A day had passed and on a Monday morning, almost everyone in the McDonell mansion was up and getting ready for a busy day ahead. Leo, Eric and his father were at the table eating their breakfast. Diana soon came to join them.
"Morning, everyone," Diana greeted the three as she took a seat at the table.
"Morning, mum," said Eric.
"Morning," Leo and Mr McDonell replied at the same time.
"Will you be going to the office today?" Diana asked her older brother.
"No, Leo and I will be going to meet some clients," Mr McDonell replied. "We have an early appointment."
"That leaves me going alone to the office," said Eric as he sipped on his tea.
"Don't worry, Eric, I have something I need you to to do."
"Is it meeting new clients?"
Leo smiled at his cousin sitting across from him. If there was one thing Leo knew Eric enjoyed, was meeting new clients. He loved being interactive with people, especially if his clients were women. Leo wondered if his cousin was really serious about Angel. In the past few days, he hadn't been flirting with any lady Leo knew of.
"Yes, but that will be later," Mr McDonell replied. "I'll need you to go through some paper work that will be delivered to you at the office."
"Sure thing, uncle," said Eric.
"Speaking of which, I have to go with Carly to her college to get on with her transfer."
"What time will you do that?" Diana asked.
"After we meet our clients. Though I might leave a little early, Leo, so you can handle things along the way."
"Sure thing," said Leo as he finished his breakfast. "Seems like you're going to have a busy day."
"Mondays are always busy, son."
After breakfast, Leo and his father with Eric left the dining table, and got ready to head out for work. Leo went with his father in his car and Eric went in his own car with his mum as he was dropping her off at the mall. As the two cars headed out of the premises, Amanda, who was already awake, was looking out of the window from her bedroom at the two cars until they left. In her wheelchair, she rolled out of her room and approached Angel's.
She knocked at the door. When she didn't receive a response, she opened it and saw Angel still fast asleep. Amanda rolled her wheelchair into the room and got closer to Angel's bed. It looked like the medication she was on had knocked her out again. Amanda looked on at her with a smile. She couldn't help but notice that Angel was beautiful, even in her sleep. She had that radiance that attracted Amanda to her a lot; like an angel. Angel was a beautiful person inside and out. She reminded Amanda of Angel's late mother whom Amanda had grown very fond of over the years.
Amanda stretched out her hand and moved aside a strand of Angel's dark red hair on her face to the back of her ear. Angel moved for a moment, but she didn't wake up. Amanda thought it was best for her to leave the room to let Angel rest for a couple of hours.
Just when she was about to turn the wheelchair, she noticed a rose on the small drawer next to Angel's bed. She wondered where it came from. There was a small note folded beside it. Amanda stretched her hand a little to get it. When she unfolded it, she noticed it was from Eric. She recognised his hand writing even when he didn't leave his name on the note. Amanda smiled. It was the least he could do after all Angel had been through. An angel like her needed the best in life and Amanda couldn't help but feel grateful for Eric's little gesture.
Amanda then realised that her grandson might be into Angel. She noticed the way he was always by Angel's side and the way he looked at her with stars in his eyes. Amanda chuckled as she remembered how Eric was staring at her when the three of them were sitting on the porch behind the kitchen, yesterday afternoon. How she had wished Leo was there with them. They had quite a conversation.
Thinking of Leo, Amanda couldn't help but feel worried about him. Ever since Angel and Carly came to live with them, he had been more closer to Carly than Angel. Those two were so close that people would think that they had known each other for a long time. Not that it was a bad thing. It bothered Amanda in a way because Leo didn't seem to care for Angel despite putting her through a rough patch with the accident. Even after talking to him about it last time, he still hadn't changed. She hoped that he would be more responsible for Angel and try to take care of her like Eric did, but he didn't.
She also noticed that there was always a different kind of tension between Angel and Leo every day. Whenever they were in the same room together, it felt like they still couldn't stand each other. But why? Was Angel not fond of Leo because of the accident? It didn't seem like her at all. Or was it that Leo still had a problem, she wondered.
"Amanda?"
Angel had brought Amanda back from her thoughts as she looked at Angel, who was staring at her with sleepy eyes.
