BROKEN HOPES

Eve pov.

It's sunday morning,remembering I have brunch with my high school friends, stella and issac and hilda,yea ,I still keep in touch with my friends.we were the notorious JOSEPHINA'S.

I did my morning routines,got dressed and head to the house.

Entering their yard I saw issac setting the dishes.

"Hey issac." I greeted.

"Oh hi,eve, honey someone is here to see you".issac shouted.

Issac has really changed,normally he is the quiet type,now he is muscular and he has freckles.

"Don't tell me it's the gardener,I told him am not paying after he destroyed my flowers.....eve!,it you". stella trailed off pulling me to a tight hug.

stella is African,Nigeria to be specific,she is my best friend in high school,she was the black beautiful girl in school,which made me second beauty in the school,we fought about it now we are friends,isaac and stella are couple,they got engaged a year ago now am just waiting for their wedding.

"You are early.come on let go and set things up,I can't wait". Stella squeal.

I saw hilda,the chaterbox of the school.it was amazing to see some of us again. We had the brunch at their porch,the design is magnificent of course done by stella herself,she is a interior designer and issac is an engineer.

Their house is bungalow and very clean and beautiful.

"This is amazing food,what is is it called again?"I asked.

"Jollof rice,if you want to taste Africa food you can joins us there".

"Oh I don't know going to Africa for food is a waste of money".I countered.

"But fun right?.stella added.

"So I finally got a job as a PA". I say changing the topic.

"That's nice so we can say we are hardworking people". We talked and joke about works.

I decided to change the topic.

"So,you and issac are engaged,so when is your wedding?".

"Yea,it's been a year". Hilda added.

"Well,issac and I decided to have two weddings,one at my country and here,and it is a lot of money,we are saving and patient". Stella answered.

"And we will go to California to start a new life".Issac added.

"That's nice".

"What about you hilda,how is jeff?issac asked.

"He is fine,he will soon be back and when he is,we will go to paris and start a new life". Hilda replied.

"You really want to go to paris,don't you?". I asked.

"Yes, the reason I didn't go was because I was going to be lonely,but jeff there it will be amazing".hilda replies.

"Look at us,planning on our next adventure and new life". Stella squeal.

"What about you eve,you have someone in your life?".

"No".

Yea,am pretty,but no one comes to me and I like it that way and am also thankful that they didn't push. Then the rest of the time was silent and peaceful and it was killing me.

"I wish the whole gang were here".issac said out of the blues.

"Yea,tasha,ollie,albert,patrick and sandy". Hilda added.

"I guessed they have a new life?".I asked.

"Yes,albert is a famous artist,pat is a model now,also tasha and ollie are business woman and they are not in good terms".stella added.

"Really,the two best friends who always flaunt their wealth and rule the school are enemies".

"Business made it that way".issac says.

"Could it mean that business also drove us apart". I asked faintly,no one answered.

"I guess,but the four are gonna be okay".hilda says.

"Yea".we all respond simultaneously.

Eve pov

The brunch was amazing, it's was probably the last brunch we would have given that my friends, stella and issac are to go to Africa soon, and hilda a fashion designer,our JOSEPHINA group is packed already and is heading out soon. She does travel alot. So I am left alone here.

It was night already and I had to work in the restaurant, i quickly freshen up and headed out, on the desolate road, as I walked I remember what stella told me.

Flashback

I hummed as I cleaned up the place, my friends had already left to pack up and i was alone arranging the place.

"Thanks for your help Eve, it means alot." Stella said out of the blues from behind scaring me.

"It's nothing" I breathed.

Stella walked up to me scrutinizing me.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Don't you think it's strange that a beautiful girl like you is still single after all these years? Back in college so many guys surrounded us, what happened?are you dying?". I burst out laughing at her seriousness.

"Its nothing, El, no one has approached me yet. " I answered truthful and Stella sighs, holding my hands up to stop me from washing the dishes. I looked up to her, cocking my eyebrows at her behaviour.

"Its Sandy right?" I wanted to say something, anything to deny what she said. But I just couldn't think of anything because it was true.

"I knew it." She declared "you are still waiting for him. " she deadpanned.

