“Catherine, Catherine,” she shoot out of bed as a familiar voice jolted her awake. Another morning, another missed alarm. Waking up early was never a problem for her, but now she found it difficult. With Donovan, she would get up because his face literally hunted her sleep. “You’re late again, Flora,” he would say. Catherine spent most nights on video calls with Rose and Teresa. She basically explained her entire day in detail. She had been working at the hotel for a while, so there were lots of interesting things to share, especially about her encounters with patrons and guests. “Bro, wake up,” Rose shook her shoulders vigorously as she sat confused on the bed. “Yes, yes! I’m awake. What is it?” she asked. “Tessa’s mother just passed.” “What?” Catherine said dryly, staring into space. She was trying to process the words she heard, but it just sitting right. “Tessa’s what?” “Her mum, she—” “That cannot be possible! She literally told us how her mum helped make brownies.” S

“You awake?” he asked, knocking on the door. When Catherine didn’t respond, he stood down, suddenly remembering what happened the last time he barged in on her. “Is she still asleep?” Kenny asked. His hair was wet and his shirt off. With the toothbrush in his mouth and towel around his neck, he looked like he just took a shower. “This is not the bathroom Kenny boy,” he said. The door to the balcony opened. “Oh, you guys are finally awake,” Catherine said. “Shit, you scared me when did you wake up?” Donovan asked. “About an hour ago,” she said nonchalantly, “I can’t get over this view,” she said. “Get used to it, you’ll be here often,” he said. “Why, this I going to be the new sweat shop?” she asked. He turned to Kenny, “Put on a shirt.”“Or don’t, ” she smirked. “Don’t be a pervert Flora,” he glared. “Kenny can you hand her the spare key?” “You haven’t told me what I’ll be doing her yet,” she protested. “Since I fired you I had to come up with an excuse for my grandfather” “

“Miss Lily,” she said. Catherine and Keila walked back into the changing room. Catherine stared at the clothes with a dead look in her eyes. She held the rack and didn’t move. “Candace, Darby and now there’s a Lily?” she whispered. All educated, and we’ll bred ladies from distinguished families. She couldn’t contend, especially when the person she’d like to fight for was giving her mixed signals. “You like him, right?” Keila asked. “What?” she asked, looking very distracted.“I know you like him. I see the way you look at him,” she said, holding on to Catherine’s hand. “Does it matter?” she asked, a little frustrated. “Donovan has never in his life made an effort to impress anyone. Even when he was with her,” she emphasized, referring to Lily. “He doesn’t seem to be putting an effort in me either,” she pointed out. “That dope is proud and in denial, he never treated any of ex’s like this Lady storm,” she had a sincere look on her face. Catherine pondered on her words for a

“The long story cut short is that another company is stealing our clients, so we have five days to close this acquisition deal. If not, Mr. Stanford Smith with make our lives a living hell,” he explained.She sat quietly lounging on her chair. “And how does that concern me? He doesn’t know me,” she blew softly on her finger nails. Donovan huffed, he stared in awe. “You work here now Catherine and you’d get a monthly salary for your efforts to evade a tragedy with our current situation,” he explained.“Well if you say it like then,” she grinned. He sighed, “Kenny, you’ll work with her, I’ll think of other means to solve the problem,” he instructed giving Kenny an apprehensive look. He nodded, understanding what Donovan said.His affirming Catherine as his girlfriend had caused an emotional upheaval. It most definitely stared up some old memories for Lily. She was upset, and now she was using his only weakness against him, the company.Lily was Donovan’s first love. After the pen incide

“Car accident,” he said nonchalantly. Donovan started to breathe heavily. “Are you okay, what’s wrong?” she asked. He chuckled then started laughing, “You should have seen the look on your face,” he said. Catherine paused, “Are you crazy, I thought you were dying!” she clenched her fists. “Bro, that was fucked up,” she had tears in her eyes. He felt really bad for her. Nobody ever resonated with him the way Catherine did. She got sad when he was sad and happy when he was happy. It really got him thinking, was she getting attached to him? He was so scared of getting attached to someone and being abandoned. Even if all his relationships in the past had been orchestrated by his grandfather, he never brought himself to love anyone of them. He never could. The fear of loving and loosing, the fear of disappointing a man who put so much faith in him, he couldn’t bear to loose. He would much rather lose love than lose at life. Becoming emotionally dependent on another person would make hi