_Bella Davis POV_
I stared up at the hospital building for a few minutes before walking in. My father was recently admitted here and I came to check up on him again.
"Hey, Bella." Mark, one of the doctors here who knows me greeted me, I smiled and waved at him. Almost everyone knew me here, I was here because of my father all the time.
I jogged up the staircase, walking into his room just to find him sleeping, he slept a lot these days, he was too weak to stay awake, according to the doctor.
My father was diagnosed with heart disease a few years ago. And without money to treat it, his health condition has gotten worse.
"Hi, dad." I greet not expecting any reply.
He needed surgery done soon but we didn't have any money to pay for it. That's why I had to take Luke's offer.
After sitting beside him for a while, I stand up to leave.
"Bella? Is that you?" He asks weakly and I turn to him, sitting once more. "Yes, Dad."
"How are you doing, my angel?" He asks, his voice barely audible.
"I'm fine Dad. I'll get the money for your surgery soon. I promise." My voice broke as a tear slid down my cheek.
His hands go up weakly to touch my face and he drops it, going back to sleep once more.
Cleaning the tears in my eyes, I stand quickly walking out of his room.
You'd be alright Dad. I'd make sure of it.
I was walking to the exit when I walked past Ava, both of us holding eye contact but she didn't stop. My eyes go to the pregnancy test report that was sticking out of her envelope.
She went to get a pregnancy test done?
Luke had called me earlier and told me to be careful of them all. His family is planning something to expose us, and she is going to be planning along with them.
I know the person I need to be wary of most is his stepmother and brother Henry. I just need to avoid them as much as I can.
I was pressing the door passcode when my phone rang, immediately I answered it when I saw the caller was Luke, my AirPods were connected to my phone already.
"Hey, what's up." I greet him as I finish punching in the code, the door swinging open.
"Bella, do not enter that house now. Veronica is there right now and she would do anything to expose you. If you are close by, turn around. Go somewhere else, go sightseeing today. Just come back after I tell you is safe." He rushes out and I look up to meet Veronica's eye, she is standing as if she is waiting for me, an evil smile on her face.
"I think that's too late already," I say looking at Veronica.
"Don't hang up. Keep me on the call." Luke says and I was more than happy to comply.
"Hello Mrs Tamer. How are you?" I greeted forcing a smile on my face as I slowly stepped into the house, looking around to see if Avery was home.
"Avery isn't home right now, he's at the office. And don't call me Mrs Tamer, call me Veronica." She says locking the door immediately I went into the house.
I gulp. Now where is that back door again? I need to find a way to escape.
"Just be calm and act natural. Don't act nervous or afraid. She feeds off both. And never give her your back, she might stab you." Luke says trying to keep me calm but that doesn't exactly work.
She won't stab me, right?
"You seem nervous." She says and I spin around to look at her. Clasping my hands in front of me.
"Who wouldn't be nervous when they are meeting their boyfriend's mother for the first time." I laugh nervously, my eyes darting around the room.
She stared at me for a moment like she was scrutinizing me. "But this isn't the first time we've met. This is the third." She points out sitting on the sofa.
"More reason to be nervous, isn't it? Given the conditions of our previous meeting." I go to sit at the exact moment Luke's voice comes from my AirPods.
"Don't sit unless she gives you permission to."
I shut my eyes, cursing Luke as I slowly sat down on the sofa opposite hers.
Maybe a heads-up next time before I sit down would be preferred.
She watched me like she was seeing my soul. Her eyes scanned for any and every flaw she could find in me.
"I have to go do something now. Avery is on his way. No matter what. Don't admit anything." Luke says before the line goes dead. Great. I'm left alone to deal with her.
"How much are you being paid?" She asks and I look at her faking confusion.
"Excuse me?"
That was very blunt of her though but it is time to put my acting skills to use.
"Don't play dumb with me. How much is Avery paying you to fake being his girlfriend? A million? Two? Three? Whatever the price, if you agree to do what I say, I'd double it." She put out, crossing her legs over and expecting me to take the bait.
Does she think Avery is the one paying me? So she isn't sure about it, she just wants me to take the bait.
Unfortunately for her, I won't be taking the bait.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I have no idea what you're talking about. Avery is my boyfriend and I love him. I wasn't paid to be with him, you can't buy love." I responded.
I've always wanted to say a line like this after watching many romance movies.
"But you don't love him do you?" She asked me and I kept my eyes on my feet ignoring her question.
"What is going on here?" Avery asked.
