Eloise's pov
I was walking to the bus stop knowing I won't get a cab at this time. I saw Victor's car following me, of course, I identified his car, not everyone can afford an Aston Martin DP215. I waited for him to reach my side so I could ask for a ride.
He stopped his car by me. "Come in," He said while he wind down the window of his car. He was putting on designer shades. I feel like I have seen something like this in a movie, I mean this scene he just made. The actor was trying to impress the actress by looking cool.
This son of a bitch!" Shut up El, you have met his mom before and she was so nice and gentle," My subconscious corrected me. This self-talk is over it is time to deal with this arrogant rich man.
"Do you just think you can order me around? Like I am your secretary or something." I shot at him pretending like I didn't need the ride.
"I don't treat my secretaries like this, I mean I don't offer them rides and it's my fault I offered you a ride. Was I supposed to say your Royal highness queen of Silverberg the first, please come and ride with me? You need to wake up Eloise," He zoomed off and I instantly regret I didn't get in after he asked.
"Your ego is the issue. Why do you get all touchy and egoistic around him?" My subconscious asked me. I hit my head and I continued walking to the bus stop.
FLASHBACK
Tory came back home to process some things six months after we graduated since she wasn't staying long here, she stayed with me.
Things were going smoothly at the hills magazine, I was the best rookie they had but I wasn't fine. I have not been fine since I left Victor like that. Many people don't know how to express themselves right and I am one of them.
All that I said to Tory I didn't mean them like the way he took it, I am sure he didn't hear the beginning of our conversation. I really like him, I was unsure about my feeling then but now I am. I always wondered how we were going to be right now if he didn't overhear my conversation with Tory.
For the past six months, my mental health has been weak. I have been surviving on weed and drinks, I don't call anyone, I just go to work to my thing and come back home to get high. I lost weight but no one really noticed.
My dad had not accepted that I moved out, he was angry or something. I felt like I was alone when I was the one that distanced myself from everyone. I felt so heartbroken when I was the one that hurt him.
One night, I was really high I went to the kitchen to grab some water, then I slipped on something and I fell unconscious.
"Eloise," I heard a familiar but strange voice say faintly. I touched my head and I felt so much pain. I looked at my hand when I noticed something smeared on my hand. It was blood then I black out.
I woke up in the hospital bed. I saw my dad's wife, Rose, and Tory. Tory was sleeping on the couch, Rose was watching me, and none of us could say anything to each other. We didn't have a good relationship, I doubt if we have ever had any conversation, the few times we talked we are always at each other's throats.
"I don't want my dad to hear about this," I broke the awkward silence between us. "It's the best for him and you know better than I do,"
"Fine." She said quietly. "I hope you feel better now?" She asked me and I nodded in reply, I could see sincerity and fear in her eyes.
"I feel better now," I said to her and the awkward silence returned. I saw Tory stir on the couch she laid on, I knew she was going to wake up soon. She woke up Immediately and came to me.
"I knew something was up when you had been avoiding us." Tory's dramatic ass started crying.
"I totally regret leaving you alone," She hugged me. I didn't say anything till I was discharged after some hours, Rose went home so my dad won't get suspicious and Tory took me to my house.
"I am surprised she was like that, Rose. She was not like that before," Tory spoke to me trying to engage me in a conversation with her but I didn't reply to her. "I am glad things were not worse," Her phone rang, and she picked up the call.
"She's here, talk to her," She said to the person she was on the phone with and she stretched the phone to me and I collected it. It was Emmanuel.
"You promised to be fine, El. What's with the weed? What's up? What is this about?" He sounded like he was distressed and tears rolled down my eyes. "Talk to me El,"
"I wondered if I am worth all these, you calling to check up on me and Tory looking after me," I managed to say under my sobs.
"You are worth it," He said and Tory said signed it to me. We took sign language classes in high school because we were volunteering in an elementary school for the deaf.
"I don't think so. If you guys think so, why didn't he come after me? Maybe I am being selfish now,"
"No, you are not," He said and I dropped the phone on the table then I went to my room.Rose came over the next day and Tory told her about my situation.
***The bus arrived at my destination, Leslie was waiting for me in her car by the bus stop. I wanted to get a car but with everything that has happened, I am not. She got me clothes as I requested, I changed my clothes in the car and we went to the office.
Victor's pov
I parked my car five blocks away from the keys' house because I wanted to give Eloise a ride. I knew she was not going to get a cab at this time and that is my fault for coming so late, walking to the bus stop would be tedious for her.
She didn't see me when she passed by me, she was rushing so I followed her and I parked beside her. "Come in," I offered her.
"Do you just think you can order me around? Like I am your secretary or something." She almost yelled at me. My secretary? Anderson does not even like my car. He was against my decision of getting an Aston Martin, he prefers Mercedes. It seems like she doesn't need a ride.
"I don't treat my secretaries like this, I mean I don't offer them rides and it's my fault I offered you a ride. Was I supposed to say your Royal highness queen of Silverberg the first, please come and ride with me? You need to wake up Eloise," I drove off, leaving her where she stood.
I got to the office, I took the private way so the employees would not notice me. I didn't want anyone thinking I was slacking off. Anderson followed me into my office.
"Your day is usually free. The only thing on the schedule is your date with your mom. You should inspect the company today,"
"Nice, prepare the secretarial team, and let's go," I said to him. "Please help me order a nice gift for my mom, thanks. Have an audit team transferred to Silverberg, screen them well,"
"Okay boss," He left my office. He calls me boss to tease me.
After I rounded things up in the office, I called my mom's driver to bring her to the usual restaurant. I took the gift I got her with Anderson's help with me to the restaurant. She was already waiting at the usual spot.
"I have always imagined our first date here after you take over the company," She said beaming a wide smile at me.
"Oh really," I hugged her and we sat down. "I love your dress," I complimented her blue dress that matched her skin colour.
"Thank you. I heard about the company you acquired, Congratulations son. That old man was looking to merge his company instead of selling it,"
"No one would like to sell off their company, especially when it is at its peak. I don't like talking about work during my date Ms,"
"Ok son," She said and we started eating. "What do you think about marrying the minister's daughter?" My mom asked me, I choked on the cake I was eating.
"I don't want to get married yet," She held my hands and looked at me.
"Why?"
"I have not fully settled in the company and I want to marry out of love not because of some connections to the political world,"
"Is that just your excuse or do you have someone else in mind?"
"Let's just forget about me and think about us, me and you," She gave me this unsatisfactory look and we ate in silence.