CHAPTER THREE

~Elizabeth~

"Can't we just grab a drink after work? It's been long since we spent time together." Chidima said, subconsciously going through some papers on my desk.

"Babe you know how busy I get. I want to go and chill out but...."

"But David keeps bugging you with work." She rolled her eyes

"You could get fired for even staying here with me. You this girl better mind yourself." I warned her.

"I'm on my lunch break. You should be too." She said.

"I'm busy." I began clicking the keyboard of my laptop.

"You know he's not your husband."

"Why would he be my husband?" I frowned in disgust.

"That's not the point. I meant he's not your husband and you're doing anything he asks you to." She explained further.

"Drop the matter please. I'm busy, just leave me." I turned back to my computer.

"You know I don't understand why a normal woman would hate men..."

"Chidima. Please, just go." My anger was stirring and I wasn't ready to unleash it on someone. Especially not her.

She knew I was upset already and understood what could happen between us if she kept pestering me so she left without another word.

When she left, I sucked in a lot of oxygen into my lungs. And picked up a file I was asked to give to David. I left my office and headed to his. I knocked. Waited. But no reply. I tried again, still no reply. Another try and when I heard no reply, I decided to make a move. I turned the knob and hated my move immediately.

He was really busy, like a 'hot make out session' busy. Sandra was seating on him with her legs wrapped around his waist. Oh God I hated myself for coming in.

I was going to turn around and leave but he noticed my presence and let go of his girlfriend. Then that famous glare rose on his face.

Why in the world would he be upset. He mixed work with personal life. Shouldn't he be ashamed of himself?

"What part of knock don't you understand?" He spitted out.

My mood is not in its brightest right now so yelling at me isn't the best idea.

"I did knock sir." I made sure not keep eye contact with him cos that alone is just going to make matters worse between us.

"And did you hear me say come in?" He said and the Sandra girl finally decided to speak.

"I told you to get rid of her." She was practically purring as she cuddled more on David. A lot of self control made me not gag.

"What exactly do you want?" He said coldly and I bit my lower lip so as not say something wrong to him or the lady on him.

Clearing my throat I took a step forward and spoke. "You asked me to bring you this file. And you made it specific that it should be on your desk in ten minutes." I tried my best to be polite.

"Keep it on my desk and get out." He said and pulled Sandra closer to him. Like she was not close enough to him.

I did as commanded and turned to leave. I gave one last glance at him to see he was back in his business.

"And sir, don't forget the party you were invited to. It starts by eight this evening." I said finally and left.

........................

"I'm done for today sir." I reported myself to his office. He looked up from what he was writing and nodded. It was past seven and every other person had closed work for the day since five. But I was there. Things I to do for work.

"When exactly did you say the party was?" He got up from his chair and sat on the table in front of me, crossing his arms around his chest.

"Eight. But guests arrives nine to ten." I told him.

"Okay. Do you have a dinner dress?" He asked. I paused. Re-played what I just heard in my head and re-played those words again.

"N-no. I don't." I replied still unsure about what was going on.

"Okay. Let's go. We'll figure out what to do on the way." He removed his weight from the table and walked past me.

What's going on here?

"Are you coming?" I turned to see him waiting at the door for me.

"Um..." I trailed off still not moving.

"Let's go. I don't have all the time in the world." He growled and I moved fast.

.....................

I was busy picking my fingers and sucking in breath as much as I could. Where we were going and what was happening was still incomprehensible to me.

"Sir, I don't understand." I said lowly. He looked up from his phone and turned to face me with a frown.

"What is there not to understand? There's a party going on and I need you to be there with me. You're my PA, like you say, you understand everything about my business. So going with me to a party is vital." He explained. But I was still confused.

Why didn't he take me to other parties. He has had about a million of them and I only book a reservation or something for him not follow him there. Why was this one different?

The car pulled over in front of a boutique. Wait, was he going to bring Sandra along too. Oh God help me not loose my mind.

He left the car and as usual, I didn't leave. I just stayed and waited for him to come back and order me about. "Are you coming?" He asked me and my eyes widened.

"Look, time is not really on our side here. Just hurry up." He added impatiently.

I rushed out of the car and he led me into the boutique. The whole place was big and lighted with bright bulbs and in the middle was a chandelier. The walls were painted with white and gold and the whole place smelt like new clothes.

"How May I help....oh Mr Badmus. Good day, it's a pleasure meeti...."

"I need you to get her into a comfortable dinner dress." He interrupted the receptionist.

"Wait wait, what?!" I shouted when I registered what he said.

"Didn't I explain things to you." He said in frustration.

"Yeah I'm going as your PA. Why a dinner dress?" I asked with wide eyes.

"So you want to go in the midst of rich men and women dressed like that?" He eyed me.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with what I was wearing?

