“I wasn’t close to your sister, Livy- but I can see no clear difference between you 2 now. She was always an arrogant selfish bitch, and at first I thought you were different but turns out you are both birds of one feather.” I stated, trying to calm my aching nerves that wanted me to stretch out my arms and pull out all her extensions.
“So, you called me out here to find a comparison between me and my dead sister? Wow, Heather, What a waste of time. So, because you have nothing else to do, you think everyone else is as jobless as you are, right?” She asked mockingly, but I didn’t respond to that.
She was being very petty right now, and even though I wasn’t really a violent person, but right now all my senses are telling me that my anger would subside only if she and I were to fight it out and see who wins.
“I’m leaving now, since you clearly have nothing better to say.” she stated and was about to stand up but I pulled her back down.
“Why did you do that to me? I trusted you Livy, because I thought you were my friend…” I lamented just to be cut off,
“then you are a bigger fool than I thought. Friends? Was that what we were? When did you ever consider me a friend, unless maybe you mean friends with benefit? (Scoff) You are Heather Winfrey, you don’t make friends you can’t control. You keep friends for when you really want something from them in return. Denise, Claire, Jessica, Gina, Asterid? They were all your friends, weren’t they? But where are they now? I guess they’ve fulfilled their purpose so you just threw them away. I refuse to be a friend you’ll just use and throw away, Heather, so I just gave you a taste of your own medicine and you’re mad about it?” She confessed spitefully.
Those girls were all stuck up and backstabbing bitches- who got catch plotting against me behind my back.
“I won’t deny anything you’ve just said, no. You did your homework well, and I really only liked you because you were Judy Luthel’s daughter. But than, I started hanging out with you, and you were purely honest and down to earth. You were the only person who didn’t judge me for being me, so I started liking you for real. If you had known about me all these while then why didn’t you just tell me?” I asked sadly, eager to know the whole truth.
“Because it’s better that thing should end this way” she responded, and that was all she said.
It’s better that things should end this way? Who the hell does she think she is to decide how thing should end?
“Fine, if that’s how you want it. But note that this makes us enemies now, will you be ok with that?” I asked her, hoping for a response that won’t certify our hatred and enmity towards each other.
“Well then, I guess it does. I’ll take my leave now, I hope you see well and also be treated well in the future.” She prayed.
Wow, what a strange young lady she was. I wondered what her deal was as I sat there for another hour.
How could she casually declare us enemies but still wish me well at the same time? Something was off.
***********************************
CASTLEHILL
I got an urgent call from Markian to meet for lunch at his office, or so I thought.
I arrived there looking even more depressed than I was yesterday after speaking with Livy, but Markian didn’t even notice.
I saw him pacing about in a frantic behavior, so I hoped nothing was wrong. He didn’t even notice me walk into the office until I called his attention.
As he rushed over to me to, he held my hands and made me sit on a couch close by. Something was bothering him and I wanted to find out what was wrong.
“Markian, are you ok?” I asked concerned.
“Heather, I know you are still upset with me about Daniel and the whole S. Group saga, but I need your help.” He spoke politely.
“Emm, Markian? An apology usually comes before asking for a favor, that’s how things work.” I told him, suddenly abash by his lack of ethics.
“Fine, I’m so sorry for everything and I accept whatever punishment you want to give me.” He said with more pride than I’ve ever seen in a narcissist when apologizing.
Markian never says sorry to anyone, but he was apologizing to me- even though it’s half-hearted, it must have taken a lot out of him. He must really need my help for him to be this desperate.
“I’ll think about the punishment later, but for now you can tell me what has gotten you so rattled up.” I said to him.
I could see how nervous he was, but why? Lately I’ve been seeing new sides of people. First it was Daniel, then Livy and now Markian?
“I am in love with Olivia. I didn’t think it was possible to find love more than once in a lifetime, but it happened and now I don’t know what to do about it.” He said sadly.
What? He’s in love with Livy? Well, it’s about time.
“Really, Markian? this is the best news I’ve received since like forever. Finally you are being true to yourself and choosing to be happy. I’m very happy for you.” I told him, while giving him a hug.
“No, you don’t understand. I’ve fallen in love with her but I don’t think I should” he revealed, surprising me.
“What do you mean you shouldn’t?” I asked upset.
“Well, for one, she hates me now and just few days ago she told me Daniel was the one she wanted to be with. And there’s also the promise I made to Sophia that I’ll love only her until the day I die…” he stated but I interrupted angrily.
