THE ONLY THING HELD DEAR

Precisely after her parent died, Helen still took care of the company as her life depends on it. because for her, she felt it was her way of apologizing to her parent for proceeding against their will. All Norbert did was relish the luxury that came from the company.

At eight years, Audrey could think and sketch out designs and at ten years she was tagging along with her mom to the factory doing mini sewing like stitching off the edge of a fabric.

At fifteen years she was working seven hours a day at the factory, creating, sketching, sewing, and stitching up fabrics and yet, the man who did nothing all his life fired at her telling her she never did anything all her life.

" Here is my credit card, take her bill"

Audrey was conveyed back to reality by the calm yet manly voice that spoke behind her. He has been standing there even before she walked in, but Audrey failed to notice him, and he never stopped staring at him.

"It's okay dear, things like these happen"

" Thanks for your concern, but I will be fine" Audrey tries to turn him down politely, but he was determined to not let this opportunity slip by.

" You don't have to be modest, if you are not comfortable getting help from a stranger, you can just pay me back when you are ready"

Audrey thought about it for a second, she was stranded and desperate, what could go wrong? She would take his bank details and pay him once she gets back home.

" I can't thank you enough, I promise to pay you back once I sort things out here and get back home"

" No rush, just take your time. The name is Oliver Logan".

" Am Audrey Jayden" they both exchanged handshakes. Oliver gave this credit card to the receptionist, who quickly made the transaction before handing over the keys to the room to Audrey.

" Here is my card, call me when you want to make the payment" his eyes squint slightly, he takes his leave because it seems he was checking out of the hotel when his gaze fell on the beauty that walked, so he wasn't ready to leave until he got what he wants.

Oliver Logan is popular among the women, but he is very selective about the women he dates because, for him, he thinks he needs to keep up appearances considering his status in society.

Audrey took the elevator up to the 20th floor, and when she finally opened the door to the room. She plunged onto the bed, heaving a sigh of relief.

The room was cozy and in no time she drifted off to Dreamland.

As usual, Carter found it strenuous, having even an hour of sleep. The trauma he has been experiencing after witnessing his mom slaughtered right in front of him never left him since that day. At first, the pills his doctors prescribed were effective and could help him sleep for two hours, but now they were losing touch, and he could barely get minutes of sleep.

After tossing and rolling on the bed for hours, he was finally elated when his alarm beeped.

He felt sore all over his body, and his mood was sullen despite how many showers he took, it didn't make him feel any better and that was certainly a bad day for Audrey to approach him.

She woke up very early and left for COLTON FASHIONS because she knew she would not be granted access to the company and the only way she would be able to see him was to wait outside. She came along with most of her sketchbooks, they were her companion after her mother died and helped her heal.

It was already an hour and there was no sign from the CEO, but Audrey was not ready to give up.

A convoy of Roll Royce drove through, Audrey rose to her feet charging right inform of them causing the driver to step on the gas so swiftly which annoyed the driver thinking he almost crashed her.

" Hey! Are you dumb!!" The first driver barked, and the ones behind popped out their head to see what was going on.

Audrey had their attention, the next thing was figuring out which of the cars he was in. A particular model of the roll Royce was different from the others, Audrey guessed he could be in that particular one, rushing towards it.

Carter Colton was already in a bad mood which was a usual attitude, he never seemed to be pleased with anything, no matter how hard the effort was. His face was tight and sullen while his gaze was fixed on the iPad he was holding.

" Mr. Carter Colton" Audrey called desperately tapping at the window glass of his car, so he could wind down

" What is going on here?" A frown on his face while he directed his question at his bodyguard sitting in the front side of the car.

" We are unaware of the situation sir, she just appeared right before our car"

" Find out what she needs and deal with it, am not taking any of their sh*ts today"

He mistook her for one of his admirers who would wait in front of the gate and raise a banner while professing their love.

" How can we help you, Miss?" The bodyguard in the driver's seat pops out of his head.

" Please, I need to speak to your boss,"

" Am sorry Miss, but that won't be possible, if you need anything, book an appointment with the receptionist"

" If I do that, it will take days, if possible months before I can be able to speak to him, please just tell him I need to show something to her, he won't regret it I promise"

Audrey was trying to bring out her sketchbook from her purse, the bodyguard thought she was going to bring out one of their letters professing their love for the CEO, do immediately signaled the first car stepped on the gas slowly zooming off inside the compound.

Audrey tries to proceed after them, but the security at the gate ceases her, leaving her frustrated. She was gasping not from exhaustion but outrage, this rude CEO sent his people who came to their town and purchased their company for a price higher than the fixed price, of all places why did it have to be her home, why did it have to be the one thing she holds dear?

Walking out of Colton's premises, Audrey remained positive Even though she was hungry right now, she couldn't stop at a restaurant to eat because she had no cash and her credit card was blocked.

A car horned behind her, causing her to turn around, and a male figure popped his head out from the Porsche.

The face looked familiar to her, and she was trying to recall where she had met such a handsome and masculine young man when he alighted from the car and approached her, a smirk around his lips causing him to look more handsome.

" We meet again, this must be fate!" It was when he spoke that Audrey recalled he was the one who paid the hotel bill where she is currently lodged.

" Oh! You, we meet" Oliver could tell she barely recognized him, he was disappointed but didn't let it show.

" How are you today?"

" Am good"

" You went out this early, it must be crucial to you"

" Yes. I went to see a client" Audrey started walking away, but he stopped her. She was furious and hungry, not ready for a friendly chat, even though he saved her at a desperate time.

" Am sorry, I know I am invading your space, but can we at least have breakfast"?

" Thanks but am not hungry"

" Fine, you can just accompany me, please. This might be the last we get to see".

" In as much as I appreciate your help Yesterday, am busy and can't spare time for luxury"

" Fine. But you look trouble, let sit, you can't tell I might be of help to you" Audrey ascertaining the fact that he is a persistent one and was not going to let her go easily, she conceded, although she was famished, she wasn't going to let him buy her a meal. He has done so much as pay for her hotel bill as a stranger, and she wasn't going to leach off him any further.

There was a coffee shop around, and while they got in, he easily got comfortable sitting close to the view outside the bustling town.

" They make the best coffee, you have to try it out" he smiled, compelling the wrinkles on his face to be more visible.