Under his wing

CHAPTER.FOUR

Crossing Paths.....

At Vincent's Mansion…

I can't believe I'm finally home. What a day!

Phone rings

“Hello, Mum,” Vincent answered with a tired tone.

“It seems like you've forgotten you have a mother, right? When last did you even check up on me?”

“Mum, calm down. I've had a really stressful day. I really can't put up with your nagging right now.”

“Oh, so I'm nagging?”

“No, Mum, it's not like that.”

“Mum, I'll come over during the weekend. Talk to you later. Bye.

“I really hope he keeps to his word. I've missed my son,” she said softly.

Vincent tossed his phone onto the couch, rubbing the back of his neck. The face of the woman from earlier popped into his mind again.

There was something familiar about her. The way she’d looked at him—like she knew him but hated him at the same time. And why did she look so sad?

He shook his head, brushing the thoughts away. "Doesn’t matter," he muttered, heading upstairs. I have bigger things to worry about.

Picks up the telephone

“Ma'am Sandra, I need you to prepare my bath.

---

At Olivia's House…

“Where could she be?” Mrs. Hampton said, pacing back and forth in the living room. “I emphasized on her coming back early.”

Door opens

“Olivia?

“Yes, Mum. I'm home.”

“Where have you been? I was worried,” Mrs. Hampton said, wrapping her arms around her daughter in a tight hug.

“It's past 10 PM. You shouldn't be out so late.”

“I'm sorry, Mum. I left you worried,” Olivia said, her voice quivering as she sniffed.

“Liv? Are you okay? Why are you crying?” Mrs. Hampton asked, concern etched on her face.

“Mum, I'm fine.”

“No, you're not,” she replied, her tone filled with worry. “I'm your mother. Talk to me.”

Olivia sniffed again, her chest tightening. “I lost my job, Mum.” The words felt heavy on her tongue. Saying them out loud made it real.

Mrs. Hampton pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.You’ll find something better, I know you will.”

Olivia nodded against her mother’s shoulder, but the knot in her stomach didn’t ease. She wished she could believe her.

---

In Her Room…

She slumped on her bed, thinking about how awful her life was going. I mean, who loses their job on a Monday morning? she said to herself. I’m starting to think I’m actually cursed.

It’s all because of that jerk. I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere.

“I hope I meet him again. I need to teach him some manners,” she muttered while drifting to sleep.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Olivia’s mum sat on the chair, reflecting on her past.

Mrs. Hampton sat in silence, her thoughts drifting to the past. She sighed heavily, her gaze distant. There were so many things Olivia didn’t know—things she had worked so hard to keep buried. If only her daughter understood how much she had sacrificed to protect her.

“God help me,” she whispered, “I hope it never catches up to us.”

9:00 AM – Olivia's Room

Yawns

What? It's 9 AM already?

Oh, I forgot I no longer have a job.

But still... Mum didn’t come to wake me?

That's strange. I guess this is one of the advantages of being jobless, she thought, smiling to herself.

“Good morning, Mum,” Olivia called as she descended the stairs.

“Good morning, Liv! I hope you slept well?”

“Yes, Mum. I did. Surprisingly.”

She paused, glancing at her mother. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the shop today?”

“I'll go in the afternoon. I have to make sure my baby is okay,” Mrs. Hampton replied, a teasing lilt in her voice.

“Mum! Seriously, I’m fine. I’m not a baby,” Olivia said, leaning on the counter, her tone playful yet slightly defensive.

Her mind drifted back to the text she had received last night while riding the subway. What could that mean? And who would send me such a thing? she thought, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“Liv? Liv?” her mum shouted, snapping her back to reality.

“Huh? Yes, Mum?”

“Were you lost? I’ve been calling you, and there was no response.”

“No, Mum, I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Okay. So what are your plans now?” Mrs. Hampton asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, Stephanie told me about this company her cousin works for that’s looking for a secretary with good pay.”

“And?” Mrs. Hampton pressed.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that right now. I mean, I don’t think I’m capable. What if I get fired again?” The words tumbled out, heavy with doubt.

“That doesn’t sound like my daughter at all,” Mrs. Hampton said sternly, her eyes narrowing playfully. “When is the interview?”

“It’s this Friday.”

“That’s perfect! Here’s what you’re going to do: You’re going to get ready for that interview, and you’re going to smash it, okay?”

“I regret telling you that now,” Olivia replied with a mock crumpled look, trying to hide her smile.

“Did you say something?” Mrs. Hampton asked, her head tilting slightly.

“No, Mum,” Olivia said quickly, stifling a laugh.

“Good! Now come and take care of these dishes. I have to go to the market.”

Meanwhile, in his mansion, Vincent leaned against his desk, scrolling through emails. The day was promising to be just another ordinary one in the life of a CEO, but his mind kept drifting back to the woman he had bumped into. Who was she?

He remembered the way her eyes flashed with irritation, the annoyance etched on her face as she glared at him. There was something about her that intrigued him—something he couldn’t quite shake off. Why did she seem familiar?

“Whatever,” he muttered, shaking his head as if to dispel the thought. He had bigger concerns: a company and a million decisions to make.

As he prepared for the day, he found himself thinking about the type of person who would dare to confront him like that. It was rare for someone to challenge him so directly, and despite himself, he felt a mix of annoyance and curiosity. He couldn’t help but wonder who she was.

“I should probably let it go,” he said aloud, shaking his head again. But deep down, he knew he wouldn’t be able to forget her that easily.

After a few moments of washing the dishes, Olivia's thoughts began to swirl again about the upcoming interview. She wondered if this opportunity could finally lead to something stable, something that wouldn’t slip through her fingers like the last job.

Will it be better than the last job?

As she finished the dishes and wiped her hands on a towel, her phone buzzed on the counter.

It was a message from Stephanie asking how she felt about the interview. A sudden chill ran through her. What if this was her chance to prove herself?

With a determined nod, Olivia said to herself, “This is it. I can’t let fear hold me back.”

“I’ll handle whatever comes next,” she whispered, but deep down, she knew the road ahead

might be tougher than she imagined.

As she closed her bedroom door, a single thought lingered: Would she be ready for what awaited her on Friday?