Chapter Ten

Karen Donna

I'm doing some paperwork, when my phone rings. I take a glance at my phone, I see Ralph's name flashing on the screen. My heart skips, but I pick it up immediately, silently praying for my mum to be okay.

"Is mum okay?" I ask immediately.

"Hello to you too Karen." Even though I'm not seeing him, I know he is rolling his eyes. "Yes, mum is okay."

I feel like a burden is being lifted off my shoulder. I heaved a sigh of relief. "Is she still at the hospital?"

"Yes. She'll be able to leave when they're sure she's strong enough. Um.. Karen?"

"Yes?"

"We have a problem."

I sit up, fear engulfing me again. I start to imagine things that I do not want to imagine, ever.

"I think Mike and Jane are seeing each other."

My heart began thumping so fast at those words he said to me. I could breath well. Mike can't be cheating on me, never. He loves me so much.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked,in between gasping for air, as the air around me is beginning to choke me.

"I'm not really sure, but I saw them have coffee together. They hang out with each other more often, and I suspect they are dating."

I am still disturbed, but it can be harmless. Them having coffee together might be just for fun. Jane, Mike and I usually go out for coffee, at least twice in a month. Them having coffee isn't a big deal. 

Or are they seeing each other?

It dawn on me that I haven't spoken to either of them for a while. It bothers me.

"Thanks Ralph, I'll talk to you later. Make sure to take care of mum."

"Sure. Love you."

"Love you too."

I hang up immediately, contemplating if I should give Jane or Mike a call. It might be kinda late over there,but I don't care.

I dial Mike's number, and he picks up almost when it was about going off.

"Baby doll." His voice, so rough. He sounds breathless like he just ran a marathon race. 

"Hey, Mike. Been a while." I say casually. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. Work has been so stressful I don't even have enough time to call you." 

I pause my lips. Is it okay to ask him about the coffee he had with Jane? No, definitely not a good idea. 

"I feel you. I'm still at work. How's everything?"

"Been good."

"How's Jane?" I ask before I can stop myself. Shit, I have to learn how to keep my mouth shut.

He's quiet for a while, but still speaks. "She's good, haven't seen her for sometime now."

My heart sinks. Mike lying to me means he might have been seeing Jane, my best friend. 

"Goodnight, Mike." Tears stings my eyes. I blink it away and feel the wet liquid rolling on my cheeks. 

"Are you okay baby doll?" He ask, concern laces in his voice.

I don't know if he's cheating, but a part of me knows he's seeing my bestfriend. 

"Very okay, I'm just tired from too much work." I fake a yawn to make it believable. 

"Goodnight baby doll." He hangs up. No I love you. It squeezes my heart. I burst into tears immediately. Mike is definitely cheating on me.

I want to call Jane, but a hand stops me. 

I look up to find Peter holding my phone back.

"He'll come around." He says. I nod, wishing he's telling the truth. "You want to go out to get food?"

I blink, trying to get what he's saying. Where's the rule of not getting close to your boss.

"But- the rule book." I try to say. He laughs, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

"I create my rules and I break it." He sends me a smile. A genuine smile I've never seen on his face. "Shall we?"

I nod, standing up to pick my bag. 

The drive to wherever he's taking me to is extra quiet. I shift on my chair, watching him drive. 

He pulls into spicy heavens, a new restaurant Elizabeth told me about.

"They sell coffee here too." He says as we walk into the restaurant. 

Sweet aroma hit my nostril. I am suddenly hungry. 

We take our seats in a booth. I pick up the menu to go for the less expensive food they serve.

"Oh my goodness, it's Peter Wellington," I hear someone gasp behind me. I'm forced to turn around to see two waitress jumping up so happily just at the sight of Peter.

Girls.

"I get that a lot." My boss begins, a proud smile on his face. I only nod and call for the waitress attention. 

"Can I get a plate of fries and chicken, with a cup of iced latte?" I say to the waitress who is admiring Peter. I want to throw up but I still have to eat.

She ignores me and smiles widely at Peter. "What would you like to have sir?" She bait her lashes, giving him a seductive look.

I almost explode but keep my cool. He's my boss, and I might get sacked. After all, he ain't complaining about the stunt she's pulling.

"Same with the lady." Peter winks at her, biting his lips. 

She nods, moving her legs and showing her laps. 

I think I'll throw up before I eat my food. I'm slowly loosing my appetite. 

