Chapter 24
* Tia and Henri’s Room *
Tia got up from the bed when Henri sat on the bed, she walked over to the couch available in their room.
Henri sighed as he watched her. Tia sat on the bed and then brought out her phone.
” Tia.. ” Henri called slowly but she turned deaf ears to him and only worked on her phone.
” Are you mad at me? ” He asked but got no reply.
” I’m sorry… ”
” Tia.. ” He called severally but she ignored him completely.
Suddenly, he was right behind her and snatched her phone. ” Henri! ” She gasped unbelievably and got up from the couch.
Henri raised the phone above his head. ” What do you think you’re doing? ” Tia asked in annoyance.
” Trying to get you talk to me ” He replied cutely.
Tia fold her arms under her breasts. ” And why are you bothered about that? I thought you didn’t want to say a word to me before? ” She asked, rolling her eyes.
” Well, I want to now ” Henri muttered.
” Are you giving me my phone or not? ” She stretched her hands but he shook his head and only raised his hands higher the more.
” No ” He replied.
” Alright, fine.. you can keep the phone ” She let out an annoying sigh and walked over to the bed, she sat on it with her arms still under her breasts.
Henri sighed before walking over to her, he handed over the phone to her and walked over to his side of the bed and he sat on the bed, leaning closer to the bed frame.
Tia raised her brows in suprise and in annoyance, she turned to Henri at once who only raised his brows innocently.
” Can’t you at least try harder? You are just going to give up like that? ” She asked, almost angrily but he only raised his brows, pretending to not understand her.
” I hate you ” She said angrily and got up from the bed again, she walked over to the couch and laid on it with her eyes closed.
Henri chuckled silently at how childish she was acting. He walked over to her and squatted lowly to where her face was.
” Hey ” He whispered slowly and forcefully turned her face to him and suprisingly, she was in tears.
He was more than shocked. ” Tia..” He called unbelievably, but she only try to wriggle out of his grip. ” Leave me alone! ” She snapped in tears and hitting his chest at the same time.
He forcefully pulled her up and as he also got up, he pulled her into his arms, caging her really tight that she was unable to break free.
” I’m sorry ” He muttered, kissing her hair and she relented tho she was still mad at him.
He let go of her to wipe her tears with his thumb. ” Are you mad at me? ” He asked the most obvious question.
” Obviously! ” She snapped with a hiss and he chuckled as he poked her cheeks.
” I’m sorry then, I didn’t mean to do that ” He mumbled as he snuggled her closer again and this time, she reluctantly hugged him tightly.
” I love you, can you not act like you don’t know me at all times? ” She muttered and he chuckled.
” I won’t.. again ” He replied.
” Really? ” She asked and he nodded. ” Yeah, and don’t cry ever again ’cause of trivial matters like this ” He said and she scoffed.
” Trivial? You call you acting like I don’t exist *trivial*? ” She snapped and he kissed her hair.
” I’m sorry ma’am ” He said sarcastically and he scoffed.
” Boss knows about us ” He suddenly said and she released herself from his grip as she set her foot on the floor, standing on her own.
” H.. he.. knows? About us? ” She asked, unbelievably and he nodded.
” Yeah ” He muttered.
” How! Did you?.. ”
” He said he found out a long time ago and he has no problems with us ” Henri said and her eyes widened the more.
” Really? He?.. ” She asked unbelievably and he nodded.
” Wow ” She burst into a wide smile.
” That means you don’t have to pretend you don’t know me whenever we are with them ” She said happily and he nodded.
” Wow, that’s great ” She said and Henri smiled widely.
Tia’s smile suddenly faded and Henri raised his brows as he wondered why.
” Why’s Sire Bruce suddenly acting nice? ” She asked giving a suspicious look like a detective and Henri chuckled.
” He has always been like that ” He replied but she scoffed.
” Well, he’s not nice to miss Lyra and you’re definitely only saying this because you don’t want him to fire you ” She said with an eye roll and he chuckled out loudly.
** Next Morning **
” Morning ” Lyra greeted Bruce who was just walking out of the bathroom with a towel hanged around his neck while she stretched her hands lazily as she sat up on the bed with a groan.
She felt a little pain on her neck and she tried twisting it, which resulted in her letting out a groan.
It’s been long since she slept so uncomfortable, she always slept uncomfortable whenever she slept on the same bed with Bruce and that was because, she only sleeps on a small region of space.
” Are you okay? ” Bruce noticed the look of discomfort in her eyes. She raised her brows and looking at him.
” Am I fine? Did you just ask me that? ” She was forced to let it out. Bruce only looked away before walking out of the room.
What’s wrong with him? Why was he suddenly acting nice these days?
* Morning love * She texted Bryan before switching off the a screen display only and dropping her phone on the bed, she walked out of the room.
” Morning Miss ” Tia greeted her firstly as she approached the dinning room where she ( Tia ) and Henri were setting the table.
” Morning Tia ” She muttered and Henri drew her seat backwards so she could enter and then she had her seat after muttering a *Thanks* to him.
