Chapter 16 Trouble in the Office
Bernard got behind the wheel and headed for his home. Angela, on the other hand, stood on the bus with her gaze focused on the road. The memory of what happened to her the last time was still fresh in her mind. The bus stopped at the junction heading to the Estate and Angela got off at her junction. She walked towards the gate and was soon heading for the apartment.
"Welcome home, Ms Angela," Josephine greeted Angela as soon as she walked through the front door, and Angela acknowledged.
"Is Mr Moore home?" Angela inquired.
"Yes, ma'am. He is inside his office," Josephine replied.
"Okay," Angela replied and started walking towards the staircase.
In her thoughts, she wondered why Mr Moore married her. She is his wife to him but he treats her like a homeless person he found on the street and decided to shelter. At the office, he behaves as if she were just an ordinary employee. How does he feel about her was the only question on Angela's mind.
Angela was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice Bryce and she bumped into him. She quickly took a step back, but she was not well-balanced. Bryce held her by the arms and steadied her. Angela's palm touched Bryce's chest, and she could feel his well-formed, firm chest beneath his T-shirt. She froze for a minute as her hands remained on his chest, and her gaze was glued to his chest. Bryce cleared his throat, and Angela took her hands off quickly.
"I am sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going," Angela said with her head lowered.
Bryce placed the tip of his finger under Angela's chin and raised her head. Angela kept her lashes lowered, and it made her look like she had closed her eyes.
"What were you thinking about?" Bryce asked.
"Nothing," Angela replied.
"Are you bothered about the relationship and how I treat you?" Bryce asked, and Angela lifted her lashes to look at him.
Bryce had already suspected Angela was getting worried because of the distance between them, even though they were married. He had married her because they slept together. He made a promise to himself some years back that he would marry the first woman he would lose his virginity to. It was quite unfortunate that his intimacy with Angela was not planned. He had married her but he wanted to confirm a few things about her. Angela raising her lashes when he asked the question was already an answer to him.
"Our marriage is a cover-up. If you want us to be husband and wife, you have to earn it," Bryce said and kissed the side of Angela's lips before walking away.
Angela stood frozen in her spot for a while, not sure how to process what she had just heard. How does she earn a husband-wife relationship? Was she to make him fall in love with her? She was not in love with him either, but she was attracted to him; that was all. She snapped out of her thoughts and took slow steps towards her room.
Inside her room, she felt sad with everything happening around her. Her phone was spoilt but there was a phone in her room. She dialled her mother's number.
"Hello Mummy," Angela said, almost on the verge of tears.
"Hey, my darling, how are you and what is wrong?" came Mrs Anderson's calm voice from the other end of the call.
"I miss you, mummy," Angela said and wiped the tear that had escaped her eyes and was flowing down her cheeks.
"I miss you too, sweetheart, but what is wrong? You don't sound cheerful," Mrs Anderson said, noticing the sadness in Angela's voice.
Angela could not tell Mrs Anderson about her marriage and hence could not ask about how to earn a husband-wife relationship, but there was a problem in the office. She decided to talk about that.
"What happened?" Mrs Anderson asked, seeing that Angela was silent on the call for a while.
Angela told her everything that happened, but skipped the part where she dined with her boss.
"Sweetheart, you are new. That is how hostility starts. Just be careful," Mrs Anderson advised.
"Yes, I asked him to stay away from me. I don't want any problem that would cause me to lose my job," Angela said, and Mrs Anderson smiled on the other end of the call like Angela could see her face.
"That won't happen. Just do your work very well and don't break any rule governing the company, and you will be fine," Mrs Anderson assured. "Now, go freshen up and have something to eat. Tomorrow is another day," she added.
"Thank you, mummy," Angela acknowledged, and the call ended.
Angela entered the bathroom, took a shower and dried her hair before exiting the bathroom back to the bedroom. She stayed in her room and eventually fell asleep without having supper.
Bryce sent Josephine to get Angela to come downstairs for supper, but she returned to Bryce and informed him that Angela was sleeping. Bryce frowned. He stood up from behind the table and went upstairs, heading for Angela's room. He opened the door and found her sleeping on the bed. He stared at her for a while and exited the room. He didn't understand why he was angry that she didn't come down for supper. He left for his room and also ended up skipping supper.
The next day, Angela woke up early and left the house for the office. She knew she needed to deliver those files to Susan before 6 a.m. So she left the apartment at 5 a.m.
She arrived at the company at 5.30 am and ran into Eva at the reception when she was checking in.
"What did you tell Bernard?" came a familiar voice, making Angela raise her head to find out who it was.
"I beg your pardon?" Angela said with a frown, coming face to face with Eva.
She was wearing a straight black bodycon dress, and she had completed her dressing with some expensive jewellery. She was standing on a seven-inch heel. Her face was fully powered and her lips were painted red.
"You heard me," came Eva's voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Angela replied, staring at Eva calmly.
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you have your eyes on my Bernard," Eva said. "You are only two days old at the company. Today is your third day. If you wish to be confirmed and be happy in this company, stay away from my man. Bernard is my man," she added and walked away, leaving Angela standing at the reception.
After Eva left, Bernard walked in, and Angela rolled her eyes, hearing Bernard's voice calling her name. She ignored him and started walking away.
"Angela, Angela, please wait," Bernard called after her.
"What do you want from me, Mr Bernard?" Angela asked in frustration.
"At least tell me what happened. We were cool before. What happened?" Bernard asked.
"Nothing. I just realised I enjoy the bus and I love my work here," Angela replied and started walking away, but Bernard grabbed her hands, making her stop.
"What do you want from me?" Angela asked, almost yelling.
"Did Eva attack you?" Bernard asked.
"No one attacked me or said anything to me. Like I said. I like the bus. I enjoy the bus, and I like my work here," Angela replied, almost yelling each word.
"Angela," Bernard called out to her.
"Please, I have work to do. I am still on probation, and I don't want to do anything that would incur my boss's wrath," Angela said and walked away.
Bernard stood there and watched her walk away.
"Eva, Eva, Eva," Bernard said through gritted teeth.
He walked to the elevator and headed for his office, annoyed.
Angela on the other hand, hurried to her office, picked up the files she had worked on for Susan the previous day and headed for Susan's office. She knocked gently but was met with silence. She turned the doorknob and it opened. There was no one in the office. She placed the files on Susan's table and quickly exited the office to carry out her morning duties before Bryce arrived. She managed to finish everything, had her breakfast and got Bryce his coffee. Angela returned to her office. She sat down and began working. The phone on her desk rang, and she answered.
"Angela, come to my office, now," came Bryce's voice.
Angela stood up and, ensuring she looked okay, headed for Bryce's office. He was already in, was the thought on Angela's mind.
Inside Bryce's office were Susan and Eva. Angela strode in, wondering what was going on, seeing the two ladies inside Bryce's office.
"You called," Angela said, standing in front of Bryce's desk.