A simpleton

“What was that for? What you saw was nothing. Zara needed my help and I offered to drive her to the company…” he blurted, his cold gaze on her as if she's committed an offence.

“I don't know what you're talking about and I didn't see anything either” Nicole snapped back at him. She tried to hold back her temper from letting it go loose.

He offered to help another woman by driving her to the hospital. In their five years of relationship, she'd never owned a car besides an old Benz her mother used when she was still working as a government official in Dartford.

When it became faulty, she took a taxi to the office and even when it rained, Asher had never offered to drive her to the office. But he offered to do so for Zara. That's the difference in the position they occupied in his heart.

“Why did you put up that scene, not congratulating her as the VP and ignoring her friendliness?” He asked and before Nicole could respond, he continued “I offered her the position instead of you because when you become Mrs Strong, I need someone who can handle this business without the complexity that comes with being married.

You can't have both positions. You will have to choose one and I already know the one that is more important to you: the position of Mrs Strong and I will give that to you.

You can keep working under Zara as her subordinate because she's more educated, presentable and has versatile knowledge in running a company with me. She has a well of knowledge that you can also draw from…” Asher seethed.

Nicole gave a painful chuckle.

He'd outlined Zara's attributes and qualities which simply meant she's inferior to her. She would have been a PhD graduate if she pursued her postgraduate degree five years ago and went further for her doctorate.

Despite persuasion from her professor, telling her to take advantage of the scholarship because she was his best graduating student during her undergraduate degree.

She refused to consider his persuasion. She needed to join Asher to start the company and let it stabilise. In fact, she stopped answering her professor's phone calls and checking his messages. All that mattered to her was being there to support Asher.

A year later, Zara went for her postgraduate degree and topped it up with her doctorate. She'd become inexperienced and not so educated like his crush anymore.

Where was Zara when she stood with him, not getting paid for several months that her mother single handedly footed the bills alone? When she put her neck on the line, taking loans to see how to get the company stable.

Hunting for investors like a pirate searching for hidden treasures. Now, he places her as her superior and tells her to draw from her well of experience?

“Yeah…that's fine. She's better than me now” Nicole blurted and smirked aloud. Yeah.. Dr Morris is better than her…she's his old time crush and she's the only one qualified to be by his side while she can make do with the position of Mrs Strong.

Asher sneered. He knew it. He only needs to pull a few strings and Nicole will cringe and swallow whatever he stuffs into her throat. He doesn't need to sweat over it before making her withdraw like a coward.

He was going to leave when Nicole declared “I refuse to work as a subordinate of Zara Morris” who does he think he is, to ridicule her that way. He must be thinking she's the old Nicole who will always set aside her comfort to please him.

That Nicole is dead…

The one standing before him now, will henceforth choose herself over him or anyone else.

Asher Strong paused. He fisted his palm and cast her a freezing stare. She wants to pull tantrums now?

He knows just where to hold her, between his fingers and she will know his decision.

“If you refuse to accept my decision, then you can as well, forget about being Mrs Strong!” He arrogantly declared and didn't wait another minute before storming off.

There's nothing else that Nicole wants in this life more than the title of Mrs Strong. She has followed him cowardly like a dog with its tail between its legs for these years because she wants that position.

Nicole stood there, not saying a word. She watched as Asher got behind the steering wheel and fastened his seat belt. With her suitcase in her hand, she watched Asher zoomed past her, without a sideways glance.

But of course, Zara did, a broad smirk spread across her face as Asher passed her. This is more than enough for her to know that Asher was a red flag, not someone worthy of her services.

He'd really not appreciated what she'd done for him all these years? He's so ungrateful and he thinks that the title of Mrs Strong was all she deserves, no respect, no love for her and he'll never appreciate, not now, not ever.

“Yeah…fine…it's over” Nicole mumbled.

Zara glanced at Asher from her split vision. Asher's mood changed after having a talk with that low class woman. That only confirms that what she'd heard was true.

“I hope I haven't caused a misunderstanding between you and…” she trailed off. She was deliberate. She wants Asher to think she doesn't know a thing besides his professional relationship with Nicole Jason.

“Nicole has always been unreasonable. She will come around and come begging me, I know that for sure” Asher responded arrogantly. What options does she have?

Nicole can't survive without him. Her family only depends on him for their survival and her one sided love would make her crawl back to him to beg that he shouldn't be upset with her.

She's always the one apologising and straightening things out between them even if she'd done absolutely nothing wrong. In less than twenty four hours, she'll call or text him that she's sorry or that she missed him.

“How…I mean…how were you able to cope with such a woman for many years?” Zara asked. One thing she'd deduced from Asher's words, was that he probably wasn't into the woman. Maybe it's the other way round.

“She's a simpleton,” he concluded.