Episode 12

Test Run

Andrew

It was another boring day again.

The last few weeks have not been fun as I expected.

I usually had a lot of fun flirting with Scarlett cause I knew it made her head spin though she pretended not to be affected. And that was the fun part. Also the fact that she hiccupped anytime we were standing so close to each other. Now that made my own head spin.

But I gave all that up cause of what she said about me on the phone.

I know it's not the first time she said it, but I thought the other time she was just trying to spite me. But the way she said it on the phone, made me look worst than the tabloids did.

So I just decided to stop flirting with her. Though I was enjoying it, I had to stop and I couldn't if I kept seeing her.

Which is unavoidable.

So I just stopped talking to her, ignoring her. The was just the best thing. Let's just get over with this six months cause it's no longer fun as I expected.

I was ready for the day and went to the kitchen to have my breakfast. I walked past her cleaning the chairs when I was coming down, I just did the usual, ignore her.

She removed her head phones and walked up to me in the kitchen.

"Hey, you okay" she asked

"Yeah" I replied and continued with my breakfast.

I still saw her looking at me with a squinted look on her face through my peripheral side.

"What?"

"Nothing" she said and left.

I ignored her and continued with my breakfast. When I was done, I stood up and was heading for the door when she stopped me.

"Hey wait for me, am almost done"

I ignored her and left.

No talking.

Hakeem had the car ready, so as I came out I just entered the car.

"You good boss?" Hakeem asked

"Yeah. Drive" I said and he drove.

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This day can't get any more worse.

Work was slow and boring. Usually, I would have Scarlett's trouble to lighten my day. That was one of the reasons I enjoyed tormenting her. But for the last few weeks that I have been ignoring her, she hasn't been giving me any trouble.

I was brought out of my thoughts, rather quickly when Pamela came in.

"Sir you have a visitor"

"I don't have anyone on my schedule today and am a bit busy"

"I told her Sir but she insists"

Well only one person would be so resilient.

And with a small smile at the corner of my lips, I said, "let her in"

Pamela opened the door and let the woman in and closed the door.

Just when I thought couldn't get any worse.

"Hello son"

"Don't call me that. What do you want"

"A mother can't come to see her child anymore or do I need to book an appointment"

"One. You are not my mother. You are my step mother, there is a difference and secondly, yeah. You need to book an appointment with my secretary to see me and it has to be for important reasons cause as you can see am busy" I rambled.

This woman just knows how to piss me off doesn't she

"Well I came to congratulate you on becoming CEO"

"That was two months ago"

"I know, but are you going to say because we are in the second month of the year I shouldn't tell you happy new year" she said but it sounded more like a question.

"And I also came to inform you of your 25th year old birthday party"

"Am not interested and am not coming"

"You do know the party is for you. You are the one who is turning 25, so you have to be there. Cause without you there will be no party" she said.

"Then just cancel the party. Am not interested" I said firmly.

"You also know that, that is impossible. Once your dad says he is going to do something, he is going to do it. He already has everything all planned out and he wants you to be there. He says it can help you relate with the investors who will be at the party"

I sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice"

"No you don't. Oh you have to come with someone. What about that girl staying with you. Your father told me there is a girl staying with you, invite her" she said

"No Natalie!"

"Okay. But I wasn't asking. I don't know what it would take you to just pick the phone and say "please come to a party with me". Don't worry I'll do it myself". She said and stood up.

I was more than satisfied with that.

"You got to start treating me better" she said quietly before leaving.

You wish.

I don't even know why she tries to make me like her, cause am never going to. I've got only one mom and she is no more.

After a long day at work, and seeing Scarlett and Simon getting cozy, which annoyed me for no reason, all I wanted to do was just jump on my bed but someone wouldn't let me.

She just kept bombarding me with questions immediately I stepped into the house.

"Hey, how you doing?"

"How was work?"

"Did you eat?"

"How did your mom, sorry step mom know we were staying together?"

"Why have you been acting strange lately?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with you?" I said and I knew that instant that it came out wrong.

"I didn't mean for it to come out like that. But let me breathe or at least answer one question before the other"

"Am fine. Work went well. I had lunch. My dad told her. Nothing and Nothing. I have answered all your questions" I said all in one breathe.

She just looked at me confusingly.

"Whatever. Why have you been ignoring me?" she asked.

"Cause I want to"

"You are not even going to deny it?"

"No. Am not a coward Scarlett"

"Really? You do know that actions speak louder than words" she said and I gave her a glare.

"Am just saying. And we've been living together for two months, we are in the third month now. The least you could do was write on a paper telling me that your birthday is on Friday. Stephanie was the one who told me and your mother was the one who gave me the invite. So much for not being a coward" she said.

She really wants me to give her my attention.

"Scarlett, if I wanted you at the party I would have invited you and this is the last time, you will call me coward" I said and stormed out.

All I wanted to do was rest!

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It was Friday. The party day.

Now others will be happy about this but I was not. Cause I don't want the fucking party.

But my dad had set it up already. Stephanie had already, told me how dad had gone out of his way to set the party up and get everything up to standard. And not that he is did it cause he loved me. He was just looking for a way to wave me like a priced jewel and show me off to investors to get more money and investors. And feed his ego.

I really didn't want Scarlett to come cause I know my dad was not what she needed. I knew my dad intentionally told Natalie about Scarlett so she could invite her. Cause if the invite came from him it would look suspicious and everyone will be on his neck.

