" Sure then, shall we? " Asked Smiles, leading the way out of her office.
Derrick chuckles all of a sudden, Smiles turns to him with a questioning gaze.
"What's funny? " Asked Smiles, head almost tilted to the side.
"Nothing!" Derrick said but Smiles wasn't fully convinced. The look on his face says it all.
"It can't be nothing, common, tell me" Smiles urged, but Derrick was in no way giving in.
" If you keep on saying nothing like that, I promise to throw you to hell and skin you alive" She warns, tone bossy and firm.
This got Derrick laughing," and there you go, the bossy female CEO aura" he said laughing.
" Remember when you were working for Keane? " He asked and Smiles nodded with a frown, not knowing where he was heading to.
"You were an obedient naive little worker, with so much to run and stress for but look at you now, all big and bold and mature and bossy" Derrick laughed out loud, halting on his steps.
"You are no longer my adorable little sister who has always enjoyed getting free lunch, you are the bossy CEO I've always envisioned you to be… in my imagination though " He brushes on her arm, She smiles in response.
"Time doesn't stick at twelve, and neither do I … we all grow, change, and pursue different things. I never thought there would come a day when I will have to run one of the biggest companies in America but here I am, doing a great job." Smiles was grateful for her life right now, even without Keane, she was more than capable of handling her own situation and taking extra care of her children.
Thanks to all that happened, she's become the woman she's never seen herself being and has learned to get the bull by the horns.
And now, her life is more than a gift. More than what she would have ever wished for. Maybe life is making up to her for all the ups and downs, thorns and tornadoes.
"I'm so proud of you, Smiles." Derrick was more than proud of her, she was handling things quite well.
"Thanks. Well, you better stop talking if your ass will be a dead tissue" Smiles jokes, walking away.
"Oh really! Before you forget, you are talking to the CEO of Wright Enterprise here." Derrick said, following her behind.
"I know that bit you ain't no match for me. And don't forget you are in my territory, I can easily spank you as much as I want" Smiles said, laughing.
"What a cold CEO boss lady," Derrick mutters under his breath. Smiles were able to hear him because of how close they were.
"Come again, didn't get you!" She pretended not to have heard him.
"I said you are the coolest CEO ever" Derrick lies, smiling.
"Oh!" She places her hands on her chest, "what a nice compliment from a rival" She laughs, walking into the elevator.
Derrick could only follow tirelessly behind. This has always been them, talking and laughing, mocking each other, saying all their worries and doubts, and above all, understanding each other.
They arrive home in no time, and Smiles leads him into the mansion. It was so big, but it was nothing to Derrick as he'd seen beautiful houses more than he could count.
"Nate, Kate… Mommy is back!" Smiles called out but got no response.
"Make yourself comfortable, while I go get those two angels downstairs," Smiles said she didn't get to move up to three steps as the two kids came running down the stairs.
They were competing on who would get to hug Smiles first but Nate was topping as he was faster than Kate.
Seeing that her brother is leading her, Kate halts her steps and starts faking a sob.
Nate was very concerned, scared she might have hurt herself in the process. He turned to her, "What's wrong Kate?" He asked approaching his sister.
"I think I just sprained my ankle," Kate said, rubbing her left ankle.
Nate moves to her side and crunches down to check on her injured leg, Kate giggles seeing him look all concerned.
Just in time, she stands up and runs to her mom, hugging her while Nate is left confused but the confusion quickly changes to anger.
"You cheated, Kate .. I was supposed to be the one, you cheated" Nate complains, not moving on his spot.
"Sorry Nate, I had to if not, you would have beaten me to it. You are way faster than me and I could barely keep up" Kate explains her reason for cheating.
"Really? Is cheating the best way to win then? Remember Mrs Tyson said cheating is a bad thing, only criminals and selfish people cheat" Nate was angry.
He would have willingly lost to his sister if she had asked him to let her win, not get tricked by her.
Kate frowned, she didn't like her brother's words. "I'm not a cheat, nor a criminal." She denies. "All I wanted was to hug Mommy first," she explains.
"You could have done that the right way, no go around using your schemes" Nate yells, and storms away.
Smiles have been watching them all along, to see how they will handle things. Her gaze meets Kate's who stares at her with teary eyes.
Smiles crunch down to her level, "You have to go apologize to your brother, he's hurt by your actions " She tries to make the little girl understand.
Kate stutters," But, I only wanted to be the first to hug you" she explains, crying.
Smiles wipes away her tears, "It's not a bad thing to want to win Kate, but there are good and bad ways of doing that." She holds her hands," You didn't do it the right way, you cheated you tricked your brother into believing you were really hurt, that's a lie. You lied to him, and he was so concerned for you "
Tears rolled down Kate's cheeks," I didn't mean to, I never wanted to hurt him. " She cries.
" But you did, and you have to go back up there and make things right "Smiles encourages.
"he won't want to hear me out" Kate knees her brother better than anyone else.
Smiles clasp her tiny face in her palms, "he is your brother, you two were together ever since you were in my tummy. He will listen to you, that's if you are willing never to do it again." She pats on her hair.
Kate nods and turns and leaves. She is willing to apologize to her brother and make peace. To never be a cheater or selfish person again.
"Wow!" Derrick exclaims, after the little girl leaves, "that's one hell of a scene," he said, leaning down on the sofa. "I've got a lot to stand up for" he murmurs.
Smiles chuckles, "Yup, you really have"