Chapter 27

To have another Woman.

Brenda, apologizing for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, kindly told the lady that, Leo was her neighbor and she had come to hand over his belonging which he had forgotten at the grocery store but the blonde knew that she was not telling the truth.

Savaging Brenda, she was left with no other choice but to leave that place on her heels.

Leo called her back as soon as he saw her leaving, but the lady couldn't take the humiliation so she was not willing to stay back there and look like a boyfriend snatcher.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Leo looking and sounding all mad, asked Cherry who didn't seem like she cared much about Brenda's feelings.

Making her way into her house, she closed the door behind her and the next thing she did was get before her television and sit down on the Davenport with her ugly experience with Frank, flashing before her eyes.

******

Brenda could not understand what had just happened. Frank had asked her to pay for all the services he had rendered to her all because she confronted him about his cheating attitude.

How was she going to do that?

She didn't even want to start imagining how much he had spent on her!

Where would she get that kind of money from?

Where would she even begin from?

She shouldn't have listened to her guts. She should have remained in her bed and wasted away in her pain. She shouldn't have packed up her bags and returned to his house for that damned weekend which Turned out to be a nightmare.

She had been crying in her room until Ava had come and convinced her that crying wasn't going to solve it. Ava had told her to return to the estate and take her things out. But when she got back to the estate she had decided to start picking up every expensive thing she could find in her room and even outside. If she was leaving the house, she needed to have enough goods to sell until she was able to return to the streets.

But Frank has ruined all her plans.

Where would she begin?- she kept asking herself as she moved back to her room. Maybe she shouldn't have taken things that didn't belong to her but how was she to survive?

She laid flat on the bed and tried to think of a solution to her problem.

Every problem had a solution and she was going to get one.

A knock came on her door, sprouting her out of her thoughts.

"Yes!" She called weakly.

Brenda felt like all strength had evaded her and she was left empty with nothing to keep her going.

The door opened and Brenda raised her eyes to see who it was. She was surprised to find her, by the door.

"Ava? What are you doing here?" Brenda asked getting up from the bed.

"I came to check on you," she said. She pushed the door closed and walked deeper into the room.

"Peter called and told me what happened. Is it true that Frank refused to let you leave?" Ava asked her.

Brenda pulled the pillow to her face.

"Yeah, he threw me under the bus," Brenda said. Her voice was muffled with the pillow on her face.

Ava held Brenda by the tip of her hand for comfort. "I know it's hard but I need you to relax. Everything will turn out well. If he wants you to stay here... Just stay for a while-"

"You don't understand Ava. I am doomed for the rest of my life!" Brenda said adding another pillow to her face.

Ava rolled her eyes to the ceiling. She got up from her position and pulled the pillows from Brenda's face.

Brenda looked up at her but covered her face with her hands. "Ava leave me be!"

"Brenda, how is your life doomed, what are you saying?" She asked her. She understood that Brenda wanted to leave the estate but Frank refused to let her leave, which was just for the meantime. As soon as he was calmed he would let her go.

"No, Ava!" Brenda said, pulling her hands from her face. "He wants me to pay for everything he has done for me before he lets me leave the house. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money from?" Brenda cried out.

A small frown covers Ava's face.

"He asked you to pay him?" She asked.

"Yes! Why do you think I am doomed!? I have my thesis to complete and here was my boyfriend who isn't responding to being good enough to her and then this!" Brenda cried out.

As she said her problems out loud. She felt her heartbreak all over again. The humiliation she had felt at that party came crashing back on her and she felt her mind weaken.

"Brenda..." Ava called. "I know it is hard but you have to be strong-"

Brenda didn't let her finish before she cut her off.

"I have to be strong?" She asked sitting up. "How will that help my condition? How will it help me make money to pay my father's bill?" She got up from the bed and held her head.

"Ava the whole world knows I am a cheat thanks to Jessie. They know my face. My video is everywhere! How is my being strong going to change any of that? Huh?" Brenda asked.

It was so funny how he could tarnish her image in that manner whereas he was the person who was cheating on her and making all her efforts to be worthless.

Ava walked to where she stood.

"Brenda, first of all, everyone knows Jessie is just obsessed with Frank. Frank doesn't want her. You are the only one who thinks otherwise!"

It was now Brenda's turn to roll her eyes.

"Are you listening to yourself?" Brenda asked scoffing.

"Frank hates me. He is ashamed of MD. Whatever we had, is over. Who would want to carry my face around after everything that happened? Huh? To clear that, he wants me to pay him. Like some kind of collateral damage for smearing his image!" She said gesticulating with her hands.

"What do you make of that Ava?"

Ava held her shoulder blades and took a deep breath. "Maybe you should talk to him," she said softly.

