Chapter 15

Angel was in the living room with Amanda. The doctor had just finished checking up on both of them and was leaving for the door after biding them goodbye.

"So, how was it?" Amanda asked immediately the doctor had left.

"How was what?" Angel asked.

"Getting to know Leo?"

Angel could have sworn that a ghost had just passed by because she suddenly went pale. She turned towards the window wondering what to say to Amanda.

"Umm, it pretty much went okay," said Angel as she turned to look at Amanda in front of her.

"Really?" Amanda looked a little concerned. "I noticed the way you came in from the patio and I thought I saw a sad look on your face. Did Leo say something that might have offended you?"

"Oh, no, no," Angel replied quickly. "I just felt a little discomfort in my body and felt like it was time I saw the doctor."

"But Leo should have helped you back in. Why didn't he do that?"

"I didn't tell him. We spent a lot of time talking and I didn't want to worry him with my pain."

"Awww, you're so considerate, my dear. But right now, you'll need a lot more help you can get before you fully recover. Anyway, the doctor said you are doing well and that you will get better in no time. Maybe then, you will be able to walk around freely again without any difficulty or pain."

"You have no idea how I miss walking. I can't wait to do things and get back to work."

"Speaking about work, what do you do for a living, dear?"

"Well, I work at an editing company. It isn't much but I enjoy what I do."

Amanda gave Angel the kindest smile. "That's nice and decent. I figured you're one who loves to deal with writing. It suits you."

Angel smiled back. Amanda was really nice that Angel couldn't think of any nice words or gesture to give back.

Amanda then snapped her fingers. "I just thought of something just now."

"What is it?" Angel asked.

"You seem to be one person who really loves their job so much, but just as you said earlier, it's not paying you enough. And I think, you Angel, deserve the best."

Angel couldn't tell where all of this was going, so she waited for Amanda to carry on.

"How about you start working for us? At the MacDonell Technology Construction Company?" Amanda asked.

"What?"

Angel's face became paler as she heard that voice.

Leo who had just come in from the patio, heard the whole thing. He was standing in the foyer, just at the entrance of the living room.

"What did you just say now, grandma?" Leo asked as he stepped in the living room and approached the two women on the wheelchairs.

Amanda turned her wheelchair around and looked at Leo. "Don't start acting like your mother like she hasn't heard anything and wants someone to repeat themselves."

"I just can't believe what you're saying right now," said Leo. "Did you just ask Angel to join us at our company?"

"Yes," said Amanda with a billion dollar smile on her face. "Won't that be nice?"

Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing as he slowly met eyes with Angel. Even she couldn't tell why Amanda had suggested this in the first place.

"Haven't you thought this through, grandma?" Leo asked, feeling somewhat confused. "I mean, what makes you think Angel could come and work for us? Doesn't she have a job of her own?"

"Leo's right," said Angel. "I already have a job and I don't see why I have to trade it for another."

"You deserve better, my dear," said Amanda as she looked at Angel. "I haven't said anything wrong. I'm just giving you a chance to do something better."

"But grandma, you can't do that, you know," said Leo. "Angel should be willing to come and work at our company."

"If you ask me, your father would agree to this too."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I know your father. And he will think exactly the same."

"Mum won't though."

"Does she run the company?" Amanda raised an eyebrow at her grandson. "She might be married to your father and have a share in the company, but she doesn't make decisions. Your father and I do with other shareholders."

Leo knew his grandmother was right and there was no way to oppose her. But he still couldn't believe that she wanted Angel to work at the company. His mother might not make any major decisions concerning the company, but she sure as hell wasn't going to agree with Angel working there.

"I think I am going to work now," said Leo who couldn't take all of this anymore.

"Don't say any of this to anyone yet," Amanda warned him. "I'll have to talk to your father first and then smooth talk your mother, which is the most unpleasant thing I'll have to do in my life. And....," she looked at Angel. "I'll have to convince her a little more than I have to."

Angel gulped. It felt like Amanda was going to give her a lesson of her life when she was only trying to convince her to join the McDonells.

