Tell her everything, if you care for her…******Tom was too weak to protest, so he surrendered as he laid there with panting breath.“I will get you some hot soup for the cold. You should have had it in the night but you went unconscious again.” Martha told him as she left the room.Soon she came back with a bowl of soup and, assisting Tom to raise his head, she fed him from the spoon in a tiny dose.“No more, please, I feel weak.” Tom muttered as he dropped his head to the side.“But you need to take something for strength and this soup will help.” Martha explained softly.“I don’t like it, it’s too hot.” He rejected.“I know, but please, take some more.” Not waiting for his response, she fed him a few more spoons before putting the bowl by the side.“Now, I will raise the duvet to your shoulder to make you sweat out the cold. Soon, you will feel a bit better, okay?” She reassured him as she quickly worked around him.“Okay.” Tom closed his eyes tiredly.Moving on silent feet so as
It's impossible for my mother to hate the woman I love… ******* “Mike no, your mum will never forgive me if we are late or worse, if we miss breakfast. She specifically gave me the time yesterday after dinner.” Liza pushed at his chest uselessly. “Never forgive you?” Mike snorted, “My dear, in case you failed to notice yesterday at dinner, my mum is so in love with you she can’t do anything but forgive you of any crime. Even if the crime is you hurting her favourite son.” Mike said with a derisive twist of his lips. “Don’t be silly.” Liza waved off his assertions with laughter but there was a rosy glow to her cheek. Indeed she had felt loved yesterday after meeting his family. Contrary to her fear and expectations, Mike’s family had acted so normal, she had quickly forgotten about the difference in status. Happy to finally see her loving son in love, his gentle looking mother had embraced Liza with a warm hug before welcoming her into their home in soft lilting voice. And meetin
Mind your business…******“Why are you loving my woman every minute?” There was a big frown on Mike’s face. “Because it takes a special woman to put you in your place. When you said you were bringing home a lady, to be honest... you prefer me to be honest right?” He asked in retrospect.“Has that ever stopped you?” Mike snorted sarcastically.“Good. Like I was saying, when you said you were bringing home a lady to introduce to the family, I must admit I was scared and worried, thinking it would be one of those bimbos that usually fan all over you. Seeing that Liza is so different from them is an unexpected blessing and a relief, I can’t stand those silly things around here.” Jordan told him bluntly.The table was so quiet after this statement that Liza could not help but cough loudly, and when Mike glared at her and Jordan simultaneously, she could not help it, she laughed and his sisters joined her.Even their mum gave a chuckle.“Be glad you are my big brother, else I will be putt
Control your emotions…******Unable to believe what just happened, Tom and Martha turned simultaneously to stare into each other’s eyes. Then...“Why did you do that?” Tom’s voice was quiet with shock as he held unto his blazing cheek.“Yo...you...you kept laughing and would not stop, so I had to stop you before it would lead to something else.” Martha explained firmly despite her fear of the situation.“You slapped me because you did not want me to laugh?” The logic of it was not clear to Tom as he kept watching her with blazing eyes that were more confused than angry.“No, I slapped you because I knew the laughter was from shock.” Martha corrected and then she took a deep breath.“Shock?” Tom doesn’t understand.“Tommy, I know you love Belina and with everything that has happened since you came back and now, hearing she was married while thinking she was dead, I know you kind of lost it. But please, don’t be like this.” Martha implored.“Don’t be like how?” Tom asked quietly.“Like
Allow me a chance to tell you my story…******Instinctively, Martha knew he was about to unlock the door to who he actually was and why he was what he was. His background will tell her all she needs to know about the man she had loved and craved for, silently, and for several years.Martha nodded firmly. “I promise not to interrupt your story unless it is necessary, Tom.” She could afford to do that. She had waited too long for this reality. Martha accepted the truth of this in her heart as she folded her hands primly on her laps, ready to listen to Tom and what shaped him to be who he is today.“Thank you!” Tom acknowledged as he took a calming breath.******After the weekend they just had in Mike’s family home, Liza was feeling a bit of laziness as they drove to work the following Monday. For the third time in few minutes, she suppressed a yawn with the back of her hand.“Want to take a break and go back home?” Mike knew the weekend had been tiring for her. Not out of work or an
Be happy for people doing good…******She knew the meaning of that look from Mike!‘Woe betides anyone careless enough to show its disapproval of Mike and Liza together. They better hide their displeasure very well, else they will have Mike to contend with.’ Liza got the message loud and clear and while she was pleased to know Mike would support her all the way, she also felt some pity for those people.“Then I hope they are happy for us. I don’t want you slaying heads off for my sake.” Liza told him softly.“My dear, not just heads, I will also savage bodies and hearts for you.” Mike said this in a loud whisper just as the lift brought them to their floor.Unwilling to miss the rest of the show, the others dragged their feet as they evacuated the elevator. Following Liza and Mike into the office lobby, they kept glancing at one another, in anticipation of the news they would share among themselves later.Glancing up suddenly, Mike saw that and his look changed. He made a quick deci
