Chapter 11: Someone with the same power

Laila POV

"What are you doing here?" I asked Henry.

"I just happened to be here." was the only thing he said.

"It's okay. I can just take the cab." I can see that Tina was about to argue when Henry beats her to it

"Really Laila. We're going the same way anyway." I know that he wouldn't take no for an answer and that Tina wouldn't allow me to go alone so I just nodded my head in agreement.

It was a silent drive for the first few moments until he decided to make an end of it.

"It's a good thing no one ever mentioned about my confession right?" He tried to laugh it off but he sounded like he was choking.

I glared at him for actually bringing that one up, "You know you're stupid for actually doing that crazy thing Clarisse made you do."

"What other things do you think will work that will make them stop talking about you and Jeremy?"

"You could have just told them that you swear by god there was nothing going on because if there was I would have confided with you. That could work since everyone knows we're so close." I reasoned out with him.

He was quiet as he pondered about it. He startled me when he suddenly smack the stirring wheel making a thud sound.

"Why didn't I think of that? Laila can I ask you something," I nodded my head for him to continue. "What did happened between you and Jeremy that you are deadset on not having anything to do with him?"

I stared out the window watching buildings pass by, "What happened was something I don't want to remember. I was just hanging by a thread then and I'm pretending to be someone that Jeremy wants me to be. I was suffocating and because I felt I'm beneath him that I can't speak out. I was so insecure back then that I couldn't even confess the truth to him."

I held back the tear that was clouding my vision. Just thinking about them made my heart race and I felt like I'm drowning. Henry knew what happened to me back then but only gits of it.

He pats my back with his free hand as he tries to calm me down. "So that explains his actions. It is because he doesn't have any idea what really happened then."

It was what I think was right because even if he did know, there was nothing Jer can ever do.

"But Laila, that wasn't still a big enough reason for you to leave him."

A tear finally escaped from my eyes as I looked at Henry. I know that he was just concerned and curious but that part of my past was something I'd rather want to stay buried underneath the lies and the cover-ups.

"I left because he almost killed himself in front of me."

That statement alone ended the conversation.

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"Do I really have to be here?"

For the hundred times today, Clarisse complained as she dragged her feet to follow me around.

"I always go with you whenever you go shopping and I didn't even ask you to come. You promised yourself you'll help me today so you've got to keep that promise as I always keep mine." I cannot hide the victory smile I had on my lips. It is rare for me to have something against her.

She rolled her eyes and kept grunting. She was about to say something when a new voice joined us.

"Laila!" I turned around to see a familiar face.

"Mona?" She squealed in delight when I remember her name. Clarisse cleared her throat and hug Mona when she noticed her.

"It's been so long. I didn't imagine we'd meet in this place." Mona stated.

"I know right, what are you even doing here? Last time we saw you, you were about to go on your flight to Asia." Clarisse pointed out. Mona just chuckled before giving her answer.

"Oh! I actually got engaged," she flashed her engagement ring to us and our jaw was left hanging at the size of the rock in it. "My fiance had started to venture his business here and I figured that if it becomes a success we'll stay here for sure so you can say I'm window shopping."

Just then an old lady put a hand on Mona and spoke in Chinese.

"Laila, Clarisse, I want to introduce to you to my fiance's grandmother." Mona made the introductions. We are all focused on each other that we didn't even notice someone watching us.

I made my payment for my purchases and we all decided to have dinner together. Mona's soon to be grandmother in law was amazed at my basic knowledge of Mandarin.

Clarisse made sure that Mona would tell everything that had happened to her when she left college and all the time the two of them talked while I listen.

Mrs Tan, Mona's soon to be grandmother in law started to make small talk with me. It was a broken English-mandarin conversation but we manage to understand each other. She mostly shared with me her life back in China and how her husband build their business and made it successful.

It wasn't that long before Mona got a call from her fiance and we all need to part ways. Mona made us promise to contact her soon which we happily obliged.

Clarisse drove me back to my old place since I still got days before I can officially move to my new house. I immediately went to bed forgetting to even wash up due to exhaustion. I didn't even notice a flash of light by the window.

I woke up early the next morning and started things well until I receive the bad news.

"You're telling me Henry is in jail right now?" I asked Clarisse on the phone.

"We got to help him. I don't know any details but he called me a few hours ago." she pleaded.

I'm still confused by the whole situation. As far as I can remember Henry hadn't had any troubles before. He's currently working on a project right now and I know this will greatly affect his career.

"I still don't get why there seems to be a problem. You mean there was an accident and the management of the hotel blamed him? If there was an accident why not investigate it" I voiced out my thought.

"I don't know. Just hurry up and get your ass here right now." I had to pull away the phone away from my ear because of how loud Clarisse is even though it was just her voice on the phone.

I quickly fix myself up and called an uber.

"So why am I got mixed with all this mess?"

Henry rolled his eyes. He gave me that look I often do whenever I hear someone being stupid and I guess right now I am being stupid in front of him. "Because of that scandal that you wanted to avoid so much. I heard one of the crew talking to someone about you and I got mad so I scold them for making up rumours and it turns out that someone is the niece of the owner of the hotel."

I don't know if I should be mad by that revelation. "You could have just ignored her. Then what about the accident?"

"I guess you can say they use that excuse to blame me and get revenge for yelling at his niece." I stared at Henry. I might have been in shock state because he waved his hands in front of my face just to get my attention back.

"And the police won't investigate and are just believing what they were saying. They sure are stupid just because someone has money and power. I mean you are famous and rich as well." Clarisse said.

"But his status makes it better for them if he's in a scandal like this." I mindlessly muttered.

"All my projects are on hiatus right now and a lot are calling. My lawyer can handle only a little but if the owner won't cooperate I'm doomed" Henry stated with a smile.

Seeing that Clarisse fumed "Why the hell are you happy about this? Your life is about to go into ruins. Even if you got out of jail no one will want to work with a director like you anymore."

"Then we'll just have to find someone with the same power who can help us," I suggested.