OLIVIA
“I need a favor from you. I don’t know how you’re going to feel about it,” I admitted. For the first time ever, I forgot what it feels like to express myself without fear.
“Are you being serious right now?
If you got something to say, spill it now and stop beating around the bush like a headless chicken. I don’t have the whole day,” Rene barked at me and scared the living daylight out of me.
Out of fear, I edged backwards a bit to avoid more of her scary moves at me
“I require help convincing Cyril to let me move into the house to enable me run the company. Since he acknowledges you as his only legally married wife, it would be partially difficult having me around,” I hurriedly spoke without a pause to avoid mincing words.
“So, this is the reason you called me out here? Gosh! I can’t believe I’m actually having this conversation with you,” Rene hissed. On the verge of walking out on me, I held her back and pleaded like my entire life depends on it.
“You know this is bullying, don’t you? You’re really going to pull my arm away just to have a conversation with me?” She gazed disdainfully, indicating that I should let go of her.
Ignoring his warning signs, I leaned forward to make another vow that may seem difficult to fulfill. “I am ready to double your fee,”
“Are you sure about this? I don’t want you pulling my legs. We may probably get a lawyer to stand as a witness,” her voice changed and became slightly different from the first.
The mention of money forcefully unleashed her good sides.
“Yes, I meant it.
I’m no fool.
The moment I move into the house, you get your first paycheck,” I assured Rene. It hurts deeply making such a promise to Rene knowing that I may likely not fulfill it.
It’s almost like I had a gun pointed to my head when I made such an outrageous pledge. Seeing how difficult Rene was becoming, it was the only way to get her on my side.
“I love the sound of it.
I will text you tomorrow.
The doctor said he would be discharged tomorrow,” Rene disclosed.
“He’s going to be discharged tomorrow? How come I don’t get the exciting news?” I exclaimed in shock. I wasn’t expecting Escobar to snitch on me too. I was in his office a while ago, and he never talked about Cyril’s discharge date.
“You got a problem with that? Go fix it with the Doctor, and not me.” Rene smirked and walked away.
Few minutes after her departure, it dawned on me that I don’t even have her mobile number. To worsen it all, I was with her the whole time and I forgot to ask for number.
“Don’t dare return to my office for the same situation because I would never pay attention to you. This is going to be the last time I’ll be helping you,” The warning from Escobar re-echoed inside my head and nearly destroyed my ear drum.
Going back to Rene wasn’t the best option either knowing that Cyril doesn’t want to set his eyes on me ever again.
At that point, it dawned on me that It was me against the world.
Wearing the garment of Shame, I stepped outside and returned my car to drive home.
“So how did it go?
What took you so long to show up? We were worried about you,”Adrian welcomed me. He was the first to speak.
“Adrian?” I was stunned to see him seated at the back seat of the car. He was drowning in his pool of sweat.
“What are you still doing here? I thought you were gone already? I had no idea you would still be here.” I freaked out. I continued to ask questions. Some of which I wasn’t even aware of how they came about it. I would have doubted if anyone had told me that Adrian would still be waiting for me at such an off hour.
“Too many questions.
You may need to slow down a bit. I don’t even know where to start from,” Adrian giggled. He acted as though it weren’t a big deal.
Furious, I narrowed my gaze at Kate since Adrian considered it a joke. “Would you mind explaining to me what’s happening? Why didn’t you ask him to leave? Did you realize that he’s a busy man?”
I pinned it on Kate without waiting to hear from her.
“I did all I could to make him leave but refused. I had no choice but to let him be. He’s an adult. He knows what’s best for him,” Kate explained.
Her explanation made me weak. I rested my hand below my jawline and sighed, “What kind of man are you? I haven’t seen anything like this before,”
“Enough about me.
How did it go with Rene?” Adrian digressed from the actual discourse effortlessly. He took the situation more personally than me who’s directly involved.
“She accepted my offer,” I disclosed as I stepped inside the car
“Rene accepted what? I still don’t get it. I don’t want to believe that she would be so quick to accept your proposal. If that was precisely what happened, then why did it take you forever to show up?” Adrian tossed the intellectual question at me. If I hadn’t known him, I would have mistaken him for a cop.
“I offered to double her payment.” I finally confessed. I shut my eyes immediately knowing that Adrian is definitely going to be mad at me.
“Are you crazy?
What the heck do you think you’re doing? Why do you go about spending recklessly?” Just like I expected, Adrian berated me as though I were his child.
“I had no choice
I was desperate to save my husband. What would you have me do? Fold my arms and watch my home getting destroyed? Of course, I had to do something and that was the only thought that crossed my mind. Are you happy now?” I talked tirelessly while expressing my feelings. I had no idea when tears started gushing down my eyes like an overflowing river.
“I’m deeply sorry for judging you wrongly. I had no idea what you were going through,” Adrian apologized like a perfect gentleman.
“It’s fine.
You don’t have to.
I will be spending the night at your place tonight until tomorrow when Cyril gets discharged.” I requested.
“My place!?” Adrian muttered succinctly.
“You heard me right.
I would completely understand if you don’t want me around. I would just settle for Kate’s instead,”