Chapter 30 30
Chapter Thirty.
Tess_
I couldn't believe what Damien was asking of me. The London business order was sudden and demanding, but it clashed with my personal commitments.
As I stood in his office, the weight of his expectations bore down on me. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't drop everything and leave for London at a moment's notice," I explained, trying to convey the gravity of my situation.
His response was cold and unyielding, he looked at me with a cold stare . "Tess, this is crucial for the company. You need to prioritize this over everything else," he insisted, his tone brooking no argument.
The tension in the room was palpable and evident as I tried to reason with him, to make him understand the complexities of my life beyond work.
“I know this is for the company's progress and all but I have a life outside work and all, I have things to attend to and impromptu orders like this aren't it.” I said, defensively but it felt like I just hit a nerve.
“What other things do you do after work than smile with some random guy you just met? Or go home and bury yourself in your bed.” He said and I could feel my skin crawl.
“Excuse me?” I said, looking at him deeply into his eyes.
“You heard me correctly, what else do you do? And why the hell are you all friendly with the new guy?” He asked and I couldn't believe my ears, did he just ask me a question I thought he did.
“And how is that any of your concern? That is none of your business, with all due respect.” I said, still with my hand behind my back.
“Are you seriously telling me that? Have you forgotten what I am to you?” He questioned.
I was so glad he mentioned that. “Remind me again please? Oh wait…you're my boss, I am so sorry and anything other than that, you're nothing to me so you have no right to interfere with my life… sir.” I said, drifting my eyes from him to the table.
“I am your man, you should know be–” he was about to explain but interrupted him immediately.
“Rephrase your words sir, you're just my boss, not my man.” I said, looking him in the eyes.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
I scoffed. “Are you seriously asking me that right now? After lying to my fucking face about being a single man and shit? After making me fucking love you? Oh, you think I am not aware the lady who you didn't want to talk about is your fiancee and shocking news y'all have been engaged for a year now and you had the nerves, the fucking audacity to fuck me and play that emotional card on me!!! And now you stand here and claim to be my man after all you've fucking done?!!! Don't you dare say another word to me regarding this, ever!!” I said at the top of my voice.
He was so shocked to see me react that way but couldn't justify his actions or even explain himself. “I…I don't know–” I didn't allow him to finish when I interrupted him again.
“I don't need any apology, and I will think about your offer to go to London and I will get back to you.” With that being said, I turned on my heel and stormed out of his office, the echoes of his words still ringing in my ears as I sat on my chair.
Leah pushed her chair towards me. “Everything good?” She asked.
I nodded. “Mhmm, mhmm.” I said and continued working on my laptop.
“You know you're definitely not doing anything on the laptop right?” Leah said and I looked at the screen, I hadn't even turned it on, and I was busy typing. “If you need to talk, I am here.” She replied and I just smiled fakely to her.
I picked up my phone and decided to reach out to Ana but the line rang thrice and no one answered the phone, I tried it again and same thing occurred, I dropped my phone on frustration and let out a sigh.
The decision was made, I would head to my mom's place after work. The thought of her warm embrace and comforting presence already started to ease the tension that had built up throughout the day. Sometimes, all you need is a moment with loved ones to put things back into perspective.
I texted my sister and asked her how my mom was doing. “Hey Jane, whaddup? How is mom right now?” I asked.
In less than a second my phone chimed with notification, I checked to see what was there, it was a text from her. “She is stable right now, you don't have to worry about that.” The text said, I was relieved and happy my mom was doing well but I still needed to see her.
“Alright, I will be coming over later today, don't tell mom about it okay? I just want it to be a surprise to her.” I said, hoping my sister could keep a secret from our mother..
“Sure, your secret is safe with me.” She still went ahead to tell my mom.
“Gotta go, talk to you later okay?” I sent the last text and dropped my phone on the table and continued the task I was doing on my laptop.
I was so unrelaxed as I thought about getting home to my mom already, I just wanted the time to run out so I could get out of this place already. “C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.” I muttered underneath my breath as I looked at my wrist watch waiting for the time to strike 2pm but it felt like the longer it was going to take, the more I would wait.
“Are you going somewhere?” Derek asked as he stood in front of me.
I nodded but still tapping my leg head on the floor. “No, not really…why?” I replied.
“Cause you keep tapping your foot on the floor so damn hard and I know it could fall off.” He said.
“What do you want again?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable at the whole question and all.
“Wanted to give you his, it is regarding the task we have to do in London…. together.” He said and added the last part slowly.
I looked up at her then collected the tab from him and went through the messages. “I have no idea on how to do this? Why am I going please?” I asked him..
