Olivia North

I woke up from the glare of the sun and from the strain of my neck. I sat up from my spot and hugged my knees. Events from yesterday came back to me, the sale, the tour, the dinner, and the crying. Last night, I cried so hard and called mommy's name a lot, if only she's here she would've made this easier, she would've made and honed me to be a good wife and mom like her, but she's already dead, I grew up without her so I didn't have someone to look up to when it comes being a mom and a wife because I only have memories with her.

I have long been accepted the fact that I will marry Niccolo and be Dylan's mom, but last night was a wake up call for me. I asked myself a million times that Am I really a good choice for them? Can I take care both of them? This relationship with Nick and Dylan suddenly turned ambivalence and conflicted to me. I am happy to be a part of their life but at the same time I don't think that they deserve me to be in their life.

My phone rang and I saw the caller ID, Nick's name appeared, I took a couple of deep breathes before I answered the call.

"Good morning." I said in a cheerful tone but my face says otherwise.

"Good afternoon, Olivia." He said and I looked at my phone and saw that it's 2:30pm. Oh I slept the entire morning? Okay.

"Oh. I guess I overslept. So, what do you want, Nick?" I stood up and went to my kitchen to pour me a milk, I took a glance from the mirror and I gasped when I saw my disoriented self. My makeup was smudged and I looked like a panda.

"Why? What's wrong?" I heard Nick's worried voice on my ear.

"Nothing, I just spilled my milk. So, what's up?" I asked again while I went to my kitchen and put Nick on a speaker.

"I just want to know if you're okay. What happened last night was my fault if I only..."

"Nick, I am fine. Of course I was kinda hurt but I promised to you and to myself that I will win your family's heart. So don't worry about me, I am Olivia North, I don't back down to challenges." I leaned my head on the fridge before I open it because I don't think that I can be enthusiastic today.

I took out the milk from the fridge and pour me some in the cup.

"Olivia, don't you ever think that you're less than. Anyway, I have to go now, I can't be contacted today, babe, because I am in a conference meeting with the German investors. I'll call you later, Livy. Have a nice day." I can hear empathy in his voice and I smiled.

"Nick, it's Sunday, why did you schedule meetings on a weekend? I don't understand you and Zac. Ugh." I rolled my eyes and finished my milk.

He chuckled.

"Whatever, I am taking a bath, I'm going shopping today. Bye Niccolo and kiss Dylan for me, please." I said sweetly and walked to my room.

"Alright. I'll call you later." After that, he hung up, I charged my phone first and took a bath.

Today, I shopped by myself, I bought a lot of stuff for me, Niccolo, and Dylan. I bought Nick neckties and a watch and I bought Dylan cute clothes, I even bought him a Tigger swimwear that has a long tail attached on the it bum part. So cute.

I decided to go home and have dinner. I was shocked when I stopped in front of Dad's house. How did I come here? I must've been so occupied that I didn't even notice that I was heading here. Oh well, let's just visit the old man.

I went inside the manor and saw Lorna.

"Hi Lorna, good evening. Is dad here?" I hugged her and she hugged me back. She smiled at me and tuck a stray hair behind my ear.

"Hi Livy, your dad's in the garden. Have you eaten already?" She asked while she linked her arm to mine in a motherly gesture.

"I haven't. Did dad eat already?" I asked as I walked towards the garden.

"Nope, we are still preparing his dinner, will you be joining your dad to dinner?"

"Yes please." I affirmed and we arrived at the garden.

"Ok, let me prepare the table." I nodded at her and she went away. I walked further the garden to find my dad and saw him standing at the rose walkway. This walkway was my mom's doing, she planted all the rose here and after she died, dad preserved this part to commemorate mommy's hard work.

"Missing mom?" I spoke as I stood beside him. He was looking at the bed of roses in front of him and smiled.

"There are no days I didn't stop missing Emilia. Did you know that your mom failed at planting these roses first before she perfected this bed of roses?" He chuckled.

