EPISODE 7.
π (UNPREDICTED LOVE) π
(C) Judytex_Stories
When Annabelle had finished crying, she washed her face and put on her make-up again. Afterward, she left the restroom with a bright smile to hide the pain in her heart.
She was about to return to her post when she heard Deji call her name.
“Annabelle. See me in my office in a moment,β he said authoritatively, then walked into his office.
Annabelle took a deep breath to calm her nerves before finally going to his office door to knock.
“Come in,” Deji said with his back facing her.
Annabelle reluctantly entered and closed the door. Then in a calm tone, she said.
“You called me sir”
Hearing this, Deji simply scoffed and turned to face her. Then he started taking a few steps closer to her while Annabelle kept taking a few steps back. This went on until Annabelle’s back finally touched the wall.
Deji was now standing directly in front of her. He was so close that she could hear and feel his breath.
“What is he trying to do?” she wondered while staring curiously deep into his eyes.
She was yet to understand what his intentions were when Deji put his right hand on the wall and leaned forward trying to reach for her lips.
Then Annabelle angrily slapped his left chin.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” she asked feeling annoyed.
Deji, who hadn’t expected to get a slap, smirked in disbelief while his left hand rubbed his left cheek, which was aching from the unexpected slap he had just received.
“Wow! Your power must have doubled in the past few years,” he said, still rubbing his cheek with a smile.
“Why did you call me here?” Annabelle asked, with her eyes blazing with anger.
Hearing this, Deji straightened his tie and said.
“Well, I’m sure you already know about my upcoming marriage to Roseline. The only daughter of the Chief Executive Officer of this company,” he said, feeling so excited.
“Congratulations, I’m happy for you. But I don’t sell wedding dresses and I don’t remember being a wedding planner. So what does that have to do with me?” Annabelle asked, crossing her arms.
“Of course dear. This has everything to do with you,β Deji said with a mischievous grin.
“In what way exactly?” Annabelle asked with curiosity on her face.
“It has to do with you because you’re like a ticking bomb that will probably explode one day. And ruin my plans,” Deji said.
“How? I don’t understand,” said Annabelle.
“Annabelle, what is happening to me right now has been my earnest prayer for five years,” he said.
“Wow. You mean marrying Roseline?” she asked.
“Yeah, and not just marrying her but getting hold of the company. This is why I don’t like it when you’re around me at times like this. Because you could jinx the whole plan for me,” he said.
“Wow,” Annabelle exclaimed in disbelief. “So how am I going to jinx your plans for you?” she asked.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know why I’m saying this. Just yesterday Raymond and Roseline found out that you’re a single mom. And what you did this morning, when you heard that I and Roseline were getting married, could easily raise suspicion among those around you. I don’t know why you decided to come here of all places and make my life miserable and uncomfortable. I don’t like that you’re way too emotional. And I’m worried that someday, watching me and Roseline, you might get too emotional that you won’t know when you will tell the whole truth. That’s why I have called you here to advise you to leave this company before I’m forced to make you leave. Because I can’t risk losing everything I’ve worked hard for over the past five years because of you. And right now, I can do anything to remove anything or anyone that poses a threat to my plans. And that includes you,β Deji said, glaring at her.
When he was done speaking, Annabelle, who couldn’t believe her ears, scoffed in disbelief and said:
“Wow. Deji, is this really you? Honestly, just hearing you speak sent chills down my spine. It felt like someone else was speaking through you. I mean, this is not the Deji, I knew at school back then. Because the Deji I knew was too sweet, caring, humble, and considerate. He wasn’t this desperate, money hungry, greedy, selfish, and ruthless. What exactly happened to you?” she asked staring deep into his eyes.
Her words tried to make Deji’s heart tremble. But he quickly waved it off, trying so hard not to let her word get through to him.
“Then you don’t know me, Annabelle. I’ve always had this side to my personality. But you were too blinded by love to see through me. I was and I still am that poor kid who is willing to sacrifice his conscience or anything at all to change his financial status,” Deji said hitting his chest.
“No, Deji. You’re not that kind of a person,” Annabelle said, shaking her head in disagreement.
“You don’t know me, Annabelle. You don’t know the pain, shame, anguish, humiliation, and discrimination that comes with being born poor. I’m that boy who grew up in the slums, Annabelle. I’m that boy whose parents kept getting thrown out of their house because they couldn’t afford the house rent. I’m that boy whose mother died just because his father couldn’t pay her hospital bills. I’m that boy who begged on the street when he was barely eight years old. I’m that boy who never had the privilege of wearing a good uniform or attending full school classes. And that was because my parents couldn’t afford to buy me new uniforms and pay my tuition at the same time. I am that boy whose father had to shamelessly kneel in front of his school principal to beg for permission to take his exams with his classmates. I’m that kid who was always made fun of at school. I’m that boy whose parents couldn’t afford a three-square meal. I am that boy who detests poverty so much and wants nothing to do with it. So don’t expect me to have a conscience, Annabelle. Because I lost it a long time ago,β Deji yelled in her face.
“Deji, I understand everything, but…” Annabelle tried to speak, but Deji quickly cut her off.
“You don’t understand anything, Annabelle. And you won’t because you were so lucky to be born with a silver spoon,” Deji said.