But I knew my dad and all his crafty ways. And I knew that he was planning to talk to Scarlett and find out as much as he could about why we were staying together and try bringing her out of the contract. But that was not going to happen.

And to make sure of that, I decided to go to the party. I planned to ditch the party but after what I deduced from the invite, I changed my mind. And I also had my back up ready.

Peter, Emily, Simon, who I don't like. But they are friends so whatever. I also got Stephanie and shockingly Naomi.

Another person I don't like.

And Pamela, cause they were getting pretty close and she kept asking if Peter was going to be there and Peter kept asking if she was going to be there too. So I just decided to play cupid tonight.

But I didn't want her to be left alone with my father as I could not talk her out of attending.

I mean I barely had the chance to talk to her since Monday after our little misunderstanding.

Now that I need to talk to her. Now I know it doesn't feel good to be ignored.

I stopped by the dress shop yesterday and got her a gold dress and shoe, a jewelry and purse both red. I dropped it on her bed in a box. She told me she liked gold and red that's why I picked those colours for her.

I left a note on the box telling her that the box was for the party and that we were going to do the last part of the steps for how to love, which was "Test run". So she was to put on what she had learnt weeks ago.

I know it was stupid, but I had look for reason to give her the dress apart from the party. She did have dresses. But I couldn't tell her they were not good enough.

I was going to go to the party straight from work so I sent a car to the pent house when it was time after which I myself got ready and headed for the party.

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When I got there I tried not to show that I was pleased with what I saw.

I had to give to my dad, he did know how to plan a party.

I looked around and saw my people and I went around to greet them one after the other. Till I reached my sister.

"Emily. I thought you wouldn't make"

"And miss my big brothers 25th birthday party and the priceless look on his face when dad tries to use him to make money" Emily said.

Now she is the funny one in the family.

"Well those were kind words you said. I will be sure to let your big brother know. But I doubt there will be anything left of him after he has been used for trade by barter"

And I think they call me the sarcastic one in the family.

"Still sarcastic I see. I thought that work will catch up to you" Emily said and I laughed.

"That's not a thought Em, can't you see he is already getting wrinkles and gray hair" I heard a voice behind me say.

And that would be the drama queen of the family.

"Stephanie. So glad you could join us" I said as they laughed and I saw a little creature running towards me screaming my name.

"Andy, Andy" she called as she jumped on my body.

"Woah. Charlotte baby. It's good to see you"

"You too. Happy birthday Andy"

"Thank you princess"

"I almost did not bring my gift for you"

"Why princess? Every party is not complete without gifts"

"I know but dad said you were not coming. That you were to busy too see me"

I looked at my other siblings and gave them the dad has started look.

"I can never be too busy for you princess. Yeah I had a lot of work to do, but as I remembered you. I dropped it all for you"

"Really?" she said with a smile that reach her eyes and it made them glow with joy.

They were adorable. Who wouldn't fall for such eyes.

"Thank you. Here" she said then gave me a gift. I smiled.

"Thank you Princess". I said as I collected the gift.

"Don't believe everything adults say Princess" I heard a voice from behind say.

"Daddy" she screamed.

Great.

"Happy birthday son" he said patting me on the shoulder and then left us. I just sighed as we all looked at each other.

"Okay Princess why don't you go and stand over there with Emily and both of you can play with Uncle Simon" I said and winked at Emily.

Simon liked her a lot and she also had a thing for him, so I want to get the ball rolling.

I also took the liberty of letting Pamela and Peter do a little chatting while I was with my siblings.

"Everything is going to be okay" Stephanie said as she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I know. What about Henry?" I asked. That was her boyfriend.

"I thought you won't remember him. But he is good. He couldn't come cause he had a lot of work to do" she said.

"Of course I remember, he is my sister's boyfriend"

"But?" she asked. and I sighed.

"I like him and I think he is better than your previous one's, but there is something sketchy about the guy. I just don't want him to hurt you. All am doing is looking out for my big sister"

"I know. And thank you. I dropped your gift in the car with Hakeem. Happy birthday little brother" she said and gave me hug.

"Thank you. Please enjoy the party" I said and left her alone, heading to the direction of Pamela and Peter as they stood at the center of the hall.

"Please, enough love birds" I said as I got there and they smiled.

"Happy birthday Andy" Pamela said.

"Thank you Pam. Please graciously borrow me your man for a moment my lady". I said and bowed then she curtsied and left us alone. I knew she would play along.

"Happy birthday my man" Peter said

"Thanks man" I said as our glasses clicked.

"So birthday boy, where is your lady"

"Probably on her way. And probably mad at me".

"What did you do?"

"I might have told her she wasn't important that's why I didn't invite her myself"

Peter chuckled. "I can assure you that you are going to have a angry woman on your tail when she comes in here" he said and I chuckled.

"And a beautiful one too" he added then I looked up as he hit me with his elbow on my arm. Drawing my attention to what was a head of me.

She looked beautiful, I mean drop dead gorgeous.

The way she packed her hair in a royal style, like queen Elizabeth's kind of way but curly, made her look so beautiful with the light make up she had on and the red lipstick. And also the little piece of curled hair she left out. And the dress fit her so well, hugging all her curves. Her heels making her look a bit taller and letting the gown flow a little. And the jewelry on her neck was just a perfect fit for her, everything was.

I couldn't stop looking at her, I couldn't take my eyes off. Her name was just roaming through my head.

Scarlett.

Hey everyone thank you for sticking with me all through. I really appreciate.

Arty.