_Bella Davis POV_"I asked a question. What is going on here?" He repeats his question, staring between Veronica and me.I had to act before she did."Avery." I cry running to him. Running into his arms, I hold him sniffling. It was fake tears but they didn't have to know that."Why are you here?" Avery asks Veronica holding me tightly. Veronica looks at me and smiles, probably seeing through my act, she was already suspicious of me. I just have to make sure she never exposes me in front of Avery.I needed to do something to throw this all in my favor." She was already inside our home when I got home and she asked how much you paid me to be with you, she thinks you paid me to pretend to be your girlfriend. She doesn't believe that I love you. She said I'm faking it." I cried holding Avery tighter.Well, that should do it, I just needed to get out of this, just this once, and then I'd be good. The temperature in the room drops immediately, getting colder all of a sudden."You are do
_Avery Tamer POV_I look at a sleeping Bella who is on the sofa, snoring lightly. She begged to watch a movie with me and then she fell asleep immediately after the movie started. She's cute. I can't even remember where we met or when we started dating, but I know she is mine and it's going to stay that way, I wasn't ready to let go of her.For a moment there when it seemed she couldn't remember where we met I got suspicious of her. I thought that maybe she was indeed using me and toying with the fact I couldn't remember much about her just like Veronica said.And then there was that woman Ava, who came to meet me today claiming to be my actual girlfriend.But I remembered bits and pieces of what happened when we met but not the whole thing so I believe her. I have memories of meeting little Ava as a child, and I have memories of her spilling coffee on me when we met at the Cafe she worked at. But that was it. Every other thing about her came in bits and pieces. I was aware her fathe
_Bella Davis' POV_"They did what?" I exclaimed staring at Avery in shock."My parents asked for dinner with you at their place," Avery repeats, his hand around my waist on the sofa.Why would Veronica suddenly request a dinner if she is not planning anything new?She must have a new plan to try and expose me in front of Avery, and that's why she is requesting dinner now.What should I do? Luke didn't tell me anything about this."If you don't want to go then it's completely fine. We could cancel it, whatever makes you happy we would do that" He assures me pulling me closer to him.But what should I do? Should I accept this invitation which seems more of a challenge? Or should I play safe and chicken out? I want to see what they have planned though. What should I do? Maybe I shouldn't go-"Of course, she is going." Luke walks in carrying a bag that looks like it belongs to an expensive boutique. When did he get here?"Jesus Christ Luke! Learn to knock before you enter my house." Aver
_Bella Davis POV_Avery looked at us both, then decided to let go."So would you be going for dinner then?" Avery asked and I nodded. I have no choice but to go, it seems."Alright then. Since it has been decided, let's get you ready for it. We have to glam you up and everything." Luke says, picking up his phone to call someone but I instantly refuse."I'm going to go my way to this. I don't feel like doing make-up or anything and I want to be comfortable in my clothes. Since it's just dinner with his parents. How bad can it go?*Few hours later*I looked around the dinner table awkwardly feeling out of place here.Veronica and Richard were dressed in expensive clothes, which I guess was the normal thing for them to do. Henry, Avery's stepbrother was dressed in a suit, his black hair gelled back to look perfect. Avery too was wearing a suit as usual but without the suit jacket, his tie was not on his neck, and his first two buttons were undone, showing off his gold necklace and perf
Her lips curled up into a smirk and I stared at her blankly. It was a trap. I saw the questioning look on Richard's face and I didn't know what to do. This was a great temptation." What has that got to do with anything?" Avery swooped in and I sighed, " You've been throwing questions at us since we came in. What's the big deal?" He asked.Their countenance changes drastically and I looked at them, take that bitches, you won't get me today. " That's part of getting to know our son's girlfriend. Isn't it dear?" Veronica asked her husband who merely shrugged in response.I watched Ava's eyes narrow in unhappiness, and I giggled, then faked a cough to cover it up. They are going to cry and never stop crying if they are waiting for us to fail.He stroked my back " Baby are you okay?" He asked me and I nodded. Then he smiled at me, making my heart skip yet again. This organ was in danger of being compromised. Focus on the prize, Bella.' I told myself but it was impossible when Adonis wa
Her evil smirk made me know that she was lying, what a stupid bitch, she did it on purpose to make me frustrated. " I'm so sorry, I never knew, oh my goodness," She proceeded to dab my hair and my chest and I pushed her hand away. If I didn't know better I would have thought she was actually concerned. My dress was ruined, and my hair ruined too and I looked up at her, " Leave her alone." Avery commanded." Where's the bathroom?" I asked and she pointed to the house." The fourth door on your right in the hallway." She described.Ava snickered into her palm and my eyes narrowed accordingly. " I'll be right back, babe." I said and planted a kiss on his cheek so that she would be more pained."Good, If you need anything just ring my phone." He called and I nodded before walking inside.I should have known that it was a trap when I entered the house and heard the door click. I turned around and saw Veronica and Ava standing at the door with their arms folded over each other, and they
