Mike's POV

We finally reached Eklo Hotel, my rival company. Violetta and I ambled in, viewing the extravagant environment. If she was stunned by this, I wonder what her expression would be like when she sees mine.

We got to the second floor which was rented out by Mrs. Rivandro, a middle-aged woman. We were escorted to a room with fancy chairs and tables with people, sitting on the majority. Only two seats were left, one beside Mrs. Rivandro and another beside one of her workers. I sat beside the worker leaving Violetta to sit beside the woman in her late twenties.

Her red hair dyed hair was short, and her heart-shaped lips were colored with dark red lipstick. I figured that's her favorite color. We discussed the same old business matters, talking about coming together to make a new hotel.

Of course, I rejected her proposal. Mrs. Rivandro comes from a family of dangerous people. People who rose to the top by getting their hands dirty. People I couldn't do business with. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't agree with what you're saying. This wouldn't benefit me, only you. Bulldozing an apartment is wrong, especially on short notice. What about the people living there? They would have to go on the streets." I rationalized.

"Ugh. What's our business with that? As long as we're making money, who cares?" she spoke heartlessly. "I care, and I don't do business with people who don't," I said, ending the conversation and walking out of the room. Violetta followed behind me after a while, picking up her papers and tablet.

"That woman is strange," she said strolling by my side. "Not strange, merely wicked." I let out. We went back to the office once more after leaving the hotel.

Soon, We were back on the 16th floor, eating Pringles on the couch, and watching another action movie. "Cancel the last meeting, I'm tired" I commanded, nibbling on another Pringle. "Ok," Violetta said before getting up and calling to cancel. She finished and sat back down, munching on her snack. An hour went by and we had finished the action movie.

I got up and noticed Violetta had fallen asleep. She looked so familiar with her eyes closed. I stood and watched her for a while, trying to place my finger on where we had met, but nothing came to mind. Once again, like all the other times, I gave up.

It was 4 pm and I had decided to let Violetta go home early because I wanted to go to the bar later and wasn't in the mood to order her around anymore. "Hey, Violetta wake up", I whispered, calmly prodding her. "Violetta", I said once more causing her to shoot up, terror apparent in her eyes.

She began to pant, like she had been running, leaving me worried. "Are you ok?" I implored curiously. "Yes, yes. I-im o-ok." she stuttered, taking deep breaths.

I informed her that she could leave early, offering to drop her at home, which she agreed to. What could make her forget that Mateo was her driver?

The whole car ride was speechless. I had never seen her so silent and calm. She always had something to say. I decided not to ask her further questions to avoid startling her even more. Our relationship was bad already, so why make it worse?

I got to the front of the apartment complex and turned off the car, waiting for her to move but she didn't. She stayed put, starting at the window, like she wasn't in this world anymore. "Hey", I said nudging her lightly, bringing her back from her thinking. "Were here"

She got out of the car and I noticed how pale she was. How tired she looked. "I'll take you up" I proposed receiving an ok from her. Normally, she would've told me not to worry and sent an indirect insult my way. It was as if she wasn't even aware of her surroundings.

I accompanied her up to the third floor and put in her code for her, tugging her inside with me. "Mummy!" a little girl who I believe was Nora, screamed, hugging her mother's legs, receiving a pat and a faint smile from Violetta. She was so out of it. "I need to use the restroom, I'll be out soon, ok", Violetta said, carelessly dropping her handbag on the floor and walking into her room.

I picked up the handbag and sat down beside Heli who wasn't even acknowledged. "Good evening boss", he greeted. "Good evening" I greeted back. "Is she ok?" he asked with caring eyes. "I honestly don't know".

Heli left and minutes passed by but Violetta didn't come out of her room, leaving her hyper kids with me. I knocked on the door after pouring some apple juice I found in the fridge for the children but she didn't answer. "Violetta, are you ok?" I asked, speaking into the door, but once again, no reply.

Worry filled up in me, and I instinctively barged into the room to find her sitting on the floor and resting her head on the bed. I walked up to her and urged her lightly, causing her to jolt. "I- I uh, just thought I could rest for a minute. Sorry.", she apologized.

"You can, I'll take your kids to the cafeteria. You can head to bed", I offered. "No, no it's ok. I was just feeling a bit dizzy for a while, sorry," she mumbled in a shaky voice. "Are you sure you're ok?" I inquired once more.

There was a long pause before she spoke. "I don't know", she admitted. "I- I don't know"

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Yesterday was quite a rollercoaster. I ended up having to stay with Violetta all night. I took her kids to eat at the cafeteria and came back, but she was still acting absurd.

Apart from that, I had a great time with her children. They were all so funny and they told me about a time when Violetta kissed a fish for some kind of experiment. I went home by eleven pm yesterday after I put her children to bed and read them a bedtime story.

Since I was little, I always wanted kids. My dad wasn't the best parent but my mum was and I promised to treat my children the way she treated me.

A knock was heard on my office door, reminding me to come back to the present. "Come in," I said and my door immediately flew open revealing Violetta. She was wearing a fitted white dress that went below her knees and showed her unique hourglass — almost pear-shaped figure, along with white and black sneakers that made the outfit look casual.

"I've told you so many times to stop knocking." I lectured. "Yeah, I'm not listening to that rule anymore. I want to save my innocent eyes from sights like before." She joked. "I see you're back to normal today", I announced.

