Josh
Mom and I just arrived home after we stopped by at Walmart first to buy some ingredients for my mom.
“I had a great day today, honey. Too bad that we couldn’t visit Olivia. Send my regards to her if you go to her tomorrow, will you?”
“Sure thing, mom. I’m thinking to visit her class tomorrow.”
“Great. Oh, do you want dinner? I can heat the leftover meatloaf we had last night.”
“It’s okay, mom. I’m tired and I’m thinking to hit the bed.”
“If you say so. Well, sleep tight, honey. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day for you.”
“Thanks, mom. Good night.” I went to my room and immediately laid down on the bed.
Today was amazing.
My class did well. Olivia came even though John was the one who played in the end.
When I saw John together with Olivia, for a second, I thought Blake wasn’t going to come but he had a guest and he was the one who asked John to keep her company until tomorrow.
After the incident when I invited Olivia to my house two weeks ago because she argued with her father, I could tell their relationship became better than before. That time, when I opened the door and saw Blake standing outside looking so worried, sweats were all over his face, I knew immediately that Blake felt guilty about whatever happened to them.
I was so damn curious about what happened between them but Olivia didn’t say anything to me so I never asked again. As long as their relationship improved, that was all that mattered.
While I was busy thinking of Olivia and her dad, my phone suddenly rang. I took it from the top of the nightstand and it was from Olivia. That was rare.
“Hello, Olivia? What’s wrong?”
“Josh? Are you sleeping right now?”
“Um, no, not yet. I just came back from Walmart with my mom. What’s wrong?” Olivia was silent and didn’t say a word for a couple of seconds. “Olivia? Are you okay?”
“Um, sorry, Josh. But I don’t know who I could talk to and I can only think of you.” I could tell that she was panicking judging from her tone. And confused.
“What happened, Liv?”
“Well, after John took me home and I entered the house, I felt fine and since Blake still had to company the visitor he hasn’t come back home yet. But when I wanted to throw the trash, I found a piece of paper. A threatening one and it was not a good one.” What the hell? Who the fuck does that?
“Did you see who put it there?”
“I looked around and then I saw someone standing rather far from my house. He didn’t run away when I was looking at him. He was just…standing there. Like he was challenging me.”
“Is he a guy? Did you see his face?”
“No, it was too dark but I’m sure it was a guy. He creeped me out so I ran back to the house and locked the door. And he…is still outside now. I can see him from my room. I, uh, I’m scared, Josh.”
“Don’t worry, you are going to be fine. Did you call Blake or John about this?”
“No, I didn’t. I don’t want to bother them and the only person I could think of was you, Josh.” Well, I was happy that she was thinking about me but still…
“Is this your first time getting a threatening letter?”
“Yes, but I was being followed since a few weeks ago. I’m so scared, Josh. Please keep me company until Blake comes home.”
“I will, Liv. You know what? I’m going there now.”
“No, Josh. You don’t know what the stalker might be doing and you better stay at your house for now.”
“But—”
“Please, Josh. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Just keep talking while on the phone, okay? It makes me feel better so if anything happened, I can immediately tell you. Please, Josh?” Her begging melted my intention.
In the end, I was with her for a quite while until Blake returned.
I could see John was rather surprised. Well, I was surprised as well because I never expected someone would follow Olivia to the point of giving her a threatening letter.
Was someone hating her?
“Olivia probably didn’t tell Mr. Morgan about it. And neither you, obviously.”
“Yeah. She looked…perfectly fine this morning like nothing’s wrong. Mr. Morgan didn’t tell me anything too when we were on the phone call. If she told him, he would probably ask me to stay with her until he comes home tonight.” I agreed with John.
“I think you should do it tonight. We don’t know if the stalker returns.”
“I guess so. What’s the message about?”
“She didn’t tell me. She only said it was bad.” I tried last night but she just didn’t want to say it.
“Well, I appreciate that you told me this because maybe Olivia won’t tell me either. She doesn’t want to make me worried, even Blake.”
“I agree.” And by the time Olivia returned while bringing something for John.
“Here you go, John. A banana smoothie.” Olivia put the glass on the table and John was looking at it until he chuckled.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“It’s good to increase your stamina so you’re not going to faint at the office tonight,” she said and he glanced at me a little.
“Well, thank you but I might be going to work from your house instead.”
“Really? Why so sudden?”
“There’s a change of plan from your father and he said that I can work from your house,” John explained and even though Olivia didn’t show it to him, she was relieved. At least she won’t be alone tonight and it made me relieved as well. “I’ll be here until the festival is over then. Again.” Olivia smiled when he said that.
“Okay.” Olivia headed back and I stood up.
