Chapter 6

• "Liv delivery is here,” said Jane. Olivia’s business partner and friend.
• She nodded. She was expecting Kent, their supplied and owner of the flower farm with his delivery men.
• "Good morning Miss Beautiful,” he greeted her. He handed her a bouquet of red roses.
• Jane made a funny sound as she made faces at them. Her friend knew how much Kent liked her.
• “I came early because I’ve been wanting to see you,” Kent said with a smile. “ Can I invite you for coffee, Liv?"
• "Aren’t you busy today?” she asked with a smile as she smelled the flowers.
• “It’s a Saturday so I don’t have to go work. Besides my men can finish all the deliveries today.”
• Kent was a bank manager and on weekends, he helps with his family businesses including the flower farm.
• “Go Liv. Lea and I will take care of the shop. Kent has been asking you for coffee for ages,” came Jane’s voice with a hint of a teasing smile.
• She jokingly rolled her eyes at her. Her friend liked Ket for her.
• “Heard that Liv? So come on! Let’s go to the new coffee shop nearby. We can walk there,” beamed Kent.
• She just nodded and smiled wider too. She welcomed his company. Today she just wanted to be stress-free. She was glad that at last Brandon wasn’t in the county. Her life was back to normal. She hoped that he would find another woman wherever he was now so he won’t ever come back. She felt a small pain inside thinking about that. She shook her head to clear it then walked out with Ken. The coffee shop was a 5-minute walk.
• "Are you sure you only want coffee?’ Kent asked after giving the waiter their order.
• "Coffee is fine. I am on a diet." she said with a smile which made him chuckle.
• "Come on Liv. You don’t need to go on a diet . You look perfect," he said while looking at her appreciatively.
• "You are such a flatterer!” she joked and he chuckled.
• “Really Liv. You are very beautiful,” he said seriously.
• She bit the inside of her cheek and smiled shyly at him.
• “So how’s your work?” she asked him to remove the awkward feeling she had. She still felt uncomfortable receiving compliments. She was relieved that he let her change the topic. They started to exchange stories. She discovered that he was fun to talk with. They had a lot of things in common. In other words, they were compatible. The half an hour they set for their breakfast became one and a half hour.
• Now they were heading back to the flower shop. They were both smiling.
• "Thanks Liv. I am really glad that you accepted my invite at last. I hope this won’t be the last,” Kent said, sounding hopeful.
• She smiled wider “I’ll think about it,” she joked and he scratched his head.
• "You look cute when you do that,” she complimented him.
• She almost giggled when he blushed. She just shook her head and continued walking with a happy smile. She would go out with him again.
• "There’s your car. You don't need to go back to the shop with me.”
• "No. Let me walk you to the shop.”
• They both looked at his car. He frowned while her eyes widened when they saw an irregular line along the side of his car. There was no dent. Just the ugly deep scratch.
• "Kent! What happened to your car?"
• He didn’t reply but he came closer to the car to check the damage.
• ***
• "Gosh Liv! I couldn’t believe that someone would do that to Kent’s car! He was really nice that he just let what happened passed. If it were another man, he would have gotten violent!” Jane said with a shake of her head.
• “I know. I told him next time he should park nearer the shop,” she said sounding a bit sad with what happened.
• "Well I’m sure that won’t stop him from coming here. Anyway how was your date?” she joked.
• Olivia made a face at her. “ What date? We just chatted over breakfast.”
• “Come on Liv! Kent has been pursuing you for a long time now. He’s a good man and obviously he more than likes you. Just give him a chance girl! He’s a good catch!” her friend said with a silly grin.
• She let out a light laugh. “Don’t worry. He invited me to watch a concert next week and I said yes,” she gaped when Jane made a happy sound and grabbed her hands and started to jump up and down in glee.
• ***
• Brandon was in Singapore to support one of the UFC fighters who had a match in Marina Bay Sands last night. He hired his trusted bodyguard Charles to watch Olivia while he was gone. When he got back at the hotel he saw his message which was an hour ago.
• Charles: Sir, Miss Olivia left with a man.
• He cursed and dialed his number.
• "Where the f*ck are they?!" he asked furiously as he paced back and forth in the living room of his suite.
• "At the café near Miss Olivia’s flower shop sir.”
• "Do you have your eyes on her now?" Brandon asked.
• He ordered him not to stare at Olivia. He couldn't find a good female bodyguard immediately so he had no other option. His bodyguard was his most trusted but he was a man and Olivia was gorgeous. He didn't want any man to look at her with admiration.
• "No sir. I’m looking at the man she’s with,” the bodyguard said courteously.
• "Just make sure you’re telling the truth! We will do the lie detector test when I get back!” he threatened.
• "Copy sir."
• "You know what to do with the trash she’s with. Don’t hurt him. Just scare him,” he ordered.
• “Okay sir.”
• "Do your job discreetly or suffer the consequences!”
• "Noted sir.”
• He was furious. He told Olivia to stay away from men and now she disobeyed him. Seems like she wasn’t taking what he said seriously. She would suffer the consequences of what she did.
• "You are testing my temper baby,” he murmured as he blew out a smoke.
• ***
• Olivia was the last one to leave the flower shop. She told Jane that she would tidy up first. Now after an hour, she was finally done. She felt hungry and tired. It was almost 7 p.m. She would buy food and take a warm bath to relax.
• She was about to go to the toilet when her phone started to ring. It was an unknown number. With a frown, she took the call. "Hello?”
• "Hello baby."
• That deep voice gave her goosebumps. She felt her heart skipped a beat. She won't ever forget his voice. Obviously he got her number from Graciella.
• "Have you been good baby?" he asked in a cold and emotionless voice.
• " Are you talking to me? You got the wrong number Mr. Lopez,” she said trying to hide the fear in her voice.
• There was silence for a few seconds. She was ready to hang up but he spoke again.
• "You are the only one I call baby.”
• "I don’t do inappropriate things. So your question if I have been good is nonsense. Stop pestering me Mr. Lopez. Goodbye!”.
• She sighed and calmed herself. She won’t let him affect her. She had been fine while he was gone and she won't let him ruin her night. She was tired and badly needed food and rest. She sighed and walked to the powder room.
• She wouldn't freshened up a bit before leaving. Since it was a weekday, most establishments around her close earlier but she wasn’t afraid. This was a safe place anyway. She was locking the door from the outside when something caught her eye. She almost screamed because Brandon was leaning on the wall of her shop near the display window staring at her. He was smoking. She looked around her and saw no one else. She wasn’t afraid moments ago but finding Brandon here and the way he was looking at her was giving her the creeps. Unluckily, her car was at the back of the shop.
• “Baby have you been good?” he asked and she heard his footsteps behind her. “Have you forgotten what I told you before I left?”
• She was scared as hell so she didn’t snap at him. “Oh God!” she murmured when she heard him cursed.
• She was almost running. Her heels made sounds against the road as she hurriedly headed to her vehicle. She shrieked when she felt him grabbed her by the waist from behind. Then a hand with a hankie covered her mouth. She tried to scream but she couldn’t. He had his other arm around her so she couldn’t move. A chill ran down her spine when he spoke.
• "You have been a bad girl baby,” he whispered in her left ear.
• Her hands are pinned on her sides. He seemed to be inhaling her skin and hair which was making her feel different types of emotions. Fear and excitement.
• " Do you know what I do to bad girls baby?" he asked.
• She just continued trying to wriggle free but then she suddenly felt dizzy.
• Before she passed out she heard him say, “You will soon find out.”