Unreciprocated love is a friend of pain and heartbreak …******Since none of them knew the bride, they had all felt it was none of their business to ask about the bride. On the wedding day, they would meet her. But now that the boss mentioned it, it seemed he wanted them to acknowledge her. Could it be someone they know? Or is this just his way of trying to introduce her name? They all wondered in silence. Suddenly, someone spoke for them.“We know you are a powerful man, boss, which means you would also be taking a wife from a status family. But if you want us to know her name?” “Yes, Mr. Stanford, we would love to know the name of your would - be – wife, so we can pay our respect anytime we meet her outside.” John called respectively.When Mike heard this, he could not help it, his face broke into a wide grin.“Not just outside, John, even inside. My fiancée is someone you all know.” Mike was happy to announce this as he finally gave his attention to the woman beside him.Drawin
A true love is worthy of a Media Announcement…******Dropping her red colour purse on her desk as she took a seat, Liza gave a loud sigh.She really did not know how to feel; relieved to know everything had been let out and no need for secretive meetings? ‘Or should I be sad because of that look I glimpsed on John’s face?’ He looked so wretched after that sardonic look from Mike that Liza wanted to go to him to comfort him. To be candid, Liza is really surprised with all she was feeling, considering she had never encouraged John nor thought of them as an item. It was not her fault that he had feelings for her despite not giving him any familial attention. She had always been professional with all the staff members and now, he is making her feel like she betrayed him.Holy cow! The guy sure knew how to pull in the punches with that boyish hurtful look. Liza found it was hard for her to ignore him totally despite not having any feelings for him. Well, that would be a lie. She felt s
A good ending for all… ****** Two weeks Later, Mike sent a bunch of flowers to Tom’s room at the hospital, having heard he was responding to treatment and would soon be discharged. He had also heard that with the help of his father’s team, his father was flown to London to be with his son at his critical moment. Mike felt for them but he knew they would get through it and survive together. That’s just life! It will throw you but if you are willing to stand again, everything will work out. Liza had heard him on the phone when he was ordering for the flowers and she had thought the flowers were to wish Tom a quick recovery and to also cheer him up. But only Mike knew that the real reason he sent the beautiful bunch of flowers was to silently thank Tom for indirectly bringing them back together. By pointing out some home truths to Liza, he made her see what she should have known, ‘That Mike would always be there for her’. For that alone, it shows the guy had some redeeming trait
We all deserve genuine love… ****** For long moments, they looked into each other’s eyes with trusting eyes that suddenly turned passionate. Mike’s eyes flared with a knowing light and Liza gave an unconscious gasp. Mike grinned as he lightly pushed her to continue walking to the car! “You always seem to be surprised every time I make my love and passion obvious, why?” He had always wanted to ask her. “I don’t know, Mike. Maybe because I never truly believed you could really love me, so I am always surprised when I see the evidence of it.” She admitted softly. Mike did not say anything to that as he opened the door for her to go in. Then he circled the car to join her and only then did he turn to look at her. “But that’s bullshit, babe. I have been showing you nothing but my love since we started dating.” Mike reminded her. “I know, Mike, but I guess it was just hard for me to believe and understand. I mean, I grew up without knowing much love, so how would I have recognized i
Give an option of doubt…*****Putting the phone back into his pocket, Mike turned to go back to Liza and that was when he saw her, watching him with a dazed look.“You heard everything, right?” Tiredly, he asked her, unable to hide it again.Liza nodded slowly.“I am sorry, Liza, but it is not what you think. I can explain, okay?” Mike was worried she might misunderstand.Again, Liza nodded slowly.“I am sure you have a reasonable explanation Mike and I promise to listen without judging you.” Liza acknowledged softly.Relieved, Mike nodded as he walked to her.“Thank you. I promise to tell you everything without hiding a word.” He embraced her soft body to him, knowing that he needed the warmth.Liza accepted his words and actions with a smile as she returned his embrace.******The following morning, Liza and Mike walked out of the old building with Martha who was holding tightly to the purple eyed, immensely bruised Tom.His left eyes were almost closed and Liza feared he might nev
