Ami's Pov.
It's my second day here at the Richford's mansion. Okay. I called it Mansion because its not a normal house and you saw it yourself. Stacy left earlier this morning to go to Lewis University. She has classes and later she'll leave for San José to be with her parents for a month.
I'm going to the Lewis town to go to Lewis bank, Mrs. Richford told me she already transferred my salary at my account. "She's making sure I won't leave this job huh?" I utter those words as soon as I read the message she sent. Well I don't mind as long as I can save money.
For the last five years I've been working at Mrs. Richford, she never asked me anything, about myself and my family and that makes me Always wonder why she wasn't asking. There's a time that I asked her why she's not asking or trying to open up the topic when it comes to my past, She said if I want to keep it myself, I can because she trusted me.
After that I thank her for trusting me even though I have my issues. But I kept wondering, maybe she already checked it. Its not hard for her to hire a detective to know everything about me, I mean she's wealthy.
As soon as I withdraw some money from the bank I was surprise to see the value of the money she transferred so I called her to make sure if this is my salary in a month of working for her nephew and its friends, I felt relieved when she said that the half of it was for the grocery and for the electric and water bill, After hearing what she said, I left the bank and went to the Lewis Town Market by Taxi to buy fresh meats and fishes.
My classes will start at two in the afternoon so I have plenty of time to buy some groceries at the mall after buying the meats.
After thirty minutes, I arrived at the noisy but systematic market, there's different kinds of goods. I buy some meats and veggies, fishes and condiments since they're low-priced but fresh items.
All I need to buy at the market was chips, noodles, and personal hygienes. I can buy it after my classes is done in the afternoon.
After that I immediately go out of the market and hurriedly called a taxi. It's a little bit expensive but I have multiple heavy bags and if I took a bus, it going to be inconvenient for me since I'm chasing my time. I become engrossed at the market and tend to forgot my agenda.
After one hour, I arrived in front of the house, the driver help me put down the heavy bag from the trunk of the car. I said thank you and give my payment for his service.
I hurriedly open the gate and ran at the front door to open it. I took the bag I left at the gate and went inside the house and closed the door using my foot and go straight to the kitchen to put all of the meats and fishes in the four built-in refrigerator. The other one was for the Frozen goods, for the drinks, condiments and vegetables.
After arranging everything in the ref, I went out of the kitchen and go to my room to take my bag so I can go to Lewis University, but first things first I change my clothes. Just black fitted shirt top with white short cardigan, a pair of pants and a slip-on black sneakers. Today is the last day of my school year, I've been taking three sem per year so all I need to do was to wait for our graduation announcement.
I decided to walk since after the Lewis Ville is the alley going to the Lewis University. Lewis Town is a Small but prosperous town, with over five thousand population. Our Town was famous for having beautiful seas, different kinds of fishes and etc.
When I'm feeling down, I often go to Avisa, one of the most famous beach of all time, also it's open for public but mostly tourist go to those expensive hotel, and if you're looking for sunrise you should go to Aerwyna, at north side of the town. Avisa was at south where Sunset is.
I've been at Aerwyna and it's also beautiful but Avisa has a deep meaning to me. I came tqhere when that guy broke my heart, also that was the place where I met Mrs. Richford and her family.
I reached the university and go straight to my classroom to finish my last subject for the year. I already have my clearance cleared.
My classmates greeted me and so do I to them. They are great, If I'm having a hard time understanding the lesson, I can lean on them. As I sat I saw Blair Ivy and her friends.
I sigh as they stand on the entrance of the classroom. "When is this going to be over?" I utter. My classmates look at me and laugh.
"Maybe after this day since you're graduating with the seniors." I slight laugh when our classmates laugh at what my seatmate said.
I have no Intention of confronting her after yesterday's humiliation. What i did to her yesterday, I'm not proud of it. I felt bad afterwards but as you can see here they are.
When I reach the entrance she was about to slap me when a hand stopped her. I look at the guy wearing a black suit and slacks, paired with white polo inside and a sky blue necktie and black shoes.
"I won't let you hurt her again, Ms. Campbell." The man said and let her hands go with force. The girl almost lost her balanced if her friends didn't caught her. "And who are you?" She asked mixed with sarcasm. The man sarcastically scoff and look at me.
"Should I tell her or not?" I rolled my eyes on him. "No need to get my permission. It's always up to you."
He look at her and raised his eyebrows. "I am his brother. Its nice to see a girl like you roaming around the campus and hooking up at the wealthy guys. No wonder why My sister's best friend told me to see you. You're quite beautiful but... " he look at her from head to toe."...rubbish."
For the second time other students are looking at us now even my classmates. Blair gasp as what he said "W-what? Rubbish?!" She said raising her voice.
