Her hand dug into the pack of chips and took some of it's content into her mouth. She dropped her two hands on the keyboards and resumed typing away on her laptop, satisfied that the GoFundMe page she was creating on their hospital website for Mr. Mavis was almost finished. Her thumb pushed the button of the mouse, clicking on the finalizing touch and almost immediately, her phone went off. She directed the swivel chair towards her bed, and picked up her cellphone without ever having to leave her seat. She glanced down at the crying object and the caller ID staring back at her gave her a good guess of what reason the person might be calling her. Maria cleared her throat which suddenly got desserted and accepted the ring, "Evening, Mr. Desmond." "Evening. I have seen the page you just created on the hospital website."She bit her lower lip, surprised at the fast rate her boss had found out about the new developments on the hospital page and slowly wheeled herself back to her desk.
He hissed out some cuss words and exchaned scowls with his reflection, both of them not liking the idea of the sudden business meeting with Mr Walters. It wasn't the meeting he despised, he wasn't simply fond of his business associate. He knew his personal feelings didn't matter though because visits of such would always repeat itself inescapably since the mentioned man turned out to hold equal management control and conduct of the two families' joint enterprise. His sinking lips slowly rose up and developed into a smug smile, his stunning profile in the mirror managed to lighten his mood. He found it hard to keep his eyes off himself and the cause of such was either an obsession for his well-fitting dark checked suit or an overall unconditional self-love. His palm lightly patted his poised fair hair, putting the stubborn strands at bay, quite pleased with his new cut. Jayden turned away from the full length mirror, finding his way to his jewelry collection. His eyes scanned the wi
Collins Walters brightened with a smile on his face as his younger business colleague walked into the lengthy conference room. "It's so good to see you, young Stanley and why hasn't your father thrown a banquet concerning your fill recovery?" Jayden looked his way, not swayed by the smile on the two-face man who hadn't changed from last they had met. Tall and grey headed with a particular natural expression which always had people thinking he was always up to something fishy. A human definition of workaholism who shared similar attributes with his own father in terms of prosperity, fame and business. To put it simple, Collins also turned out to be the father of two siblings he disliked equally; Justin and Ashley. He walked to the older man and offered him a handshake for the sake of formality, knowing that that same man was always on a secret lookout for flaws to report to his father so as to picturize his own son as one with better working qualities. "The pleasure is all mine," h
Ted stepped out of the ward and paused his tracks on seeing the group coming his way, identifying one of them as the personal patient Maria told him about and the one who had called him. "Thanks for informing the police," Jayden spoke once he had gotten close enough, relaxed brown eyes staring back at distrustful grey ones and he could read the obvious fact of the other guy not liking him very much. Ted nodded and crossed his arms, lifting one of his brows. "What really happened to Maria?""Asthma attack." "Why was she in that kind of place?"Jayden wet his bottom lip with unreadable eyes moving away from Ted's. "Things happen," he replied and returned his eyes back to him, intentionally keeping his responses short. Maybe he would get the memo and leave him alone."Things happen?! Is that all you can for yourself?" Ted questioned loudly and how disrespectful and accusing his tone sounded was beginning to provoke Jayden's guards. "Yeah," Jayden replied nonchalantly as though he wo
Flashback The ceiling fan was rotating at high speed, creating a windy atmosphere that kept on disarranging the pile of documents John had spent his whole night working on. "Look at it..," he paused his ongoing conversation and bought a little to time to switch off the fan. "This is a good idea. I already researched on the necessary and taking this next step will definitely benefit us." He continued, walking back to his friend who was helping himself with a cup of coffee. Helbert pointed to a mug of coffee he also prepared for him and smiled at the familiar figure entering into the room. "Same matter?" Collins directed the question at Helbert as he furthered his steps into the office and picked up the extra drink left on the table. Helbert nodded only once and drew his eyes at John. "And it doesn't seem he is going to give up on it.""Why would I give up? Can't you two both see that this idea would definitely bring in more zeros? We have to level up our partnership business. Let'
She slapped the yellow car door shut in a gentle manner and departed from the Taxi which had been the mode of her transportation. A sigh left her lips in form of condensation as she brought out the contest handbill in order to take cross-check the venue again. "This is the place," she muttered to herself, assured it was the same address she had pronounced to the driver. "Right?" She added, her voice shaken a little with doubt and travelled her eyes across her surroundings. Maria folded the item back into her bag and decided entering into the hall building before her. There were two questions she knew she was going to ask any stranger and those were; one concerning the main reason she was there in first place and the other question was just simply directions to the bathroom. Well, blame the morning tea, not her. ++++She rinsed her hands inside the sink and wiped them with a handkerchief that never left her bag. She stood upright, facing the mirror before her and her heart skipped
