With her scheming family behind bars and the events of the court proceeding put behind her, Alia channeled all her energy into her business, setting new goals and visions for herself.
We the help of Blaze, the matter about her paternity was also sorted out. It was confird that Senator Greg Shawls was her biological father and not Matt. However, the mystery behind Matt's secret relationship with her late mother remained an unsolved puzzle.
Alia didn't bother going after this matter with her father as she was afraid of what she would discover. She decided that so secrets were better left unknown.
After resuming work at her company, Alia made it a compulsory routine to check up on her father at least twice a week and her aunt, once a week. She didn't object to her father's plans to visit his incarcerated daughter and brothers. But she didn't accompany him on those visits no matter how he tried to coax her.
She also made it a routine to spend every weekend with her mother-in-law, who never for once stopped showering her with praises and gifts.
Also, in the absence of a psychopathic stalker trying to hurt her or kidnap her, Alia resud her weekly hangout with her girlfriends -who were super thrilled to have her back.
She didn't hear from Tina again even though the latter had now beco an Internet sensation thanks to her leading role in the latest blockbuster movie.
During her spare ti, Alia also decided to take up cooking classes. She made it her mission to learn all of Blaze's favourite foods, wowing him every ti she made sothing new to tickle his taste buds.
Their unexpressed love for each other seed to blossom with every new day, making Alia doubt her existence without Blaze in the picture.
For six straight weeks, Alia lived a fulfilling life. A life, free of worries and heartache. A life, where every day was a new adventure waiting to be explored.
But as the saying goes, nothing good lasts forever.
It all started with a craving for salty snacks that slowly progressed into a hunger for high-calorie food.
For soone particular about her appearance and weight gain, Alia's sudden interest in cheeseburgers, grilled steaks, fries and yogurt, amongst others ca to her as a surprise.
At ho, she ate the regular food, opting for more spicier condints. At work, during lunch break, she feasted on anything grilled and also spicy. She found herself always going for oily food, instead of her usual low-carb diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
Alia didn't take this as anything. Of late, she had been working her ass out, especially with the expansion of LiLa Savvy. A new branch of the company was set to open in the fall and she wanted everything to be perfect.
Hence, when the hunger pangs ca, she didn't fail to give her body what it wanted.
Moreover, aside from the hunger pangs, occasional fatigue and slight migraine, nothing seed amiss in her body.
Friday, after work, was the usual girls' hang out. Alia was looking forward to this particular gathering, especially with the news of Kayla's recent proposal. She couldn't wait to hear the gist of how this new hotshot billionaire went down on one knee at the airport and proposed to her friend after barely a month of dating.
After shutting down her laptop and putting it aside, Alia pushed her executive chair backward and stood up. She picked up her phone and her handbag in readiness to leave. She was about to take one step when suddenly everything started spinning around her. Her knees suddenly felt wobbly as if they were about to give way.
"What the hell." She fell back on her seat, massaging her slightly aching temple.
"I guess I must have overworked myself today again."
Alia thought as she picked up a bottle of water which she always keeps handy. She uncapped the bottle and took a sip. She drank a few more before bringing the bottle down.
Next, she unzipped her handbag and brought out a pack of dark chocolate. She tore open the wrap and took a bite of the chocolate. She took a second bite and a third until she completely consud the entire bar of chocolate.
"I must be hungry again." She said to herself. "But then, didn't I eat so fried sweet potatoes and egg sauce about three hours ago?"
Alia's ringing phone jerked her out of her thoughts. She picked up the phone from the table and checked who the caller was. A smile slowly appeared on her face as she swiped the receive button.
As she brought the phone to her ear, the sound of jamming pop music was the first thing that greeted her. This was followed by the excited squeal of her friends, who seed to have started the party without her.
"Where are you, Amy?" Stacy asked in a slightly raised voice due to the loud music in the background.
"I'm about to leave the office."
"What!"
"What did she say?" Alia heard Nicole's giggly voice over the phone.
"She said she was still at the office." Adrianna's voice ca up.
"She is still at the office at this ti?" Kayla complained next. "It's already 7:30 PM."
"I still don't understand why the wife of one of the richest n on Earth will still want to work," Nicole said. "If I had her husband, I would never work for my entire life"
"I hope you girls know that you're on speaker right?" Stacy said in a mischievous tone.
"What! She can hear us?" Nicole cried out dramatically.
"I heard every single word, Nicole," Alia said, laughing.
"Well, I didn't say anything bad. The truth still remains that you are overworking yourself. You need a break. Hurry down to the club. This outing won't be fun without you."
"I'm on my way. Don't start the party without ." Alia said standing up. "Love you, girls."
"We love you too." The girls chanted before Alia hung up. She noticed her eyes were no longer spinning and her knees were no longer tired.
"I'll be needing more of those dark chocolates," Alia said picking up her handbag. She strolled out of the office and was surprised to see her secretary still working on her toes.
"Cancel my scheduled eting for tomorrow morning and take the rest of the weekend off. We both need to rest." Alia instructed.
"Yes ma'am. Thank you, ma'am."
"You're welco," Alia replied with a smile before strolling down to the elevator.
Inside the elevator, she dialled her husband and they started talking in their usual playful tone.
Blaze was out of town on a business trip and Alia was missing greatly. Her cheeks were flushed with a red glow as she strolled out of the building to her awaiting car laughing at sothing Blaze said.
Lance, held open the rear door for her and beaming politely.
"Good evening ma'am,"
Alia nodded in acknowledgent while she continued with her conversation over the phone. She slid into the back her eyes falling on a pack of Pringles she had asked Pascal to purchase. She held her phone in place with her shoulder while she popped open the Pringle pack and started munching on the salty crunchy flakes.
"Don't stay out late, okay," Blaze said smoothly, his tone laced with a deep longing.
"I promise I won't."
"Don't get drunk either."
"Yes, daddy." Alia giggled.
"Take care of yourself and have fun with the girls. Call when you get ho."
"I will. Talk to you later." Alia blew kisses over the phone before hanging up.
"Hmm...tasty." She popped more Pringle flakes into her mouth while browsing through her Instagram page on her phone. She scrolled through so funny videos and pictures until a particular live-streaming video caught her attention. It was a video posted by Joanna.
Although they were no longer friends, neither one of them had unblocked themselves on Instagram. Hence Alia could view Joanna's status and recent update.
However, it wasn't the lavishness in the video that caught Alia's attention but the hashtag under it. It simply read.
[Celebrating with my BFF, Tina Stevens on her recent Golden Star Award nomination.
#Movie genius
#Slaying queens
#Fashionista
#Party
#Diamond Star bar.]
"Diamond Star bar?" Alia's brows pulled together in disgust.
This was the sa place her girls were hanging out. It was their special hangout spot for almost two years now. She couldn't believe that Joanna would stoop so low to bring another group to this sa joint on the sa day when the girl usually t. Is she trying to pick a fight?
Alia thought briefly about the streaming video and decided to alert the girls to be on their guard.
Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the bar just in ti to see Tina stepping out briefly, her mobile phone pressed to her ear. She was looking really bubbly and elegant in a skimpy red dress that had a lot of eyes turning.
Unlike Alia who was still dressed in her work clothes and looking a bit exhausted, Tina was full of life and energy.
Acting as though she didn't see her, Alia, strode past her when Tina's sharp voice forced her to stop.
"Alia Anderson, is that you?"
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