Liam couldn't help but smile on his way back to his car. Not only was he taken aback, but also astonished by how outspoken she was. No one has ever looked him in the eye before, let alone utter a word whenever he spoke. But her? This tiny being was something else!
"I've been waiting for ages. Where did you run off to?" Adrian asked immediately he saw Liam approach the car.
"It was just five minutes. C'mon man, don't exaggera-" Liam replied, but was taken aback by Adrian's next question.
"Where's she?"
Damn, was I just interrupted?
So that's how she felt, huh?
"How would I know? She left already. I'd love to do likewise, take me home if you're done throwing questions." Liam replied while trying to overlook the fact that he was interrupted. He stepped into the car and shut it.
"Is it just me, or was he smiling"? Adrian asked himself. He had noticed a slight change in Liam's voice; it wasn't as intimidating as it usually was. He could've sworn that he saw a smile on his face. Although it wasn't wide, but it definitely was a smile!
Adrian got into the driver's seat and started the car. He adjusted his rear mirror and happened to get a clear glimpse of Liam; who was still smiling and smirking at intervals.
"What's amusing?" he finally asked.
"Just shut up and drive". Liam snapped. He hadn't realized how much he let himself go until Adrian's question jolted him back. He couldn't let Adrian see how surprised he was, courtesy of how fatso talked to him. If not for anything, he'd definitely make fun of the whole situation.
"Weird, but okay" Adrian thought to himself before zooming off.
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"Li...am Xa...nder".
The sound her keyboard made enveloped the whole room as she typed rapidly on her laptop. "Who on earth does he think he is? And why exactly is he so rude?". She waited for the site to load, but it seemed as though the network coverage wasn't on her side. Clearing his name off the search bar, she typed it again and waited, impatiently.
Her phone rang almost immediately and her attention left her laptop to her cellphone.
"Shoot!!" she said as she saw whom it was.
"I know, I promised I was gonna call, Jade. But a lot has been going on lately. I'm sorry, Nugget".
"Yeah it's fine, Cordae. Kookie told me everything. Are you okay, Boomer ?" she asked. There was something soothing about talking to her best friend. She always had a way of making things better.
"Yes. Ye... actually, no. I really need to see you. Probably cuddle and š¢ššššš¤ššššš¦ lay my head on your boobies because why not?" Cordae replied. She couldn't tell her dad, or her sister all that transpired between her, the goons and even Liam. But at least she was comfortable enough to share it with her best friend. I mean, what are best friends for?
"Pervert! Leave my twins out of this". Cordae could hear her laugh at the other end. Her face equally lit up. She really missed her best friend. it's been more than a week since they last saw each other. " I'll call you when I get off work tomorrow. Hopefully, you'll be free then?" she asked.
"Girlllll. I went to my mom's for the weekend. She requested that I stayed with her. But wait, you still have a spare to my house, right? I'll be back tomorrow evening, wait for me! As a matter of fact, I'll persuade your dad into letting you sleep over. Why are they keeping my best friend from me like that?" Jade said, and mimicked her voice to depict that of an angry, crying child.
"Yes, I have a spare, Jade. And relax, drama queen. I'm all yours, just get home safely first. I've missed you a lot".
"Me too, Boomer. Me too".
"Okay okay. I'll come over once I make few deliveries tomorrow. And I'll stay the night. Promise".
Cordae heard Jade squeal right after she said what she said. She had to move her phone away from her ear to her arm's length because Jade was pretty much about to ruin her eardrum.
"Great! Love you so much, Boomer."
"Love you too, Nugget".
And with that, the call disconnected. Cordae had totally forgotten about her laptop and all she was up to prior to the phone call. She just went up straight to her bed and laid down. She had a pretty rough day, if not for anything, she deserved a good night's rest.
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"B-but... but I love you!" a woman's voice echoed in the parking lot of the apartment at which Cordae had gone for a delivery. Her voice sounded somewhat weak, as that of someone who had cried for few minutes, but was loud enough to startle Cordae as she almost dropped the delivery bag.
Cordae's day started pretty well. She slept peacefully last night because she knew fully well that she'd be meeting her sister from another Mister. She rushed over to "Tasty Chicken" that very morning because Sarah had asked her the day before to deliver few packages. She was on her way to make the next delivery when she overheard persons talking. In a bid to save herself, in case there was trouble, she hid behind a car which was few feet away from them.
"What did you just say?" Cordae heard a husky, deep, intimidating voice ask, and she flinched, even though she wasn't the one he was referring to. Only then did she decipher that they were probably a "thing". She couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor lady who had confessed her love to him, right before her eyes!
"I said I loved you". There was a sudden change in the lady's voice as well as her demeanor . Her voice quivered as she repeated herself.
A laughter followed; a loud, menacing one.
"Love? Miss Thompson. This wasn't what we discussed. Did you even read what you signed?"
Cordae didn't know what to do. Imagine witnessing a confession that got such a cold response!
If she wanted to leave, she'd have to come out of hiding and walk right past them; as her scooter was parked right beside the black Mercedes Benz, which she assumed was the man's. But she didn't want to be seen. After all that's happened, she wasn't ready to find herself in any other unnecessary encounter. Plus, coming out from her spot now would mean starting up a conversation as to 'how long she's been there, and how much she heard'.
'So don't you think it's safer to stay here until they leave? Yes, Cordae. Yes'. she said inwardly, assuring herself that staying put was the perfect choice.
"Get out." she heard the same voice say.
"What?"
"I said get out! Out of my sight. Out of my life. Just leave. Now." he repeated himself, this time, his voice slightly raised.
"I'll have my P.A give you the rest of your pay. But as of now, the fucking deal is off. You can get lost now. Thank you for your time."
"Stop this, Liam. Okay, I'm sorry. I won't repeat myself. I mean, I still have more than 3 weeks left to spend with you, so what are you saying?" Cordae heard the woman ask.
'Liam? nahh, can't be- '.
"Adrian!" the voice yelled, disrupting her calculations. "Take Miss. Thompson home. Make sure to give her what's left of her pay. In fact..." he said, whilst turning to the already heartbroken lady, "double it. Miss Thompson, I'm sure that'll be more than enough, yeah? Please don't bother me. ever". And with that, he entered the back seat of the Benz.
Cordae couldn't quite get what was happening. She was sure she heard the lady mention that man's name, but then, she wasn't certain.
The lady was led safely into another black car in that very parking lot. Cordae peeped, and she saw her get in. The man who led her to the car said something to someone at the driver's seat; he was most likely the driver, and almost immediately, the car zoomed off while he returned back to the car the mean man was in.
Due to the dimmed light in the parking lot, she couldn't quite see his face. She heard him tap on the glass of the car and after a minute, the man in the car came out.
Although she couldn't see his face, she could tell by his silhouette and physique that he was one fine man!
"What are you going to do now, Liam? What of your dad?" she heard the man who knocked on the car's window say.
'Liam? No please. God!'.
"Sigh. I'll figure something out. I can handle him. Meanwhile... " the other voice replied whilst turning towards the area Cordae hid. "Come out, now!"