"Morning, dear," said Amanda as she smiled at her.
Angel smiled back. "Morning," she replied as she rubbed her eyes and gave out a yawn.
"The meds knocked you out, didn't they?"
"Ya, they always do," said Angel as she sat up on her bed.
"Well, at least you're getting better," Amanda smiled at her. "You might find yourself going to work earlier this week."
At the mention of work, Angel looked a little pale.
"Does Leo and Eric know that I'll finally be joining them?" Angel asked as she stared at her fingers on her laps.
"Not yet," said Amanda looking at Angel with a worried look. "Is something the matter, dear?"
Angel looked up at Amanda. "No," she answered. "The person I'm most worried about when they find out that I'm working at their company is Mrs. McDonell."
Amanda smacked her lips. "I already know that and she's the least of my concern, and yours. There's something more to this, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're more worried about Leo's reaction, aren't you?"
Angel swallowed thinking of what to say next.
"No," she answered quickly. "Remember you suggested that to him and I didn't mind what he thought."
"To him, it was all a suggestion. I bet he has forgotten about it. But it won't be long till that suggestion becomes a reality."
"And you think that I'm afraid of how he's going to react?"
"That's exactly what I was asking, dear."
"Well, I'm not."
Amanda pretended to smile at Angel like she had accepted it but there was a lot more she really wanted to know.
"I wanted to know why it seems so hard for the two of you to get along," said Amanda. "That's why I asked."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked. Amanda noticed her blush a little.
"I mean, you and Eric have grown to be friends. Carly and Leo seem more than close friends, which to me seems a little strange."
"Strange?" Angel almost chuckled. "How?"
"I mean to say, I've noticed a tension between you and Leo and I mentioned it last time. People in the house might not see it, but I do."
Angel continued to look at Amanda, trying her best not to fix her eyes somewhere else or else Amanda would know that something was wrong.
"Leo is Leo, Amanda," said Angel. "He's a hard person to come by and he so happens to get along with Carly and not me."
"Which seems strange. Leo didn't put Carly into an accident, but you. You're right, Leo is a difficult person to come by, but I thought he would be a lot more closer to you because he has a responsibility over you."
"Wait, Amanda," said Angel, the word responsibility ticking in her head and making her a little upset. "He isn't responsible for me. He might have caused the accident, but I didn't really need his help. If he really did care about me, then he was going to be visiting me at the hospital like he should, but instead he was..."
Angel stopped herself at the right time. She would have blurted out that Leo had been visiting her sister instead of her when she was in hospital. Who knows what Amanda was going to make out of it if she had said it out loud.
"But instead he was what, Angel?" Amanda asked.
"Instead, he was thinking about himself and staying far away from his responsibility as possible," Angel finished.
Amanda sighed. "I'm afraid you and I think the same. He can be a little selfish sometimes, but he's a good person. What disappointed me the most was that he didn't live up to his responsibility. And for that, I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologise, Amanda," said Angel as she reached out for Amanda's hand and held it. "Eric already did so on his behalf. And you forced him to apologise last time."
Amanda chuckled. "Eric has always been a sweetheart."
"He is, actually." Angel noticed the rose by her bedside. Amanda noticed Angel's eyes on it.
"It's from him," said Amanda.
"Who?" Angel asked as she looked at Amanda.
"Eric."
Angel smiled as she went back to staring at the rose. "You see, he's sweet."
"I just wish Leo could be the same," said Amanda as she stared sadly at the rose.
Angel didn't know how to answer to that. It felt really awkward with Amanda looking on sadly at the rose.
"I guess, he's sweet in his own way, Amanda," said Angel still holding on to Amanda's hand.
The corner of Amanda's mouth went up into a smile. "You're right on that one," she said. "But I wish he could be more sweeter towards you. That's what I meant."
Angel swallowed as she scratched the back of her head with her free hand. "He will in due time," she said.
"I really hope so. Time could be such a burden sometimes. And I don't know how much I can stand all this."
Angel gave Amanda an encouraging smile. "Hopefully, sooner than you think."