Avery's POVShe turned towards me and raised her brows, " Uh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you and your family are not on good terms and it's unsettling." She said, her eyes searching mine.Why was she bothering with them? I didn't want to speak to them, period, instead I drew her closer to me and she stiffened. " You are far away." Her breath hitched and a blush coated her cheeks making her even more attractive and I stared at her, why was she behaving like a virgin?" Answer the question." She said and I cocked my head at her. There was something different about her, she stared at me tenderly." What will you give me in return?" " What do you want?" She asked and her eyes widened in response as if she was just realizing that she walked into that trap wide open." Do you really want to know what I want?" I inquired and she blinked again, giving me that innocent look that was beginning to affect me. " What?" She replied in a breathless tone when I pulled her even closer, we we
Bella's POVMy phone ringtone blared from upstairs and I looked up, who was calling this early? I wondered and went ahead to pick up my phone. It was Luke, why was he calling again? I wondered." Hello, Luke." " What are you doing?" My brows jumped in confusion, as I tried to figure out the reason for his question. I hadn't done anything wrong, " I don't understand you." I replied." Ava doesn't cook, in fact, she doesn't know how to cook, we have an inside joke about her poor cooking." He said, with anger dripping from his tone. I was bewildered by his statement. " But he won't know."" He'll find it weird. You are not meant to do the opposite. Just stick to the script, how hard is that?" He spat Okay, he was basically shouting right now, " All of these could be resolved without you raising your voice, I promise it was an honest mistake. I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to do that." I said. " What did I tell you about not falling in love with this guy?" He replied and I loo
“ Oh, welcome Avery" Ava called out, sounding all sweet and cozy.Avery paused to see Ava walk up to him. He hadn't been expecting to see her here and wondered what game they were trying to play right here.“What are you doing here? Who invited you over?" Avery asked sternly as she tried clocking her hands around his.Ava, hurt by these words, stepped back a bit, her face downcast on being rejected even before she could attempt.“ I did," Victoria's voice rang out as she replied.“ I thought it was only going to be a family meeting. Why then allow a stranger to reside in our condo?" Avery asked with a scorn etched on his. He knows well enough that his vicious stepmother will be looking for means to get him to be with Ava again.He ignores her and walks to the empty set aside for him. He sits beside Henry who kept his head down since he walked in. On his right is his father, Richard Tamer, who destroyed the family after he had taken a second wife and tried stealing the company from Ave
“I am just going to see a friend's Dad since she is out of town. I hope you don't have any urgent work for me right now" Luke asked." No, I am fine. You can go on with what you have to do. Any work I have, can be handled when you are back”.Luke replied okay and left the office. He pondered on what had happened with Avery lately. He had forgotten about Bella and has fully recovered his memory which seems to be a good thing but bad for Bella. Bella is hopeful that the strings of fate will pull them together. He still sees the love vividly displayed in her eyes whenever he goes to visit her.He drove steadily to the hospital with no worries. Mr. Anderson had discovered what had happened and came to realize the pain his daughter was undergoing. At first, he was grieving at the discovery and had withdrawn to himself for days. He finally relieved himself of the pain when Luke took him to see Bella. He knew he had to be strong for his daughter and improved gradually and visited when he was
" Are you saying that he will have to pay heavily for the termination? Why do you think I would want this?” Cove asked patiently, watching the expression of Henry." You want this as much as I do. I know of your experience with Avery in the past and it wasn't a pleasant one. Avery drowned your business and you tried to work with him but he bluntly rejected you. He mocked you and put you in the position you are in. You had to go underground to get support and investment to start again. I know you want this, so why not work with me and get what you ever desired? “.Cove Brown's eyes were fixed dazedly on Henry. Cove is a tall, refined man. His dark curly hair and thick eyebrows leave ladies drooling. With his broad shoulders, he stood firm and showed a successful gain from weightlifting. One could be said to be Avery's height and with a close look, one can mistake him to be Avery's brother.“ What's your take on this? I know you won't help me if you don't want something in return. I am
