Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven 

Crystal was getting ready for bed when she heard a knock on her door, she glanced at her time, it's past nine already.

Who could that be? She wondered, did Mr arrogant forget something? 

She walked to the door and opened it.

 

" Mark, what the hell are you doing here? She queried

" May I come in? I need to speak with you" he said.

"Can't it wait? It's late already" she replied still standing at the door.

" No it can't" he said almost desperately and she opened her door a notch wider to let him in.

" You have five minutes to say whatever you have to say and leave"she said when he's inside.

" I need water please" he requested

Crystal rolled her eyes in exasperation but went into the kitchen to get him a glass of water, she came back and found him going through her company files which she has carelessly left on the sofa. 

"Hey, drop that!"

He kept it and started staring at her without uttering a word and she huffed. 

" Now what? She said to him.

" Why? He said

" Why? She answered uncertain of what he meant by that.

" Why him? Why do you choose to work with him instead of us?

" I don't owe you an explanation" she replied.

He stood up and walk closer to her, " what about me? He asked

" What about you?"  She re-echoed

" You know how I feel about you, I saw the way you looked at him, you have feelings for him,don't you?" he said moving closer to her.

Crystal moved back and rose up her hands to ward of his advance.

" I have feelings for neither him nor you, I owe you no explanation even if I feel something for him! " she responded

" Why not me? " Came the reply 

" I've loved you since the first time I set my eyes on you"

" I don't know, all I know is that I don't love you" she replied in a casual tone. 

He grabbed her shoulders tightly, " you have to reciprocate my love"  desperation latching in his voice. 

" You have to love me, please say you love me, please, please" he pleaded

Crystal tried to push him away but his grip on her was so firm and strong

" You're hurting me, let me go" she hissed, trying to get away from him

His eyes has taken another light, Crystal knew she had to do something, he's far way taller than her, all six feet tall to her five feet and few inches.

" I love you" he kept on repeating and lean in close to her as if to kiss her. 

Crystal's knee met his crotch and he doubled over as her right Palm connects with his cheek.

" Get out of my house this instant or I'll call the cops" she spoke angrily.

His eyes narrowed, his face was writhe in pains. " You'll pay for this, both you and your lover will pay for today" he said as he angrily walks towards the door and went out.

Crystal slammed the door at him, she took a glass of water to calm her nerves, she was still shaky about what just transpired,she didn't believe Mark would go this far, she has always known about his feelings for her, it was never hidden but she has never encouraged him either, he just have to grow up.

She locked her door and went inside to sleep, it has really been a long night.

Rafael drove straight to Lucy's house after dropping off Crystal at her apartment, he has been putting off this visit, he felt like he is heading straight to a prison, he could already feel the shackles on his feet but it's necessary that he do this, he thought to himself. 

He rang the doorbell and got no response at the first and second ring

Where could she be at this hour, he thought to himself.

" I can't blame her, I didn't even inform her that I will be coming" he was about leaving when the door opened and Lucy stood at the door, glad only in her night dress and sweaty.

" Hey, she said, I wasn't expecting you"

"I'm sorry I took you by surprise, can we talk inside? He asked her

Lucy made no move to leave the door post," er...em..I..." She stammered and he frowned

" What is it? He demanded

" Babe, who's that? A male voice said from inside

" I see you have a visitor" Rafael said looking over her shoulders

" He is....he...he..." She stammered

Rafael nodded and turn to leave.

" good luck with him" he said over his as he entered his car and drove off, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, that further proves his point that women can never be trusted, of all the ladies he do go out with, he thought Lucy is the most decent, that's why he considered her for marriage for at least a year. 

Who then was he going to strike this deal with? He couldn't have someone who would create scandal for him after the contract has been signed.

He could picture the headlines," wife of Billionaire, Rafael Manuel junior caught in bed with another man". Rafael shook his head at the thought 

No , he couldn't have that

He's wary of this whole thing, then his mind wandered to Crystal, she must be sleeping my now, he wondered if she has a man in her life.

Of cause she would, he replied his thought, she was no doubt a very beautiful lady, one that is gradually getting to him.

Why had he drove back ?he had been so worried that something bad might happen to her , and he would never have forgiven himself .

I can't let her get to me,women are never to be trusted, I am not as weak as my dad he thought bitterly as he recalled all that the father had gone through for the sake of love, he allowed love to reduce him to nothing, a mere woman was able to bankrupt him before, if not for the hard work sacrifices that Rafael poured into the business to bring it back to life, there wouldn't be RAE in existence.

Rafael drove into his drive way, it's past 12 already by his time, he'd have an early start tomorrow, he simply took his shower and went to bed.

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

Crystal walked into the building of her work place, everyone was staring at her and she wondered why, she smiled at the front desk secretary but for the first time he didn't return her smile, he rather looked at her coldly and averted his gaze.

" what's going on?"  She quickly ran to her office but was just opening her door when her boss rang for her to be in his office ASAP.

" What's this blueprint doing out there? Rafael asked her in anger as soon as she stepped into his office.

Crystal walked towards his laptop to see what he is showing her. 

" This is the blueprint of the Tripolis, you are the only one with the blueprint,if you hadn't sent it so what is it doing out there?"

 "I don't u..understand" she stuttered ,looking at him. 

" Oh? look very well, do you think I wouldn't find out? "He barked , anger evident in his features .

Crystal took a closer look at his system, trying to make sense of what is happening, the blueprint is on the Millers site.

How could it be with the miller? Her mind flashed back to Mark going through those papers, that has to be it .

" oh shit" she whispered and Rafael angrily got to her in two strides 

" Mark" she said.

" Mark? He asked her" oh yeah, your boyfriend from the other day,so you showed him" he stated

" He is not my boyfriend and I did not show...." Rafael put up his hands and stopped her mid sentence.

" To say that he works for the Millers, you can no longer be trusted to work for this company" Rafael said, " hence , your appointment is terminated"

" You can't do this, I am sorry" Crystal said, even if she wants to be fired, not like this, not with this still hanging, it's her mistake she has to rectify it. 

" Please, give me a chance to correct this," Her voice pleading. 

" You've done enough damage to the company, get out! " Rafael said coldly 

Crystal was stunned by the outrage in his voice, she understood quite alright, he might lose the deal and it would be all because of her, she felt so guilty, how could Mark do this to her? She thought, just because she rejected his love proposal.

" I said out! " Rafael screamed at her and she took to her heels with tears in her eyes. She bumped into Vince on her way out but she didn't stop, she ran till she reached her office, carried her bag and left the building, she took  notice of the smirk on secretary two' s face , but she didn't care about all that now neither did she care about the pitiful look she got from the front desk officer.

She just had to get home, she wiped the tears from her eyes as she entered her car, start the ignition and drove off.

" What was that? Vince asked when he entered his friend's office, " this must be serious" he said after taking a look at his friend's face.

Rafael huffed angrily " she gave Tripolis blueprint to her boyfriend whom I think works with the miler"

" it's indeed serious,what's your plan now? Vince asked

" so, I fired her" replied Rafael

" why don't you turn the tables on her? Vince said

" how?"asked Rafael

" And I thought you were smart" Vince sighed

" Are you gonna tell me or not? Rafael bit out

" alright, I will tell you but first and foremost I am thirsty and I....."

" Vince!" Rafael growled in frustration and vince laughed raising up his hands as if wave of an attack.

"Marry her" he said looking at Rafael straight in the eyes.