Morning
Axel woke up suddenly.
His hair was scattered, his eyes immediately searching the bed expecting to see her.
But the space beside him was empty.
No warmth.
No scent.
Nothing.
He checked the time.
12:00 p.m.
He never woke up this late.
"Ah…" he muttered, throwing on a shirt and heading downstairs.
Downstairs
"1… 2… 3…"
The TV vibrated with sound effects from a video game.
"Hello," Josh said cheerfully, smiling when he saw his boss.
Axel reached the last step, his eyes scanning the living room.
"Where is...."
"If you're looking for Calliah," Josh said casually, "she's gone."
Axel ignored him, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
Josh squinted.
"Boss… is that a hickey?"
Axel froze.
"I also saw some on Calliah's neck. Did you both by mis...."
"Josh," Axel said coldly, turning slowly. "You seem very good at observing things. Maybe you wouldn't mind if your eyes stayed at your feet."
Josh swallowed.
. "I'm sorry."
"You've been invited to a party," Josh continued, reading from his phone.
"Reject it," Axel said immediately.
"Tell them I'm busy."
"I already accepted," Josh said, smiling nervously.
Axel turned sharply.
"Then you'll go yourself."
Josh's smile dropped.
Shit.
*****
Calliah's House
Calliah arrived home with Axel in her arms.
"You didn't come back last night?" her mother asked suspiciously.
"I did," Calliah lied smoothly.
"Who owns that puppy?"
"A friend," she replied.
"Go get ready. We're leaving now."
"Okay!" Calliah rushed upstairs.
After bathing, she dressed in a short suit and matching trousers, transparent glasses resting on her nose, her hair neatly combed but falling softly around her face.
"You look too cute, Axelll," she squealed, placing tiny glasses on the dog's face.
"Peeeeee!"
Her dad honked the car horn.
"I'm coming!" she shouted, running downstairs.
"You're late again," her mom said.
"No," Calliah replied quickly, closing the door behind her.
At the Company
Reporters surrounded them instantly.
"How do you feel getting the company back?"
"Were you disappointed in your daughter?"
"Will Zane be released?"
"Are you getting married again?"
"What about your son-in-law?"
"Will you allow your daughter to take over again?"
"My daughter made a mistake," her father said firmly. "And she fixed it. She is my heir."
"And Axel," a reporter suddenly asked Calliah, "are you two a couple?"
"If you don't like him, my daughter does," her reporter added dryly.
"Our relationship has nothing to do with you," Calliah snapped.
"So it's true you're dating him?"
These people were exhausting.
"That will be all," a voice said.
A familiar voice.
One that made reporters tremble.
Grandma.
Cameras disappeared instantly.
"Grandma…" Calliah whispered.
"Mother," her dad said.
"Let's go in," Grandma commanded.
Inside the Office
Everyone sat before microphones.
Calliah gently rubbed Axel's fur.
"You know Grandma is allergic to dogs," Kacey whispered.
"I know."
Calliah stood up.
"I want to thank my parents for believing in me," she said calmly. "And I want to thank someone who helped me through everything."
"And who is that?" someone asked.
"Him."
She raised Axel.
"A dog?" someone scoffed.
*****
Mom and Kacey worked in the kitchen.
Grandma sat across from Calliah.
Her stare was sharp Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Why aren't you in the kitchen?" Grandma asked.
"Same reason as you," Calliah replied.
Her phone beeped.
Axel.
She ignored it.
"Your ex?" Grandma mocked. "Or that man you embarrassed yourself with online?"
"It's Axel."
"Invite him to dinner."
"He's busy."
"Busy sleeping with other women?" Grandma sneered.
"Lauren!" Mom snapped.
"If you had given birth to a son," Grandma continued calmly, "things would be different."
Silence.
"Motherrr," Dad warned.
"All are equal," Kacey said, her voice trembling but brave.
Grandma laughed dryly.
The food arrived.
Calliah didn't eat.
"Still a bad cook ." Lauren spat out
"No wonder you hired lot of maids" Grandma muttered.
"You asked for water, not flavor. Lauren you came here for my daughter again?" " Mom replied sharply.
"I'm here for my sons," Grandma said. "And the company."
"Mother what wrong why despite my family"
"Untill you find a male from that sperm of yours Before I could rest " she added, staring directly at Calliah,
The phone beeped again.
Axel.
"Still him?" Grandma said. "If he doesn't arrive by supper, you're going on a blind date with a powerful CEO."
"What?" Calliah stood up.
" Yes.. my company won't fall off in the hands of you. I and my son has make the group one of the best but you spoilt everything "
" Grandma'm"Kacey said
" And if you don't at least accept one of them this company will no longer be your family but my other son. Kacey father"
She turned and walked away.
"We're not living in the old days!" Calliah shouted after her. "You weren't forced into marriage either!"
Gramps. We aren't at the old days when I would be given a man and besides you weren't force on yours. I learn my lesson already bout marriages and you want me to married again what do you think they will write bout me this time uh??. You think bout your self and not others"
She took a deep breath and sigh "if I despite you like your father had said you wouldn't dare speak to me at they manners. By supper and he didn't arrive then "
Grandma paused only once.
she said coldly, "you'll regret it."
She stepped into the elevator.
"Gram calliah still haven't recover from the incident"
"I don't care," she added as the doors closed.