Rose was trying to find the restroom upstairs but couldn't find it easily, so she ended up opening the door to one room and walked inside. She didn't even take a look at the room but rushed to the toilet to do her business. By the time she was done, it became clear to her where she was as she stepped into the room in full view.
One look at the room, she was sure it was David's room. It was a very strong masculine room. At one corner of the room stood a well stocked bookshelf.
Going close to the shelf, Rose picked up one of the books titled Romeo and Juliet and smiled and flipped it over to look through the book description.
"Do you know that..." Rose swayed her head backwards to see David leaning on the door. "...Romeo and Juliet portrays love as a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that supersedes all other values, loyalties, and emotions."
"Yet,..." Rose replied fixing the book back from where she got it. "The willingness to marry someone they had known for just a day, and to die for someone they had known for a week is what makes the relationship of R & J so remarkable and memorable to audiences."
"Even so, more experienced characters argue that sexual frustration, not enduring love, is the root cause of Romeo and Juliet's passion for one another."
"Have you thought that perhaps..." Rose replied facing him squarely this time "just perhaps R & J's love is fate"
"Hmmm," David snorted. "just because their love is given a cosmic significance, which suggests that the universe plays a role in the creation of deep romantic love?"
"Then there must be something at work there, if not the universe."
"Anyway, their rash decisions and intense need to have one or another-or die-is what led to their downfall."
"Just talked like someone against love." Rose made a face at him with her tongue stuck out.
"A 'lover person' I presume?" David guessed.
"More like a 'reality person' I can say." Rose replied and when she looked around her, she felt the need to apologize "I'm sorry, I was trying to find the restroom but couldn't find another other one on time." she said and started moving towards the door but David held her back and pinned her against the wall by the door.
"No need to apologize," David said as her dragged her to the wall. "in fact, I think you came here because you wanted to see my room. And perhaps, reminisce on what it'll feel like rolling in bed with the most sought boy in school." he added as he trailed kisses all the way from her hair to her almost open breasts.
"I don't know what you mean." Rose whispered almost out of breath.
"You sure about that?" he taunted as he slipped his hands slowly under her gown and into her pants. "Hmm, you're wet already Rose. You're sure this is not what you wanted?"
Rose couldn't respond cos she was almost loosing herself with the effect of David's finger touching her.
David suddenly stopped and took his hands away from her body and this made her open her eyes and look quizzically at him.
"You want to give your innocence to me, Rose?" he asked and the question jolted Rose back to her senses.
She suddenly raised her hands to slap him again and he held her hand midair this time and ticked his tongue.
"Not again, baby." he said before he squeezed down his lips with hers in a ferocious kiss. "I'm not your punch bag." he added after the kiss looking directly into Rose's eyes.
"Let go of me." Rose shouted and ran out immediately he did.
She got downstairs, picked up her purse and ran out with Ava trailing behind her.
***
LAUREL got to work after dropping her daughter at school and lurched into work. She had tons of files on her table to tend to and new jewelry designs to draw up for her boss.
She was the chief jewelry designer in one of the biggest known jewelry making companies in town. Crestonville was a big town where Laurel had to move to in order to start afresh.
Prime Jewelries where she works, was once seen as the biggest jewelry making companies in the town, it had about three branches scattered in the town. Until, the owners got into money trouble, lost the other branches and was left with headquarters.
Laurel started with them when things were going south and had managed to keep them afloat with her various unique designs. But the company had already lost face in the market. So they were only trying to hold up as much as they could.
Because of how efficient Laurel was, her boss had to double her as his personal assistant, because he said she was a lot more intelligent that the one he hired as his PA.
Here she has a well furnished office just beside the boss's office. And she works till 3:30pm, when she closes for the day, goes to pick up her daughter and goes home, as agreed to by the boss.
A red light blinked twice on her table before a voice came on air. "Come to my office."
Standing from her desk, Laurel straightened her skirt and walked out of the office and went into the boss's office.
The office was well furnished and looked comfortable enough. Behind the desk opposite Laurel a man that looked like he was in his late sixties sat looking straight at her.
"Have a seat, Laurel." he offered pointing at the chair across the desk.
"Good morning sir," Laurel greeted before taking the seat. "You look well this morning." she added.
"I'm never going to be well, Laurel." he replied and looked at her with a gloomy face. Laurel just gave him a questioning look and he continued. "I wanted you to hear this from me first, today is Friday, issuing in the weekend. Come Monday morning, this place will no longer be Prime Jewelries."
"What?" Laurel showed her shock. "What do u mean, Maxwell?" she called him by his name as he always urged her to.
"I mean that by Monday, I'd have forfeited ownership of this place to someone else." he informed.
"What? How?" Laurel couldn't believe her ears. She was already beginning to look at Maxwell Burke like a father. He gave her a job when things were so rocky he was cutting down on employees. But he paid her well and quite on time. She couldn't imagine him selling the only remaining business he has left. "Did something happen Maxwell?"
"Same thing that'd always happened." Maxwell replied with pain in his eyes. "Drake went on another gambling spree." he informed
Laurel knew that Drake was the man's only son who was well known for his gambling recklessness. Rumors had it that he was the reason why the money problems started for his family. and obviously he's the reason they're selling out their family legacy.
"I'm so sorry, Maxwell," Laurel told him.
"Don't be sorry, Laurel. You didn't do anything wrong. If for anything you've been the one keeping me afloat for the longest time. I believe if I didn't find you when I did, I'd have sold out long before this."
"Still," Laurel argued, "this is like selling your legacy. It can't be that easy."
"Well, it's the only way to keep him alive. But after this, I've told him, he's on his own."
Laurel studied the man's face and was sure that he meant what he just said. She'd always wondered how Drake who had access to everything he'd ever want still be so irresponsible.
"Who?" Laurel asked and Maxwell knew what she meant and replied.
"Don't know for sure, I dealt with just the lawyer. But I hear it's the biggest casino in Europe."
"Wow," Laurel whistled, "so this means, I clear my desk today?" she asked the only question that feared her. The fear of starting afresh to look for a job.
"No." Maxwell replied. "Actually, I asked and they would retain it as a jewelry company. Want to have a stake in various businesses. I put in the good word for you and I'll make sure they'll retain you too. Moreover, they're new and they need someone to help them lay the ground."
"Hmmm," Laurel sighed
"You don't want to stay?"
"I don't know, Maxwell. Working with you is different, you understand and try to be as helpful as you can. I just don't know about this person that's coming."
"Maybe, you'll just have to wait and see him first before knowing." Laurel raised her brows.
"It's a 'him'?" she asked.
" That's the impression I got." the man replied and seemed to want to get back to work. "Put things in order, get me the required files and also the jewelry for the two online clients, I'll get their pay and send yours. I could use that and stay afloat for a while." he ordered
"Sure sir, I'll do just that." Laurel stood up and headed for the door.
"Laurel," Maxwell called and Laurel turned to look at him. "it's been a pleasure working with you."
"Same here sir." Laurel quietly said and walked out of the office.