"You're so sweet, dear," said Amanda as she smiled at Angel. "I hope it's soon."
There came a loud thumping noise of heavy footsteps upstairs and the two ladies looked up towards the ceiling. Amanda couldn't help but chuckle for she knew who it was.
"Looks like someone is late for school again," said Amanda. "I always tell his mother and the house help to help him get out of bed early."
"I can help him get ready," said Angel as she pushed her bed covers aside so as to get out of bed.
Amanda moved her wheelchair back a bit. "Are you sure, dear?"
"It's not a big deal. I used to wake Carly up whenever she was going to school and college." Angel stood up from her bed and wore her blue sleeping gown over her purple pyjamas. "Speaking of which, I have to wake her up too."
"Alright, dear."
After Angel wore her white bed slippers, she left the room, leaving Amanda behind. Amanda couldn't help but look at the rose and wondered how she could bring Angel and Leo closer.
***736Please respect copyright.PENANAnShLWnDpDk
736Please respect copyright.PENANA92Rm8DHn2T
736Please respect copyright.PENANA5AvD3Z4JxA
736Please respect copyright.PENANASF5V7Zuquq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAFgkQUCQ1vR
The finger tapping upon the steering wheel followed the tune that was playing on the radio. Mr. Walters was in the front seat of his car listening to the radio. It was one of those early morning shows that played really good jazz music and he was enjoying himself.736Please respect copyright.PENANAEXoFgDSkMU
736Please respect copyright.PENANAwyoYQCUj90
736Please respect copyright.PENANAgGN7hc1gEy
736Please respect copyright.PENANADXy6DD90e0
736Please respect copyright.PENANAEHtC5c4JvN
The passenger door at the back flew open and the car moved slightly at the weight of the person who had come in. Mr. Walters knew there was someone at the back, but continued to tap his fingers as though he was lost in the moment.736Please respect copyright.PENANAXobHTfujyV
736Please respect copyright.PENANACqCmdn6P7Z
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqiS5vrLQJX
736Please respect copyright.PENANA5bq7iJ5ceC
736Please respect copyright.PENANAbxrKBvZdJl
"I don't understand how you get to listen to such in the early hours of the morning," said the man behind Mr. Walters.736Please respect copyright.PENANAmy7Kig8wia
736Please respect copyright.PENANArFBKgTiC3z
736Please respect copyright.PENANAxGQcI0MoHr
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvf5uL9Xhsx
736Please respect copyright.PENANAT15tjS7Gpa
"Good morning to you too," said Mr. Walter's as he stared at his visitor through the rear view mirror.736Please respect copyright.PENANAxksgPAmOBO
736Please respect copyright.PENANAYpZ7VlC7g7
736Please respect copyright.PENANAetqVSA3bWZ
736Please respect copyright.PENANAbPTFeTwmyh
736Please respect copyright.PENANAwLtUT9y5I1
The man shook his head at Mr. Walters. "Any update on Carly?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAPcrGZ7c7QH
736Please respect copyright.PENANAlgkumV5jZL
736Please respect copyright.PENANAxd6YqUzbSx
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqG0Aoi6Zl1
736Please respect copyright.PENANARNuGrrssB7
Mr. Walters stopped his finger tapping and sighed. "Like I told you, she doesn't answer any of my calls."736Please respect copyright.PENANAIYAKbYIqpb
736Please respect copyright.PENANAt56MSZZ61f
736Please respect copyright.PENANAtN3D1NDwMT
736Please respect copyright.PENANA3SltZf9Uqp
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvqECohj0qa
"You know that's not what I meant," said the man as he came from behind and held Mr. Walters' shoulder. "I want to know about her whereabouts."736Please respect copyright.PENANAnAFibQ4Mgy
736Please respect copyright.PENANAW3nA3gSJRq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAhBDOh3g0MH
736Please respect copyright.PENANApcggqT80do
736Please respect copyright.PENANASvmrybq4u6
"Well, she's now staying at the McDonell mansion, if that's what you're asking."736Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yd9hh5djT
736Please respect copyright.PENANAPw54hBntZU
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvheJkWEPB6
736Please respect copyright.PENANATgC7dWBMrc
736Please respect copyright.PENANAACIKgs2t10
