Purple Romance

''Miss Paula, stop there. There is something I want to tell you but I don't know how to face you. I feel that I can tell you honestly if I am not looking at your pretty face.

Andy chuckled silently as he folded his arms watching him. He was right to have stopped Paula from coming. His suspicions of him were right after all.

After talking with Mali in the morning, he had kept his eyes out for him as he began suspecting him to be someone that was on Mali's side.

Felix laughed and continued, ''you see… Paula. I've liked you for a while now. In fact, it had been a long time now. You might not remember me but I was your senior in high school. I first fell for you back then. You were always quiet and all by yourself. I found you cute even back then, back you changed schools and I didn't see you again.

Paula, I know that you like the CEO but, let's be honest. The CEO is a rich heir and doesn't belong to our circle. Even if he claims he loves you, he might still be playing with you because he is engaged to Miss Betty and the two will get married soon. You shouldn't set yourself up for a disaster. I like you very much and I am willing to do anything to have you in my arms. For you to look at me with the same gaze that you do when you are looking at the CEO. I will be good to you, I promise.

As long as you agree to be with me, I will fight for our love. We can leave this place; I have saved a lot of money that we can use for a start-up. Paula, I really love you….'' Felix turned expectantly to look at Paula but his smile distorted when instead of Paula, he was met by Andy's icy gaze.

''C… CEO''

''You still know that I am the CEO and you dared to take what is mine right under my nose? From where did you get this kind of guts?''

''I… I really like Paula. In fact, I liked her first. for a very long time now, I've liked her all by myself''

''Did Mali set you up to do this?'' Andy stepped closer to him and he took a step back. He felt intimidated by Andy without him doing much.

''I… I don't know what you are talking about''

''I am going to give you a chance. A chance to walk out of this place in one piece but in exchange, I want you to relay a message to Mali. Tell her that from now going, even if a string of hair goes missing from Paula's head, she will be paying a heavy price even if she is Paula's family. I am the person responsible for Paula now and I will make sure that anyone giving her headache is taken care of. Do you understand?'' Andy looked at him and he nodded his head.

''I… I'm sorry'' he apologised and handed Paula's phone over to Andy and took his own back. He bowed before Andy before running off.

Andy looked at the phone of Paula and took out his handkerchief. He wiped the phone thoroughly before leaving the storeroom.

When he returned to the office, he saw Paula playing with his phone that he had left on the table.

''You are back?'' Paula stood up.

''En, here is your phone. Let's go''

''Alright, why do you look gloomy, did something happen when you went out?''

''Nothing that I couldn't handle. Paula, before we leave, I want to ask your something''

''What is it?''

''Do you care about your family that much? I can tell by now that you don't have the best relation with them but you've never told me what happened exactly. How did your relationship with them become this bad?''

''Go with me somewhere after the dinner with Lisa and Leslie. There is someone I want you to meet. When you meet him, you will be able to understand better why my relationship with my family is like how it is now''

''Alright, let's go''

....

Leslie's villa.

Lisa was setting the table when the door opened and Andy walked in, holding Paula's hand. Lisa immediately smiled as she stood at dining table looking at Paula who smiled back before going with Andy to meet with Mr. Bassey.

''Why didn't you tell me that it was a misunderstanding. All these years, I lived hating you''

''That's why I told you to not always believe everything that you see'' Andy said as he stood behind Leslie.

''When did you get here?'' Leslie asked and looked at them. He smiled and winked at Paula.

''You two really know how to make an appearance'' Mr. Bassey said as he looked at Paula.

''Uncle, nice to meet you once again. I have been sending my regards to you through Andy here'' Paula said making everyone gasp in shock.

Andy was the one who was shocked the most as he turned to look at the woman next to him. Since when had she sent her regards through him? Was it alright to lie like this?

Paula cocked her brows and looked at him as if daring him to say otherwise. Andy chuckled and shook his head, it seemed being shameless was Paula's new middle name.

''You are one tenacious woman. Even after I warned you, you still stuck like a glue to my son''

''He is the one who wouldn't let me go, right Andy?'' Paula blinked her eyes at him innocently.

''Well, I did. I am the one who loves her''

''So, are you dating my son seriously?''

''That depends on his attitude'' Paula replied and Andy chuckled and pulled her behind him. with such guts, she was going to drive his father crazy.

''Father, Lisa prepared us a meal. We should go and eat now that the air is cleared'' Leslie said and stood up.

Andy turned to Paula and whispered to her, ''you really do keep grudges''

''Off course, he bullied me that day, I always remember it when people do me wrong and make sure to irritate them''

''You are… let's go''

Taking the head of the table, Mr. Bassey looked between Paula and Lisa and spoke, ''I remember you now'' he said, referring to Lisa, ''you two are friends, right?''

''Father, it took you so long to realise that?'' Leslie asked and they chuckled.

''What a cheap way to formally introduce your girlfriends to your father. If I hadn't come here, then you wouldn't have bothered to let me meet the ladies, right?''

''I was going to bring Paula to meet you anyways''

''And I was waiting for Lisa to get well before. The doctor said she can't meet new people at the mean time'' Leslie held Lisa's hand as he spoke.

''I understand Lisa's case, but, you… Andy, this woman is quite stubborn. That gaze…''

Paula smiled as she looked at the old man silently. He was her father in law, after all. She needed to be in good terms with him.

''She acts like she is someone who listens very well, but I can clearly see the stubbornness behind that façade she is putting up''

Paula choked and Andy handed her a glass of water as he said to his father, ''dad, let's eat before the food gets cold''

''Right, we shouldn't waste the efforts of Lisa here. Now that I did what you wanted, you have to fulfil your own side of the deal, Lisa. You must teach me how to brew that coffee''

Lisa nodded her head and smiled.

''Why do I feel that your father likes Lisa more than he likes me? Technically, I should be his first daughter in law because we started dating before them but he is clearly favouring Lisa in my presence. How could he easily be bought with a cup of coffee?'' Paula whispered into Andy's ears.

''Well, even in the ancient times, father in laws favoured their second daughter in laws. But, you don't have to worry, I will love you more to make up for it''

''Then, I won't be petty since Lisa is my best friend and I love her too''

''That's my girl. I am so proud of you. You are so mature and understanding''

''Well, I have no choice but to understand so I'm sucking it up. I don't like him that much either because he doesn't like me. I am mature and understanding but I become petty with such things''

Paula said and lifted her head to see Mr. Bassey looking at her. She faked a smile and picked her fork to eat.

''Lisa, eat more. You need to be healthy so that I can drink more of your coffee everyday'' Mr. Bassey said and picked a few side dishes on the table on to Lisa's plate.

''Is he going to be drinking coffee as food now? Well, Lisa needs to eat to be able to strong enough to make coffee, since she has become his official coffee making machine'' Paula pouted her lips dissatisfied.