Chapter Twenty-Three: Two Timing?

Eliora's POV

Tony and I changed route, he entered another hall while I walked into the elevator.

I took my Android phone to check the latest updates. It's been a while since I read online novels or follow TikTok videos.

What work can cause, huh?

The elevator opened and I lifted my gaze away from my phone, I wasn't in the right building but then Mr. Romans was right before me.

"Hi" I waved.

"Yeah" Romans nodded his head and entered the elevator with his hand tucked in his trouser pocket, beside him was a young lady who seemed to be his secretary.

"Don't you think you're late?" Romans began.

"It's 9:20am sir." I reminded him.

"And so?" Romans asked.

"I'm sorry." I admitted defeat with a deep sigh.

"Where are you staying at the moment?" Romans asked after some minutes of silence.

"At my former estate." I said.

"Don't worry. I'm sorting out ways for you to return back to one of the company's mansion." Romans assured me.

"You shouldn't worry sir, I'm comfortable with my current place." I said with a smile on my face.

"Are you sure?" Romans asked.

"Yes sir. Thank you." I said.

"Then we shall pay you for the accommodation fee." Romans insisted.

"Sure. I can't refuse money." I said sarcastically and he laughed, it didn't last though.

The elevator opened and I walked out of it leaving Romans, I turned to him.

"Thank you sir. Have a nice day." I said overly-courteous with a short bow and left into the hallway, he smirked; I guess.

I walked into my office and after setting out some things, I headed to the meeting.

"Where have you been?" I queried Tony as we walked into the meeting room.

"Sorry boss." Tony whispered and I smiled. Romans saw us and rolled his eyes in an obnoxious manner.

"Let's begin." Romans hit the table lightly and everyone started flipping pages of the documents.

"We imported three hundred thousand perishable goods hoping to send them to the market, but unfortunately they ended up dying in our storage," a staff member began.

"We didn't only lose investors and clients, we lost funds. What route should we take?" the staff asked.

"This is pretty bad." an investor rubbed his forehead gently.

"Who supervised the goods?" Romans asked.

"This happened a month ago sir." a lady sent a document over to Romans and he received it.

"It should be the new supervisor secretary's fault then." Romans said with his eyes on the document.

"Tony?" I asked cryptically trying to get where he's driving without a headlight.

"Yeah." Romans dropped the document on the table.

"I just resumed work two weeks ago and so did Mr. Tony." I paused, as I tried to remind him.

"How is this our fault? We knew nothing about this." I added defensively.

"Before you resumed office, Mr. Tony had already been working with the old supervisor." the lady with Romans who I can clearly call his secretary said courageously.

"And so?" I asked annoyingly.

"Since his superior isn't here, he will take the blame." Romans said bluntly and almost everyone in the hall started nodding their heads.

"But this isn't right!" I argued.

"What is right? What is wrong?" Romans asked, staring deeply into my eyes and I went silent.

"Mr. Tony will be demoted back to the minor workers level." Romans said vividly.

Before I realized myself, it was already late. I stared at Tony sadly in silence.

"What else?" Romans asked, shaking his pen back and forth with his hand on the table, I sighed.

Tony was my only hope. Tony was my last hope. I have gotten used to him. Even if he was too courteous around me, he was just too good and nice. I started seeing him as a best friend and a brother.

As I rode the car slowly back home, I thought of him riding while I sat at the back making gestures of his poor riding skill when he was a professional.

My hands were still not strong on the wheel though so I got home pretty late.

I walked into the estate holding my handbag and documents, everything felt so heavy. Now I saw the usefulness of Tony.

As I proceeded into my part, I saw Jennifer with Mr. Desmond. I paused in hiding and watched them.

"Mr. Desmond. I'm really sorry for that day." Jennifer said sadly.

Jennifer was holding a brownie cake with her small mini bag on her shoulder while Mr. Desmond stared at her with his hand in his short pocket.

"Which day? I must have forgotten." Desmond said.

"Just take this as an apology for what I have done for those past months." Jennifer said passing the cake unto Desmond, he received it.

"It's okay." Desmond smiled.

"How have you been these past few days?" Jennifer asked him.

As I stared at them, they looked very perfect together. Desmond was taller and she looked like a baby in front of him, their smile was heart warming and I don't know... I just have this feeling that they are meant to be.

I'll make a good matchmaker, right?