"I remember she used to transfer her frustrations at me when she couldn't perfect the rose planting, I believe it went on for 2 years." He chuckled and looked at me and added, "You know, your mom used to be a violent woman around me whenever she's happy, mad, laughing, and/or frustrated at something, she would slap and punch my arm. I always told her that it didn't hurt but the truth was, it fucking hurts. But you know my Livy, I liked it because it means that she trusted me with her feelings, she showed it to me, although not in gentle way, nevertheless." He faced me and smiled genuinely.

I looked at my dad's face and saw wrinkles around his eyes and forehead. This was the first time I looked at his face, I could see that time really took away Dad's facial features, I could see sadness and longing in his eyes as well as peace but I can also see his love for me. This whole time I distanced myself from him because I thought that he abandoned me, but it turned out that he was also dealing with mom's death.

"Dad, what was mommy like when you met her?" I asked as I linked my arm to his and walked to the bench to sit.

"Your mom? Oh she's very beautiful she took every men's breath away including me, but she's feisty and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. You know what, she didn't even liked me before. She thought that I was one of the rich guys who thinks so highly of themselves. So when I courted her, she turned me down immediately for she thought that I was only going to toy her because she was only a waitress at a diner." He put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned my head to his.

"She's a waitress? I thought you and her met in a charity ball?" I asked.

"Yup she was a part time waitress at a diner when she was in college. Then after how many years we met again in a charity ball where she was one of the organizers. When I saw her that night I told myself that I will woo and marry this woman. Oh it was hell, she was hard to get, I courted her for like a year and still she never gave me a chance to have dinner with me until I accidentally helped her mom, who passed out in the middle of the street. I took your grandma to the hospital and waited for her relative. I was surprised when she came, she thought that I did something to her mom and started hitting me in the lobby of the hospital." He laughed and I smiled.

"I was mad that time because she was hitting me and accusing me of something I never did in front of so many people, but I stayed calm and hugged her to stop her and it worked. The doctor came and told us that her mom was now awake and we immediately went in to her room. Your grandma explained to her that I was the one who helped her, that she was grateful that I was there when she fainted. Then, your mom apologized to me for what she did in the lobby, so I took her guilt as an opportunity to ask her out on a date. She hesitated at first but she agreed, months after that she and I were in a relationship. Then after we celebrated our first year anniversary, she told me that she's 4 months pregnant with Zac, she was only 24 that time and I was 27, in addition my dad just gave me the position of deputy manager of the company, so it was stressful to me. That time, I was not ready to become a dad, but don't get me wrong I really love your mom, it's just that stress from the company and stress of having a baby got me so worked up and I didn't think that I can be a good father. Your mom didn't force me to marry her or take responsibility but she assured me that whatever it was that I was afraid of, she and the baby will be there for me no matter what. And that was all it takes for me to man up and face my responsibility." Dad said and kissed the crown of my head.

I didn't know I was tearing up until he wiped the tears on my face.

"Daddy, I miss mommy." I cried even more and he hugged me tightly.

"I miss her too, my love but she's looking out for us up above." He said and rubbed my arm to console me. We stayed silent after that and enjoyed each others company in mom's bed of roses.

"Dad, Niccolo told you, didn't he?" I asked after I composed myself, he sighed and faced me.

"Yes, my love, and I want you to know that you don't have to be good at cooking or whatsoever to be a good wife and mom, all you need to have is a good heart. You're a good person, Olivia, you may lack the qualities of cooking but who cares, you can learn how to. Look at me, I had a lot of doubts when Emilia was conceiving Zachary, but when he was born, it faded away, not entirely but gradually, being a parent and a partner takes time you don't need manuals or instructions to be a good one." He stated and I smiled at him.

"I'm sorry dad, for being a bitch to you these past few years. But please know that I never ceased to love you as my father." I hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"I know, Livy. That's why I always wear all the neckties you gifted to me as well as the cufflink that you discreetly put under the Christmas tree last year, and I eat all the sandwiches you made every morning of my birthdays." I widened my eyes, how did he know that?

