Chapter Ten“Anna, why are you doing this to me?” She asked with a pitiful face, “This is unfair, I thought you wanted to help me, where do you want me to go now?”“You thought I wanted to help? Really? So what I have done, I haven't helped right? You stayed in my place for three weeks and I helped you look for work, I haven't helped you?”“I didn't say you haven't helped me, where do you want me to go?”“Go back to your husband and child, go and beg him. If he didn't answer, traveled far away to enjoy life”Marianne couldn't hold her tears as Anna's word hit her like a punch.She had no where to go.The reality of her situation weigh her down, and she plead, “Anna, please we are friend since childhood, I love you and I know you love. I wasn't getting close to him, I tried rejecting his offer, but he kept insisting, please. I don't have anywhere to go and I feel you can help me more, two months to get myself”Anna crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “What I understand is that
Chapter ElevenAs Marianne left the living room to the siting room, she fell asleep.She woke up the next day and started preparing for work.“Good morning” Anna greeted.“Good morning, how was your night?” Rachel responded.“Fine… Where are you going? Are you already preparing to take your leave?”“No, I think I should go there to tell him directly that I will be quiting the work”“Not necessary, you can send a mail”“I went there for interview, so I think I should go there to inform him”“If you wish, don't remember you have five days more”“Five or six?”“Five or six” Anna responded.Marianne left home, leaving Anna alone.****As Marianne got to the working place, she was already tired.“Do I need to go through everything Mr. Thompson would need today? I would be leaving this job today after all” she said to herself, settling down behind her desk.She took a file and went through his appointment.As soon as she heard that Mr. Thompson has arrived, she left her office to meet him
Chapter TwelveMarianne stared at Thompson in disbelief, her mind struggling to process his words. "Sir? What do you mean by staying in your house?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and a hint of alarm.Mr. Thompson, who had just proposed the idea moments before, looked at her with calm, serious eyes. “You aren't living in my place forever, this is for the meantime. I should have just looked for a house immediately. But I don't just rent any house, I need to investigate the house and I want you to leave that house today”Marianne doesn't even know how to react, it felt so sudden, “I don't think this will be possible, you just promote me and see the way they are reacting towards me. Living with you now, I don't know how they will react”“Do you want to announce to them you are staying in my house? Do you want to take a microphone and announce that you are staying at my place? We won't be coming to work together….”“It’s not easy the way you are saying it Mr. Thompson”“So wh
Chapter Thirteen“Close by? You don't have to leave the workplace? What are you saying? What do you mean? Are you joking? If you are joking, kindly stop it!” Anna yelled and continued, “I introduced you to the work and I want you to stop, there's nothing you can do now than to listen, understand?Marianne ignored her, the driver opened the car and she sat down. She waved hand to Anna who was standing furiously."Marianne, don't you dare ignore me!" Anna shouted, stepping closer to the car. "You can't just leave like this! You owe me an explanation!”“We will see each other at work tomorrow!” Marianne said to Anna before turning to the driver, “wine up the window please”She said and the driver started the engine.Anna watched them leave dissatisfied.Anna stood frozen, watching as Marianne's car disappeared down the street. Her heart raced with a mix of anger and concern, her mind replaying the last few minutes over and over. She couldn’t believe Marianne would dismiss her like that,
Chapter FourteenAs Thompson left Marianne's room. Marianne began to get worried and regret her action.Marianne stared at the empty doorway, her heart racing as the reality of what she'd done began to sink in."Why did I do that? Why did I kiss him?" she whispered to herself. "What was I thinking? He's my boss, for goodness sake! What should I do? The first day of me living here I had to kiss him? What will happen for the rest of my stay here?”She paced the room, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions."I've got to get my head straight," she thought. "I can't let my feelings for him cloud my judgment.As she sat down on the bed, she touched her lips, “Oh! Though I enjoyed him, he's so romantic, and ....” Marianne said as she slept off*****In Thompson room*“It was so sudden but enjoyable, I think this is the perfect time to let her know how I feel towards her” he said, smiling, “I am already dreaming of my relationship with her. She is a calm, pretty and a responsible lady”
Chapter FifttenMarianne walked down the hallway toward Mr. Thompson's office, her mind racing with thoughts about her conversation with Anna. She couldn't deny the feelings that Anna had also helped her when she needs her. But, she doesn't want to leave the job because of Marianne though she introduced and help her, but Marianne felt like that was an opportunity she should not loose, especially when she has been promoted to a secretary.As she gets to Thompson's office. She took a deep breath and hesitated first before entering. She knocked.“Come in” She heard Thompson's voice from his office.Marianne opened the door and entered, she closed it gently behind her.Thompson was seated at his desk. He lifted his eyes from the document he was going through, in front of him as she entered.He offered her a warm smile, which instantly put her at ease."Good morning, Marianne," he greeted, setting his pen down. "I was wondering when you would come to see me, you left home early""Good morn