“Thanks, John.”
“No problem. Let’s see if he shows up tonight.”
“Yeah. Well, I have to go back to my class. I’m really grateful that you want to stay with her tonight even without Blake’s approval first.”
“Don’t worry. He is going to approve for his daughter,” he proudly said, and I parted with him. Leaving by still wondering about the threatening letter that Olivia got.
***
Olivia
I was on my way home with John. I was so relieved because John was going to continue working at my house while waiting for Blake to come home.
I hadn’t told him about the letter and the stalker roaming my house. I wanted to at least call John last night but he was still working and Blake was still busy. Some part of my mind was telling me that I should tell one of them so I could see what would happen to the stalker if I told them. I wanted to know if Blake was the person who did those unforgivable things to the girls back in primary school and those boys recently.
Once I reached the house, I walked out of the car and looked around if I found another letter or the stalker neared my house.
“What’s wrong, Liv?” John asked.
“…Nothing.” I entered the house first, followed by John behind me. “Do you want dinner?”
“Yes, sure. But don’t make anything.”
“Why?”
John put his laptop bag on the sofa and he turned to me. “As my gratitude for giving me the banana smoothie, I want to treat you something.”
“What? No, that’s okay. I gave you that smoothie because I wanted to.”
“I insist, Olivia. Do you like Chinese food?” he asked while taking out his phone from his pocket.
“Yeah?”
“Great. Chinese food then. Go take a shower, girl. I think you need it,” he said while winking his eye. I smiled at his action and I turned my heels and headed to my room. Taking a shower just like he said.
After I was done, I went back downstairs and found John was in the dining room with his laptop. It made me wonder if a secretary’s job was so busy and difficult. Well, given the fact that he was the secretary of the owner and CEO of the company, he was probably freaking busy.
Busy with his job mixed with babysitting me.
“Are you really okay staying here?”
“Yes, Olivia. Your father was the one who told me to do this. Relax, I’m not going to do anything with a child especially you,” he teased.
“Because I’m the daughter of your boss?”
“Exactly.” My turn now.
“Have you ever…think about it to try it with me?”
His blue eyes were on me immediately. Slightly widen until he scowled. “Hell no,” he replied so fast. I felt relieved but at the same time…offended by his answer. Oh, well. “I respect your father greatly, Olivia. And I won’t let him down by touching his daughter. He’s already kind enough for giving me this job and position. People are lining up their asses for my position but he chose me. At least I can be proud of it.”
“I’m still wondering,” I paused and leaned my back on the wall. “Why are you so cold to all women who want to get close to you while you are so nice to me? Despite I’m Blake’s daughter.”
“To put it in a simple way, you don’t see me as those women did. If you made me uncomfortable, I probably would give you the cold shoulder as well.” I could tell. There was something that happened in the past. But, what?
“What happened to you, John? You are actually…really nice. I can see when you’re talking with Josh or sometimes with Karen. So, why?” He didn’t speak. He was silent. Maybe I should just drop it and leave him alone. Until he stopped typing and cast his eyes to me.
“Why do you want to know, Olivia?” he asked…coldly.
“I’m just…curious.”
John smirked at my answer. It was not the kind of smirk that I was used to. “You should stop being so curious about everything, little lady. Your curiosity could kill you one day. Maybe because you are still young and free and that’s why you wanted to know everything.”
“What does that mean?”
John leaned both of his elbows on the table. His eyes never left me. “I must say that I didn’t get a good memory with a brat like you.” He didn’t get a good memory with a girl younger than him. What really happened actually? Did John…
“Were you…in love with a girl younger than you?” And although John was still smiling, it was cold. And his eyes were not smiling anymore.
“No. I never got heartbroken. More like I was…humiliated.” Okay, this was getting awkward. Maybe I should just stop but I couldn’t shut my mouth.
“Have you two reconciled?” And he laughed at me. I couldn’t read his mind. He was not laughing because he was enjoying the conversation.
“I have her the taste of her own medicine.” But it was because he had his revenge on the poor girl. I didn’t want to know what he did and I didn’t want to continue this conversation anymore. It was too dark and scary at the same time. “That’s why I said…don’t get too curious about everything, Olivia. There could be something that you don’t want to know no matter how curious you are. Just like you want to dig more about my little and dirty secret,” John reminded.
His words made me think again. Although I wanted to know, deep down, I didn’t want to. I didn’t know how to react if Blake was the person who caused the trauma to those people.
And by the time I could hear the bell sound from the door. “It might be the delivery.”
“I’ll get it,” I quickly said and went to the door.
I truly wanted Blake was innocent. But somehow…I couldn’t shake this suspicion on him.
My suspicion on my only father.