CHAPTER 5

ANDREW'S POV

"I have indeed found a beautiful woman and I will do everything to keep her!"

"Who would have thought that I could find such a lovable person by accident?" I pondered.

I might have been moved by her story but what I feel for her is way greater than pity.

It's genuine and I know it. My heart longs for her already.

"Might as well take her out on a nice date next week. She would love that."

"On the other hand, that might look like I am being too forward."

Wait, let me just call her instead.

No! no... What am I thinking? I should let her rest and focus.

I don't want her to feel.....

A knock on my office door put a halt to my thoughts.

"Come in," I said without even checking my camera to see who was there.

It was my secretary, Susan.

"I'm sorry sir. The landline seems to be out of signal. I tried calling but it wasn’t going through....."

"It's fine. Go on. What do you have for me?"

"Sherry Investments sent a representative earlier today sir. They are requesting a meeting regarding the assets," she said.

"Schedule that meeting for the weekend. I have a few things I need to attend to."

"Hey big brother, " a tiny voice echoed through the entrance as she peeped to see if I was in.

Andria. My baby sister.

"Why did I not think of this earlier? I could talk to her about Olivia and ask for her opinions."

"It's lunchtime, already?" I asked, holding back some of my words.

"Almost, but I came to play with you. This isn't about food."

"Hey, I would still eat though," she giggled.

She was the only girl in the family. A smart young lady in her early 20s. We treat like the queen of the family being the only daughter of my father.

A playful one, I must add.

She is always checking on me and closest to me in place of my younger brother, Elliot.

I wonder where he is at the moment.

"Have you seen Elliot today?"

"Not at all. I slept at the penthouse and I didn't see him come in last night"

Elliot, my younger brother. We are not on good terms and he is always looking for my errors so he can bounce on them.

That had been the case ever since I took over my father's wealth as the first son.

"Oh, that reminds me! I need your opinion on something." I turned to Andria who was already consuming the chewables on my office desk.

I paused for a while to think about my next words carefully.

I know my sister quite well. In addition to her cleverness, she is quick at figuring things out.

I am most vulnerable around her. I have spent enough time with her to allow that.

"You aren't saying anything," she interrupted.

"Before I say anything, you have to promise me you won't discuss it with anyone else,"

"Not even on that anonymous podcast you run," I said, eager to hear her response.

She looked surprised. I knew she was running a live podcast show on her own but failed to tell anyone. Even me, despite how close we were.

"How did you..........?"

"Don't worry, that's a matter for another day and also I didn't tell anyone else about it."

"Oh! thank you, brother. I was about to explode. People would come for my head if they knew I was the face behind that podcast show," she explained, sighing relief.

"So tell me. What is wrong? Is it a woman?" she asked.

She doesn't disappoint. It was as though she already knew what was in my head.

How do I start this?

"I met this girl named Olivia and we......"

I explained to her everything, how we met, moments in the hospital, and all I had for her but kept how I truly felt for her at a minimum.

I wasn't ready to let Andria know all of that.

"So you want to take the strange girl out for a date?" She asked.

She gave me this awkward look. I know that look. Andria does it when she feels you are not making any sense.

"You think it's a silly move?"

"Andre, you don't know her from anywhere. Oh my God, hold on, you like her!"

"Oh my. My brute brother found a queen to soothe his soul" she jested, winking her eyes at me.

"Stop with the jokes, Andria. Can I take her or not?"

"You will but not now. You should see her first. Tell her ahead. For now, no surprises. You don't wanna ruin your big man mode," she said.

"Is that even a thing?"

"Well, I am jealous. Someone else would have my big brother's attention aside from me. So sad," she said, tapping her hands on the office desk.

"No one is taking your brother and I bet you would like her when you meet her. She is pretty."

"So you do like her already. Hmm, I'm happy for you," she responded softly.

The landline rang. It was the front desk calling.

I let it ring. I already made myself clear. My schedule was to be wiped for the entire day.

The phone rang again and this time around I decided to pick.

"What is it again, Susan? I thought I said no meetings till the weekend."

"I'm sorry sir but your brother Elliot is on his way to your office with a few other people whose faces I can't identify," she said.

Her voice was laced with fear and that got me worried.

"Susan, get security up here just in case."

Elliot was trouble. Oh yes! He is my brother but wherever he is, there is bad news and he doesn't even respect or talk to me about anything.

In a split second, a loud knock came at the door and someone barged in.

"What's all this, Elliot?"

"Give me what is mine, now!"

"That's him!" He pointed.