AFTER THE LIES, LOVE LED US

CHAPTER 3: AFTER DADS SURGERY

It was one week after dad's surgery, he was already discharged and we went home. Everyone was happy and Ethan kept on visiting us after work with food and fruits but I had to go to work. I was already dressed up

"Zoeyyy"

"yesss" she replied she was busy with whatever she was doing inside.

" Take good care of dad okay? if anything happens just call me.

" yes I will"

" Bye guys love you both"

" we love you too" Dad ad Zoey said almost in a chorus, I hurriedly went to work and Nicholas was already there

"What are you doing here?"he asked

"I came to work"

"After being absent for a while week?"

"My dad is important"

"Than your job?You're fired go be with him'.

"You cant do this,I took a leave permission'

"Which was not acceptable…and I've done it,I

never want to see you here"

"Really?After everything he's done for you??you

could not even go to see him and now she's getting fired because????"Ethan asked angrily

"This is none of your business and I don't care,even if her father dies how does it affects me?"

"You will die not my dad"I said angrily,tears were

already dropping from my eyes

"Nicholas?after all he did for you,you're wishing

him death??He's the reason you're still alive you

jerk"

"How is that?"

"You've forgotten so soon?You said you never

will…."

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"So all the thank you,I really owe you my life uncle Smith l promise…."

"Wait a second…Uncle Smith is her father?"

"Now pretend you don't know"Ethan said

"He's been sick?He even has a surgery and I'm just finding out?"

"Stop the act bro, I'm very sure mom told you "

"She didn't,she only said he took a leave for

personal issues and I shouldn't get worried "

"Liar then explain why Paula is working for you"

"I don't know,she just fired my other secretary for

reasons best known to her and insisted Paula

worked for me,I refused but she said I had no

choice"

"So you want me to believe you?"

"No you and Paula expects me to believe this story you just cooked up,uncle Smith has just one daughter "

"How would you know when after the incident you never went back?"

"You know I still remember his house and the

restaurant,I can always go there "

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"You both follow me and Paula once I find out

you're lying you're dead"

He said and left,Ethan and I followed,we entered

his car and he drove to our house,I was surprised

he got there without direction from me or

Ethan,we got inside and dad was in the sitting

room with Zoey,

Dad looked so surprised to see Nicholas,he was

adjusted

"Uncle Smith?"Nicholas called,he looked back at

us and went to sit beside dad

"I thought you were never going to come "dad

said"Ethan,Paula I thought I told you guys to let

him be"

"I'm so sorry sir,I promise I did not know"

"I told your secretary to tell you,Nicholas swear she didnt"

"I didn't even meet her,Mom fired her before l

came back"he said"and I swear I didn't have the

slightest idea that Paula was your daughter "

"It's fine"dad nodded

Nicholas turned to me"I'm sorry Paula"he apologized and I nodded but deep down I knew nothing was actually fine. He hugged dad tightly,he seemed very fragile before my dad,he was acting like a baby

" What would you guys want me to serve you?" Zoey asked "juice?"

"No Zoey we're good "

"Sir I thought you only had one daughter,Zoey"

"Actually....Paula was not here then"

"Ohhh I'm so sorry "

"it's fine" dad responded, nothing was fine to me though,I stood up and left outside.Ethan followed me behind me,we got outside and I stood close to Nicholas' car waiting for him"dad never told me about saving anyone"I said

"You know him,he won't say,he does things purely from his heart" Ethan replied

"It must have been a very serious thing for cruel Nicholas to be this humble in front of dad"

"Nicholas owe your dad his life,he would have been dead,your dad risked his life to save Nicholas and your dad got badly injured "

"Is your mom aware of this?"I asked

"Yes "Ethan said I could not help the tears from falling uncontrollably from my eyes,how evil can a human being be,and she could not just lend me the money for dad's surgery or even asked me to do something decent.

"That was why I was so pissed when mom just could not pay for your dad's surgery"

"Your mom..."I could not complete my statement,I could not stop crying,Ethan moved closer to me and hugged me tightly

"You know..I had a serious domestic accident once,I was bleeding badly,your dad rushed me to the hospital,they asked for a deposit before treating me and he could not reach my mom,he paid, Nicholas and I were so emotional... Not minding the way our mom treats him,he still loved us"

"Ethan"I was crying the more,Mrs Donald was indeed a devil, Nicholas was just an assistant demon

"Shhh"Ethan consoled me, gently patting my back and playing gently with my hair,I was just so tired of everything"she only loves herself,she doesn't even care about her own sons" he said,I felt like screaming out loud,I felt like going to confront her and giving her a piece of my heart....a lot was going through my mind,she threatened to hurt anyone I told about our contract...I would have told Ethan but she'd obviously hurt him,she cared only about herself and Nicholas was learning that from her.

"Hey" Nicholas said,his voice was unusually calm,he walked towards us and said "I'm really sorry Paula,I thought you were one of my mom's agents in my life that's why I treated you that way"

I could not say a word,I kept looking at him,I cleaned my face and nodded"it's cool,can I resume work now?"

"Sure..I mean not today though please take care of him"

"Zoey will do that,your mom would get mad".

"Mrs Donald"he corrected and I nodded

"Mrs Donald"I repeated after him,he walked into the car,Ethan and I followed.

