Fifteen.

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      "I should step down as soon as possible, I need a break." Ethan said to Rhonda, his wife.

      They were both sitting at the 15 seater dinning table, eating their breakfast which as served by their butler. 

     "Do you think Daniel is ready to take over the company?" Rhonda asked, sipping from her glass of fresh orange juice.

     "Of course he is ready to be the next president of the company, all the board members have given him full support. I honestly need to retire. I'll be content being the chairman." Ethan held his fork to his mouth. "Did you know he traveled again recently, and he only just got back a couple of days ago?" He said, putting his bacon into his mouth.

    "Okay fine, I think we should talk to him about it." Rhonda said to him, picking up her cutlery.

   Ethan smiled at her. "Finally." Ethan picked up a glass of water to drink. "You know, if Daniel eventually wants to settle down, start his own family," he dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "It's a good thing. But.... The woman has to be like the Ontarios. Independent, great thinker, hardworking, must come from an impeccable family, most of all, she must be decent."

     Rhonda looked at him. "I know Daniel will put all that in consideration before getting serious with her."

     "Hmmm." Ethan nodded. "He better, I don't want another good-time girl."

    Rhonda gave Ethan a look, wondering how her husband knew variety of names for women of easy virtue. "Speaking of Amanda," she decided to address an issue. "I think we should invite her over to the house, get to know how better. Maybe she's not as bad as we think."

   Ethan raised a brow at her. "What for? Have you forgotten the kind of reputation she has? A former stripper, she starred in Big Brother USA, she is a glamour model. I'm pretty sure she has slept with a hundred men." Ethan stated out Amanda's profile in case Rhonda might have forgotten.

    Rhonda sighed. "She is the future daughter-in-law of this family, sooner or later, you are going to accept it."

     Ethan chuckled, giving her a smile. "You know, the past two months made me realize that Scott isn't as irresponsible as I thought. Getting him engaged to Amanda straightened his brain. I think it did more good than harm."

   "So what are you saying? That you plan to keep him engaged to Amanda till you're satisfied? Ethan, Scott doesn't want to marry her." Rhonda told him. "The poor girl thinks she'll really marry my son." Rhonda felt bad for Amanda.

    "People like that can be easily bought with money so we'd pay her off." Ethan said, waving his hand.

     "I don't think that's fair." Rhonda frowned.

"Life isn't fair. I'm doing this for my son whether he likes it or not." He said to Rhonda.

     "Then let us invited her over one of these days." Rhonda suggested.

      "Speaking of the devil, here comes your son." Ethan said, looking ahead.

    Scott entered the dinning room. 

    "Good morning dad," he said walking up to Rhonda. "Morning mom." He bent over to give her a kiss on the cheek.

    Rhonda gave him an air kiss. "How are you?" She tapped his cheek lightly. "Bless you."

     "I'm fine." Scott stood erect.

   "Join us for breakfast." Ethan pointed to a chair.

    "Nah, I'm in a hurry." Scott declined.

   "So what brings you here so early?" Rhonda asked her son with a smile.

    "Work. Dad, I need your signature on some documents." Scott said presenting it to Ethan.

     "See what I told you, I should step down as president sooner." Ethan said, taking the files from Scott.

     Scott turned to his mother. "Mom, is there anything you need? I will get it for you on my way back."

     "Aww, my baby that's so sweet of you." She grinned at Scott. "I don't really need anything, but if I do, I'll call you."

   Scott nodded, looking back at his father who was signing the documents. His phone rang, he got it out of his pocket and suddenly his mood changed. It was Amanda calling.

    "What happened?" Rhonda noticed his jaw harden. "Who is calling?" She asked.

"Amanda." Scott answered hanging up. But his phone kept on ringing for more than two times before he switched it off.

     "You know, you should have answered." Rhonda told him.

     "I don't care about that woman. Can you imagine she's already planning the wedding without an actual date, she even picked out her wedding dress already." Scott clenched his first and teeth.

     Ethan scoffed and looked up at him. "We could really make use of that woman."

   Scott frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

    "She's going to model for our next luxurious jewelry collection." Ethan told him squarely.

    "You're not serious... Are you?" Scott could not believe that his father was considering her to model for Ontario Jewels.

     "I am. In fact, I'm going to call the head of advertising department to tell her about this additional plan."

    Scott scoffed. "Really? Dad, do you want me to marry Amanda, just say it instead of deceiving me. It seems like you've already accepted everything while I'm trying to prove to you that I have indeed changed." Scott was getting upset.

     "That women can never be the daughter-in-law of this family, I can't allow that. But you see son, it's just business. Having her on our billboard commercial will excite younger youth. She can't be all that useless being your fiancée can she? I'm sure she would be on cloud nine when you break the news to her." Ethan explained. "Son, this is purely business." He said to Scott.

