Phoenix Reborn - Episode 19

 

"Oh...J, you've forgotten about the rules. Or you may just not care. But this is going to be bad, for both of us sweetheart," she says yo herself shutting off the TV. She'd been in a hotel in Madrid, a twenty minute cab ride from the Montero mansion. A storm was brewing and she just hoped her friend was prepared for it. She'd overheard rumours that the al-shabab leaders had met and had reconsidered Haditya's resignation . They were planning to recall her after getting wind of the general's program and seeing the results. She'd proved beyond doubt that she was the perfect double agent, on one had, she was this high profile, wealthy, influential society figure and on the other, she was a precise, cold blooded killer who despite having caused a higher death count than any terrorist, serial killer and tyrant to ever walk the earth, no one knew, Haditya Idrisi, who had surpassed her father on the most wanted list, was the one and only Olivia Michaels.
All her accounts were clean and could be accounted for, thus, she could never be linked to a terrorist organization, she had also done lots of good that had earned her several awards. Like that time she won the Nobel prize for nuclear fusion, the colleen award for literature, and several other awards that made her a household name. No one could ever guess she turns into a raging psychopath, sometimes.
At the Montero mansion, Olivia was growing restless for some reason

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. She knew that everytime that happens, something monumental is about to change in her life. It was the same feeling she had before her dad left, her mom died, her brother died, she invested into those stocks that made her wealthy. The same exact feeling she got before she was introduced into the fraternity and uprising. She just hoped it was not something to do with her family because as it stood now, they were the only ones facilitating the little hold she had left on her humanity. She knew she was violating virtually every law that she grew up under but she depended on them in ways that she hopes never came to life. That would mean a death sentence to them all.
She gets up and excuses herself. She knew Leila must have followed her to Spain and must be somewhere close and she needed to talk to her, if for nothing more than to calm her nerves.
"Mom, where are you going?" Max asks Olivia noticing her leaving. He'd grown so close to his mom over the few weeks he'd been around her.
"Nowhere love. I just need to clear my head," she tells him smiling. Alex however notices the edge in her voice. Something was bothering her. And for her to require sometime alone, it must be huge.
He runs after her and catches up with her in the lobby, " Hey, is everything ok."
"Uh-huh," she says giving him a fake smile. He sees right through it.
"Where are you headed?"
"Town."
"You want me come with?"
"No. I'm good."
"Ok. At least take the driver."
"I don't want a babysitter Alex.Besides, I know the city like the back of my hand. I'll be back soon. Promise," she says kissing him and leaving before he can stay anything else.
"I'm on my way Leila," she says into the bluetooth headset driving away. Leila gives her directions to the hotel.
"How did you know I was in town?" She asks despite already knowing Olivia practically knows everything.
"I'm yet to learn how to properly shake you," Olivia replies laughing. Leila had a way of making her smile even when it seemed the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
"Don't tell me the famous tracker has finally met her match," teases Leila in her flawless Arabic.
"It's not my fault you are unshakable," Olivia whines mimicking her daughter's sad voice.
Leila smiles, Olivia still had the soul of a child. It was the one thing that reminded her friend their is more to life than being stuck between two worlds she wasn't sure she even wanted to be a part of.
It worried her a great deal at times because Olivia had two kids who would be immensely hurt should she decide her domestic life was the one she didn't want. Then again, she seemed to love and care about them in ways she never thought Olivia had the capacity to.  They truly changed her. Truth be told, they made her want kids of her own but she knew she didn't have the freedom Olivia did.
'Ding dong,' her thoughts get disrupted by the door bell. She smiles. Olivia could be surprisingly polite when she wanted to.
She goes to the door and opens it. Olivia smiles at her and her heart misses a bit. She couldn't explain it but Olivia made her feel this unnatural way that no woman should feel for another. And that smile of hers was completely disarming. No wonder Montero was still clueless about the woman he married.
"Are you going to let me in? Or was I right in assuming you have a hot piece of beef to keep you entertained," Olivia says and winks.
Leila snaps out of her thoughts as what Olivia has just said sinks into her mind. She bursts out laughing and moves aside for Olivia to get in.
"Sorry sis. But really, what exactly is up.

Read " Phoenix Reborn: My True Brother " by the same author ( Sylvia Maleko )

. You never joke..."
"In the public eye," Olivia interrupts.
"Yet you've made countless jokes in under thirty minutes. What's up?"
"Funny, you took the question right out of my mouth," Olivia says turning to look Leila dead in the eye. Leila's smile drops.
"Sometimes I forget who I'm dealing with."
"Probably for the best. Otherwise you'd likely run in the opposite direction the first chance you get," Olivia says lightly and smiles, "and that pose you made plus the pathetic attempt to deflect confirms, something is happening."
"I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"Nope."
"I had the uprising are reconsidering your resignation, plus the press is toying with the idea you might be married and their is no telling how far the news has spread or who it has reached."
"Hmmm," Olivia thoughtfully sits on the bed, "I suppose my time playing house is up. We should go back home."
Leila sees the sad look on her face and knows her mind has wondered to dangerous thoughts. She sits on the bed next to her and does something she never before had the guts to do, she hugs Olivia and places her head on her shoulder then kisses her forehead, "Don't overthink it J. We'll figure it out. Just like we always do."
It feels nice to Olivia. No one had ever understood her or tried to comfort her since her mom died, not even Alex considering he is still clueless about who she is.
"You are my best friend Leila. I love you, if I've never before mentioned it."
 

Sorry guys been busy planning a wedding, but as of next week, will go back to a chapter a day. Love you guys.