Leo made his way out of the room without a second thought of staying to try and convince his grandmother to change her mind. He was about to head up the stairs so that he could go to his room and get his car keys and other things when his mother appeared, making her way down the stairs.

"Oh, Leo," said Mrs McDonell as she reached the bottom of the stairs where her son stood. "You already had your breakfast?"

"I had breakfast with everyone else," Leo answered. "May you excuse me, I have to go for work."

"Wait, Leo, I need you to....."

But Leo went up the stairs without giving her a chance to finish. Mrs McDonell looked on at his son as he went to his room.

"Looks like he's still mad at you," said Amanda from the living room.

"I wonder when you're ever going to mind your own business," said Mrs McDonell as she made her way into the living room.

"When I finally leave this place." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a smile. "I know what you're up to."

Mrs McDonell folded her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about Kim."

Angel didn't know if it was right to be in this room and listen to their conversation. The way she saw it, Amanda and Mrs McDonell seem to have some long time feud. It didn't seem serious, but it was dangerous for anyone else apart from the two to be involved in. They were family so it was quiet normal to argue. But there was something between the two women that Angel could feel but couldn't put together. Did these two really hate each other just as much or was it they have a bit of a conflict when it came to certain things?

"Kim is good for Leo. You should know better," said Mrs McDonell.

"If she was that good, then why did Leo call off the wedding?" Amanda asked.

Angel felt like covering her ears. Kim was the girl Leo was supposed to marry and she couldn't help but feel awful about it. Only a few people knew why Leo ended things with her. It wasn't just about the accident that ruined the wedding day to begin with, but because of Leo's sudden love for Carly.

"There was an accident that day," said Mrs McDonell. Angel knew she would say that.

"Ya, but a few days later, he confronted Kim and told her that he didn't want to marry her anymore," said Amanda.

Angel felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn't help but feel this was all her fault. Maybe if she knew what Carly was up to from the beginning and stopped her, this wouldn't have happened. Leo would have never laid his eyes on Carly and would have gotten married and they would never have known each other to begin with. That's if Mr McDonell hadn't visited her mother on that day and invited her to the wedding.

"Don't start with me," said Mrs McDonell.

"But you know perfectly well that it is the truth," said Amanda.

Angel looked at Amanda and then at Mrs McDonell. She soon noticed Leo coming down the stairs. She cleared her throat as a warning to the two ladies arguing.

Amanda and Mrs McDonell noticed Angel clearing her throat and when they both looked at her, they saw her eyes looking into the foyer. They didn't utter a word when they saw Leo.

"What's going on?" Leo asked. "Why are you so quiet?"

"Nothing, dear," said Amanda. "Just arguing over what to have for supper. You know your mother hates it when I try to take over the kitchen for a day."

"Okay. I'll be going to work then."

"Have a nice day."

"Have a nice day, Leo," said Mrs McDonell.

Leo nodded his head in acknowledgment. He looked at Angel and Angel looked back at him. They stared at each other for a little while before Leo nodded his head at her and she did the same back to him. Then he walked out of the house through the front door.

"Where were we?" Amanda asked looking up at Mrs McDonell.

"You're unbelievable," said Mrs McDonell with her hands shaking in the air like she couldn't take it anymore. "I'm going to have my breakfast."

Mrs McDonell quickly left the living room. Angel looked on as she left. This family had some drama for sure.

"I'm sorry for that, dear," said Amanda as she took Angel's hand into hers. "Don't mind her. She could be a bit cranky sometimes."

"You don't have to remind me," said Angel, remembering how Mrs McDonell reacted upon seeing her and Carly's luggage yesterday.

"I think I argued too much I need to take a little rest. I hope you don't mind."

"No, I don't. You need the rest. Come to think of it, I think I'll take a little nap too."

"Alright, let's go to our rooms then."

Angel slowly followed Amanda. While she rolled herself out of the room, she couldn't help but think about Kim. She could only imagine how devastated Kim was after her wedding was called off and then your fiancé ends things for good. She must have felt awful.

Angel couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

***

Eric couldn't stop smiling to himself as he looked up at the ceiling wondering why he couldn't stop getting lost in his own head.

