CHAPTER 8

Vivian had been stressed ever since Edward rejected her and created that sister zone. It was so difficult for her to even see him now. How was she supposed to face him if they ever met again?

'So what are you going to do?' Selena asked her as they both sat in the cafeteria having their food.

'I don't know what else to do. If I continue to pester him, he will surely hate me,' Vivian said with worry and sadness in her voice.

'But it won't also be right to give up on your first trial. You need to fight for it, you never know. You may end up winning in the end,' Selena said while encouraging her. She knew her friend's intentions but she was now more scared than before.

'Let's just forget about him and concentrate on you. So can you tell me what you are hiding?' she asked Selena. Something had been off about her, it wasn't Sean's issue with his ex but she could tell that there was something more she wasn't telling.

'I am pregnant,' Selena spilled the beans and Vivian choked on her food.

'OMG! How far are you?' Vivian asked her friend. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She had done it.

'Four weeks,' she told her.

'Congratulations girl. Does he know? Is he happy about it?' Vivian was so curious she was about to combust.

'I haven't told him yet. Do you think he will be happy about it? What if he doesn't want a child now? What will I do?' Selena asked so many questions and Vivian understood. It was normal for Selena to panic and have questions like that. She had never been intimate with anyone but she had seen a lot of people who fought because of children.

'You don't have to worry about that. I think the best thing for you is to ask him and hear his opinions on family but there will be no way he wouldn't his baby,' Vivian said.

'I am so scared I don't know what to do,' Selena said and Vivian reached her hand for hers.

'I am here for you. If he does something funny we will just teach him a lesson,' she said humorously and her friend started laughing. It was better now; she smiled seeing how she had managed to make Selena loosen up a bit.

'So, did you go the hospital yet?'

'Yes, I went and I will go there again to have a sonogram taken. I can't wait for that,' Selena said happily.

'Then take me with you when you go. Your husband won't be going right?'

'I will keep him in the dark for now. When it is time I will tell him,' Selena answered.

'Just don't take too long,' Vivian advised her friend.

'Don't worry, I will not do that.'

The two friends finished their lunch and returned back to the lecture hall for another session of classes. Soon she will be here alone after Selena goes for a maternity leave; she will be lonely without her.

...

Sean sat in the Chairman's office and looked at the old man. What was he trying to do?

'Can you do it?' he asked him and Sean just looked at him.

'Isn't that project supposed to be handled by Andrew?' he asked instead of answering.

'It is but I think you are more suitable than him,' the old man. Something didn't feel right at all. He felt as if he was in the middle of an ongoing battle that he wasn't aware of.

'Can you be honest and tell me what you are brewing this time, because I don't want to be part of it?'

'You know me so well. I wish the other kids could read me well like you do. Whatever you do, you always manage to bring the best out of them. You make them so competitive,' the chairman praised him in a weird way.

'I'm glad to hear that but now I have a family and I don't want to be stuck in the middle of these games anymore,' he told his step dad straight flat.

'You really love her?'

'Yes I do and I don't want to be involved in these politics anymore. I just want to be out of this,' he told him.

'You are no longer that ambitious as you were when you were young how disappointing.'

'I learnt such a great lesson from all that and it's time for me to stop taking them. If there is nothing more then I will take my leave father,' Sean said as he stood up.

'Can you do me one last favor I wouldn't want to do anything that will make your mother sad anymore?' the chairman asked.

'Okay; what do you want from me?' he asked and waited as the chairman narrated the whole issue for him.

He has always known that this man was a calculative man and was full of schemes but this one was an insane one.

'Can you do it for me?' the chairman asked.

'What do I get in return for that?' he asked, his step dad had taught him that there is nothing as something for nothing.

'What do you want?' the Chairman asked.

Sean pondered over the issue and looked at the old man.

'If I do this then promise me that you will never engage me in this kind of politics and let me live in peace. I am sick and tired of schemes from this family,' Sean told his father.

'If that is what you want then I will give it to you as long as you hold your end of the bargain,' the old man said.

'We have a deal then,' Sean said and left the office.

Why should he be the sacrificial lamb all the time? If it wasn't because of his mother he would have done something so terrible to this family a very long time ago.

Sean returned to his office and sat down in his chair. He smiled as he looked at the picture that was on his desk. He smiled seeing how happy his wife was. He was going to make it up to her for the rest of her life. How would it be if she were to conceive his child? He would really love it, seeing how small their baby would be just made his heart flutter. He was going to start trying. They had been intimate for a long time and he knew that his wife was not on birth control, so why was there no news? He was perfectly fine and not sterile. Was there a problem with her? Even if she was infertile, he would never leave her. She had stood with him for a long time and gave him so much love and support, which is why he will do the same for her.

