Chapter 3 His Heart And Her Nightmares

**CHARLOTTE**

After that day, Mr. Brian requested for me in the hotel. He wanted me to confirm the design and according to him, I did not put one of the designs I kept in the portfolio there.

The day went by so fast, and I realized I was going to be on air for an hour or two as I got up to the terminal. I don't feel too good.

I knew I had to go and visit my mom's grave. I avoided the grave, I knew it was time.

"Mom", I said while crying at the grave. I told the driver to let me have a moment, and as I told him to get back, I'd find my way back to the airport.

"It's been a while. I miss you, Mom. Everything here seems to be the same". I sniffed so hard, trying not to wake the dead, according to Mom.

"I just hope you are well. Your baby girl is living her best life". I struggled for what to say, unable to find the perfect words to say to the grave I left for all these years.

"Mom, I'll be going now", I said. In between sobs, "Take care, ma, I stood up and left".

"Argh," I heard a scream at the other end of the room. I knew it was Mom's voice. I was worried, but she told me to stay right there and wait for her. Was she in a fight with someone? The voice in my head thought about so many things.

There was silence.

In the other room, I could no longer hear Mom or the other person's voice again. I was curious, so I went up to check what was going on.

Blood. Mom was on the floor, and I couldn't find the person she was arguing with. My mom was on the floor, drenched in her blood.

"Leave here, baby!" Mom screamed with the little strength in her. Don't look back when you run", she said before she stopped breathing.

"Ma! Ma!" I screamed, sweating like I had been running. "Wake up"! I said I was holding the bedsheets and trying to force myself out of this.

"Ma"! I shouted so loudly, then I stood up.

I hissed under my breath. The constant nightmare.

It's been a week since I came back from LA, and it has not been a funny experience. There was the constant nightmares that kept me awake about how my struggling mother died a painful death.

" Ma!" I stared at the lifeless body and muttered under my breath.

"Ma!" I called out again, but this time I was louder. Mom did not stand up to tell me it was a prank.

"Ma, wake up!" I screamed again. The number of times I kept waking up from this particular nightmare. I knew it was time for me to go back to LA and do the needful.

"You'll be going back to the Oasis Company soon", my boss said.

I was barely back, why would I want to go back in just seven days to get back here? I wondered.

I went for several checkups concerning my nightmares, and I was given a lot of sleeping pills. My nightmares constantly made my skin and face pale.

"Miss Charlotte, Are you good?" Olivia asked with so much emotion and concern in her eyes.

"Yes, I'm good". I responded, reassuring her that there was nothing to worry about.

She is not moving; why are her eyes not flickering? I wondered after standing for what seemed like forever, waiting for Mom to stand up and tell me she was playing her little pranks.

I didn't realize my eyes were wet, and I had to run for my life and never look back, according to Mom.

"Charlotte", a voice called out, but I kept running without looking back.

"Charlotte!!" This time, the voice seemed closer to me, and I screamed out before it got closer and I woke up.

I can't believe I was dreaming. Why is Olivia in my house? And how did she enter the house???

"Am I late for work?" I asked, staring in disbelief.

"Your Zoom meeting", Her eyes flash. I was distressed that I forgot I had a Zoom meeting with the assistant director of the Oasis Company.

Before I could process everything that was happening, Olivia was already setting everything up for me.

"It starts in two minutes if you want to keep asking me so many questions". She snapped at me, leaving me surprised.

I could hear the voice at the other end of the laptop.

"Is anyone there?" The voice asked.

If there is no one there, how would you be able to connect? I thought

Then I saw his face.

"Goo... Good morning", I said, trying to hide my red cheeks that were hurting from blushing too much.

"Good morning, I wanted to know your opinions on the set of designs that were formed among the team members", he said, looking me in the eye.

"Hmm, what designs?" I stammered. I was very sure Olivia set this meeting up for me but allowed me to review a design. I don't think so.

"Yes", he responded sharply, like he was having a conversation with someone at the other end of the room.

That was when I realized he was talking to someone on the phone.

**BRIAN**

Her smile is magical, and her eyes look like she was trying to force out her smile as she spoke to the chauffeur.

Her skirt drew a beautiful shape around her body, and she had an ass that could make a man worship her.

As she walked majestically inside the room, I dated so many girls as a bachelor with so many achievements, but this girl was different.

Something was intriguing and pleasant about her. Her smile was like a light that lit up the room, and her eyes were screaming like she was in distress and grief, and I wanted to know what and who was hurting her. Her black, wavy hair fell across her face as she surveyed the mansion.

I did not notice I was thinking about her; I forgot I was keeping her waiting.

"Mr Brian," voice called out gently. The representative is here, my secretary said. I'll be down shortly, I responded.

As I got closer to the board room, I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach.

"Why did you take so long?" I asked her. I was inquisitive, and I was angry because she was wasting my time.

I knew she must have felt hurt by the way I spoke, but I wanted to know.

"The plane got delayed. I'm sorry." She responded by shooting me a deadly look.

I wanted to look at her, the expression she gave, and all her reactions while I complimented her designs.

"Your portfolio looks great"! I said, this looks like a done deal.

"We will be calling you soon for the designs to be picked" I told her, I was expecting her to smile.

"Thank you for working with us. It's a pleasure to be here", she said as the corners of her lips broke into a smile.

I knew the journey was long, and she hadn't gotten anything to eat. I was worried about someone I just met. I wanted her to get something to eat since she had just come back.

"Get something to eat," I said before dashing off, leaving her to do as she was told.

I was trying to scan through the documents and portfolios that she wrote.