It's been one week and I am still stuck in the garden with me and Grumpy. I can't stop thinking about how he gently patted my back while I cried my heart out on his chest. How even though he didn't say a word to me, his presence was very comforting to me. It isn't a memory that should be stuck in my mind. It's probably what decent and kind people do but I'm not used to it which perfectly explains my fixation. I am not used to even the bare minimum. Before we departed, I contemplated asking for his name and his phone number but I didn't want him to think I was desperate and doing too much when he was merely being nice so I thought against it and just thanked him.I probably would never see him again. First, second encounter was a coincidence but it was very unlike for a third to happen.I have also made up my mind to hand over Rodriquez Brands to Gareth. Frankly, I don't feel as much guilt as I thought I would. If anyone deserves to head the company, it's Gareth.The sound of my flip-

NIKOLAI My weird fixation on Lia made me go extreme just to keep in touch with her. After I watched her cry her heart out right in front of me, there was no way I could let go of her so bugging her phone was the most appropriate way to keep touch without spooking her. Now I'm starting to think it isn't as effective as I thought it would be because she hasn't left her house for a week now.My foot taps on the ground as I stare at Lia's location on my phone. "Do you have a girlfriend?" Hannah, my sister pipes up from the hospital bed, her eyes glued on the signed copy of her favorite novel Xan got for her yesterday. "No." She shifts her gaze. "Then why did you keep staring at your phone?" "I'm not." I shove my phone a little too quickly into my pocket. Hannah catches on to this. She raises an eyebrow as a knowing smile tugs her lips. "Perhaps, you got a girl from your last trip?" Trip. That's what she thinks I do. And I intend on making it stay that way. "No." I recline into my

LIAThe soft morning sun kisses Grumpy's weathered skin whilst watering flowers?...yes, I said that right. Watering a small flower garden in the backyard. With his sleeves rolled up, gloves on, and a sporting short on, he looks so ordinary, domestic. There is always nothing special about his clothing style but he doesn't usually look domestic as he does now. It's a pleasant surprise that I stand for a full minute, watching how he works fluidly before snapping out of it. "You are watering flowers," I say as a matter of factly as if the sight in front of me isn't proof enough. He answers with a deep grumble. "Yes." "Why?" The word falls out of my mouth before I can stop it. I quickly correct myself. "You don't look the type." I clear my throat to hide how my words stutter out of my mouth. I sweep my gaze around the flower garden. Beautiful, they are, but I can't focus on them because of this anomaly happening in front of me. "How?" His glance flicks over me as he straightens. The