Derek arrived earlier than the others and had now been enjoying his cup of tea with Mond. Mond wouldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth since Derek arrived.
"Cherry said she was coming here, to my home, right?" Mond asked Derek. Before Derek could answer, he continued, "Why isn't she here yet?"
"She's the boss, you know that. She'll arrive when she wants to. No one can make her hurry up!" Derek reminded Mond, in case he forgot who they're talking about.
"And Wilson and Selina are late, as well," Mond noticed. He couldn't wait to see his friends and wanted them to be there already.
"They're quite busy lately, too. Take it easy, Mond, sit down. Just prepare for your guest of honor today," Derek reminded Mond and beckoned him to the chair, which he took.
"Of course, I've already prepared everything for Miss Cherry, my favorite sister-in-law!" Mond said, with pride in his voice.
The doorbell rang at that moment and Mond jumped up. He ran towards the door to check the monitor. His face fell when he saw Wilson and Selina by the door. He opened the door to let them inside.
"Who rang? Is it Cherry?" Derek, who stayed in the living room, asked.
Mond chuckled, "Nope, you guessed wrong!"
Wilson and Selina followed Mond into the living room.
"Mond, why didn't you have the door open waiting for us? You're the one who invited us here. You even had us ring the doorbell!" Selina complained, her arm linked with Wilson's.
"Didn't I open the door for you as soon as you rang the doorbell?" Mond quickly replied.
Wilson simply smiled but didn't say a word. He knew his wife's straightforward character and doesn't think much of it anymore. But Mond still hadn't gotten used to it.
Selina discovered that Derek was the only other person in the room. With her eyebrows scrunched up, she asked Mond, "Where are Jackson and Cherry? They're not yet here?"
"They're probably on the way and should be here any minute," Derek answered while he stood up to shake Wilson's hand. Selina plopped herself down on the sofa followed by the three men, while they wait for Jackson and Cherry.
"I don't understand why Cherry hasn't been able to visit me since they got back. She's seen all of you already. Is she mad at me or something?" Mond whined to his three friends.
"They just happened to visit us first. I was the first one. Selina was the second. And you're third," Derek provided as a way of explanation.
"Derek's right, Mond. Jackson and Cherry are paying you a special visit. And since you asked us to come, we'll make it a party!" Selina added, a huge smile on her face.
"It's because you're all in couples. And I'm not. I'm the only one who's alone!" Mond pretended to pout. "But listen, before they get here, I want to announce something."
"What is it?" Wilson asked, who became more curious when he saw Mond's serious look.
"I'm planning to leave for a period," Mond announced with a determined look on his face.
"How long will you be gone? When will you come back?" Derek asked. He was surprised about Mond's announcement but he didn't mind. Mond needed to take time off to relax, after all.
"I'm not sure yet. I want to spend more time with my family," Mond told them the truth. He didn't want to commit to a return date because he wasn't sure what could happen.
"But what about the ZM Group?" Selina asked, a worried look on her face.
"I'm going to give it to Lawrence," Mond re
“Do you still want to run away after what happened last night?”
Their relationship changes overnight. She tries to keep her distance from him, while he comes closer and closer.
Spoiling her, he gives her everything she desires. His only wish is to keep her around. The whole world is envious of what she has.
“Never rush in a relationship,” she says calmly.
no matter what you say or do, Jackson always supports you. If anything happens, Jackson is there to handle it. And if there is any trouble, Jackson fixes it. You don't need to worry about anything. You just have to enjoy your life," Selina analyzed.
"Oh, Selina, you know me so well," Cherry stretched out her hand for Selina's hand with a big smile on her face.
"Cherry, we'll always be each other's best friend," Selina declared. In her heart, Cherry was the sister she always wanted, the one who knew her thoughts and her mind.
"Of course! I will always protect you. You don't have anything to be afraid of," Cherry promised Selina like a queen promised her people.
"But I'm always under Jackson's protection," Selina mentioned.
"How can that be?" Cherry asked. "My husband protects only me. But since you are his sister, I will allow you to receive some of his protection sometimes."
Cherry pretended to look at Selina from head to toe to size her up.
Derek and Wilson laughed at the two ladies. Jackson kept silent and soaked up the moment. He had not seen Cherry so relaxed in a long time. She really needed to be in the company of friends again so he could see the indulgent and cheeky Cherry he's missed. He kept silent to enjoy this moment.
Selina played along, curled her lips and teased Cherry, "Cherry, you're so naughty! Jackson loves you and I will not take him away from you!"
Cherry snickered at Selina's reaction. She stopped teasing her and said, "Okay, I'll stop now. I know Wilson loves you the most!"
"You two still act like teenagers!" Derek and Wilson clutched their stomachs from laughing so hard.
"Cherry, you keep teasing me," Selina pouted at her.
"I am not, my dear Selina," Cherry argued. She turned to Jackson and, with a soft voice, said, "Darling, you be the judge. Am I teasing Selina?"
Selina pretended to plea to Jackson the judge, "Jackson, help me out this once, will you?"
Jackson had a choice to make, side with his beloved wife or with his precious sister.
Jackson took his time but finally made his decision after a few seconds. He turned to Cherry and said, "It doesn't matter if you keep teasing Selina. She has Wilson to take care of her. And I only care about you," he hugged Cherry and kissed her on the cheek.