One month later
----------------------------Katrina had gotten used to staying in Eric's house. She has checked everywhere in the house and her favorite place in the house was the beautiful garden and the swimming pool.
She spent most of her time there either reading a novel in the garden or sitting by the pool dipping her legs into it. She was not a good swimmer but she could try.
If she wasn't at the garden or by the poolside, she was always with Alvin. The both of them became very close as time went by.
Her relationship with Eric, her boss, was still bad but he was starting to become less harsh to her.
Katrina sat with Alvin at his duty post chatting. He rarely leaves his post so Katrina was always the one going to meet him.
"So tell me do you have someone you like? " She said, starting a conversation.
"I once had. I don't have someone I like now " Alvin replied.
"What happened to the girl you liked? " She asked.
"She jilted me. She left for a rich guy. I had to leave the country to come here because everything there reminds me of her" he replied.
"Oh, sorry about that, " Kat said.
"It's okay. I'm over her now " he said.
"That's great, " she replied.
"What about you, are you in love with someone? " he asked.
"No" Kat replied and frowned at the idea. Love was the last thing on her mind right now. She had seen what love did to her sister and other people, she had seen the harm it caused.
"You've never experienced love? " he asked.
Katrina laughed out loud.
"No, not that. I dated a guy in high school. I was in love with him then but he was just playing me. I'm not surprised though, you guys take girls' feelings for granted " she said.
"Not all," he replied.
"Well, I can't say, " she said. She truly can't say.
"You rarely leave here, how are you going to see a woman you like from here? " Kat asked him teasingly.
"I'm too shy to go on dates or ask a lady out. I'm sure my boss would allow me to go on dates if I request but I don't just want to go, " he replied.
"He would allow you? " Kat asked surprised.
"Yes, he has been urging me to get a woman for myself and teasing me for my shyness, " he said and smiled.
"Oh wow, so what are you waiting for?" Katrina teased again.
"I'm just too shy. I'm not the social type" he replied laughing.
"I still can't believe Boss asked you to go on dates," Kat said.
"Why not?He's a nice person," he replied.
"Are you kidding me??.. Boss is nice?? He's been very harsh to me" Katrina said, still laughing.
"I'm serious here. He's really nice, forget his arrogant character and all. It's just a mask, deep down he's really nice, a real gentleman, caring and emotional. He's just acting that way among ladies because he knows that most of them are after his money. He's trying to scare them off but those ladies keep flocking around him and he has no choice but to use them as he likes. He sees all ladies as the same. He does call them Gold diggers, " Alvin explained.
"Wow, " Kat said.
She was really speechless, all these while she misunderstood him and thought he was arrogant and bossy.
"You need to see him with his mom. He acts like a baby around her, his mom is lovely and funny " he said.
"She's still alive? " Kat asked.
"Yes. Both parents are still alive but his mom visits here often " Alvin replied.
"Ooh, okay.. That's nice " Kat said and wondered what his mom looked like. She wondered if she was proud and sassy as most rich women are.
"Yeah, " he replied.
They kept on chatting, going from topics to topics. Alvin was really a nice and friendly guy, he's good looking too, so she felt very comfortable with him.
She started feeling sleepy so she excused herself to go to bed. She went inside the house and climbed the stairs to her room.
On her way to her room, a door caught her attention. She has never seen it before. This was her first time noticing it and she also noticed that It was the last door in the hallway.
Out of curiosity, she walked towards it and opened the door, it opened without any resistance. She walked through it and saw stairs leading to wherever. She didn't know where the stairs led to.
She followed the stairs, out of curiosity and didn't see the broken chandelier in front of her. Before she could see it, it was too late.It had hit her hard on the face. She missed her steps and fell to the ground in pain. She managed to scream help before going unconscious.
Minutes later, she felt someone carry her then she blacked out completely.
—-------------
Eric was through with every business he had with clients. There's nothing else for him to do at the office anymore, he would have stayed back but he was not feeling okay so he decided to go home early.He picked up the office phone and put a call through his secretary, Melinda.
She came in minutes later.
"Sir, you called me" she said.
"Yes I did. I'm going home now " he replied.
"Why Sir, it's too early. Is anything wrong? " she asked.
"No Melinda. I just wish to go home now. In case anyone asks me, tell them I'm not around at the moment. You could attend to them if the issue is not a serious one. Call Mr Dakota and tell him I would see him tomorrow " Eric said, giving out instructions.
