David saw the recognition on Laura's face and realized he probably had to take his leave."Uhm, David, you were going to tell me something," Laura said as she turned to David.She hoped she could answer his question on time so she could wrap up their conversation."Let's talk about this on Saturday; there's no hurry; I'll take my leave now," David said."Alright, thanks for dropping by; see you soon," Laura replied, adding, "Audrey will see you out.""Okay, thank you," David said as he walked toward the door."Good bye, Mr. Taylor," Adurey said as David stepped into the elevator.David nodded, his mind elsewhere as he muttered to himself, "I should have told her so she could prepare for their coming too. Anderson is unpredictable and might want to invest in other businesses apart from the hotel. I hope she has heard of them at least."Back in Laura's office, she walked over to the phone and picked up the call."Hello, Laura Phillips on the line," Laura said in a clipped voice."Did yo
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Jared; I didn't know…" David, who was coming behind Jared, was saying, but he stopped mid-sentence as soon as he laid eyes on Tim and Jason.Jared turned around, his expression shifting from neutral to impatience as he noticed David's abrupt halt.Tim had an expression of doom on his face, while Jason's jaw was rigid with anger."What is going on here?" Jared asked, eyeing the two before him."I believe when you see people in an office, it means they are guests," Jason replied."Hey, Jason, I didn't know I was having a meeting with you." David said, stepping behind Jared and moving into the office."Yes, I just dropped by to have an important discussion with you," Jason said, looking straight at Jared as he added, "alone.""I for one made an appointment, and I believe that makes me the official client on the meeting list for this particular time," Jared replied."Uhm, Jason, could we do this in a few minutes after Jared?" David asked cautiously."No, I
The phone rang twice, and then he heard the soft response, "Hello.""Hello, good day, Mr. Timon; this is Jason North on the line," Jason said in response.There was a pause on the other end, and it lasted for a minute before the little voice replied, "I have been expecting you to call.""I would like to discuss something important with you," Jason told him."I am aware you would like a partnership. Right?" Mr. Timon asked."Yes, you are. I believe this is a great opportunity to have your great legacy remembered by all through the partnership with the North Hotel," Jason explained.Mr. Timon laughed softly. "I have heard that line a lot more times than I can count," he replied, adding, "You would have to convince me why; my PA will reach out to you at a later time for a meeting."The line was dead before Jason could give a reply to his statement."What did he say? Did he agree?" Tim asked as Jason dropped the phone."His response is not encouraging, but he has agreed to reach out with
Laura held up a hand to Audrey as she responded to her father, "I would not be coaxed or blackmailed into giving up my trust fund, the only thing left for me by my mother.""Laura, you won't like what I am going to do." Jerry Phillips was saying this, but Laura interrupted him."I need to attend to the client's father; good bye," Laura said, dropping the call.She looked up at Audrey then and asked, "Who is here to see me?"Audrey grinned and replied, "More like, who are they?"Adurey opened the door to reveal Lisa and Liam running into the office and Agnes Emerson walking in behind them."Mummy!" Lisa and Liam shouted"Aunt Agnes!" Laura exclaimed and stood up from her seat, rounded her table, and went straight into Agnes hands."My lovely girl, you look so different," Agnes said, hugging Laura tightly."When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Laura said it with a big grin."I wanted to surprise you," Agnes replied."Mummy, let's go," Lisa said, pulling Laura'
"Grace, I do not think it is appropriate to ask your father that kind of question." Anna Phillips said, casting her eyes away from her husband."Mom, that is the only way. Do you want to tell me that you don't know her name either or that you both do not want to talk about it?" Grace replied."Young lady, that is enough; we would not talk about this matter again unless I had to discuss it with Laura. Until then, no one is going to mention that woman in this house again," Jerry Phillips shouted as he walked out of the living room."Mom, tell me you at least know the name of the woman who almost stole Daddy away from you," Grace said, eyeing her mother.Anna Phillips dropped down into one of the seats, her eyes distant, as all that happened all those years ago came back to her."You were so little then, Grace, so you won't understand," Anna Phillips replied."Mom, the woman is dead, and my stubborn little sister is hell bent on finding out who her mother is. I think it's high time you t
Jason waited patiently, hoping whatever Gift was about to tell him was worth it.“There’s a rumor that you would prefer that your father die since you’ll get the chance to inherit all he has instead of his first son,” Gift said.Jason’s right hand, which held the phone to his ear, tightened around the phone as he asked, “Who did you hear this from?”“Well, some little bird said, Your brother, in a drunken state at a get-together last night, was shouting it to whoever cared to listen, and now it’s all over the place,” Gift explained.“F*ck it,” Jason murmured.“I just think you need to ensure the right narrative gets out there, or it might really affect your business,” Gift stated.“Thank you, Gift; goodbye,” Jason said, ending the call.Tim walked out of the master bedroom, and the first thing he noticed, apart from the change in the atmosphere, was Jason’s face, which was now set in stone.“For the life of me, I hope whatever has gotten you in that mood has nothing to do with me,” Tim
