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Crystal OduwaA/N: For the next one week, the chapters will be uploaded between 00:00-6:00 (UTC+8) Apologies for the inconvenience. Hope you're enjoying the book so far. Reviews, please?
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A VOW TO HATE 19
AIDEN 13/60TUESDAY9:34 AMI dropped the third call from my sister, cussing at the heavens for her switching her cell phone off. It's been five minutes since their parents pulled over at the drive-through.A full three hundred seconds of two adults battling to get their kids down from the car. They were not conceding."Shouldn't we go out there to help?"I grunted, curled my nose, and stayed silent. Being expected to babysit two children is tough enough, but having to do it with her makes it even worse. And my sister told me I was only getting one punishment. Safe to say, last night made things awkward for Layla and me.Tristan Thompson is not a man I anticipate seeing, and him attempting to use Layla as an object to provoke me bothers me as much as she letting him do so. Or maybe it's not about me. Still, I'm disgruntled. "Aiden."Her tone was exasperated, while her arm nudged mine. "What?"I half-yelled, keeping a close watch. The mother clambered with the arm of her son, and he
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AIDEN13/60TUESDAY“That was entertaining.”We just dropped the kids off with their parents.She was conversing on our way to the car. I was contemplating how badly the side effects of Tylenol will be. As soon as I got to the penthouse, I had a mental note for three tablets. When I rearranged the house, I would need those.Fun isn’t the word for the day.Ten minutes turned into thirty. The kids were loud. Madison asked further questions, probing relentlessly. The weirdest part is that I kept answering, indulging her further.Layla was forced to leave her Corolla in the parking lot when the twins refused to ride individually. We took my car. Note to self — never leave two teenagers in the back seat of a car. My ears are still ringing from their shouts.How the fuck do their parents cope? I was a child too. I didn’t give my father that much stress. Although It was Grant Smith who made me feel the need to be perfect right from when I was eleven years old. I'd imagine it is nothing like
A VOW TO HATE 21
LAYLA.14/60WEDNESDAY."We run into each other again."I curved my head to the voice. Tristan Thompson? He's pacing out of my father's office. They both have smiles on their faces. I'm in Dean Construction, my office is over there. Can't possibly be a dream. But why would he have come here?Suspicious. Now that I think of it, He was at the Smith's party as well. That involved many business owners, but coming here raises a red flag. Much more with my father. "Hello, Tristan."He extends his hands, still smiling, and I'm forced to return them, even though I'm jumbled up as hell. "Layla, you've met Mr Thompson?"My cell phone had already beeped twice when I bobbed my head."We crossed paths at the party on Monday."Father nodded in understanding."I will look forward to working with you, Sir.""Likewise."They shook each other's hands and then pulled apart. Okay. Suspicious as hell. What's happening?Father made a move to leave. I smiled at Tristan and then caught up with my father, pu
A VOW TO HATE 22
LAYLA.14/60WEDNESDAY Wednesday is bizarre. Monday is stressful, but now I'm reckoning I like stress. Stress motivates me. Stress can stimulate the brain. But weirdness?It's completely meaningless. Starting from the alleged investment with Thompson Pharmaceuticals, which I now realize was not solely with Dean Construction. Smith Industries was a part of it as well.Then Aiden asked for my opinion. I guessed he might share similar reservations, but Tristan is working with him, so I panicked and agreed with the common conclusion. Accepted it was normal because I had no clue what he was trying to say.Why would he ask if they were working together?Maybe it's a trick to get me to say something, and then my dad sums it up. Since I had understood nothing, I chose to remain neutral.That aside, I shifted to something natural. My project. The grand wedding. The next stop was Berlin. Things were no longer normal.Penelope's cousin has a history with Aiden. That would be fine if she were jus
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LAYLA. 14/60 WEDNESDAY. 6:03 PM "You're having a date with Tristan Thompson!?" I lay the phone aside to deflect Bella's screeching sound. Bad idea—calling her. The absolute worst. Another awful idea? Going to dinner with a man I just met. After that succeeds the lack of clothing options for such a date, which is why I'm currently scrambling between my closet and my underwear drawer. Between all of that, I phoned Bella, and she's making the situation worse. "Yes. I told you I was." If I weren't clutching my cell phone and searching through my closet, I would have smacked my forehead. "The Tristan Thompson! I saw the news that he was in the city!" My best friend was swooning? Perhaps I heard wrong. "You're a fan?" I flung the jeans away. It's a dinner date, Layla. Gowns. Pick a gown. "Well, not really. I love a hot-looking dude as much as the next girl, but my brother doesn't, so it's like a forbidden relationship except there's no relationship." I chuckle, reaching for
A VOW TO HATE 24
LAYLA16/60SATURDAY — 12:32 AMBERLIN; HOTEL DE ROME. "Here we are. You should thank me for getting a reservation ahead of time. Ensuring that we'll be attended to."I scowled at what Aiden had said as I drove my luggage behind me. I'm not appreciative of having to walk from the airport down here. It only lasted ten minutes, but it was still ungratifying."You screwed up two flights now. I'm in charge of the trip to Hawaii."I say, fighting back a yawn. My feet hurt. "And that won't be a screwup. Why?"I snorted without a response, still trailing behind Aiden, who followed the lady at the front desk."Here we are."Speaking of her, she motioned to two rooms beside each other and then handed both of us separate keys."You should thank me for not booking a suite. It is what you deserve. A weekend with me. Pure torture."He clicked his tongue, forcing the key into the hole."And what have I done to deserve this vicious punishment of yours?"I nudged my head at the lady, muttering a "Th
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LAYLA18/60MONDAY.BERLIN; CAT CO WORLDWIDE MEDIA.The driver disrupts the lingering silence for over twenty minutes, "Here we are." He announces curtly.Raising my head, I catch the display of a building just about as large as Dean Construction.We got down through the doors and gave it a wedge to close. Aiden spoke with the driver, who would wait at the parking lot or return at the end of the meeting.If the meeting ends at all."Does she know you'll be here?""Nope."Nonchalance. Again."What did Penelope tell her?""She said representatives from her will arrive today to discuss. That's all.""How nice.""Cheer up, love. We won't be asked to leave, fortunately."Scoffing, I murmur underneath my breath, "If we're lucky."****"Guten Morgen."I cast Aiden an amused look. Did he speak German? I hardly stepped out into the city due to language barriers, but he was eloquent. Interesting."What did you say to him?""Good morning."He answers. There was a lady at the front desk. She smil
A VOW TO HATE 26
AIDEN18/60MONDAY BERLIN; CAT CO WORLDWIDE MEDIA"Mr Smith."Catherine is behind me. Her voice was always so forward, thick, and laced with every emotion she was feeling. Now I'm sensing almost nothing at all. I guess we've both changed. "Catherine."She smiled, unlike in the office where it seemed like she could rip my head off."You age like fine wine Mr Smith."I arch a brow. "Am I missing something here?""Not really. The deal is closed. I believe Layla went to use the restroom. She should be right behind me."On cue, she rotated her head backwards to check. Layla hadn't come out."Thank you.""For what? Not throwing you out or the deal?""Both."I answer truthfully."I can't say I expected a phone call or at least a message, but I did hope. I always hoped." She clicked her tongue, but there was nothing bitter about that tone. Which left me to wonder if she held any resentment at all. "Catherine.""I'm not that woman anymore, I'm not holding grudges or anything.""I'm not that
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