“You dimwit.” I insulted,
“Hey…”
“Just keep quiet. What promise are you talking about? Are you trying to be an incredible saint of no love or what? So because you were scared of falling in love and getting hurt again, you made a promise to a corpse? Now listen to me! The dead have no impact at all in the lives of the living. So if you want to honor the memories of a loved one, do so by doing the things that would make you happy, because if they really loved you, they would want you to always be happy with or without them.” I told him as I looked him in the eyes.
He was finding it hard to understand what I just said and had a confused frown on his brows, but he wasn’t saying anything or arguing with me.
Markian had always been smart and innovative- some what of a genius when it comes to business, but knew little or nothing when it comes to matters of the heart.
From an early age he had had to conceal what he was truly feeling and sometimes he just pretends not to feel at all. Concealing all those emotions often ticks off which results in violence- both verbal and physical.
He understands matters of the heart incredibly slow, which is why even though I’m quite irritated by the fact that I just plainly explained what he was doing wrong but he still doesn’t understand, I would have to explain even better and calmly.
“Aunt Sabrina would have wanted you to keep playing the piano even after her death, but you stopped because you felt she would be sad each time you played it without her. She would have hated the fact that you believe true love could only be found once in a lifetime. And if Sophy had truly loved you, she would be sad seeing you give up on love, especially on her account. Markian, most times when you are scared, you make bad decisions based on that fear just to protect yourself from the future, and that’s wrong. You don’t owe anything to the dead except be happy. And if Livy brings you that happiness- you have to go for it.” I encouraged calmly as I smiled at him.
He smiled back and gave me a warm hug. My cousin was becoming a changed man because of Livy and I was grateful for that.
Maybe I shouldn’t be comparing but, I’ve never seen him this happy even when he was with Sophia and now I know why.
But since he’s had enough truth told to him today, I didn’t want to add another that might send him into a love-life re-evaluation.
“Thank you so much Heather… but next time you call me a dimwit, I’ll have you pay” he threatened jokingly, or was he serious?
Whatever, I don’t care. I’m just happy for him.
“Whatever. But have you told Livy yet?” I asked curiously.
“I think I did, but I’m not sure she understood me. Which brings me to the 2nd reason I called you here. Since you are friends with her, you must know what she likes and would appreciate. I want to take her out on a date and tell her how I truly feel.” He said excitedly.
See? That’s what I’m talking about. Markian only used to get this excited when he wants to signs a multi-million dollar deal, or he just bought off an old rival- not when he’s planning to go on a date.
“No… can’t do. Livy and I decided yesterday that we were now enemies. I can’t go around her back helping you help her, that’s not how it works” I told Markian plainly.
Being happy for him and Livy was one thing, but helping him woo the girl that caused me my company was another.
And the b*tch haven’t even apologize yet, so I’m not going to put my hands into what have no business to do with me.
“C’mon a Heather, don’t be so petty, please. I can’t do this without you. Ok, how about we make a deal, huh? Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.” Markian asked desperately.
Ok, now this was one chance I wasn’t going to miss.
“Anything?” I asked and he affirmed,
“anything.”
“Ok, since you were the reason why I’ll be coming back here to Minnesota, I’ld like it if I don’t stay at the hotel anymore. And I God forbid i go back to my father’s house nor the Winfrey’s mansion…” I stated but was interrupted.
“Please, don’t tell me you want to come live at my house.” Markian insinuates.
“Hell no. What do you take me for? I want my own place, and you’ll be paying for it. I saw a $9million mansion up at Lake Vermilion and I loved it. It’s far from everyone and everything, so I want it.” I told him sincerely.
“Is that all you want? Don’t you want to come work at Castlehill with me?” He asked curiously.
I know he was also wondering why I haven’t brought up that matter for weeks now, but I’m think of something else.
“I should come work at Castlehill so I can be fully humiliated by the press? No, thank you. And you were right, maybe all these happened for a reason- and I think I should really get a life, so I want to work on it. After all, I’ve got enough money to keep me till I’m old and grey, how much more do I need? So, I’m officially retiring today with you as my witness.” I said acting causal and confident, but Markian knew I still wasn’t ok with everything that had happened.
“It’s ok if you want to take sometime off to find out what other things you might be good at. But if you eventually want to come back to work, i have a pretty sweet position waiting for you at Castlehill.” He said comfortingly as he held both my hands in his.
Oh man, I wanted to hug him right now and tell him how proud I was that he’s finally becoming a man, but we’ve gotten too emotional for one day, so no need of making things even weirder.
“C’mon, lets go plan the most amazing date ever for you and Livy over lunch. I can’t believe you called me to your office to have office lunch with you, never do that ever again.” I reprimanded sternly and he nodded apologetically.
“One more thing, Heather. How do I tell Livy that her mother is dying and she could be her mother’s only hope?” Markian asked, knocking the breath right out of me.