"Look at your self.." He pointed at her and her looks. "...dress like that as if it can erase the fact that you're from a low-bred family. Tsk tsk, people nowadays tend to pretend to be someone they are not. So Embarrassing."
She was about to slap him but I butt in. "I won't let you do that you rubbish. Leave before I summon him to take action against you."
I received a sharp gaze from her before she walk out of the scene. "What do you think you're doing here Brother?" I asked him after the student take their step away from us. "Your classes will start in a minute. I can wait for another hour so take your time and focus on your lesson." He said not answering my question and leaving. "I'll be at the cafeteria."
All I can do was to stare at his back until at the end of the hallway of the school building.
While I was in my class, I'm still wondering why he was at Lewis. He shouldn't be here or else our father will be at rage if he knew that we met. He forbid him and my Mom to meet me after that day.
I sigh as I tried to focus on our last quiz. An hour later, as soon as our professor ended our classes, I hurriedly arranged my things and put it on my bag pack and go out of the classroom.
Ii arrived at the cafeteria, I saw a bunch of girls around him, maybe hooking him up. But i know he won't be hook up by them, his standard for Woman is really high. Can't blame him for wanting a girl who can resist his charms.
He stand up and fix his suit and walk towards me without looking at the college girls. Poor them. "Let's go and eat?" I smile and hug him. "It's been half a year since we met. I miss you and Mom." He stroke my head and hug me back tightly. "I miss you and your presence everyday Victoria."
We separated from Hugging and tap my head, i pout that makes him laugh. "Hey, stop pouting, you're not a kid anymore, you're a fine lady now." He said while taking my bag. "Then stop patting my head as if I'm a dog." I sulky said. he just laugh at me.
We started walking, me linking my arms at his arms. "So do you already have a boyfriend?" I glared at him and push him but not letting his arms go. "So you came here straight from San José just to asked me that stupid question? Unbelievable." I said amusingly.
"I came here because for the last seven days, I never heard anything from you, If your Best friend didn't message me I wouldn't know that that young rubbish girl was picking on you." He said while shaking his head and not taking his eyes on me. He even put his arms around me as we continue passing the paved way and trees going to the parking lot, Lewis University is huge, take note of that.
I laugh. "Ha! My tricked work! That's what you get when you ignore me." I cross my arms and squint at him. "So you're squinting your eyes on me huh? I will tell Mom I'm gonna force you---" before he even finish his sentence I smack his tummy.
"Hansel not a good joke!" He laugh at my reaction. "Ouch!" He said squirming after i shouted at him.
Victor Hansel Young, CEO of Young Industries at the age of 26, Has his own house, expensive Car's was lined up at his garage, have a billion money on his account, Handsome, sharp-witted fine Man. Who would have thought that this guy is still No Girlfriend Since Birth or N.G.S.B.?
We reach his White Hyundai Genesis GV80 car, he even open the door of the passenger seat for me. I said thanks after, he hopped in on the driver's seat. "Your welcome." He said While fixing his own seatbelt.
I fix mine and we head off from the Lewis University. "What are your plans for today? I know you have an agenda each day." He said. I smile at him. He never really forgot that side of me. "I need to go to the market to buy some chips and other things for Mrs. Richford's place since his nephew is going to stay there for thirty days."
"What? You're still working under Mrs. Richford even after I gave you your personalized black card?"
Six months ago, the last time we met he forcefully gave me his black card but I refuse to use that since I'm earning money by working on my own. It's not like I don't want his help. I just want to prove something to our Father.
"He's now--" I cut his words by glaring at him. "I'll zip my mouth and never open that topic ever again." He said.
"Can we eat first before going to the market?" I asked. "You'll pay?" I scoff. "You're the wealthy one, you should pay for our meals!"
He laugh hysterically at what I told him. "Just testing you. You can even use the black card for our meal."
I look at him and give him my most fake sad face. "To bad I always leave it in my room."I can see his forehead furrowed even if his gaze was focus on the drive way. "I told you to use it right? So you don't have to work anymore."
Here he goes again continuesly lecturing me what to do when I already stated I didn't want it. I choose to stay quiet so our conversation won't escalate further.
"Being silent now because you do not want to talk about the money I gave you. I told you already that I gave that to you, its not from our father." He continue lecturing me all the way to the mall. He's still insisting that I should use that credit card he gave me. Actually after I receive that card, I sent it back to his company address with a different name on it. I lied about having it on my home. Shhh.
After thirty minutes of traveling on the way to the mall, we arrive and he even open the door of his favorite restaurant for me. "Ladies first?" I entered the said restaurant and look for a vacant table.
As soon as we sat facing each other the waiter give us the menus, "One Clam chowder." He order without even looking at the menus.
