25

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Harold stepped out of the library after he got tired of waiting.

Seems Irene isn't joining him tonight.

He's gonna tell her about the dinner party tomorrow.

*

Irene resigned to fate waiting for the pain she's gonna feel once her body hits the hard ground.

She closed her eyes tightly as she felt her body hit the ground..

It's hard but not as hard as she had thought and she could tell no part of her body is hurt.

She was surprised she could land this safely..and what the fuck!

She felt the ground breathing.

The ground is breathing!!

Was she dreaming?

Her eyes were still closed and they snapped open the moment she heard the voice she didn't even think she could hear at that strange moment.

"Are you okay?" Harold asked.

Irene realised she was in his arms and not on the floor!

No wonder she hadn't sustained any injury.

She sighed in relief still looking into Harold's eyes.

He saved her!

Is it worry she could see in his eyes or he was truly looking intensely at her.

"Thank you" She said as he slowly put her down on her feet.

Her feet weren't stable for a while and she had to hold the stairs rail for support.

"Are you okay?" He asked again and she nodded.

She didn't know if the result of her heart beating so fast is because Harold is so near or the fact that she had nearly broken her bones.

"Come, come have some water to calm your nerves" Harold said.

**

"What really happened?" Harold asked and Irene sighed.

She felt better after she had taken water and was now seated in the library with Harold.

"I..i was coming to the library after i succeeded in putting Ivory to bed...when i.. slipped, but how did you caught me? I never expected someone would come to my rescue" Irene said and Harold smiled proudly, even though his heart had been in his throat when he saw Irene falling and he had made sure he was fast enough to prevent her body from hitting the ground.

"I was returning to my room when i...saw you... i didn't even know where i got that strength and speed from" Harold said .

"Thanks anyway, i can't even imagine what would have happened to me" Irene said deeply bothered.

"My stairs is not always that slippery, i specially made it non slippery because of Ivory. Did you had some.. things beneath your footwear or were you walking so fast on the stairs?"

"No, nothing was beneath my footwear, i think it has something to do with the stairs" Irene said,so sure of what she's saying.

If something slippery was truly beneath her footwear, she would have slipped the moment she walked out of Ivory's room.

Harold had gone back to the stairs to find what made her slip but he hadn't found anything.

She was also pushed into the pool the other day, who wants her dead in this house?

She should leave but... she haven't even gotten her mum's surgery bills.

"I think someone might have mistakenly spilled water on the stairs" Harold said.

"They should have cleaned it dry knowing it's gonna hurt someone" Irene said.

"Ofcourse, I'm gonna call them together tomorrow but we aren't even sure someone truly spilled water or anything slippery on the stairs " Harold said.

"Just let it go. " Irene sighed.

"Really?"

"Sure" she shrugged.

"Are you feeling better now?" Harold asked and she nodded even if she was still shaken by what happened.

"I actually thought you wouldn't be joining me in the library tonight but...as fate would have it" Harold said completing his statement with a smile.

Irene found herself smiling too.

"I missed reading in front of the fireplace and all" Irene said..

"Ohh...i would be sincere, i actually missed reading with you" Harold said.

"Hmm...I'm flattered" Irene said dramatically and they laughed.

"So, I'm invited to a dinner party strictly for couples and it's a must go for me" Harold said.

"Ohh... don't worry about leaving ivory in my care, i will take good care of her" Irene said.

"Of course i know but the party is.. strictly for couples" Harold said.

"You said that earlier" Irene said,not really getting the picture.

"There's no one to go with me" Harold said.

Normally he would have taken one his staffs but he wants Irene to go with him this time.

"Ohh" Irene pressed her lips together.

"Yeah" Harold said expecting her to offer to go with him. Other ladies would have jumped at the opportunity but she isn't even saying anything.

"So what do we do?" Irene finally asked.

"I don't know" Harold said.

"You can ask one of your workers to go with you" Irene said.

"That's what I'm gonna do" Harold said.

"Ohh... okay then, I'm gonna take good care of..."

"Will you go with me?" Harold cut through her words.

"Please" He added.

"Huh?" She asked, blushing terribly.

"Yes, i want you to go with me" Harold said.

"Who's go..nna...take ca..re of Ivory?" Irene stuttered.

A billionaire is asking her to be his date!