He was in the middle of planning his future when his older brother barged into his office.

'What the heck are you planning?' Andrew yelled at him as he came closer to him.

'You need to tell me so that I can understand brother,' Sean said as if he wasn't aware of what Andrew was talking about.

'Don't try to act all lame and foolish. You know what I am talking about. Let me warn you, you stay the hell away from my project or I will make you regret!'

Sean stood up and walked to his fuming brother. Sean placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder and gave him a light touch.

'You should experience what it is like to lose something you really want. For all these years, you took so many things of mine and yet I kept still. You should repay me for all these years, brother. Since father was so generous to give the project to me then I will gladly do it. If you are as good as you portray then prove it to me and we will see who is better. A little completion wouldn't hurt, don't you think?' Sean said as he looked at his brother with contempt in his eyes.

Because of the way he was raised, he was taught to forgive and forget even though that was difficult. He knew that this was a bluff but this was his moment to shine and get things off his chest one by one. Now he knew what his step dad's intentions were by making this deal with him. He was trying to settle some old scores and he was glad that he finally got a chance to be on the side that gets to watch the almighty Andrew fuming.

'I will get you for this, just wait and see!' Andrew yelled at him and he laughed at him.

'Of course I will be waiting for you but don't use any underhand tricks this time or you will find yourself out of that position you love so dearly. Don't make me crave your office Andrew. So if you want a battle, I will have one with you. Lets fight fair and square this time,' Sean advised his brother who loved scheming as if he was in a polygamous relationship.

'I will beat you and show you to never do this again,' Andrew said as he withdrew.

'I will be here. Let the best man win then!' Sean called out as Andrew closed the door with a bang.

Sean busted into laughter as he sat down back in his chair. He could feel that it was going to be one hell of a time at the office and he could feel the crazy tension already rising in the air.

...

Vivian sat in the mini bar at her house busy drowning herself in her brother's wine. Everyone was asleep so she was not going to be in any deep shit. She had tried to forget about it all but no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't move on. It would have been better if she had fallen for someone else before Edward and then it wouldn't be hurting this much.

In love she was just like her friend but the only difference was that Selena got her happy ending. She found a husband, even though she loved him first her husband in the end reciprocated her feelings and they were now fine and happy. Selena was even expecting her first child. How could she be that lucky? She really envied her so much. Selena didn't have any money or worthy background to take notice of and yet she landed herself a man well sought in the society and one who loves her deeply. Why couldn't the same thing happen to her?

She gulped down the whole flute of champagne and put it back to the counter. She was about to fill it up when her brother suddenly showed up. He wasn't supposed to be back this early. Why was he here?

'I can't believe that my own little sister is here alone and drinking like this. Who made you drink?' Victor asked as he sat down next to her.

She looked at him with drowsy eyes, she could see that he was there but couldn't see him clearly.

'What is my brother doing here?' she asked with a drowsy smile.

'I decided to come back early so that I can have some time with you. You have been acting weird ever since the dinner with Edward. Did he do something to you?' Victor asked and she was surprised with how quick her brother was.

'How did you know that something happened?' she asked in surprise.

'I am your brother and I take notice of everything about you. Did you finally confess?' Victor asked and she started crying. She didn't even know how that came by but they were just flowing.

Victor came closer to her and he wiped her tears away.

'It's okay, little one. I can take that it didn't go so well. Maybe you should just move on. He isn't into young girls,' Victor said but that didn't comfort her, it simply made everything worse.

'Do you have to remind me about that? Getting rejected once was enough, you don't have to add more salt to the wound!' she yelled at him and he hugged her close.

'Sorry, little one. I didn't mean to hurt you. What can I do for you?' Victor asked.

'There is nothing that can be done. He told me flatly that he can't be with me. I am just like a sister to him so I guess I will leave it at that. I will get over him soon and move on. I will find a hot guy at school and date him, so you don't have to worry Vic,' she reassured her brother even though she knew that wasn't going to be possible.

'If you say so then I will be at peace. Do you want to have a date with me tomorrow?' Victor asked and she looked at her brother.

'Don't you have a Lila to be with or a Janet to spend your weekend with?' she asked taken aback by his sudden question.

'Those can wait; my top priority is you right now. I just want to have a date with you. Can we do that?' she could hear her brother's worry and he was never going to stop until she agrees.

'Okay, I will have that date with you but you are paying,' she said and let out a laugh. She saw Victor finally smiling and she knew that it was going to be okay.

