Chapter 1

ATEXX Ltd.

    Stacia walks into Maggie's office as usual for their morning gists. Minutes later as they have their gist, Stacia looks outside through the wall made of transparent glass and spots a guy walking majestically out of the elevator.

     "OMG girlfriend! That guy's a killer. " Stacia mutters excitedly and Maggie raises her head only to spot Sham walking out of the elevator.

                Maggie's. PoV

    " Stacia! It's not like he's that handsome and plus that's your boss...don't you love your job? " I ask.

       " I do love my job girl...and you left the part 'he's our besty ' out....but honestly I love him more and when will you stop this act of yours that you don't like him while since childhood days you've always been drooling whenever you see him." She replies and I feel a bit embarrassed as pangs of pain and jealousy cling in my system at Stacia's statement 'I love him more'.

" I don't like him talk of loving him.

What if he fires you? " I ask jokingly knowing that's the last thing he'll do to her.

       Well,yeah the three of us have been best of friends for a long time now.

" Well, that's good for me. " Stacia replies and I scoff.

" Are your brain cells working? " I query.

" Yeah_101% " She mutters.

" Really? " I ask.

" Yeah _" She's cut short as Sham walks into my office.

" Morning beauties? " Sham greets.

" Morning cutie. " Stacia replies...it's not news to me coz since our childhood days she's been calling him sweet names I mean who wouldn't? He's so handsome, of average height well chiseled body...damn! I love this guy so much.

       " Maggie! " Sham calls bringing me back to my senses.

" S....o.. Sorry.. Morning Sham. " I greet. " Catch up later. I've got some files I need to go through. " He says and walks out of the office. He's a busy man at the office because he's the operations manager of the company.

       " Mrs. Drooler, gotta go. " Stacia teases as she leaves the office.

I've harboured these feelings for so long. I've to admit that I really love him but ain't making the first move. Hell No!

                 South C.

           Stephens  residence.

      " Evening mom,dad? " I greet.

" Evening darling. " They reply.

" How's work? " Dad asks.

" Cool. " I reply.

" I bet you are catching up pretty fast. " Dad utters.

      " Yes dad, got to freshen up. " I say as I take the stairs. On my way to my room I bump at Chris. " Hi big sis? " He greets.

     " Hi bighead. " I reply turning the knob, dash into my room and lock the door before he can catch up with me.

" I'll get you. " His voice fades away.

                SOUTH B.

          RIVERSIDE ESTATE.

        " Peter! Peter! Peter! " Phanice, his mom calls.

" Ma'am. " Peter says climbing down the staircase.

" How many times have I called you! " Phanice screams at him.

                  Eva's PoV.

       As I lay down on my bed, " How many times have I called you! " I hear mom screaming and it downs on me that she's talking to Peter.

      Since the day dad died, that's two years ago life's been a living hell for him. I wonder at times if he's her son. I get up from my bed and hurry down the stairs only to find her hitting him from left to right and he just stands there to get hit? " Stop it mom! " I shout.

      " Am sorry ma'am. " He states.

" Wait why are you calling mom 'ma'am? " I ask.

" Just get out of my sight before I loose it again! " Mom shouts and Peter walks up the stairs and I can feel his pain and gloominess in within me.

      I just don't know why my heart breaks anytime I see him sad or mom taking out her anger on him.

" Mom what's up with you?  Since dad die_ " Mom cuts me short.

" Just let me be. " She says.

" But_ " She interrupts me again.

" I wanna be left alone. " She says and turns to her phone.

       I take the stairs and walk to Peter's room. I walk in without knocking only to meet him cussing as he destroys things in his room. I just don't know what gets in me, I just run and hug him tightly from his back joining him in weeping still tightly holding him.

      " Why does she hate me? Why does the woman who claims to be my mother hate me this much! Why? " He cries.

" I...I....I just....don't....know...why...she has been...like....that..since..daddy died. " I stutter in between tears.

" I just can't take it anymore....two good years Eva, two good years I have been living in this house as a slave....first she took my position as the Managing Director of dad's company, then she went on ahead and took my car from me...and if that ain't enough she withdrew my monthly allowance and on top of it all am her slave in this house. " He says his gaze on nothing in particular.

      " Am sorry P...I just don't know what's gotten into her this past few days. She'll be herself soon. " I mutter.

" Eva few days? It's been this way for two years now, enough is enough...am looking for a job and I'll be leaving for my own apartment the coming month. " He replies.

     He's leaving? Oh my God why am I feeling this way? I can't be in love with him, he's my brother for goods sake! " No P, you can't leave me alone in this big house. " I cry.

" You won't be left alone Eva. " He says freeing himself from my tight hug and sandwiches my face with his palms rubbing off my tears with his thumbs.

" You won't be lonely over here. You'll have mom and Cherry to keep you company. " He utters.

     I try to talk him to staying but he still insists on leaving.

      " Then I'll help you get a job. " I finally say.

" I appreciate it but no thanks....I'll look for one myself. " He mutters.

" I insist. " I say as I  dial up a friend.

☎☎..☎☎..☎☎

☎What's up Eva?

☎Nothing's up....Maggie can you do me a favour?

We meet again.

©Dinashiaz