5. VICTOR

I walk quickly out of my office with Amanda following closely behind me holding my bag and documents. On getting outside of the building I was surprised to see that Valerie was not there. I beckoned to the security who ran up to meet me.

“Have you seen Miss Williams anywhere?” I asked him as I scanned the office building.

“Yes sir. She took the bus home a while ago”

“Bus? Why?” I asked him. He looked at me like he wanted to say something “Don’t answer, that was rhetorical” He nodded as I waved him off. He went back to his duty post.

I can't believe she stood me off again. What am I going to do about her? Anytime I try to inch closer to her, she pushes me off entirely. What am I to do about her?

I turned and walked back into the building annoyed. To think that I even cleared out all my schedule just to take her home. Now! This....

“Any problem, Mr Thompson?” Amanda questioned softly as we stood side by side in the elevator that will take me to my office floor.

“Nothing Amanda. I guess we are back to work. Rescheduled all of my meetings back” I replied to her as I stepped out of the elevator and walked into my office while she went to hers. My receptionist stood up to greet me but I ignored her.

On getting to my office, I set up my laptop and put a call through to Oscar. It's been a long time since we last talked and now that I'm pissed off, he's always good at making me laugh.

“Hello Victor” Oscar called immediately it connected. He was sitting shirtless on his bed in his room, regarding me curiously.

“Hey, Oscar,” I replied reluctantly. I turned to grab some random files on my desk absently, I feel like punching anything.

“What's wrong with you?” Oscar asked, still looking at my clearly pissed off face, immediately I tried to speak, he stopped me “No, don't answer that?”

I raised my eyebrow at him, surprised “Why?”

He looked at me like I was stupid not to know the obvious answer “Are you kidding me?” He asked me shocked “I know why you are pissed off right now and if my guess is right, it's Valerie”

“And what's wrong with Valerie?” I said, still looking at him, shocked that he could guess my problem. Am I that obvious?

He snorted at me “Why Valerie?” He suddenly asked me.

I run my hand tiredly through my curly gold hair. Perk of being an award-winning actor has given me more freedom than I could ever imagined, like with me tainting my hair to gold “I don't know, I feel challenged. And I will do anything to get her” I said with a determination on my face.

“Really? You don't have any feelings for her?” Oscar asked me with a doubt on his face, clearly not believing him.

“What feelings? I don't have anything for her, how can I have feelings for my personal maid?”

“Okay. Then I will have to get on the next plane, I want to claim Valerie for myself” Oscar said, taunting me as he watched my face for any reaction.

“If you wish,” I said as I hung up. I raised my head on the armrest and questioned why I couldn't imagine Valerie with any man except myself alone.

Just the thought of Valerie with Oscar is making me more pissed off than I was before. I stood up and took my blazer as I walked out of the office to go home. I don't think I can't function well in the office today with the state that I am....

Amanda followed me as soon as she saw me walking out of my office “Are you alright sir?” She asked me as I entered the elevator.

I turned to look at her. Seriously, someone should remind me of the job of a personal assistant because I'm about to send Amanda on a mission right now and I'm not sure it's part of her job....

“What can I give to a lady to make her fall in love with me?” I asked Amanda as she blinked her eyes, shocked.

“I______sir” She stutters with surprise written all over her face. This is the first time I've ever told her something so personal.

“Just answer me, Amanda. I'm on the edge here” I replied, frowning at her. She seems shocked and very unprofessional right now.

“Well, maybe you can start by buying her gifts and flowers. Ladies are prone to romantic gestures and tend to fall in love quickly with someone who cares for them” She replied, staring at me...

“Really? That's good. I will do just that. Thank you, Amanda” I said to her as I walked into my car...

Getting into my car, Amanda was standing close watching me. I wind down the glass and put my head out to talk to her “Here is my card.” I handed her a black debit card with my name written boldly on it. She collected wordlessly as she turned it around in her hands, surprise.

“My password is 2342. Get whatever you think she will like and have it delivered to this address” I told her as I scribbled my address on a notepad and handed it over to her.

“But sir!” Amanda replied a bit sceptical, “this is your home address!”

“Yes, she lives there” She looked at me like she wanted to say something else but seeing the frown on my face, she kept shut.

“This stays between us, okay.” I told her as she nodded. I turned the car around and drove out of the company sad and happy.

Sad because I couldn't go home with Valerie beside me and happy because I'm finally getting somewhere with her. I just hope she accepts me and gives me a chance to prove that I can be anything for her.

I pulled the car into the parking lot and shut the engine. Mom rushed out of the house to meet me with Leslie beside her.