"What? Did you just say the McDonell mansion?" the man sounded surprised.736Please respect copyright.PENANABM6xFWVc3t
736Please respect copyright.PENANAOSFhBovnRe
736Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9QCac7OXF
736Please respect copyright.PENANA8VPQIKzZpm
736Please respect copyright.PENANAShcDVKaKlp
"Ya, you heard me. Do you happen to know them?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAHT9CkZgqu0
736Please respect copyright.PENANATpo5od78oH
736Please respect copyright.PENANAsea11G60ow
736Please respect copyright.PENANAFl1x5rg0Nj
736Please respect copyright.PENANArFD02MYk7n
The man leaned back in his seat and sighed. "This is bad. How did this happen?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA3gD2kFLrts
736Please respect copyright.PENANA5agkqcxHPI
736Please respect copyright.PENANAz7LyEap4T6
736Please respect copyright.PENANABT7n3cqwlP
736Please respect copyright.PENANAlOQChj23xW
Mr. Walters raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA3VmBOjEAhD
736Please respect copyright.PENANAz8VKZsCHbY
736Please respect copyright.PENANAUCweX43sO5
736Please respect copyright.PENANASTPVFBL3DS
736Please respect copyright.PENANAbex7K3Knvt
The man looked back at Mr. Walters with a murderous look in his eyes. Mr Walters gulped.736Please respect copyright.PENANATmUZHpgtqT
736Please respect copyright.PENANAwfTGKFI4Yz
736Please respect copyright.PENANADC6bk0bK0a
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqAM1JhbhXo
736Please respect copyright.PENANAVZ8rLEOJjI
"Okay, I'll tell you," he said. The man behind him relaxed a little. "Remember the day the club was out of business for a day?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAqA6ZVVfJVj
736Please respect copyright.PENANAtJEoQR10VS
736Please respect copyright.PENANAcxuq1dwaBM
736Please respect copyright.PENANApt3k89qTHH
736Please respect copyright.PENANASF5Ir3nTTD
"The day you told everyone one else that robbers had come to the club and trashed the place?" the man asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANAg4REx4ubWD
736Please respect copyright.PENANAT9GvwMa8cL
736Please respect copyright.PENANA8LigloFBb0
736Please respect copyright.PENANAPajOSYXoaO
736Please respect copyright.PENANA6w9rRptd7b
"Well, ya. That's what everyone outside the club know, but only a few people who work there know that that's not what happened."736Please respect copyright.PENANA4jNyE7gvtl
736Please respect copyright.PENANA1l0eFFKMKY
736Please respect copyright.PENANA04izmaq81c
736Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ6Z0EmSmf
736Please respect copyright.PENANAzS6edqCMPN
The man raised an eyebrow at Mr. Walters. "What actually happened?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAbWUGySWEo8
736Please respect copyright.PENANA0of6lZCHcT
736Please respect copyright.PENANADzNWDaZNFG
736Please respect copyright.PENANA5QKk8iRJZc
736Please respect copyright.PENANACivm0zfEil
"Carly's sister is what happened. She went there looking for her sister. The thing I don't understand is who had told her where Carly was. Someone must have or else she wouldn't have been there."736Please respect copyright.PENANAMZ43ZTdUMV
736Please respect copyright.PENANANG9ySEz1iK
736Please respect copyright.PENANALk7s2lDuUe
736Please respect copyright.PENANARwMUO8JTz2
736Please respect copyright.PENANA7fCBdpOLT6
"Wait, are you saying someone had ratted Carly out?"
"Seems so. And that isn't the only part. Carly was meeting a client who demanded to see her. That person must have known that Carly was meeting the client at the club."
"Seems more like it. But I don't understand how Angel could have turned the place into a massive havoc."
"She didn't need to. The guy she was with who also happens to be related to the client, defended her when I tried to slap her."
"You hit women, Walters?" the man sounded surprised, yet pissed off.
"If you find them annoying, you put them in their place. Then I got into a fight with him and we kind of tore the place apart. So, Angel went to get her sister and then, a lot happened. I was knocked out and I woke up on the floor with the workers all around me. At that time, Angel had gotten into a car accident and their mother had passed away that same day. A few days later, I heard they had moved out of their house."
