Chapter 22

Chris except to see Laura come home the next day but she didn't and it's been three days now and he's starting to get worried.

Although he knows she is fine but he is restless and feeling bad about her not coming back

"Is she trying to stay away for the remaining time of their contract?" he though over and over but disagreed with it, she is not that kind of person

What they have between them might not be love but at least they were getting along on fine and he was starting to open his heart to her again

He knows she has rejected him in the past and he should never have gotten involved with her in any way but he wanted to try and see if she will look at him now that he is rich enough but that is also not happening

Mira comes in with bags of clothes and drop them on the center-table, she opened one of them and picked out a small box then hand it to Chris who is sitting down and looking at the television uninterested

"Have this, it is for you" she said but he didn't take it from her. Mira took his hand forcefully and place the box in them

"I bought this bracelet for you and some clothes" she said again and Chris place it on the chair beside him

"By the way, why are you home by this time? Are you waiting for me?" she queried smiling and move closer to him but Chris was quick to stand up and avoid her

"You should go back home, Laura is not here now" he told her and turned to leave

"That doesn't matter, I can still stay here and make you fall in love with me"

"That's not going to happen so leave now" he said again irritatedly and walk away

"But I don't want to" she rejected making Chris to stop in his steps and turned back to her

"Go back home" he said sternly giving her no room for negotiation and Mira could only stomp her feet, she reluctantly carried her bags and walk out of the house dejected

As she entered her car and about to drive off, she paused and pick her phone to call Chris's mom

"Mom, he sent me away" she complained to her excepting to take her side quickly and call Chris but got a different answer

"I think is also better you leave for now since Laura is not there, also I need to see you to discuss some things"

"Okay mom, I will come over" she said grumbling and drove off to meet with her

~

Laura finished working on some files and entered the board room with Laura for a short meeting on the report for some of their new products.

Chris has been helping her a lot concerning it and she has to comment him for doing most part of the job but she doesn't want to involve him anymore to avoid depending on him

This new product they are working as been her mother's dream and goal but the production was put to a stop after her mother's death, everyone disagreed with her on starting it all over again till Chris interfere to it.

The director in charge start to give a review on it and explain about the marketing and stuff as they all listen, after all the presentation the director stopped and wait for Laura's comment

"Try to cut down on the budget a little bit more and then we can start the production process" she said

"Okay ma'am" he replied happily and Laura stood up

"Let all attention be focused this product for now and any other project that is not urgent should be put on hold" she added before dismissing the meeting and came outside while Clara followed her closely

"What is next on my schedule?" She asked

"You have a lunch meeting with the Vice president of Mime company and after that you will be having two conference call from two of our branches and then…"

"Wait a minute, get me some coffee" Laura told her and Clara nod politely and left to get it

Laura proceed to her office and sat down tiredly on her seat, she feels energetic to work all day without a break.

She just need to get her head on straight and understand things the way they are or she will get hurt

Clara came back with the coffee and place it in front of her, Laura pick up the coffee and took a sip

"Ma'am, since you are meeting with the Vice president of Mime company, are you back together?" Clara questioned curiously and hoping that she's wrong

"Not exactly but just meeting as business partners" she answered taking another sip

"Why are you curious about that?"

"I just thought that you are married so it won't be proper to go out with someone like your ex" she explained and Laura nod her head calmly to her reason

"But you know I don't have that kind of relationship with Chris" she said faking a smile then dismissed her

Clara went out and stood by the door fuming, the other night when Avan left her to go somewhere she already suspect it could be to meet with Laura and then he never came back, now they are having lunch together after he canceled with her?

She check her phone to see if he has seen her message but he hasn't then she tried calling him and he wasn't picking up. Clara walk away to her desk still angry and disturbed.

….Laura entered the eatery and one of the waiters walk up to her, she told her about her appointment and she kindly lead her to a table where Avan is waiting for her already

"You are here early" she said before sitting down and placing her purse on the sit next to her

"I had some business to attend to around here" Avan responded and pick up the menu

"What will you like to have?" He asked

"Am fine with anything, am not that hungry" she answered and Avan called over the waiter that attend to them earlier and told him their choice, the waiter note them down in a small book in his hand and went to get their order

"I ordered salad with the main dish, are you okay with that?"

"Yeah sure, so about.."

"Can we not talking about work yet, let's eat something first" Avan said knowing what she's about to say

"Am sorry, am just a bit sensitive these days" she apologized

"Yeah, you've changed a little bit" he pointed out

"How do you mean?" She questioned

"First, it feels like am on a first date with you and we are just getting to know each other"

"That's because we haven't met for a while now" she explained

"And you are even monitoring the business activities between our companies yourself, you usually trust Clara and I with such things"

"That is also because…"

"You don't have to explain, am just stating the changes in you" he told her smiling and feeling impressed with her new changes

The waiter soon arrive with their first course of meal and served them then they start to eat in silence and soon finish

The waiter soon return almost immediately and cleared the table then served the next course and left

"Are you starting to handle all businesses yourself now? What about your brother?" Avan queried as they eat

"Yes, you know I haven't been paying much attention to things at the company in the past, I just let other do the work and sit down doing nothing because I don't know ho to do but now am trying" she answered and continued after a pause

"Chris actually taught me some things and after thinking about them I decide to do things myself and monitor every little thing there is besides, Nicholas wants to leave the company"

"He wants to leave? wasn't he fighting with you over the company not long ago"

"I know right, am also surprised although his mom was against it but seems he made up his mind"

"Congratulations then, you wouldn't have to worry about anything" he said and Laura nod her head in reply

"So what about me? Chris told you to be wary of me too?" He questioned further

"No he didn't say that, it's my decision and also this shouldn't be a big deal right?"

"No, of course not am happy to work with you directly but Chris seems to have some influence on you, you are listening to him this days"

"What are you talking about? We are just friends"

"What about us? What are we?"

"We? I thought we are over this"

"Not really, I was cheated then remember. If not for the incident that happened then we will be married to each other now" Laura keep quiet and stops eating, Avan saw that she is not giving him a reply anymore and stopped

"Are you done?" He asked trying to change the topic

"Yes, I don't feel like it anymore" she replied and he signal to the waiter to come clear the table

Laura's phone start to ring as the waiter clear their table but the call is from an unknown number

"Excuse me" she told Avan before picking the call and it turns out to be Chris's mother.

"Yes aunt" Laura said, she could already detect the hostility from her voice

"Where are you? Are you busy" she asked and Laura quickly answer no

"Then come over to the house I need to have a word with you" she said and dropped the call

Laura wonder why she called her to meet up and even at the house, it wouldn't be to apologize for her attitude on her birthday but Laura still decide to go there

"Why don't we meet up some other time and talk, I need to go somewhere urgently" she told Avan then apologize and left before he could give her a reply

Avan faked a smile annoyed by her attitude and settle down to finish eating, he can't believe how much she has changed in just a couple of weeks, how can Chris have changed her in such a short time.

When they were still dating, she would sit and wait for him anytime they have a date and would never leave first even if she has urgent works.

He wouldn't have bothered with her but she is trying to look into things at the company herself and that will cause a huge problem and loss for him

Without her knowledge and Clara's help with one of the higher ranking member of the company, they've been taking extra gains for themselves but if she decides to supervise it then she will surely find things out. Avan check his phone and saw Clara's missed calls but ignore them and continue to eat.