"I know my dear, I just know. Everything that's going on in my children's life, I know because I promised to your mom and to myself that I will always take care of both of you, that I will always look out for you two. I'm sorry, Olivia if I let Jones and Lorna took care of you, I know there's no explanation that can justify my actions, I left you here all alone when your mom passed away." He apologized and I saw his eyes misting. Oh no, dad's not going to cry right.

"It's okay, dad. You still took care of me by giving all the things I wanted, look at me, I'm your spoiled little Livy." I joked and linked my arm to his and placed my head on his shoulder.

"Yes you are my little Livy. Daddy loves you so much, remember that." I smiled and embraced him sideways.

"I love you too, daddy. Now let's eat dinner, I'm starving, old man." I smirked at him and offered my hand for him to stand up.

We had dinner and I decided to sleep over at my old room.

---------------------------------
"Show me that fucker's picture. What was her name again? Rebecca? Ew that's a name for oldies. No, seriously I know a lot of old women who's name is Rebecca. Show her to me and I will smash all of our wine bottles to her face." Jowee was hyperventilating when I told them what happened last week at Niccolo's. She was pacing back and forth at Erin's living room like a madman, I looked at Erin and she was frowning.

"Jowee, there's no need to be violent. Can you please sit down and calm down?" I told her sternly.

"Calm down? How can you calm down when you were publicly shamed by that old hag, Olivia." Jowee sat down on Erin's couch in front of me.

"Hey, don't curse at her, stop it." I said to Jowee but she just rolled her eyes, she was going to speak but Erin spoke.

"She's right, Livy how can we calm down when you were humiliated in front of so many people without us backing you. I'm just thankful that Niccolo stood up for you, Livy, you're never gonna go there anymore. Do you understand? Ugh! Jowee look up that ugly-looking parrot in the internet." Erin said angrily and sat beside Jowee who's currently typing something in her phone.

"Girls, stop it, just stop it. Let's not dwell on to her okay, she didn't do anything to me yet so let's not waste our time to that ugly. I'm here to ask you a favor." I sat at Erin's coffee table in front of them and did my puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, but if she did something to you, you can count on us that we will tear all of her limbs and feed it to the piranhas." Jowee narrowed her eyes and made a chopping gesture. I laughed at her and threw myself to both of them.

"What the fuck, Olivia. Erin you bitch." Jowee pushed my body from hers and Erin put more weight on Jowee's body so we are lying on top of her.

"Stop cursing you idiot." Erin told her and we tickled Jowee.

"Stop it you two, or else I'm gonna throw up." She said and we immediately stood up from her. Oh dear we didn't want a repeat from what happened when we were in highschool, we tickled her and she warned us that she's gonna throw up if we didn't stop, we didn't listen to her and after that we felt a hot sticky gooey liquid on our bodies. Eew. Hahaha.

"Not on my apartment, J. That's very disgusting." Erin helped her to sit up on her couch and sat beside me.

"Now, tell us what your favor is all about." Erin leaned back on her couch and placed her feet on her coffee table.

"Teach me how to cook, please." I said and quietly and looked down.

"What? Olivia, if you're doing this because of that oldie then I'm not going to help you. Uh uh, honey. No way. You don't need to fit yourself to this stereotypical, idealized and definitive culture of a wife, you are perfect as you are. Nick has said it to them right, that he will do all the cooking. So don't fucking listen to oldie, don't let her get to you. Oh for God's sake, you're running a multi-billion dollar company and you're earning pretty well, hell your one month's worth is more than her grandson's company's annual revenue. So technically, when you and Nick got married, you're family won't get hungry because your money can buy all the food that your children wants. So get over the fuck yourself." And yes, she's hyperventilating with a mixture of her being a drama queen again, I smiled mentally because she was much more affected than me.