I excuse myself and run to the bathroom to empty my stomach. I wash up and goes back to the table. I see the waitress placing our orders on the table, and Peter writing something on a napkin. He hands it over to her and she walks away.

I sit back, throwing a fry into my mouth.

"I'm sorry about Mike." Peter says. 

I sigh, not wanting to think about the possibility that he's actually cheating on me with my bestfriend. "It's good, besides I do not have any evidence that he's screwing my bestfriend."

"I'm sorry." Peter mutters. I'm beginning to think Peter's has more to say to me than just talking about Mike.

He cleats his throat, and throws a handful of fry into his mouth. He takes a sip from his coke. 

Coke? Damn, those girls really be playing with their jobs.

"Mike says you are a good listener, and you advise so well." Peter begins and I just stare at him, dumbfounded. Did he confide in me to tell me something which I think is personal. He sure acts like what he's about saying is way too personal.

When he sees I don't answer, he continues, "I need your help Karen. I know I didn't give you a good first impression, but right now I'm in between ripping myself apart if I don't find a solution to my problem."

"You can tell me anything." I say chewing slowly. I find myself in between smiling and crying. My boss trust me enough to tell me his personal issues. Damn, I'm blessed.

I watch his chest rise and fall, and he grips his can of coke tightly till they pour all over the table. I suck in a breath. 

"What will you do if your mum happens to be screwing your uncle." Bitterness laces in his voice. His ocean blue eyes darkened as he spoke. 

Awkward. 

I'm so killing my uncle then. But I don't tell him that. I keep shut, not wanting to put things in his head. There's no way I'm gonna have a murderer as a boss. 

I look him dead in the eye, and sees him watching me. I pause, racking my brain for good words to come but what I get is for him to get his uncle killed. I'd do same too.

"I'll be devastated, and irritated. Although I can't picture my uncle and my mum together, ever, if it happens then I'd make sure to punch my uncle's face."

He chuckles, but it's bitter. "Two weeks ago I found my uncle and mum screwing each other at his office." My heart sinks for him. Now I know why he breaks things in his office. "It was an unannounced visit to his office for our finished deal. When I got in, I met with the worst scene of my life."

When he don't say anymore thing, I chirp in. "How about your father? Does your sister know? Does your mum have a reason for screwing your uncle."

"My sister doesn't know, my dad is home, sick and is under medical care. She claims she's doing  it for money for my dad's treatment. The fuck, I'm a fucking billionaire, money ain't my problem." His voice is rising now. I take a glance at him, noticing how his brow increased, the anger in him is enough to cook a meal for a Mexican family.

"Your mum has more reasons to screwing your uncle. Maybe he's threatening her." 

Peter scoffs, shoving a fry into his mouth. "Threaten?"

I nod. 

"She's a fucking liar. She always wanted dad to die a long time ago so she can have her way by screwing my pig of an uncle. He has a fucking wife, why can't he fuck his wife rather than screwing my own mother!" He takes in deep breath. "I'm sorry, I'm just so upset about everything happening."

I pause my lips, my eyes all over my coffee which I know is cold already. "Talk to her."

"No."

Peter, don't make this hard for us. I am contemplating taking his hands into mine to soothe his pains, but I back off. He's my boss. No affection towards your boss.

"Why can't you."

"Because she's a bitch."

"She's your mother."

He sends me a deadly glare and I shut up. I pick up my coffee and sip it.

"I just don't want my dad to hear this. He'll die of heart attack."

My heart sinks, knowing that was what killed my father. I was ten when he died. I didn't even get to spend time with him.

"I don't know what I'd do. I'm messed up right now."

"Concentrate on your dad for now. I'm sure they might want to tell him, so he'll die and they would have enough time to screw each other without an obstacle."

Peter nods like a little boy who is listening to his momma advice him.

"Annie shouldn't know about this. Women tend to overreact most times. So, there's a possibility that if Annie knows, your dad might know about it. A very big possiblity."

"You have to keep her away from your uncle as he might stupidly spill the beans."

Peter nods. "Thanks Karen, Mike is right after all, you are really good with words."

Heat spreads across my cheeks. I try to hide it with my hair but it's too late, Peter already notice.

"I'm sorry about Mike."

I sucked in a breath. "It's fine, I guess the distance between us is trying to break us up."

He nods in agreement. "You want more coffee?"

I nod. I need caffeine in my system to keep me going. Talk of an addiction.