He propped upright on his chair as he went back to looking at his computer. He bit his lower lip as he leaned back further in his chair and went up to looking at the ceiling again.

"Oh, Angel, what are you doing to me?" he asked himself with a smile on his face.

Since he left for work this morning, he couldn't stop thinking about Angel. As much as he has been seeing her everyday even when she was in hospital, he never thought of her as much as he has today. He wondered why he couldn't stop thinking about her. Did he like her that much?

Who wouldn't? She's nice and very beautiful, almost like an angel. And her black and red hair made her look strikingly more beautiful. And her soft brown eyes were intriguing to look at and get mesmerised.

He imagined looking into those eyes right now that he didn't hear his landline on the desk ringing at first. It was when it rang the second time that he managed to get out of his daydream and answer the call.

"Yes?" he answered knowing that it was his secretary, Emily.

"You've someone here to see you."

"Who is it?" Eric rolled his eyes in irritation. He really didn't like being disturbed when he was daydreaming.

"It's Trina."

Eric hadn't heard that name in a long time. Trina? What could she be doing here? They hadn't been in touch for a long time since the wedding got called off.

"Tell her to come in," he said putting the hand phone back on the receiver.

The door to his office flew open and and Trina stepped into the room.

"Hi, Eric," said Trina with a smile on her face.

"Trina, hi," said Eric as he got up from his chair and went round the table to her.

Trina gave him a hug and Eric didn't feel that much comfortable as he used to when Trina gave him hugs. The two were friends. They weren't so close, but they were friends anyway, because of Leo and Kim. The four of them were almost like a gang during their school years though they used to fall out sometimes but still get back together.

Now that they were all grown up, they weren't much as friends as they used to since Kim and Leo fell in love with each other and started dating in high school and straight throughout college. It still didn't mean they weren't friends.

While Kim and Leo were in love, Eric was more of a play boy. He was handsome after all and everywhere he went, ladies fell for him. It wasn't that Leo is handsome. He really is. It's just that he was already taken and way too early for that matter, so he didn't get to have as many girlfriends as Eric did during his college years.

One of Eric's flings happened to be Trina. Trina has always had her eye on him for as long she could ever remember. She hoped that Eric would be serious with her and the two of them would get into a relationship. But that was far from happening. Eric seemed too far to be committed into one.

Not until he met Angel.

Trina smiled back at Eric after hugging him. She felt so excited to see him in what felt like forever when it's only been close to two weeks.

"I haven't heard from you like forever," said Trina. "Are you ignoring me now?"

"No, it's not like that," said Eric. "Please, take a seat."

Trina did as she was told. She wore a sky blue sleeveless dress, flared and reaching above her knees. She wore white high heels and she had a cream coloured handbag and lovely gold neck chain. She looked really beautiful.

But to Eric, not as beautiful as Angel.

"Then what is it, Eric?" Trina asked. "I thought we were friends. And after what happened on the wedding day, we're supposed to be by each other's side to try and work things out."

"Work things out with Leo?" Eric raised an eyebrow as he soon settled down on his chair. "You already know how stubborn he is."

"I know. I do feel so bad for Kim."

"Ya, me too."

"She didn't deserve what Leo did to her."

Eric didn't say anything as he went back to looking at his computer.

"Do you know something, Eric?"

Eric went back to looking at Trina. "Know what?"

"Why Leo broke up with Kim? Do you know?"

"No, I don't," Eric lied without hesitation. "After all that happened he just changed his mind."

"But there has to be a reason. Is it because he fell in love with someone else?" Trina asked with an eyebrow raised.

Eric almost gulped but that would only show Trina that he was lying and that he was definitely hiding something. Instead, he playfully rolled his eyes with a corky smile on his face.

"Please, Trina, if there was someone, I would know. Besides, he never told me why he changed his mind. So instead of interrogating me, why don't you ask him?"

Trina almost dropped her mouth wide open in shock but she quickly said, "you know I can't do that. Leo is scary to talk to sometimes. I asked you because you're almost like his best friend and he tells you everything."

