Natasha

I walked home full of regret. All would have been well if I never accepted Michael into my life.

He came with an agenda and he was successful. He never cared about my feelings. He had the guts to dump me publicly.

"He told me to relay these words..." The receptionist cleared her throat. "LET'S BREAK UP."

Perhaps, it was possible for words to run into one's bloodstream. I could feel anger surging in me when I heard that.

I was no longer in denial but I refused to leave the place without setting my eyes on Michael. He had to show up and tell it to my face. And he did.

The moment I set my eyes on him, I could tell he had changed totally. No, he simply brought out his real self.

"You're pathetic!" He told me. "I'm done with you and I won't tolerate any more noisemaking here. Leave quietly or you'll be arrested for disruption!" Then he turned and began to leave.

"Was everything a lie?" I asked him. I hated myself for being so clingy but it wasn't easy on my part. It had been a year of investing my time and effort into loving him as hard as I could.

"It's over, that's all I have to say!" Michael retorted.

I ran towards him and blocked his path. He screamed at my face for the first time,

"What the hell are you doing!"

"Those documents you stole from me..." I began confidently. "You have to take responsibility for that. I'm out of a job now. How are you going to fix this?"

"Get away!" Michael warned, staring at me with beast-like eyes.

"Not until you take responsibility!" I replied firmly.

I had barely strengthened my resolve when he pushed me away. I fell, hitting my butt on the floor. However, I didn't give up. I held onto his right leg as I sobbed. It was hard to bear.

"Fix this!" I cried.

Michael kicked me off his body and turned towards the receptionist who had been watching us since.

"Call the security guards instantly! What are you looking at?"

In no time, the security guards came around and took me out forcefully. I was dumped outside the gates and that was when it struck me. Yes, I just got dumped.

It was upsetting that I was more saddened about the brutal breakup than losing my job. However, I knew how futile crying would be.

I went home and laid on my bed while gazing at the ceiling. Time passed by slowly.

"Hey! Are you good?" That was Marie's voice.

Marie is 26 years old, making her older than me by a year. We were good friends and we particularly made a great pair.

We were roommates from college and as our bond was so unbreakable, we remained roommates after.

She was a struggling freelancer who took remote gigs.

"Where were you? You weren't at home when I came," I said shortly after she talked to me.

"Bajie wanted me to come over. I wasn't expecting you to come now anyway. You don't look great either," Marie commented as she looked around my room.

Bajie. He was Marie's longtime boyfriend. He was a freeloader living off his elder brother. Whenever I asked why Marie had such an unambitious man as a boyfriend, she would reply by saying love meant more than ambitions. It appeared she was right.

I dated Michael and with so much ambition, he stabbed me in the back.

"You are not fine," Marie concluded. "I think only part of you is here with me. Tell me what happened. I'll listen."

I told Marie every single thing that had happened. She never made any shocking expressions while I talked. She simply listened and when I was done, she sighed.

She fucking sighed! I tell you, Marie never sighs. She believes sighing burns a lot of calories.

"What are we going to do?" Marie asked out of concern.

"I will be fine," I muttered.

"Not you," Marie corrected me.

"We need to renew our rent in a few days. What will happen now that you don't have a job. You know work hasn't been going great for me recently."

I felt like correcting Marie on her impression.

Work had never gone great for her since she was more focused on Bajie than actual work. Work had never been great, not recently, never.

"I don't know," I sighed as well.

"Let's..." "EAT!" Marie exclaimed. I laughed with her and she hopped to the kitchen. She was going to cook something for us.

** "Delicious!" I exclaimed. "The pasta tastes different. It's a new recipe, right?"

"Yes!" She answered excitedly. "I thought about it months ago and when I made it for Bajie, he seemed to love it."

"Stop talking about Bajie. Are you mocking me now that I've been dumped?" I said sadly.

I was struggling emotionally, I knew that much.

"Stop thinking about that piece of trash! The nigga came to you with bad intentions from the start. Hate him for it, don't miss him!" Marie said firmly.

Those words did nothing to lift my spirits so I just smiled weakly.

I stared at the wall clock. It was 9:46pm. As my eyes fell to the table, my phone lighted up and I heard the ringtone.

I picked up the phone and checked the caller ID. BOSS! It was Bruce Stamford.

"Who is it?" Marie was asking. I didn't answer.

I placed a finger on my lips to signal her to keep quiet. I answered the call and listened with my heart racing.

"Come pick me up! Royal bar. Got it?" Bruce ordered.

I didn't even reply before he cut the call. He sounded drunk.

"I don't think you should go," Marie told me carefully. "You've been fired today. There is no reason he would call you back unless..."

"Unless?" I turned towards her.

