“Oh no! The fish is burning!” Fatima exclaimed in a panic and Grian laughed loudly. They’ve been trying to cook for about twenty minutes now and she’s not used to grilling food so she’s having a hard time manipulating the fire. She panicked and blew air into the fire which made the fire even bigger. “Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed and he shook his head while laughing.
“Here, let me,” he said before taking it upon himself to cook the fish. He flipped it over before the first side turned black. She breathed heavily and sat down on her seat. She pouted as she watched him cook while she checked the basket and grabbed the fruits so she could eat at the same time.
“I suddenly hate cooking,” she joked and he laughed.
After he successfully cooked the first fish, he placed it down on the plate before he started the second and third ones. “I didn’t know you were good at this,” she commented while she scanned the fish.
“I’m good at a lot of things,” he boosted with a smirk and she rolled her eyes.
“How’s your wound?” she asked and he shrugged.
“It hurts sometimes, I need my nurse to take care of me,” he answered.
“Who?”
“You,” he responded.
“My mom hired you, remember? You have to take care of me from now on,” he said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. She eyed him before taking a bite from the apple she was eating again. “You seem fine yourself,” she said sassily and he scoffed.
“Hey! I’m just staying strong, alright! It still hurts!” he complained and she scoffed.
“Then you shouldn’t have blocked the bullet, then!” she exclaimed, and his mouth agape before he scoffed as well. “How can I not? I didn’t want you to be hurt! You could’ve died!” he argued.
“You could’ve died as well!” she argued back and the two breathed heavily before calming down. “Why are we even arguing? Love-quarrel perhaps?” he joked with a grin and she raised her eyebrows.
“As if!”
“I won’t regret getting shot for you, Fatima,” he said and got all serious all of a sudden. “And for that, I owe you my life,” she answered and the two smiled as the cold breeze passed by.
“It’s kind of cold here,” she said.
“I have a jacket in the car, you can wear it,” he said before handing her the key and she took it before standing up and going to his car and opening the door to the backseat. She looked around and saw a blue jacket that she hadn't seen for a long long time. She grabbed it and put it on and it is still big on her like years ago.
She went back to the table and he looked at her and smiled. “Remember the time I let you borrow that?” he said and she nodded.
“And it’s still massive on me,” she answered with a chuckle.
“I still can’t believe I met you again after more than six years. Kind of feels almost surreal to me,” he said and she smirked.
“Why? Have you been waiting for me for that long?” she teasingly asked and he didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Yes. Yes, Fatima. You have no idea how much worry I felt when you disappeared,” he answered and she was stunned. She didn’t know what to answer and her lips parted.
“Were you really?” she asked and her heart started beating faster. She looked at him, waiting for an answer and he nodded. “I loved you a lot before. Maybe as a friend or maybe as a woman. And right now... I might still do,” he answered, which made her feel hot and made her face turn red.
“As a friend or as a woman?” she asked and stared at him. As they were staring at each other, the fish started burning.
“Grian!” she exclaimed and pointed at the fish and he immediately put out the fire.
IN THE COMPANY, CHAOS was spreading. Mrs. Denver arrived and rushed to find her son, to which she’s very frustrated. She stomped her way to his office and found him sitting on his chair while he used his laptop. “Take back what you said on TV right now,” she commanded and he looked up before continuing what he’s doing.
“Which one?” he asked with no emotion as he typed. He’s doing the same thing his mother did back in their mansion. His mother seemed irritated by this behavior of his.
“EVERYTHING! You even told them you canceled the wedding. Unbelievable!” Her voice is heard outside the office.
“I’m afraid I can’t do you any favor. What I say goes,” he said calmly and she grabbed his laptop and closed it.
“You’re insane. Ever since that woman arrived, you returned to being stubborn,” she irritatedly said.
“Ever since I found out what you did six years ago, I lost respect for you,” he said and her eyes widened. She went behind the desk and slapped him. “How dare you!”
“You wouldn’t have the life you have right now if I didn’t do what I did and you know it. You would’ve been living in shame,” she furiously scolded him and he scoffed before he chuckled.
“You’re the insane one here. Willing to hide what I did but I know you didn’t do that for me. You did it for the company’s reputation, didn’t you?” He pushed her to her limits but he was talking as if it’s just a normal and calm situation.
“You’re ungrateful. How did you turn out to be like this?”
“You’re the one who raised me. You should know the answer to that,” he answered back.
“I’m turning myself in no matter how much you say no,” he added. She frustratedly left the room and he sighed before he grabbed the laptop again and placed it on his desk. He got up from his seat and left the room as well. He was surprised to see Nikki walking towards him.
“Hey?”
“I came with mom since I just got back from music practice. She told me to wait outside,” she explained and he nodded. She noticed how he looks uncomfortable.
“Are you okay?” He nodded before moving past her as she followed him behind.
AS GRIAN AND FATIMA were on their way home, her phone started ringing and it’s from an unknown number. “Hello?” she asked after answering the phone. Crying is heard from the other side.
“Fatima...” the woman whispered and her eyebrows furrowed.
“You have to help me... they’ve taken me, asking me to pay them or else they’ll kill me,” she begged Fatima and she didn't know what to answer. After all, her mother has been absent most of her life.
“Who is it?” Grian asked and she mouthed, ‘my mother’.
She’s contemplating if her mother is telling the truth or not. If so, what happened? She’s her mother but she acts like a complete stranger to her. She’s done many wrong things to her so why would she help her mom? She gave birth to her but she also put her through hell. She’s unsure of what to do.
“Tell me your location and how much you need,” she asked her mother and she quickly told her the amount and location before she heard struggling on the other line and the call ended. “I need help,” she told Grian who seemed confused but drove to her house as soon as possible. Christopher and Nikki also arrived at her house after Grian called them over. Even if Chris is having a hard time facing Fatima, he still came to help.
“My mother is in trouble and even after all she did to me, I don’t want her to get killed. We need a plan so we can help her. Are you willing to help?” she asked them and breathed heavily. Everyone nodded and she nodded as well. “Okay,” she whispered.
Detectives and the police also got involved in the case. In order for the plan to work, they need their help. They can’t do anything if there’s no police involved in the case. In this mission, Fatima will be at risk the most out of everyone. In order to lessen the threat to her, they’re coming up with different plans. Every precaution will be taken.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Philippe asked in hesitation and she nodded. She smiled in reassurance but he seemed to be bothered. “She’s still our mother, Philippe,” she said and he sighed.
“But she abused you, she abused us,” he whispered to her and she ignored it.
[Flashback Start]
Fatima was told to do everything in the house even if she was still recovering from her injuries. Her mother has been acting evil ever since their father died in the accident. She’s unsure if she blames Fatima for her husband’s death. “Didn’t I tell you to clean the floor?!” Her mother furiously approached Fatima who’s resting on her bed.
“Mom- my body still hurts,” she said, irritated by her mother. She is also still grieving her father’s death. “Turn around and show me you back right now,” she commanded and Fatima didn’t realize what was happening but her mother lifted her shirt and started hitting her back using a belt. “M-mom!” she shouted in pain as she continuously punished her daughter. Philippe saw what was happening and hugged her mother, asking her to stop what she was doing.
“Mom!” he screamed and she pushed him away and he hit the ground.
[Flashback End]