CHAPTER 5 Rejection

I left the office very aggravated. Who does Xavier think he is?..... To propose a flimsy fake marriage to me. Does he think I am one of his whores? I wondered to myself. I hadn’t even bothered to read the whole of the contract before I rejected it. 

I started to blame myself for saying no when he asked if I was seeing someone— I just didn’t know what he was up to. I was very startled by the question and because ‘no’ has always been my default answer to someone asking if I was seeing someone for the longest time now, I blurted it out–I was uncomfortable and I wasn't thinking straight when he randomly threw the question at me. I haven’t dated anyone in almost two years now. I instantly thought about Drake and how he would feel if he heard about all that happened and my part to play in it. I decided to keep it from him and call Ava instead. 

“You wouldn’t believe what happened at work today” I said to Ava after she picked up my call. 

“Omg, what happened again in your dramatic place of work— there’s always one drama or the other going on in that place” she says to me. 

“Well this one directly affects me” I huffed 

“You know what, I have little spare time on my hands. I should come over to listen to this, plus, it’s been a while since we hung out. I’m bringing pizza!” Ava announced. “Please bring ice cream too, I could really use some,” I told her. “Uh-oh— this must be serious, for you to demand ice cream, this must be a lot” She responds.

“See you in 40 minutes babes” She says, I could hear shuffling in the background “Yeah bye” I say, hanging up. Ava came a few minutes later, gathering me in a bear hug into her arms. 

“You’ve been through so much lately babes, I’m so sorry I haven’t been present to pat you on the back” Ava says affectionately. 

“Oh don’t be silly, I know you’ve also been dealing with a lot of pressure at work” 

“Honestly I have, it’s been a lot of pressure on my end. My MD dumped another pitch deck on me this morning, and I’m already drowning in financial modeling.”

“But weren’t you working on that M&A deal?”

“Exactly! We’re in due diligence right now, and the deliverables are insane. I barely finished the valuation last night.”

“So basically… another week of late nights?” I asked. 

“More like another week of no life” She exclaimed rolling her eyes. “The deal flow has been nonstop. My pipeline is full, clients are calling every hour, and compliance wants an update by tomorrow.” Ava whines.

“Whew. Investment banking is not for the weak.” I concluded 

“Trust me, I’ve noticed. But enough about me, I came here for you today. What’s up?” She finally asked. 

“Well my boss threw a fake marriage proposal at my desk during work hours today”

“Oh my goodness! You’re absolutely kidding me right now right?” Ava exclaimed, wide-eyed in shock.

“I heard him the other day on a call with his dad, from his response—I could tell he was reluctant, he was refusing to get a wife but for some reason, he agreed after much convincing. It must be for a very valid reason because, knowing the kind of person he is, he doesn’t strike me as someone who wants to settle down willingly. I explained to Ava

“I mean nnn” she dragged “You’ve told me all about his whoring episodes so I’m not surprised at all. “So he, what— wants you to be his fake wife?” she asked ludicrously. I nodded and she burst out laughing. After laughing uncontrollably for several minutes, she saw I didn't join in her laughter, she finally turned to me and said, “So you aren't kidding really”

“Yes Ava, I’m dead serious, he actually pouched me like it was a legit business deal” I said still reeling from the shock. 

“He didn't even ask if you were seeing someone or something” she says.

“Erm actually….” I said shifting uncomfortably, looking everywhere else except her face.

“Oh my God Syd!, Don’t tell me he actually asked you if you were seeing someone” 

“Well in my defense, he practically summoned me into his office and demanded to know if I was seeing someone” I changed my voice to a deep baritone to mimic Xavier “Are you seeing someone?....Okay you’re dismissed”. I said, making Ava laugh with my funny way of mimicking Xavier. “He didn't even give me a chance to respond before he went back to whatever he was doing like I didn't exist or like he didn't just ask me a very personal question” I whined.

“Well I heard him talking to you over the phone the other day and he sounded very scary, his presence physically must be pretty intimidating” She said, reasoning with me. “What did you say though?” she asked.

“Of course I said no,” I said matter-of-factly. “It’s not like I don't have Drake’s feelings to consider” 

“Well, you didn't actually tell him you have a man though” I glared at her. “What? It's the truth” she said back after seeing my expression.  “Wait….” She said pausing “Would you have agreed to the proposal if Drake didn't come into the picture?” she asked inquisitively. 