“Victor darling, you are home early today. Are you alright?” Mom said immediately I stepped out of the car. She came over to touch my forehead checking for my temperature.

I shook her hand away while I smiled at her “Mom, I'm alright just a little tired from work”

Leslie stood back at the entrance of the house with her hands folded across her chest pouting at me “What did you get for me, Victor?”

“Oh! My bad” I replied winking at her as the smile disappeared from her face. She stood glaring at me before turning to run into the house annoyed.

I laughed as I opened the back door of the car and took out a packet of chocolate, I bought for her. Mom and I both walked in, mom went into the kitchen to see to lunch. While I went into my room to meet Leslie, I curled up on the bed crying.

“Leslie darling, stop crying. You know I can't bear to see you cry” I pacify her frowning as I walk closer to her to pet her. Leslie and I have been together since we were kids. She was the closest I had to a sister and I love her so much.

Though we dated for a year or two, now we are purely friends. “Don’t touch me, Victor,” she said, pushing my hand away from her hair.

“What to do?” I tease her smiling “I bought you chocolate, maybe I should give it out”

Leslie immediately reached to grab the box of chocolates from my hands as her face lit up in happiness. I smiled excitedly as I hugged her. The door to the bathroom opens as Valerie walks out holding a mop.

I stood shocked while she glared at me and turned to walk out of the room angrily. What did I do? I should be the one annoyed with her after all she stood me off at the office.

“Are you alright?” Leslie asked me as she watched me.

I blink back my annoyed expression and turn around smiling to look at Leslie “Of course, I'm okay”

“Are you sure? You look like someone who is annoyed” She replied, shrugging as she took out a chocolate from the box and chewed on it happily, moaning.

I rolled my eyes at her “I’m good” I replied as I stood up and went into the bathroom to take a quick shower before going downstairs for lunch.

***

Lunch was served, I was seated beside my dad who was at the head of the table while mom was at his right hand and I on the left. Leslie was beside me as we both dug into the food happily.

Valerie and the rest of the maids stood at one end of the room waiting on us. I chew on the food happily as I subtly glance at her, our eyes met across the table as she glared at me.

“Oops! Someone is still annoyed with me” I mumbled to myself as I smiled at her and went back to my food not after seeing the frowns on Audrey's face as she watched us with a hardened face.

“When are you returning to Italy, son?” Dad asked me from across the table as he used the napkin to wipe his mouth.

“I don't know yet” I replied as I dropped the cutleries and wipe my hands with the napkin “I’m still waiting for the signal from my manager and director”

“That's good. In the meantime, you could see to it that the company is up and running still your return” Dad told me as he stood up and excused himself from the dining.

Maria and Audrey came over to pack his plates to the kitchen while I continued eating my food. “Don’t tell me you will still be acting in those blockbuster movies that cause my heart to beat fast from dread anytime I see you jumping down buildings inside the movie” Mom said as she glared at me.

In between my parents, mom was more adamant, she didn't want me to become an actor especially when she found out that I was into action movies.

“No mom” I replied as I wipe my mouth with the napkin and drink water from the glass cup opposite me “this time I will be acting a romantic love story with Leslie”

“Really?” She asked me again to be sure. I nodded at her. “That’s good then” She replied as she relaxed and offered me a smile. She stood up and walked into her room leaving me with Leslie.

“That was close” Leslie exhales as she lets out the breath that I didn't know she was holding.

“What was close?” I asked her as I turned to look at her curiously. Did I miss something?

“I thought she would ask ‘when is the wedding?' She said as we both laughed.

“I can't believe you still remember that”

“Of course! How can I forget that? We were nine or ten”

“Ten” I replied with a faraway look on my mind as I look back to those days.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Leslie said, tapping me lightly on the shoulder. I turned to smile at her, my eyes caught the look of contempt on Valerie's face.

“It was lost in thought,” I replied, shrugging.

A knowing look passes through her face fleetingly “Remembering those good old days, right?” I nodded as she smiled.

“Anyway, I'm off now. I wouldn't want mom to send an entourage to come gets me” Leslie replied as she stood up and went to the room to get her bags ready to go home.

Leslie's family were as scary as mine. Though, we've been the best of friends since we were young. I wouldn't deny the fact that mom has always wanted me to get married to Leslie.

I stood up and wiped my hands with the napkin preparing to return to my room when Maria barged in, I didn't notice her leave the room. I guess I was preoccupied with my thoughts.

“I'm sorry for barging in, Victor” She apologised to me as I nodded at her.

“Val darling, there's someone outside to see you” She called to Valerie who followed her out with a frown on her face.

I smiled as I walked into my room knowing that Amanda had started the operation to get Valerie into my bed.