Be honest with your loved ones… ******* What happened the next moment was so sudden, Mike was sure he was about to have a heart failure. “Oh my God—Oh my God—-Oh my God.” Liza kept crying. Recovering himself, Mike quickly left his seat to hold onto her shoulders. “Liza? Are you okay? Talk to me.” He saw the distressful emotion she was in and he could not bear it. It’s a fact that whatever affected Liza would get to Mike. Her joy and sadness were equally part of him. “I totally forgot, Mike. I did not mean to, but I forgot. I am a bad person. A very bad evil lady.” She cried softly while holding onto him. “Whatever it is Liza, we will get through it together, but I will not accept any disparaging word on your person. You are not a bad person and neither are you evil. So right now, I want you to take a deep breath and tell me what this is all about.” A little bit calmed by Mike’s reasonable voice, Liza took a calming breath. “It’s Tom, Mike, I totally forgot about him.” Liza exp
Apologies don't make you less of a man… **** Helping each other to dress up four hours later after a short nap on his office sofa bed, Liza sent a smug smile across to Mike. “You need to apologise to your staff Mike, they did not deserve the treatments you have been melting out on them.” Liza pointed out and Mike groaned. He did not have to ask Liza, he should have known Stella would tell her all about it. “I am serious, Mike, you need to apologise. Just imagine if any of your staff is acting unprofessional just because they are going through a lot at home. Would you accept that, even if you try to be understanding towards their plight?” Liza demanded to know. “I am the boss, Liza, it is different.” He pointed out arrogantly, trying to cover up. but he knew she was right. ‘That’s the thing about Liza, she was always almost right.’ He thought fondly with another groan. “No Mike, there is nothing different about it. They are humans and if you are truly the man I know you to be, I
A forgiving spirit is a kind one…*******Typing furiously away at her system while equally muttering furiously to herself, Stella was not aware of the person at her desk until she heard a chuckle which made her jump in fright.“Is the building on fire or what?” Liza asked with an amused gaze while watching the different emotions flashing across the face of her former senior colleague.“Liza Stanford, you scared me.” Stella cried, turning her full glare on the innocent Liza.“Uh oh wow, take it easy with the glare okay? I’m innocent of whatever the crime was.” Chuckling, she raised her hands in mock surrender.Stella snorted, unimpressed.Innocent her foot! Whatever their boss was going through, Stella knew Liza had a hand in it and even if it’s not in Stella’s place to say it out loud, she just hoped they could settle whatever it was between them.Having been married for several years now, she knew it was not always smooth sailing between couples.Just look at her and her husband Leo
Correct your mistakes once you know it… ******At the other end, Liza kept staring at the silent phone in her hand. Mike had dropped the call. Without telling her it was a joke. Which meant that truly, he was pushing for a divorce? ‘No way! Over my dead body.’ She swore violently as she ran to the bathroom. Almost tearing off the clothes on her body, she hurriedly lathered the washing clothes with soap as she switched on the shower, full blast. Dressing with haste, five minutes later, Liza was walking down the stairs, smartly dressed in one of her office clothes. But before she could cover the last step, one of the maids walked in from the hallway to greet her respectfully. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Stanford.” “Good afternoon Mary. I am on my way out and I might not be back for a while.” She said in a distracted tone while checking her bag to make certain she had all she wanted. “Oh okay Madam, but I was just on my way upstairs to tell you there is a visitor at the door asking fo
A disappointed heart is always heavy…****Glaring fiercely at the door of his office, willing any of his staff to walk through the door so he could at least have an excuse to vent his frustrations, his eyes caught the favourite coffee mug on his table and picking it up, he threw it violently at the wall and the smashing sound gave him a momentary satisfaction.At that exact moment, the Head of Sales Department was on his way to discuss the latest marketing pitch with the boss after deciding to brave the lion’s then. Even his colleagues had teased him when he casually told them he was in to see the boss.There had been teasing calls about his head and they had all laughed, saying by the time Mike Stanford was done blasting him off, his considered small head would become bigger as it rolled on the floor. Someone had even said he was sure he would come out without his tongue in his mouth.Of course, he had scoffed disdainfully, not giving them the chance to see his fear.Only the Head o
The surprise package…*****Liza dismissed the maid and, turning with a determined step, she hurriedly walked to the door just as the person pressed the bell again. Liza groaned ferociously as she pulled the chain from the back of the door.“Who the hell are you that you want to bring down the whole house just to get what you want?” Liza blasted the person with furious eyes even before the door was completely open.The short bald man that was standing at the door blinked owlishly up at her, surprised by the unexpected attack.“I—I didn’t--hmm aha…” The man stopped coughing slightly but when he took a little glance up, he saw Liza was still furious, so he dropped his eyes to try again.“I—I’m—sorry madam. I was just trying to do my job.” He stammered in a voice that was a bit scared.Liza glared the more upon hearing this silly talk. “Excuse me? You mean your job is to disturb my peace?” “No—No—of—course not, madam. I was just trying to get the attention of whoever is in the house.” H