***Avery had fulfilled his company task at hand and was genuinely content as the company was growing in height.“ Avery, I need you to go through the contract Cove Hub sent to us. It is against our terms and they are solely insisting that there would be no adjustments to it,” Luke announced, barging into Avery's office, his expression denoting the matter to be a serious one.Avery goes over the file, his expression changing to that of a stern one, “ What does this mean? Call them up and state clearly to them that if they don't make changes to the contract, we won't work with it. By the way, who arranged this contract with them? I have always known Cove Hub to be mean in their dealings and never wanted to work with them following what happened in the past '' Avery said.Luke paused for a minute, staring at Avery." It was Henry. He met up with him and they worked this out” Luke replied." You mean that Henry was the negotiator of this contract. Who made him the head of the company to
Avery nodded, not noticing anything amiss.“Can I have the inventory in all departments? Prepare the invoices for the supplies and orders. Set up a board meeting and that will be all for now” Avery said.Luke nodded and stood to go about the order as instructed. He paused as he heard his name and turned to Avery.“ Luke", Avery called out. “ Thank you for everything", his eyes describing the sincerity of his words.Luke smiled and walked out of the office.Avery picked up the telephone and dialed his secretary's number.“ Please inform Henry I need to see him right now if he is in," Avery said, his voice loaded with authority.He scanned the file that he got from the PR department. A knock interrupted his session.“Come in," he said, looking at the figure who entered." Welcome Avery, I didn't know you were back till I got a call from your secretary. Hope the trip was productive. I heard you went on a business trip” Henry sounded cheerful with his fence of facade built high.Avery saw
Luke hung up. He knew Bella's dad to be a jovial and easygoing person and loved his personality.“ I need to go to bed right now, as I have a working day ahead" he mutters under his breath. He stood up and walked to his room, getting into bed, his heavy eyes shut as he dozed off.***Days passed quickly and Tuesday arrived. Avery highlights from the plane. He looks around and knows he has stepped on the very place where his fate goes and wonders what next will play out. With Bella's discovery, his enemies will decide to use this time to cause damage. He enters the limousine that the airport had arranged to come to pick him up.“Welcome back, Sir" they all chorused at the sight of Avery. Avery with long strides and stoic expression that carries an air of affluence and distinction. His presence derived a collective greeting from his staff as a manner of respect and authority.Avery paused for a moment, looking at them, he nodded at them and walked into the VIP elevator that was used onl
Mr. Anderson POV“Please, I need to speak to my daughter. can you put a call through to her”l Mr Anderson said to the nurse who had come to give him a daily dose of drugs for the night.“It's late already. We will call her friend tomorrow, so you get to speak to her” the nurse replied.“ No, I want to speak to her. Please, it won't take more than a minute, I just want to hear her voice and know how she's doing. please” With his eyes which seemed to dim at the inability to get his wish fulfilled, Mr Anderson cried out adamantly.The nurse seeing the worried look etched at every corner of his face, couldn't help but get moved.“We can't get hold of your daughter, why don't I check back with her friend, the one who came in last to visit you and reach you out to him, then let you know of what he said” she replied, agreeing to his fatherly concerns.She walked out of the room with her tools in hand. Mr Anderson's eyes seem to glow at the positive response and hope within his heart that he
Luke picks up the menu looks at it and places orders for himself, Mia, and Loli.“I am sorry,” Mia said.“I want ice cream” lolly water.“You will get ice cream after the meal okay don't worry” Luke replied patting her head.The meal continued in absolute silence whereby conversation was injected lightly to create a friendly ambiance as they ate their food slowly.The main meal was over and dessert was brought in. Luke got a strawberry ice cream with cookies while Mia got a vanillaIce cream and Loli got a cone of ice cream mixed with vanilla and chocolate.After the desert, Luke nodded at the waiters, dropped a tip for them, and went out. He got some dessert for them in case they needed to have any time and also purchased some meals for himself in case he got hungry later.They stepped out and noticed that it had already become dark. Luke noticed it was just past seven and drove them home as he moved steadily on the road. As soon as he went to their front porch, he scooped the littl
Mia looked speechless not knowing what to make of it. Sat down with tears drawing a straight line on her face. Luke takes a towel and slowly wipes the tears off.“ Please don't cry, Loli might show up and think I beat you and I will be heavily persecuted. Have mercy on this poor man please" Luke jokefully pleaded with his two hands clasped in the air to show the seriousness of his tone.Mia laughed out loudly, cracking up. She couldn't even mutter some words. Recovering herself, she said quietly, playing along “Please lower your hands, Loli might think I am punishing you and will get upset at me. Please”, she requested.They both cracked up, laughing hard, touching their ribs showing off the effect of the laughter.Luke, seeing that he had calmed her down and eased the memories, decided not to approach the topic again for now.“Come on, let's join Loli. I also want to sit on the swing too, I can't remember the last time I had fun. Hurry up” Luke urged her quickly, helping her to her f