POV: Harmony Winters

I pulled the car over at the parking lot and almost yelled in frustration after seeing the time on my phone. I was thirty minutes late to my very first real date with Sean Mateo, my boss' son and the owner of my modelling agency, thanks to the guy with anger issues that I had met at the elevator.

How was I to face him now? He was such a sweet guy, and perhaps, he’d understand why I had come late, but I still felt pretty awful about coming so late, thereby wasting the time of a very busy man. First impressions matter, and being late was not the kind of impression I was hoping to make on our first date.

My phone began to ring, and when I checked, it was he who was dialling my line. I bit my lower lip, as thoughts flooded my head considering what I was to do presently.

Deciding to brace myself up, I just ended the call since I was going to enter inside soon enough, seeing as I didn’t have any other choice. I unhooked my seatbelt, then stepped out of the car with my bag in one hand, then shut the door of the car before cat-walking into the restaurant.

After a brief moment, I saw him at the table which he had reserved for both of us for dinner that evening. He was busy with his phone, and heaving a sigh, I approached his table.

Immediately I got there, he noticed my presence, then looked up immediately wearing a broad smile on his face.

“You finally decided to bestow me with the honour of seeing you, Miss Winters,” He said, with the smile still plastered on his face.

“Hi. I am so sorry that I came late,” I apologised.

He waved his hand, brushing aside the apology. “Oh, it’s okay. It’s my fault for coming too early, you didn’t do anything wrong,” He said, then gestured with his hand for me to sit.

I drew the chair out, then sat on it, placing my bag by my side. “You’re so sweet,” I noted.

“What would I gain by not being sweet to a sweet lady like yourself?” He asked, still smiling.

I chuckled, now relaxed and relieved that all my worries and concerns had just been for nothing. Sean Mateo was a good and considerate person, and he had no issues whatsoever. At least, none that I had noticed yet apart from his deep love of business, since I was still studying him.

He called the waiter, stating that we were ready to order what we wanted to eat. On his table was a glass of water, which he had bought to pass time while he waited for me, and with the rumbling in my stomach, I couldn’t wait to have something to eat.

The waiter came to our table to take our order, with a notepad and a pen in his hand.

I looked at the menu we had been presented with, and weighed my options out of the many dishes that they had to offer.

“What do you think?” He asked.

“There are so many options to choose from, and I can’t decide,” I said, with a chuckle.

“You can order all if that’s what you want,” He said.

“Oh, no. I’m not a glutton,” I said, laughing gently.

He smiled at me, then looked up at the waiter. “While the lady still ponders over what to eat, I have already made my decision. I’ll have Cajun shrimps and Chicken Pasta,” He said.

“I guess I’ll just have the same thing, then,” I said, with a shrug of my shoulders, as I handed over the menu back to the waiter.

“You wouldn’t mind a bottle of red wine, would you?” He asked.

“You know red wine’s my favourite,” I said, smiling at him.

“Okay then. You heard the lady,” He said to the waiter, who promised to bring in our order as soon as possible before leaving.

“So, how is work?” He asked, setting aside his phone.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Stressful as usual,” I said.

“I bet it isn’t as stressful as mine. All you have to do is take pictures and bargain your price, am I wrong?” He asked, in his usual condescending manner, but I knew he meant no harm.

“Sean, it is more than just taking pictures,” I said, with a small laugh.

“You say that all the time, but I don’t get it. All you do is take pictures for various brands, so how come that is stressful?” He asked.

“Well, have you ever considered the fact that I don’t want to smile on some days and advertise someone else’s products? Also, it is tiring that I...”

“The food is here,” He said, cutting me off as the waiter stopped by our table with two trays, containing the food we had ordered for.

“They are quite fast,” I said, brushing aside the little pinch of annoyance that had embraced me with him suddenly interrupting what I was saying.

“Yes, they are. I have an eye for good restaurants,” He said, then began to dig into his food.

“As I was saying...”

“Did you read the newspapers today? The stock exchange market’s shares are on the increase, and it’s not a good time to purchase shares, which I was actually thinking of doing before I changed my mind,” He said, as he poured the wine in his wine glass, leaving mine empty.

Oh wow! That came in as a very big shock, but it was another one of those red flags that I was willing to overlook. He was intelligent, smart, business-oriented, sweet, calm, and most importantly, he was wealthy and I had his father to thank for pulling me out of poverty.

I didn’t say anything, and began to munch my food slowly.