Bruce was also sitted on his seat and was already having his breakfast.
” The man arrived early this morning with his wife so the party is starting tonight ” Bruce said without looking up.
” That’s great then ” Lyra also replied without looking up.
*** Penthouse Party ***
” Wow, this penthouse is so big and luxurious and beautiful ” Tia squealed behind Henri silently as they all walked around the big building.
The window is so large it reminds them of a store-front, but so high up who can see in anyway? It’s triple-glazed and so clear that the panorama is like a high definition screen at the movie theatre. The birds travel past, buffeted by the winds that whistle through the towers, as if to remind them that they’re in their space now. This real estate in the sky feels so futuristic.
The city below is so far away it’s like another world, those ant-like people and all their problems are of no more consequence than temporary static on intercom. All the concrete is their cocoon and the window, well, the window shows them as much detail as I want to know.
” Just shush! ” Henri cautioned her lightly and she pouted slowly before nodding and then composed herself as they all headed to the main big room in another building inside the penthouse where they would all gather together with others, where the introduction, games and other activities would take place.
**
After exchanging greetings with each other, three families out of four were around, the other man and his spouse who are yet to arrive are the one on the first floor in their apartments.
” So, You’re Lyra Ford? ” One of the business men’s spouse whose name was said to be Mrs Bills asked Lyra who was seated beside Bruce while Lyra and Henri stood behind them, standing.
” Yeah, you’ve heard of me? ” Lyra asked uninterestedly with a little smile, she’s only trying not to ruin things because of Bruce.
” Of Course I do, you own Lyra Conglomerate, one of the best in Australia, everyone knows you ” Mrs Bills said with a big smile on her face.
” Nice to meet you then ” Lyra faked another smile then as they both shook her hands.
” Well, except for the fact that there are rumors that the company is currently running at a loss ” Mrs Bills said and Lyra face fell for some seconds but she was quick to mask it up.
” Of course not, those are just rumors, my company is doing really fine. It hasn’t left the stance of it being one of the top 10 best company in Australia, has it? ” She asked the woman with a stern glare.
” Of course not, maybe they are just rumors then ” Mrs Bills said with a weird smile.
” So, you two have any kids yet? ” Mrs Bills said and this time Lyra face fell and the question caught Bruce’s attention as he turned slowly to Mrs Bills and then to Lyra who had a neutral expression on.
” No, you two? ” Lyra asked.
” Of Course, My husband and I have been married for four years now, I have twins, they’re 3 now ” She said in smiles and Lyra nodded.
” I’m happy for you two then ” She said with a light smile.
” So, how long have you two been married? ” She . asked.
” Almost four years ” Lyra said flatly and Mrs Bills gasped lightly.
” Wow, that’s a lot of years and it’s suprising you have no kids yet. Are you probably… ”
” I think you should stop now ” Mr Bills snapped and she kept mute.
Bruce didn’t know what made him do it but he did, shocking the hell out of Lyra.
He squeezed her hands softly on the couch. She turned to him in shock but he wasn’t even looking at her.
Mrs Bills words did get to her a bit, yeah, She’s almost 28 but doesn’t have a kid, she should sad about that right? Since it’s all her husband’s fault but seeing him soothing her ’cause of the embarrassment he indirectly caused her struck her unaware.
Bruce wouldn’t do that on a daily basis and that alone is making her wonder what was really up with him.
He had been acting strange ever since he talked to her about the penthouse party.
” I apologize ma’am ” Mr Bills said and that diverted her attention, she turned to him with a little smile.
” It’s fine, I guess ” She muttered and he smiled lightly at her.
” So, let go on with the party before the last family comes around ” The host said and immediately, the severs came in with different foods, drinks, appetizers and they also set the games and the party began, the pool party too.
Each of the families cane along with a maid and guard each and Lyra was glad they weren’t left out. The maids and guards were restricted to the refreshments only.
They were to stay by their bosses side always and give privacy only when needed.
Lyra and Bruce never left each other’s sides so Tia and Henri were also together.
Lyra watched as some couples fed each other and laughed in between, Bruce and her could never be like this. She thought as she bit her lips and licked on her ice cream.
Bruce gestured to Henri to pass him one of the grapes and he did. He plucked one and dipped it inside Lyra’s ice cream and she turned to him in shock, with her mouth opened slightly.
Bruce leaned closer to her and she raised her brows slightly. ” Open your mouth ” He whispered to her and she raised her brows the more, her mouth making no movement like he wanted.
” Come on ” He whispered and she finally obeyed, she parted her lips slightly and he dipped the grape into her mouth, and her eyes widened in shock as she kept her gaze transfixed at him.
Tia gasped lightly at the scene and turned immediately, Henri did the same.
” Chew ” Bruce broke her stare as he plucked another grape and repeating the process, he stretched his hands to her lips and she made way for the grape being inserted into her mouth and she chewed silently, still looking at him in awe.
T B C