Chapter Four

My nails and toes were perfectly perfect, they were a light peach color. Linda had fake purple nails and her toe nails painted a coal blue. We walked out of the salon careful not to smudge our nail polish as we walk.

"I can't believe you told Storm that I'm seeing Calvin." I grumbled and Linda just smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, I just wanted him to know that your seeing someone too," she said.

"Well, thanks for that." I grumbled again as we got in her car.

"I was doing what's best for you, Sam. When was the last time you had a boyfriend besides Ricky? He didn't count because you guys were friends with benefits."

Ricky Oxford was my friends with benefits back in my junior year at Uni. We were friends with benefits for seven months before he found a girlfriend and broke things off. I do see him around, but we don't even make eye contact and from what I heard, he got his girlfriend pregnant and dumped her. What an asshole.

"When's the last time you had a boyfriend?" I shot back. The last time Linda had a boyfriend was in high school, his named was Xian, and they broke up after graduation because he was going off to England to study in medical. Linda did hook up with guys here and there, but she never settled down.

"Having a boyfriend is the least of my worries right now. Right now, I'm striving to pass this internship and maybe making my own clothing line, and I don't have to worry about stupid Andrei barking orders at me like I'm his slave. Like what the hell is wrong with that guy? Is he on his period or something I swear—"

"Deep breath Linds," I instruct her. She inhaled then exhaled.

"Sorry it's just... Andrei drives me nuts." She tucked her hair behind her ears. "I'm thinking of dying my hair blonde. I've been a brunette for a long time."

"Do what you want to do. I'm not going to stop you," I told her.

**

I was at my office, sneaking around because I had errands to do. Trisha is working here, and I don't want her to know I worked here too. I peeked around the corner, going to get coffee for my boss. When I made sure the coast was clear and tiptoed to the coffee and copy room and halted in my steps as the familiar blonde stood making copied while typing on her phone.

I turned to leave but she spoke.

"Samantha? I didn't know you worked here too?" she said, her voice laced of happiness.

I turned around, seeing a smile on her face.

God, why do I have to bump into you and Storm all the time?

"Well, you know now." I gritted my teeth.

"That's so cool. If you don't mind me asking why do you have two jobs?" She wondered.

That's none of your business.

"I'm saving up money for this car I want" I told her.

"What kind of car is it?"

She asks so many questions.

"A white Ferrari," I replied.

"Wow. Those are really expensive. Storm bought me one for our two-year anniversary last year." She beamed, bragging.

Oh, I forgot Storm was a professional football player. Of course, he got the money to get her that.

"That's good for you." I went towards the coffee machine, grabbed the foam cup to make the coffee.

"You know, I still don't understand why you ran off like that."

I turned seeing Trisha eyes narrow annoyance etched on her face. "What do you mean ?" I was quite taken aback from her new attitude.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, Samantha. Storm proposed to you five years back and confessed all his love for you, and you run off without an explanation. He was wrecked when he entered Yale, and I was there to comfort him. I'm so glad he moved on." She sneered at me.

My mouth gaped open, and I narrowed my eyes at her. "Listen here, Barbie." I use the word Linda calls her. "Don't just think you can come in here and lash out at me. I wasn't ready to get married. I was barely eighteen, and we were as young — I don't need to explain shit to you because this is between me and Storm. Now, why don't you leave and go back to where you came from?" I snapped at her, and she stared at me with disgust before stomping out almost crashing into Janeth who looked taken aback.

"What's up with her?" Janeth asked me, holding a stack of papers.

"I have no idea," I muttered.

I walked in the house. The house was silent.

"Linda?" I called her.

I heard sniffles and I turned on the living room light, seeing Linda curled on the couch her mascara running down her cheeks her hair a mess.

I rushed towards her. "Oh my God, what happened?"

"Andrei is what happened! He humiliated me in front of everyone calling me mean names, saying I'm an immature and all these mean names." She sniffed, wiping her red runny nose.

I pulled her towards me hugging her as she silently cried on my shirt. I hated when she was like this it pained me to see her all upset.

"Let's go." I grabbed her hand pulling her up.

"Where are we going?", She asked me, slipping on her heels.

"We're going to talk to the asshole that made you upset," I declared.

Minutes later, we're in the building and I snapped at everyone asking where Andrei. We went towards his office. I slammed open the door and walked in slamming it closed. Andrei looked up from his laptop and raised his brow at us a scowl on his handsome face.

"May I help you?" He snapped his eyes trained on Linda with fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I snapped, and Linda grabbed my hand.

"Sam, let's just leave." She whispered.

"No." I yank my hand crossing my arms staring down at Andrei. "You had no right to humiliate Linda like that. She worked hard to get where she is, and she doesn't need a jackass to be crude to her, she doesn't deserve this. She's been through a lot, and you have no right to make her upset." I ranted. The office is quiet and my voice echoed around his office.

Andrei sighed, running his hands through his face looking exhausted. He rubbed his strong smooth jaw and looked at Linda guilt swarmed his green eyes. "Linda... I'm sorry for my actions. Sorry if my attitude made you upset, it's how I am. It's how I rile up the interns. Now if you excuse me, I have business to do." He stood up, fixed his tie and shooed us out of his office.

"Thank you so much, Sam, you are the best!" Linda hugged me.

I hugged her back. "I am, aren't I?" I teased as we both laugh.