Brenda raised her brows in question. "Why- what would we talk about? Hey Frank, how much am I supposed to pay for ruining your image in public? Huh?" She said in a tiny voice.

"Yes. That will be a great start." Lisa said as a matter of fact.

Brenda looked at Lisa like she had grown a new head.

"You want me to ask him? Even if he says five hundred bucks, where am I going to get it from?" Brenda asked.

"Well, you will get it, the same way you have been getting money for your dad..." Lisa shrugged. "Look, just do whatever you have to do and get out of here. I don't like it I found you in that hospital. And I never want to find you like that ever again, okay?" Ava asked her.

Brenda passed a finger under her nose and sniffed.

Ava had brought out a very wise idea. All she had to do was use his own money to pay him. Technically, it wouldn't be theft because she took it and returned it. Nothing lost, nothing gained.

"Thank you, Ava, you are truly a savior!" She said as she pulled Lisa for a hug.

"You are welcome. Besides, if I don't do it to you, who will I do it for?" Ava asked her.

"Brenda!"

There was a sharp voice in the direction of the door and they all turned to stare at who was there. It was George.

Brenda smiled and walked to where he stood. "Hey George, how are you? Do you need something?"

He smiled sweetly at Brenda and then she turned to the side to see who was in the room with Brenda. As her eyes landed on Ava, his sweet smile disappeared. George was her good friend who had a crush on her but had never had the guts to say it

"Why does he still come here? I thought she was exiled or something." He said in her usual timid voice.

Brenda threw her head back to where Ava stood and back to George.

"Why do you ask such questions?" She asked the guy

"Because I don't like her being in your room. You are my friend!" George whined and Brenda raised her brows in surprise.

"George, I don't understand. Yes, we are friends but does it mean I have to leave my other friends?" Brenda asked her.

Ava joins them at the door and she narrows her eyes at him. Frank was certainly and for Brenda and though they were not that close, they were flatmates and it was only normal for her not to feel that vibe with George either even though he was hovering around her.

"You like Brenda?" Ava blurted as she observed him by the door. Ava had known about his feelings for Brenda for too long but Brenda always acted like George only saw her as a normal friend.

George suddenly realized he had said something she shouldn't have. His cheeks heat up as he turned her head to the ground unable to speak.

Ava stepped out of the room and circled him. George snickered and turned to Camilla.

"Turns out Frank isn't the only one who is in love with you my dear friend," Ava whispered.

Brenda furrowed her brows, not getting her conclusions.

"Stop it, Ava, you are embarrassing him. He never meant it like that!" Brenda said.

Ava turned her attention back to Brenda again

"My phone lines are opened for this particular episode darling!" She said in a singsong manner as she blew a kiss on Brenda and turned around again.

"Remember to talk to Frank and let me know how it goes!" She called out as she walked further down the corridor.

George remained by the door even long after Ava left. She had just indirectly told her feelings to Camilla and she was waiting for Brenda's reply.

Frank already had his chance and he ruined it by letting Jessie humiliate Brenda. George believed now was her turn.

"Can you step in?" Brenda spoke out.

George stepped in and the door closed behind him. Brenda went and sat on the chair. She motioned for George to take the opposite sit and the latter did just that.

"Brenda, I know it must have come out as a shock to you, but I truly love you. I will never make you cry! I promise!" George said praying to the goddess to soften Brenda's heart.

"But George, I do not have those kinds of feelings. I consider you a friend or even a brother. I do not have romantic feelings for you-" Brenda tried to explain as calmly as he could to her but he wasn't taking no for an answer. His entire being was attracted to Brenda and she was going to get the naughty lady whether they wanted it or not.

"Brenda all of that doesn't matter. As long as there is something some kind of love between us, it doesn't matter what sort of love it is. You care for me in a certain way and I do care even more. I think that can be enough," George pleaded.

Brenda listened to her as she spoke and she started wondering when the whole thing had even started. How did she not find out that George loved her and could be that aggressive?

"What do you say? Can we make it work?" She asked. She sounded desperate and Brenda felt bad for the girl. She probably thought she could convince her and they'll be happy together.

"I am sorry," Brenda blurted and George looked up into her face.

"You mean you don't want me? Brenda, please think about this... " she pleaded.

"I am truly sorry. But I can't have your love. I am sure there is some lucky woman out there that would love to be with you." She got up from the chair and walked to the door.

George understood what she meant by the act and her heart shattered. Why were humans so stupid!?

Brenda was rejecting Anita when she was offering her the world. She was offering her happiness and she was blatantly using.

"I hope you would find the girl that suits you, George," Brenda whispered as George made a beeline for the door.

She didn't say a word to Brenda. She would continue watching in the shadows as she stepped out of the room. She ran into Frank by the door.

He narrowed his eyes at her, watching as she slipped out and closed the door. She got to him and she was about to scurry away when Frank called her back.