I turn my head to the left, she was right. Sandy and I had dated in high for a long time,we love each other a lot,when we graduated with the rest,we made a promise that after ten years we will meet again but only Stella,Issac,Hilda and I met.

I had high hopes i will meet sandy again but he didn't show up,I tried calling,texting,every possible way to get to him but he was unreachable. It was as if he disappeared on the face of the earth. I still dream for the day he would come to me, I pray to see him. I still love him, and I can't bring my self to forget him.

"Listen to me." She turned me to face her,"being lonely because of sandy at least live a little.stella said bringing me to reality".

"I can't".

"Then what are you waiting,try again, talking to him,stella suggested.

"I tried but it not working."

"Keep trying okay, I know you can do this am sorry issac,hilda and I wont be there for you but do it for love,I know you and sandy and I know he is also trying to speak to you,Philippines is far from here".

"You are right,I will try and live a little and try to talk to sandy". I assured her

Stella smiles and pulls me to a tight hug which I needed right now.

"I know it not going to be easy,but I know you can do this, I believe on you."

End of flashback.

And she was right,it's been long and i won't give up. I have been stalking on sandy on social media though he has not accepted my friend request I still see him on the news,how he is sucessful and every woman dream man and wealthy and breath taking handsome,my sandy.i opened a drawer,revealing all the gifts and letters he had given me and I kept it for lasting memories and a slight hope for me that we can be together, I took a picture if the two of us close to my heart and I fell asleep.

I woke up to get ready for work am twenty three years old with a master degree in mass communication marketing,but am an personal assistant to my boss.

I did my morning routine,got dressed,flagged a cab to my place of work.

"Mrs Steveson, Mr Donald assigned me to tell you you what to do since you are late".

Miss Gladys, the former PA of Mr Donald.so since am pretty,I caught the eyes of well all the male even my boss,so all the female employees hates me,but I dont care am not attracted to them only sandy and when I have sandy I will show them I dont need them.

I looked at the piled up paper,so many paper work,I turned to look at my colleagues,they look energetic and held grinning and mischievous looks,they really envious of my Brown waist length blonde hair,flawless and shinning light skin,no need to brag but am a true definition of a model.

sigh and get ready for paperwork. Yay lucky me.

After three hours of paperwork,it was lunch hour and I can really smell my favourite meal. San Francisco Sourdough Bread.

I loved it since when sandy and I had our first date together,at the school cafeteria,the school didn't have any but sandy took care of it.

The creamy taste melts in my mouth,it was delicious,I had to savour them slowly.

"Miss Steveson, you are not done with your paperwork".Gladys spat.

"Yea,but it is lunch time and it's been three hours,so...." I trailed off.

"Well you are the PA of Mr Donald and you are highly expected to finish the job".

"Yes,I am the PA,so I deserve some respect". I cooled.

Gladys laughed,which filled the whole room.

"Ok,let me show my respect for a PA". Gladys sneered.

She reach out for a strawberry smoothie and poured over my head,staining my dress,I jerked for it was messy,sticky and cold. The female employees laughter filled the room,I looked at my enemy.

"Oops,it slipped".

I ran to the bathroom to clean it up,it took twenty minutes to clean it up,then back to my office,I looked at another stack of paperwork,I looked at the rest they all smiled,so much for working here,my paycheck musl the trouble so far, it's time for more paperwork.

Closing hour,I took a cab to my house,it is not big but comfortable,it's not that am an orphan. My parents are hardworking,i just want to live on my own.In my pjs,watching tv and repeatedly staring at my phone,am supposed to receive an alert from my bank account, others had received theirs or the forgot mine,those girls will pay for what they did.

A knock on brought me out of revenge plans,i opened the door to see Daniel.

"Good evening". Daniel greets.

"Come in".i replied.

Daniel and i are neighbour,he stays next door he is a chef,funny and okay for a guy like him, I know I said I dont allow boys in my life but he is okay we see each other as friend and he has a girlfriend Gabriella.

"I heard that you got a job so I came to celebrate with key lime pie"he said holding the pie.

"Yes,and am gonna receive my pay soon enough".

