It was a new day and a new beginning. Smiles was willing to live her life like there has never been any Keane by her side.
She walks into the company building dressed in a royal blue trouser suit, and her assistant comes running.
"Good morning, ma'am." She greets taking the case from Smiles.
"Good morning, Anny!" Smiles respond with a smile. She feels very much alive today and she prays nothing stops her from feeling this way.
"You've got a visitor," Anny informs.
Smiles raise a brow, "where is he?"
"In your office, we asked him to wait there," Anny said.
Smiles nods, "did he tell you who he is?" She asked again.
Anny nods, "yes, he did. He said something like ``he's your brother and he looks like the male version of you" She blushed red and remembered how good looking the man was.
Smiles chuckles, "well then, I will continue my journey from here, you can go back to your duty post" She took away the case from Anny.
Anny didn't want to let go, she wanted to follow her inside so she could see the handsome looking man again.
" Anny!? " Smiles calls seeing how glued she is on the case," the bag! " She said.
Only then did Anny let go," sorry ma'am, I better go now" she flushed red in embarrassment and ran away.
Smiles chuckles, she looks so funny and cute when she's in love. Too bad Derrick has another. She walks into the elevator and makes her way to the third floor.
As soon as she enters her office, Derrick yanks her into his arms as if he's been waiting.
Smiles was stunned, but she didn't pull away. She let him hug her.
"It's been like forever, I miss this, I miss us, I miss my sister" Derrick pulls away.
Smiles eyes were teary, she couldn't hold it anymore. She's missed him too, he's the only one that has been there since the very start, her brother.
"I miss you too" Smiles yanks herself into his arms, there is no need for her to act all string and though, for her to fake.
It's only them, the two of them. She can't help but be real.
"How could you leave without leaving like that, no letter, no message. How did you expect me to find you? I search basically everywhere, all the places I thought you might have run to but" Derrick couldn't hold on to his tears.
When Smiles left, he didn't know where to begin. The two most important people in his life left him stuck in the middle.
Lisa on the other said she was pregnant for Keane and Smiles left with no info on her where about
"I'm sorry, I just didn't know where to go or who to talk to. I was so hurt, I lost Derrick. I couldn't take the sight of them, I wanted to be left alone" Smiles cries, feeling bitter
" It's ok, hush now! " Derrick comforts her, letting her cry in his embrace.
After a long time, they were all calm and settled.
He leads her to the sofa.``So tell me, how have you been?''Derrick asked, " how did you find yourself in LA and how did you suddenly become this big and mighty CEO Boss lady" he jokes.
Smiles chuckles," I will love to tell you everything but not now, I've got to show you to someone first. I promise, you will love her and thank me later. "She said.
Derrick frowned a little," the babies, yay! " He claps in excitement.
Smiles chuckles but the sadness in his face didn't go unnoticed.
" What's wrong? " Smiles asked, worried and concerned.
"remember Lisa said she was pregnant for Keane on your wedding day right?" Derrick saif and Smiles nod.
"It wasn't Keane, It was me… I was the father" his voice was sad and he looked spaced out.
Smiles frown, "I know you love Lisa and Keane is your best friend but you shouldn't lie to make him be the victim here" she sounds dissatisfied.
Derrick turns to her, "I wish I could put all this on Keane, I wish I could punch him so much that his face get disfigured in the process but I'm afraid, I can't because as much as you and me were the victim of what happened that day, they are too"
Smiles burst out in laughter, there is no way Derrick is serious right now. She wasn't deaf, she heard Lisa said she was pregnant but… she didn't call the name of the person responsible for her pregnancy.
"How can they be victims? Who is the Mastermind then?" Smiles asked confused.
"That's what me and Keane are trying to find out. The mastermind isn't an ordinary person, he/she is someone with great influence." Derrick explains.
"They were forced into pretending Smiles, they were forced into doing what they never would have thought in a million years" Derrick continues.
This only got smiles confused, knowing who Keane is, who will blackmail him to such an extent and for what reason?
Derrick saw the perplexed look on her face, he explains "we all know who Keane's greatest weakness is, and it's you, Smiles." He paused.
Smiles eyes open wide at the realization, "it's because of me he was" she couldn't continue, her hands flew to my mouth stopping the sound from coming out.
"Yes, he had to play along because he never wanted anything bad to happen to you." Derrick further explains.
Only now Smiles can recall the look in his eyes when he stares at her with no words. How devastated he was when he begged her to stay but she was too clouded in her pain that she forgot to see through his barriers.
"And it shows that whoever is responsible for this, is after you." Her head snaps to the side, brow twists, silently demanding for an explanation.
"See, Smiles. I won't lie to you, since you left things have never remained the same. Warren's family is at the verge of bankruptcy, if not, Mark would have been here with us. And not that, Keane is in a load of work right now 'cause invaders or should I say his company is under attack. We are certain the same person responsible for your unsuccessful marriage is the same person trying to take him down" he explains.
Smiles didn't know how to feel, she didn't know what to believe." Lisa, how is she? " She asked after she found her voice again.
Derrick stayed quiet, the look on his face says something else." She is broken and traumatized. Even though it has been five years, it feels like a day. "
"what happened?" Smiles pressed on.
Derrick takes a heavy breath,"she lost her baby, I lost my baby Smiles" he cries.
So much as he doesn't want to, he can't help. He watches Lisa struggle in pain, begging for her life as she Lay on the hospital bed, while they use theater blades on her.
Smiles pulls him in for a tight hug," I'm sorry " she cries.
She can't imagine losing her babies, not for anyone or any reason. Just thinking about it hurts.
" Common now, we can't stay here and cry all day. Let's go see my little niece" Derrick jokes, clearing the sad atmosphere.
"and nephew" she adds, wiping away her tears.