"It is highly unlikely he wants you back but what if that's the case?" Marie's eyes lit up. "Get dressed properly and run over!"

Natasha

Having been Bruce's secretary for two years, I knew how rare it was for him to get drunk. He drank like every other person but never enough to get drunk. He loved to be clear headed every time.

Whenever he got drunk, it meant something really bad had happened. Maybe it was because of Mac Group stealing our project? I doubt it, it wasn't enough for Bruce to get drunk.

Anyway, I arrived at the Royal bar and rushed towards Bruce's usual seat. He was there and he looked wasted. The barman was a new one.

He winked at me. "Your boyfriend?" The barman asked.

"No," I replied. "How much did he drink?"

"Not enough to get drunk. He is bad at holding his alcohol, it seems," The barman retorted. "I'm a great drinker. Are you free this weekend? Let's have a drink!"

"Boss?" I called Bruce, paying no attention to the barman.

I checked his pocket and found his car key. I tapped him gently, hoping to rouse him.

"Why are you ignoring me?" The barman asked.

I turned towards him and he seemed taken aback by my sudden gaze.

"Focus on your job, lad. I'm not interested in having a drink with you!" I told him plainly.

Bruce woke up so I didn't need to engage the barman further.

"You are here, cutie!" Bruce said as he smiled at me. He was totally drunk.

I heaved a sigh and helped him up. I wondered if he had forgiven me and would accept me back as his secretary or if he was only acting this way because he was drunk.

I helped Bruce into his car and drove him.

All through, he either stayed quiet or said incomprehensible things. The security guard at his house knew me so I was allowed entrance without question.

"We are here!" I told Bruce. He didn't answer but he opened the door and staggered outside.

I held him and helped him into his room. I tucked him in and while doing this, I wondered if he was my kid.

As I was about to leave, he held onto me. I turned around. "Don't go," He said in a voice that sounded more like a whisper.

"I have to go, boss. It's late," I muttered. However, he wasn't listening.

He dragged me to bed with him and held onto me. My first instinct was to push him away but it dawned on me that he wasn't a predator. He was more like a kid in dire need of love.

He wrapped his hands around me and held onto me as if I was his last hope. I recognized that move and I pat him gently, soothing him. I will leave after he falls asleep, I told myself.

** "What the fuck!"

Bruce's voice woke me up from my deep slumber. He had jumped off the bed and I did the same right after opening my eyes. I had fallen asleep while soothing Bruce.

"What happened? Why are you here?" Bruce asked. He looked in dire need of answers.

"Yesterday, you called me. I picked you from the bar and brought you home," I explained.

"I called you?" Bruce asked and began to laugh. "How would I call someone who betrayed me for another company? That's impossible!"

Fuck! I closed my eyes and reopened them.

Bruce found his phone and he seemed to be going through his call logs. His countenance changed when he found out he had truly called me.

"I was drunk! You should tell me why you spent the night here in the same bed with me? Is this your new plan with Baldwin? You want to ruin my image with a scandal now!" Bruce retorted angrily.

"No, you held onto me," I told him. "I wanted to leave but you refused to let go of me."

"Impossible!" Bruce exclaimed. "How come I have no memories of that? Just tell the truth. Your new plan is to blackmail me, huh! Did you take pictures? You didn't rape me, did you?"

"Stop being dramatic and listen up!" I shouted in frustration. I got his attention, alright.

"Everything happened coincidentally. My boyfriend, Michael, stole the documents without my knowledge. I have no ties with Baldwin or Mac Group. That is the only truth!"

"Why should I believe you? Do I look like a fool that can be played?" Bruce asked, showing no emotion.

"I worked for you for two years, boss. Did you have no trust in me?" I asked him plainly.

"I did..." He replied. "Not until the first place you entered after I fired you was the head office of Mac Group. You tell me you have no connections to Mac Group? Stop being shameless and get out already!"

I took a deep breath. "I didn't go there for the reason you think! I went there for..." I was saying when he interrupted.

"I have no interest in your lies," Bruce said while acting nonchalant.

"However, there will be an issue if you overstep your bounds. A scandal about me and you won't be appreciated. We never had sex, I can tell that. Don't push your luck!" He moved towards the door and opened it.

I knew better than to stay behind. I left on foot, more discouraged than I was yesterday.

** "It didn't go well," I told Marie simply. She sighed on hearing this news. I put on a fake smile, assuring her that everything would be fine.

"I will get us a new house with my savings. It will be smaller than this place though."

"Yeah," Marie muttered. She looked nervous. I didn't think much of this and proceeded to look for houses.

I found one that fitted my budget. I was going to show Marie but she wasn't at home. I concluded that she had gone to Bajie, her boyfriend.

I was going to transfer the money in my savings account to my regular bank account when I found out.. Savings balance: $0.00

What the fuck!