“I changed my mind because the best time to buy is when the shares are slipping and everyone’s withdrawing theirs. What people don’t get is the fact that the stock exchange market will always be there, and just as it has risen again, no matter how low it crumbles, it will always rise. When next the market falls, I’ll purchase a lot of shares so that my profit will be tremendously high when it increases again. What do you think?” He asked, sipping wine from his glass.

“I think that it is a great idea,” I said, absent-mindedly.

“Of course, it is. Out of all four of my father’s son, I’m the smartest and most strategic when it comes to business,” He said.

“I can see that,” I noted, now pouring myself some wine.

“So, how does it feel to be turning twenty five soon?” He asked, finally focusing back on his date.

I chuckled. “Why do you say soon? My birthday’s not till another one month and six days,” I reminded him.

“I’m aware, but as you can see, the year is running really fast. Before you know it, July will be here and you’ll be twenty five,” He said, laying emphasis on the age.

I shrugged. “When that time comes, I know I will be ready,” I said, with a small smile.

“I hope you will be. I have planned a surprise for you that day,” He said to me.

“I don’t really like celebrating my birthdays. Worst still, I hate surprises,” I told him, the smile slowly disappearing from my face.

“Well, it is not as if I demanded for your opinion on this subject. It’s my girlfriend’s birthday, and I am going to make it very special for her, whether she likes it or not,” He said, then returned his attention back to his food.

I could see that his intentions were genuine, although I would have preferred it a hundred times more if he could just respect my decisions for once and let my birthday be uneventful.

With every year that got added to my years spent living on this earth, a year also got added to the day I had cleansed the world of a pathetic soul, who was better off without soiling the earth and contaminating it more than it already was.

“Don’t you like the food?” Sean asked.

“I...I do,” I replied, looking up from my meal.

“Then, stop picking on your food, or I would assist you in eating it,” He said, jokingly.

I laughed out heartily, thanking my stars for the day I had met Sean Mateo.

He was a great guy, who could do much better by letting me speak, paying attention to me and laughing at my jokes, instead of coming up with absurd conspiracy theories, cutting me off without even realising it, and bothering me with his many business stuff that I really didn’t care about.

However, with him, I knew that my safety was guaranteed. Not only would I never suffer again, I was also not going to be treated like trash or hurt by any man. People say that everyone has their flaws, and even though being with someone who referred to me as “Miss Winters" and was always so serious about life could be exhausting at times, it was way better than being stuck with a psychopath, who could kill you because of the slightest mistake.

A memory of him flashed through my mind, and I found myself twisting the fork in my hands, as I tried to act and remain normal. It was almost four years now, and as the anniversary of what I had done drew closer, my heartbeat raced faster with the fear that things may not just pass by smoothly like it had done in the last four years.

This year, there was this gut feeling that nudged at the back of my mind that as much as I had preferred things to remain quiet, a lot of drama was going to unfold.

POV: Rhys Anderson

The estate was beautiful and was surrounded by trees and flowers, letting a gentle breeze into people’s homes. There was never a doubt about Nathan’s taste in houses, although his dress sense could always be questioned.

“What do you think, man?” He asked, standing in front of one of the luxurious mansions in the estate, which was going to be my home for the next few months...maybe weeks, depending on how fast I was in getting done with my mission.

I removed the dark sunglasses covering my eyes, nodding my head, impressed with his choice.

“It’s worth the millions of dollars you spent on it,” I said, then put back on my sunglasses.

He chuckled. “I knew you’d have my head if I didn’t spend your money wisely,” Nathan said.

“You know me well,” I said.

“We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. Why wouldn’t I know you?” He asked in a rhetorical manner, with a smile plastered on his face.

“You’re very right. I hope everywhere has been tidied up,” I said, looking around the house.

“Yeah. I made sure it was cleaned thoroughly,” He said to me.

“Good, because I intend on moving in today. My suitcases are already in the trunk of my car and I can’t wait to rest, hopefully, sleep peacefully on the bed in my bedroom. Before I get my hopes up, there’s a bed in my bedroom, right?” I asked.

He rolled his eyes. “No, you’re meant to sleep on the tiles. Of course, there’s a bed in your bedroom,” Nathan said.

“Perfect. All that’s left is a good and warm bath. I’ll just have my bath and sleep. Please, have mac and cheese prepared by the time I wake up. I know that’s what you cook best,” I said to him.

“Sure,” He said, as the smile gradually dried up from his face.

“I’ll be inside,” I told him, and began to stroll causally into the mansion.

“Rhys,” He called, his voice laced with annoyance that he seemed to be desperately trying to hide.

I turned back around, putting my hands in my pockets. “Yeah?”

“Who are you leaving your suitcases for?” He asked, arching his brows with suspicion directed towards me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “You, obviously,” I replied, with a nonchalant expression.

