Chapter 52: Fallen
At Lucina’s Hotel in the VIP bar section, Oliver looked at Miranda and sighed. His men had reported to him that someone was stalking him, and they were surprised it was one of his friends. No matter how much they tried to deny it, they all knew Miranda, Madeline, and Abigail very well.
"Let me guess. You told Archie about Henry," Oliver said. He threw his head back and shook it slowly. " Damn!"
Miranda looked at Oliver under the green and red lights and clenched her fists. She stopped herself from running to him or sitting on his lap, facing him, looking into his eyes, and kissing his lips.
"Hey! I’m talking to you," Oliver said, looking at her with those piercing eyes. No matter how nice Oliver was to her, she still did not have the courage to confess to him. And the fact that he was quick to despise someone was chilling.
"Oliver... I... I..."
He suddenly stood up and moved toward her. "You what?"
Miranda took several steps back. "I swear... I mean no harm..."
Oliver frowned. "I heard you resigned from her company. You knew how worried she would be about you. She is relieved because you are at her side and have more experience than her. Now you left her all by herself and even created a huge problem for her after you left."
Miranda laughed bitterly. "So it’s now my fault," she gritted her teeth. "You all only care about Abigail! What about..."
"Hold it right there," Oliver raised one hand while he looked down. After sighing, he turned around. "Get out."
"Uhm... ahh... Oliver... wait... I don’t mean to..." She panicked. But Oliver had already picked up his car keys.
"You see why I don’t want you to hear her response? Now you do." Then he cut the phone.
Miranda looked at the phone in horror. Abigail had also heard it? That was likely her. She always wanted to know where she went wrong, if she could correct it or not.
"Oliver!" She was about to chase after him, but his bodyguard stopped her. That was when she knew she had successfully labelled herself as a backstabber.
....
At Miranda’s apartment on the top floor, Madeline knocked on her door and pressed the bell button. Then she texted her, "I know you are in. You better open the door if you want me to trust you."
Not long after, the door opened. Madeline sighed and entered. "What on earth is wrong with you, Mira?" she said and angrily dropped her bag on the couch.
Miranda looked at her through her messy hair and sighed. "You can also hate me if you want."
Madeline sighed and scolded her. "You are new in our group and don’t understand what’s going on, that’s why you are like this. Abigail is earning what she has done! She deserves it. All these men aren’t stupid."
"Why would you say that to Abigail of all people?" she asked.
Before joining them, she used to be bullied at the orphanage. Abigail brought her into their friend circle. That’s almost six years of friendship. Ever since then, they never touched her. It was that same year we all left for university. Abigail was the one that convinced Oliver who is the head of the group, to let him join. Knowing he is picky and rarely gets along with people. She had to beg him.
Madeline sighed Abigail has the courage to build her own company after working so hard in many companies. But she still lacks how to control it. You learned business and know better! Abigail even wanted you to be the vice CEO so she can learn a lot. It was you who chose to be her assistant to keep an eye on her. Oliver and I are very grateful because we are too busy to help her."
"Now you suddenly quit? Not only that, you told Archie, who loved Abigail since childhood! Knowing what Abigail’s company is facing? That company is under risk, and the possibility of this mysterious politician buying or claiming it is getting high! Only someone from the top family like Michelson can stop it from happening."
"But the fact that Abigail doesn’t see it coming is what you are supposed to understand."
Miranda patiently listened to her and sighed. She did not know where to start from. She agreed she had messed up, but she couldn’t bear to offend Oliver. She may not be able to live well.
" How can I make it up with Olivier?" She said tiredly.
Madeline was shocked. "And what about Abigail? Are you not afraid to hurt her too?"
Miranda sighed. But tears filled her eyes. " I don’t want him to hate me Madeline... I knew you can’t relate because Oliver looks at you differently," she said, confusing Madeline.
But Miranda would not tell her more. She was hurt that Oliver liked to argue with her, joke with her, but would talk to her normally. She just wanted to be the one he played with.
Then what Archie said came to her mind. She had fallen too deep for Oliver that she had started to envy Madeline.
The apartment felt heavy with emotions. Miranda sat on the couch, staring at the floor. Madeline sat beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. " I think you need to rest more, because you have started speaking rubbish I don’t understand " She frowned in disappointment.
Miranda nodded slowly. "Yeah... I think I need to find a way to make him trust me, but will you help me to confuse him since he’s into you?"
Madeline was stunned. " Miranda? what on earth are you talking about?"
Miranda rolled her eyes. " I knew he will listen to you Madeline. I knew he likes you" she nodded.
Madeline looked at her with surprise. Then shook her head. " I expect more from you" she angrily stood up and picked her bag.
" You disappoint me Mira" with that she left in anger while Miranda watched with a bitter smile