“You're the company's most valuable asset, the CEO's personal assistant, the CEO himself would be there but not too present because of the other meetings he has to attend to.” He said, it was that moment I found out that I wasn't going to London alone but with a man who was claimed to be in love with me. I wonder how everything would be but I don't care. I already told him I won't be going so why should I bother about that?
“Okay, that's good.” I replied, sounding unconcerned.
“You're going right?...to London?” He asked.
I stood up, picked up my bag, packed my things and arranged my desk as soon as the time strikes 3, walked a little bit out of my desk. “Wait till then.” That was all I said and I made my way out of the office, all that was on my mind was how to get to my mom and hug her.
My phone rang.
I pulled it out from my bag, looked at the screen as it displayed My little Sadness, it was Ana. “Hey baby, what have you been doing?” I asked as I answered the phone while walking towards the entrance of the company.
“I had no idea my phone was ringing, what's wrong? Is everything alright?” She asked.
“Yeah sure, everything is perfect…just wanted to let you know I won't be coming back tonight or tomorrow or the next.” I said.
“Uhh, why?” She questioned.
“I'm going to my mom's and I would love to spend time with her before I leave.” I said, almost reaching the entrance..
“Okay babes, I will see you when you get back then? Say Hi to mom.” She said,
“Alright, I will do just that…bye little pumpkin, I love you.” I said with a kiss from my mouth.
“I love you too, have fun.” She said.
“Okay, I sure will.” I replied before pulling the phone off my ears and hanging up. When I got to the entrance of the company, I walked a little bit away from the entrance before I could stop a cab.
I waved my hand to stop a cab, as soon as it stopped I entered, shutting the door and telling the driver where I was heading to.
“That would be 39 dollars.” He said.
“39 what? That's too much man, whee I am heading to is not all that far and this is the amount you want to charge for it? Nah, I can't pay that much for somewhere this close.” I said then got down from the car.
“Fuck you bitch!!” He yelled as he drove off in full speed and immediately the police vehicles were after him. “Gosh, that was scary.” I said, panting a little bit.
After a few minutes of waiting, Derek walked up to me. “Wanna ride with me?” He asked.
I looked to my side and saw him standing not too far from me. “Are you stalking me?” I said jokingly.
“Who wouldn't wanna talk to a beautiful lady like yourself?” He replied and I couldn't stop myself from smiling hard, I wasn't blushing but I was smiling.
“So what do you want?” I questioned.
“Said, would you love to ride with me?” He asked again, this time his lips was shining and sexy, calling me in for a kiss
‘Shit why does his lips have to be this sexy? Fuck, I wanna kiss him right now….stop this why are you thinking like this Tess, snap out of it.’ I was thinking to myself as I heard fingers snapped and I began consciousness again. “Huh? What did you say? Sorry, I meant to say yes yes but where I am headed to is quite far from here.” I said.
“You don't gotta worry about that, a beautiful lady like yourself shouldn't stress that much about that, I got it in control.” He said and pushed a button on his car key and his car made a sound.
‘Damn, his car is so fucking fine, new and neat as hell.’ I said to myself.
“Be right back.” He said and went off to drive his car to me.
I didn't know Damien was standing a little bit away from me and he saw everything that happened and how I was smiling at him. “Is this why you don't wanna go to London?” He said.
I was still smiling when I turned my head to see who was talking. “And how is that any of your business?” I asked back..
“Is he aware you are my woman and anyone who touches or goes after what belongs to mine doesn't end up well?” He asked, sounding like a threat as he looked at me coldly.
I felt a shiver rub down my spine, this was how controlling Damien is and I love every part of this but I just have to show him that his words are meaningless to me. “Wait till he touches what belongs to you before you speak, till then just watch.” I replied, I know it doesn't make any sense but I couldn't care less.
Derek drove the car and stopped in front of me, got down and came to the side to open the door for me. “For you my lady.” He said.
I looked briefly at Damien and smiled before proceeding to hop in. I was excited I could see him at the edge and worked up about me, now he would feel threatened by the sight of Derek and I would much appreciate it if I saw him beg. “Thank you.” I said and Derek closed the door, I locked in my seatbelt and he ran to the other side and entered the car.
“Woah, alright baby girl, let's start the damn trip!!” He said loudly as he ignited the car and drove off.
I looked at Damien, smiled at him while the car was driving off and waved a little at him before facing the road and not caring to look back at him. “That felt so good, gosh.” I said out loud.
“What is that?” Derek asked.
“Nothing, you don't have to worry about that.” I replied.