"Yeah, thanks. I just had this um, weird dream, and I was so out of it," she explained, then walked over to my table and dropped my coffee. "But I'm fine now," she added. "Well, ok then. Now stop standing there like a clueless child and get these files sorted" I authorized, returning to my mean self.

I always preferred to be cold and hostile toward people. It just seemed better that way, and besides my aggressive attitude, I get attached easily, and whenever that happens, it's hard to let go. It's easier to shut myself off from everyone and put up a mask when I know I'm just a scared little boy, afraid of rejection on the inside.

I realized too late that the only reason why anyone would truly care for me was because of what I could offer them.
Even Violetta.

I returned to my work. Writing business proposals, researching business capitals, background checks on partners, reading through new employees, investing in businesses, and much more. Not long after, my phone rang loudly, disturbing my ongoing tasks.

"Yes?", I spoke. "No greetings I see", it was my sister on the phone

"What is it this time?", I implored, not ready for her drama. "Could you borrow me a few dollars?"

"For?", this was the third time this month she had asked me for cash for only God knows what. "I need to eat.", she lied. "Come up with a better excuse"

"I wanna buy a gift for my girlfriend.", she lied again. "That's your business, get her a homemade bracelet or something", I snapped back. "Ugh I hate you, I'm coming to your office.", she spoke loudly. "No. I don't want your cheating gay ass flirting with my employees"

"I don't cheat... Depending though", she said and then cut the call before I could reprimand her again.

Pressing my temples in stress, I sighed. Riley is my half-sister who's older than me but younger than Anna. She's an illegitimate child, and I always feel the need to help her because I know what she went through. She's into girls and is kinda like me, except she dates them, sleeps with them, then ends the relationship.

Kinda sad.

The telephone on my table rang, making me startled by its loud noise. I picked it up to hear Violetta's soft voice speaking to me. "Uh, there's a tall girl in the lobby, asking for you. She says she's your sister." Violetta announced through the phone.

Fuck.

I walked out of my office to the lobby to see a tall girl, almost my height with black brown hair up in a ponytail and that girl happened to be Riley. "Hello my dear little brother", she shouted, winning the interest of the employees walking back and forth.

"Riley, this is an office. Keep your fucking mouth shut." I whispered lowly. "You're such a buzz kill, I was just greeting you", she asserted carelessly. "Also, are you by any chance shagging the hot brunette? She's so sexy and I'd be happy to have her," she confessed smiling sheepishly.

"Too bad. She's not that much of a hoe, sadly", I pushed Riley off of me.

"Now can you tell me why you're here", I said, dragging her into my office. "See, maybe she might like me if she doesn't like you", Riley cackled. "What! She finds me attractive, but as I said, she's just not into banging her boss", I clarified defensively. "Yeah sure, whatever helps you sleep at night"

"Riley. What do you want!" I scolded, staring at her with irritated eyes that soon moved to Violetta, who walked into the room holding papers in different files. "Sorry to interrupt. I'm just here to drop these", she said.

"No problem. Also, you have a nice lip- uh I mean voice." Riley complimented, eying Violetta seductively. "Uh thanks", Violetta let out with a questioning tone.

"Riley, you can leave now. I have work to get to", I explained. "That's no way to talk to your older sister", she said, faking a hurt expression. "Hmm, you don't act like one. Leave, or I'll have you dragged out by security", I threatened, earning a scoff from Riley, who eventually left. "I didn't know you had more siblings", Violetta said. "I have many more", I confessed.

"I wanted to inform you that we'll be going to a party by 7 pm tomorrow." I notified. "No, you're going to a party. I'm closing from work", she denied. "You'll work your 10 hours. We should leave the party at around 11 pm, so you'll start work by 1 pm tomorrow", I asserted.

"No, no. You're changing my whole schedule for a party. That's not how it works. I have a life and children to take care of you know", she let out angrily. "I heard you're trying to open up a cafe downtown. I could always help you with the operations as a reward. Imagine the number of customers you would get with my name. That, or I'll fire you after you collect your next paycheck. You pick", I compelled.

"I hate you so much," she mumbled under her voice, just enough for me to hear her, and walked out of my office, slamming the door behind her. Such a quick temper. I sent Violetta an email, with the number of the babysitting company my sister used. I also told her to send a business plan for the cafe so we could discuss it later.

Hours passed quickly and I got hungry. I went into my private elevator and it took me to the 10th floor where I walked to the buffet and placed my order. I got 2 double, fries cheeseburgers, 3 portions of fries, 1 portion of mac and cheese, a slice of barbeque pizza, and a vanilla milkshake. I was served to-go but when I turned around, I saw Violetta and that Mateo guy, eating and laughing together.

He must be funny. Maybe that's why she tolerated him so much. He's not even that handsome anyway, I mean I'm taller and I'm buffer.

BASTARD!

Why do I even care? She might as well go ahead and have a nice baby with him. I went back to my office and ate my delicious meal, forgetting about the driver who was trying to distract Violetta from her work.

The day was as usual, documents upon documents, and files upon files. The party was tomorrow, my mothers's get-together that everyone seemed to enjoy but me.

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Hello everyone. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the book. Thanks for reading and for your help in sharing the book. I appreciate it. Byee❤️

Q and A
1. What do you think about Riley?

2. Do you have any idea what was wrong with Violetta?

                                        
                                                            Get ready for the next chapter... Tipsy