     "You're giving her more reason to think that she has finally been accepted." Scott frowned even more. "When can the engagement be lifted? I want my freedom. How much longer would it take?"

     "Control the tone of yours Scott. You did this to yourself in the first place." Ethan eyed him.

  Scott saw that he was done and began packing the documents. "I'm leaving." He said coldly.

     "Bye mom." He gave her a quick air kiss  on her cheek before walking out.

      Rhonda turned to Ethan, glaring at him. "Why'd you do that? You keep making him feel bad when he is paying for it."

     "That's the point, he has to feel bad." Ethan resumed eating.

     "You're just unbelievable." Rhonda huffed.

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     Scott drowned himself in the workload of the company. It was better than nagging Amanda or his frustrating father. He had switched on his phone only to meet dozens of Amanda's messages, he didn't even bother to read it, he deleted all of them.

     Scott decided to pick her call. "It better be important!" He snapped at her immediately he answered.

    "Don't yell at me like that Scott!"

   "What. Do. You. Want." Scott asked gritting his teeth. 

  "I'm gonna create a scene here if you dare cut this call."

"You think I am going to be scared of your empty threat? Grow up. Those don't work on me anymore." Scott spat angrily.

    "Oh really now. Why don't you see for yourself, look out your window and you'll see I am not bluffing."

    Scott scoffed. "Do what you want, I couldn't care less."

     "Fine, suit yourself." With that she hung up.

   Scott rubbed his forehead, just then he heard a quick knock. His assistant —Betty, came in.

    "Yes Betty?" Scott asked as soon as the door flew open.

    "You might want to look out your window, Miss Amanda is outside the building. She's talking to some reporters." Betty informed him.

    He turned sharply to her. "What?"

    "Miss Amanda is talking to —"

  Scott raised his hand, silencing her. "I heard you the first time." He stood up, went over to his window.

    From the seventh floor, he could see Amanda talking to two people outside the gates, one was holding a camera while the other held a microphone to her mouth. From where he stood, he could notice how chatty and friendly she was with them.

     "Do I have to do everything myself?!" Scott rolled his eyes. Turning to Betty, he pointed at her. "I want those security guards changed, I mean fired! Tell the fucking HR officer to get competent ones or he is fired too." Scott roared, instilling fear in his assistant.

    "Ye-yes sir." She nodded briskly, taking for the door.

     Scott called up the head of security immediately. "Get those reporters out my property if not I'll sue them for trespassing. For Amanda... Leave her to me, I'll take care of her." He hung up, storming out. "Damn that woman." No matter how much he cussed out, it still wasn't enough to show how much he hated Amanda.

     

     By the time Scott had arrived at the gate, the reporters were already in their vehicle leaving.

     "Oh hi!" Amanda smiled. Her smile was knowing. She did in fact get his attention.

    "Amanda." Scott said between his teeth, glaring at her.

     "What? You want an audience? I'll give you an audience." Amanda smirked at him. "Oh! The reporters are slowing their vehicle down. Watch me Scott." She smirked evily. "Here he is," Amanda raised her voice, getting the attention of the reporters.

    "Don't you dare make a scene." Scott warned her.

     "My fiancée Scott Ontario —what!" Amanda stops halfway as she is gripped on the wrist by Scott who drags her away, taking her inside the gates.

    "Get in." Scott ordered, opening the door to his Bugatti Veyron.

     Amanda frowned at him.

    "I said get in." He glared at her, raising his voice.

   Amanda reluctanty entered before Scott slammed the door shut. Scott went over to the driver's seat.

     "What do you want? Money? How much so you could LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!!" Scott yelled at her face.

            Amanda remained passive, staring at him. "I want us to act like real couples do."

     "Don't tell me you're that stupid Amanda. Real couples? We aren't real couples! Until when will it sink into that head of yours that I can't stand you, you're nothing to me okay? Do you want me to keep saying this to you? The more you make me mad the more I despise you." Scott just couldn't take it anymore.

     "Scott I love you! I know you love me too." Amanda said to him. "I miss everything we had before."

     "Can you stop?! Amanda I don't love you okay?! I will never love you."

     "Sorry but you're stuck with me!!!" Amanda yelled back at him. "We're getting married, I don't care what you think but we are fucking getting married!" She gave him a wicked look. "This time around, I will take to social media not just the press anymore." Amanda threatened him.

      "This conversation is pointless." He started the ignition. "You're going home." No matter what he said to Amanda, she didn't care.

     "Drop me off at a pastry restaurant, I have an appointment with our cake designer." Amanda told him, leaning against the chair.