*****************

I sat in my office thinking about my life, Nicholas was going to be nice to me but would he get closer to me? I had just five months for my task,three months had gone and there was no progress,if I had known he loved my dad so much I would somehow told him before,the contract stated that I would have to refund Mrs Donald if I am unable to complete my task or my family and I would be out behind the bars. if It were only me I would not really mind but I would not let anything happen to my family so I just had to do her wish and disappear from all of their lives forever and be happy with my family

"Don't worry,your dad will be fine" a voice said

I got shocked and I could not hide mt expression,my heartbeat increased out of fear,It was Nicholas "oh thank you sir" I said with my palm placed on my chest,my heart beat was getting back to normal

"Sorry if I got you scared"he apologized,that was very unlike him

"Okay...no... it's fine...I mean sure... uhmm"I ran out of words to say..I was not used to him being so nice, caring and apologetic

He chuckled and walked out,I was sure he knew that I was confused...I chuckled too,I was not thinking of my dad but the devil he got as a mother and the harm she could cause my family if I did not complete her task.I stood up and went to the coffee machine,I made coffee for myself and went back,I kept swarling the cup still deep in my thoughts,I could not help it, Nicholas was not an easy person to get really close to.

"I got you lunch"he said appearing from no where and dropped it on my table

I was shocked "thank you"

"Paula I know you have the wrongest impression about me,I'm really sorry,trust me this is the real man in me"he said

He looked so genuine,his vicious eyes eventually looked innocent and harmless,his cruel face looked so cute and sweet his voice...was totally something else, I was determined not to fall so easily for his tricks cause I had zero trust in him

"Okay"I said nodding

He walked back into his office,a message buzzed on my phone,I picked it and it was from Mrs Donald,my heart skipped a beat,I opened the message and read 'good job I can see improvement,keep it up' I sighed,she probably employed someone to keep an eye on us and she got information that he got me lunch,I deleted the message and dropped my phone on the table,the contract also stated that no keeping records of meetings,calls or messages,I looked at my watch,I still had over four hours at work,I was emotionally and psychologically drained,I needed help from anywhere,I needed to be finally free from Mrs Donald

**************

At last it was closing time,I picked up my bag and was about to leave "wait"Nicholas said,I turned he showed me his car keys "I'll drop you"

"Uhm thank you sir buhh Ethan already offered"I replied

"And I'm your boss you can't refuse me,don't keep me waiting" he said and left,was it a must to accept his help offer? I wondered,I texted Ethan the situation and went to the garage,he was already waiting,I opened the passenger's door and he said "excuse you? Am I your driver?"

"No...."

"Get into the front seat now" he had this authority in his voice that annoyed the hell out of me,I sighed and sat on the front seat,beside him,the drive was a long quiet one,I really wished Ethan rode me,i would really had a lot of fun. He drove into a mall,excused himself and came down,few minutes later he came back with a handful, a worker even had to assist cause the stuffs were much I did not really bother to check what it was anyways,he dropped them at the back seat and drove to my house,I got down out of excitement and ran inside,I missed my dad..I hugged him tightly "why are you not resting in your room dad?" I asked worriedly

"Do I really have to stay there all day? Nahhh I'm good here"he replied,the door opened and I turned,it was Nicholas,he walked in with the stuffs from the supermarket "the least you could do is offer a helping hand Paula"he complained feeling obviously irritated,he dropped them on the chair and went back to get the rest,I glanced at dad and went outside, I tried to help but he refused "I'm really sorry sir,you didn't tell me you got them for us" I said

He snubbed me and walked inside "wowwww" I said nodding my head,he was just something else,I shook my head negatively and went inside,if he was angry them I dared him to do his worse in my head though,I could not say that out,Zoey thanked him and took the things inside "you're smarter than your sister" he complimented her,she just gave a fake smile and walked away,I was pissed how dare he say such a thing

"Thank you Nicholas you shouldn't have bothered"dad said

"Well..it's really not a problem sir" he said and for the first time I saw his smile,I widened my eyes to see if I was just imagining things,I could never even dream of it

"Thank you"dad said nodding.

"Well sir I think you've overstayed your welcome besides there's a lot of work to do tomorrow I suggest you go home and rest now"I said with a very fake smile,I was already sick of his presence

"Well I'm always welcomed here,this is my second home,right uncle?"he turned to my dad

"Yes"

"Infact this is my first home cause I find peace a lot here"he said

'but you take away my own peace here' I said to myself,glaring at him and at the same time giving him that fake smile

"I'll go inside" I said and walked away.

************Nicholas pov

I heard what Paula said,I smiled,she was such an annoying soul,no one would ever guess that she was uncle Smith's daughter "bye sir" I waved and walked away,I got into my car and drove home,I got into the sitting room and saw the last person I wanted to see

"Hi son"she said

"I'm not in the mood"I said and was about to walk away when she said "what's going on with you and that secretary whatever of yours?..

"Nothing " I replied coldly

"You got her lunch,drove her home...".

"How the hell did you find out about all of those,are you monitoring me?"

"You're my son sooo I'll just warm you be careful of that girl..she'll break your heart and only use you".

"Same way you used my dad?"I asked looking straight into her eyes,her expression changed completely

"And you will shut the f**k up ".

I chuckled,I hated her so much"I am still your mother Nicholas!" She shouted "you owe me some respect".

"I owe you absolutely nothing woman and don't you ever meddle in my life,focus on yours and your son Ethan" I said and walked away, ignoring all the calls from her,I got to my room and took a shower, sewing her face made me loose my appetite,I picked up my laptop and reviewed Paula's work for the day,she always did a good one in her job just like her father,I paused for a moment and began to think,I really wanted to confront mom and asked why she hid sir Smith's surgery from me,why she lied to me that Paula was a daughter to her friend,I had a lot of questions in mind but I knew she would never give me the true answers and she would only get me mad so I just had to do my best to avoid her,I doubted that she gave birth to me.