An hour ago"Who is it now?" Grandma murmured the moment the bell rang off. She rose from the couch and marched towards the door. After taking a peak through the door hole and failing to recognize the person at the other end had her partially opening the door without unlocking the chains. "How may I help you?" Grandma asked calmly at the young man before her. The man in question had a pleasant attribute to his physical appearance that made her forgive him for interrupting her nap. He cleared his throat, his surprised expression slipping away his thoughts and Grandma could tell that he was expecting someone different. "Um, ma'am. Is this where Miss Maria Patterson lives? Can you inform her of my visit? " Grandma gave him a once-over, not remembering any period he had seen him with Maria and was assured her memories was still intact despite her old age. "Who are you, if I may ask?" "Ohh, where are my manners?" He exclaimed, scratching the side of his neck. "I'm Justin, a very good of
Daniel stared at the rare sight before him with confused brows, trying to read his boss's mind with the hopes of discovering the fascinating thoughts that continued to amuse him. It was shocking already to find Jayden grinning secretly to himself but the way it kept on going for hours was what genuinely had him curious. "I will pass the other information to the team leaders." He uttered, shutting his laptop while doubting Jayden's attentiveness. "If I may ask sir...?" Daniel slowly added, picking up the laptop from the table standing in between them. "Ask what?" Jayden replied, rather curious and glanced up. "Is a special occasion happening today?""Special occasion?" Jayden questioned with a carved brow with a look letting his assistant know that he wasn't quite following. "Yes sir. I noticed you seem to be in a good mood today. A really good one to say.""Ohhhh." Jayden exclaimed and the way his lips immediately parted into a full open smile shocked his underling the more. "Not
"Jayden!" Delia called out vociferously, stomping her heels irritatedly as she stepped closer to her son. Jayden turned a little, and lowered his gaze at his mum. She looked enraged and whatever reason causing the almost visible fumes soaring above her head was something he didn't care about. "What just happened between you and the doctor?" His mother questioned, pointing a fake nail towards the direction the mentioned person had passed. His brows moved up a little as he figured his mother was among the onlookers Maria was referring to. "What is what?" He questioned, his brows lowering back to position against flat eyes. "You two...t-two just kissed!" "Let me be." He stated dismissively and turned to walk away. Apparently, he wasn't in the right mood to talk to anyone, especially topics that included his pathetic rejection. "I'm talking to you Jayden!" Delia berated, yet her unconcerned son ignored her. "Are you having an affair with your doctor?!" She quizzed, her words
Her red sneakers led her into the building and halted her quick strides before him. "Good morning, Mr Stanley." She greeted, finding his standing figure with her eyes. Turning quickly, he looked up to see the woman who have been occupying his mind lately. His eyes ran over her, realising how much he had missed her even though she was only away for a day. "Good morning." Maria repeated, halting his wandering stares. He twisted his lips slightly to a displeased sneer, noticing that she was yet to drop her unfriendly vibes. "How was your night?" She questioned, stepping closer to his chair. "Terrible." She fluttered her lashes at him, clearly showing how surprised she was to get a honest reply from him. He was always very secretive about his migraine attacks. "Terrible?" She returned his words with lowered brows. "Yeah.""Was it an attack? Please tell me every detail about it." Her notebook and pen was out already and her blue eyes gazed at him attentively. "Yeah.""How many min
Jayden laughed bitterly, staring at his half-naked reflection in the mirror. He bent against the sink and took some of the running water, splashing the cold droplets against his face. He repeated his action, meeting his face with harsh water. It seemed more like he was punishing himself. Slapping his face continuously without giving himself a moment to breathe. The more he thought about how Maria had been treating him lately, the more miserable anger dominated his entire self. "Arrrg!!" He exploded and slammed his two fists against the sink so hard his phalanges almost crushed into pieces. Sadness forming as boiling fury was spiking through his veins. He planted his wet palms on the mirror and focused his gaze on himself. "Why?" He queried with his brows lifting higher. "What exactly doesn't she like about us?" he added and laughed again, realising that a girl was turning him into a professional soliloquist. She had infact changed him into something else. He was almost losing his s
Ted glanced at the lady sitting beside him and her bottled up attitude happened to perturb him. "Hey," he called out softly and she met him with dull eyes. "What's wrong? I know something is." It was obvious. "Nothing much." Maria shrugged, taking her eyes back to TV which she wasn't even paying attention to. "Mood swings, I guess.""Mood swings?" He repeated and then she nodded curtly. "Are you on your period? You have some pain?" He loaded her with several questions immediately and shifted closer to her. "Uh?""It's not that, Ted. And stop talking about my period so freely like that." She responded in a low tone, and she sounded like someone surviving on her last energy. "C'mon, man. Then tell me what's wrong. We have been watching TV for good two hours and in silence. It's so unlike you. And what's with the gloomy face all about?""Do I have to smile all the time, Ted?" She rubbed her eyes and returned an indifferent gaze at her favourite TV show."I do not mean that but still...