Natasha

I refreshed the page to confirm. It had to be network issues. There was no way my savings would be gone. However, it returned the same way. $0 and nothing more.

At this point, I felt asphyxiated again. I grabbed a paper bag and breathed with it. I found my way outside and I could feel the breeze against my face.

There was only one person who could have withdrawn the savings apart from me. That was Marie.

I could remember she looked nervous when I talked about using the savings to get a new place earlier.

I ran back inside and grabbed my phone. I dialed Marie's contact immediately. She picked up at the second ring.

"Did you transfer the money in my savings to your bank account already? You should have told me," I tried masking my fears.

"I'm sorry, Natasha..." I heard those dreaded words. I had to sit down now else I could faint.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked calmly.

"I... I am sorry..." Marie went again.

"Tell me the reason!" I shouted at her. I lost my temper for a second and then I regained composure. "I need to know, please."

"Bajie saw an investment scheme a few months ago and needed some money. I used your savings and planned to return it when it yields the desired profit. I didn't tell you because you'll just say it's a scam and refuse to lend Bajie the money," Marie said slowly. She was choosing her words delicately.

"When will I get my money back?" I asked calmly.

"The thing is..." Marie muttered. "It was a scam!"

I dropped my phone. I managed to stand up and get to the verandah. There, I laid down on the bare floor and wept. I was penniless now. Marie had foolishly ended whatever hope I had before.

Then I stopped crying and switched to laughing hysterically. I must be going crazy, I thought.

I could hear my phone ringing inside. I knew it was Marie. I decided to go back inside and pick up the phone. This time, I talked first.

"You've ruined me, Marie!" I told her without mincing words.

"I trusted you but this is how you stab me in the back. I knew you were struggling in your career and that's why I never pressured you to do anything. I pay the household bills, the rent, and almost everything else. You were my best friend yet you betrayed me for that useless boyfriend of yours!"

"I'm sorry," Marie said. That didn't move me at all.

"It's all my fault. Bajie did nothing wrong. I should have..."

"Shut it!" I shouted over the phone. "Get over here right now and let's find a solution! I'm sure you don't want either of us to sleep in the streets."

"I haven't told you everything..." Marie said nervously. "I also borrowed money from a loan shark. It was about fifteen thousand dollars."

I started to laugh. "That's a joke, right? Comic relief!" I wanted to know.

"I was supposed to pay back last month but I couldn't. The loan shark has our house address. I think he is coming there today," Marie said carefully.

"Really?" I clenched my fists.

"I'm staying at a hotel with Bajie for now. You should get out of the house as well. If the loan shark meets you there, I have no idea what he will do. The man has a lot of gangsters on his beck and call," Marie concluded.

"Bitch!" I shouted angrily. Marie cut the call immediately and I couldn't vent my anger properly.

Marie never said it but I was sure she borrowed that money with my name. It dawned on me that I had been living with my enemy since.

There was no time to wait. I packed a small bag and left the house immediately. I had no idea where I was going and I had only a little money with me as well.

Green light. Time to use the pedestrian crossing.

I was walking slowly, lost in thought. I didn't know what happened until I heard a car's tires screech so loudly beside me. It almost hit me.

"Do you want to get yourself killed?" I heard the driver shouting.

My eyes went blurry and as I tried to take a single step, I collapsed.

**My eyes opened slowly. Regaining consciousness was like waking up from a dream.

The first person I saw was Marie. Infact, she was the only one in the room.

"Bitch!" I retorted. How could those be my first words, huh? It could only mean she had been etched so badly into my memory.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Get out! All you did to me were things only an evil person would do. You want me dead, don't you?" I asked out of anger.

The door opened and I watched as Bruce entered.

"I see you are awake!" Bruce said and came right beside me.

"What are you doing here? Are you here to mock me?" I asked. I was surrounded by two vile humans.

"I heard the whole story from your friend," Bruce told me.

"Your hospital bills have been paid and I have paid off that loan shark as well. I'll renew your rent as well. I trust that will be enough for now."

"Why would you do that for me?" I wanted to know.

"Think of it as hitting the jackpot!" Bruce replied. "Or better still, think of me has your prince in shining armor."

"I don't believe in things like that!" I told him firmly.

"Then you can start now..." Bruce replied. He turned to leave.

"Stop!" I shouted.

"I'm a patient. Don't stress me, boss. Tell me what you want in exchange. You're a businessman. How do you expect me to believe you've given me all that for free?"

Bruce smiled and turned towards Marie.

"Bring the doctor, Marie. Let them know Natasha is awake," Bruce said.

Marie went out of the room, leaving both of us alone.

"Tell me," I said calmly.

"A contract marriage. Three months only."