"What happened to it?"
"The bank took it. Looks like their late mother had pending debts."
"And now they are at the McDonell mansion," the man said as he rubbed his chin.
"Aren't you going to ask how they got there?"
"I don't need to. Now, how are we going to bring Carly back?"
Mr. Walters tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "I'm working on it. Carly is really important to us and we really need her back. Things aren't going so smoothly nowadays with our dealings."
"I know. You better bring her back fast. If you don't, I'll have to do it myself."
"Wait, what?" Mr. Walters looked at the man through the rearview mirror with a questioning look on his face. "What happened with me working on it?"
"Well, Walter's, you're pretty slow if you don't mind me saying it."
Mr. Walters felt a little offended. "She will be back before you know it. But it isn't going to be easy."
"I don't care. I'll give you till Friday. We have the Cartel coming in and I don't want our deal going south because she isn't around. She's our key player here and I'm not going to let you ruin it."
"Okay, okay. Friday it is."
The man leaned against Mr. Walters' seat and smiled at him. "That's what I like to hear. I better find her this Friday or else it won't be that difficult for my men to bring your club down to the ground."
736Please respect copyright.PENANAECSSf6T0D8
736Please respect copyright.PENANAJKN08nyg4e
736Please respect copyright.PENANAGWdoq73M4H
736Please respect copyright.PENANAPOy2r1pLCH
736Please respect copyright.PENANAnvIP9Mdjza
736Please respect copyright.PENANAyfIGoX4ei6
736Please respect copyright.PENANACFhmIHWw2q
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqezMJ5fhu1
736Please respect copyright.PENANAtST8DsFXxp
736Please respect copyright.PENANAi0E9h8B3ea
736Please respect copyright.PENANAkNQctpEBkB
736Please respect copyright.PENANAEenCYdxRXJ
736Please respect copyright.PENANAQ40DqMiIkO
736Please respect copyright.PENANAVdjs3mYMJv
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqGJM2kTEtl
736Please respect copyright.PENANAAGOyhl8zBz
736Please respect copyright.PENANAZNDShzfoY2
736Please respect copyright.PENANAHtlKCrHvGr
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvehzEdoNNT
736Please respect copyright.PENANA28qPuVGiXo
736Please respect copyright.PENANAWNUh9BMbGk
736Please respect copyright.PENANACfQoDBurRJ
736Please respect copyright.PENANAR1B2F4ql7y
736Please respect copyright.PENANAd19mERgq0a
736Please respect copyright.PENANADDVce0QjFA
736Please respect copyright.PENANAx8YCtMl0bj
736Please respect copyright.PENANAjwutdFf0t8
736Please respect copyright.PENANA62fJuV1sNk
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvxbtGWNLJj
736Please respect copyright.PENANAW0SGkSoCNO
736Please respect copyright.PENANAZQLTfqU8hX
736Please respect copyright.PENANAxL0edaAZ2n
736Please respect copyright.PENANA7c28cknMKd
736Please respect copyright.PENANA8gR8E32QDc
736Please respect copyright.PENANAT5VjhDtXUO
736Please respect copyright.PENANA2hiOC3jDek
736Please respect copyright.PENANAl3xxY5vSRt
736Please respect copyright.PENANAMgHqagfuqf
736Please respect copyright.PENANANOGS0tv1Hx
736Please respect copyright.PENANA0aERr5dTGH
736Please respect copyright.PENANAaV7ZFGdn2o
736Please respect copyright.PENANAYnOss8wUBC
736Please respect copyright.PENANAQJWQZQtHKX
736Please respect copyright.PENANAYGfAsokyCI
736Please respect copyright.PENANARIuRQM2GZW
736Please respect copyright.PENANAqm0vZScD24
736Please respect copyright.PENANAvzWcKjpx4S