Chapter Sixteen As Thompson and Marianne walked side by side to the conference room, they met all the staff and the managers already seated in the conference room.Everyone glanced at them as they walked into the conference room."Good morning, everyone," Thompson greeted, his voice firm yet cordial as he took his place at the head of the table. Marianne quickly took the seat beside him, her posture straightening as she placed the documents she carried on the table."Good morning, Mr. Thompson," the staff echoed in unison, their attention now fully on him.Thompson's eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces of his employees. "I trust everyone is ready for today’s meeting. We have a lot to cover, especially regarding the recent developments with our competitors." He motioned for Marianne to begin the presentation.Marianne stood, her nerves briefly threatening to get the better of her as she faced the room. With a deep breath, she started, "As some of you may know, our main compet
Chapter Seventeen “I can't stand and watch anyone threaten you, not even her! Not Anna, my staff” he nodded.Thompson said firmly, his voice leaving no room for doubt. He nodded as if to reaffirm his words, his gaze locked on Marianne.Marianne felt a surge of emotions at his declaration. She appreciated his support, but it also added a layer of complexity to their professional relationship. “I don’t want to cause any trouble, Mr. Thompson,” she replied softly. “But I can handle Anna. I don’t want you to feel like you need to intervene on my behalf.”“I won't stand and watch anyone threaten anybody in my company, it's not acceptable, and not even the woman I love…” The words slipped out before Thompson could stop them. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what he had just said “The woman… The…”Marianna's eyes widened, “Love? The woman you love? she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Love?”The both of them stared at each other as there was a very between them. Mariann
You'll be dead when I return. And when I'm back, you wouldn't like how your story would end!" He let out, as I heard him walking away. The police arrived almost immediately he walked off."Hello, Avia." I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "He might come for you, just like he did me. He even had a bunch of spare keys! Luckily for me, I guess the key didn't fit!" I exclaimed."Oh my goodness, I think you should move in with us till everything is settled, till he's handed over to the police. You can't play gamble with your life. Because if he kills you, the worst that could happen is him being executed.""But you'll be long dead and gone before then. So you need to try to be as logical as possible." She adviced. "I know. But I also know that staying at your place, that's a different level of inconvenience. I don't want to put you through that." I said."Not in this life or another, would you ever inconvenience me. Please never say that again, you are a sister to me and you prov
"Do you feel better now?" I heard her mother ask her. "Better, mother." She said, weakly, looking around, as if still feeling like they were still being watched or followed."I'll be on my way now, Avia. Please get well soon." I said, getting up to leave. I knew I had overstayed and my job might be paying for that soon. "That's... That's... Okay, I'm grateful! Thanks you so much for staying around!" She said, her voice now shaky."Oh come off it, stop now or you're gonna make me tear up too." I said, getting emotional already. "I have to say what's on my mind. I didn't see it coming at all. How you were there for me. Fought and defended me." She said."That's just how I am, and you're not an enemy of course." I said, "What would you have rather had me do? Stay there and watch you die?" I joked, "now come over here!" I said, as we embraced each other.We held each other tightly for the following seconds, soaking in our emotions and just being grateful that she was alive."Thank you." S
"Is there really anything good about the afternoon?." He replied, not bothering that someone else was now in the room. "How may I help you?" I asked, spiting him, "oh you!" He said, in composed excitement. "What a small world." He said, under his breath, not knowing that I heard him."She?" I asked, pointing in her direction, "yeah. If I get what you mean." He answered, a pale countenance sweeping through his face. "Okay?" I asked, "why are you here?" I asked, looking squarely at him."Is there a rule that says I can't?" He asked, goofingly. "I expect you to know that." I said coldly, "you have overstayed your welcome. You can now use the door." I said."You're in no position to order me around," he said. "But I am, this is a health facility. I'm in charge, and I now inform you, you have overstayed your welcome." The doctor said from behind us.He turned slowly, walking out in a cold manner. "How did he even get in here in the first place?" The doctor asked, turning to face me. "I don
