"I thought I'd missed you," she said, trying to catch her breath. She had ran a flight of stairs because the elevator left before she could reach it."What's wrong?" Chase asked, looking behind her at the open door to know what she was running for or from.She held up a finger for him to hold on while she took in air properly. "I want to come with you," she finally said when her breathing was back to normal."What?!" He asked. That was the last thing he expected to hear."I want to come with you. You're going to give your girlfriend her gift right?" She asked and he looked at her warily but nodded."Why?" He didn't mean to come off as rude but he was genuinely surprised."Um, I just want to be out for a while. My place can get pretty lonely," she said. Although it was true, it wasn't the entire truth. She wanted to walk under the starry sky with him. She was already attracted to him and she couldn't help it."I…actually she's busy with her studies so I just wanted to drop the gift and
Just like a déja-vu, Laura was bent over her reading table, receiving back shots from a man whose face he hadn't seen yet. Just like last time, blood drained from his face and he stood rooted on his feet."Laura," just like last time, he could only manage a croaked whisper. They hadn't even heard him come in amidst their intense love-making till the wind carried her name to their ears.Laura turned around, shocked at first but the look of shock soon turned to irritation when she saw who it was.The man also turned around and it was none other than Patrick. Chase felt like a complete fool. He should have known all along. The reason why she had been acting up for the last couple of weeks and it all started after that day on the road."What?" Laura snapped at him, pulling him out of his reverie."I….I came to give you your gift," he found himself saying, looking everywhere but at them. When he caught himself, he immediately scolded himself. They should be the ones ashamed. Why was he th
Chase walked back to the bus stop but made a quick stop to buy alcohol before reaching his house. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to keep hearing Evelyn talk. Her soft buttery voice was like a healing balm to his broken heart and soul and her soft palm in his was the only thing that kept him sane throughout the ride from Laura's house.He shook his head, willing himself not to dwell in the thought. He had just been betrayed for the second time and he definitely didn't want to put himself in the position to get hurt again.He picked the bottle of black jack and once he was sitting on his squeaky bed, popped the lid open and brought the liquor to his lips, throwing his head back and taking a long swig.It wasn't until his eyes began to water and his chest felt constricted before he brought the bottle down. The hot liquid traveled fast throughout his chest and distracted him momentarily from where it actually hurt the most."Rag." He took a swig."Garbage." Another swig."Wor
"Wait," Evelyn stopped him just as he was about to make a beeline for the elevator."What?" He nearly groaned in frustration. He just wanted to be away from there and in the comfort of the bleach-filled air in their office.She pulled his body away from the swarming bodies that passed. "We're going to serve in the gala," she said, eyes sparkling."In the what now?" Chase asked confused and she looked at him pointedly."The gala. The anniversary gala," she said slowly like she was speaking to a 4 year old child.Chase scrunched up his nose and one word that came to Evelyn's mind was "cute". She wanted to pinch his cheeks but she had to stay focused."Why would we do that?" He asked. He didn't see any reason why he had to attend the gala, talk more of serving there."Because we'll get more money, plus the bonus," she almost squealed, getting the attention of some people who were also waiting to write their names down. She was so happy because more money meant having a go at saving her m
"Since we're free for the next couple of hours, you might as well tell me why you came in looking like shit," Evelyn demanded."I just had a little too much to drink," he said vague and finished off the last drop of coffee in his cup, already missing the comfort it gave him."Yeah I can tell that much," she said lazily, leaning against the backrest of her chair. "Why?" She asked seriously, searching his face for answers.He thought about it for a while and when she thought he wouldn't reply, he opened his mouth. "Love doesn't work my way," he shrugged, trying to dismiss it as nothing but she heard the hurt in his voice.Her shoulders dropped. If only he would look her way. "That makes the both of us," she said absentmindedly.This piqued his curiosity and put a halt to his pity-party and he sat up straighter. "You've been in love?" He asked. He didn't know why he asked that. Of course she's been in love. She wasn't a kid and while his old self would have been 11 years her senior, his
"Try this," Evelyn forced a scoop of choco chip chocolate into Chase's mouth and his teeth froze momentarily from the coldness.The next couple of days had gone by uneventfully with Chase doing his best to avoid Patrick and Laura who came to the hotel often to see him.He had successfully avoided them but he knew he couldn't for long because the next day was the anniversary gala and the people that volunteered to serve were given the rest of the day off in order to rest for the next day, which was why he was currently standing in front of an ice cream stand, having the same shoved down his throat."Don't you like it?" Evelyn asked, her eyes twinkling with excitement at the creamy goodness."Er," Chase said simply, shrugging his shoulders. He never liked chocolates and for the tiniest moment, he wondered if Theo did, but either way, sent a silent "thank you" to heaven that there was no one close enough to Theo to point it out."You do. I mean who doesn't like chocolate?" Evelyn crinkle