"Isn't this a work for miss Sandra or something?" I asked, ignorant of that fact that he was my boss, ignorant of the receptionist ogling at him.

"Don't test my patience Elizabeth." He pinched the bridge of his nose. I was taken aback. He had just said my name. My actual first name?

"Just follow the goddamn woman and let her get you into an appropriate dress." He said and pushed me slightly towards the woman behind the counter.

"Let's go miss." She said and I followed her.

**************

I let out a breath when his car pulled over in the parking lot. We both made our way out. I was dressed in a black fitted gown that stopped slightly above my knee. It was off my shoulders and had triangles printing on it.

"Just stay by my side, don't talk unless I tell you to and...don't make a scene." He whispered to me and I frowned already upset why I let him bring me here.

"And when I'm asked about my identity?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Don't you know your own name?" He retorted as we passed the red carpet to VIP. We were about to enter the famous Eko hotel. And I was feeling nervous already.

"One more thing," he started making both of us to pause in the hall way. "Just don't get the wrong idea. I brought you here as my personal assistant. Don't start getting too comfortable with me. This is strictly work." He said and I snorted making him raise a brow.

Get the wrong idea? How ironic.

"Noted." I said simply. We both turned to make our way to the great hall of Eko hotel.

I couldn't help but gawk at how beautiful it was. Dimly lighted with neon blue lights and tables for two and three everywhere and a beautiful stage in the very front. It was one of the most beautiful place I had seen.

"Close your mouth. You'll start drooling." My eyes widened more when I felt someone's arm around my waist. I turned and saw it was my own boss. David.

Oh hell it was so uncomfortable. A guy was touching me. Mostly my boss's hand around my waist. I gulped in and breathed trying not to over think what was going on. I never wanted any guy's hands on me. Not even my boss.

"David!" We both turned abruptly to the sound of his name.

"Segun." David let me go to greet the guy about his height but with fuller hair.

And I thought I knew everyone my boss got involved with.

"And who's this beauty." His attention diverted to me and I shifted uncomfortably.

"This is Elizabeth Adeyemi. My PA." He introduced.

"Hey, my name is Segun Olatunji. Nice meeting you." He stretched his hands out for a shake. I stared at his hand for a moment, still considering whether or not to shake it. Then I felt a nudge on my side and I shook his hand.

"Nice meeting you too." I smiled, but not with my eyes. All I wanted to do was leave this place and visit my mum to see how she was....

oh no, my mum.

I reached for my phone in my purse and when I checked it, there was a missed call. From mum.

David was still in a conversation with Segun and I was contemplating whether to call her now or not. I could give an excuse that I wanted to use the bathroom and call her there, but then the chances of getting lost in the crowd was high. Without even thinking any further, I clicked call and placed my earpiece in my ear. I saw David frown at what I did and I gave him an apologetic look.

"Hello?" I said when the person picked.

"Hello. Is this Adeyemi?" I heard someone say and I knew that wasn't my mother.

"Y-yes. Who is this, where's my mum?" I began to panic.

"I'm nurse Aminat. This is your mothers phone. Could you please find your way to the hospital now." She said. Now I lost everything, all my senses.

"What's wrong? Is she alright?" My breathing increased.

"Just try to make it here fast everything is fine." With that the call ended making my panicking increase.

~DAVID~

I frowned at Elizabeth when I saw her make a call. She only gave a pleading look in return, so I ignored her.

"Hello." I could hear her feminine voice say and there was a while of silence.

"Y-yes. Who is this, where's my mum?" Her voice cracked for a moment but I still pretended not to care. There was another moment of silence before she finally spoke.

"What's wrong? Is she alright?" That one alone caught all my attention. It was visible that she was already panicking. Was something wrong?

I watched her lower her phone from her ear.

"What happened?" I asked her and she let out a shaky breath. Her body was trembling that I had to hold her so she could stand straight.

"P-please, please, I need to go." Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Go where?" I furrowed my brows.

With the years I had spent with her, she had never looked so troubled.

"It...it's a long story. But I promise I'll make it to work early tomorrow, right now I have to go it's important." She said as tears clouded her eye making me more concerned.

"Is something wrong?" I persisted.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but this is really urgent. I promise I'll try and come back here if I can. I know you need me here, but I have to go...." A tear slipped out of her eyes and I felt a knot in my stomach.

"Let's go." I grabbed her elbow and pulled her through the crowd, ignoring my name coming out of people's mouth as I walked past them.

Immediately we got to my car, I let her go and opened the door of the car for her.

"Sir, I really can't let you do this. I know being here is important for you...." she sniffed out and I rolled my eyes

"Just get in the car and tell me where the hell you're going." I interrupted her and she obeyed immediately.

I entered the drivers seat and turned on the engine of the car. "Where are we going?" I loosened the tie around my neck.

