Chapter 3. First meeting

After crying her heart out that night, Stacy finally fell asleep. Her alarm went off at 6am as usual and she got up. As she was about to enter the shower, she remembered that she had been fired the previous day so she went back to bed.

She woke up at 11am, had breakfast and decided to clean her house since it was long since she had last cleaned and cleaning had always been her stress reliever. She pushed all of yesterday's memories to the back of her mind and cleaned. As she organized her drawer, she found the heirloom that Kevin's mother had given her.

It was a jade green brooch and she had always safely kept it since it looked expensive. She kept it aside and decided to return it to her.

"I am giving you this heirloom since my son likes you so much and sooner or later, you will be his wife. You have really done so much for my precious boy." Mrs. Keal had told her as she gave her the brooch.

"I will cherish it. Thank you so much auntie." She had replied with her eyes twinkling.

'Don't think about that Stacy, its all in the past. But I wonder if auntie will be ok after I tell her that we broke up.' She thought then decided to go back to her cleaning.

By 1pm, she was done so she decided to go to the Keal residence. She had always been a regular visitor so the guard let her in. When she entered, she heard Mrs. Keal was complaining to her friend on phone about her. 

"You know I never liked her, I always wished for my son to be with someone more gentle like that friend of hers Ginna. You know she was always so hard to control, always looking down on us. I knew she wasn't so good. Now that we have found out, I will spread the news of her behavior...." As she was still talking, she saw Stacy at the doorway and hurriedly hung up.

"Hehe, you're here. You didnt tell me you would be coming" she said with a guilty smile on her face.Then she remembered all the gossip she had heard about Stacy and put on an arrogant look.

"What are you doing here? I heard you even lost your job. Have you come to beg my son to help you get a job at his company. You know he has just been promoted to general manager. But he can't help you get in with connections, he may lose his job yet the CEO has just recognized his talents." Kevin's mother asked arrogantly desperate to hide the embarrassment she felt earlier.

"Mom.... Mrs. Keal, I am sorry to disturb you but I have returned your family heirloom that you had given to me. I thought it was important and since Kevin and I broke up, it felt only right. I..... "Stacy was still talking when Mrs. Keal interrupted her as soon as she heard 'broke up'.

"What did you say, my son broke up with you. Finally he had some senses. I guess the promotion really did him good. Ok, you can give back my brooch. Though now I can tell you that it isn't a family heirloom at all, just some bracelet I bought from the market. Only you would believe everything someone tells you. A piece of advice, next time don't be so believing otherwise you will really be cheated." Mrs. Keal gloated happy to finally not have to be so polite to Stacy.

"Mrs. Keal, why do you hate me so much? I have always been good to you and your son. I have provided all my savings to Kevin to complete his studies and get a better job. I really don't understand why you cant like me." Stacy said airing out all her grievances. She hoped to really find out but it felt like she had punched cotton because Madam Keal didn't seem touched but looked at her pitifully.

"Stacy dear, its not you. I just never felt you were good enough for my son nor would I ever be able to control you. But when I heard you being mentioned by the rich ladies that you seduced someone's husband, it really strengthened my resolve to never accept you. It was never personal dear." Mrs. Keal told Stacy and she flinched when she called her dear because it was laced with sarcasm.

Unable to tolerate any of this anymore, Stacy placed the brooch on the table, bowed to Mrs.Keal for the last time and left the Keal residence for good she hoped.

"Well finally she is gone." Mrs. Keal sneered before she got back to watching her TV. 

As Stacy walked out, tears welled up in her eyes but she couldn't let them flow. She had cried enough. She bumped into someone and before she could apologize, the person started accusing her.

"Stacy, what are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear yesterday. Dont tell me you came to beg my mom to convince me. Am telling you now that it won't work. I have already talked to Ginna about us and she said she will think about it so don't ruin it for me. She also told me all about yout scandal at work and am glad I broke up with you." Kevin vented as soon as he saw Stacy. His expression was so distorted that Stacy wondered if she really had been in love with such a man all along. Her heart and pride hurt for all the time she had wasted on this bastard. She swallowed her tears and stilled her heart.