He look at me and smile. We're in a American-French cuisine restaurant. " One order of Bisque and Cobb Salad." I said to the waiter.
"Any drink's Mam?" He asked. I look at my Brother who's busy with his phone. "Lemonade and Cranberry juice please. That's all. Thank you."
After that the waiter went away, and I waited for him to finish his business on the phone.
"Sorry about that. I took a half day leave just now and cancel all my appointments this afternoon." My eyes widened at what he said. "Our father will be rage at you if he knew that you---"
He cut my words by looking intently at me. "I want to be away from everything for the meantime. I didn't get the chance to contact you this past few months because I'm on a business trip." He said tiredly as he lean at the back rest of the chair. "Besides I really miss having meal with my only sister. If only you didn't run away from home, I should always felt tempted to go home."
One of my favorite attitude of my brother is that he's showy about the things that's related to me. Like this time, he showed me how much he misses me by taking his time out of our family business with me, hugging me tightly like he doesn't wanna let go and treating me meals.
This are the things we normally do when I was still living with them. "Don't you miss mom?" He asked. Its been five years since we met and after that we never ever get the chance to see each other. Our father, according to Hansel, is always taking Mom everywhere he goes. If he went to his friends house. She'll take her no matter what.
"She also wants me to give this to you." He handed me a box coming from his tux. "What is this?" I asked opening the box he gave.
"It's the same credit card I gave you. I know you sent it back to the company under someone's name. You're not good at lying Sis."
My mouth fell as soon as he mention that. "Tsk tsk. What our Mom told us about lying?" He asked. I pouted and bow my head. "Don't lie at anyone you trusted especially your siblings."
"She gets mad at me as soon as she saw your handwritten note." He mention that made me feel more bad. I never really wanted to lie but i had no choice but to do so. I want them to trust me that I can do all things with myself.
Before he could speak, our order arrived. As soon as the waiter put his food, he started eating. We silently eating and busy savouring our food. No one tried to break the silence between us.
After eating we went to the market to buy some groceries. He thought it was for me and wanted to pay for it but when he learned that it's for Mrs. Richford's nephew he took a different cart and put everything there saying it was all mine.
I was about to protest but he stop me. "I wont take no for an answer and that's final. Understood?." He stated and went on putting anything on the cart. Mostly of the foods he's putting there we're all my favorites.
When we're waiting at the counter to pay for the groceries he left. I waited for him for five minutes and went back having one basket of chips.
"Hey. That's to much Hansel. Put all of them back." But he just ignore me and push the cart forward with the basket above. "How many people are you going to feed? Ten?" I asked jokingly and he just shrug his shoulder. "I don't want you to starve yourself."
After buying groceries he took me off to Richford's Mansion and help me put everything on The kitchen cabinet.
We we're laughing when we heard the front door of the house open. I came near him out of nervousness. "Are you expecting. Someone today?" He asked. Before I could answer him, a familiar silhouette appear before our eyes.
My eyes got widened as the man reveal himself. "Long tine no see...."
I stare at him and he did the same to me. "... Daughter."
He looked around. He got older from the last time I saw him. Mix color of black and white hair as a sign of aging, upright posture, manipulative eyes and his presence is enough to make me shiver in fear before.
"Whose house is this? Is this for sale?--" before he could follow up his question i went in front of his without saying a word and slapped his face really hard. I even felt my hand is burning after the slap. "Is that how you greet your dearest father?"
Am I evil by slapping his face? Well.. What he did to me before was way more evil. "Get the hell out! And don't ever show your face in front of me." I said emphatically. His presence wont make me shiver anymore. "How feisty for a young miss." He stated not showing any signs of panic.
"I will make you kneel in front of me Daughter, that time is finally coming." He said certainty as if it can affect me. "You will kneel in front of me first with the two of us. Mark my word."
I went to the main door and open it. "You're not welcome here so you should go..." I said without taking my eyes off of him. "...STEP FATHER." I said Emphatically at the last words I said.
He look at my brother as if commanding him to come with him. My brother never disobey his father. He nodded and that made the old man goes out of the house. I even slam the door and sigh. I look at him and he smile weakly.
"I needed to go. No matter what happen call me. Anytime.. I love you even if we're just half siblings. I need to go. Sorry for the trouble he caused you today." He hugged me for the last time. As we parted he kiss my forehead.
"You're quite brave huh?" He said that made me smile. "Continue being like that."
I nodded. "I will. And please don't let him hurt you ever again. I love you Hansel."
We bid goodbye. After that i went to my room and sat on the bed.
I never imagined slapping that old mans face in front of Hansel. I hope tomorrow will be better as Mrs. Devon Richford's nephew and it's friends arrive.
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