Avery spun a fountain pen in his fingers, clearly not paying attention to his personal assistant, who was attempting to discuss the getaway trip with him. He would merely hum and bob his head, pretending to understand every important detail of what was being spoken.
"So..." his personal assistant named Francis said, finally capturing Avery's entire attention. "Do you agree with all of the terms discussed?" he said, receiving just a tight-lipped smile from Avery.
"Mr. Jacques, did you really follow what I just told you?" he needed to double-check, as he was skeptical of Avery's expression.
"Of course," Avery replied, crossing one leg over the other and nodding. Francis would have believed his act if he had been more confident. But then, Avery is unable to meet the other man's stare.
"Of course... not," Francis sighed, shaking his head. He expected this to happen and went on with it anyway, so it's completely his fault that the entire talk was pointless.
"I did understand some things," Avery muttered timidly. "Like I'd be alone for a period of time, traveling the seas, whatsoever," he explained.
"Which seas?"
"Well... I... I..." Avery began, his eyes narrowing before shrugging his shoulders. "The name of the sea is not the most important bit here, Francis. Is it?" he inquired, arching both eyebrows. "What's important is that I'd be able to get away with this relationship that I don't want for a considerable amount of time," he persisted.
When the other man remained mute, merely staring at him, Avery gripped his nape and muttered, "I agree with the terms, Francis. Let me just proceed with it."
"I can't really decide for you anyway," Francis said faintly, so only he could hear. He then stood up and took a step closer to Avery, whose eyes followed his every move. "Love-Free Yacht Services asks you to sign this paper as proof that you consented to their terms and conditions," he informed him, handing over pieces of paper clipped to a hard material board.
"Uh-huh," Avery said, then pretended to examine the entire list of terms. His eyes eventually landed at the section where his signature should be inserted. "All right," he whispered before pressing down on the fountain pen's button.
Then and there, Avery affirmed the agreement without giving it a second thought.
*****
Ida, on the other hand, is on the phone with her manager, Maki. This is done particularly since Ida's leave from work is now overdue. The company is concerned that the longer the woman fails to appear in front of her followers, the more dissatisfied they will become. She must continue to be the most popular actress in order to receive greater sponsorships and endorsements.
"How are you, anyway? Are you all set for your trip back here in Japan?" Maki inquired, peering through the computer screen at Ida. "The company is sending a private jet, so you'll be more comfortable," she explained.
"Why don't I have my own jet?" Ida whined, making circles on the surface of her desk with her index finger.
"Would you like one?"
"I'm not sure," Ida said with a faint sigh. "I'm not sure what I really want," she murmured, making it difficult for Maki to catch.
"Well, if you think you want one, it's possible," Maki answered. "With a dedicated worker like you, Ida, anything is possible."
"It's not making me feel good, Maki."
Maki took a breather, almost giving up on attempting to cheer up Ida. No matter how hard anyone tried, the woman's passion for working in the industry never returned. And no one could blame her either. It's disheartening to lose a loved one in one of the most dreadful ways possible.
"Maki, I don't want to make a comeback just yet," Ida said after a while. "I don't want to come back knowing that I won't be able to fully offer myself. A highly distracted woman isn't who I am," she continued. "I need to unwind completely and forget about the problems that are holding me down."
"You're saying that you won't be returning to acting for an extended period of time, aren't you?" Maki inquired, somewhat dismayed by what she had heard. "You know you can't do that, Ida, because the company won't let you," she explained.
"How could they not?"
"Because you are Japan's biggest actress, and you are the face of the company, and they profit a lot of money because of you. You understand that, right?" Maki asked, both eyebrows raised in concern. "If you fall down, everything in the company goes down as well."
"Everyone is so worried just about themselves, aren't they?" Ida smiled bitterly, feeling the strain of carrying something that shouldn't be her primary duty. "How about me, Maki? Don't I matter as a human being? Do I only matter when I'm on TV?" she questioned.
Maki pursed her lips, unwilling to simply answer the question for some reason. "What do you intend to do for a long time, anyway?" she attempted to interject. "Wouldn't you still look for something to do?"
"Taking a leave from work would also involve some forethought, Ida. It's not something you can just decide on," she continued.
"I do have a plan," Ida insisted, regardless of the fact that she didn't have a plan. It was just that she was the stereotypical obstinate, rich, and successful girl who refused to listen to anyone's opinion. "I'll be gone for a month," she continued, her subconscious mind doing all the reasoning.
"For a month?" Maki inquired, evidently taken aback. "How are you going to spend that much time? Are you kidding?"
"Ah," Ida exhaled, suddenly in need of a reason, prompting her to fizzle forth the worst thought that had recently entered her thoughts. "There's this mind-cleansing tour called Love-Free, and I have signed up, paid for it, and I can't back out," she explained, having to make up that lie at the end.
"Love-Free?" Maki inquired. "That sounds completely made up."
"I know, I didn't believe it at first, but it's true," Ida reasoned, sounding more like her father when he tried to convince her of the authenticity of that service. "I just think it's... exactly what I need," Ida replied, biting her bottom lip before continuing, "I mean, it's only thirty days, right?"
"Yeah?" Maki could only murmur.
"Thirty days in the open sea with no wi-fi," Ida faked a grin. "...all alone," she went on while feigning a laugh, "such joy! Don't you think?"
"Ida," Maki remarked justly, "you're not sure about this, are you?"
