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FIFTY_SIX
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RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love FIFTY-SEVEN
ELLEN I did not sleep that night. I kept watching Oliver while he slept. I cried at times but never let myself sniffle. Oliver had taken me into his room and had done everything for me. He helped tuck Sophie into bed, helped me to the bathroom, and helped me to bed. He was a good man when he was close and all that sentiments and resentment I bore for him before seemed like they have never been there. I fell asleep in the early hours of the morning and did not wake until later in the day, although I was half awake when Oliver woke. I knew when he went into the shower, and I knew when he got the call to go over to San Francisco, for a meeting. I heard him cuss about it, but he still packed his bags because it sounded urgent and I heard him calling Dante and the rest to inform them about the meeting. I have forgotten that I will miss them too. I fell into another sleep and he went away. When I woke up, it was mid-morning. I took my shower and read the note Oliver
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love FIFTY-EIGHT
One year later... OLIVER I stood by the grave of my father. My eyes were hidden behind my dark shades. He had not been the best father to me, and I have wished him dead on several occasions. But now that he was actually gone, I realized I was not ready to lose him. I felt alone in this world and the whole Don thing is going to crash on me now. The voice of the priest sounded distant in my head as my eyes locked on a woman with blonde hair. She looked so familiar, and her back was to me because she was hugging a man. Ellen. I started to move but Dante held me back. “Where are you going?” he whispered. I did not reply. I stayed back, stuck my eyes on the woman, and waited for the priest’s speech to be over so that I can leave there and confront that woman. But she turned to face me, and I sighed in disappointment. She was not Ellen. How could they have the same structure? It has been a year since Ellen disappeared from me. I searched every
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love FIFTY-NINE
ELLEN “Pablo Moreno is dead.” The knife dropped from my hands. I was not surprised that he died. I was surprised at how suddenly the news came. The last time we spoke, he did not look like he was about to die. Well, it is not always written on the face. I left the vegetable I was dicing and faced my laptop. Lily was peering at me now. “How?” “He suddenly slumped and died. The hospital said it was heart failure. He is a smoker, figured it is true.” I never liked Pablo, but now that he is gone, I feel exposed. He has kept me well hidden for a year now and I have experienced nothing strange. My paranoid self still believes Tony was tracking me and is waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Pablo made it easy to hide. “Oh, my God. That is so sad. How is Oliver? Does this affect him in any way?” Lily shrugged. “You know Oliver would always be Oliver. He has moved on. Now, he is scouting for an assistant.” “What happened to
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTY
OLIVER A week after my father’s funeral and I already have a lot on my table. I would be traveling to Tokyo for a land dispute between one of their big firms and ours. Honestly, I was not even cut out for all of it. I am frustrated and unhappy. What frustrated me more was this fucking interview I had. Searching for a focused assistant was difficult. It reminded me of Ellen. I do not know if I will ever find someone like her. I have questioned five already and they could not even relate to the questions. One even had the gut to tell me the questions were too personal. What was too personal in saying if you believe in love or not? I pressed the intercom for Jerry to send in the next lady and faced the files on my table, not caring to look at whoever came in. A quick knock came on my door before the person allowed herself in. I did not speak to her. “Mr. Moreno?” she called. I wanted to tell her that she was not allowed to speak until I ordered her but once my ey
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTY-ONE
OLIVER The driver pulled up on the curb of a restaurant. Jerry was standing outside there waiting for me with two hookers rubbing his chest. I twitched my nose and folded my hands into fists. Jerry left with our rented car, and I was forced to come in a cab. I was angry and wanted to ram my fist into his face, but I restrained myself because he was so cute and spread his arms to welcome me and I did not want to cause a scene. The two girls wearing false lashes, heavy makeup and skimpy dresses eyed me as I walked up. “Where is this place?” I asked Jerry, shoving him away from me as he stepped closer with his arms spread. I looked around the area. It looked quite safe. “It is called The Clockwise. The perfect thing about it is that it has an underground club and this exquisite restaurant. They make the best lobsters in the world—oh, my bad, I forgot you hate lobsters.” “I am allergic, and it is to shrimps,” I gritted. Jerry was more drunk than
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTY-TWO
ELLEN “Ellen.” I stiffened. Oliver’s voice felt like a warm blanket over my body. I recovered quickly. If he was the one, then I had come too far to blow things up. I do not have any explanation to give him. It could not be Oliver. What on earth was Oliver doing here? And why didn’t Lily say anything about him coming here? I was certain he was not the one. But I was also sure he was the one. His voice was unmistakable, and he would be the only one in Tokyo to know me with Ellen. I gasped as he grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. It was really him. The sight of Oliver took my breath away. Those deep elusive brown eyes gripped me, holding me hostage. I could not even bring myself to look away. Oliver looked tired and restrained, not the man I used to know. Something in his demeanor changed. His jaw was peppered with facial hair, his eyes although confused looked sad and hollow and I felt pity for him. But it did nothing to mar his beauty. H
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTY-THREE
OLIVER I could not sleep that night. I kept tossing in bed, and when I am not tossing, I am pacing around or looking down from my balcony with a glass of drink on my hand. If I Jerry was not drunk, I would have stalked her home. I came here as a businessman, so I did not come with men. I could take care of myself already. So, there were no men to send to stalk her I waited outside the car for a few minutes, watching the restaurant. I could see her sometimes, when she comes to attent to a table, but I could not see when she goes to the counter. After a while, when Jerry threw up again inside the car, I had to leave there, so mad at him. I managed to take him into his room and dumped him on his bed. He would be the one to clean up the mess he did in the car, and I will surely punch him so hard in the face the next morning. I freshened up and thought of going back there, but decided against it. She might not be Ellen and if she sees me around again tonight, she might
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTY-FOUR
ELLEN I was off work that morning and I have never been grateful for it because I will have to stay at home and recover from the blow Oliver gave me yesterday when he showed up unannounced. I called up the nanny agency, I needed to get a nanny for Sophie. For all I know, Oliver might be watching me. Nanny arrived and I have her her job description. I will never be with Sophie in public, not until I was sure Oliver was out of town. I lazed about at home throughout the day, watched a K-drama and ate popcorn. My phone rang in the evening waking me up from sleep. I looked at it and saw it was Akira. A pit grew in my stomach. I knew it has something to do with Oliver, but I just hoped it was not. “Hello, Akira,” I said. “Valerie, he came again and offered me some cash to give him your name and address. Listen, no matter how drop dead gorgeous that Italian man looks, you should report him to the police?” Akira spoke Japanese. I did not quite understand all she said
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