“Okay. But can I ask you a question?” Annabelle asked in a calm tone.
“Go on,” Deji replied.
“Did you ever love me?” she asked.
“Is that really important to you right now?” Deji asked.
“Yes, it is Deji. Because when I learn that you’re only faking your love for Roseline to get hold of her father’s fortune, it makes me wonder if everything we shared was real. Was our relationship just because you knew I came from a wealthy family? Were you with me then just because you wanted to benefit from me and nothing else?” she asked, full of curiosity in her heart.
When Deji heard that, he took a few steps to his desk. Then, with his back facing Annabelle, he clenched his fist and replied:
“Yes, Annabelle. Everything we shared was nothing but a mirage. It was just my means of surviving through school. I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise” he said with pain in his heart.
As those words left his mouth, Annabelle fell back against the wall in shock and disbelief.
“So it was all just a game for you? So I was used as a means of survival? Wow. And here I thought what we shared was beautiful and extraordinary. And like a fool, I went the extra mile to sacrifice everything for the progress of the relationship and your happiness,” she said, clutching her chest with an ache in her heart.
βAll of this was possible because you were soft-hearted and trust people easily. So it wasn’t hard to fool you until the end,β Deji said while still turning his back to her.
“So what about our son? Are you trying to tell me that he is a product of my stupidity and your deceit?” she asked tearfully.
That particular question took Deji a while to answer.
“Answer me Deji,” Annabelle yelled.
Then, with difficulty in his voice, Deji tearfully closed his eyes and replied:
“Yes, Annabelle. So you should give up this job and go, otherwise, I will make your staying here unbearable,” he said.
“You are such a horrible creature. You are not fit to be human. You think poverty made you the monster you are now. But the truth is, your greed did it. Because I believe that we all have the opportunity to make the right choices in our lives. But in the end, you still chose greed over your conscience and humanity. I detest forever having loved and met a person like you. And just so you know, I will never quit my job to satisfy your greed. I earned this job and I will keep it to the end,” she said with anger in her heart.
Then she immediately went to the door and jerked it open.
“One more thing,” she said, turning around.
“You are wrong about the things you said about my son. He wasn’t born out of stupidity and deceit. He was born out of the unwavering love I have for him. And that alone is enough to keep him going. And I’ll make sure he doesn’t become like you,” she said, before walking away and slamming the door behind her.
And once she was gone, Deji, regretting the things he had said, leaned back in his seat with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Annabelle returned to her post and acted as if nothing happened.
A few minutes before lunch break, Deji had one of the employees bring a huge stack of files and threw them on Annabelle’s desk.
“What are they for?” Annabelle, surprised and confused, lifted her head and asked.
βThese files contain various successful marketing strategies that have brought many sales to this company in the past. Ranging from those used in the early days of this company to the present day,” Deji said with his hands in his pocket.
“Okay…? so what should I do with them?” Annabelle asked looking confused.
“You are expected to go through each of them and come up with a new marketing strategy that would boost sales of our new product,” he said.
“You mean all of these?” she asked, shocked.
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked.
“Don’t you think this is way too bulky for a single person to handle?” she asked.
“Were you unaware of the responsibilities that come with being in the marketing department before you applied for this job?” Deji asked, crossing his arms.
“Of course I was. But…” She was still speaking when Deji stopped her.
“…then I think you don’t have a problem with that. And one more thing, I want to see the result of your research on my desk first thing in the morning,” he said.
“Are you serious? How am I going to get through all this before tomorrow morning?” she asked in disbelief.
“Then I guess you’re not suited for this job. So how about you quit?” he asked, leaning forward.
“Not at all, sir. I’ll finish it before tomorrow morning,” she replied quickly.
“Good,” he said with a grin.
After that, he went away.
“Is he kidding me? How am I supposed to get through all this before tomorrow morning? My goodness. Deji just wants to frustrate me, but I won’t give up. I will do everything I can to keep my job,” she said with determination in her heart.
Later in the day, when everyone had gone out for lunch, Annabelle was stuck in her office trying to complete the difficult task Deji had given her.
“Aren’t you going out for lunch?” Raymond asked, standing in front of her.
“No Raymond. Not when I have to finish this task before tomorrow morning,β she replied, with her eyes fixed on the file in her hand.
“Okay, then take your time,” he said.
After lunch, Annabelle, still busy going through the files, saw someone drop a fancy leather bag on her desk.
Looking up, she was surprised to see Raymond standing in front of her with a smile.
“I bought you lunch from the eatery I went to. Because you need to eat while you do your work. Besides, little Jasper will be mad at me if I let you pass out,β he said with a bright smile.
“Thank you, Raymond. God bless you,β Annabelle said, smiling at him.
That day, Annabelle worked all day until everyone closed from work and left her behind.
When it was exactly 10 pm, Deji, curious to know if Annabelle was still at work, called the security guy who confirmed she was still in her office by that time of the night.
He then guiltily drove back to the company and went straight to the marketing department to tell Annabelle to go home.
But as he approached the marketing department, he peered through the window and was shocked to see Raymond helping Annabelle with her work.
Seeing them laughing together, suddenly sent jealousy down his spine that he clenched his fist with anger in his heart.
U dey mad oohh Deji,within come be ur problem again?