“Hello? You said you were coming to Texas. I left what I was doing at San Francisco, met with several house realtors just to get somewhere comfortable that matched your taste, and prepared virtually everything for your coming. What do I get in return? No thank you, no nothing. All you do is order me around forgetting that I am not your servant,” He said, slightly taking me aback.

“I never said you were my servant,” I objected, surprised at his outburst.

“Then, why do you ask me to do practically everything for you?” He questioned, sighing in exasperation.

“That’s easy. I do that because you’re the only person I can trust,” I told him.

He seemed to have cooled off a little bit, and I smiled inwardly. “Still, you should be a little more appreciative when I do stuff for you,” He said.

I nodded my head, agreeing with him. “I will try. Now, can you stop being upset with me?” I inquired, extending my arms for a hug.

He walked right into my embrace and I snuggled him closely. “I’m not upset,” He said.

“Good. You wouldn’t mind bringing in my suitcases, right?” I questioned, and he immediately withdrew from my embrace.

On his forehead were lines of clearly visible anger, and I tried so hard to not laugh out loud, lest he got any more upset than he already was.

“I knew you were going to ask me to do stuff for you again,” He said, adjusting his glasses.

“And I know you’re just going to do it anyway since you want me to put in a word for you as regards to that receptionist you came across in the hotel I just checked out of,” I told him, with a wink from my left eye.

This act only infuriated him the more, and he seemed more upset. “Why did you have to bring her into this discussion?” He asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I thought that reminding you that you could only smash that lady with my help, was quite necessary at a time like this. Thanks in advance for bringing in my luggage. I’ll see you inside,” I told him, with a smirk playing around my lips.

“Rhys!” He exclaimed, throwing tantrums like a little child.

“Nathan!” I retorted, using the same tone of voice he had used. With a cheeky smile, I then turned around and began to walk away.

“I hope you remember that you blackmailed a friend someday, and be filled with regrets,” He called after me, in a loud voice.

“You’re the bestest friend ever,” I retorted, opening the door.

“There’s no word like that,” He called back.

“English can kiss my ass for all I care,” I retorted, then slammed the door, but not before I heard him grunt out loud in frustration.

When I stepped into the house, I didn’t even make it to the bedroom before collapsing on the sofa, tired and exhausted from not doing pretty much anything.

“Shoes,” Nathan said, coming in a few seconds later, as he kicked my feet off the sofa.

“You’re my friend, not my mum,” I said, putting my legs back on the sofa.

He attacked me with a pair of scissors, and I immediately removed my legs from the sofa. “You’re such a killjoy,” I commented.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” He said to me, wheeling the suitcases away.

“Do you go about carrying a pair of scissors around now?” I inquired in a loud voice.

“Only when I know a child in a man’s body is coming around,” He retorted.

Heaving a sigh, I smiled broadly.

Nathan was my best friends. We had met at church when our mothers both dumped us at the children section. While I was always talking and asking irrelevant questions, he was rather reserved and calm. I liked to pinch him on the arm and disturb him a lot, but he wouldn’t say anything...not to me or even report me to the Sunday school teacher or his mother.

We were just two years old back then, but as time progressed, we became good friends. I couldn’t wait to speak to him about a whole lot of things on Sunday since I was an only child and had no one to talk to at home, and he was a good listener. He would listen attentively and he soon became a talkative like myself, but not as bad as myself.

Nathan was the best friend anyone could ask for, and even after all these years, despite our separate lives and distance, we still found ways to connect to each other. He was the only true friend I had ever known, and he was the only person that ever got me.

“What are you thinking of?” I heard him ask, jolting me from my thoughts.

“You,” I replied, with a chuckle.

“Stop lying for no reason,” He said, with a sneer.

“I am not lying,” I said, in all honesty, but of course, Nathan did not believe me.

“You’re thinking about the lipstick girl from yesterday, not so?” He asked, looking directly into my eyes.

“Are you insane? Why would I think of someone like that?” I retorted, giving him a glare that made him dart his eyes away from mine.

He shrugged his shoulders. “What’s wrong with thinking about her? You refused to wash the shirt she stained with her lipstick and you were smiling in your thoughts. So far, that’s the only woman you’ve mentioned since you and I reunited and I bet she caught your attention with the way you described her to me yesterday,” Nathan said.

I coughed out loud, acting like I was about to puke because of the disgusting words he had just spilled. “Jeez, Nathan! Why would you think that I would spare someone that I hated on our first meeting, even the slightest amount of thought?” I asked him.

