Chapter 14

"I'm ready" she hopped along with Oliver, smiling. "It's a shame that here we can only walk and see buildings, don't you think?"

"I know," he said, reaching out his hand. Aileen also took his hand, and together they started walking through the streets filled with people and cars. But in the distance, there were two people watching them: Zac, standing on a corner, feeling jealous of Oliver, and Anna, in her car at the other end, smoking a cigarette while observing the couple. She took out her luxurious cellphone and made an important call.

"How are you?" she spoke to her old friend, a detective.

"Anna, what a pleasure to hear from you. I'm fine, and you?"

"Good. Are you in the city? I have a job for you."

"Of course, I'm always available for you."

"Alright. I'll send you some data to your email in a few minutes, and I want you to investigate this person's life down to the smallest detail. Even how many times they go to the bathroom. If possible, dig into their friends or ex-boyfriends. Anything, but you have to bring me something interesting, something that will ruin their life."

"I understand perfectly. Send it to me, and let's start working."

"Perfect."

Anna hung up and began sending the information about Aileen. Anna was a malicious person, obsessed with Oliver. She didn't want anyone else to become Mrs. Price, so she would do anything to prevent that relationship from happening, even at any cost. The only one who had to get married was her, she was meant to be the only Mrs. Price. She dialed her old friend's number, her ex-lover, and called him.

"Well, look who's back in the nest."

"Don't talk. Are you at home?"

"Always."

"Good, then I'm coming over."

"I'll be waiting."

Zac, on the other hand, felt discouraged. He had been going to the gym these days to gain some weight and muscles. In fact, he had also submitted some papers to Oliver Price's company because he knew Aileen would be around soon, and he wanted to be with her. An incoming call distracted him, so he hurried to answer.

"Hello?"

"Is this Zac Wondering?"

"Yes, it's me."

"We're talking about Price Enterprises regarding your internship application in the marketing department."

"Yes, can I go?"

"Yes, your application has been approved by Mr. Price. You can start on Monday at the earliest."

"Thank you very much. I'll be there."

Zac was very happy because his plans were unfolding as he had planned.

Aileen was distracted, looking at the few trees in the city.

"Shall we go to the park?"

"Well, at least there won't be as many people there."

They headed to the nearest park, looking for a secluded bench to sit on.

"What would you be doing at home if you weren't with me?" she wanted to know.

"I think I'd be working. I'm not sure."

"How boring. Just work and work? You're letting life pass you by. Don't tell me you're one of those men who only think about making money and leave their bored wives at home."

Oliver looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"Because I don't like those kinds of men," she continued. "I mean, it's great to work, but you have to make time for everything. Time for yourself, time for your spouse, time to go to some magical town, and time to work. You're the boss, right? Your responsibilities are supposed to be less."

"You're wrong," Oliver chuckled a bit. "The obligations are more. But you're right, I hadn't thought about it that way."

"See, at least I serve as your advisor."

"Aileen..."

"Come on now."

"Magic town, huh?"

"Yes, I've always wanted to live in a magical town. Where sunsets are colorful, where there's a boring silence, where there's a forest with wild animals, where gossip flies, where they have fairs and everyone from the neighborhood attends." Aileen daydreamed a lot while awake.

"Maybe when you graduate, you can look for a town like that and live there. With your husband, she said, thinking that it might be with him. But it was better not to dream."

"Maybe."

"Do you want to go?" Oliver asked because Aileen had fallen silent, lost in daydreaming.

"Do you want to go? If you want, you can leave, and I'll stay a while longer."

"I'm not going to leave you alone here."

"Fine."

Half an hour later, Aileen and Oliver returned home. Oliver had received a call from his father who wanted to talk to him, so he had to leave.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Goodbye."

Aileen entered the house just as Oliver drove away in his car. Now she felt alone, and the house felt so empty. Why did she feel this way? She didn't want to start developing anxious attachment to that boy or anyone else. She felt fear at that moment.

"You're home," her mother waited for her at the doorway.

"What's up?"

"Aileen, today when I was at the mall with my friends, I received a call."

Aileen raised an eyebrow in question.

"From whom?"

Aileen's mother didn't want to tell her, but she had to. She had no other choice.

"From your father."

Aileen felt something in her chest, something strange: pain. Her father? He had abandoned them years ago, so how could he just come back like that?

"And what did he want?"

"He says he wants to see you."

"Really?" she laughed without enthusiasm. "See me, after all these years? What made him decide to repent just now?"

"I don't know, he went to London a long time ago, and since then, I haven't heard anything from him. His call surprised me."

"And did you say yes?"

"Well, yes, he's your father."

"Mom, please..." she couldn't believe how lenient her mother was in this matter, especially with him, not after she remembered their last argument. He didn't even turn around to say goodbye to Aileen. Resentment was what she felt for him at that moment. She felt that her life was fulfilled and that she didn't need him. "I don't want to see him."

"Well, you'll have to see him and talk to him. He's coming tomorrow."

"I imagine you must be very excited to see him, right?"

"Wha... no! Of course not."

"Well, I'm going to bed."

Aileen went upstairs to her room to think things through alone. She thought about her father and how seeing him again would affect her life. Would it be for the better or for the worse? So many questions flooded her mind. She just hoped it would be one of those quick visits, and he would go away as quickly as he came.

That's all she hoped for. Around nine o'clock at night, she received a message from Oliver.

Oliver: Hi :)

Aileen: Hi :)

Oliver: What are you doing?

Aileen: Lying down, so boring.

Oliver: "Do you want me to accompany you?"

Aileen: "That wouldn't be a bad idea."

Oliver: "Then open the window."

Aileen was surprised by his message. She went to the window and noticed Oliver Price climbing her wall and crossing through her window.

"Are you crazy?" she laughed.

"I think this is how a 'small-town boy' enters the room of the girl he likes," he said. Aileen blushed upon hearing that "the girl he likes" because it meant he admitted he liked her.

"You're seriously crazy," she smiled.

"So, where did we leave off today?" Oliver kissed her tenderly.

"Will you sleep with me again?" she asked between the kiss.

"Tonight and every night we're together," he replied.

Aileen smiled like a fool.

"Shall we watch a movie?" she suggested.

"Sounds good."

Oliver secured the window and closed the curtain. The dinner with his father hadn't gone too badly; he just wanted to catch up on the company and its management to eventually hand it all over to him. Besides, his mother was coming in a few days, and he had to introduce Aileen to her. He knew what she was like, but he wouldn't let her humiliate Aileen. He wanted to protect her; he felt he had to protect her.

"Well, this time you choose a movie," he said.

"Alright," they both lay down on the bed, illuminated only by the light of the TV in front of them. "Something action-packed."

"Whatever you want."

After selecting an action movie, Oliver started caressing her hair and shoulders. He knew she was mentally exhausted.

"I always feel calm when I'm with you," Aileen murmured in a state of relaxation. "At peace."

"That's good. They say that when you feel like that, it means you're with the right person."

They locked eyes.

"Oliver?"

"Hmm?"

"My mom told me that my dad is coming tomorrow."

"Your father?"

Aileen nodded.

"After all these years of abandonment, he decides to come back."

"How do you feel about it?"

"I don't know. The same, I guess. I got used to not having him around."

"You'll be fine," he reassured her. "You're strong."

"But if he decides to stay, you'll have to talk to him."

"That doesn't matter."

"Are you sure?"

"That's right. Don't worry."

They continued watching the movie quietly, exchanging soft kisses and chatting about anything in between.