07

Vanessa’s POV

My mom once told me she was seventeen when she met my father who was just a year older than her then.

They had met at a friend's birthday party and the two had ended up being cat and rat, fighting and arguing over unnecessary things, even never agreeing on one thing until it was time for my father to move to another country entirely for his university education.

That was when the two of them realized they were made for each other. Love, as she had said can be found in the strangest of all places.

I've always hoped to find my prince charming in the most romantic way but with what my boss AKA worst nightmare just told me, I think I'm bound to never know love. Who cursed me with someone this horrible?

“I just said something important and I need your reply, are you even listening, Vanessa?” He flipped his hand in front of my face to get my attention.

“Yeah, I can hear you and honestly I don't know what to say to you but I can bet I’ll scratch your eyes out if you repeat that thing you just said. The funniest thing is when you knocked on my door and told me you wanted to protect me, I thought maybe you've changed overnight but with the new request of yours, I just realized that you're still the same as ever” I spilled out not thinking twice.

“Okay, say whatever you want to say to me, I don't care. All I need is your answer because that's the only way I can protect you from anything. If we don't do this Vanessa, it will be dangerous for us to handle” He warned, and I was forced to look at him if this was real. If this whole thing was real. I just want to explode and melt away from here, I just want to go far away from civilization or anything associated with Richard or anything Amaan..

Is that too much to ask?

“Maybe you should change the word, ‘us’ to me’ because you're still the same self-centered person I knew even before working for your selfish ass” I corrected

The first day I met Richard Amaan was a very eventful one, I had come to his office for an interview after I had seen the advert for a vacancy in the newspaper.

Having applied for the position, I put on the best of my dresses, and off I went to Amaan’s enterprises with a positive mind that I'll get the job.

On getting there, I saw over five people sitting down and waiting for their turn. I was late and it was due to the fact that I had a little accident with someone who is as arrogant as a peacock. He crashed into my car with his and I was forced to take it to the mechanic before coming for the interview. Even with the guy’s pretty face, he had the ugliest heart.

“Is Vanessa around now?” A woman in her late forties asked.

I raised my hand and followed her after she gestured for me to come along with her.

I was directed into the office and after turning my back to face the interviewer after closing the door, I discovered it was the same arrogant prick I had an issue with that morning.

“What are you doing here?” He asked after he had lifted his face from the document.

“I'm here for the job, what are you doing here?” I asked and for some few moments, he refused to reply.

“You know what? you're hired. I'm giving you this job because you have to pay for the damages you did to my car. Do you even have any idea how much I purchased that car? I bet it will feed your generations to come and even your ancestors. ” I couldn't help but wonder why I had to come across this bad luck.

“You hit my car from behind, you should be the one paying for the damages, not me” I argued.

“You stopped abruptly on the road without trying to see if a car was behind you”

“Why come too close to my car with yours, this fault is from both sides if I’m to be fair, I can't accept this,” I said trying to make him see reasons with me.

“If the fault is from both sides, then I guess the job I just offered you will make it fair to both sides. With that car that you're using, I bet you need this job as much as I think you do” He continued with what he was doing ignoring me.

“What's your gain from all this?, what do you get from all this” I was already tired

“You get to pay for the damages and you get to work under me despite the fact that you proved all great and awesome this morning. It's just revenge for insulting me”

He smiled wickedly and I was forced to drag myself out of his office without an interview but yet with a job. I couldn’t say no to the job offer because he was damn right, I needed it like I needed air.

My life in hell started since then because till now, according to him, I'm still paying for the damages. I hope I don't end up doing this till I'm fifty. Damages my Foot!

As I looked at that same man right in front of me, I realized he hasn't changed a bit, still the same bad, arrogant prick that he has always been.

“For the last time, what do you say about this?” He asked again drawing me out of my thoughts.

“What if I say no to your request?” I inquired and he smirked in response.

He stood up from the sofa he had been sitting on, adjusted his suit, and brought out a cheque from his chest pocket.

“What if I offer you three hundred thousand dollars for the job?”  It was my turn to laugh at him.

“You're so miserable and pathetic that I just can't imagine how I got to know someone like you. You're selfish, arrogant, and self-centered” his eyes went wide in surprise.

“Ooh, you think I'm dumb right?, And I'm stupid enough to clean up the mess you made. You started this game, Sir. I bet you should finish it yourself” I advised and walked towards my door ushering him out of my house.

“Please, use the door, sir. Ten more minutes here, I might end up killing you” I warned

When I looked at him, he was still standing in the center of my living room looking at me with surprise.

“Are you walking me out of your house?”

“No, I'm asking you to sit and enjoy yourself. You have one more minute to leave this place or else I'll call the police on you” I threatened and then he moved to walk out of the house.

“What's the big deal in being a surrogate? All you have to do is carry the pregnancy for just nine months and disappear afterward and I'm also offering you a whole lot of money for that.”

he said while outside the door making me wonder why I stayed back to listen to him. He was looking at me intensely and I swear, I could drown in those beautiful eyes.

“Afterwards, what will I get to gain or what will I even be gaining from this stupid plan of yours?” I was screaming my lungs out.

“Three hundred thousand dollars and my Protection, that's the only way I'll get to protect you” I smiled wickedly at his stupidity.

“Go protect your cat for all I care. I'll rather die than take that from you. Bye, Mr. Richard Amaan forever” I banged the door hard at his face.