OLIVIA
Spending another five years with Cyril was synonymous with dwelling with the devil in the pit of hell. Nearly a decade with Cyril, and I could barely mention any career-defining moment I had with him.
While growing up, I was made to understand that marriage was a bed of roses. I was told that it was a beautiful union and the best thing that had ever happened to mankind. But the moment I got married to Cyril, everything changed. I developed a different mentality. I came to understand that the grass isn’t greener on the other side after all.
“Do you think Cyril is aware of this new development? Or perhaps his grandmother orchestrated the plan for her selfish reasons?” Kate asked me.
“How am I supposed to know? Who cares anyway? They should go to hell for all I care.” I frowned.
“Make me understand. That wasn’t the reaction I expected from you. What are you going to do about this? Surely, you’re not going to fold your arms, are you?” Kate indulged me.
“I am considering getting a divorce from this illusion called marriage. I don’t have to continue like this.,” I proclaimed.
“Divorce?” Kate echoed.
“Are you really sure about this?”
Kate glanced straight into my eyes to confirm if I knew what I was talking about.
“What do you expect me to do, Kate?” I laid on the bed and wept like a child.
I tossed off the bed again to narrow my gaze at Kate. “Kate, don’t you get It? The marriage that was supposed to be a shelter for me when my uncle handed me over to the Penhurst family had suddenly become an unsafe place for me over the last few years. Now give me a reason I shouldn’t leave,”
“Do you really want my opinion on this? Promise you won’t get mad at me,” Kate slightly said. She could recall the last time I shut her out for prying into my affairs.
“Why will I be mad at you when
I need the advice more than anything in the world right now? What would you have done if you were in my shoes?” I consented to Kate’s approval to drop her two cents.
At that point, she was the only one who could advise me better than anyone in the world.
“I am not here to convince you to walk away from the marriage. I mean, you’re matured enough to decide what is best for you,” Kate took a deep breath and paused. She kept me in suspense, but I wasn’t bothered because I knew her words are always on point.
“Before you make a decision, I want you to consider the implications of leaving the marriage,” Kate advised me. She barely spoke, but the little that was uttered punctured into my head.
Kate wasn’t far from the truth when she spoke about the complications I might face for leaving the marriage.
Firstly, I would lose a huge percentage of my family’s stock, which may send me to abject poverty.
I wasn’t ready to start building from scratch. I put in so much effort in making Penhurst one of the biggest companies in the city.
Cyril barely contributed a thing because he was busy frolicking with the latest hot girls in the City.
“Kate, I’ve got an idea.
And I feel you’re the only one that can assist me on this one,” I called Kate’s attention. The advice from Kate birthed the idea.
“Ma’am, I am down for whatever. Regardless of your decision, I am going to support you. Never for once, have I doubted your prowess. Everyone knows that you’re the brain behind Penhurst company. Without you, the company would have gone into extinction,” Kate showered praises on me. She also encouraged me not to give up.
Her words restored hopes to my heart again. No one has ever spoken to me the way Kate did.
I embraced Kate as a tear dropped on my red chin. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for sticking with me.”
The warm embrace lasted for a couple of minutes before we finally pulled ourselves away from each other.
“I will need you to help me bring some research materials and documents about my marriage. I need to get myself prepared for the storm ahead.” I authorized Kate and she obeyed immediately.
A minute later, she came back to me. “Sorry, ma’am. I hope it’s not worth it, I think?”
“What are you thinking?” I pretend not to know what she was talking about.
Then I went further to admit my true intentions. I rested my hand on Kate’s shoulder and said to her, “Should I be honest with you? I’ve lost interest in this marriage. What I am doing right now is called playing safe. I can’t afford to lose everything I’ve worked for after divorce. Do you understand now?”
“Yes, ma’am.
I do understand.
But I must commend your level of intelligence and ability to explore unconventional solutions. To be honest with you, I never for once thought about that,” Kate confessed.
“That’s why I’m the Boss.
This is a delicate issue that needs to be treated with care,” I bragged.
Getting accolades and praises from Kate meant the whole world to me. It motivated me to do more knowing that there’s someone out there that believes in my vision.
“Now you can retire to your bed. Take tonight off. First thing tomorrow morning, I want a report on the task I just assigned to you,” I dismissed Kate. It was the least I could do to reward her for her dedication and hard work toward my struggles.
I shut the door afterward and dashed to the bathroom to have a cool bath. Immediately after I stepped out, I heard a notification sound from my phone.
I picked up my phone from the bed and saw a romantic text from Adrian. What perfect timing! It was precisely what I needed at that moment after a terrible day.
As I read the text aloud, I felt butterflies in my belly. I went to sleep smiling like a toddler in love, chanting, “Thank you, Adrian, for making my day!”