Almost immediately, the doctor arrived, he was checking Avia with his stethoscope, she was now calm and stabilized. It looked strange that she had begun to convulse, after being confirmed okay by the doctor."She's stabilized now." He let out, heading out, "please hold on, Doctor, what... What if the convulsion starts again?" I asked, my heart racing within me. "She won't, he replied dismissingly.I watched her intently, counting her breathe, hoping the convulsion wouldn't start again. She seemed to be sleeping sweetly, it however got strange and weird when she had been sleeping for the following hours.I was now concerned and had to call the doctor's attention. Her family were still there too. "She's in stable condition," he said, sure."But she's been sleeping for too long now." I asked, concerned, he went on, checking her pulse repeatedly, she still looked like she was asleep. At this point we could already sense everything wasn't okay."Doctor! What's the matter," I asked, frantic
"I can't forget the sweet mother she was to us. She showed us so much love and motherly care. Loosing her was a huge blow to all of us. So I was taken aback when my father seemed happy about her passing." He explained."At rare times, he tried to feign mourning her, which didn't work because he wasn't one to pretend. So it was always crystal clear what he thought or felt." He explained."The scariest part is that I walked in on him, on a phone call, he was talking about a body. I left almost immediately when I noticed he didn't see me walk in and listened on. I didn't want to draw any conclusions based on what I heard, but I feel he was talking about a human body.""My goodness! What human body??" I asked, frantic. "Any chances it could be Nadia's?" I asked, not letting him land. "It just might be. The voice he was speaking with on the phone appeared to be a woman's voice." He added."A woman's voice?" I exclaimed, "how were you close enough to hear this and not close enough for him t
"I apologize sincerely!" I let out, trying to avoid hitting more persons. My eyes met those of the voice I was hearing."Mark!" I exclaimed, "what are you doing here?" I asked, stretching out my hand for a handshake. "Oh, not something I'll want to talk about." He said, as we shook hands, his facial expression changing."You look sad all of a sudden, what's the matter?" I asked, as we slowly moved to a chair close by to sit. "There's no matter." He lied, pointing his nose. "Yeah, go on, you need to do exactly what you're doing now." I said, casting a goofy glance at him."Do what?" He asked, looking intently at me. "Point your nose. You know what happens to Pinocchio huh?" I joked, looking squarely at him. "Oh there you go! Goofy you!" He let out, laughing. "You look better, happy." I said, looking intently at him."Oh.... Yeah, who doesn't?" He said, nervously, adjusting his shirt which wasn't disarranged. "You look bothered, and you know you're not good at hiding things like these."
"You should ask someone else, I know nothing. You have no right whatsoever to hold me hostage, I'm as innocent as the word innocent. Let me go!" She let out.She looked modest, no one would imagine she could have such a wicked heart. She was also soft spoken,so it was very hard to tell she was a goofy lady, who enjoyed seeing others in pain.As we conversed, speaking about some painful scenarios, including the pain Nadia might have undergone, seeing what the autopsy was showing, she seemed to enjoy talking about the pain of others, and that was a very bad sign, a huge indicator that something was wrong somewhere."Of course we'll let you go, after you've answered all needed questions." The officer insisted. "I committed no crime." She said, "What happened to your friend? That's all we want to know." He asked. "She was suicidal." She let out, in an unreal manner."Suicidal? Is that all you knew about your friend?" He asked, we'll be taking you to the station now for further questioning
"My mind was beclouded by the fact that she was in pains, she was suffering from a terminal disease like I told you." I explained, looking queerly at him. "That's just a lead, we need to get to the root of the matter." He added, looking intently at me."I spoke with her bosses, those she worked for, and they said she was very fine the day before." I said, I could see through to the fact that he wasn't satisfied. "I know that Nadia was ill, but I don't know of any complaint from work. She enjoyed her work as much as I knew.Days had now passed and I hadn't seen Mark at the office. His father, now had two offices, his and theirs. I wanted to ask what the problem was but I didn't even know where to start from or how it'll come off to him, so I let it slide.I received a call from a strange number. I was glad and sure it might be Mark, "Hello, May dear, how are you doing?" The voice asked. "I-I am okay, who's on the phone please?""This is Nati, I know you don't know me but I really need t
"Can you kindly let me know why you are in my office?" He asked, I noticed his shirt looked like it was hurriedly arranged, and she looked like she was drawn down from a mountain, just when she was close to it's peak."I would love to speak with you and your brother." I let out, impressed at myself at how easily I was able to cook up something."Hmmm... That's huge, I hope no problems?" He asked, his eyebrows raised, as he adjusted his shirt better. "Not at all. Just family business. I'll want to be speaking with the both of you, alone." I said, with emphasis on the word 'alone', throwing disgusting glances at her."Alright. Honey would you please excuse us for the moment?" He said to her, I watched satisfyingly as she pushed herself out of the office. She didn't want to go, but she had no choice."The floor is yours now, so please go on. I'll send a staff to get my brother, right away." He said, "okay, even better. I'll be waiting." I added, taking a seat.In no time Mark was in the