"Mr. Keal, am sorry to burst your bubble but i really didn't come for you. I only returned your mother's belongings to her and I would really appreciate it if we never crossed paths again. Seeing your face really disgusts me." Stacy spat with as much venom as she could master which stunned Kevin because he expected her to come begging him to give her another chance.

Stacy then walked around Kevin but he grabbed her hand when he regained his senses. " Don't use these little tricks on me. I know you still have me in your heart. Why can't you just say that you need me once maybe I will consider being with you again. You can't be so tough all the time." Kevin reasoned with Stacy but she was only disgusted by his words.

She pulled her arm from his and warned him severely. "Don't you ever lay your filthy hands on me ever again. The Kevin I liked is dead. You are just a stranger to me." She said and left the Keal mansion with her head held high.

She walked around aimlessly for almost an hour thinking of all that had happened during these past days. She dialed Ginna's number but no one answered. She really couldn't believe that her best friend even thought of being with her man. She suddenly remembered that Ginna had been avoiding her these past weeks. She walked aimlessly till she reached the bus station and got into a bus to go home. All this time she failed to notice that someone had been following her. He looked at her with eyes filled with affection.

Suddenly his phone rang.

"Mr. Hall, the board members have called for a meeting and you really have to be there. There is no way around it. You really must come" his special assistant said desperate because he knew his boss may say no.

"Okay, I will be right there. But some time for me." He said. His aura while on phone totally different from the gentleness he had while watching Stacy. Suddenly, Stacy's phone rang.

 "Hello, Miss Stacy, your grandmother's condition suddenly became critical. You really must come to tge hospital right now. We have to discuss the surgery." the attending doctor sounded.

"Ok doctor, am on my way." Stacy said and hang up. She looked around and saw that she was close to the next station. She walked to the door and when the doors opened, she got out anxiously. She tripped but someone grabbed her and pulled her back making her hit her nose on his chest. She looked up with tears in her eyes from the pain and saw the beautiful eyes looking back at her with concern. 

"Are you ok?" He asked and she felt that it was the most comforting voice she had ever heard. He really was the most handsome man she had ever seen and she had seen a fair share of them. Then she realized the position they were in and let go of him hurriedly while thanking him profusely.

She immediately stopped a taxi to go to the hospital but then the handsome stranger also entered her taxi.

"Am really sorry but am also in a hurry. Since we are going in the same direction can carpool with you?" He asked looking at her with hopeful eyes.

She really couldn't refuse him when he asked like that so she agreed. She gave the driver the address and waited for the stranger to say his but he kept silent. She decided not to mind him. She was anxious to get to the hospital. The stranger then asked.

"Why are you going to the hospital? Are you injured?" He sounded very concerned.

"Am visiting someone." She replied hoping he wouldn't ask anymore questions. Suddenly the car made a sharp turn and before she could stabilize herself, she fell into his arms. She immediately turned red and apologized again pulling herself out of his arms.

"Am really sorry, a car bypassed us and I almost bumped into it. I will drive better. The driver apologized but he looked in the rearview mirror and saw a smile on the man's face then he also smiled.

The taxi reached the hospital smoothly and Stacy bid farewell to the stranger before rushing into the hospital.

Mr. Hall watched as she disappeared into the hospital and then suddenly the atmosphere in the car became cold.

"Why are you picking me up in a taxi? Don't you know that I hate it when you drive around in this thing. At least get a better looking and more comfortable taxi and not this old thing." He reprimanded his brother but you could hear the doting in his voice.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go already. Am already so late." He said not giving the youngster a chance to defend himself. The taxi then drove to the tallest building in the city just opposite the hospital. Hall Corp.