, like a soothing balm for my troubled mind. It was my happy place.

I went by the swing and sat on it, feeling the gentle sway and creek of the wooden slats as I settled in. The familiar motion was comforting, like a warm embrace, I let out a deep sigh as I gazed out at the garden's beauty. The memory of the only person who could have understood me in this situation and stood by me came rushing back, death didn't let me enjoy the motherly love I needed before it decided to take my best friend, my companion a few years back.

The memory of the confession I just made a few moments ago inside the house came rushing back to me, my breath caught in my throat like a lump of fear. I knew that if I failed to show up with a man, I'd be on the verge of losing the one company I cherished so much.

I stared at the blue sky, wishing my mum was here with me. I longed for a shoulder to lean on.

A man on a business trip? Huh…, Liv, you sounded so stupid back there, I scolded myself.

I pulled out my phone to call the one person I knew who could be of help to me in this situation, even when I knew how stupidly she was going to make fun of me

But still, I needed to call her, I dialed her number and just on the first ring she picked up, I took a deep breath and relaxed my shoulders.

“Hey Joan, I think I just made the most stupid mistake of my life, I'm in a big mess,” I spoke gently to her on the phone, my voice barely audible

“Olivia, what's wrong? And why is your voice so low, what happened?” She asked concern edged in her voice.

“It's old Mrs Simpson, they are on it again, and they were too serious this time that I had to lie, I had to lie, Joan, I don't know what to do,” I said trying to sound cool but my voice was betraying me.

“Hey babe, don't do that, don't…, if you dare shed any tears, then I'm hanging up this call. Where are you?” she asked, her voice gentle and soothing.

“I'm still at my family's house, I'm just taking some fresh air in the garden, I don't know what to do at this point, Joan I don't, I'm so confused.” I sighed warily.

“But what exactly did you lie about, I have to understand better for us to come up with a plan, and I hope it's not so bad,” she snapped back

“That my man is on a business trip, how dumb of me, I don't know why my grandma and Dad won't let me be,” I frowned, my fist turning into a ball.

“Your man? Olivia, are you secretly in a relationship, because the last time I checked you're a dead-ass single lady,” she asked. I could swear she was already raising an eyebrow ready to bounce on me if I kept such a thing hidden from her.

“Oh, how I wish the invisible young man would just appear, Joan, don't tell me you don't fucking understand what I'm trying to say,” I said to her, frustration evident in my tone.

I stood up from the swing I had been sitting on and walked over to the small kettle sitting by the flower pot where a beautiful Geranium bloomed. I picked it up and started pouring on it, from the kettle, trying to calm myself down.

“No way!! No way!! Olivia, hold on…hold on, you lied to Grandma about having a man when you don't? Olivia, you must be joking, you know how Grandma detests lies, so what do you intend to do now? She asked,” If I knew what I wanted to do I don't think I would have called her on the phone.

“Do you think if I had a solution, I would be here pacing around the garden with a kettle in my hand, trying to water a flower when I'm not a gardener?” I need your help, Joan, I don't know how but you have to do something, we have to find a way I can't lose now” I said to her, feeling my heartbeat increasing every second.

“You should get over here this minute” What were you thinking? You could have just worked out if you didn't have anything to say?” She replied.

“On it baby girl,” I said to her, if there's one thing Joan is good at, it's having a solution to almost every problem, I call her my mastermind, I quickly dropped the kettle I was holding, and increased my pace, as I made way to the garage where my car was parked, I was in a hurry to get to her? No need to ask her where we would be meeting, because I knew our normal spot to hang out if we needed to discuss something very sensitive.

I opened my car door and made my way inside, dragging my seat belt with frustration. I ignited my engine and made my way onto the busy road of Los Angeles. I was a bit happy and curious, happy that I was meeting my mastermind, but curious about the plan she would come up with.

What could it be?