Forty Two

I remained at Winter's house.

"Actually, Gianna, where have you been?"


"In Los Angeles," I replied.

"What are you doing over there?" Pia asked me.

"I went there because my aunt gave birth at seven months." Your Uncle Darius was my Aunt's husband back then. " I told Winter.

"How did it happen?" she inquired.

"Ex-couples who remarry, I guess that's their love story," I replied.

"Good. Is it true that all ex-lovers have reconciled? " Pia ask, frowning.

"Why did you ask? Are you threatening that your boyfriend will go back to his ex?" I asked her.

"It simply came to my attention at the time, but I'm concerned if that happens."

"Is everything all right, Pia?" 

"Yes, Gianna, and I probably won't accept it if that happens," Pia replied.

"There is no such thing as a perfect relationship, Pia, so you must be prepared for the possibilities, as well as defend the situation."


"I don't want to be hurt again."
"Trust me, everything will be alright." My answer.
"By the way, Gianna, have you started working for the company I mentioned? "Pia inquired.

"No, Miss Maureen threatened me that if I went in there, something bad would happen to me.  Why didn't you tell me that Winter's father owned that business? "

Their eyes enlarged.

"What? Do you believe Aunt Maureen threatened you?"

"I guess I'll just avoid it."

"I'm sorry, Gianna, I had no idea she was so obsessed with Daddy," Winter said.

"I'm not overly fond of your father." " This is my response.
We were all laughing.

"Gianna, I've finished all of my designing clothes, and we can start next month," she said.

"Yes," I replied.

"Let's hang out now; this is my treat."

"Sure."

"However, no boys are permitted. It's simply a girls' night out."

"Yes, our men are busy right now, so we don't have any," Pia replied with a smile.

"You already have a man in your life," I replied, smirking.


They both burst out laughing.

"You would have a man in your life right now if you had accepted daddy's love," Winter said.

"Whatever, I want to live longer," I replied.

"Let's go," I said once, pointing outside Winter's house.

I tried to call Marcus to apologize for what my aunt had said, but I couldn't reach him. I put the handkerchief inside my sling bag and discovered an invitation card; it's a good thing I saw it, or I'd forget and won't be able to attend.


"What are you two doing inside? Let’s go. It’s getting late. " I said. 
 
"You’re too impatient, Gianna. We will do make-up first." Pia replied.
 
"Whatever. We go to the bar, not to the pageant. " I said. 
 
Then we got into the car, and Winter drove us to the city.
We eventually end up in a newly opened bar. And I saw a lot of customers.

We left the car parked on the side of the bar.

"I know it's a new open bar, but maybe all of their drinks are free here," I reasoned.

Winter rolled her eyes.

"It's better that they don't open a business if it's like this and they have so many customers and then the drinks are free and then we add more." I laughed.

And then we went inside the bar. I looked around the colossal space that was such a bar, but it was packed. Furthermore, the sound system is extremely loud. When they talk, they can't hear each other.

"It's very crowded here, Gianna; we can just go to another bar," Pia explained.

My eyes widened as I looked the other way near the bar counter. Geoff was the  was drinking by himself.

"Come on, girls. Let's just look for another bar. " I explained to them.

"Sure."

We got back into the car, and I noticed Geoff at the door of the bar house looking for someone. I was nervous because I knew he saw me coming out of the bar, so I turned off my phone so he couldn't call me. We ended up at a bar with very few customers, so we went inside and sat at a vacant table.

"Are you okay, Gianna, you looked pale?" Pia ask.

"It's just that I'm tired."

"I hope you rest first." "Pia explained.

"Yes, we're only here for a moment," I replied.

We ordered a drink and began to consume it.


I was in a taxi an hour later as they both went home. I refused to go home because I was going to pass Marcus's house and take him to the wedding I was going to. I'm at his house right now. I exited the taxi and paid. Because the gate was open, I went through it. When I knocked on the front door, it was opened by a woman.



"Good evening, I'm looking for Sir Marcus," I said to the lady.

"Good evening, as well. First, come inside. "A girl invited me inside, and I believe she is pregnant.

"First, take a seat. What would you like to drink? "She inquired.

"It's only water."

"Who is it, sweetheart?" said a man's voice inside the kitchen, which I recognized as not Marcus.

"She's looking for Uncle Marcus!" exclaimed the woman.

And out walks a man in a pink apron, who is also quite attractive; maybe he is the girl's husband.

" My name is Lance. And you, too? "

"My name is Gianna," I replied.

"Nice to meet you, and this is my wife, Laila, Marcus' nephew," I replied with a nod.

"Marcus hasn't returned home yet, and I have no idea where he is," the man explained.

My brow furrowed; hadn't he returned from L.A. yet?

"I'll simply tell him. What do you require from him?"

"There is nothing significant. "I'll wait for him." That was my response.


"You just eat dinner while you wait for him; maybe he was running late," he explained.

"I'll leave you for a while," he said as he kissed me goodbye.