"Okay Sir " she replied.
"You can go now, " he said, dismissing her.
She bowed and left. Eric stood up, picked up his briefcase, arranged his clothes and left his office.
His workers stared at him as he passed by. It was unusual for him to leave for home when it's just 3:00pm so they were surprised.
Some waved at him and he gave a slight nod. He entered his car and drove out of his company.
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On getting home, Eric blared his car horn and Alvin came out to open the gate.He drove into the compound, parked his car in the garage and came down. Alvin was beside him to collect his briefcase but Eric waved him off.
"Boss, you're back early today, " Alvin said.
"Yeah" Eric replied and walked into the main house.
He looked around for Katrina. He was used to her presence already in the house. He loves her cooking, loves how neat she's and her personality but he restrained himself from showing it. She has been washing his clothes ever since that day.
"Where was she??" He asked himself.
"Maybe she's up in her room sleeping," he said.
But she's supposed to have cooked lunch by now.
" Well, why does he bother?" He said and started climbing the stairs to his room. He was about to open his room when he saw a door opened at the end of the hallway.
That's the door to the attic and why's it open?.. he asked himself.
Eric opened the door to his room and dropped his briefcase on the bed before walking towards the open door.
He climbed the stairs leading to the attic and felt something block his way and he almost stumbled.
Looking down he saw it was a body laying on the floor. He ran back in fright.
"What's a body doing there, is it dead?? " He asked himself.
On a second thought, he went back to the body. His movements were slow and gentle, he was frightened till he recognized Katrina's clothes.
"Katrina " he called.
No response, he bent down and turned her face. She's really the one.
What was she doing here??
And why's she lying unconscious on the floor??
"Katrina " Eric called again. She's bleeding. She had a cut on the left side of her face. It almost touched her eye, thank God it didn't touch her eye. Eric checked to see what must have caused it and saw the broken chandelier. "Damn my carelessness.. I should have taken care of this already " he said to himself. But why's she unconscious?? She must have stumbled and fell. He checked her head and his hand touched a bump on the head. Sighing, he carried her up gently. Gosh, she waa slender but she has a lot of weight. He managed to carry her to her room and lay her on the bed. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, thank God she was putting on a singlet, he undressed her leaving only the singlet on her. Then he went to his room to bring his first aid box, a bowl of water and a towel. He cleaned the cut with the spirit and cotton wool before putting a plaster on it. After soaking the towel in the bowl of warm water, he started cleaning off the sweat on her forehead and body. -----
Eric sat on his office chair in his office writing on a book. His thoughts wandered to what happened yesterday and he stopped writing. He didn't know when he started laughing remembering the way Katrina pushed him when she woke up. Gosh!!, she's really funny. She had called him an arrogant pig. He was surprised he didn't react to it, he was supposed to be angry but he had found it funny. He shook his head and took his pen to continue writing when his phone rang. It was his mom calling. Why was she calling when she knew he was always busy at this time? He answered the call. "Hello darling," his mom said at the other end. "Hello mom, how are you doing?" He asked. " I'm fine baby, I know you're busy right now. I just wanted to let you know I'm at your house right now" His mom said, going straight to the point. " But you didn't tell me you were coming. I would have stayed home" Eric argued. "Don't worry, I'm going to wait till you get back. I'm having dinner with you tonight."
