FOES TO FLAMES

"Goodbye, Mom. I need to go now, and I'm running late; our customers will be waiting," Davina said, planting a kiss on her mother's cheek. She had been working as a food delivery rider for the past year, and today was no different. The sun was setting, and the streetlights began to flicker to life.

"Don't come back late, Davina," Mrs Wilson replied, her voice filled with concern as she watched her daughter mount her bicycle.

Davina pedaled away, the warm breeze ruffling her hair as she navigated the busy city streets. She loved these moments of solitude, just her and the rhythmic hum of the tires on the road. The world felt simpler on two wheels.

As she approached her next delivery destination, her phone buzzed with an incoming order. It was a large order from one of their regular customers. Davina's heart raced with excitement; these big orders meant better tips.

She parked her bike in front of the customer's lavish mansion and rang the doorbell. Moments later, a well-dressed man answered, and his expression soured when he saw her.

Davina's heart sank as she noticed the expensive sports car parked in the driveway. She had to be careful; this was not the time for accidents.

Before she could say a word, the man's angry voice filled the air. "Hey, were you blind? How dare you hit my car with your worthless bike?"

Davina took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "I'm very sorry for damaging your car, sir, but my bike is not worthless. In fact, it's quite valuable."

The man scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain. "Valuable? You must be joking. My car is worth more than your entire bike!"

Davina's cheeks flushed with anger, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Well, I may not have a fancy car, but my bike is quite expensive. Regardless, I apologize for the damage."

The man didn't seem satisfied with her apology. "You need to pay for the damages to this car, and if you don't within a week, I'll search for you and have you arrested."

With that, he tossed his business card at her, the elegant cardstock landing at her feet. Davina watched as he stormed back into car and slammed the door.

She picked up the business card and examined it. It bore the name Xavier Hayes, the owner of the country's largest conglomerate. Suddenly, the gravity of the situation hit her. She was in trouble.

________Davina's House________

Davina had been pondering her encounter with Xavier Hayes since she returned home. The man was wealthy, powerful, and clearly used to getting his way. How was she going to pay for the damages to his expensive car? Her earnings as a food delivery rider were meager at best.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Mrs Wilson entered her room, wearing a smile that seemed out of place given the circumstances.

"Sweetie, I have something to tell you," Her mom began.

"What is it, Mom? Are you still upset about the food I spilled?" Davina asked, concerned.

Her mom smiled sadly. "I'm not angry, dear. I understand it wasn't your fault. But how do we manage to pay for the damages to that man's car?"

Davina sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I suppose I'll have to return to boxing, Mom. It's the only way I can work hard enough to pay off the debt before next week."

Her mom's eyes widened with worry, and she shook her head. "I've told you not to mention boxing, Davina. We'll find another way to settle the debt without you having to go back to boxing."

Davina nodded reluctantly, understanding her mother's concerns. But deep down, she knew she might not have a choice.

"No problem, Mother. Now, please tell me what you wanted to share," she urged, curious.

Her mom's smile returned, though it still held a hint of secrecy. "We'll have visitors tomorrow, and I'd like you to clean the house and prepare your delicious dishes."

Davina chuckled. "You always flatter me, Mother, but I'll do as you ask."

Her mom's expression turned serious. "One more thing, Davina. Tomorrow, you mustn't leave the house; their visit concerns you."

Davina furrowed her brow. "Why, and how is it related to me?" She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

However, Mrs Wilson only smiled and kissed her cheek before leaving the room.

_______Hayes Mansion_______

Xavier couldn't believe that the rude girl had the audacity to be proud of her second-hand bike. It was infuriating, and if she didn't pay for the damages next week, he was determined to make her regret her arrogance.

He got out of his car and entered the living room, where his mother greeted him with a warm hug.

"Oh, my son is back, and I have good news for you," His Mom exclaimed, her eyes shining.

"Tell me the good news, Mom. Did you finally earn a cooking degree?" Xavier teased, knowing his mother had been taking cooking classes lately in preparation for a women's cooking competition.

His Mom frowned playfully. "Well, no, but something even more exciting happened today."

Xavier raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious now. "Okay, spill it. What's the good news?"

His mother's face lit up with excitement. "I met an old friend today, Xavier, and we had an agreement from long ago that we lost contact over. Now that I've found her, I want to fulfill that promise."

Xavier nodded, happy for his mother but still curious about the details. "That sounds interesting, Mom, but how does it concern me?"

His mother leaned in closer, her voice filled with mystery. "Don't worry, son. You'll find out soon enough."

