Stephanie was pissed that Tom was playing hard to get with her. She had decided to abandon her pride and just let him know how she feels but it was clear as day that he doesn’t have a space for her in his heart.
She had made her background check and found out that he doesn’t have any crush or girlfriend so she was confident that she would certainly be able to win his heart. She didn’t entirely blame him though because she was the one that flunked her chance, he had made his crush obvious to her and even confessed but she turned him down because she felt he was not up to his standard.
“I feel like a fool” she muttered to herself and blinked severally to stop the tears that was about coming out.
She wanted to start the car when she held a knock on her window, she lowered it and saw Tom there heaving as he rested his hand on the car.
“Where do you think you are going at this time?” he asked and she raised her confused eyebrow
“What do you mean? I am going home of course” she slammed
“Get down, I will take you home. You shouldn’t drive alone at this time, it’s too late” he said and opened the door.
She got down from the car but she was still confused about why he was stopping her. She felt his hand around her wrist as he took her to the other side of the car, opened the car and motioned for her to get in.
He ignited the car and drove into the street to take her home. He knew he had stayed purposely to meet him till that hour and her place is quite far. He was worried about sending her home alone so he decided to drive her home and also use the opportunity to talk with her.
They were both silent for several minutes before he finally spoke up.
“Stephanie, I will really appreciate it if you don’t stay this long at our house anymore, just because you are waiting for me. I know what you have been trying to tell me but we cannot work out” he started gently
“What do you mean we can’t work? Why can’t we work out? You love me! I know you do, you even told me then but I thought you were joking, I thought it was because we were always around each other. I didn’t realize it until now and now that I know, I want this to start again between us. It’s not like you have a crush or girlfriend so why are you hesitating? I love you and you love me so that should work out” she argued strongly
“It’s not just about our love anymore, Stephanie. We really have grown apart so much, I might have loved you then, no, I did loved you, I loved you so much but you didn’t hold my hand. My peeled heart already healed and I have moved on. I am in a middle of an ocean fighting against a huge storm that I can’t afford to look back. Just like how the snake shed off the old skin and never look back, there are many things I had to shed off and I am still shedding, in which your love is part of” he responded
“I am sorry Stephanie but it is time you look forward and admit that I am not your choice. You are young, beautiful and excellent so there are many suitable men on the table for you, don’t bother to waste your time around me” he added and pulled into their compound.
“You are really cold and brutal, do you know that?” she said with tears streaming down her face
“I am sorry but I cannot deceive you, it’s just something I should tell you. Time will pass and it will fade away. When you are all healed, you can come to me then as a friend” he stated and she cleaned her tears before stepping out.
Just as she stepped out, Charles’ car also came in and he came out of the car to see tears in her eyes. He was taken aback and wondered why his little sister was crying at that time of the car.
“Stephanie, why are you crying? Did something happen?” he asked rushing over to his side and Tom got down from the car.
He turned to see Tom and fumed hard like a lathered soap, he rushed to his side and without even asking any question, he punched him. Stephanie was bewildered and rushed over to separate them but Charles kept punching Tom who didn’t do anything to block or fight back.
“What did you do to my sister? Why is she crying? How dare you make her cry?” Charles roared and punched his face
“What are you doing? Why are you beating him up?” she screamed but Charles was not listening to her until she hit her handbag on the back of his head in anger
“How dare you hit me? I have to deal with him for making you cry” Charles scolded her and she scoffed
“Did I tell you to hit him? Did I complain to you that he made me cry? Why are you always jumping into conclusion like a hormonal teenager? Were you itching to fight him so bad? He only brought me home because it was late so who are you to beat him up?” she screamed at him in anger
“Then why are you now crying? Why would you cry if he didn’t hurt you?” Charles countered
“That was because we were talking about memories, memories of both of us!” she yelled and he was taken aback
“You were talking about memories? What kind of memories were you talking about that made you cry this much? Is there something going on that I don’t know of?” Charles questioned
“That is none of your business so apologize and get lost from my presence” she grunted and ran to help Tom up
“Are you fine? It seems like you have a wound” she said as she tried to touch his mouth but he held her hand
“I am okay, I should get going” he said and turned to leave
“I just want you to know that you and my sister can never work out so don’t dare dream to ask her out not to talk of dating her, you should know your place if you don’t want any trouble” Charles stated but Tom just walked out of the compound without looking back or replying.
“Are you a fool? Why are you whining like a hungry child? Did I send you to gate-keep me? Why are you interfering in my life in the first place? No matter what goes on between us, it is none of your business” she lashed out at him and stomped inside but was stopped by him
“Don’t tell me you really love him? You don’t have feelings for him do you?” Charles asked raising his brows up
“Get your hands off me, you lunatic” she cursed at him and swung his hand off before walking to her room angrily
“Why would she love someone like him? Is men of lower standard her kink? Why will she stoop so low?” he muttered to himself as he walked to his room.
****
Amber woke up the following morning and dressed up for work in a wine skirt and white shirt with a long rope at the neck which she fixed into a bow tie. She checked her bag to see if she didn’t forget anything to avoid issues like the last time and finally stepped into the sitting room so she could leave for work.
She was about opening the door when Emily also opened it from outside and they almost jammed into each other. Emily was taken aback as she saw Amber at the door and didn’t know if she should run back, talk, pretend or the floor should just swallow her at that instant.
Amber stood there staring at her for some seconds before Emily finally proceeded to talk.
“I.. ” started Emily but was cut off by Amber
“I don’t want to listen to anything you have to say right now and I am late for work so will you please leave the door so I can go out?” Amber cut in and Emily sealed her lips tight before shifting to the side for her to pass.
Amber walked out without looking back and was lucky to run into a cab which she flagged down as soon as she got out of the building. She kept thinking about that night as she was going to the office, it was fresh in her memory.
She haven’t had time to think about both Eddy and Emily because she was busy adjusting to work so it hit her hard again at the sight of her roommate that morning, she still haven’t been told her crime, what she did to deserve that horrible backstab from them.
***
She was fixing the order log that the former secretary messed up when Tom walked into the office. She stood up to greet him and he responded by telling her to follow him into the office.
“I am sure you know the real reason why you are here now, we will be starting my own part of the contract today so you will be clocking out early, we are going to the house we went to the last time” he informed her
“I will finish things up quickly on my own end and be available for you as soon as possible sir but before then, you need to see this” she said and dropped a tablet in front of him.
He took it up to see some photos on the screen and his expression changed as he scrolled through
“What is this?” he asked with a confused expression.