The double doors opened and Jayden's face lit up to see the lady walking into his room, in spite of the fact of causing him a sleepless night. The smile he was about giving out immediately went back into hiding when he noticed the odd vibe bounding out of her. A serious expression distorted her face with her usual smiling lips falling into a straight smile. Her face held no glint of humor And she seemed she had come to work for business and business alone. "Good morning, Mr. Stanley." Even her tone was thick with a professional accent. He wanted to reply to a morning greeting for the first time but she was too quick to say something else."I'm afraid I won't be spending much time with you today sir. I have an appointment with my boss later in the day. We will do a quick check up and then I will be out of your hair."Jayden stared at her as she walked closer to where he sat in the mini living room. What's with the formality? Weren't they passed that already? Apart from that, everyth
"Don't cry.... Don't cry," She muttered to herself and fell on the couch with a thud. Crying because of a man would definitely be the last rule she would break. After-all, she had broken every laid down principles she made for herself, and crying because of a man would render her defeated. The more she thought about how cheap she had become, exposing herself, acting like a slut and playing hickey-dory with a rich guy, the more anger took over her soul. She was angry with nobody but herself. She had destroyed whatever she stood for; professionally, ethically, you name it. Why had she of all females acted like one with no dignity. What could have gotten into her? It could have been any other guy. It could have been some guy who wasn't her patient or someone who wasn't engaged to another female. She would never be Ashley even though the universe flip ten times over. She broke her last rule eventually, her cheeks flooded with streamy hot tears as she cried because of a man. Each year d
He peeled his chocolate eyes from the monitor and directed them at the blonde lady whose attention was deeply fixated on a large potrait in his office "You have a crush on my dad?" His asked, folding his arms with his lips crooked a little. His question was supposed to tease her but her body language happened to be too serious to stomach some jokes. "Your dad??" She asked, glaring at him with crushed brows. He simply nodded, finding her reaction odd. That dazed expression was the usual kind of look he got whenever people realised he was Jayden Stanley or that his father was Helbert Stanley. But she was Maria, his personal doctor to be precise, who already knew who he was already. "What's with that look?" He asked, switching on his second laptop to work on something Daniel informed him about. "Didn't you know that?" He added, chuckling a little bit. Maria returned her eyes, staring at the stern looking man in the picture. "Well... I didn't know this was your dad. I mean I have hear
The dining room seemed too exquisite for a home. But it was okay and unchallengeable. It was the home the Stanleys and situations of such were considered normal. It was her first time coming to that particular part of the vast mansion and it was all thanks to Mr Grumpy who surprisingly decided not having breakfast in the room he usually locked himself in. A maid rushed in, approaching the both of them with a concerned look. "Good morning sir." She immediately voiced after throwing her head down into a bow. "You dismissed the meal brought to you sir. Is there something you didn't like about the meal or would you like us to prepare another kind of dish?" The woman furthered, and slowly looked up at Jayden for a reply. "No," was the prompt reply from her superior."Si-Sir?"Jayden looked away, walking past her with his steps targeted at the dining table. "He could have just said he was having his breakfast differently," Maria muttered, shaking her head at his retreating figure and won
"And then he said he likes me? With an emotionless tone and dead pan looking face? Who confesses to a lady like that?!""And what did you actually do?""What do you think I might have done? Picking up my cellphone to make a fake call and hold the call throughout the drive home just to avoid the awkward conversation? Yes. That was what I did.""So let me make a summary of what you just told me.""Okay?" "You both relationship is becoming weirder of late. You guys also kissed but you don't know what it means to him, although you think it's a drunken mistake. And now he told you he likes you but his confession lacked the required emotions needed to buy his words. And besides all that, before all that happened, he already attempted flirting with you numerous times including kissing you during a time you both pretended to be lovers.""Yes, yes, yes. O boy, you are so attentive.""And now you are completely confused if he is messing around with you again.... Or maybe not."She nodded again