CHAPTER 4

EZRA'S POV

"What's going on there??!!" I asked again after waiting for Jason to reply to my question but I heard nothing from him. I was angry, so very angry that one could feel my anger through the phone.

"Why did Jason call me?? What was Valerie doing outside of her room? Why was Ian there with Valerie and why was he talking about taking her away??" All these thoughts came flooding into my head at that moment and it overwhelmed me with so much rage. I stood up from my chair, my broad shoulders expanding as I straightened my back. My eyes which were usually focused and serious as I pored over documents, now burned with a fierce intensity.

With purposeful strides, I made my way toward the door – my footsteps echoed through the room. I clenched and unclenched my hands, anticipating the fight that was about to happen. But just as I was about to unlock the door and head out for war, I heard Valerie's voice through the phone. The call was still connected so I was able to hear

every sound or move that was made.

"Ian, what are you doing here??" I heard Valerie ask and her voice made me halt – I paused and decided to listen. I held the phone close to my ears so that I could hear, I wanted to know how Valerie would react. I was eager to know if she still wanted to run away with Ian.

"Ian, you haven't answered my question. Why are you just staring at me??" She said, with a hint of seriousness in her tone. "Why do I need to leave with you?? Is there a problem?"

"Uhmmm… no, no. Of course not, there is no problem." I heard Ian mutter. He sounded shocked at Valerie's question and so was I. I wasn't expecting her to ask him such a question.

"Then why are you here to take me away??" She questioned him again. "I am doing fine with Ezra's pack and being here, being with Ezra makes me happy."

"Oh my goodness!! What was happening? What was Valerie saying? Was this one of her tricks?" I thought to myself. My head started to spin so I stepped away from the door and quickly grabbed a seat. The call was becoming interesting and I didn't want to miss anything, not a word.

I heard Ian cough, he cleared his throat several times before he finally spoke. "Valerie?? Dear, are you okay?? Did you hit your head somewhere?"

I laughed as I heard his questions but someone actually needed to ask Valerie if she was okay because she was acting strange and saying weird things. I waited to hear Valerie's response to Ian's question but I heard nothing – looks like she gave him the silent treatment.

"Have you forgotten how Ezra acts?? Have you forgotten how cranky and paranoid he can be?." Ian spat. "I don't know what has gotten into you but you need to listen to me Valerie, staying here with Ezra will degrade you. Do you hear me??"

"Oh please Ian, stop it. I am enjoying staying here with Ezra. I like staying here." Valerie blurted out to the utmost surprise of everyone who heard her.

*****************************

In Valerie's previous life, this day had already happened but no one except her knew about it. In her previous life, Ezra also heard everything that Ian said on the phone but she was stupid at that time and all she wanted to do was to leave with Ian – she didn't even want to think about the circumstances. She was ready to run off with Ian and she was ready to fight anyone who tried to stop her. Her stupidity landed her in prison, and Ezra ordered for her to be chained and thrown into the prison. Ezra was so mad at her that he made sure she was beaten before being locked up.

However, in this present life, Valerie became smart. She had learned her lesson and she wasn't going to make the same mistake as she did in her previous life. She told everyone who cared to listen that she liked Ezra and the surprised look on their faces made her smile, she was happy. She wasn't going to let what happened in her previous life repeat itself. She was smarter now.

*******************************

"You like staying here?? With Ezra??" Ian asked with a hint of seriousness in his tone.

Honestly, I was shocked by every word that came out of Valerie's mouth. I was dumbfounded that I held the phone closer to my ear and my heartbeat became unsteady – I was anxious.

"I like Ezra." Valerie blurted out.

What?? What was happening?? Did Valerie just say that she liked me?? I thought I was her arch-enemy. I didn't know how to react or what to do but suddenly, I just felt some kind of peace within me. The fuming anger that I was feeling slowly began to dissipate – I heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. The day was turning out to be a good day for me and I liked it.

I heard Jason cough out in surprise after hearing what Valerie said about liking me, the guy must be pretty shocked because so was I. I still couldn't believe my ears.

"Ian, you have to leave. I'm not going anywhere with you so please leave." Valerie said slowly but I could hear the seriousness in her tone. "Ezra will not be happy to see you here. I don't want any kind of trouble so please leave. Now!"

"Oh wow. This is unbelievable." I shouted in my office not minding if anyone overheard me. Valerie's response to Ian made me so happy. She got me to settle down. I was glad that she didn't do anything stupid, she didn't decide to run off with Ian – she decided to stay, she wanted to stay with me.

After a few minutes, everything was quiet, I didn't hear anything from anyone. I think Ian left after hearing what Valerie said to him.

"So Jason, can I go in to see Ezra now?? I need to see him." She said with a hint of sadness in her tone. "Please just let me see him."

I heard Jason clear his throat and asked, "Boss, can Valerie come in to see you now?? She's been pestering my life."

"Errrmm.. yeah, yeah. Let her in." I replied with a shaky voice. I didn't know if I did the right thing but suddenly I wanted to see her. I wanted to know if she meant what she had said. I wanted to know if she liked me. I wanted to see her.