"Teressa? I thought you were going to bed." Laura asked, looking down to see she was holding an envelope."Yes, but I forgot to give you a message," Teressa replied."That looks like a fancy one," Agnes Emerson stated as she looked at the envelope, which had a beautiful flower pattern design on the body.Laura took the envelope from her and saw that it was from the Delicate Nannies World."Delicate Nannies World sent you an invite. I was told they would also send a message regarding it." Teressa said."Okay, thank you, Teressa; I'll have a look at it." Laura replied."Okay, good night once again." Teressa said."Delicate Nannies World—that's a real practical name; is that where you found Teressa?" Agnes asked, adding, "They must be really delicate indeed."Laura chuckled, "I guess so," she said as she opened her phone to see she had received a message from the Delicate Nannies World, like Teressa had said."Go on, open it; don't you want to find out what it says?" Agnes asked.Laura s
Lisa's head turned in the direction Teressa was pointing, and her mouth instantly hung open at the sight."I want to be on that!" she shouted, her curiosity about the moment forgotten. Before her, there was a roller coaster that swung so high that you could touch the sky."Yes, you will, child, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few years till you are a bit taller, but you can get on the gliders," Agnes replied, with a relieved smile in Teressa's direction."I want to see the hunted house," Liam said as Matthew found a place to park the car."I am not going there," Lisa replied immediately."Liam, are you sure about that? Won't it be really scary for you?" Agnes asked, unsure as to whether she should allow the boy into such a scary part of the park."I can go alone; girls are usually too scared," Liam said with a shake of his head at this sister."I can go with him, if you don't mind," Matthew offered."Oh, that would be lovely; thank you," Agnes replied as they all got out of the c
Shawn and Tobias looked back instantly, and the shock on their faces was so appealing that it brought a smile to Lily's face. "Laura? What are you doing here?" Tobias asked, looking shocked. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Laura said as she walked over and sat in front of them. Before they could answer, they heard a knock at the door, and Laura said, "Oh, that must be him." "Aunt, I thought you said she left," Tobias said, looking at Lily. Lily remained silent and only responded with a shrug. Laura opened the door, and Jason walked into the office, a sight that only made Tobias more scared and Shawn visibly angry. "You were saying something about my family," Laura said, addressing Shawn. "What is going on here? Why does this feel like a trap? Are you suspecting us of something?" Shawn asked, standing up suddenly. "Nobody is suspecting you of anything; we are just asking you about your last statement," Lily said, breaking her silence. "You know what? I'm leaving. I only
As soon as they were alone, Jason turned back to Laura and said, "Let's hear it."Laura shook her head and replied, "Jason, up until this morning, I didn't have the information I have now. I was actually trying my best not to be angry at you.""Why would you be angry at me? If for anything, I should be the one pissed, because you were not picking up my calls and you left without any notice from the event that day.""I know, but if you hear me out, then maybe you will understand my reasons," Laura said, holding up her hand."Okay, you have the floor," Jason said as he took his seat a few feet away from her."I came back to town to find my mother and to find out what happened to me seven years ago," Laura said.Jason was silent as he watched her speak, his expression neutral. Laura brushed her hair behind her neck and continued to explain her mother's relationship to Lily."Suffix it to say that I found my grandmother, but I was not able to find out what happened that one night that I c
Grace walked into Jared's office, demanding to have an audience with him."I'm sorry, ma'am, but you can't go in now; he is not on sit," the receptionist said apologetically."I know he is in there; tell him that if he does not see me now, he won't like the next news he hears," Grace responded.Having no choice, the receptionist put a call through to Jared's office again and relayed the message.After a few minutes, she dropped the phone and said, "You can go in, ma'am.""I thought as much," Grace replied, and she walked straight to the elevator.It had been radio silence since her last confrontation with Jared, but now she was going to rain down all the anger she felt within on him."I told you not to come here, Grace," Jared said as soon as Grace walked into his office."I don't give a damn what you say any longer, Jared," Grace replied with scorn."What exactly do you want, Grace?" Jared asked."What do I want? Huh, that's rich coming from you." Grace replied, adding, "You know I h
