Ten

Nelly was lucky that it wasn't as serious as the pain felt. It was just a sharp pain and a warning signal that she needed to rest.

"Thank you Ma'am," Nelly said to the woman beside her who rendered help.

Nelly's accommodation had already been taken care of by Ash. He helped sort that out so she wouldn't face much stress after landing in Germany. Ash even wanted to do more but Nelly would not let him

"Is it now we agreed you'll arrive at my mom's birthday party?" Ash's girlfriend charged at him immediately he alighted from his car.

"I can explain babe. I tried my best to meet up as you said but I was…

"Spare me whatever shit you have to say you dick head! I know exactly where you have been. If it wasn't for her, I know you will even be the first to arrive!"

"Your mom is inside right? I'll still get to meet her. You shouldn't be so angry at me. Your mom will still be happy to see me even if I'm late."

"How would she see you as serious? She does not want someone who is not home with the family," she stressed.

"Let's just go inside," Ash insisted.

The party went on smoothly and Ash's to be mother in-law didn't even show any sign that she was upset with him. In fact, she was all smiles whenever she laid her eyes on him.

"You are as nice as my daughter projected you to be. I'm happy that she didn't make any mistake when choosing a man she'll love," she had said to Ash before he left.

Ash bragged about this to his girlfriend after her mother left their sight. Yeah, he was the guy that everybody would love. An easy going guy, ever ready to give all he can for the people he so much cares about.

"Ash! Ash! Please hold on!"

Ash heard someone calling out his name as he was about to step into his house. He had just come back from his soon to be mother in-law birthday party. His back ached from all the help.he rendered to Nelly earlier during that day. He was even more worn out because of the rounds of yelling he received from his girl because he helped Nelly out.

"You?! You are the one calling me out?" Ash was surprised to find Ivan, the biggest CEO in the country behind him. They had known each other for some years, but they have never had any conversation. He immediately wondered what it was Ivan wanted.

"Please, I'm only here to see Nelly. I want to let her know something, I really need to speak to her. Please Man."

"Too bad for you that Nelly isn't here. You can no longer see or speak to her because she has gone far away from you."

Would Ivan now beg? He was prepared to go on his knees just for Ash to grant him access to Nelly. As expected, Ash maintained his stand and he was right - Nelly was not with him.

Ash went on Skype with Nelly immediately after he showered the following morning.

"He wanted to speak to me? What for? So he could again continue to bash me with his hurtful and thoughtless speech?" Nelly spoke.

"He had the nerve and the audacity to walk into my premises. I wish he had a different surname, I'd have battered that face of his so next time he does think twice and double twice before messing with my best friend."

Again, Ash's words were splendid and comforting. Nelly was glad that someone always had her back no matter what.

"Thank you, Ash. You are a real one."

The day continued smoothly, not until Ash came out and found Ivan's car by his gate again.

"What now, Man?" Ash was irritated. He felt like loading Ivan with a lot of violent blows but it was impossible because of his status.

"I just want to know where she is, I promise that I don't mean trouble."

It was a little too late for what Ivan was asking for. He retired to his office, saddened and pierced by regret.

Ash was the only person he could comfortably ask about Nelly. If there was anyone who knew too well about their relationship, it was him. Back then, Ash and Nelly exchanged visits and he often had to be the driver. The only good thing was that Nelly treated him well whenever Ash was around. Maybe Ash had warned her or so.

"How could I have been so foolish and ignorant? How?!"

Ivan kept flogging himself with a lot of self destructive questions. He wished for only one thing - that he could set back the clock and treat Nelly with the love and respect she always had to go on her knees and request from him.

"I even sent my own child away? What kind of rage did I allow to breed in me?" Ivan wondered.

The knock at the door broke his meditation mood.

"Yes, who is it?" He asked. It was his secretary who had brought some documents for him to sign.

"You can drop it on the table, Nelly."

"Excuse me Sir," Sandra said. Ivan just called her Nelly.

"What's wrong, Nelly? I just said you can drop the documents over there and I'll attend to it as soon as I'm done with these."

"Sir, these documents you're looking at need to be ready before you can finish the ones you are presently doing. This will be needed for the meeting in one hour, sir," Sandra pointed out in a trembling voice. She knew she would be to blame if he found out later that he did the wrong work.

What! He had been doing the wrong one all along. Ivan hated to admit it. He got angry and yelled at Sandra, urging her to leave with immediate effect.

"I'm sorry Nelly, please don't leave. I won't raise my voice at you again." Ivan rose from his chair to stop Sandra from leaving.

"Sir, I'm Sandra, not Nelly."

That wasn't getting into Ivan's head. He still kept holding on to Sandra and calling out the name "Nelly."

Sandra struggled with him, trying to convince him that she wasn't who he said she was.

"Let me go Sir, I'm not Nelly!"

"I'm sorry Nelly, I should not have treated you the way I did. I would never do that again. I promise to change and be a better man."

It continued like that, Ivan clinging so tight to Sandra until the door opened and Ivan froze.