Jennifer should just let Romans be with anyone... Yeah, anyone.

Getting enough of their childish drama, I walked closer to my apartment to unlock the door.

"Pretty Eliora." Desmond called out happily and I turned.

"Yeah." I waved shortly.

"Welcome back. You looked tired." Desmond said.

"Yeah. I just need to crash on my bed right now, life hasn't been fair with me." I said, exhausted.

"Go ahead and rest." Desmond said lovingly.

"Sure." I pushed the door open and walked in without saying anything to Jennifer.

I felt awful though.

I entered my room, dumped my stuff on the table and crashed down on my bed.

"Ohh." I exhaled heavily, staring at the ceiling. My fan was rolling like a roller coaster.

Don't you think my life was like a roller coaster? Like spinning round and round with no direction.

"Or is it my thoughts?" I thought aloud.

"What do I do? I'm so hungry." I took my phone to order the least pizza and yogurt when a knock came from the door... Like the main door.

Who was it ? Was it Jennifer? Does she want to forgive me? That will be nice.

Happily, I jerk up from the bed and proceed to the living room. I opened the door and lo and behold, who I saw kept me speechless.

It was Rebecca.

Meet Rebecca, the first daughter of Mr. Ganes; who is my sister to be precise. Beautiful with brain, elegant, loving and very decisive. Her curly black hair haven't changed one bit with her light yellow eye color, she's now taller and matured. Rebecca has graduated two years before I met Romans and she own a bakery shop even though she knows nothing about baking.

I was still staring at my elder sister in shock.

"How did she find me?" I thought.

"Eliora." Rebecca called out softly.

Her sweet and calm voice hasn't changed one bit, I really miss her so much.

"Sister Becca." I called with teary eyes as I unconsciously embraced her tightly, she retaliated.

"Eliora." Rebecca gently stroked my back.

I ushered Rebecca into the living room and closed the door.

"How have you been?" Rebecca asked anxiously.

"Fine and you.. all?" I asked sarcastically as we took our seats.

"We are fine," Rebecca said.

"Mum and dad continue being busy for nothing as for little Aiden, he's fine." Rebecca added.

"That's nice." I nodded.

"I already placed an order for food. It will be here soon." I said.

I felt uneasy and couldn't find the right thing to say.

"Eliora." Rebecca called out, and I lifted my gaze toward her.

"Come back home. We miss you." Rebecca said sadly.

"Sister Becca, I can't come back home. I disappointed mum, dad and you." I said sadly.

"No.. no." Rebecca shunned.

"Mum and dad have been searching for you over the years. After you left with that Romans guy, we were all restless, no news from you and all of it." Rebecca paused.

"We waited for your call or even the smallest text but nothing was forthcoming. It was some month ago when I saw your Instagram post." Rebecca smiled.

"Eliora, you graduated and our parents couldn't stop dancing around the house." Rebecca exaggerated and I laughed.

"Really?" I blushed.

"Yeah! They were so proud of you, they announced to the neighborhood and even your old bestie, Chloe came finding you." Rebecca said.

"But..." I started but was cut off.

"How about the Romans guy, did he engage you already?" Rebecca asked anxiously.

Everyone in my neighborhood knew that I ran off with a guy in the name of love. It would be a big slap on my face if I let out the bad news that has befallen me, I just smiled.

"Oh not really but soon." I said courageously, fringing a broad smile.

"Really?" Rebecca's gaze widened.

"Yeah." I nodded affirmatively.

"Good then." Rebecca snapped her finger.

"Come home this weekend with him. Mum and dad will love to see you both." Rebecca said.

"What?" I asked in astonishment.

"Yes. It's true and I also have good news to share." Rebecca said.

"I... I'll need to raincheck and you know..." I tried to maneuver.

"It isn't necessary, it's only a family dinner," Rebecca insisted.

"But Romans is a busy man, and you see.." I tried to rattle out the second time.

"If he loves you, he will make time." Rebecca remained persistent.

"Okay. Sure." I sighed admitting defeat.

"See you this weekend then." Rebecca said happily.

"Yeah." I nodded courageously but inside of me, I was running insane.

A knock came from the door.

"Is that your order?" Rebecca reminded me.

"Yeah. My order." I said cowardly as I proceeded to the door.

How do I convince Romans into skipping his schedule and joining me to my family diner? Why did I tell lies in the first place? Pride huh!