“Urgh! I really don’t know!” I buried my face in my hands, groaning. “I don’t exactly know, I catch myself wondering how it’s going to be married to my boss and I question my feelings for Drake so much”

“Don’t you like him?” She asked confused 

“I do, I don’t just know if I like him more, I mean to the point where I can say it’s true love”

“You shouldn’t rush yourself, Syd, feelings don’t just rush to you, it’s a gradual process babes” she said reassuringly. 

“I know but I keep getting this nagging feeling like something is amiss” I said softly. Ava left her sit across from me and walked to me, bent and held my hands. 

“Everything will work out fine, babes, you’d eventually get there, okay?” 

“Okay,” I said finally. “Omg we’ve both been so caught up that we let a good ice cream melt” I said, eyeing the ice cream on the desk in my living room. “We'd better dig in before it totally dissolves,” Ava says, walking to the kitchen to bring spoons. 

We ate while catching up with a series of other things happening in our lives. We have been so busy lately that we barely have time to just sit and talk. 

“Are you staying here tonight?” I asked Ava after seeing how dark the weather is becoming. 

“Oh I would really love to but I didn’t pack an overnight bag plus I have to be at work super early tomorrow” she says. She left several minutes after and I was left with my thoughts in my quiet tiny apartment. 

I thought of calling Drake but I decided to call my mom instead. I haven’t heard from her in a while and I was starting to feel guilty about it. I dialed her number and she picked up when the call was almost going to voicemail. She often forgets she has a phone. 

She finally picks and I clear my throat. “Hey Mom— how are you doing?….how’s Rochester been?” 

There’s a pause on the other end of the line—long enough that I actually pull the phone away to check if the call dropped.

“Mom?” I say.

“Oh. Yes. I’m doing well honey. Rochester is fine,” she murmurs, her voice floating like she’s miles away from the room she’s standing in.

“Are you doing well? Eating well?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light.

Another stretch of silence. I hear her exhale softly, like she forgot I was talking to her. “Mm-hmm. I’m… managing.”

She always says that—managing. Never good, never bad.

I try again. “Did you get my text about visiting next month?”

She doesn’t answer immediately. When she finally speaks, it’s slow, unfocused. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

I close my eyes. “Nothing. It’s fine.”

And just like that, the conversation dissolves into the same quiet I’ve grown used to—her body on the line, her mind somewhere I can’t reach. It has always been this way since we lost dad and I feel agitated that she is now a shadow of herself even if we both lost someone we loved. 

“I just wanted to check if you’re doing fine,” I said, trying to keep the sadness away from my tone. 

“Err yes I’m good honey” she says slowly. I know the conversation is over on her end because she might just go mute if I talk to her further so I decided to put an end to the call. 

“Okay Mom, take care of yourself— bye” I said, hanging up. I fell flat on my bed sighing, my mood ruined. I don’t know why I keep expecting her to change all of a sudden. I should be used to her distance by now. I thought about ways to help her until I fell asleep. 

********

I woke up pretty early today, energized and ready for work. I left home earlier than necessary just so I could beat Xavier getting to work before me. After my brief rejection of his proposal, I want to do everything necessary to avoid being the reason for his anger. I was simply in no mood for that today. 

I stepped into the office building, exchanging greetings with my colleagues. I quickly stepped into my cubicle trying to settle in for the day. I checked Xavier’s office and I was glad when I didn’t see him, thank goodness! I thought to myself. 

I drop my bag on my chair—then freeze.

There’s an envelope sitting in the middle of my desk. White. Unmarked. Perfectly centered, like someone placed it there with intention.

My name is typed across the front.

I already know.

My pulse skips as I slide a finger under the flap and unfold the paper inside. The words hit me in one sweep, even before I could force myself to read them one by one.

“Termination of Employment.”

My stomach sinks.

I scan the rest—employment ended effective immediately… final paycheck processed… return company property… Thank you for your service.

He even dared to say thank you.

The signature at the bottom makes my throat tighten. His name. Bold. Clean. Like this is nothing but routine paperwork to him. “Xavier Crest. CEO of TechUp”

I fold the letter back up with shaky fingers and sit down slowly, letting the weight of it settle.

So this is what “no” costs.

This is what happens when I refuse to sign a marriage contract with my boss.

I swallow hard, staring at the paper. It feels cold. Final.

Little did I know that my whole life was about to change and Xavier would bring so much chaos into my life.