(OLIVE’S VISION PART 2)
After Lois’s long bath, she got dressed in one of her old dresses and blow dried her hair with her brother’s blow drier. She walked to the dining room and helped her mother set the table.
“Where is Dad and Percy? I checked his room and he wasn’t there,” she said to Rebecca.
“They both went to get some wine. I didn’t know we had none for the dinner,” Rebecca replied.
“All right,” she mumbled.
“Hey are you alright?” Rebecca inquired after finding out her daughter looked rather gloomy.
“No. I just found out Walter Lance is having a match here soon. And I can’t afford the ticket,” she answered.
“Oh, my poor baby. It must be the VIP match I heard about. It’s limited to a few people so they made the ticket expensive in order to check some people out,” Rebecca cooed.
“Yeah. Not fair though.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll get to see him another day.” Rebecca kissed Lois’s forehead and entered the kitchen. The front door opened then and Percy walked in with their Dad. They were with two umbrellas which they dropped at the front porch.
“Percy. Dad,” she called and walked to them.
“There’s my little baby girl. Come here,” Paul, her dad said with a large smile on his face. Lois walked to her father and gave him a soothing hug.
“I missed you so much, Dad,” she muttered as she hugged him. He patted her back and they disengaged from the hug.
“Now, don’t you dare do this to me again. You have to see me every two weeks whether your job let’s you or not,” he stated and she laughed.
“Looks like you missed me more than I missed you. Well, I promise to start attending home church every Sunday,” she announced and he nodded with a firm smile.
She looked behind them and saw Percy leaning against the door, and watching them.
“Percy!” she called.
“Finally notice me? Didn’t want to ruin father-daughter moment,” Percy uttered in his cool and smooth voice. He was a tall fellow, with brown hair and thick brows. He was very handsome and sexy. Once, Lois was threatened by some college girls about she, flirting with Percy. They didn’t know she was his sister until he came to her rescue in the coffee shop they had met up.
“Oh, come here. I missed you so much,” she cheered and hugged him. He ruffled her hair like he would a puppy and she frowned.
“Isn’t it too early to tease me about my height? Huh, Percy?” she questioned and withdrew from the hug.
“Never early, never late. You did that to me when I was the short one,” he teased and walked past her to the dining table. She heaved a sigh and decided to ignore his teasing tactics.
“Mom said you had a surprise for me?” she asked him.
“Oh, yeah. I’ll be right back. It’s upstairs in my room,” he said and darted up the stairs.
She saw her mother bringing in a large bowl of salad and she ran to help her carry it.
“Hmm, this has amazing smell,” she complimented before placing it on the table.
“What a rain!” Paul exclaimed and sat down at the table. Lois went back into the kitchen to help bring the rest of the food. When they were done, they sat at the table too.
“Where’s Percy?” Paul asked.
“Said he had a surprise for me,” Lois answered. Right then, Percy arrived and sat down.
“Can we say grace now? I am starving,” Paul asked and Rebecca began to say grace. Then they started to eat.
“What is my surprise, Percy?” Lois asked after gulping down water.
“Did you hear about the VIP match coming up? Walter Lance?” he asked as he was cutting steak.
“Yes?” she asked with beaming eyes, eager to know what the surprise was about him.
“Has the price been reduced?” she inquired.
“Oh no. I even heard rumours that the tickets are sold out already. I overheard someone saying it while Dad and I were out.”
“So what is the surprise, Perce?” Rebecca asked.
He dropped his hand and reached into his pocket, then he pulled out a ticket.
“I got you a ticket!” he announced and Lois screamed. Even Paul and Rebecca yelled excitedly.
“Oh my God! How did you get this?” she asked as she collected it and checked it out.
“A girl that has a crush on me is from a rich family. And, I kinda let it slip that I wanted to go but couldn’t afford it. She came with it just a few minutes later. I really don’t know how,” Perce replied. He was in this rock band at school and played the guitar, enough reason for him to be the crush of all girls including this very rich one.
“I love you for this,” Lois beamed and her family laughed.
“So, I’m going to see him soon? Oh! I can’t wait. I bet he’s going to be so much better than before.”
“What do you mean so much better? Walter has always been the best at tennis,” Paul stated.
“No, Dad. I mean his looks. He’s going to look way better,” Lois replied.
“I am beginning to think your obsession over him isn’t because he’s a tennis star anymore. It’s more like you’re falling in love with this guy,” Rebecca chirped and Paul chuckled.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up bringing him to my doorstep one day,” Paul added and they all laughed.
The rest of the dinner was great. Lois was in a good mood throughout. And when it was over, she resumed work in the living room with her family keeping her company.
The next morning, she left for the company after hugging her family. Arriving in her office, she met an angry looking Elijah Stern there.
“Good morning, boss,” she mumbled. He turned abruptly and glared at her.
“Is there anything that is good about this morning?” he asked and she pinned her lips together nervously.
“Answer me!” he barked and she flinched.
“The weather is nice despite the heavy rain yesterday,” she stated.
“And that is why you came late? You didn’t finish your job here yesterday! We have a meeting today and you haven’t even drafted my schedule. What sort of secretary are you?” Elijah blurted out and Lois sighed.
“I’ll get your schedule ready now,” she replied and walked past him to her desk.
She sat down and brought out her laptop. Then looked under her desk and saw her yellow umbrella.
“Why didn’t you finish the emails and documents yesterday? The guard said you left five hours early.”
“I finished it,” she simply answered and started to draft his schedule. Her good mood had already been destroyed.
“Get me a cup of latte first,” he ordered and left her office.
“Arsehole,” she muttered as she glared at his back. He always found a way to make her angry.
Shortly after he left, the door opened again and Cassandra, the assistant manager walked in. Lois looked up at her questioningly.
“Do you know how to knock?” she asked her.
“Yes, I do. But I only knock on relevant people’s doors,” Cassandra answered.
“Oh, then I’d be reminded to stop knocking at your door too. Since only relevant people matter,” Lois retorted and Cassandra glared at her.
“What are you doing here?” Lois asked and went back to drafting the schedule.
“Why was he looking so pissed after leaving your office?”
Lois rolled her eyes. Of course, this was about Elijah again.
“Why didn’t you just ask him yourself?”
“I tried. He just ignored me like I wasn’t even there”
“Awwn, sorry,” Lois drawled sarcastically.
“You should stop making him angry. I dislike that. I won’t warn you twice,” she stated and turned on her feet.
“Oh no! I’m so scared!” Lois teased and started to laugh.
“What is wrong with you? I’m serious here. Don’t you dare get him angry again”
“Or else what? You’ll report me to who? Your daddy?”
Cassandra stood without an answer and Lois got on her feet.
“You just wasted good five minutes of my time. God knows I’d have done something resourceful with it than speaking with you. Now, out of my office before I throw you out,” she commanded with so much authority in her voice.
“One day, I’ll make sure you regret ever treating me like trash. I will soon be Mrs Stern,” Cassandra stated and Lois smiled.
“Good luck with even making him know you’re a human in this company first. Now bye,” she pointed towards the door. Cassandra scoffed and left her office.
“Good riddance,” Lois muttered and sat on her seat. She tapped her pen on her desk and tried to stop being angry.
How could she get visits from the two people she despised the most in the company? Cassandra had a huge crush on Elijah and was always trying to steal his attention.
“Don’t worry, Lois. You’ll see Walter Lance this weekend. You’ll see your Walter soon,” she whispered to herself, in order to calm down.