______________________

Davina was awakened by the alarm the next morning, feeling tired after a restless night filled with thoughts of Xavier Hayes and her looming debt. She knew she had a busy day ahead. Her mother had instructed her to clean the house and prepare meals for the mysterious visitors who were coming later.

She helped her mother with the laundry, meticulously cleaned every room, and then spent hours in the kitchen, preparing a feast of her most delicious dishes. The day passed quickly, and before she knew it, evening had arrived.

Mom insisted that Davina wear her best clothes and advised her to be on her best behavior when the visitors arrived. Davina obeyed, putting on a simple yet elegant dress and trying to suppress the nervousness that had been building inside her.

As she was about to fetch some water from the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Davina opened the door and found none other than Xavier Hayes and his mother standing on their doorstep.

"YOU AGAIN," they both exclaimed simultaneously, their voices filled with surprise and disbelief. Their mothers looked at them in confusion.

"Have you two met before?" Davina's Mom asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Davina remained silent, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Xavier, who was wearing a crisp suit that accentuated his sharp features.

Xavier couldn't believe his eyes. Davina, the girl from the bike incident, stood before him once again, but this time, she was in her home, dressed elegantly, and clearly caught off guard by their unexpected visit.

"Stop that, Xavier. We're guests here; don't be rude," his mother scolded him, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

Xavier cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Right, sorry about that. We didn't expect to see each other again so soon."

Davina's mother, Kayla, smiled warmly and gestured for them to come inside. "No worries at all. Please, come in. We're delighted to have you here."

As they entered the cozy living room, Xavier couldn't help but notice the comfortable atmosphere of the house. It was a stark contrast to his own lavish mansion. The walls were adorned with family photos, and the scent of home-cooked meals filled the air.

Xavier's mother, Kayla, introduced them to Davina. "By the way, meet my son, Xavier. And, Xavier, this is Davina."

Xavier nodded politely, acknowledging the introduction. "Nice to formally meet you, Davina."

Davina managed a polite smile, though the tension in the room was palpable. She still remembered their last encounter and the ultimatum he had given her.

"Let's head to the dining table now," Kayla suggested, trying to ease the awkwardness. Xavier glanced around their home, still feeling out of place.

"I'm not hungry, Mom," he replied, his tone indicating his lack of enthusiasm for the visit.

Davina couldn't help but think he was avoiding her food, perhaps still upset about their previous encounter.

"Even if you're not hungry, you should at least try Davina's food since she prepared it all for us," Kayla insisted, gently nudging him in the direction of the dining room.

Xavier reluctantly agreed, following Davina and his mother to the table. As they sat down, Davina couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Why had Xavier and his mother come here? It couldn't just be a chance visit, especially after their heated exchange earlier.

Mystery hung in the air as they began to eat the delicious meal Davina had prepared. Conversation was polite but strained, with occasional glances exchanged between Xavier and Davina.

After breakfast, Kayla suggested they move to the living room for a more relaxed atmosphere. She and Davina's mother, Evelyn, engaged in conversation about their past and the friendship they shared with their late husbands.

Davina couldn't help but wonder why her mother had been so secretive about this visit. What was the connection between their families? And why had Xavier and his mother shown up unannounced?

Davina's mother, Evelyn, finally addressed the elephant in the room. "There's something important we need to discuss."

Both Xavier and Davina looked at her, their curiosity piqued.

Evelyn continued, "You see, your fathers may they rest in peace, had a deep friendship. On their sickbeds, they made a promise to each other, a promise that we've only recently rediscovered."

Davina exchanged a puzzled look with her mother. What could this promise be?

Evelyn took a deep breath before revealing, "They promised that their children, Xavier and Davina, would marry each other."

The room fell into stunned silence. Davina's heart raced as she tried to process what she had just heard. Marry Xavier? The man she had clashed with, the man who had threatened her with legal action just days ago?

Xavier's expression mirrored her own shock and disbelief. "You can't be serious, Mom."

Kayla nodded gravely. "It was their dying wish, Xavier. We owe it to them to fulfill this promise."

Davina's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. She barely knew Xavier, and their interactions had been far from pleasant. The idea of marrying someone she barely knew was overwhelming.

Xavier, still in disbelief, protested, "But Mom, I barely even know her!"

Kayla, added, "I understand that this is unexpected, but it was a promise between lifelong friends. We should at least consider it."

The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. Davina couldn't help but feel trapped in a scenario she hadn't anticipated. She exchanged a helpless glance with Xavier, both of them caught in a promise made by their fathers on their deathbeds.

Suspense filled the room as everyone contemplated the unexpected turn their lives had taken.