Eric smiled. "He is. But this time around, he really didn't tell me why he did that. I guess he had a change of heart of some sorts."

"Do you think it has something to do with that girl he hit his car with that day?"

Eric soon went pale as he didn't know how to answer the question. He went back to looking at his computer screen and tapped away on the mouse, clicking on the desktop, pretending to look busy as he thought of what to say next.

"Uh, Eric," Trina called out to him. "Aren't you going to answer me? Does it have to do with that girl?"

"You're asking me the wrong question, Trina," he answered, looking at her.

"What do you mean? You were there, weren't you, when the accident happened?"

"Yes, but to be honest, I don't think it has anything to do with her."

"Are you sure? How is she by the way?"

"She's okay." Eric didn't want to give Trina any more details about the Barclay sisters. If anything, Trina only knew about Angel and not Carly. He was afraid giving her more information might prove to be lethal in the end. She was Kim's best friend after all and he knew she was only here to get information from him because Leo wouldn't talk to her anymore.

"Is that why you have been completely ignoring me? Because of the accident?" Trina asked.

"Ignoring you?" Eric chuckled but blushed at the same time. "What do you mean?"

Trina soon stood up from her seat and the smile on Eric's face soon died away. She came over to where he sat standing behind his chair. He suddenly felt her hands on his shoulders as she slowly started to massage him.

"You've been ignoring me, Eric," said Trina, slowly. "Was it because of the accident or did I do something wrong?"

Eric raised an eyebrow as he tried to figure out the right words to use. What happened to Angel had kept him a little busy but that wasn't the full truth. He had grown fond of Angel from the very first day he saw her. When she was involved in the accident, he felt like it was his duty to be by her side and take care of her. That's why he was always there everyday at the hospital to check up on her.

He didn't know he would care for someone who wasn't his family that much like he did for Angel. There was something about her that made him think of her always. Nowadays even when he was to see any beautiful lady walking across the street, he would end up thinking of Angel and how he just wanted to be by her side at that very moment.

"Hey?" Trina brought Eric back from his thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," he answered. "I just realised I have a lot of things to do today."

"I am here now, so why don't you relax a little bit." Trina bended over and whispered in his ear, "I really missed you though."

Eric felt a sudden discomfort on his shoulders and he soon propped up on his seat giving Trina a sign to stop what she was doing.

"What's wrong?" Trina sounded a little worried. "Don't you like my massage?"

"It's not that, Trina," said Eric. "I just have a lot of work to do and it needs to be done today."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Trina soon walked away from Eric and went back to her chair to get her handbag. Eric couldn't help but blow out a puff of air silently from his mouth, relieved that Trina was leaving.

"Maybe we can try and catch up with each other sometime," said Trina as she turned to look at Eric.

"Ya, we should," he said hoping that it wouldn't be any time soon.

Trina smiled at him and just as she was about to walk over to him to give him who knows what, the door to Eric's office flew open.

Leo stepped into the room and he paused when he saw Trina. Trina couldn't help but feel her cheeks blush in embarrassment upon seeing Leo.

"There's a thing called knocking, you know," Eric said feeling rather glad that Leo was here.

"I didn't know you had company," said Leo as he turned to look at his cousin.

"Isn't Emily at her desk?"

Leo show his head. "She must have stepped out for tea."

Eric rolled his eyes. Typical Emily.

"I was just leaving," said Trina.

"Okay," said Eric. "I would have loved to escort you out but I'm rather busy as you can see."

"It's fine," said Trina giving Eric a bright smile which soon faded away when she turned to look at Leo.

With her bag in her hand, Trina quickly made her way for the door. Leo stood aside for her to pass and she was out of the office in seconds.

"What was she doing here?" Leo asked as he closed the door after her.

"What do you think?" Eric asked as he went back to sit on his chair.

"Acting as Kim's informant, I presume," Leo answered as he approached Eric's table.

"Yep. But don't worry, I didn't tell her anything."

"I know you wouldn't. You're too smart for that."

"She thought the reason why you broke things up with Kim was because of the accident."

