Chapter 143 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 33

Chapter 143 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 33
—Amira—

“Get ready,” Mama said as I joined her in the living room. “We're going to Garrison to fix my phone.”
“Yes Mama.” I nodded, only to bump into Oluchi in the hallway.
“Where's Uncle Rivera? He said he'd brought something for him from London and would give it to me after breakfast.”
Damnit.
Nathaniel must've forgotten.
Before I could pull up my phone, it vibrated with a text.
‘One of my drivers is on his way to your house.’
I had barely read the text when Nathaniel’s car pulled up in front of my house. The driver stepped out with a fancy tote bag which he handed to me on the terrace.
“Who's that?” Mama asked from inside the house.
“Nathaniel's driver,” I replied. “He brought a package.”
Another text rocked my phone.
‘I promised Oluchi a gift. The second box underneath is for Mama.’
I looked inside the bag and there were two boxes— a Barbie doll and the other, the latest model of iPhone.
A smile curved my lips as I headed inside.
Oluchi squealed when she received her gift, and Mama closed her eyes briefly in prayer.
‘Thank you so much for the gifts,’ I texted him.
‘You're welcome.’
‘Are you home now?’
‘Yes. Just thinking about you.”
Warmth surged through me.
‘Me too. I'll see you tomorrow,’ I typed in and slipped my phone into my pocket.
“How do I use this phone?” Mama asked. She was familiar with androids, but this was different.
I headed to my room where my luggage waited near the wardrobe.
Pulling out the diamond necklace he'd gifted me, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror as the events at the French gala played in my head.
The day drifted slowly.
Just as the sun dipped over the horizon, I made dinner in the kitchen, then joined Mama and Oluchi in the dining room.
I ate a few spoons of the yam porridge, but excused myself from the table as the nausea hit. After a cool shower, I climbed into bed and dozed off.
“Amira! Amira!” someone called.
I stirred and Mama was towering over me.
“Mama?”
“Your alarm has been ringing for a while now.”
I turned to the clock and Mama was correct. I switched off the device.
“Thanks Mama.”
She headed out of the room, while I made my way to the bathroom.
Minutes later, I walked back into the room freshened and ready for the day in an emerald skirt suit.
My driver honked just in time.
Satisfied, I grabbed my bag on the dresser and joined my driver outside.
The morning sun spilled through the windshield as we eased into Allwell headquarters.
“Amira!” a familiar voice called.
I turned to Joyce hurrying through the checkpoint. Her laughter echoed as she jumped on me, drawing the attention of nearby staff.
“How are you, Joyce?” I asked.
She straightened, panting. “I'm good. When did you guys get back?”
I beamed. “Yesterday.”
Joyce nudged my arm, a naughty smile tilting her lips. “Did you follow my advice on the panties?” she whispered.
“Joyce!” I gasped.
“Don't be shy now, I saw your photos from the French gala. Everyone has,” she said and winked her brows.
I swallowed. “Yes. But we'll only talk about it during break time.”
“Wait,” Joyce interrupted, her gaze narrowing as she looked me up and down. “Girl, is it just me or have you changed?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Of course, she'd noticed the small changes in my body, thanks to the pregnancy hormones.
“I–I don't know. You look different, maybe exhausted.”
I snickered. “Oh! Fatigue doesn't kill, does it?”
“It does exponentially,” Joyce drawled, dramatically feeling her forehead. “Especially when the hot, billionaire Nathaniel is involved.”
Speaking of the devil, his convoy pulled up in the driveway, and he stepped out, looking devastatingly charming in an all-black suit.
He adjusted his cuffs, a smile playing on his lips the moment our eyes met.
“Good morning, sir,” Joyce blurted as he approached.
He gave her a curt nod before turning to me. “The woman after my heart.”
All eyes were on us.
“Hi,” I swallowed, not used to this kind of attention.
“You look so radiant this morning,” he breathed.
Joyce's eyes widened as she caught those words, then quickly glanced at the floor.
“You too,” I stuttered.
He chuckled and glanced at his wristwatch.
“What's my schedule for today?”
My fingers trembled as I rummaged through my bag for my tablet, exhaling relief when I found it.
A quiet laugh left me when the answers set in.
“We were still supposed to be on a business trip to Europe. There's no schedule.”
“Very clever,” he whispered, and cupped my face. “I need coffee.”
A few surprised gasps followed as he kissed my forehead before heading inside.
“What just happened?” I asked.
“He just claimed you in front of everyone,” Joyce blurted.
All eyes were still on me. Then I saw Grace glaring at me from across the forecourt.
Joyce and I shared a smile and walked inside. As expected, my reputation had preceded me.
Conversations faltered as I approached, but I caught one anyway.
“Is it true they’re really seeing each other?” a staffer asked.
“Of course. He just flaunted her in the forecourt,” another replied.
Joyce tugged me to the executive break room. She strode to the window while I made coffee for Nathaniel.
Then Grace appeared in the doorway, her perfume clouding the air.
“Hello, Amira.”
A shiver slid down my spine as she stepped inside the room, dragging her hands across the counter.
“Hello, Grace,” I murmured. “How do you do?”
“Cut the crap,” she rasped. “You embarked on a mission to seduce him and here you're pretending to be polite.”
I gasped. “What?”
“You're a wh,ore. A cheap slut who seduces married men.”
My stomach fluttered. Married men?
“What are you talking about?” Joyce snapped.
Grace crackled. “Did you think no one would find out, Amira? You always thought you were smarter than everyone, didn't you?” She pulled out a card of photos and threw them at my face. “Those are pictures from Nathaniel’s engagement party—to the daughter of one of America’s most powerful business tycoons.”
My body trembled.
At first, I told myself I wouldn't look at the photos, but curiosity ripped through me. More than anything, I wanted this to be a dream. I wanted to wake up.
My knees gave way before I could stop them.
I slammed a hand over my mouth when I picked up the first photo. Grace was right.
He was engaged to the daughter of a business tycoon. The photo in my hands captured the moment he slipped a diamond ring onto her finger.
My heart broke.
The more I looked at the rest of the photos, the more tears spilled down my face.
“Amira!” Joyce knelt beside me and pulled me into her arms. Then she turned to Grace, eyes blazing.“Why are you doing this?”
“She needs to know her place. He's off limits.”
“No,” I cried.
“You don't believe me?” Grace angled her head toward the door, a smirk staining her lips. “Then ask him yourself.”
Sniffling, I gathered the pictures and headed out of the room.
I needed answers. I needed them fast.