"Yes, J you're right, but I want to learn how to cook. I didn't let her words get to me but it served as a wake up call to me, that someday I am going to be my babies mother and I wanted to them to have a memory with me, like I have with my mom. So please help me?" I pleaded to both of them and I grabbed Erin's hand who's currently dozing off on her couch.

"Okay fine, we'll support you but if oldie demanded more from you and you heeded, Jowee and I will slap you on the face until you no one can recognize you, entiendes?" Erin was serious about this there's no hint of any playfulness in her eyes so I quickly agreed.

"Si, mi amiga. Gracias" I smiled and hugged her, I reached out to Jowee so she can join our hug. Then we heard the Erin's doorbell ringing.

"E, are you expecting someone?" Jowee asked and went to the video intercom.

"Oh it's Alex." Jowee informed us cheerfully and Erin grunted.

"What is he doing here?" I asked her.

"I don't know. Oh my God. Jowee don't you dare open the... Fuck it." Jowee invited Alex inside and he was startled to see us. He was holding a bouquet of Ecuadorian red roses.

I walked to him and hugged him briefly.

"Hello, Alex." I greeted him.

"Good evening, ladies. I didn't know you're having girls night tonight." He said awkwardly and smiled.

"It's fine, is that for Erin? Take a sit Alex." Jowee ordered and we quickly took a sit on the couch opposite to Erin. Alex took the signal and he sat om the same couch where Erin's was seated.

"Hi Erin, this is for you." Alex gave her the bouquet and she just ignored him by asking him.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I make it clear to you that I don't want to see you anymore?" She said im irritation and scooted on the other side of the couch away from Alex.

"I'm here to apologize for what happened last time. I swear I didn't mean to do it, I was just swayed by my emotions so I kissed you. I swear it won't happen again, just please give me another chance. I promise I will keep my hands to myself, you can file for sexual harassment if you want." He put the roses on the table and pleaded.

"Oh my God. You managed to have a date with her? AND. YOU. KISSED. HER. Oh my, Alexander Vice you ruined your only chance. Dude you're fucked up." Jowee raised her voice and sat between them.

"That's why I'm sorry. Please Erin, forgive me." Alex apologized again even though he was blocked by Jowee.

"Just go home for now, Alex. Let her think." I smiled at him and pointed the door with my head to signal him to go. We both stood up for I will see him out.

"I'm so sorry Erin. I really do." I grabbed his arm to walk him to the the door.

"Are you serious? Why did you do that? I told you to treat her with respect and that she's different from other girls. Why did you do that? Oh my God, Alex, you ruined your chance with her." I whispered-yelled at him and hit his arm by the time we reached the door.

"I'm sorry, okay. That hurts, Livy. Ouch" He said and I hit him more.

"Don't call me Livy, we're not close. Now go." I opened the door for him to go out and thankfully he went out. I went to Erin's living room and saw Jowee arranging the flowers to a vase.

"That's beautiful. I love Ecuadorian Roses." I took one rose from the vase and Jowee swatted my hand for ruining his flower arrangement. As if she "arranged" the pre-arranged flowers.

"Take it, if you want. I'm going to bed." Erin stood up but I quickly pulled her to me. I placed the stem in my mouth and smoldered my eyes at her.

"Can I have a dance?" I flirted with her and she laughed.

"Dance alone." She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger. Jowee gasped dramatically and pulled me to her.

"If she doesn't like you, Oliver, I'm here for you. You just have to give your attention to me." She said dramatically and placed her head on my shoulder.

I pushed Jowee gently and I turned around dramatically and spoke. "I only have my eyes set on my cara mia, Joan. I don't want to look at anybody, my eyes are just for my Edna." I traced the Rose in my mouth and gave it to Erin.

"You retards, why the fuck was I named Edna?" She grabbed the rose and threw it on us and we laughed so hard until we heard a fart.

"Jowee you stinking bitch!" I shouted and me and Erin took a pillow and throw it at her and it started our pillow fight.

Oh how I love these girls.

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kimmypatata