Mr Philip's Penthouse
6:00p.m

After the little discussion with Mia, I helped her prepare dinner which was entirely an Hawaiian dish and from what she told me, that was one of Philip's favorite Hawaiian foods.

While we prepared for dinner, Mia told me a lot of stories about her early days in Hawaii. Her parents died in an unfortunate plane crash leaving her with the huge responsibility of taking care of their family businesses. Years after she met Philip's mother in College, she got married to her husband who temporarily relocated to China because of the nature of his job. He worked for a pharmaceutical company based in China and it was necessary for him to leave for China.

After he left, Mia became more lonely as she hadn't had the chance to bear children before her husband traveled out. Despite being surrounded with so much money, she wasn't content with all she had, so she gave out everything to charity and lived the simple life she was living as a member of Philip's household.

While she spoke, I noticed a few drops of tears fall to her blouse and it filled me with so much compassion at her emotional moment.

I sat at the kitchen island and paid close attention to her story.

After dinner was prepared, I went upstairs to the balcony where I could observe the sunset.

I wondered where Mr. Philip was as I hadn't set my eyes on him since he introduced me to Mia. The cool evening breeze soothed me as I stared at the horizon wishing mom and Tamara were here to witness the beautiful Hawaiian sunset.

"What are you doing?" I turned around to catch a glimpse of Philip whose hands were hidden in the pockets of his sweatpants. The glow cast by the sunset modified the features of his face making him a little more handsome.

" I just..I just.." I stuttered and stopped talking to save myself from further embarrassment.

I hate awkward moments.

"You just what?" He asked, staring intently at me.

"The sunset here, it's beautiful." I commented, whilst avoiding his searching eyes which in their journey around my body made my legs feel like jelly.

Philip took quick steps forward and placed a hand on the rail, his eyes still staring at me.

"Yes it is... Come down, dinner is served."

I walked out of the balcony and downstairs towards the dinning room adjoining the kitchen.

Mia had already laid out the dishes. A plate of different fruits were on one side of the table. and a plate of rice and seafood was on the other side.

I settled into a chair, and Mr. Philip did the same in a chair opposite mine.

Mr Philip occasionally stared questioningly at me during the meal and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, swallowing my food with so much difficulty.  After dinner, my phone rang and I rushed to the balcony to answer It, relieved at escaping the tension hanging around.

"Hello baby." My mom's calm voice flew I smiled and gave her my response.

"Hi mom."

"How are you doing baby?"

"Fine mom, you good over there?"

"Yeah, So, Hawaii? I heard how your boss carted you away."

"Hawaii's beautiful mom, I never expected it to be this beautiful, and the sunset-" I sighed dreamily. "-It's breathtaking."

My mom sighed over the phone and I heard Tamara yelling in the background. A cough from behind me distracted me, I spun around to see Mr. Philip smiling at me, his hands folded on his chest. Distractedly, I smiled back at him and listened to what my mom was saying.

"When are you coming back home?"

"I have no idea mom." I sighed and stole a glance at Mr Philip who pinched his nose lightly.

"Be safe, okay?"

"Yes mom." I twirled my hair between my fingers.

"I love you Florence!!" My sister yelled and I grimaced holding the phone away from my ears.

"Your mom huh?" Mr Philip asked after mom hung up.

"Yea, she's just worried about my safety." I muttered, grasping the rail in front of me.

"She shouldn't be." I turned to him, why wouldn't she be worried, afterall, her daughter has been whisked off to Hawaii without her consent, that calls for much worrying.

"Why?"

He looked briefly at me and turned to the sky which had become completely dark.

"Her daughter's in safe hands." He muttered. I felt I hadn't heard that right, I almost slapped myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. When did Mr Philip get a change in heart?

"Tomorrow, I'll be meeting with some business partners, after that, I'll head to my company to ensure it's running smoothly, you're coming with me."

I nodded and he looked at me again, this time with a serious look on his face. He could really be given an award for switching through different moods like it were a chunk of cake.

"When did you become a vegetarian?" I hadn't expected this question at all but an answer surfaced in my head.

"A long time ago, when I was 16." I answered. Philip studied me for a brief moment before his lips parted to ask me another question.

"Why did you become a vegetarian?" Why did he become suddenly nosy? I moved my feet and looked down at my fingers firmly gripping the rail.

"I hated meat, the mere sight of meat irritated me, coupled with my love for animals, I couldn't stand eating the creatures I claim to love."

"Meat, huh?" I sensed a little more in his words when he winked. Heat rose up to my cheeks.

"Not that kind of meat you dirty-minded pervert." I scolded him.

"I think you're the pervert." He replied. There was no scowl on his face, neither was there a judging expression, instead, a full-blown smile stuck to his face.

For some minutes, we were silent, gazing at the stars in the sky. The cool ocean breeze hit my skin softly and my hair swayed in the breeze.

I felt Mr. Philip's eyes on me and acting on reflex, I turned my head and found him staring at me. In response, my eyes broke away as quickly as they had met his.

Sensing my nervousness, he cleared his throat and walked out of the balcony through the glass sliding door.

Releasing a gust of air from my lips in relief, I sat in one of the white sofas neatly arranged around me and observed a picture of the sunset I had taken earlier. After satisfactorily staring at it, I reclined in the sofa and closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh Hawaiian air. Shortly, I drifted asleep, my legs folded beneath me.

This is how a typical Hawaiian sunset looks like. Beautiful right?

Thank you for reading this chapter even though it's quite short.

I really appreciate every single one of you, seriously.

I'm dedicating this chapter to maham_07,
XiomaniaPayton and odysso voiddylaan tdlbw20 Gorgio40 Ainurul the_star_watcher

Thanks for reading...

Tris❤