She knows it's just for a night but damn! She's feeling tiny gymnasts dancing in her stomach already.

She's feeling so honored.

Harold had chosen her over hundreds of his female staffs.

"Irene, it's a dinner party and you would have put Ivory to bed before we leave" Harold said.

"O..kay. I will go with you" She said.

"Thank you" Harold smiled, concealing his excitement.

"Yes!.

No lady can refuse him...he's Harold Marshall" He boasted to himself.

"So, input your shoe and dress size in here, and choose the make up artist you'd like to make you up. " Harold said, stretching his phone to her.

"No, i don't need a dress nor shoes. I have lots of them" Irene said.

"Huh?" Harold asked and Irene smiled.

"You're probably thinking they won't be beautiful enough for the party. I know a billionaire date has to appear stunning " Irene said.

"Exactly" Harold said.

"Well.., I've gat beautiful dresses i made for myself that even most females would kill to own. I'm a fashion designer and when it comes to dresses...i rock " Irene boasted and Harold stared at her in disbelief.

He was wowed.

He never know her to be this boastful and for her to have boasted right now, it means she's so sure of what she's saying.

She looked so proud when she mentioned being a fashion designer, that passion showed deeply in her eyes.

"And as for shoes, i have no problem with that too. Do not bother about inviting a make up artist over, i do my make up myself even if i don't have the best equipment"

"Wow!" Harold smiled. "What of your hair?"

"Leave that to me" Irene smiled and Harold felt like hugging her.

"Thank you" He said.

"For what?" Irene asked.

"For being so different" Harold said and she smiled.

"So,what day is the party?" She asked.

"Wednesday" Harold responded.

"I'll be going home tomorrow" Irene said.

"Why?" He asked.

"To pick the dress,shoes and other necessary things" Irene said.

"You don't have them here?"

"No, who would have thought a billionaire would ask me to be his date" She said and Harold laughed.

"A billionaire isn't my name though" He said.

"But it's the status you hold" Irene said and he shrugged.

"So you would go home after dropping Ivory in school"

"Yes"

"I know you would want to spend some time with your mum but please be home before Ivory arrives from school" Harold.

"Ofcourse" Irene said.

"Woah, time is far spent" Harold said glancing at the wall clock.

"Geez! We should go to bed" Irene said.

___*🍂✨*___

"Bye" Irene waved to Ivory as Tom led her to her class.

"Bye" She waved back.

They sat back in the car in silence, waiting for Tom.

Eric tuned in some music while they waited.

*

"You don't wanna pass that street? It's a shorter route" Tom said to Eric.

"Mr harold said to drop Irene in her house after we've dropped Ivory" Eric said.

"Ohh" Tom said.

They were heading home after dropping ivory in school.

"Huh? I don't think there'll be a need for that" Irene said, she had planned to take cab cause she wanted to buy some foodstuffs along with her and Alex is gonna know her home address?

Hell..no.

"Why?" Tom asked.

"I need to pick some things" Irene said.

"Ohh... okay then" Eric said, he reversed the car and took the shorter route.

"Or you're so ashamed of anyone seeing how poor looking your house is" Alex laughed shocking everyone with his words.

"Are you crazy!!" Irene said in a shaky voice, deeply hurt by what he just said.

"Alex! That's not a nice thing to say" Eric said.

"How could you say that! I Never knew you were this bitter" Tom said angrily.

"Keep shut man!" Alex said.

"Like you have a better house" Tom said and that got Alex riled up.

He unbuckled his seat belt and turned to punch Tom in the face.

Tom returned his punch and they started exchanging punches in the car.

Irene whose eyes were laced with tears by what Alex had said,started crying, begging them to stop.

Eric quickly brought the car to a halt and tried separating them but got punched in the face.

Looks like the both of them were unleashing the anger they've had for each other for years.

"I'm going to call Mr Harold!" Irene wiped her tears, grabbing her phone with shaky hands.

Alex snapped it from her hand and tossed it out of the window.

Tom grabbed him by the neck and slapped him in the face.

Another round of fight started. They were both men with huge build and the car couldn't contain them any longer, the door bursted open and they both fought out of the car. Eric was glad they weren't on the highway,they were in a quiet street.

"Do something Eric!" Irene screamed when she saw Alex bringing out a small knife.

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