Chase woke up on his bed the next day. He had gotten home really late and slept off the second his head hit the pillow.He felt around for his phone and turned it on, quickly closing his eyes to shield it from the light that threatened to blind him momentarily. He nearly jumped out of bed when he checked the time and it read 08:18 but they fear disappeared as soon as it came when he realized that it was the anniversary gala and he didn't have to go to work till 4pm.He quickly laid back down, finally deciding that serving in the gala wasn't a terrible idea afterall because he couldn't remember the last time he slept in.Scrolling through his phone, he opened an unread message and when he saw who it was from, a smile crept up on his face."Theo, hope you got home good? I had fun, let's do this again. Xoxo," the text read.As simple as it was, he couldn't control the blush that spread all over his face. "Stupid heart," he scolded but couldn't stop smiling.After sending a quick "Good m
He walked into Gab and Gabe's and it looked like he had entered a different world, not where he spent most part of his day for the last couple of months.Everywhere was decorated to the T and there was even a red carpet that rolled from the end of the lobby down to the driveway outside.The gala was to be held on the 30th floor where a hall was. Chase stepped into the semi-filled elevator where different scents of perfumes and colognes made bile rise in his throat. Only staff and event planners were present as the VIP guests were yet to come.After what felt like hours, the elevator finally opened on the 30th floor, revealing the most magical sight he had ever seen. He knew the hall was big but what he didn't expect was how big it was. It only made him realize he hadn't explored much of the hotel.There was a huge chandelier with a million bulbs hanging from the very high ceiling and there were smaller paper lanterns around it. They illuminated orange lights, giving the hall a halo gl
"Quickly, place that there," the empress instructed a group of people with a bunch of flowers."Yes, Dame," they said and did as they were told."Mother, you'll only get yourself sick from all that walking around," Imelda said."My grandson is coming back today," the empress replied and continued walking around to make sure everything was in place. "Everything has to be perfect," she added."One would think we're preparing for a president's arrival," Imelda teased.The empress waved her off and continued checking the decorations."Why don't you rest?" She placed her hands on her mother's shoulders. "I'll take care of everything down here. Your grandson wouldn't be happy if he comes back and you're all stressed out," she told her."There's till a lot to be done and little time and…." The empress started."Mother….." Imelda drew out. "I'll take care of everything. Just take a nap," she told her."Are you sure?" The empress asked skeptically."Yes," Imelda assured her."Fine. Make sure t
"Mother, why aren't you saying anything?" Jacob requested angrily, his hands balled in fists on both sides.The empress, not even sparing him a glass continued sipping leisurely on her coffee.Jacob fumed angrily but his wife, Regina, placed a pacifying palm on his arm, subtly telling him to calm down."Mother, you can't just buy the whole Union consortium," he continued.The empress considered ignoring him again this time, but decided not to.She dropped her cup majestically and squared her shoulders before turning to him."I can and I have," she said in a bored tone.The union consortium belonged to Regina's family. Jacob had seen it as a plan B because he wasn't so sure about his place in Gab and Gabe's consortium with Theo in the picture, hence, he planned to get Regina to inherit the company after her father but much to his surprise, the empress had bought the company."Why?" He snapped."Jacob," the empress said sharply, narrowing her eyes in slits. "I think you forget whom you
"Why my daughter?" Evelyn's mother asked.Chase stared at her as he tried to make sense of the question.Silver caught on his confusion and proceeded to clarify her question."Out of every other person, why did you choose to help my daughter?" She asked.Chase sighed softly before answering."Your daughter helped me first," he said loud and clear. "So the question should rightly be directed to your daughter," he said.Malcolm, who had been leaning against the pillar scoffed and walked away."There's something I've been wanting to ask but I guess now that we've met, I should just ask you," silver said."Ask away," he said with a welcoming smile."How did you and my daughter meet?" She asked.The question about how her daughter had met someone so high and mighty had been on her mind ever since but she hadn't had the right opportunity to ask.Chase smiled and rubbed his hands together."Well, we..""Mom," Evelyn's voice from the staircase cut him off.Chase stood up and rushed towards he
