###Chapter 14

Chapter 14


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Richard Maxwell is seated in his swivel chair as usual with an unapproachable look.

His phone constantly beeping and ringing with information he deemed irrelevant since it is his unofficial phone.

Focusing his full attention on his laptop, an article popped up, making him to widen his eyes in horror.

Betty Harrison is deàd.

Questions like; what? How? When? Where? How is Henry and the kids? Is her baby fine? Rushed through his head as he picked up his unofficial phone and dialled his best friend number; Henry Harrison.

Henry Harrison and Richard Maxwell have been best of friends since first year of highschool, they met during registration and became friends.

The phone didn't go through for the first five times he called, he called the private jet pilot his company owns.

Him: I'll need to go to New York by tomorrow.

The pilot: Sorry, sir. It won't be possible. The jet is under service and won't be available until Friday next week.

Him: What?! God, it isn't happening right now.

He hangs up and got on his laptop, trying to buy air ticket online but the plane to New York left two days ago and there isn't any more available flight going to New York until on Sunday next week.

He tried to call Henry again and it went through this time around.

Him: What the fúck, Henry?!

Henry: Hello to you too, dear friend.

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

Henry: What's wrong? Are you okay?

Him: I should be asking you that. I just saw the News. When did it happen?

Henry took some minutes to answer, making Richard think that he might have hung up.

Henry: Umm, about eleven days ago.

Him: Oh my God! I'm so sorry, Henry.i didn't know, I was sucked in working.

Henry: It is fine, really. How are you?

Him: Henry, you don't have to pretend. I'm your best friend, I know you're hurting. Beatrix was such a great lady, a little bit crazy.

Henry chuckled and nodded tho they weren't having face-to-face conversation.

Henry: She was, I miss her so freakíng much but I'm not sad.

Him: Who is she?

Henry gasped, dramatically, touching his chest before laughing.

Henry: I don't know what you are talking about.

Him: Oh please, spare me. I know there's someone. Who is she? Is she just a friend or more than a friend? Friends with benefits? Is it Lucy?

Henry: You just asked me five questions under one minute. Take a breath.

Him: What's her name if she isn't Lucy?

Henry: She's nothing but a friend to me, okay? Her name is Anthonia.

Him: Nice name. How is she?

He walked to glass window, one hand tucked in his pocket while the other holding the phone.

Henry: She's as crazy as Betty times hundred. She does things that Trixie did, like one day she stepped on my foot and was like ' oops, sorry. It was a mistake. ' and then she called me ' Denny ' which only Trixie calls me and she is really beautiful. Her eyes are so brown like melted chocolate and her lips also taste like chocolate, her hair is also brown and long even longer than Trixie's own and the kids loves her so much.

Him: It seems like you do too. Henry, you literally just said her lips tastes like chocolate. Have you kissed her?

Henry: Um, maybe. It wasn't really a kiss, okay? It was a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, she drowned and I saved her, she was unconscious. Tho, it was the second time my lips touched hers today.

Richard gasps.

Him: Really? This happened today? You 'saved' her two times?

Henry laughed at his friend's action. Tho, he couldn't see him, he knew he will add air quotes to the save.

Henry: Well, not technically. But I broke her fall and her lips touched mine which was my fault because I snatched her book.

Him: Um, why did you snatch her book? To tease her?

Henry: Actually no, I snatched it so she will follow me to the beach house.

Richard gasps again. More shocked than before.

Henry is sensitive about people entering the beach house and yet he took her there.

Him: What? Really?! You took her to the beach house? Why? Today?

Henry: Yeah, because I knew she would love it and she did.

Him: Who is she to the kids?

Henry: Nanny.

Him: And soon to be mom.

Henry just smiled instead of denying it.

Him: I'll be in New York by Friday next week. Be expecting me.

Henry: Alright, bye.

Him: Yeah, bye. Take care of yourself and the kids and Anthonia.

Henry: I will. Take care too.

When he hangs up, he laughed at his friend. Whatever happens, he is behind him.

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Australia**

Kourtney Gardener sat, professionally on the seat provided by the people she was asked to meet for an interview by her boss.

She checked her wristwatch and sighed heavily. She has been seated here for the past one hour thirty minutes and the person is yet to come.

It is almost 10:00pm, it is precisely 9:30pm right now and by 10:00pm, she was off for the day.

She took a sip of her energy drink but it is obviously not working but she felt extremely tired and wanted a long time in the bath tub while a glass of red wine before going to bed.

She looked at her wristwatch again, 9:38pm.

" Great. " She ruffled her hair, exasperatedly. " Who do they think they are keeping me here? They have probably forgotten about the interview while I'm here, sulking like an idíot that they are not me. Gosh, I haté them so much, I'll kíll them if. . ."

A cute, heart-stopping laughter filled the air around her as she looked up at the person and her mouth dropped open.

Michael Kingston was standing there in all glory, laughing at her rant. He was in all black, literally.

Black turtleneck sweater, black pants, black shoes and black coat over his clothes. His hair was styled in a way that it fell gracefully on his face, covering his eyebrows with sunglasses on.

Every single thing on him screamed wealth from head to toes. His clothes are designers, his shoes are designers, his sunglasses are designers, his cologne reeked of sweet dominant masculinity.

He smiled his perfectly white dental to her while removing his sunglasses.

" Hi. " He spoke.

His voice so rough yet gentle as that one word did things to her body.

" Hi. " She squeaked her reply and clasped her hand over her lips, embarrassed by the outcome of her voice.