"Let me go grab some plates in the kitchen". Daniel left for the kitchen, I stare at my phone,no alert.

"Here, we go,one for me and one for you.

"Thanks,so how is your job?I asked .

"Good,cooking has always been my dream".he cooled.

"The pay is top notch,everything is just what I always wanted".

"And Gabriella?"

"She is ok,she will soon be done, then we will go to New Zealand to start a new life".he replied

"Awwwn,all my friends are getting married and I am here waiting".

Daniel laughed.

"I know you have someone,you finally want to tell me who that kid is on every picture you bedroom walls that you have goofy eyes for".

"He was my boyfriend when I was a teenager,we separated when we graduated". I replied

"And you think of him every time and wish you will see him again with opened arms,dream on".

"What do you mean?". I pushed.

"It been so many years,are you sure you can be together, who is he?",He asked.

"Sandy Mazano."

Daniel choked his pie,I offered him water.

"SANDY MAZANO IS YOUR BOYFRIEND"!!. Daniel cried.

"Yes."

"You mean the famous,wealthy.greek god is your high school boyfriend!."

"Yes."

"Wow and you are here?."

"Yes,look what are you saying".it my turn to ask.

"Sandy Mazano is your lover and you are here,dont you know a lot of pretty ladies are dying to meet him and you are here."

"I know and I also know he turned them down after a week,am always updated".

"But still,I'd you want him back you have to go to him". Daniel suggested.

"I already planned that, but I need money".

I can help you,I will give you my pay".Daniel suggested.

"No, you and Gabriella need it".

"Not more than you,do you really want to whither and die here,then you have to am going to help and it final".Daniel drank a tall glass of water after speaking too much.

"Why are helping me?."

Daniel stopped drinking the water.

"Two reasons, one you are my friend and two I need you to go there and get me a job in one of his hotels as a chef".

"Why?"

"Sandy Mazano has a lot of five star hotels In Philippines and I did try to get a job there but I couldn't and now you two are destined for each other,you are gonna help me,so choose you stay here and die or hello sandy."

"Ok, I will go not only because you told me too because others did."

Yes,Gabriella will be so happy".Daniel practically squeal.

We talked about a lot until it was night time ooh and yes I recieved my alert doubled this time.The boss really loves me. What,sometimes you have to use your beauty as an advantage.

Sandy POV

A round of applause filled the conference room and exchanged handshakes,well sandy you did it again.

I just finished a deal with the Famous,chef school in NEW YORK,SAN COOKING SCHOOL. The plan is that we are building a new hotel and the only way to make profit is by having the best chefs in the world to our hotel that way we have good services to render to our customers and I just hit the jackpot,Soon my name will be everywhere in whole of NEW YORK.

"Excuse me sir,you have a guest in your office,she wants to see you right away". My new secretary told me.

"What is it?".I asked.

"It's urgent".she replied.

"Excuse me gentlemen,my attention is needed elsewhere". I say politely,I leave to my office,employee gretting me,I ignored them,am a business god, I serve as role model to people out there,well respected and god damn handsome,which made me wonder if my guest isn't one of those one night stands.

I reached my private elevator with my secretary,the elevator was slow today. I opened my office door to see a dark brown silky haired girl, I tilted my head.

"Ma'am,he is here".my secretary says from behind. The brown haired woman turn to our direction making me subconscious and sick,it was Selena when will this woman leave me alone,she was just a date to my parents dinner nothing more.

"Is this the thing that was urgent that I had to leave the conference room that is worth more than her". I snapped at the secretary with angry eyes which made her step back.

"Am so..sorry sir".she apologise.

"Am also sorry you are fired,now get out of my office".i spat.

She scrambled out,I turn to look at Selena,she stood there leaning on my desk with a smile which I could slap off her, her make up made her look like a desperate pigeon I wanted to throw up,we were quiet for a while.

"I see you have been thinking of me that why you fired your tenth secretary this month".

"I have been thinking of you with hatred,selena how many times do I have to tell you,we are not a thing".i snapped.

