ANMELDENMARK“I want you to send a memo to everyone that they are to close up by midday,” I instructed Reyna. “I want them to have time to spend with their families, and of course, the company will be on break for the next two days,” I added.“I am sure everyone is eager for a holiday,” Reyna said with a smile as she took down the note.“Yes, they have all been working all month,” I responded.Reyna was still smiling, and I was beginning to think that she might be smiling for some other reasons.“What’s with the smile on your face?” I asked her.“It’s just that your staff members have been talking about you,” Reyna said lightly.“Oh, really?” I asked, relaxing back into my seat. “I am being gossiped in my own company, isn’t it?” I added.But somehow, I wasn’t upset, or maybe it was because of Reyna’s smile.Somehow, I figured that if it was something bad, she wouldn’t be smiling.“Apparently, you are the CEO and there is no way they wouldn’t talk about you,” Reyna said.I nodded in agreement.
ALEXANoelle called me as early as possible.“Good morning, Alexa,” she said.“I didn’t think you would be up yet,” I responded even though I was excited that she had called.“Well, it’s the last day before the New Year, and Nelson’s family have a lot of things planned out,” Noelle told me.Since Noelle got there, she had been sounding happy and relaxed. As much as I wanted her to come back, she seemed very happy being there, and I just didn’t have the heart to keep pestering her for a return.Or maybe it was because I had Mark now.“Oh, I see,” I simply said.“Do you have anything planned?” Noelle asked me.“You know me, Noelle. I haven’t had anything planned for the New Year in ages,” I said deeply.“And I really wish that you did,” Noelle said sullenly. “I don’t like the fact that you are going to be by yourself and do nothing on New Year day or even the eve. You should have something to look forward to, Alexa. You are going to be a mum soon,” Noelle said, reminding me as though I
MARKAlexa reminded me of the monster I was when we were married, and after she went upstairs, I couldn’t beat myself up enough.If I had known better, I would have treated her better.Even if I hadn’t loved her at that time, I could have been good to her, but what Alexa didn’t know was that I too had been dealing with my own demons.The coma had affected me in ways I couldn’t explain to anyone.The inability to have sex was a major problem for me.For someone who started having sex quite early, spending five years with a wife and a supposed fiancée and being unable to make love to any of them was the most frustrating thing any man could deal with, and worse, I couldn’t talk to anyone about it.The doctor hadn’t been certain that I would ever be able to get an erection until the fourth year.What was I supposed to do?The drive to the hospital was very quiet, and as much as I really wanted to say something, I couldn’t find the right words to say.When we got to the hospital, I felt re
ALEXAMark arrived one hour earlier than the time we were supposed to leave for our doctor’s appointment, and I had just finished eating.“Hi, Mark,” I said with a smile when I opened the door and saw him standing there.Mark seemed more handsome than the last time I saw him.“Slow down, Alexa. You are letting your heart race for him again. You don’t want to end up heartbroken as he always leaves you,” a voice in my head told me.And I tried to shake it off, but at the same time, I also tried to listen to it because Mark had left me broken and hurt more than twice, and till now, I wasn’t even sure that I had gotten over it.“Hi, Alexa,” Mark said with a smile of his own.“You are here early,” I noted, trying to sound casual now.I had to remind myself that we were only going to be parents and nothing more. He would always be my ex-husband, and even if he said he had ended things with Mona, I already knew that Mark was the kind of man who always found himself other women.“Is it wrong?
MARKI spent most of the day having a meeting with some of my business associates and it wasn’t over until some hours later.“We are impressed with how you are handling the project, Mark Ronaldo,” the head of the team said.He had just flown in from a different city with his teammates to have this meeting, and because they were supposed to be flying back, we had to finish up everything we needed to do during the meeting. Anything else that was left could easily be sorted out from a distance and through mails.“We have been working with your company for years, and you have never given us anything short of excellence,” he added.“Regardless, I am glad that you find everything to your liking,” I told him.“Of course, I do,” he said with a smile. “Which is why our company wants to take a different approach,” he added carefully.“What approach is that?” I asked.“We are thinking of starting another project; a bigger one, and of course, with your company,” he said.And that warmed my heart.
IVY“It’s so good to finally hear from you,” I eventually responded.My eyes were still on the door.If Alexa ever found out that I was using her cell phone to speak with my mum, she might kick me out instantly, so I really needed to be careful.If only I had a cell phone of my own, but everything changed when I was forced into the mental home and stripped off everything I had.“Can I speak freely?” I had to ask.She hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “Mm-hmm.”“Isn’t she listening to our conversation?” I asked.“No, she isn’t. We do have some privacy here sometimes, and now that she has seen that I recognize you, she has left me alone,” she answered.“What about the calls being recorded?” I asked warily. “They did that in the mental home,” I added.“This isn’t the mental home,” she reminded me.“I know, but it’s not any different,” I countered calmly.Then we stayed silent for a millisecond again.“Is this your cell number?” She asked.Even from the distance, I could tell her
MARKAfter Vector left to speak with the hospital management, my mind drifted back to one of the worst days of my life, and my blood ran cold.Some years back, my dad had had a heart attack.Thinking back now, it dawned on me why he had had the heart attack.The company was going through some major
MARK“Mona, what are you doing here?” I asked Mona, not bothered by how harsh I sounded. Mona looked slightly crestfallen.“I don’t know you to be hostile, Mark,” she responded.“How did you even find my house?” I asked her.“You are quite popular in this city, Mark, so finding out where you stay
MARKI arrived at court in time for the trail, but Vector called me just before I got in.“Mark, how is it going?” He asked me as soon as I picked up.“About to begin,” I responded.“Oh, okay. I really wish I was there physically to throw in my support, Mark,” Vector said deeply.I didn’t doubt him
ALEXA“It’s a little late, ma’am,” Shirley told me when she saw that I was ready to leave the hospital.“I should be saying that to you, Shirley,” I responded tightly.My heart was still in chaos.“You are my secretary, and it is way past your closing time,” I added by reminding her.She stayed qui







