Vivian stood in front of the door with a huge smile. Ever since she was little, her only wish was to be with Carl every day and she had even lived here just to be with him but then her father said she had to study abroad which she found absurd but didn't question him. Her heart swelled with happiness and she took a deep breath then slowly knocked at the door. she can't wait to see him.
Carl was lying on his bed deep in thought with an expressionless face. His father had summoned him this morning but didn't tell him the reason why. His thoughts wandered to what happened yesterday and remembered the sleepless night he had, as her words kept echoing inside his head.
He sighed and was about to shut his eyes, then unexpectedly heard a knock at the door. He frowned and thought maybe it was his stepmother that had come back or Lucy.
" Come in." He muttered tiredly and shut his eyes.
Vivian slowly opened the door after she heard his voice from inside.
She saw him laying on the bed peacefully with his eyes closed and his right palm placed perfectly atop the left one on his stomach, and the smile on her lips broadened. She quietly sauntered toward his bed and studied his perfect features silently and her heartbeat was accelerating.
Carl frowned when he heard no sound after the door was closed and he scrunched his nose as a strange fragrance wafted on the air. He slowly opened his eyes and was met with a strange face.
His expression darkened and he sat down with a frown. " Who are you,? " he asked coldly.
Vivian chuckled and removed her glasses while staring at the confused man with a sweet smile and found his expression cute. "Hi. . . big brother."
When Carl heard her voice, his face relaxed a little and he wondered why he didn't recognize her at first glance. Something had changed about her but he couldn't pinpoint what it was, except for her new look. He sighed inside realizing the reason why his father summoned him.
" Uhm. . . I just arrived and uncle told me you're here__ have you been waiting for me?.". Vivian smiled coyly and looked down at her feet.
Carl watched the girl and sighed again. He felt a headache coming. So his father would not really go back on his word, and his stepmom also supported him this time.
He stood up without giving her an answer and sauntered toward his bathroom.
Vivian stared at his back with a bashful smile and sighed happily. She can't believe her lifelong dream was finally going to come true. When her father called and informed her about Carl's situation the happiness she felt was indescribable. She thought she had lost her chance when her father sent her abroad but found a new light after that phone call.
Now all she had to do was to make him fall for her. " Hmmm. . ." She sighed again and looked down at the bed he was lying on then rearranged the slightly crumpled sheet and the pillows with a smile.
When Carl came out of the bathroom, he noticed Vivian had left and sighed in relief.
He took out his phone then dialed his assistant.
" Sir. . ." his assistant's voice was heard from the other end.
" Arrange a meeting with the business partners in City X. We'll take off tomorrow." He ordered curtly and hung up.
" Y..yes, okay Sir. " David heard the beeping sound and stared at his phone from the other end with a confused look.
After he ended the call, Carl scrolled through his contacts list and stared at a number solemnly then heaved a sigh. After what happened yesterday, he had been contemplating whether he should text her or not. But what would she think of him when she had already drawn the barrier between them.
His eyes turned cold and he strode out of his room then headed downstairs.
______
Vivian entered her room and saw Lucy unpacking her luggage; she was putting some clothes inside the walk-in closet and arranging the shoes and bags on a stand. " Hey don't touch that. " she snatched a red sparkly purse from her hand and walked toward the closet. " It is custom made, I don't want you to dirty it, " she said while coming back.
Lucy pouted her lips and picked up another dress then carefully placed it on the bed while Vivian sat down and started browsing through her phone.
" Don't touch that... and that, keep that there...., no, not there. " she would look up now and then and ordered while snatching some things from the girl's hand.
After some minutes, Lucy pouted and sighed exasperatedly then she sneaked a glance at Vivian who was engrossed in her phone, and tiptoed toward the door. She was suddenly halted when she was about to sneak out of the room with her hand on the doorknob.
" Come back here, " Vivian said authoritatively and stood up then grabbed her hand before sitting her on the bed.
" Now, tell me what your big brother had been doing these past few days. " She stood in front of her and snapped.
Lucy shifted nervously and stared down at her hand. " I_I don't know, " she replied truthfully not daring to meet her eyes. Except for the paper that she saw in her brother's office there was nothing unusual about him. However, she was not a fool to tell her about it.
Vivian raised an eyebrow and folded both hands in front of her. " So you mean. . . there is no woman around him." She gave her a scrutinizing look and Lucy slowly nodded her head.
Her expression softened and she smiled gently. It was going to be easy to carry out her plans.'hehehe'.
She sat down beside Lucy and gently placed her hand on the girl's shoulder then muttered softly, " Now listen, if you notice anything unusual about him. . .make sure you tell me. . .okay?."
Lucy winced from her sudden change of behavior and slowly nodded again.
" Good girl, now__" Vivian's eyes snapped to the door which was suddenly opened before she could finish her sentence.