736Please respect copyright.PENANABHNfZqjJS8
736Please respect copyright.PENANAVKksqK67cr
736Please respect copyright.PENANAZCK4lUOTQr
736Please respect copyright.PENANAX6NbJO03Ot
736Please respect copyright.PENANAVImEFJDtFp
736Please respect copyright.PENANAAohaaIFNOw
736Please respect copyright.PENANANe4tQGXz3Q
736Please respect copyright.PENANA3CFhE9JidV
736Please respect copyright.PENANADsUZvyVxmc
736Please respect copyright.PENANAu7DTBZmCrq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAgFYJcplN5i
736Please respect copyright.PENANAD32z5Mdoek
736Please respect copyright.PENANAzPBOUDG5kp
736Please respect copyright.PENANABsHBPD0qSO
736Please respect copyright.PENANA4vxlnpDpP3
736Please respect copyright.PENANASSXZl3QQIP
736Please respect copyright.PENANAjN3eHuzPU3
736Please respect copyright.PENANAijDPFRjOzX
736Please respect copyright.PENANAm1kgWCESdU
736Please respect copyright.PENANAzpCnBplAZw
736Please respect copyright.PENANAz7BXMG5Ba3
736Please respect copyright.PENANAG43LAWXjsQ
736Please respect copyright.PENANAw0bUUSvA7T
736Please respect copyright.PENANALvYv8CLP4q
736Please respect copyright.PENANANKDWrHNpbq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAWmhOvGzbi0
736Please respect copyright.PENANADeiotZk6Ac
736Please respect copyright.PENANAyRrpPUvRWL
736Please respect copyright.PENANA2jwGNZKpWO
736Please respect copyright.PENANAHLceQmt4rc
736Please respect copyright.PENANAIKX201Hqh6
736Please respect copyright.PENANACAJ9YIKACj
736Please respect copyright.PENANAK7Hw1LIkyM
736Please respect copyright.PENANATMwKQqW8sH
736Please respect copyright.PENANAPbcjiO1C2P
736Please respect copyright.PENANAwLG78Ys5VY
736Please respect copyright.PENANAaqNcUQKHki
736Please respect copyright.PENANAPUoiUeYrV6
736Please respect copyright.PENANAS5YYEWFnl5
736Please respect copyright.PENANABQ9hrB1qga
736Please respect copyright.PENANAdOcrzY7JwE
736Please respect copyright.PENANAfFXv2SyCsw
736Please respect copyright.PENANAyuzx30jnoa
736Please respect copyright.PENANAlHlkOGedrd
736Please respect copyright.PENANARBURC4eT6y
736Please respect copyright.PENANAdqBwzdUjIa
736Please respect copyright.PENANAVsMnj283Mc
736Please respect copyright.PENANAKcDMNfQsRR
736Please respect copyright.PENANAh4Y7C9CGhq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAByA5WkWfmv
736Please respect copyright.PENANAznAF6Hchon
736Please respect copyright.PENANA0m5Xinrqi7
736Please respect copyright.PENANAIu4EBPe65G
736Please respect copyright.PENANASJRnms3rJM
736Please respect copyright.PENANAKvhNHFMEgR
736Please respect copyright.PENANAL6R9Wf7x1Q
736Please respect copyright.PENANAkDJcQZ1Vmw
736Please respect copyright.PENANAiLDgleefwj
736Please respect copyright.PENANAWki5JfuPcc
736Please respect copyright.PENANANMpIOHztyh
736Please respect copyright.PENANACIoFBSHl1y
736Please respect copyright.PENANA9K5i45P5zq
736Please respect copyright.PENANAr6dvaQWm3H
736Please respect copyright.PENANAeQAYP1vKft
736Please respect copyright.PENANATY5J9MTwSM
736Please respect copyright.PENANAq8imr2f4Zm
736Please respect copyright.PENANAXDw5EvdxKV
736Please respect copyright.PENANA0BEdTSf3Dt
736Please respect copyright.PENANARP4OXyTDnO
736Please respect copyright.PENANAjUH8o8zu8W
The man opened the door on his side and walked out of the car. Mr. Walters sighed in relief as soon as the man left. Mr. Walters knew that the man he had always been partners with wasn't one to mess with. He would go through with his threat even when it seems like he was bluffing.
ns3.21.35.63da2