"Dont shout on your sweetheart,if we are not a thing then why did you propose to me in front of your family?".she asked with a wide smile on her face which I want scratch it off,plus the make up.

"I told you and I will tell you again it was a show for my parents,now leave my office before I get the security".

She smiled all the way to her eyes,taking seducing steps towards me until she was in front of me with no space separating us.

"I know you are lying".she started,holding my jacket with her hands,her artificial nails poking my chest."then why did you choose me?".she added biting her lips which are huge she must have done a lot of blow jobs.

" I am very irresistible." she said seductively.

I smiled at her,pull her close to me,put her hair aside,she arch her back,moving closer to me,I reach for her ear and whisper something to her.

"You wanna feel the way you look I know you are irresistible,but you are irritating to me,looking for an idiot to bang,go become an escort that you are again and business will boom once more". i whisper to her ear,she froze,I smirked,sat down on my chair,she was still on the spot,she turned to me looking red with rage and embarrassment.

"How dare you?". She spat.

"What,I said something wrong,look, my work of place is not a brothel,I might have a lot of hotels,but no shit happens here.if you are looking for someone with the sanity problem like you,go meet the men you had fucked,got pregnant for and you blackmailed them,you can go sign up in an hotels and continue your shit." I snapped.

Now she was enraged,fuming with anger.

"How dare you?."

" Do you still love nature after what it did to you,look you better leave before I make this worse for you,and you know what happens next,its for your own good."

"Shut up,you have no right to on insult me like that to my face". she said,walking towards me until she is right in front of me.

"Am not insulting you,am only describing you,you are disgusting, I don't want to look at your face,it's my fault, I had pity on you,try to remove your name from the gutter,make you hang out with responsible people like me, you really think I will like you,like I will waste my life with a barren woman no,no,I can't stoop so low,am too bright to shine in your dull and shameless life."

"Hey!." She stretch out her hand to slap me,I caught it in a flash,her face was fuming in anger.

" if you want to be two faced at least make one pretty".I spat.

"I hate you,mr sandy mazano".selena says venomously.

"Then we are even,I hate you,you hate me,i guess hatred is the only feeling we have for each other".she was quiet.

"well you have nothing to say,you can leave now". Selena takes her purse to leave. "I will be back".she shouted.

"if you are shameless do as you please and remember,goodluck to the other victims and don't let the door hit you on your way out."

She gave me a dead glare which surprisingly goes with her makeup,she leaves,slamming the door,not missing her angry face,glad that's taken care of.

Two minutes later,Ralph enters.

"Hey buddy".i heard you fired your new secretary that just started today. He said,sitting down,crossing his legs.

"Yea,she let one of those one night stands selena."

"Ooh,I saw Selena at the parking lot,she was furious,you did something right?".he asked.

"I told her the truth,why we can't be a thing,look I dont want to hear anything about girls,they are distractions".i countered.

"Yea, distracting gorgeous". Ralph smirked.

Ralph is my friend in business school,the only person I confide with, we are girls breath takers,but he is interested in girls and am not. We are partners in business,he owns a casino.

"Why were you late?".

"I had to stop,I couldn't leave a beautiful lady on the street,so I.."

"Stop,you missed a meeting,we both decided to do this together,you hang out with girls and I do the rest of the work,this is why I say girls are nothing but distractions". I sigh.

"Am sorry,next time,but I dont want to be lonely,you are workalholic guy and a different and I called many times."

"Sorry,i got a new phone and a line,those girls won't stop calling me."

Ralph laughs which made me cock a brow.

Am sorry,well good the meeting went smoothly without me."

"yea,but whatever you do don't shine on my spotlight and asking for help".

"Yea,yea,so how was the meeting?. He asked getting interested.

"Good,we are good to go." He nodded in response.

"Oh shoot,I have dinner with my family, I have to rush,you wanna come." I offered .

"Nah,we both know that your dad doesn't like me and we dont want your sister drooling over me,not that I like it but he is like a sister to me and its gross."

"So what are you doing tonight?"

"Two words,Bang vanessa."

"Oh god,well we don't wanna see that,see ya."I carried my briefcase,check my watch and leave the office."

"you too." Ralph shouted from afar.