DesdemonaThe door swings open and heavy footsteps stomps into my office. His anger radiates from his body to mine causing the release of my happy hormones.If I continue like this then I'll have him right where I want him."What is this?" He exclaims flaring his arms all over the room.I pause, watching him for a while then proceed to my work."Is this funny to you?""How can you being late possibly be funny to me?""Fuck me being late. What games are you playing?""If you're referring to what I'm doodling,it's a strategy plan i–""Don't mess with me,babe."I close the folder that I was working on. "I'll need you to do two things,One,come to work on time. Two,lower your damn voice."He slams both his palms on the table. "Listen over here,Ariel."I immediately slam mine and get on my feet. "No you listen here,Ettiene. I am your boss and you are going to address me as one." I made sure my tone matched his."No. Not right now. Right now I am a man whose business you just messed with.""
EttieneI loosen my tie and go back to my seat. I go to sip my coffee and realize that the cup is empty. Seventh one so far.My mind races back and forth not finding any solution to the problem. Not a single one of them.Telling Ariel that I have quit wasn't such a smart move. It was more…impulsive. So now I need to find something I'll beat her at. She has the upper hand in this game she has created. That is what I need to take from her.My hand rakes through my hair. I stand and refill my cup making this one stronger than the last one.One sip and I rethink all my life choices. I glance at my watch,it's not too early for some alcohol. Hence,I ask my secretary to bring in a few bottles.Minutes after she'd left,my door slides open. I glance up and see my wife. Definitely not what I need to see right now so I go back to working.She is not saying a word,she isn't moving much. I lift my head. My gaze narrowed at her where she was standing in the middle of my office.Her weight was bala
DesdemonaThe man across from me had asked for bread. Home baked bread. One that I had done with my own hands. I had done my best to deliver exactly what he had asked for,and more.He cut the first piece and tossed it to his mouth. That was followed by a sjl of juice. Such a weird combination but I was not going to judge verbally."What are you playing at,Me. Raven?"He swallowed and cut another piece. "You made this? This is good. Not many women can do th is."He is not referring to bread. "What?""Going against a man you love and not letting your feelings get in the way."My eyes go wide in astonishment. I scoff and laugh at the same time. "You are wrong sir. I–"No. I am not going to defend myself."To what do I own this invitation?""The CEO position is vacant at my company."Interesting. Meaning the two brothers have to fight for the position. But what does that have to do with me?"I need you to cause a storm. Shake things up a little bit for both of them."I am most certainly
Ettiene"Let go of me!" She snaps,yanking her arm away from me.I held her arm but she had willingly followed me to this room. No dragging,no force applied. She had done it willingly and that alone gave me enough hope to pursue her once more.I let go of her but don't step back. She also doesn't bother to create distance between us."Why did you leave?"She scoffs. "I have more important things to do than stay in a room with men who cannot voice their opinions."I nod. "Good point. But not today. When we were with your parents,after the call–"Her eyes loose focus for a second. I snap twice infront of her eyes. She frowns at my fingers.She ha not answered my question. She seemed worried that day and whatever it was I would be more than willing to break bank to help her."Why?" "If I did not tell you it means it's none of your concern.""I agree.""Then move,being in this small space with you is not how envision spending my next minutes."I press closer to her. She moves back a little
Ettiene"If I've never made him come then explain how I'm pregnant."Every single fibre in my body constricted. The air I was breathing was too much but at the same time not sufficient.My eyes glanced to Ariel but no reaction came from her for a while.After a long pause with a victorious smile from Myra,a moment of panic from my side and nothing at all from Ariel,Ariel spoke. "How long?""What?–ah that,five weeks."That is one whole of a pregnant lie. No pun intended."Make sure to invite me to the baby shower. I'll bring lots of gifts." She brushes past her but just enough to be standing by her side. "Also,let me be the godmother. I'm a good role model and I promise not to steal the father."I watched her body as she strode past me,her perfume tingling my nose even after she had moved from my frontal viewThe door locked softly behind us but not before she said, "I pray it turns out with better features than you two have. If not, I'll be disappointed and horrified.""What was tha
Desdemona"Molly." I dragged on her name but she remained unbothered."If you want to go to that park then you'll need to wear something appropriate for a park not a swimsuit." I snatched the cloth from her hand.She frowns and runs from her room,calling Kevin.They come back with her In his arms."No Kev,she is not wearing that."She chuckles and head to the closet only to pull out the exact same clothe,only in a different color."Kev…" Now I sound like I am whining.He says nothing. Proceeds to dress her up "Now what do you say we add something classy to it?"Molly's eyes glimmer with excitement."That's my girl with an amazing fashion sense."He pulls the dress I was fighting her to wear. Not a minute later they are done.Molly runs out of the room to go search for her shoes in Kevin's room. I can't tell what they are doing there.Without her presence o let out a loud sigh and pinch my nose bridge."See babe,dealing with kids don't always have to be hard.""You have a blood for t
Ettiene"Mommy?" The little girl called in a sweet voice."Mommy?" I repeated in confusion. I turn to face Ariel. "Mommy?" I ask with both my eyebrows raised.She rushed past me and squatted next to the child."Go say hi to my workmate." She stands and holds the child's hand."Hello good sir." She greets with a cute bowBefore I could reply,Ariel snaps, "don't call him good. He is not good." She spoke as she guided her back to the arms of the man who stood at a distance observing us"Here,babe. Take Molly to the car and go get her some icecream.""Yaay! I'm going to get my icecream clothes." Molly exclaims in excitement and runs over to the other room.My eyes never leave the man's face. He narrows his eyes at me before the go wide. "Man,I now remember where I saw you from.""You are him." I state in a monotone."Him?"I ignore him and face Ariel. "Him?" I scoff. "You chose him over me?"Ariel frowns for a second before breaking into laughter. "There is no you,Ettiene." He walks over
Chapter 23DesdemonaThe men in the room glared at me,their nostrils flaring. Veins popped on some of their forehead. One of them actually had his fist balled on top of the desk."No one is getting demoted." Ettiene argued."Ams why is that?""We have worked to ensure our whole team is as productive as hell. We can't just let go of them like that.""How productive are they?"Silence."What do you use to measure their productivity?" None of them replies."Good. I'll send over the lost after I go through everyone's performance. Anything else?" My eyes settle on each one of them.Some ignore my eyes and others meet my gaze to make sure I do not miss the resentment they feel towards me."If so then I'll excuse myself." "Don't play this game,Ariel. Don't go down this path.""Don't worry,I won't end up like your company." I reply with a smile.I look over to Ettiene one more time and the look on his face is enough for me to go through the rest of my month.My phone rings just as I stepped