Chapter 3

"Get me my lawyers," he told Theo as he drove to work. 

As soon as he reached the office, several men were seated there, waiting for him. 

"I have a problem. You are going to solve it. I need a clean divorce, work permit documentation within the next few hours," he said as he shrugged off his jacket. "Theo will give you the client name," he said, sitting in his chair as he picked up his reading glasses, silently dismissing them.

A few hours later as he left his office heading for a meeting, he saw a messenger handing Malcolm documents as another smile formed on his face. 

Forgetting about his lunch as he drove around the city, he found himself in front of the apartment he had sent her to. Admiring his latest acquisition, the doorman greeted him warmly as he stepped in. Heading straight for the elevators, he reached the second floor within seconds, finding himself in front of the apartment. Fishing out a key, he opened the door finding the room empty until he heard signing in the direction of the kitchen.

Walking in that direction, he cleared his throat as the room became sickeningly quiet. He was used to this by now, but somehow it felt awkward at this very moment. 

"Your work permit. You start work as my PA's assistant tomorrow," he said, handing over a passport with the permit.

Tears welled up in her eyes as he stood back, clearly not accustomed to such a display of emotion.

"Thank you very much, sir. May God bless you," she whispered, staring at her passport as tears formed.

"I shall take my leave," he said as she stopped him.

"Please stay for lunch. It's the least I can do," she said sincerely.

His stomach decided to grumble right there and then as he was about to decline. 

Sitting down, she presented him with a mouth-watering dish, which he dug into, silently cleaning his plate within minutes as he sat lost in thought only to be brought back to reality by her.

"What shall I call you?" He asked. He hadn't even bothered looking at her documents hence the question.

"Nyasha, my name is Nyasha," she said with a smile. 

"Very well. See you tomorrow," he said as he looked her over. "You do have attire for work, right?"

"She shook her head yes," but he was not convinced as he looked her over.

Leaving the apartment, he headed to a fashionable boutique and picked out several outfits with the help of the manager. Including makeup and the other accessories the female population deemed a basic necessity. 

Sending Max with the purchases, he headed back to work, working late into the night.

-------

Divorce papers were signed to his pleasure as he looked over the documents his lawyer handed to him. Without another word, they left his office as he waited for the impending knock. A few minutes later, she stood before him wearing a black pencil skirt with a white silk blouse with black pumps. He frowned at her choice of pumps over heels but brushed it off. 

"Theo will show you around," he said right as she was in the process of greeting him, shutting her up in an instant.

"Thank you, sir."

Leaving his office, he looked up to see her disappear behind the door.

Stepping out to see how things were going, he bumped into Theo as he was showing her around.

Malcolm popped out of nowhere, an angry scowl on his face once he saw her. Immediately she shrunk back, standing behind Theo as he passed by us. 

"Come with me," he said, relieving Theo of his duty. 

Two sharp claps brought the floor to silence as he stood looking at the group before him. If he was going to do this for each and every floor, so be it, he thought to himself.

"This is my new assistant. If anyone, and I mean anyone," he said, looking towards Malcolm, "does not do as she asks, they will answer to me. Offend her, and you know the consequences," he said as he started walking towards the elevators. 

Word got around of the boss's new assistant. 

Theo stood once he saw them return. 

"Have her things moved to my house, she will live with me," he said as Theo's eyes widened in shock. 

"I am perfectly fine were..." She stopped once he gave her look that told her to not contradict him.

------

"Your room," he said, pointing at a closed door. "This side is off limits, this is my wing," he said, suddenly coming to a halt. 

She looked at him with a frown as he stood still waiting for an answer. 

"Why am I here?"

"You are my assistant, hence I will need your help here when we are not in the office."

"Oh, okay," she said in understanding. That was a logical reason, right? She thought to herself. 

Sitting in her room, her phone rang as she recognized the number immediately. 

"Tell me exactly how you got my boss to help you, you pathetic scum," Malcolm said harshly. 

