Chapter 49

By the time MC got back from her date, Oliver and I were passed on the couch and he had to wake me up so O could wake him up for bed. And the next morning, Oliver was gone before MC and I woke up and she was silent the entire time we were having breakfast.

I wanted to be a good friend and support her decisions so i did ask her how her date was and she just stared at me for a few seconds before silently getting up to get dressed for work. So, i left without talking to her about Oliver and the boundaries i wanted to make sure were set so that our house can be a neutral zone for all three of us.

I guess that's going to have to wait.

I though the day was going to be super glum-y but i changed my mind as soon as i walked in to the building. 

There is a big bord up front that notifies employees of special events and this one looks like it can solve all of our problems.

A senior producer was fired and they are looking to promote a manager up to the position.

There are over a hundred managers in the entire company in this branch only and it looks like the promotion is set for all the branches. And since there are a lot of managers who are well qualified for the position, they are letting us compete for the promotion.

At this moment, i remembered everything Oliver had said to me the day before about stringing Iven along or choosing Shawn for the long hall. I don't think that Shawn and i have a future so the best solution is to let everything related to him, go. Including this company.

It doesn't say which country the promotion if for but i do know one thing. The promotion is not in this branch. So if i do get the promotion, then i will be able to keep my job and move away from Shawn for ever.

And so, with full determination to win this damn thing, i walked up to my office and greeted Oliver with a beaming smile before ii told him my plan.

"Ohhhhhhh...so that means you're leaving me." Oliver wiped a fake tear from under his eyes as i laughed at how silly he is. 

I will be missing him at work but i still get enough Olly from home so, i fee like I'll be fine.

***

Everything is perfect. I finished my work early so i can use more time to look in to this promotion and i realized that they are going to make us work for it.

Since there are so many employees who want a go at the promotion, the very first stage of the competition will be very extreme.

It seems if there is even a little flaw at your work, they you will be cut. So i needed to focus.

The very first stage is to submit our information and letters of recommendation from higher-ups or VIPs' of this company. Lucky for me, i have two VIPs' i can get a great recommendation from.

Ron king and Edward Swift. The two investors i wowed in to investing. They would surely help me. So, without wasting more time, i picked up my phone and called their assistants to make an appointment and to my luck, i can meet both of them with in this weeks.

I made a happy wave with my hands and glanced over to Olive's empty seat. I was curious as to why he didn't seems as excited as i was for this great opportunity and he had explained that he was more than happy right were he is. Good for him.

I looked down at the small watch on my wrist to see that i have time to have lunch. But before i could stand up, my phone rang.

"Hello dear." I heard my fathers unusually soft tone from the other side of the phone and i already know that he wants something.

I sighed before leaning back on my seat.

"What now, dad?" I asked and heard him sigh. He rook his time before he spoke again.

"Your grandfather called. He wants to meet you." I can hear his light tone harden a little.

"My grandfather?" I asked "you mean the same guy that forced you to choose between mom and money?"

"Yeah, it's the same guy."

"And why does he want to meet me?" I sled him again and hears dad clear his throat.

"He said he wants to have dinner with the family. He's invited the three of us and your aunt will be there too..." He went on to explain but i cut him off.

"And why would we accept a dinner invitation from a man that doesn't even care about his own blood? We're not doing this, are we?"

I heard my father sigh again.

"Pumpkin, this is really important. I wouldn't have called if it wasn't. I don't need you to tell me that my father is not a good person but he is still my father. And he is still your grandfather. So please think about it."

I rolled my eyes before i hang up. Why does he want to see us after three decades?

I shrugged my shoulders and walked out to get something to eat.

***

When i got back to the office, Oliver wasn't even there and he had left me yet another note to tell me that he was done for the day. I have no idea how he gets away with just waking out of work whenever he wants to.

I shook my head and then stopped breathing when i saw another one of those mug boxes on top of my desk.

Why does Shawn keep doing this to me?

I stared at he box for a good five minutes before deciding that it is best to leave it be. So, without opening it, i picked up the box and shoved it in to my bag.

I am trying to move on but this mugs get me every single time. I wanted to confront Shawn about the last mug he left for me after the retirement party but i was too chicken. And i am not proud to say that i did take it home and made sure to place it with the rest of the mugs.

After finishing up work, i dreadfully took the reports of the day for Shawn and when i got to his door, i saw Lucy Shawn sitting pretty at her desk.

She was typing away on her computer and she didn't even bother to look up at me. Everytime i see her, i remember her and Shawn in his office and i get furious all over again.

How dare she. No, no. How dare he.

How dare he kiss my archenemy and then send me those mugs to confuse me. Huh.

Before even second guessing my move, i walked up to Lucy Chaw and waited for her to look at me. When she did, i placed the reports of the day on her desk in front of her and walked away.

I'm sure she knows what it is and who to give it to. And since i didn't want to see him and get more confused than i already am, i left as fast as i can.

***

I walked up to my apartment and opened the door t see that the lights were off and there was no sound what so ever. I though Oliver or MC would be home by now.

I sighed before carefully walking over to the switch to flick the light on.

"SURPRISE?"

I was more than started when my entire friends and family jumped out of nowhere and yell to me. My hands flew up and slammed against my chest in shock.

Surprise? 

"Happy birthday, beastie." MC squealed as she hugged me and reminded me that today is indeed my birthday.

A smile immediately covered my face as i looked at everyone present. My parents and MCs'parents were here to wish me a happy birthday and give me presents. Iven gave me a tight hug as he whispered a happy birthday in my ear. 

He introduced me to his father and his little brother- who I've met at the park the other day. 

Oliver walked up to me with two lovely women and introduced them as his mom and grandma. There were so sweet as they handed me their gifts.

To my surprise, even some of our neighbors were here too. Turns out, Oliver and MC had been making friends of our neighbors and it was nice to finally meet them too.

I spent the night, laughing, talking, eating cake and drinking my favorite apple juice. I had a total blast the whole time.

As it got late, people slowly strated to leave until everyone was gone.

I sat on the couch surrounded by my presents and my roomies. 

Oliver and MC didn't look tense the entire time and even now as they were sitting on the floor across from each other. I was proud that they were able to at least be in the same room without freaking out and i was so happy that they worked together to put this party together for me.

I smiled at them before excitedly rubbing my hands together and reached for the first box near me.

It was from Oliver's Grandma. I opened the box to see a small ship that would look perfect on my shelf.

"Grandma made that herself." Oliver commented as he looked at the small wooden ship in my hand. I nodded my head impressed by her skill.

Next, i opened the gift my mom gave me to see that it was an archeology book. Aww... she remembered.

I chuckled at i moved over to my dad's gift only to see that it was the same type of flip-flops he loves so much. I rolled my eyes as my two friends laughed.

I kept on opening until i got to Iven's gift. His brother had gifted me with a small skateboard keychain and Iven gifted me with a beautiful glob with a single red rose inside of it. I smiled before shaking the glob to see red sparkles swarm the rose.

***

When our eyes started to get heavier, we all wished each other a good night and went to our bedrooms. I walked in to see my bag on the floor and i remembered the little mug box from earlier.

I waked over to my bag and reached in for the box. I opened the box as i walked to my bed and sat down before taking a deep breath.

I took the mug out and read the word on the side of the mug.

"Happy Birthday, Princi." 

A smile stretched over my lips and i slowly turned the mug over to read what he wrote under it. My heart stopped and my smile disappeared as i whispered out the words he wrote under the mug.

"I Love You."

Damn...