That only made him laugh more. His soothing laughter seemed to make her forget her angry rant few minutes ago.

" Can I sit?" He asks, gesturing to the chair beside her instead of the one in front of her.

Her eyes widened on their own as she realized herself.

Michael Kingston; worldwide ice stake dancer and model for almost all the designers brand is fuckíng asking her to permit him to sit beside her.

She nodded, gingerly and he did. He sat down beside her after removing his long coat, facing her.

" Um, um, I'm. . . " She says, trying to remember her name as the intensity Michael was staring at her was taking her breath away.

" Hi, I'm Michael Kingston, you?" He said, outstretching his beautiful hand for an handsake.

She looked at the hand, keenly like it was going to bite her own hand off if she shakes it before putting her hand over it, shaking him.

" Hi, I'm Kourtney Gardener. " She said, surprisingly not stuttering, offering him a smile.

" I'm sorry for the hold up, I got held up by the previous schedule. I had so many things on my plate today. I hope you kíll me now. " He says, smiling.

Her face turned red at another realization that he heard her rant.

" From where did you hear?" She asks, timidly.

" From great. " He replies.

She facepalm herself, embarrassed. " I'm sorry, I don't plan kíll anyone. I was just upset and cranky. "

He smiled. " I understand. You were great for waiting. I should be the one sorry. " He apologizes, sincerely. " What if I treat you to late night dinner will I be completely forgotten and erased off of your murdér list?"

To say, she was shocked or surprised will be an understatement. She was beyond both emotions and her face says it. .

It shows how alarmingly astonished she was by his request.

He raised his hands in defense. " I'm not asking you to follow me to war, just dinner with two friends. "

" Friends? We are friends?" She asks.

" Don't you want us to be friends, Kourtney?" He replies back with a question, looking at her with an emotion in his eyes she couldn't quite place a finger on.

" Erm, I don't think it's possible. Let's start the interview. "

He smiled as she dismissed the topic.

Few minutes after the end of the interview. It is currently 10:30pm when they finished the QA interview.

The clouds roared and barked as it immediately started pouring heavily. People on the street started running to a shelter as no one expected the rain.

Kourtney sighed tiredly. " Fuckíng hell, why is it raining? My car isn't with me. The weather forecast lied. " She snaps, putting her laptop into her handbag.

" I can drive you to your house, I don't mind if you don't. " Michael said.

She bit her lip, contemplating on it because nodding her head as a yes. " Yes, please. I'd love that. "

He smiled. " What of dinner?"

" What do you think we should have?" She asks.

" I'm craving Korean food so let's have that, yeah?" He replied and she nodded.

He shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

She looks at her, surprised at his gentlemanliness but managed to put a smile on her face. " Thanks but aren't you cold?"

" I'm good, you're a lady. I don't want to get hurt under my watch. "

She narrowed her brows at him. " This isn't a date, you know that, right?"

He shrugged. " It can be if you want it to be a date. "

" I know you. "

" Everyone does. "

" No, I know you like to flirt with ladies and get the hopes high. Don't do that to me, I won't tolerate it. "

Yes. Yes, he does. Michael Kingston is an handsome man and he knows it. He flirts with any lady whether at an interview, photoshoot, whatever he is doing and he's extremely friendly. The ladies he flirts with doesn't complain. I mean, if BTS flirts with me, I'll probably blush till I faint. Haha.

He smiled. " Alright. I'm not flirting with you but okay, I'm just being friendly. You are the one getting the wrong idea. "

" Wrong idea? How am I getting the wrong idea? You're acting all nice and overly friendly with me and I'm here, freakíng out because Michael Kingston is apparently trying to be my 'friend' you know what you are doing and I know too so back off, okay?"

He smiled and nodded.

" And don't give me your beautiful smile, I don't need it. Just give it to someone else. "

" Why are you being cranky? I didn't do anything but be friendly with a beautiful girl who apparently just called my smile beautiful. "

" I was being honest and I don't like when people flirt with me. "

" Okay. I'm not flirting, Kourtney. "

" See? The way my name rolled out of your mouth is flirtatious. "

He laughed. " What would I flirt with you?"

She arched her brows at him and nodded. " You're right. Why will a worldwide ice stake dancer and model flirt with a common interviewer?" She removes his coat from her shoulders and handed it to me.

" You know I didn't mean it like that. C'mon, Kourtney. " He tries to hold her but she jerks it off and ran out with her handbag.

He followed her outside as the rain poured, heavily. No one was on the street again or maybe, someone was.

" I'm sorry. " He said after successfully reaching her. " I didn't mean to hurt you. "

She laughed maniacally. " You? Hurt me? Because you're a celebrity doesn't mean you can hurt me. I think you should go, you have a match tomorrow, you wouldn't want to catch a cold. "

" So, no dinner. At least, let me drive you home. "

" No, but I appreciate. Bye. " She said and left, hiding her tears in the rain.

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Paris, France**

Luciana Francisco got up from the bed she was laying on with a towel around her body, smiling widely.

In all her life, she has learnt to wear a fake smile but the one on her face was not fake. And truth to be told, she looks beautiful.

The smile became wider as she thought of the future she always dreamt of about her and Henry right from when they were thirteen.

She has always had a crush on Henry but it slowly became an obsession. She wanted to have him and now that Betty; her best friend is gone, she could have him if only his twins aren't so spiteful of her. It's not like she likes them either.

She smirked as she thought of sending the twins off to boarding school once she and Henry get married.

If only she knew what was happening back in New York, she wouldn't be so confident.