Lily was surprised to hear that, so she gripped her hand tightly and asked, "What else is there that I haven't said?"Laura shook her head and replied, "No, not you; it's from me.""Oh, what is it?" Lily asked.Laura pulled her hand from Lily's grip and brushed it through her hair as she sighed deeply."Actually, I came back to town because of two things. The first was because of the note you sent to me about my mother, and the second was because I wanted to find out what happened to me about seven years ago." Laura explained.Lily's face squeezed in confusion as she asked, "Something happened to you? What might it be?""Well, I don't know either; all I know is that I got pregnant after, and that was what resulted in my father sending me away from town," Laura replied."What?" Lily exclaimed in shock."Yes, you see, I was betrothed to Jared Tuner, but my stepsister set me up that night," Laura said, explaining what Grace had told her about the same night.There was more confusion on L
"Jason?" Tim called, wondering what was wrong."Okay, Liam, thank you for calling me. Do you know where you stay?" Jason said this on the phone.Tim realized he was talking to Laura's son and shrugged, hoping he got the answer he was looking for."No, that's fine. How is Lisa?" Jason asked.Just like magic, the hard look on Jason's face cleared as he spoke with the children. After a few minutes, the call ended."So?" Tim asked."They are leaving in two days," Jason said."What two days?" Tim replied, surprised."Yes," Jason replied, his voice sounding dejected."Oh, oh," Tim muttered."What did Gift say?" Jason asked."Nothing, just like I told you she would," Tim replied, adding, "Don't the kids know where the house is?""They don't; I think Liam called me from the card I gave him sometimes back," Jason replied."Hmm, well, I think you have tried all that you can," Tim said encouragingly.I am really going to lose Laura, Jason thought as he sat there, staring into space.*************
When Jason walked into the office that morning, everyone who saw him knew something was wrong."Jason, you don't look so good," Tim whispered behind him as they walked through the building lobby."You look like you did not get any sleep last night," Tim added as he noticed a few people staring at Jason."That is of less concern right now, Tim; I need you to get Gift here today," Jason replied as they boarded the elevator."Gift? You mean the same Gift Hatcher?" Tim asked."Yes, I need to ask her about Laura. She mentioned some time ago that they had been childhood friends," Jason replied.Tim shook his head, knowing that was not going to be a good idea, considering the outcome of the last meeting Gift had with Jason."I can basically feel you shaking your head from here," Jason muttered."Uhm, I just don't think Gift would be a good idea; I mean, after the last time, she would not be so keen to see you." Tim explained.Jason was at his wits end, and he was only trying to hold it all t
Jason woke up that morning with a heavy concern in his heart. He had tossed and turned through the night.The night before, he had been stunned by Tim's statement, and for a moment, his heart had frozen."What did you just say?" He had asked."Humm, I just heard from Emily, who heard from Laura's live-in nanny that Laura is leaving town," Tim had replied carefully.Jason had sat at the back of the car, stunned by the news. He had imagined a lot of outcomes from her sudden departure from the hotel, but he had not imagined that she would leave town."When did you get this information?" Jason had asked."Uhm, just before you stepped out of your office," Tim had also replied catiously."Why isn't she telling me about leaving town? Why is she suddenly avoiding me?" Jason asked himself, feeling a sinking feeling in his belly.Now, at the dawn of a new day, Jason climbed out of bed, looking dazed as he murmured, "I never thought I would feel this way."He walked over to the balcony and stare
"I really must have feelings for him," Laura muttered under her breath."Laura?" Teressa called again."I'm fine; I just felt a tiny pain in my chest," Laura said."Okay, let me get you water or something," Teressa said, hurring over to the mini-kitchen in the apartment.Laura's phone rang, and she saw Audrey's name on the screen."Hello, Adurey," Laura said, picking up the call."I think something must be really wrong," Audrey said in response."What?" Laura asked, her brows squeezed in confusion."You never miss a chance to work; that's why I'm wondering what's going on. How are you feeling now?" Audrey asked.Laura shook her head as she replied, "I'm fine, Audrey; I'm just not up for work yet.""Okay, no problem; I just wanted to check in on you," Audrey replied."Thank you," Laura replied, adding, "If there is anything that requires my urgent attention, please let me know.""Don't worry, I will," Audrey replied before ending the call.Laura pulled the phone from her ears and rubbe
"Hello? Lily?" Jason said as soon as he heard her voice."Jason, how are you?" Lily said, breaking into a smile as she realized it was Jason."I'm okay. How are you? Is Laura there? I called to speak with her," Jason replied.Lily looked back, and to her dismay, Laura was gone. She looked from Audrey to Tina, both of whom had unreadable expressions on their faces."Humm, she is not feeling too well and has taken the day off," Lily replied, adding, "If there is anything you want us to help you with, I'm sure Audrey would take care of it.""Oh, yes, of course," Jason replied, the line silent for a few seconds before he added, "Are you aware she moved out of the hotel?"Lily coughed slightly as she replied, "Uhm, yes, I am.""Uhm, so do you know where she moved to? Well, not that I am particularly interested; I'm just, you know, trying to be a good neighbor; I believe we were neighbors," Jason replied, forcing himself to stop after realizing how he must sound."Hmm," Lily said, her brows