“Maybe because you had the same smile on your face like the one you had on when you were telling me about her,” He said.

I sat up on the sofa immediately, staring at him with distaste. “This just became so gross. If I spend any more time with you, I sure as hell will vomit my lungs out,” I stated, then stood up immediately and began to walk in the direction of the passage.

“Where are you off to?” Nathan demanded.

“I want to have my bath and sleep in the bedroom, of course. If I stay here and listen to any more of your nonsense, it will take a toll on my health,” I said to him.

He chuckled softly, then as I made to go in, we heard a knock on the door.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked.

“No. Are you expecting someone?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t even know my way around the estate yet, nor do I know anyone in Texas, and you believe I could be expecting someone?” I retorted.

“No need to be so rude about it,” He said, then gestured for me to open the door.

I made signs that I wasn’t interested as I was already on my way inside, then he pointed at himself to show me that he couldn’t be the one to open it since he was clad in only his underwear.

I rolled my eyes in frustration, and he pleaded with a whisper.

Angrily, I stormed off to the door, and without bothering to check the peephole first to see who was standing at the door, I opened the door just to know who it was, so that the person could be done with his business and leave immediately.

My precious sleep was waiting and I needed it badly, but sleep vanished from my eyes the very moment I saw who was standing by my door in just shorts and a pink tank top.

My dark blue eyes met with her doe-like hazel eyes, and upon recognising each other, our mouths flew agape; more in shock than in surprise.

POV: Harmony Winters

My twelve-year-old brother, Mason, had showed up in my bedroom where I was rehearsing my lines for the next commercial advertisement I was to star in. He was wearing a sullen expression, and I could tell already that he needed something from me.

“Yes, Mason? What do you want this time?” I asked, bored of his usual demands.

“Why do you always assume that I want something from you?” He retorted, avoiding my gaze.

I shrugged. “Maybe it’s because you always want something from me,” I replied, wearing a small smile on my face.

He sneered.

“Now, don’t be shy. Just tell your big sister what it is that you want and she’ll consider granting your wishes,” I said, staring at him with a warm expression written on my face.

“My ball...”

“You want another ball? Did something happen to the one I got you two weeks ago?” I asked, without waiting for him to complete his statement.

“It’s not like that,” He said, fiddling with his fingers.

I rolled my eyes, as I folded my arms underneath my breasts. “How is it like then?” I asked.

“I was just bouncing it all over the place while returning from the basketball court, and it got into the neighbour’s garden. As a punishment, he seized it from me,” Mason explained.

“And why did he do that? Did you hit him with the ball by chance?” I asked.

He shook his head, giving me a negative response.

“So, why did he have to do that? It was just a simple mistake, not so?” I asked, and stood up, without even bothering to listen to his opinion on the matter.

“Where are you going to?” He asked, looking up at me.

“I’m going to get your ball,” I said, slipping on my feathery flip-flops.

“Harm, but the man is scary,” He objected.

“He might be scary, but I’m sure he is not as scary as your big sister,” I told him with a wink, stepping out of the bedroom.

A broad smile, exposing his dental braces, appeared on his face, as he followed me out to the living room.

“I’ll be right back, okay? Just stay here and wait for me,” I said, then went outside as soon as he had nodded his head, signalling that he was going to do as I had asked.

Stepping outside, I headed straight away to my nearest neighbour’s apartment. I hadn’t noticed any strange or scary-looking man like the one that I had seen the day before, and I had been seeing him for the very first time.

He had put on a flowing white robe and had also worn jean trousers underneath it. On his feet were white canvases and his eyes embraced very thick glasses, which made him look like an alien who had lost his way in this world. He also had bushy heavy beards that were really long and an eyesore.

I didn’t even pay him so much attention or care about how he looked. However, if he thought he could just come suddenly out of the blue to oppress my brother, he was in for a big fight. No one harassed my little brother and got away with it. No one.

There were low whispers coming from inside the house and I couldn’t quite make out the conversation that was going on. I tapped thrice on the door, then looked slightly around, waiting for the child oppressor to come out so that I could give him a piece of my mind.

When the doors opened however, the words I had been aching to say once I met with the man one on one, were nowhere to be found. It was as though someone had cut off my tongue, because for the very first time, my sharp tongue seemed to be paralysed.

What was more was the fact that the guy standing at the door also seemed to be very shocked upon seeing my face. A pregnant silence fell upon us as we both held each other’s eyes, with our mouths opened wide in astonishment.

“YOU!” We said in unison after several moments had passed, with our index fingers pointing at each other.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, eyeing me with doubts expressed on his face.

“I live in this estate. What are you doing here?” I retorted.

