The next morning at Luca's house, after Williams left the previous night, Beatrice came for a sleepover. She needed money for girls' trips, but Luca wasn't having this time. He has been the one sponsoring all her trips, but he has solidly refused to sponsor these trips this time around;
" What is wrong with you? What does everything about you have to be about money? What would you have me do in this situation?" Luca yelled, as he hurriedly walked through the stairs going downstairs.
" Do what a real boyfriend would do? You don't expect me to look different from my friends, do you? Do you know who your father is in the society? I'm your girlfriend, for God's sake; I should always stand out among my peers; I shouldn't be looking like a regular girl among them." Beatrice said after him as she followed him.
Soon, they were in the living room downstairs. Luca sat on the couch and crossed his legs, he picked up the TV remote to switch the channel, but Beatrice snatched it from him;
" Beatrice, what is wrong with you!" Luca yelled, breathing heavily.
" Everything is wrong; since you've refused to do what I want, then there will be no peace for you," Beatrice said firmly.
" I sponsored your last trip, remember?" Luca said sharply.
" I know, you don't have to remind me how much you've spent on me. You're my boyfriend, so it's your responsibility." She said firmly.
" I'm your boyfriend and not your father. Your father should be the one paying for your trips, not me, or is this relationship a poverty alleviation scheme to you?" He asked rudely.
" How dare you! You know my father is not poor; my dad is financially stable; we're rich, too!" She yelled, breathing heavily.
" Yet I'm the one sponsoring your trips; why not go to him then? I guess he won't let you go on those useless trips, that's the reason you keep coming to me. I have better things to invest my money on this time." Luca said firmly.
" You're my boyfriend, and it's your duty to take care of me and do whatever I want," Beatrice said sharply.
" When tell that to your future husband, I'm not your husband yet. I can't sponsor the trips, maybe next time you can go with me." He said and snatched the remote from her.
" Luca, what are you saying? What will my friends think of me? They'll think I'm broke; they'll think neither my dad nor boyfriend is financially okay to sponsor my trips." Beatrice said, almost tearing up.
" Then tell them your dad can't afford it; after all, I'm just a boyfriend," Luca said, without a glance at her.
" Luca, why are you doing this to me? You always sponsor my trips, why is this different?" Beatrice asked calmly, with a pitiful face.
" That's because you and your friends are going to twelve different countries this time around, and you know how much you spend in just one country because you always like to show off, all in the name of standing out, now imagine how much you'll spend in twelve countries. You'll be away for over four months, do you know how much you're about to squander, all in the name of vacation? Please I have better things to invest that money into." Luca said firmly.
" But you have the money, why are you being wicked? You have more than enough money in your account, why can't you just let me spend it the way I want? I'm your girlfriend for Christ's sake." Beatrice said sharply.
" I don't blame you," Luca said, and the living room for his bedroom upstairs.
" Luca! Luca!! Luca!!!" Beatrice called after him, but he didn't respond.
" This guy is messing with me, he wants me to take the money by force, and that's what I'll do. He wants my friends to mock me, he wants them to look down on me, never! I won't let that happen." She said to herself.
Pearl just resumed work as she was walking into the compound, a car drove behind her into the compound as well, she stopped to see who was in the car;
" Who could that be?" She thought silently.
Soon, the car was parked, and a security guard came out of the car to open the back seat door. Lo and behold it was Rebecca, she was looking as ravishing as always;
" Oh! Mrs. Johnson, I hope all is well. Hope she's not here to fire me?" Pearl thought, looking disturbed.
" Good morning, ma'am." She greeted Rebecca as she walked towards her.
" Good morning, Pearl; how are you?" Rebecca asked.
" I'm fine ma'am," Pearl answered, looking down.
" Good, and how's your mum? When will she be resuming? Because I want her back to work as soon as possible, don't get me wrong, you're doing a good job too here just like your mum, but I prefer your mum working with my son. Dear, you're still very young, and you also have your life to leave, you have a lot ahead of you, and I know working here with my son won't let you achieve that." Rebecca explained.
" I understand ma'am, but I'm not complaining. I'm here to fill in for my mum till she gets back on her feet, and that I'm willing to do. She's my mum; if I don't help her in this time of need, who will help her? So, ma'am, it's nothing; everything can be on hold for now. I spoke with the doctor yesterday, and he told me that she will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, so let's say in two to three weeks, she'll resume back to work." Pearl said calmly.
" That's good, I'm glad she's getting better. My regards to her when you go to see her later in the evening." Rebecca said and ended into the house.
" I will ma'am," Pearl said as she began to walk behind her.
" Mrs Johnson? Good morning." Beatrice said as she walked hurriedly to hug Rebecca.
" Good morning, darling; how are you?" Rebecca asked with a broad smile, as they both hugged.
" I'm fine; you're here this early; is everything okay?" Beatrice asked, looking concerned.
" Everything is fine, by the way, how are your parents?" Rebecca asked, smiling.
" They're fine...….. Hey you, why are you just resuming by this time?" Beatrice asked Pearl.
" What time was I supposed to resume? Did you check your time at all before questioning me?" Pearl asked, rolling her eyes.
" You're stupid for asking me such questions; you resume when I want you to resume; I've been starving all morning; I've been waiting for you to come and make me breakfast, and you're just resuming by this time," Beatrice said firmly
" Excuse me; she has a time she resumes and that time she'll stick to, ok? If you're starving, as you said, you should have gone into the kitchen to make yourself something to eat and not wait on a cleaner; she's not a cook, remember? My son doesn't eat at home, and that's why he never hired a cook. So please don't stress the girl, by the way, where's my son?" Rebecca asked firmly.
" He's in his room," Beatrice answered faintly.
" Ok, see you later," Rebecca said and headed upstairs.
Pearl rolled her eyes and walked past Beatrice. Beatrice couldn't stop her or say a word further, she knew Pearl wouldn't make breakfast for her since Rebecca had supported her;
" I just have to go back home now; I can't be starving here when I have food waiting for me at home. I have chefs at my beck and call, Mrs. Johnson can't make me slave myself in that kitchen." Beatrice said and headed upstairs.
Soon, she came downstairs with her bag, and she left, Pearl saw her live;
" It seems there's trouble in paradise, these two are always together because only that can explain why she was in the living room and he was in his room?" Pearl thought to herself.
She went back into the kitchen to make Luca's breakfast since Beatrice was gone. She was serving the table when she began to hear some noise coming from Luca's room, he was in an argument with his mum;
" Dad can't keep tossing me around like a kid. I'm not going on this trip, and there's nothing anyone can do or tell me about it." Luca said angrily.
" What are you saying? You're our only son and the heir to the company. We need you to get acquainted with some people in the industry so that they can be familiar with you." Rebecca explained.
" Mum, I don't want that, have you forgotten how the last meeting went? So you want me to… … . … … … … … … "
A knock on the door interrupted Luca.
" Who's that!" Rebecca and Luca yelled.