“Mr. Stratford? You mean you have scores to settle with Mr. Stratford, Nelly’s father?” Aria asked. She was surprised to hear this from Easton Landers, not because they didn’t have any reasons to cross paths but because Mr. Stratford was very peaceful, quiet and calm. She didn’t know of any way whereby Mr. Stratford can offend anyone.
Easton just sat still, staring at her confused face while sipping his wine from the glass next to him and smoking his cigarette as his legs flapped in the pool.
“Yes, it’s with Mr. Stratford I have issues not with Nelly.”
“But how? I mean, what did Mr. Stratford do to you that made you hate him so much that you decided to punish him so badly?” Aria’s curiosity made her so inquisitive. She was confused about this for a long time. Since the onset, she had always wondered why Easton Landers was doing the things he was doing.
“That’s by the way, Aria. Just tell me whatever information you have for me and you can be on your way before Daisy or Katty returns.”
Aria refused to give up on her quest of knowing what happened between Mr. Easton and Mr. Stratford. She wanted to know the reason Mr. Easton Landers hated the Stratfords so much.
“You have to tell me the reason why you make me do all I’m doing. I believe I’ve done much to be still kept in the dark.”
Mr. Easton grew annoyed due to Aria’s pestering attitude. He stood up immediately and grabbed Aria by her hair –
“You have no right to demand to know anything from me, you fool! You’ve done enough to know what? Have you forgotten that you do me no favor by what you do? Whatever you’re doing is for your miserable and wretched father who owes me a large sum of money!”
Aria was so terrified. She was afraid that Mr. Easton would hurt her badly. All she wanted was for him to let go of her so she’d walk out of the mansion.
Mr. Easton continued while maintaining his grip on Aria –
“All you need to know is that if you slack off or refuse to do what I ask of you, then you can kiss the thought of ever seeing your dad in one piece goodbye.”
Eaton’s threats sounded so real and scary. Aria looked into his eyes and saw these weren’t just mere threats, he meant every single word he said.
“Now I want you to tell me, what information do you have that you thought was so urgent and important that you decided to bring it to my house?” Easton asked in a more relaxed and calm tone after letting Aria off his grip.
“It’s – I – I -…” Aria was disoriented with fear. She could not find the coordination to say something meaningful. Her feet were trembling and her knees were knocking against each other.
“Tell me! I want to know!” Easton yelled.
Aria trembled the more, she had never seen Easton so angry as he was, standing in front of her.
“Nelly, she – she has – she…”
“Speak up!”
Aria’s entire body vibrated.
“I swear, if you waste any more minutes of my precious time I’m going to drown you in this pool by myself!”
Easton meant what he said, he was that powerful to do whatever he wanted and walk away with it. Aria knew if something of that sort should happen, no one would ever find out. Easton didn’t need her as much as she needed him so he could easily just dispose of her and find someone else to fill her purpose.
“Nelly has a child now. She is also finding her way to stardom.” Aria handed over an envelope to Easton.
“This can’t be happening, we can’t allow it!” He said after closely examining the contents of the envelope. “How can she do this all by herself in a short time? If it continues like this, she’ll be back to the states and we can’t afford to have her back without fulfilling our plan. It’s going to ruin whatever we have planned.”
Aria made sure Easton knew that Nelly had help. She could not afford to keep anything from him and risk him getting really angry after he finds out.
Easton smiled at Aria – “she has help, I see.”
He continued, but first he stepped very close to Aria and whispered –
“The ball is in your court, you know what to do next.”
Aria did, she had to always be able to read Easton’s mind and discern what he wanted his next move to be.
“You’ll hear of the results in no time,” Aria turned around to leave.
Neuer dropped by Nelly’s apartment to see how she and her baby were doing. He brought along with him a lot of gifts and goodies, both for the baby, Nelly herself and for Amanda too.
Amanda was so busy with unpacking the gifts that she forgot all about Nelly and Neuer. She would always want to sit around to tease Nelly whenever Neuer was around. With every glance Nelly would take at her, she would make a teasing remark or smile awkwardly. But this time, she was busy with the gifts Neuer brought with him, including those that belonged to Nelly.
“Do you need me to do anything for you?” Nelly asked Neuer. She wanted to make him feel appreciated for what he had been doing for her.
“Something like what?” Neuer bit his lips to a smacking sound.
Nelly understood he was trying to be naughty so she pinched his cheeks a little.
“Ouch!”
“That’s what you get for being so naughty,” she laughed out loud then ceased laughing immediately. She remembered the baby was asleep and she didn’t want to bother her.
“And do you know what you’ll get for pinching me?”
Nelly shook her head, she wanted to find out.
Neuer held her face gently but firmly, he licked her lips first before he proceeded to give her a very passionate kiss, letting his hands wander around her thighs.
Suddenly, the alert of a text message sprang up. Neuer looked at his phone and shortly after, he looked at Nelly.
His face was abruptly gloomy and distraught.