“I live in this estate,” He responded, shocking me all the more.

“What? You liar!” I accused, unable to believe both my eyes and my ears.

He scoffed. “Funny how you have the audacity to call me a liar when you are no more than a stalker,” He said, embracing the look of disdain as he eyed me all the more.

I glared at him, with anger making my blood boil. “Stalker? Why would you say that?” I inquired, as I clenched my fists.

“You followed me all the way here, didn’t you?” He retorted.

I gave a broken laughter, surprised by his level of stupidity. “And why, Mr gold-digger, would I follow you all the way here in a pair of shorts and a tank top?” I fired at him.

He shrugged. “Maybe because, Lipstick girl, you just wanted me to believe that you weren’t stalking me. Pervert,” He stated.

“That’s enough. I have heard more than enough from that rotten hole you call a mouth,” I declared, getting angrier with each passing second.

“They say the truth is bitter, and that’s why you’ve had more than enough because you can’t handle hearing the truth,” He said to me, with a smirk playing around his lips.

My fists clenched tighter and I felt like throwing a punch in his eyes, as anger surged through my veins. “You think all this is funny, but it isn’t. I am not going to stand here and trade words with you about whether or not I actually live in this apartment, since it is quite clear that you are never going to accept my explanation being the dumbass that you are,” I said, deciding not to let my anger get the best of me.

“Sorry?”

I ignored his question asking for repetition, and decided to just go straight to the point. Clearing my throat, I spoke up. “Anyways, I am here to see your boss,” I said, eyeing him mischievously.

“My boss?” He asked, looking confused.

“Yes, your boss. Since you’re all in for honesty, please, don’t lie that you are the Lord of this mansion. I know your type very well and I can say for sure that you work for whoever pays the rent of this house,” I said, wearing a knowing smile on my face.

He began to laugh awkwardly. “And why do you think that I am working for anyone?” He asked.

“Isn’t that quite clear, Mr gold-digger? You extorting five hundred dollars from me is enough reason to believe that you work for people. In fact, I am hundred percent sure that you can’t afford this luxury. If you could, you wouldn’t have acted so pathetically yesterday,” I said.

“What exactly are you arguing over with the visitor?” A stout figure asked, coming into view.

“Finally. Are you the boss here?” I asked, looking away from the annoying human who couldn’t seem to stay the hell out of my life.

“Boss?” The stout guy asked, looking even more confused than the gold-digger.

I rolled my eyes, already running out of the energy I had had while coming to the apartment. “I guess both of you work for the same man. I’m in search of a man with heavy beards,” I explained.

“Who the hell is that?” The gold-digger asked, looking at his supposed colleague.

“Oh. That must be the realtor,” The stout guy said, realising who I wanted to see.

“I see. Um... do you know if he took a ball from a little kid?” I inquired, worried that I had probably made a mistake.

“I don’t think he has the time for that. Why do you ask?” The stout guy asked.

“It appears that your realtor took my brother’s basketball. If you don’t mind, can you search the place and give it back to me?” I asked.

“Now, that’s just absurd. Why would he take a ball from someone he doesn’t even know? Go back and ask your brother who really took his goddamn cheap ball which I don’t get why you’re making a fuss over,” The gold-digger said, all in one breath.

I scoffed. “Are you freaking kidding me? I know my brother doesn’t lie and you have to go in there and get back that ball this very minute, or...”

“Or what? You’ll get the police to come with a search warrant and search for a ball which they sell anywhere and everywhere?” He cut in, staring at me like I was some sort of crazy person.

“If that’s what it will take to prove that you are a thief and a child oppressor, I might very well do just that,” I said.

I had barely completed my statement when I heard Mason call my name. “Harm!” He said, and when I looked, he was waving at me with the ball in his hands.

“Is that yours?” I asked, trying to confirm from him.

“Yeah. Mr Martyrs stopped by and returned it to me,” He said.

I looked back at my new neighbours, then pushed a strand of my hair at the back of my hair, filled with so much shame and embarrassment. Dammit, Mason!

“Don’t you owe us an apology?” The gold-digger asked, with his arms crossed.

“I clearly misunderstood you. I’m sorry,” I managed to mutter, and before shame and embarrassment could swallow me whole, I turned around and began walking away with my brother.

I felt like sinking into the ground hearing his mocking laughter as I walked off hastily. Even after committing a capital offence that could have me thrown into jail for a lifetime, I hadn’t felt this much shame.

Why did he have to make me feel so pathetic and miserable? No one had the right to make me feel that way, especially not a gold-digger who was obviously squatting with a friend. No one!