'That's my baby sis. Now go and take a shower and sleep. I want you to be fresh when morning comes and this stays between the two of us. I wouldn't want dad to know that you have been drinking. You know he will go crazy over this,' Victor reminded her and she nodded her head.

'I will go to bed now, love you Vic and goodnight,' she said as she kissed her brother on the cheeks.

'Love you too baby sis,' he said and she kissed her on the cheeks too.

She staggered to go to the stairs but he came to her rescue and scooped her up. Victor carried her to her bedroom and left as soon as she entered the bathroom. She was a lucky one, she thought. She had a family that worried about her and comforted her when she was in pain. There were so many people who didn't have that privilege like her. Maybe she should just be content with what she have and stop crying over spilt milk.

...

Victor found it hard to sleep after seeing his sister wallowing in her sorrows. He was happy the day she was brought into this life. Seeing her small feet and hands, that little smile and the joy on his parents face was that all he needed to know that his bundle of joy had arrived.

His entire life he had made it his priority to see his baby sister happy but it came unexpected that she was in love with his best friend. How could she fall for someone who saw her in her diapers? He was in so much stress. When he saw that he completely brushed it aside, thinking that it was just a fling and it was passing. It was only these past few days he realized how grave the whole situation was and he was glad that he came and talked to her.

He was going to take her out and spoil her until she forgets about her unrequited love for Edward. Maybe it was time for him to set his sister up, there were so many guys there who were interested in her. He has no beef with his friend but he has been with him for long and he had never seen him date a much younger girl before. They were already in their thirties and being with a teenage girl wasn't their fantasy. He himself preferred them mature and older.

He had to do something quick to make his sister forget about him. After seeing that his sister was well taken of he was going to have a heart to heart talk with his friend and hear his own side of the story. He wasn't just going to make him the bad guy for rejecting his precious sister. He might have some reasons and he was going to hear him out nicely and in a professional way.

He was going crazy already, why did she have to pick one guy he grew up and see as his own brother? It was as if she was waging a war and this was not going to be smooth at all.

...

Selena crawled out of bed slowly and quietly so as to not wake her husband who was fast asleep. He came back home tired, it must have been tiring and she just wanted him to rest.

She slowly left the bedroom and went down the stairs. At this rate she was going to be caught. She walked into the kitchen, towards the refrigerator and opened it. She took out the lunchbox containing the ice-cream and placed it on the table.

She found a bowl in the kitchen unit and a spoon in the drawer. She scooped some ice cream into her bowl and made herself comfortable at the table. She was so hungry that the only thing she just wanted to do was eat and eat.

She began to help herself with the ice-cream but that didn't stop her hunger. She combed through the fridge but there was no left over left. What was she going to do? She couldn't eat another bowl of ice-cream again. Disappointed by what just happened, she threw herself in the chair and sighed.

As she sat there she heard the door bell ring. Who was it at this time of the night? All the staff was off and since she was the only one awake she had to go and see who was ringing this time of the night.

'Don't worry, I will get it,' Sean said as he appeared behind her back and she jumped.

'Can't you just make some sound when you walk?' she yelled at him, while clutching tight at her chest. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to jump out right out of her chest.

'Sorry baby girl,' he said as he wrapped his arms around her.

She melted against his touch. He was the only one capable of doing that, not that she had anyone to compare him to.

'You are forgiven. I thought that you were asleep. Why are you up?' she asked as turned around to face him.

'I saw that you didn't come back for a while and realized that you might have sneaked out for some food so I ordered some,' he said and she smiled at him.

'Thanks,' she said as she stood on her toes and gave him a kiss on the lips.

'I will be right back so sit tight and wait for me,' he said as he pried himself away from her.

Sean disappeared for a while and returned with a box of pizza, her favorite and some soda. He helped her sit at the table and poured two glasses of soda. She looked at him with so much love in her eyes. She couldn't believe that he had done this for her. She was so grateful that she didn't know how to thank him.

'You are the best, you know,' she said as she threw a slice of pizza in her mouth.

'I know baby girl, now eat and let's go back to bed. Do you want to go on a date with me?' he asked her and she looked at him. They never went on a date before, she had never been on one so if she says yes that meant that she will have her first one with her husband; how could she say no to that?

'I would love to but don't you have work to do?' she asked him.

'That can wait. I am going to spend some more time with you. I have been working my entire life, I need a break too,' he said as he wiped her lips with his thumb.

'Thanks for saying that, I will make sure that I have fun and enjoy,' she said with a smile on her face.

It was going to be an epic day, she was already picturing out already in her mind and she just couldn't wait.