    Scott gave her a deadly look. How on earth did his life turn out so pathetic? He asked himself before driving off.

After some minutes of driving, Scott received a phone call from Daniel. Good thing he had his airpod on.

     "What's up?" Scott said, listening to Daniel speak over the airpod.

   "I heard what happened from Betty. Is everything okay?"

     "I took care of it." Scott told him.

"Where'd you go? I went to your office, I could not find you."

   "Yeah. I'll be out for a while. She wanted to go to a pastry restaurant." He spoke with the corner of his eye looking at Amanda taking selfies for probably Instagram.

    "Alright, we'll talk properly when you get back."

      "Don't forget it's AnStin treats pastry restaurant I'm gonna get off." Amanda reminded him again.

     "I didn't say I'm deaf the first time you said it." He gave a quick glare at her before turning to the road.

     "AnStin pastry—"

   Scott cut him off. "Dude, I'll call you back later. I've got an incoming urgent call." Scott told Daniel. Before Daniel could speak, Scott hung up.
................................................................................

 

     The duo finally got to the parking area just in front of AnStin treats pastry restaurant.

     "Aren't you gonna come in with me, it's our cake tasting. This is a special moment between couples." Amanda smiled, looking at him.

     "Don't push your luck. I don't need to remind you I'm not this nice especially when it comes to gold diggers like you." Scott shunned her instantly. "And you better don't get funny ideas that I'd be dropping you off anytime you try to play smart." Scott gave her mean look. "From here, go home, you got it?"

     Amanda shot a cold quick glare at him. "I won't let you ruin my mood."

   Scott unlocked the doors to the car. "You ruined mine. You can leave now." He pointed at the door.

    "Whatever." Amanda rolled her eyes, getting out of the car.

   Scott watched her strut into the resturant and that's when his phone rang. It was Betty, his assistant, calling.

    "Hello..." He started, adjusting the airpod in his ear.

    Amanda got into the resturant, she takes her seat, calling the attention of a worker in the resturant.

    "I have an appointment with Anna. Can you tell her I'm here already?" Amanda said to the woman, Jackie, picking up the menu book.

     "Miss Windsor isn't around now, You'll have to wait. But she is on her way." Jackie gave her a smile.

     Amanda feigned a shock. "Really? So I am going to wait?" She groaned. "I have another appointment, I don't have all day."

    "We're sorry Miss. The traffic is pretty bad but I assure you she is almost here." Jackie kept on smiling.

     Amanda rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever! While I wait," her eyes skimmed down the menu book. "Can I get Alexandertorte, apple pie and a vanilla chocolate milkshake to go with?" Amanda said to Jackie.

     "Sure. I'll be right back with your order. Again, I am really sorry for the delay." Jackie apologized.

    Amanda was indifferent, dismissing Jackie with a careless wave.

    Amanda looked on the table, "Huh? Where's my bag? I thought I... No." She gapsed. "I hope I didn't leave it somewhere." Amanda checked beneath the table. "Unless... I think Scott got my bag."
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   Anna sighed. Finally. Her journey was taking forever. She got to the parking area and couldn't help but notice the car parked beside hers. Wow, Bugatti. How fancy. Anna chuckled, turning off her ignition. She fixed her rearview mirror, trying to get a quick glance of how she looked.

     "Perfect." She smiled to herself, running her fingers down her hair. She picked up her phone from the dashboard, and then she noticed a few missed calls from Dee. "Three?" She chuckled softly. "I wonder what could be the problem." She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and opened the door.

   

    Scott was about to turn on the ignition when he noticed Amanda's bag on the seat. "Dammit. She probably did this on purpose." He rubbed his forehead. "Lord help me." Scott turned off the ignition reluctantly. Maybe a woman was indeed going to be the death of him. He picked up the bag from the passenger seat and got out of his car.

   With her eyes on her phone trying to give Dee a call, few steps away from the restaurant's entrance.

      Just as soon as she took one more step, throwing her head up, a pair of eyes collided with hers, standing a few steps away from her, facing her squarely.

     They both stared— shocked, in disbelief, frozen at a spot.

     What seemed like an eternity of staring contest as none of them refused to loose eye contact, he spoke. "A-Anna?"

    Scott's eyes were widened, he didn't know if it was a dream or it was really real. He was in the state of great shock that his eyes didn't dare blink for a second for the fear that she might fade away.

   Anna remained unmoved, gaping at him with no words to say. Her heart kept on racing even without him saying her name. This was the day she had dreaded, the day had finally come. She could only stare at him and not say a single word.

    It kept ringing as a bell.....

     Scott.... Scott..... Scott.... Scott....

     After seven long years..............


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