"I am positive," Ida insisted, "I want to do this."
“I'm sorry,” Ida said, and everyone's eyes gasped when they saw her on her knees.“It's my fault, I'm sorry “ She let out the hot tears she had been trying to hold.The family she loves and has been trying to adapt to has been taken away from her by Avery and Vanna.Ida had believed staying in LA would be a good thing, a good place to hide and have peace of mind but Vanna proved her wrong.There's no peace of mind anywhere, instead she will continue to run round the world in fear of Vanna so it's better she face her now or never.Tabitha's eyes widened at Ida's sudden outburst. Little Rory ran to their mom's side as he tried to lift her up but Ida did not bulge at all sobbing silently to herself.“I'm sorry, once again” She apologized, and slowly stood up, and Lora approached Ida, taking her to the couch as she made her sit.“Leave here, leave this country, I don't want to see you again, allow me to mourn my husband and daughter in peace, I want to be in charge of the funeral, and not
All of that was just a hallucination as Ida felt a hand tapping her and she lifted her misty eyes to see Sara staring at her.“The doctor is here,” Ida's neck slowly tilted facing the door as a round of fresh tears escaped from her eyes.“I'm sorry, We lost her, it's only two that survive” The doctor said, and Ida almost lost her balance before Sara and little Rory held her.“Who died?” Sara asked, slowly.“The little girl with a black hair” Ida let out another tear. Rora is alive but she lost her new daughter, Ariel and Jayden is alive too.Lora rushed in immediately, gasping for air to see Ida looking out of space as tears never stopped dropping from her eyes.Ida moved away from Sara and her son as she almost lost her balance when Lora held onto her.She began to reminisce over the incident that happened and remembered the man's warning. “Stay away from him” If not Jayden then it should be Avery. Someone warning her would probably not kill the person he was warning her to stay away
Ida watched as Jayden landed on the floor with Ariel in his bloody arms. Just when she stood up and was about to approach him when a gunshot made her halt.The amusement park scattered at the sound of the gun shot as they all ran for shelter to protect themselves.Sara stopped the twins that were about to run to Jayden.Ida watched as her world came crumbling as liquid dropped from her eyes following it was a loud painful scream.“Jay….. Jayden, a….. Ariel!!!” She screamed again as tears rolled down her eyes, her eyes got clouded with tears within a few seconds.Ariel was shot.Ida starts running as she approaches her new family. “Jayden, Ariel!” She called but got no response from Ariel.“I….. Ida,” He called as blood spluttered from his mouth. She held onto his waist line that was stabbed to stop from bleeding as she cried painfully.“Please don't talk. Sara called the ambulance,” She screamed at her last second sentence, after whispering the first one.Jayden slowly held onto her w
Ida's eyes when she saw Avery standing few steps away from her, staring at her. Her eyes moved from him, and to the twins then realized why they looked familiar to her.The twins are Avery's kids, but why is he in New York."Ida," He called, and Ida snubbed immediately, as she bent facing his kids.Ida stroked their hair gently as she smiled at them. "You are beautiful, and your…..father is here, go and meet him" Ida stated, and entered her car immediately before they could react.She locked the car door, and glanced at the side mirror to see him staring at his car as his kids ran to his arm.Ida doesn't know when tears dropped from her eyes. She wished she could get down from the car, and hug him but she controlled herself as she began to ask herself some question.Where was he when she almost killed herself, where was he when she struggled to give birth in the LDR room, where was he when she lost her mind, her mental health.He was with her, he was Vanna having good moments with her
"In my company, I don't know what she's doing there. Lora,I know a day like this is going to come. That's why I always panic anytime I do not see my babies" Ida stated, and Lora hugged her."Nothing will happen to them. I will put a call on someone to tail her" Her phone rang, and she brought it out to see an incoming call from Jayden.Ida smiled, as she disengaged from the hug. "I will see you later" Ida mumbled smiling"Jayden is calling you" Ida hurried upstairs to her room as she picked his call."Babe, are you home?" Ida heard his sweet voice, and smiled out."Yes, and you?" She asked."I'm home,I just finished tucking Ariel into bed. I'm sorry about today" "No, it's fine, I'm not angry. Such are bound to happen someday " Ida said, smiling as she stared at his handsome face.A video call."Go and bath, and eat. I will call you back later " Ida nodded, smiling. He's so sweet.She took off her clothes, and went to the washroom. Ida had her bathing, and after bathing, she stepp
"Mom, Auntie Sara saved your line as,,,,I have forgotten the word” Rory said.“ It's s-a-v-i-o-u-r” Rora spelt it and Ida chuckled.“ You mean savior” Ida said, she had thought it was a serious issue when they gave her a strict look but now she realized that twins were just pulling her legs.“ Mom pronounce it again,” Rory urged.“ Saviour” Ida pronounced, and the twins nodded as they gave each other a glance.“ What's the meaning??” Rora asked.“ A person who saves someone from danger or difficulty" Idea replied, smiling.“ Ohhhhh” They said in unison and Ida chuckled.“ Kids, I have to go, let me quickly roundup so I can start heading home" Ida said.“ Momma bye,” Rora said.“ I love you” Rory said and she smiled.Ida cut the call and shut down the system, she put her phone in her bag as she arranged her hair.She walked out of her office and went downstairs, she reduced her pace when she saw a familiar face.Vanna Lopez Sanchez.Vanna stopped walking as soon as she sighted Ida, she