While Timothy and I were talking, my phone rang.

"Answer your phone first, Dad; I'll just get dressed for a while," he said as he walked away from me and into their room.

I looked at it and Lance called. I answered it.

"Lance, why?"

"You have a visitor here in your home," he said on the other end of the phone.

"Who?"

"What she will tell you as soon as you get home appears to be important."


"She had been waiting earlier. I'm sure you'll be overjoyed when you see who is waiting for you when you get home. " He said to me as he cut the line.

My brow furrowed. Who would pay me a visit tonight? I stood up and told my children that I would go home first, and I knew it would be a woman. Who would it be?


I got into my car and drove away from Timothy's house.

Lance wife had already placed water on the table in front of me, and she stared at me emphatically.

"Are you Uncle Marcus's girlfriend?" she asked flatly.
I burst out laughing.

"It's just a girlfriend right away?  Can't we start by being friends first? " I replied, laughing at her.
"How long has your stomach been?" I asked her.

"Four months. My husband and I just married for convenience," she replied.
 
"I am still eighteen years old. While Lance is 49,”
 
"Really?" I said.
 

"Yes, it's a long story; I'll tell you everything the next time we meet, when we both have time," she says.

"That's fine."



Lance yelled at his wife, "Sweetheart, come here to the kitchen!"

"All right, let's go to the kitchen," the woman said, and I stood up and followed her.



"First, Gianna, eat while you wait for Marcus," Lance advised.



I nodded and pull a chair up.


On the other hand, I had just arrived in front of the house. I got out of the car and dashed inside the house. And there was no one in the living room. When I went into the kitchen, I discovered them eating with Gianna. Is Gianna the person Lance claims is looking for me? What does this woman need of me? Is it a miracle that she went to the house herself? Is the wind blowing differently now?
Lance said to me as I stood in the kitchen doorway,

"Marcus, come and eat."

In greeting, I approached Gianna and kissed her on the cheek. It's a good thing she didn't say anything.

And I caught Lance's smiled at me.

"Jerk!" I said to him in a low voice.
“Did you get a visit, Gianna?" I asked her.
"Eat first, then we'll talk." She told me at once, handing me a plate and spoon filled with rice and another dish. I'm confused by Gianna's attitude now.

They began eating as Lance looked at me and Gianna. I raised my brows at him, but he remained motionless.

"What do you do for a living, Gianna?" Lance asked, as if he didn't recognize her.

"I'm unemployed, Lance," Gianna replied.

"Why don't you apply to Marcus? There are still a lot of open positions. He may even promote you to a higher position. " Lance stated.

"I can only be a secretary, Lance; I won't aspire to be high or I'll fall for a long time," Gianna laughed.


"It's okay to have big dreams, Gianna; it's the same in a relationship. You can also have a rich man for as long as you want. There's no problem there," Lance said, causing my brow to furrow.

What is he talking about?

"What if the person you fantasize about has a different dream than you do?" 

Lance fell silent and drank water.

"It only means one thing, Gianna: you don't stand a chance, so stop fantasizing about him." You've just chosen the man who wished for you. " Lance says this in an attempt to make Gianna laugh.

"Ah, I see."
"Do you have a boyfriend, Gianna?"


Why is this man being so chatty right now?

Gianna replied, "nothing."

"Nothing? But why is that? " Lance questioned if he was surprised by what he had discovered.

"Is it a bad thing to be single, Lance?" Gianna inquired.

"Of course not," you say.

We finished eating an hour later, despite Gianna being bombarded with Lance's questions. We're now sitting on the couch.

"Do you needs anything from me, Gianna?"

I flushed at the thought because I remembered something happened to Marcus and me the second time right here on this couch.

"I always call you, but you don't answer." I told him.
"My phone is battery low, so you can't contact me." Marcus replied.
I looked at him.

“Marcus, I'm here to apologize for what my aunt said about you.” I start the conversation.
"She was just surprise because we were in the same room." I said.
His mouth tightened.

"She's just too critical, Gianna." She doesn't know me well yet, but when she speaks to me, I feel terrible. "He informed me.

"I know, which is why I apologized on her behalf," I explained.

"All right," he replied.

"What time do you plan to return home?"

"Later,"

"You can sleep here; there is a guest room, and I will prepare your bed." 

Because it was already dark, I simply nodded. Gianna and I walked to the guest room together.

"Just yell when you think I'll let you into the room and rape you, Gianna." Lance and his wife have arrived. " I made a joke with her.

"Stupid

" She responded.

"I had no idea you had returned to the Philippines," I told her.

"I did go to Winter's house, and I met your youngest son, Timothy." She responded.

"Draco told me as well. I was from his place. "



I flung open the door for her.

"This room is yours for tonight, but if you need someone next to the bed, feel free to knock on my door," I joked.

"I don't want to! We are not in a different country. I don't want Lance to think poorly of me," she explained.

"I'm sure they understand," I replied.
Gianna stomped on me.