Restitution and good conscience…
*****
“You really think this will work?” Tom asked his father.
“There is no harm in trying, and think of it this way, making restitution or trying your best to make restitution will go a long way in appeasing your own conscience and with that, you can live the rest of your life in peace.” Mr. Thompson told him in wisdom.
“And Liza? What if she did not make it? What if I found out she is dead? That I killed her?” Tom asked the worst question they had all been dreading in their hearts.
“Her name is Liza? What a sweet name!” His father procrastinated, unable to face the question his son just asked.
“Don’t evade the question, Dad. What if she did not make it like the others?” Tom asked again.
“Then I’m afraid we will have to face the music. We will have to go to the police station and conf
Love should be shared…*****Liza also froze when she realised what she just revealed. Worried about offending Mike with her feelings, she thought to laugh it off.“I mean I love you as a friend, nothing serious please.” She laughs as she tried to wave it off.Not saying a word, Mike got up and bending, he lifted her into his arms and took her upstairs.Wondering what was going on, Liza saw what Mike had done and she froze in his arms.In the room, Mike had prepared a bath for her while she was asleep, but that was not the surprise. The surprise was the lighted candles all over the room with the roses floating on the water and the ones scattered over the floor.Dropping Liza to her feet, Mike held her hand in his large hands as he walked with her to the room.“Will you do me the honours of having a bath soak with me?” Mike asked solemnly.
Never doubt the love of a father… ***** Mr. Thompson sighed! I understand how you feel, son, but don’t worry about me, I will be fine. Didn’t you noticed I had lots of food and other stuff in the house when you came? I have a team that usually buys me what will last me for a month. If you are here next month, you will meet them unless you want to be handling things henceforth.” Mr. Thompson told him simply. “Yes, I noticed and to be honest, I was confused wondering how you were able to get those things. But at the time, I could not ask because I thought you were that person.” Tom laughed despite everything. “Well, I’m a rich man son, we have money in all sincerity, so it’s quite easy even for a blind man to get whatever he wants if he has the money.” Mr. Thompson's lips moved in a smile. “Rich? I don’t understand, Dad.” Tom moved to sit by his Dad. “Remember how I went to war and left your preg
The Heavens are watching…*****Walking to the bedroom, Tom stopped to look at the card and paper in his hand before turning to also look at his father. Shaking his head, he pinched himself to check if it was a dream.Feeling the pain of his action, he knew it was not a dream and he felt overwhelmed.‘Who would have known that he had a real father somewhere and that meeting him would erase all the sufferings he had endured as a kid and change his life for the better?’ Tom was thinking hard as he packed his few clothes inside his backpack.Zipping his bag, he looked upward to the heavens, and sent a word of thanks to his dead Mum who was probably watching over them.Walking back to the sitting room where his father was still seated, staring at nothing, Tom decided when and if he should come back to the house, he would have to find a way of making his father’s life more interesting and
No dirty games in love…******‘How can he calmly sit there consuming his food after declaring his love to a woman? This man is really impossible.’ Liza fumed as she toyed with her food while stifling a glance at Mike.Mike was aware of the constant glare Liza was sending him but he decided to play it by ear and act unconcerned. He knew she was curious to know if he meant his words of affection.But having denied her own feelings immediately after confessing her love, he wanted her to suffer a bit, wondering if he was also teasing her.“Ahem!” Liza coughed to draw his attention but he barely spared her a glance.“Drink water, dear.” Mike told her while burying his face in his plate to hide his humour.“Cough, cough and more cough.” Liza went wild with her drama, determined to get Mike’s attention.“Take more water, dear, Bless y
A little bit of craziness is allowed in love…*****“Oh Mike, I love you so much.” She told him.“I know.” Mike replied smugly.Shocked because she had believed she did a good job in hiding her feelings, Liza drew back to look into Mike’s eyes.“You knew? Since when?” Liza demanded to know, angry to think she was so transparent.“Why are you angry, babe?” Mike asked as he held onto her tensed body.“Answer the damn question Mike.” Liza gritted her teeth.“Well, I suspected after we started making love because I don’t think any woman could do so much with a man she did not care about but I became so sure today after you told me you loved me even though you tried to wave it off with words.” Mike explained in puzzlement when he again felt Liza’s body relaxing on his hands.
Plenty of love and a little of war can be fun…*******About to flounce out of the room, leaving Mike to stew in his annoyance, Liza hissed.“And where in hell do you think you are going?” Mike demanded as he grabbed her arms.“To the bathroom.” Liza shouted into his face.“Don’t you dare walk out on me, I won’t tolerate it.” Mike told her in a cold voice.“And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” Liza returned in a cold tone.“The man who loves you enough to want to give you the world.” Mike told her.“Then why are we fighting?” Liza asked in an emotional small voice.“I don’t know, Liza, I only know I’m different when I’m with you, you drive me s
To investigate a criminal, think like one...*******Hiding inside an abandoned building opposite the supermarket, investigative officer Mark wondered for the tenth time if he was at the right place and doing the right thing.Having been told the guy he had been all over the country searching for was in town and had been seen entering the supermarket so many times to buy groceries, Mark had decided to stake a stage out, knowing sooner or later, Tom would come back again to get his groceries.‘After all, food is important and he definitely could not do without it.’ Mark thoughtfully concluded.Cussing at his luck, he fervently wished he had been in town a day earlier than he came, then he was sure he would have gotten the guy by now and all he had to do was take him back to London with him and claim the huge balance he was expecting from the powerful Mike Stanford.Talking of Mike, he brought out
A condescending attitude is unattractive…******Walking to the biggest diamond mall in London city, Liza was overwhelmed as she held tightly to Mike’s arms.“Nervous?” Mike asked softly when he heard a little sigh of awe from Liza.“Uh, no, I mean yes, yes I’m a bit nervous. I’m not used to so much grandness, so seeing all these is a bit too much for me. Besides, while I honestly knew I’m the marrying motherly type, I don’t think I ever expected to be this lucky.” Liza told him honestly.Mike stopped and Liza was forced to also stop abruptly too as he turned to look into her eyes.“What do you mean by lucky.” Mike asked.Liza was a bit edgy as she bit on her lips with tiny pearl teeth.“Well, ain’t I lucky? Here I am, an ordinary girl with an ordinary position, in love and getting engaged to a rich power
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