Eric had returned back after he took his mom home safely. It was almost eleven pm but he doesn't feel like sleeping. So he decided to go to the pool, he loves staying there whenever He's chanced to. On getting to the pool, he saw Katrina sitting on the floor besides the pool.She comes here too?? She looked lost in thought, she's looking more pretty tonight. He walked towards her but she didn't notice till he sat down and dipped his legs into the pool. Katrina turned to look at Eric and made to stand up but he held her back. Eric held her unconsciously and when he saw Katrina staring at his hands, he let go of her abruptly. "You can stay " he said. "Ummm... Okay" Katrina replied and sat back. "So what were you thinking of?? " Eric asked. "You didn't notice my presence." "Nothing, I was just looking at the beauty of the moon " she replied. "You watch the moon at night? " He asked. "Not always, but I watch it when I can't sleep up in my room" she replied. "Oh, I see. I love w
"My God, " Katrina screamed. Eric's body temperature was high. Could it be the rain?? She started to panic. Then she remembered what her mom usually does when her body temperature is high. "You need to relax Katrina, " she said to herself. Just then Eric's phone rang. The caller was Melinda. Who was she??One of his numerous ladies?? Katrina ignored the call. On second thought, she decided to pick the call. "Hello, " she said. "Sorry, can I speak to Mr Eric? " The caller asked. "Ummm... Who are you? " Katrina asked. "I am his secretary. He has an appointment by nine: thirty with Mr Dennis and he's yet to come " the caller replied. "Ooh.. He can't make it, he's sick" Katrina replied. "Since when?? " The lady asked. "Last night, " Katrina replied. "Damn. That means I have to cancel the appointment, ``she said. "Please do, " Katrina replied. "Extend my greetings to him. I hope he gets well soon " the lady said. "Thanks" Katrina replied and ended the call. Eric was sti
Katrina got carried away with her dancing that she didn't realize Eric was watching her. She got startled when she heard his voice and she stopped dancing immediately. "No don't stop. I love it" he said. "Uhmm... I'm sorry Sir, I got carried away " she apologized. "No it's fine. I enjoyed watching you dance " he replied. "Really? " Kat asked. "Yeah... Teach me how to dance " he said teasingly. "What?? " Katrina asked surprised. "I'm serious " he said laughing at her facial expression. "I'm not a good teacher " she replied laughing. "Hmmm" "Yes Sir " she replied. "So tell me, what else do you know how to do?? I know for a fact that you can cook, clean, dance, bake. Are there more?? " he asked, folding his arms on his chest. "Well, I can wash, I love sewing, I can knit. I think that's all" Kat replied. "Wow, your future husband is really going to be lucky. His wife would know how to do lots of things " he said. "Thank you. At least my husband won't have to waste his money
Katrina saw him bend his head to kiss her. At first she was too surprised to do anything. His lips was almost on hers when she regained her senses. She pushed him away. Eric didn't know when he drew Katrina back. Their faces almost met, she was looking pretty and her lips were too tempting. Without thinking, he bent his head to kiss her and wasn't expecting the push. Okayy, first time a woman was rejecting his kiss! He got pissed and threw his hair back in anger, holding his forehead to calm himself down. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't know what I was doing, if not I wouldn't have tried to kiss someone like you. You're clearly not my type " He said angrily. "Huh? " Katrina asked. She was surprised by his outburst. "I think you over stepped boundaries. You're coming close to me. From now on, I'm going back to the way things were before. You will talk to me formally from now on and a new rule is added." Eric added. "A new rule? " Katrina repeated. "Yes, you won't talk to me unl
Katrina walked to her room in anger.Gosh, she was really angry right now. She felt like punching someone. Eric's so arrogant. She was thinking he's a changed person but she was clearly mistaken. Then she remembered the happy moments and tears dropped out of her eyes. She started sobbing."He's just too cruel!!!" She screamed."Okay Katrina, no more tears for that arrogant pig " she said to herself.But wait, why was she crying?? Katrina stood up and walked over to the dressing mirror. She stared at herself in the mirror still wondering why she cried."Just admit it, you miss him" her inner voice said."No way" Katrina corrected immediately. She dried her face and went downstairs.Eric was no longer there. The used plates was still on the dinning table. She packed the plates to the kitchen and washed them, then she went up to her room to take her bathe after washing the plates. After taking her bathe, she wore her night robe.She wasn't feeling sleepy and she felt like going to t
Katrina was glad when they entered the hall. Eric's mom and another woman walked towards her and Eric."Katrina darling" Eric's mom said hugging her."Good evening Ma'm. Thank you for inviting me over and thank you for... " Katrina started to say but was interrupted."It's nothing, thank you for coming " Mrs Salmadiego said and smiled.The other woman hugged Eric."Nice meeting you " the woman said to Eric."My pleasure " he replied."Come, I reserved a special seat for you "the other woman said. The woman turned to look at Katrina and gave her a brief smile.Eric and Katrina followed his mom and her friend to the seat. Eric caught most ladies attention as they walked. Many ladies were drooling over him. Katrina could see some guys staring at her too.They got to the seat reserved for them. The table was well decorated with different wine and drinks on the table."Come with me son, let me introduce you to my friends " Eric's mom said to Eric."Is it necessary? " Eric asked."Yes darli