Chapter twenty-six.

"I'm sorry, Liam" Anna said with sad glassy eyes.

"It's nobody's fault." Liam said rubbing her cheeks soothingly.

"But I told him dirty stuffs...."

"It's okay" he interrupted, "He's more dirtier than us, so don't worry, he has heard beyond that"

"I don't know if I will ever defferentiate you two. I wouldn't want to repeat the same mistake."

"I trust my brother, he wouldn't fuck with what's mine. Worry not. " He said, "We got to go for your final dosage."

They drove to the hospital , then at the mall. Instead of going upstairs in his office, Liam took her in a phone shop section in the mall.

"Is this mall yours?" Anna asked taking a spoon full of ice cream Liam had bought for her.

"No, it's for my dad but I run it" He said, "This part and all businesses in are mine though"

"Oh" Was all she said, just sitting next to him in his business world made her grow wings. Not to all his female workers low-key glaring at her. She was now feeling like a real queen in his dynasty.

"You look fabulous. You outstand every female living creature in my eyes." He said, Anna playfully rolled her eyes on him.

"You look sexy when you do that too." Liam said and Anna blushed.

"Liam! Liam" A teen girl called running in their direction and hugged Liam's back.

"What's up Kim, who upset you?"

"Who else? Gab and Max, they yelled at me and threatened to hit me." The girl said.

"Really?" Liam said, his eyebrows furrowed already.

"Yes, they threatened to take my phone way and ground me or worse I will start homeschooling." Kim said in pure sadness.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing" Kim answered almost immediately.

"Why the hell did you yell at her, Max?" Liam asked as soon as Max immerged from the wide glass door.

"Don't let her blindfold you with her lies, she got a boyfriend." Max said.

"What?" Liam turned to look at Kim, "Did my ears play tricks on me, Kim? How old are you again?"

"Thirteen" Kim said pouting.

"And you're sure you know what you're doing? What did this boy promise you that you had never seen or gotten?" Liam asked, frowning.

"He said he loves me" Kim said.

Anna liked the girl's confidence because If it was her young self and Nathaniel, tears would've been flowing by now but the girl was boldly staring back at Liam in the eyes.

"For how long have you been together?" Liam asked.

"Six months"

"Has he ever touched you?" Liam asked casually but everybody listening to them held their breathes in anticipation. Max's jaw hardened, he was dreading to hear a positive answer from her. Anna felt embarrassed for Liam's question to the kid.

Kim frowned, "No, I'm still young to do that"

"What's the big deal with him then? Is there anything you're lacking from home that this boy gives you?"

"Yes" Kim said and Max lost his cool.

"What don't I give you that you lack when I...." Max started but Liam raised a hand to stop him.

"I'm on your side buddy" Liam said, " Now tell me, what is it?"

Kim lowered her head, her face sad. "I want somebody to talk to. They don't give me their attention even for a single time, all they do is give me money and all basic needs and that's all. I have no friends to talk to, the only person who asks about my day and how I feel whenever am sad is that boy y'all are against. Ask him if he knows my favourite colour, my favourite sport, my teacher's name. Only mama used to know but she's also nowadays. You yourself don't give your time anymore, who else do you want to talk to if my own brother care less. His work is more important than his only sister."

"You know I got to work hard Kim. I got to fight for daddy's legacy. " Max snapped.

"Yes I know that you've got to work and I did not ask you to baby sit me. But marry at least, I want to have my girl talks with your wife and spend my good time with my nieces and nephews before I grow older and have my own family. That's all I ask for, I want to see our blood running and yelling all around our house. Don't you think mom and dad would be happier hearing more Maxwells from their blood line wherever they are? I hate you" The girl said and made to run past Max and out of the door but he grabbed her by the wrist and hugged her.

"I'm sorry, baby." Max said patting Kim's back. "I also want to but it's not as easy as you think. How about we go get some Ice cream."

"Uh huh" Kim nodded vigorously smiling at her brother ear to ear. She waved goodbye at Liam and the two siblings exited the mall.

Liam pinched Anna on the thigh to gain her attention, "Crying already? Oh no! What do I have to do with this cry-baby. Is there a day that goes by without you crying in it? So sympathetic!"

"I'm not" Anna smiled, "It's just that Kim reminded me of my young self reporting every bully to my brother. Nathaniel is like nine years older than me so he would deal with them all."

"So it's Nathaniel who spoilt you, huh?"

