ARLAN’S POV:
I’d been ushered into Saraya’s office by Peter, the moment I arrived.
I sat on the cushion, awaiting her arrival. Her call earlier was the first time I’ve heard her voice since her outburst during the meeting.
It was overwhelming, I couldn’t afford to keep her waiting and had pend everything scheduled for that morning to see her.
The moment I heard footsteps approaching, I got on my feet. The door opened. “Butter …” I had hardly completed my words when I saw another figure entered instead. “Matilda?” I was more than shocked to see her standing right in front of me instead of Saraya.
Rolling her eyes and dropping her bag right on the cushion opposite me. “Yes, it’s me.” She replied. “You should see your face, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“And what are you doing here?” I asked when the shock finally wore off my face.
Saraya showed up, “she is with me.” She replied, her voice cold.
“What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “And why would you two come ….”
“Because I’m tired of being caught up in your crossfire with one another.” Saraya snapped. “Can you two fix your problem without involving me?”
Matilda raised her hands in the air. “I’m not the culprit here and you’re not the victim either. You’re the reason Arlan is not ready to be committed to his own child.”
I tried to talk but Matilda hushed me with her hands without looking at my direction. “Arlan is obsessed with you so you can’t be exempted until he starts doing what is right and expected of him.”
“How is marrying you against my will the right thing to do?” I blurted out in annoyance.
Matilda leaned towards Arlan. “Just because you’re caught in a fit doesn’t mean you should blame me, I’m the one carry your own flesh and blood.”
“Are you that desperate to be in a loveless marriage?” I snapped at her, hoping she would come to her senses.
“I’m more desperate to give my child a complete family, if you ask me.” Matilda countered. “My feelings doesn’t matter.”
There was a soft knock on the door. “Come in.” Saraya said.
Peter walked in with a tray containing three glasses. “You should take that back, our guests would be leaving soon.” Saraya declared in a stern voice.
I could see the shock on Peter’s face and he took transfixed on a spot.
“Are you deaf or you just want me to repeat myself?” Saraya asked angrily.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Peter apologized and excused himself without looking back.
The tension in the room thickened as Peter left, Saraya’s glare pinned both Matilda and me in place, there was something cold about the way she stared at us.
“Let’s make this clear again,” she began, her voice low but harsh. “I don’t have the time or the energy to play referee in whatever twisted plot you two have. And I’ll appreciate if you stop stringing my family along because next such happens, I won’t be obliging you, I will be paying back the disrespect.”
“You visited her family?”
“How on earth did you think we ended up showing up almost the same time?” Matilda shot back at me.
I charged at Matilda but restrained myself from grabbing her neck. “How dare you?” I asked struggling to keep my hands to myself.
Matilda scoffed. “Are you going to lay your filthy hands on me?”
“Stop pushing me, Matilda.” I retorted. “I really don’t know what I might if you keep this up.”
“If you’re going two are going to get into a fight, then you should get out of my office,” Saraya screamed at us. “My work is done here, isn’t it?” She asked turning to Matilda who gave her no response.
“In that case, you two are dismissed, have a terrible week as mine ahead.” She gnarled at us
I clenched my fists, swallowing the urge to retaliate. “My butterfly, you should listen to me .” I pleaded, my voice low.
“Don’t call me that.” Saraya retorted.
Matilda bursted into a round of loud laughter. “Seriously?” She turned towards Saraya. “Is that what he calls you? Tsk, tsk, tsk.” She clicked her tongue before turning back to Arlan. “If she is truly your butterfly, should you let her fly away?”
“Will you shut up already?” I snapped at Matilda.
“Enough, both of you!” Saraya snapped. “You walked into my life like a whirlwind, Arlan, dragging all your baggage with you. I’ve had enough. From this moment onward I no longer have any ties or connection with you and I’ll appreciate you respect my decision.”
“And business?” I asked.
“I’ll find a way round it, Peter will communicate it to you.” She replied.
I opened my mouth to argue, but Matilda beat me to it. “She’s right, you know. It’s high time you stop using business as a leverage and open your eyes to what really matter, Arlan. Stop hiding behind Saraya.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” I shot back, my tone dripping with venom. “You’ve done nothing but manipulate every situation to suit your needs. You don’t care about anyone but yourself, Matilda.”
“Enough!” Saraya’s voice cut through our argument. She stepped closer, her eyes blazing. “This isn’t about who’s right or wrong. This is about me being dragged into a mess I never signed up for. Matilda, if you have a problem with Arlan, deal with him directly. And Arlan…”
Her gaze softened for a fleeting moment before hardening again. “I won’t be your crutch anymore. Figure out your priorities and fix your life. No matter what happens, this is where we end it all.”
Her words hit harder than I expected, and for a moment, I was speechless. Saraya turned on her heel, walking toward her desk, signaling the conversation was over.
Matilda smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Well, this has been very intriguing,” she said, grabbing her bag. “But I think my work here is done.”
Before she could leave, I grabbed her arm. “This isn’t over, Matilda. You’ve interfered in my life for the last time.”
“Oh, Arlan,” she said with a laugh. “It’s not interference when I’m cleaning up your mess.”
I released her arm, letting her walk out, but my mind was racing with many thoughts.
I turned to Saraya, who was now shuffling papers on her desk, refusing to look at me. “Saraya,” I began, my voice softer. “Please, don’t shut me out. I will do everything I can to fix this.”
She looked up, her eyes teary. “We both know this can’t be fixed, Arlan. You have a child on the way and unlike me, I don’t want your child growing with a single mom like myself. If you like Matilda enough to sleep with her, you should like her enough to marry her.”
With that, she turned her attention back to her work, dismissing me without another word. The finality in her tone left no room for argument.
“Get out!” She screamed at me, the tone of her voice breaking my heart into pieces.
I stepped out of her office, I met with Peter’s darting eyes and walked out.
While in the elevator, my phone buzzed, 8 took a beep and it was Felix. “Good timing, Felix.” I said as soon as I picked his call. “I’m on my way to you.”