"It's best they think that way. I don't have to explain anything to anyone."

"Well, you would someday."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you won't be able to hide your love for Carly forever. What if after a year, you two decide to get married?"

"That would be fine by me."

"Oh, really? Then how are you going to explain yourself to Kim? Because at that time, she would realise that the person you ran over is Angel who happens to be the sister whom you fell in love with and the reason why you broke things off with her."

"Please, it's not like she's going to figure it out."

"She will. Kim isn't that much of a blonde, you know."

"Okay, enough about Kim. It's already hard enough that Trina was even here. She annoys me sometimes."

"And she's afraid of you. Your presence in my office made her run out of here like she had met her worst nightmare."

"I am everybody's worst nightmare." Leo smirked.

"Not to Angel." Eric smirked back. "If anything, she seems like one who always puts you back in your place."

Leo blushed as he remembered his conversation with her back home at the patio and how she made fun of him because Amanda made him apologise to her.

"Now what's with that face, dear cousin?" Eric asked in a mocking tone.

"What face?" Leo asked trying to be stoic.

Eric smiled as his index finger made a circle in the air as though highlighting Leo's face. "The look on your face tells me you were thinking about Angel just now."

Leo shook his head. "No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were," said Eric with glee. "Did something happen between the two of you before you came here?"

Leo was caught in between telling Eric the truth or keeping what happened all to himself. He couldn't tell him that he had apologised to Angel because his grandmother made him do so. It would hurt his ego.

"Hey? Aren't you going to tell me or not? It's the reason why you're here, right?"

"What makes you say that?" Leo asked see with his arms folded.

"Because, whenever you want to let something out of your chest, you want to let it out or else you would burst. And besides, you just came in here without even knocking first meaning it's really bothering you and you're in a sense of emergency to release it."

Leo looked at Eric as he settled on the chair Trina had occupied minutes ago. "You know me so well."

"Of course, I do," said Eric as he raised his eyebrows. "I'm your best friend after all. Now, tell me what happened between you and my sweet darling, Angel."

"Angel isn't sweet. She's a pain in the neck and she's only out there to get me."

"Continue." Eric couldn't help but grin.

Leo ended up telling Eric all that had happened with Amanda, Angel and himself back home.

"And you think it was all Angel's fault?" Eric asked after Leo finished his story.

"Well, ya," Leo answered. "She even made fun of me about it after grandma left."

Eric laughed. "Looks like she really put you in your place for sure. She didn't even have to raise a finger to do it."

"Grandma already likes her, that's why. And I'm afraid this might not be the only time she will ever get the upper hand in things."

"What do you mean? Is there something I should know about?"

Leo wanted to tell Eric about his grandmother's suggestion of bringing Angel to work at the McDonell company. But he promised he wouldn't say a word to anyone.

"I'll leave that up to grandma to tell you," he said. "I simply can't say anything."

"Alright," said Eric. "It seems grandma has a surprise for us, right? Then I better hear it from her then."

"Yep, it's a surprise indeed." Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Anyway, I better get back to work." He stood up from the chair.

"Ya, you do that. I've a lot of daydreaming to do." Eric leaned back on his chair and with his hands behind his head.

"Let me guess, the Lady Supreme."

"Just because grandma favours her, doesn't mean that she will always have the upper hand, Leo."

"You'll be surprised. It seems things are all going in her favour."

Eric smirked as he closed his eyes. "You're just upset because for once in your life, you've met the one person whose up to your level in terms of attitude that's it's difficult to bring them down."

Leo looked at his cousin and he didn't know whether to give him a slap, which he was wanting to do so badly, or just let him be. He slowly turned around and left the office, closing the door behind him.

He couldn't get what his cousin said out in his head and it stuck in his mind even as he reached the office and looked at the documents on his desk that he had to look at today.

Could it be that Leo and Angel were alike in terms of attitude and that somehow, Angel had the upper hand?

Leo shook his head as he finally settled down behind his desk. He wasn't going to dwell on the issue forever. He had a lot of work to do.

And it would take a lot more time for him to finally realise that he might have finally met his match.