CHAPTER FIVE

Audrey steps out of the hall with Jason trailing behind while carrying multiple files, and right in front of them stood Oliver.

“ How did it go? ”. His lips widened in a smile as he spoke.

“ I knew it wasn't going to be easy convincing several grown-up men and women to give out huge some money while little return was expected”.

“ And yet, you are Audrey Jayden, there isn't anything difficult for you”

Seeing how exhausted she looked, he gently patted her back.

“ Did they accept your proposal? ”.

“ They did not accept, neither did they reject it, but I know they are going to come around, I intend to break out the news of merging Mona empire with J. and. J the same day we will be launching our latest collection”.

“That's impressive, I do not regret investing a dime in Mona Empire”.

“ Thanks, Oliver, I may not say it, but I am grateful for everything you've done for me”.

“ I know, let's have lunch”.

“ Sure, I will just wrap up a few things, and then we can head out”.

He chuckled slightly while he licks his lip, his gaze lowered while he stared at her with his eyelid as she stepped away.

Oliver dropped Audrey off at her company after lunch before driving back to his work.

Audrey had just stepped out of the elevator when her phone rang, she beams with a smile seeing that it was Kyle.

“ Kyle hi! ”.

“ Hi Audrey, I just got a call from Mr. Eric, and guess what….. They decided to try out your proposal even though it seemed crazy to them”.

“ Wow! Finally, thank you so much Kyle, I promise that I will make sure you don't regret backing this horse”.

“ I will never regret backing you, no matter what decision you take”.

“ Thank you so much, Kyle, I have to get back to work”.

“ Alright, do your thing”. Audrey hangs up the phone and before her stood Mona who had her hair styled into two buns, her pretty little face twitched into a smile.

“ Mona! ” Audrey called as her face lit up with a soft sparkle.

“ What are you doing here? ”.

“ I dismissed early from school and asked Uncle James to bring me over”.

“ But Mona… won't your dad be worried about you ”.

“ Oh… He is at work and so is Aunt Chloe”.

“ Audrey hi! ”. James steps forward from the corner of the building.

“ James, is it okay that she is here? ”.

“ She wouldn't stop bugging me to bring her to you, although I tried explaining to her that you were at work”.

“ Wow, pumpkin, that is so sweet of you”.

“ If she will be too much of a burden to you, then I will take her back home”…

“ Are you kidding, this is something that I have been longing for, she is never a burden to me, come on Pumpkin, I will show you around”.

“ I will give the both of you some space now”.

“ James, I don't know how I am ever going to appreciate you for all you've done for me”.

“ Just say thank you, it is enough”. His face warmed up as he spoke.

“ Thank you so much, James”.

“ Alright, I will give the both of you space to bond”. He nods his head before stepping into the elevator, while Mona tucked her arm around Audrey.

“ Aunt Audrey, what a coincidence that your company bears the same name as mine”.

“ Maybe it is not a coincidence, you never know, I might end up giving the company to you”.

“ Really! But I wouldn't know what to do”.

“ You will understand more as you grow, I am going to show you around, are you ready for an adventure at Mona's Empire? ”

“ Yay!! ” Mona screamed excitedly while tagging behind.

Audrey's face was filled with a smile while she walked around the company and then finally stopped at the factory.

“This is it, Mona, where all the magic happens. This is where our designs are made”.

“ Are these machines for making clothes? ”.

“ Yes, pumpkin”.

Mona's eyes widen as she walks closer to one of the sewing machines, her hands slowly creasing it.

“ Wow!! It is so cool, can you please teach me how it is done”? Audrey chuckles loudly at her words, while the staff there could not help but admire the bond between these two.

“ I would, but there are other processes a dress goes through before getting into the sewing machine”

“ Really! What are they? ". Mona widened her brows while peaking at her curiosity.

“ First you need to sketch out a design, and you need to be very creative with that, then you can start creating it by drawing out the sample on the fabric before cutting it out into various pieces, after which you can finally make use of this machine to stitch it up”.

“ That sounds difficult, Aunt! ”.

“ It is not dear if you are interested, I can teach you bit by bit, you know I was just your age when I learned how to sketch up designs”.

“ I want to be a designer like you and my dad, will you teach me, Aunt? ”.

“ Off dear, come let go over to the canteen, I know you must be famished now”.

“ I am not hungry, I wish to learn more, please teach me more”. Mona pouted out her lips and Audrey couldn't help but giggle.

“ Alright, dear, let me get my sketchbook”. Audrey replies and strides away.

****

Carter was having his lunch at the VIP canteen with Liam when Chloe walked in and sat opposite him.

“ What are you doing here, Chloe? ”.

Carter tightened his jaws as he watched her take the seat opposite his.

“ What does it look like, I am here to have my lunch ”.

“ You can't be here, there is a canteen for the staff”.

“ I am not just a staff, I am your wife, so yes I can be here”.

“ I will give you both some privacy”. Liam spoke and stood up, walking out of there.

“ Chloe, what do you want? ”.

“ Grandma asks that I speak with you regarding our marriage preparations”.

“ I am still married to Audrey, there can't be any marriage preparations”.

“ What is wrong with you Carter, if you want to be with Audrey, then do so and let me go, you can't eat your cake and have it”.

“ What are you saying? ”.

“ What I am saying Carter is that you have to choose between the both of us, it is either her or me, and you have until midnight to decide, I will be waiting”.

She got on her feet and strides out of the room.

Carter sighs loudly, staring at the meal before him, he realized that he had lost his appetite, so he left.

After work, he asked Liam to help him get Audrey's address, and he drove over there. Carter wasn't sure why he was going there, but Chloe's words got him thinking, but then again, Audrey was like an addiction he needed to do away with.

He clicks on the doorbell twice and the door opens, but it was not who he expected.

Oliver stood right at the door, wearing plain trousers and a singlet that made Carter conclude that he was at the wrong place.

“ Carter? What are you doing here? ”.

“ I am sorry, I think I got the wrong address”. Just then, Audrey walks over to the door wearing a white nightgown.

“ Carter? What are you doing here”.

“ He said he got the wrong address, so I think he should be on his way now”.

“ No. I came to see my wife”. He stressed out the word WIFE like he needed to make it clear to Oliver.

“ I am no longer your wife, I already gave you the divorce paper to sign”.

“ Can I speak to you, Audrey, in private? ”.

“ I will be with you soon, Oliver”. Audrey turns over to Oliver, who nods his head before stepping back into the house.

“ How did you find me, Carter, and why are you in my house this late? ”.

“ Are you both dating? ”.

“ I doubt that is any of your business”.

“ You do know that is cheating, right because legally, we are still married, and I can use that against you in court”.

“ I'm not concerned with what you choose to do, but as for me, I am no longer married to you? ”.

“ Why is that? Tell me Audrey where did I go wrong as a husband and I will mend my ways”?

“Don't get emotional with me, this was a contract marriage we agreed to dissolve after a year, I am only keeping up to my end of the bargain”.

“ Yes, at first it was a contract marriage, but we fell in love, and then Mona came, you pretended not to care about her, but you named your company after her”.

“ The other day at that warehouse, I saw that fire in your eyes, you responded to my touch and I know that you still love me”.

“ No I do not love you and what happened that day was all lust, no feelings attached, the earliest you understand that the sooner you can get back to your life”.

“ Grandma Nana wants me to get married to Chloe and I must say, I do not blame her, Chloe has been there so much for me through the hard times and I just kept fooling myself thinking that maybe you still have some feelings left for me”.

Carter lowers his eyelid and Audrey would swore that she saw tears drop from his eyes.