"Adeleke's hospital." She said as she tried to control her shaking hands. I drove off immediately I heard exactly where we were heading.

Hearing that word hospital made me begin to think a lot. She said something about her mother on phone and now hospital? It's not a really good sign.

~Elizabeth~

I rushed into the hospital and my way to my mum's wardroom. But she wasn't on her bed as expected. Making me loose my mind completely. Many thoughts roamed my head. Spinning round and round till I felt dizzy.

"Miss Adeyemi." I turned to look at the doctor.

"Where is she?" I asked as tears poured out of my eyes and wet my cheeks.

"She was transferred to another room." The doctor replied.

"She's still okay right?" Was the question I asked next and the doctor nodded making me release the breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"But the case isn't getting better. We thought it was but it's not. She needs to be taken care of soon." The doctor said and I knew what she was talking about.

"How long do we have?" I asked.

"I don't know, but I know you don't have much time."

"Doctor please, I'm doing the best I can. I need you to help me out here. Help me keep her alive till everything's ready. Please it's just a matter of time." I explained myself to the doctor still with my eyes flowing with tears.

"I understand. But you see time is not what we have." She told me and I swear the beat of my heart increased further.

"I'm doing the best I can. Please just help me here." I pleaded.

"We'll do our best okay?" She patted my shoulder and left me in the room, alone.

I turned slowly to the door just for my eyes to meet with my boss. I didn't  know maybe it was the tears in my eyes making me see things but I could see worry in his expression.

Remembering I probably looked like a pig due to the crying I've been doing, I looked away from him and began cleaning my tears and catarrh with my hands. "Here." David handed me a handkerchief and I took it, mumbling a thank you to him. He waited so patiently for me to finish my clean up and when I was done...

"Are you going to tell me what's happening?" His voice was so relaxed that I had to look at him again to be sure it was the same boss I knew that was talking to me. I shook my head as a reply to his answer and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"I'm sorry. It's just. Complicated." I croaked.

"I understand." I looked at him again. Was he really my boss? Whenever our eyes met, I could read the worry in his face and when he spoke to me, he was...considerate. The David Badmus I knew for years was never like this. Was it because he saw me in distress?

I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I was not a subject of pity.

There was a long silence between us. And I didn't even think I was on earth anymore. My mind was still racing, thinking about a lot of stuffs, like how I would help my mum. And my brother and still focus on work at the same time.

"Elizabeth?" I blinked back to actual life when I heard my name in the slightest whisper. I looked at my boss and his gaze was on the floor. "You know I just want to help." He added and a gasp left my mouth. Did he really say that? Or was I hearing things again.

His gaze met mine and I found that worried look again. It was so odd. "I know." I replied absentmindedly.

"You have to tell me?" He took a step forward but stopped when I replaced the step with another one backwards. "You know if I wanted to know what exactly was going on here I could just meet the doctor and she'll tell me everything." His voice was more audible this time. "But I won't. Cos I know you won't like it. That's why I'm asking you to talk to me."

I still didn't reply. I just stood there. I wasn't to  mix personal life with work, but here he was asking about my life. "It's my mum." I began. I bit my lips to stop talking but the look on his face was compelling me to continue. "She...." I trailed off again. But this time I had to seat on the bed. I realized I didn't have much strength in me anymore. Surprisingly, he mirrored my move and sat on a chair opposite me. "You can tell me." He persuaded. David actually wanted to hear me talk. All along it felt like the sound of my voice was upsetting him and here he was pushing me to keep talking.

"She's sick. Weak bone marrow. Well that's what the doctor says....she's been here for about six months. There was supposed to be an operation. But it can't be done in Nigeria." I paused and met his face, a feeling that he had slept off listening to me crossed my mind. But he wasn't asleep when I looked up. He was staring intensly at me. With another gulp of air, I continued. "The operation can be successful in India....but...." I stopped again and looked at him. One part of me was telling me to shut up and leave and another was saying, he was there to listen to me. And for the first time, David was actually listening to what I had to say. "But what?" He said lowly.

"The operation alone is 6.5million and the transport is one million. Everything together is 7.5 million naira." My heart sank saying those words. "So far....I've been able to save up just 2million out of it." I bit my lips as tears clouded my eyes. Just one flutter of my lashes and the tears were pouring down my eyes again. "Elizabeth, it's okay." He consoled and I shook my head. "Look at me, Elizabeth look at me." He persuaded and I looked up to meet his gaze. "I want you to calm down. Everything would be alright." He consoled more.

"No, it's not. I feel like I'm gonna loose my mother. It can't be alright." I cried out more. I gasped out when he took my hands in his. "It'll be fine." He gave a slight squeeze on my palm. "I promise." He added.

And somehow, I found hope in those words. He said them like he was so sure everything would be fine....

Who am I kidding? This was David Badmus. He hated me to the core. Why would he even care about what I was passing through?