Chase was already half asleep when the text message from Evelyn had come in.He rubbed his sleepy eyes, picked up the phone and read through the message.A soft sigh escaped his lips when he read the words."Evelyn…." He muttered under his breath and shook his head before tossing the phone to the side and going back to sleep.He was woken up by the blaring of his alarm clock the next morning and he sat up groggily on the bed.His long-term "mini vacation" had finally come to an end and it was time to return home.He picked up his phone again and skimmed through the many unread messages but frowned when none of them was from Evelyn.He dialed her number but got the automated feedback before it went straight to voicemail."I guess this is it," he muttered to himself.He got up and walked straight to the bathroom to get ready and when he was done with his quick shower, walked into the closet.All of his things were already packed and ready and he got dressed quickly.There was a soft kno
"I know…it's far and…." She started to say."Heck it is," Malcom interrupted her immediately and she sighed softly.Their mother quickly put her hand over Malcolm's hand to calm him down."Let's hear her first," their mother's soft voice echoed.The glare on Malcolm's face didn't lessen but he was quiet now.Evelyn took a deep breath. Even before she started talking, she already knew how difficult the conversation was going to be, given that her mother was still recovering and Malcolm was yet to get a good job. At some point, she even considered going selfish, but she just had to put it out there. "As I was saying, I got a scholarship in NYU," she repeated but her voice was no longer as firm as the first time."Scholarships at NYU aren't easy to come by, sweetie," her mother said softly, goading her to tell them more.Evelyn looked down at her intertwined fingers because that part was going to be a little difficult but it couldn't be avoided. She wasn't going to lie to her family."I
Quietly, she followed him into the car which was already held open for them.She smiled inwardly at all the respect he was getting because she believed he deserved nothing less, given all that he had gone through."Do you want to get ice cream?" Chase broke the silence between them after contemplating for a while.Getting ice cream after lunch or dinner had always been their thing.Evelyn was still overwhelmed from everything that had happened and had barely been able to get food past her throat."Maybe next time," she said with a polite smile.Her words made Chase happier than she knew. It meant that she was actually considering a next time with him, which only meant that that day wasn't going to be the last time they met."How did you do it?" She asked out of the blue, turning in her seat so she could face him.The partition of the car was up, so they were separated from the driver and could have any conversation without fear of being eavesdropped on."Do what?" Chase asked and arch
Evelyn's eyes skimmed through the words on her screen again and again as she tried to understand what she was seeing.She looked up at Theo who had a small smile on his face as he watched her because he had a good idea what had her like that."Wha….what's this?" She asked with shaky hands. "Do you know about this?" She showed him the screen of her phone.He read through the email and leaned back in his seat."You know about this," she said softly. "I can't accept this," she shook her head and started to type on her phone but he gently took it away from her."Eve…" he started but she interrupted him."No, this is too much, I can't accept it," she said hurriedly."You've always wanted this," he pointed out.She reached for her phone but he kept it out of her reach."It was a dream. A dream I had no hope of fulfilling," she argued."And an opportunity has come for you to fulfill it," he countered."I can't accept this," she shook her head. Chase studied her for a few seconds without say
"I know it was you who paid my mom's bills and helped my brother out of jail," she said softly. "I…" Chase didn't know what to say. He had tried as much as possible to hide it from her because he knew how difficult it was for her to accept help. She had done life on her own for a long time and she felt that any help rendered to her was a set up."I just want to let you know how grateful I am and I'll work as hard as I can to pay back every cent," she said and swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat.She hadn't expected her little speech to get that emotional and she wished with everything in her that he knew how grateful she was."I don't need anything back from you," he shook his head. "I didn't do any of that to get anything in return. I did it because I know how much your family means to you and you're my friend. Friends help each other in need," he told her."But I've never helped you," she said and choked on a sob."You have," he replied without missing a beat and leaned
With a small smile and a shake of his head, Chase tucked the phone back into his pocket but not before sending a quick email to someone."Take me to Hovers," he told the driver, who nodded once and turned on the engine.The ride to Hovers was smooth in contrast to Chase's bumpy thoughts on what to say when he gets there.He hadn't expected her to reply but she did and he was going to see her.He tapped his long fingers on his knees impatiently as each second of the ride felt like a lifetime but soon, the driver was pulling outside of hovers.Hovers was a small café downtown. It was far from the whole bustle of the busy city and Chase could really pin that kind of place to Evelyn.The fresh greenery on the outside and the minimal but cozy decor on the inside was definitely her scene.He pushed the door to the welcoming space that smelled of coffee beans open and he looked around for a couple of seconds before his eyes caught her honey brown hair in a corner.He cleared his throat and r