"Leave me alone, Malcolm. I am no longer your wife," she said in a frightened voice as he hung up laughing.

----

She woke with a start as her bedroom line rang, and upon answering it, she was surprised to hear her boss’s voice.

"Office now," he said, hanging up the call.

Putting on a robe, she left her room, heading to the office he had shown her earlier. 

"You called, sir," she said, trying to stifle a yawn.

"My parents are coming tomorrow. You will see to their needs, be warned they are...difficult people," he said, not even looking up at her as he spoke.

"Very well, sir. Is that all?"

"Yes, you may go," he said, looking up as she left the room.

The following day "Mother, how are you?" Marcellus said, kissing both her cheeks in greeting. 

"I am tired and cold. How can you stand such terrible weather," she said, shrugging off her coat as he took it and handed it over to Max. 

"Father," he said, shaking the man's hand as he held a grim expression assessing the house. 

Only his little sister greeted him warmly once she spotted him, embracing him as a smile broke on his face.

Nyasha walked in, bearing a tray of refreshments. 

"Good, you finally got some house help, though she should be in uniform, not such formal attire," his mother spat.

"She is not the help, she is my assistant," he said in a cool tone.

"Oh," she said, looking aside as Nyasha offered her hand in greeting. His father shook it, but his expression remained stoic.

"Hi, my name is Ellen," his little sister greeted her as a smile broke on her face as she introduced herself.

He stood transfixed as he looked at her warm smile before he heard his father clearing his throat with a smirk on his face. 

"How is the company doing?"

"Oh, Roberto, can't we talk about something besides business. Maybe talk about how she became your son's assistant," she said, pointing at Nyasha.

"She has the right credentials to become my assistant," he said with a scowl. "As for the business, profit margins are up, and you can afford that speed boat you wanted to add to your collection," he said.

"Gosh, it's suddenly too hot in here. I will have my drink outside," Helen (the mother) stated just as Marcellus finished speaking. 

Nyasha, on the other hand, was deep in conversation with Ellen as they giggled over something before they stood to follow Helen out. 

"Mother, you know I don't like it when you smoke. Think of your health," Marcellus grumbled as she lit it.

"It is my body is it not," she responded as Nyasha realized where he got his sharp tongue from.

"Fetch me a drink assistant," she said as Nyasha left, arranging drinks for everyone as well in case they needed something. 

Handing over the glass, Helen blew smoke in her face as she stepped back, coughing before it turned into wheezing.

"Helen," she heard Robert growl at her as she clutched her chest, her breathing becoming impaired.

"Nyasha, are you alright?" Ellen asked, looking worried. 

"She is fine, just being overdramatic," Helen said, standing up as she walked in Nyasha's direction while Nyasha backed away, trying to get air into her lungs.

Marcellus took a step forward as he looked at Nyasha. She was bent over trying so hard to breathe, and the next thing he knew, her mother shoved her into the pool, saying, "Stop being overdramatic, assistant."

"Marcellus, she can't swim!" Ellen yelled at him as he cursed, jumping into the pool. 

"Mother, what have you done?" Ellen asked clearly angry as she helped her brother get Nyasha out of the water. 

She passed out once she was out of the water, and Ellen fetched towels for her and her brother.

"I have told you to watch how you talk to other human beings," Roberto growled clearly pissed off as he grabbed his wife's hand, dragging her into the house. 

Performing CPR, she coughed up the water she had taken in as he worked meticulously to resuscitate her. 

"Are you okay?" he asked as she looked up at him, seeing his softened and worried features. 

"I think so," she whispered, trying to sit up as he moved aside. 

The usual angry scowl returned as he stood up.

"If you knew you couldn't swim, why did you go close to the pool. And what was that breathing stunt you pulled back there?" He said harshly.

She flinched away from him, withdrawing into herself as she told him she was asthmatic, making him remember when the doctor had mentioned it.

"Good night, sir. Goodnight, Ellen," she mumbled, looking down as she clung onto the now wet towel.