"Uh huh" Anna said proudly.

Liam just shook his head at her naughtiness and handed her a small box that was on the table.

"Are you giving me another phone, Liam?" Anna asked baffled.

"Would you rather use only one simcard? Don't you want MTN as well?"

"Yes, I would like to but with this other expensive phone too? Why not some simple Nokia or Techno?" She asked.

"It's also a simple Samsung. So, don't worry about it."

Anna sighed, "We're talking about a Samsung series phone not just a simple Samsung."

"Should I give you a laptop instead? 'cause I sell them as well, I got plenty of them." He said and wiggled his brows at her.

Anna just shook her head and averted her eyes to look around the shop but regretted it when she saw all people gazing at her. She looked down at the phone box. Liam put a credit card in her hand and her eyes widened.

"Wha-what are you doing? What is it for?" Anna asked in surprise.

"You will need it." Liam said.

"Liam! Did I ask for money?" She frowned,

"I know that you didn't but I won't be around for days and I don't want you to work at the café anymore. I will still pay you every month regardless."

"Where are you going?"

"In America" Liam.

Sadness enveloped her soul, she stared at him with defferent emotions in her eyes. She closed her eyes and turned her body to face forward.

"Say something, Belle" Liam pleaded.

"When are you leaving?" She asked without looking at him.

"In two hours"

"For how long will you spend there?"

"A week"

She opened her eyes wide to prevent the tears already forming in her eyes from falling. As if someone was pulling her heart from the ribcage, her chest hurt and it suffocated her. She inhaled loudly but breath couldn't reach her lungs properly. If she had missed him for hours apart, how about the whole damn week. She held her stomach with both hands trying to collect herself together but couldn't. Loneliness filled her heart even still next to him.

Liam tried to touch her arm but she hid it away from his reach. "Belle listen...."

"I know" Anna cut him short, "Can I go now?" She asked not bothering to look at him. She stood up not waiting for his response, screeching the chair on the tiled floor which gained her more attention from people around. Trying so hard to contain her tears, she walked out with hurried footsteps looking for somewhere to hide before she getting embarrassed.

Liam tried to grab her wrist but she dodged as she hurriedly walked towards the entrance. Liam forcefully grabbed her arm and started dragging them further into the mall regardless of her resistance and the people's ridiculous stares on them. Anna wiped the dropped tears with the back of her palm but the more she tried, the more tears dropped.

When the elevator reached the last floor, Liam carried her on his shoulder and took her in his resting room. She put her on bed and squatted before her spreading his legs around her joined ones.

"Listen babe, it's business related and it can't wait. I got to go whether I like it or not." He pleaded,

"Why---why" Anna tried to form a sentence but fire in her chest couldn't let her. "Why hadn't you told me about it all along? I'm I not supposed to know about your programs, I'm I not worthy it?"

"You're and that's why I brought you here to tell you about it. It's emergency, love. I swear to you it wasn't planned. I would've taken you with me but the ticket process will delay me." He said, "Look, I own a school in California and one of my students committed suicide yesterday in the school's premises. The authorities will banish my school if I don't go"

Anna was now torn between not wanting Liam to leave, pitying him for such misfortune to befall on his business or pitying the deceased and her family. She snuggled closer to him and put his head on her chest.

"I'm so sorry" She said.

"It's okay" He said, "I wish I could fly with you by my side. How will I be without you for all these bad days?"

"Don't you worry, we shall be in touch. You need to go now before you miss your flight." Anna said rubbing his back, the table had turned, who was consoling the other at first was now being consoled.

"I have some more minutes, can we stay like this, please?" Liam asked.

Anna told him to climb the bed. She laid on her back and Liam laid on top of her, burying his face in her cleavage. She ran her fingers on his scalp slowly playing with his hair strands and then down his nape. They stayed like that for an hour till Liam got up and suggested for them to leave.

Anna snaked her arm around his waist and he also put he's arm on her shoulders as they walked out of the mall. They didn't notice the confused looks from the onlookers. When they got out, Anna noticed three black cars she hadn't seen before parking infront of the building with men wearing full black suits with dark shades and earpieces in their ears standing besides them. She looked at Liam questioningly but his expressionless face made her change her mind.

Liam opened the door of the middle car for her to get in and he closed the door. His bodyguard opened for him as well and he sat right next to her in the back seat. He silently held her hands in his as the convoy set-off for the airport.