"Miss Adeyemi." We both turned to the doctor when she came in.

"She's conscious now and she wants to see you." The doctor added and I instantly got up to leave.

I instantly got up and rushed to where my mother was. I felt my heart stopped for that moment. Then when it started again, it's beats were fast. "Mum." I breathed out. I saw her smile before I decided about hugging her.

"I thought I was going to loose you." I cried as she patted my air. "You're not going to loose me, stop thinking bad thoughts." She chuckled slightly.

"Please try to stay strong. Mum please." I begged and that warm smile that melted hard hearts appeared on her face. "I will. I was just....." she trailed off and her attention deviated from me to the door. I trailed her gaze and my eyes widened slightly when I saw my boss leaning against the door frame, watching me and my mum.

"And who is the young man?" Mum asked me and anyone could understand the look on her face. Oh God.

"Good day ma, I'm David. David Badmus." He introduces himself nicely and I must say, I was shocked and very impressed.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lizzy's mum, who are you to her?" She asked.

David opened his mouth to reply but I beat him to it. "He's my boss mum." I told her and her eyes widened as they eyed me suspiciously. "Really? You didn't tell me he was this..."

"Okay mum. I think you need to rest." I cut in and she frowned slightly. "I'm just glad you're okay." I kissed her forehead with a smile on my face.

"I've told you that I'm fine." She said to me.

"I know mum. So right now I need you to rest." I said and began making my way to leave her in peace.

I noticed David followed me behind, but I didn't care or bother myself to look back. I was just too tired and I needed sleep. Even if I could find a chair, I'd sleep on it. Just to get my head and mind straight.

"My car?" He volunteered and I nodded already walking towards where he parked. Immediately we got in, I slumped on the chair and sucked in a huge amount of air into my lungs then closed my eyes. Still ignoring my boss's stares. I just pray things don't get weird between us.

"Why can't you be like your mum?" He broke the silence and my eyes widened.

"What?" I questioned facing him.

"She's...not like you." He said still looking at the stirring wheel.

"How would you know. You guys barely spoke to each other." I almost rolled my eyes. Most times I forget my place.

"Well I'm a good judge of character. And I know she's. Friendly." He shrugged and I forced myself to stifle my laughter.

"So...let me get this straight. You," I started, pointing at him, "want me," I pointed at myself, "to be friendly, with you?" I asked trying to clear things out.

He just laughed, nervously.

"That's not what I meant, you're always too, nonchalant and trust me you're not deceiving any one with that your fake smiles. Just try to loosen up a little, you'd be surprised...."

"Look who's talking!" I shouted laughing out. Already forgetting that he has the power to make my life miserable.

"You go around acting like you rule the world and no one else matters to....." My eyes met his raised brow, then my jaw dropped. I did not just say that.

"No, go on." He insisted and I shook my head. "I'd rather not." Knowing the consequences.

"You know," He began but then paused, taking in a breath before continuing. "I'm not exactly the cold hearted person people see me as." He shrugged.

Yeah right.

I wanted to say, but the seriousness in his voice made me keep quiet.

"No one said you're cold hearted." I bit my tongue for talking.

"Seriously, I don't need to be told. Even you think I'm like that." He nodded.

"No." I opposed, shaking my head. "I don't think you're cold hearted. You're just...." I stopped talking again before I put myself in trouble.

"Please, continue. I need to know." He persuaded me. Well he asked.

"You're mean and proud and careless and arrogant and bossy and...I don't think people like that. As the head, you're supposed to be looked up to and respected." I explained truthfully.

"But I am respected...."

"No, you're feared, people are scared of what you could do. That's not exactly how it should be." I lowered my voice when I was sure I made my point.

He didn't say anything after what I said, I gave a side glance at him and the look on his face meant he was battling about something within his self.

"I'm pretty sure I've lost my job. Again." I said and it was like I snapped him back to reality.

"N-no, why would I fire you?" He said with a scoff.

"Cos the last time I spoke about your...faults, you sacked me." I told him. "Elizabeth, I'm not going to fire you. Well not yet." He said. Not yet?

"Well thanks. For explaining that to me." He smiled and I froze.

Mr Badmus smiled. He could stretch his lips out into a smile.

************

"Good night." David said immediately I hopped out of his car in front of my house.

"Thank you, sir." I appreciated.

"For what?" He frowned slightly and I shrugged. "For...everything. You really helped me tonight and I'm grateful." I said to him and he gave a curt nod.

"Don't think because of tonight I'm going to go soft on you. Be early tomorrow. As long as we're in working hours, I'm still your boss. I won't tolerate rubbish. Don't forget that." His cold arrogant voice came back to life making me sigh. And I thought he changed.

"I won't sir." I said formally.

"Have a good night sleep." He nodded curtly and drove off.