Starting Fresh (Lorica Series #1)

Chapter 8

Tovi stopped by the production floor then went inside to check her friends. Amy was busy having one on one coaching with one of her agents while Tiana was busy talking to her customer. She was standing far from where they were as she started thinking if accepting Mr. Lorica's offer and being Cole's Secretary was really a good decision for her and her entire career. For some reason, it didn't fulfill her heart's content. She was earning more money for sure but she missed the fun and enjoyment that she had with her teammates especially with her friends. Being a secretary alone in Cole's office made her left out lately.

When Tovi was about to walk away, Amy saw her after she told the agent to go back to her station. "Tovi!"

Tovi turned her head and saw Amy waving at her wearing a smile on her face. She approached her. Amy looked at her whole body because she's wearing a fitted top and a fitted black skirt. She wore an impressive look on her face. "Whoa girl! That outfit looks good on you! So sexy!"

Tovi chuckled. "It was one of Mr. Lorica's rules. To dress like this to be presentable like a secretary."

"Sexytary," Tiana corrected as she stood from her cubicle. Tovi chuckled.

"So, what brings you here?" Amy asked. "I thought you already forgot us."

Tovi's smile faded. "No, I didn't. I just got so busy, you know? And, I miss you guys. I was alone there all the time."

Amy's mouth pouted. "Aw! Come here you!" She threw Tovi a warm hug and Tiana joined in with them.

Cole was standing far away as he watched Tovi reunited with her bestfriends. It was a good sight to see. Seeing someone happy with her friends. He envied her to have people around her life that he didn't have. He received a text message from a phone number.

6177648256

Just got off from the airport! See you soon! :*

He put the phone back in his pocket then he noticed Tovi leaving the production floor. He followed her as Amy and Tiana saw him going to the door after Tovi left. Amy and Tiana gave each other side glances.

Tovi went to a convenient store and bought cooked food and ate it. Then she saw Cole walking inside the store. He took side glances at her as he went past at her. Tovi was wondering what Cole was doing here. Was she followed?

After Cole bought some cigarettes and some snacks, he went over to Tovi's table and sat in front of her. Tovi's eyebrows arched as Cole gave her a smile.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Eating," he said after he gave her a look with his eyes widened. He opened the junk food's container and picked up some chips from it.

"Aren't you tired from all the activities that you just did with that girl earlier? You should be eating meals, not junk foods and smoking cigarettes," Tovi scolded him.

"You sounded like a mother," Cole said. She remembered Cole losing his mother but even with his remark earlier, it seemed like he wasn't bothered by it and just kept on eating.

"Why did you end up drunk last night?" she asked. She couldn't hold her curiosity anymore.

Cole remained his eyes on his food like he didn't hear anything from her. Tovi just held back herself instead and didn't ask the question again. She didn't want him to get all dramatic at the convenient store.

"My Father was trying to ruin my life like what he would always do," he admitted.

Tovi drank her cup of coffee. "Maybe he was just doing what's best for you. I mean, that's what most parents do, you know?"

"Not really," he said then he sniffed then glanced at her. "Not him."

Tovi didn't say anything and she just finished her coffee instead. Afterwards, they were walking at the sidewalk at a slow pace.

"So screwing with prostitutes helps you ease your stress?" Tovi asked.

"Yep," he said as he fixed his eyes on the sidewalks.

"Wow. What a unique way to release stress," Tovi said in a sarcastic tone.

"Tch!" Cole said while smirking, finding Tovi amusing again. "You really think and talk like an old person."

"Even when I'm younger, I sounded like this and still didn't think releasing stress is by screwing with someone."

"So how do you release your stress then?" he asked.

Tovi thought of how she usually releases her stress. "Eating?"

Cole let out a chuckle then took a glance at Tovi's whole body. "You don't look like someone who eats a lot. You're thin."

"It's in our genetics," Tovi said. "We have faster metabolism."

"Whoa. Science," he said in a sarcastic tone.

"If you're eighteen by the way, that means that you didn't graduate from College? How does that feel?"

Cole's arrogant smile faded as his eyes were fixed on the few cars driving along the road. "It sucks. You were forced to do this and that in your whole life."

Tovi felt bad after hearing that from Cole. She came to the thought of what if she was like this to Tori. Because in the first place, she didn't want her daughter to end up like Cole. And she couldn't imagine being in his shoes.

"But hey! I can be fun at times, you know?" he said, his arrogance and happy vibes came back. "Wanna hang out at the mall?"

Tovi stopped her feet. "What are you talking about? We're still on shift!"

But Cole grabbed her hand that sent her hundreds of bolts all throughout her body. "Stop acting like an old person and just have some fun for a while!" Then they ran away from the sidewalk, heading towards the mall.