Matilda sighed sadly as she rested her back against the front door, with an envelope in her hands.
“How will I clear all these debts alongside Niki's hospital bills?” Matilda whispered to herself silently, as a drop of tear escaped her eyes.
She immediately cleaned her tears as she heard Niki approaching the sitting room.
“Were you talking to yourself?” Niki asked with his eyebrows arched in curiosity.
“Of course not little champ, I was just going through our bills for the month” she replied with a faint smile.
“Oh…” Niki said with sadness in his voice.
Matilda walked up to him and bent down to make direct eye contact with him.
“You have nothing to worry about alright? Big sis got it all covered, my little pumpkin” She playfully ruffled his hair.
“Don't call me that, I'm 12 now” Niki said with a little frown which made Matilda laugh heartily.
“You will always be my little pumpkin, baby brother. C'mon get your bag, you don't wanna make us late” Niki rolled his eyes as he picked up his school bag.
“Did you pack your medication? Your oxygen mask, I don't want you to…”
Niki cut her mid sentence “check check check, I packed it all no need to worry”.
Matilda patted his head with a smile “ you're a big boy now, and so responsible, c'mon let's go now”.
***************
Matilda hurriedly went past everyone she met on the stairs, she cannot afford to get late to her desk before Jaden arrives.
She got to her desk panting heavily and let out a sigh of relief “I hope he has not arrived yet” She said as she started to arrange her desk.
Matilda inhaled three times to calm herself down before knocking on his door.
She knocked thrice, and there was no response. She knocked again and this time she was met with her bosses' husky voice.
“Come in”.
“Good morning sir” Matilda greeted with her head bowed facing the ground, her both bands folded in front of her.
She cannot afford to look him straight in the eyes.
“Are you talking to the floor?” Jaden questioned with annoyance in his voice.
“No sir…I…I was only trying to…”
“Save your explanation, I do not care. Go and get me my coffee downstairs, it must not be below 100°C. Now”. Jaden bellowed.
With her trembling and shaky legs, Matilda managed to find her way out of the office. She heaved a sigh of relief like she was choking from shortness of breath.
Matilda ran as fast as her leg could carry her to the cafeteria. She got Jaden's coffee just like how he always wanted it.
Hurrying back to his office, to prevent the coffee from dropping below the temperature he gave her.
“This is your coffee sir” She placed it in front of him, still not looking him in the eye.
“What's my schedule for today?” Jaden inquired as he took a sip from his coffee.
“You have a meeting with the manager of SOS company, by 11am.
Next, by 1pm you have a scheduled date at the Sweet Sensation restaurant with…”
“What? Did you just say a date?” Jaden was furious as he stood up from his desk and began to approach Matilda.
Matilda took a few steps backwards, to avoid his terrible gaze.
“Your father called me and said I should…”
“How many times have I told you never to take orders from my father?” Jaden blurted out in anger, his eyes brazing in fury.
“I am sorry sir” Matilda answered with a soft and trembling voice.
“ Do not apologise to me, this should be the last time you ever take orders from my father. Have I made myself clear?!”
“Yes sir” A tear dropped from Matilda's eyes as she was scared and nervous.
“Now, take this coffee away and get me a new one. Your stupid self caused this, now get out and cancel that so-called date”.
“Yes sir” she muttered with a teary and shaky voice.
Jaden railed at Matilda and did not care at all that she was crying.
***************
Matilda brushed past everyone she met on the way, faster than the speed of light.
She got a new cup of coffee for Jaden and also got one for herself, to help relax her nerves.
“Here's the new cup of coffee sir” she said, bowing her head as she headed towards the door to leave.
Little did she know that the wrath of her boss was not yet over.
“Did I ask you to leave?” Jaden queried.
Matilda turned back and her eyes met with his, and she looked down quickly to avoid his terrible stare.
Her feet were glued to the floor, her hands shaking from the fright. She uttered no response.
“I need these files to be ready before you leave for work today. I do not care if you have to stay after work hours, just get it done” he pointed at the pile of paperwork on the table, as he spoke.
Matilda's heart sank immediately, she remembered she had promised Niki to watch his favourite series Harry Potter, together later today.
“Understood sir” still in that fixed position, Matilda managed to voice out a response.
Jaden stood and picked up his jacket from the coat rack, walking towards the door where Matilda stood.
“I will be leaving for the meeting now”
He stopped walking when he got to where Matilda was standing, like he was waiting for a response.
“You will look at me when I speak to you, Matilda” Jaden growled.
It took every ounce of boldness left in Matilda, to look him in the eye.
The intimidating height from Jaden was very obvious, Matilda barely reached his shoulders.
Matilda felt like his eyes were piercing through hers as he stared at her. She parted her lips to speak, but words failed her.
“Anyways, just get the work done” Jaden finally said as he opened and went through the door.
As the sound of Jaden's footsteps fade away, Matilda collapsed against the wall, letting out a breath of frustration in it.
She took the pile of paperwork and headed to her desk. She slumped in her chair, as she placed her head on the table.
“What a good way to start the day” she muttered sadly to herself.
Matilda rose up and finished her already cold coffee in one gulp, as her phone rang.
“Yes, this Matilda Blair speaking. How can I help you?”.
The coffee mug fell from her hands and broke.
“What?!...No no, it can't be!” Matilda yelled over the phone, her hands trembling as she placed them over her mouth, tears welled up in her eyes.
Jaden drove through the gate of his house, in a reckless manner. He came out and threw the car key at the gateman.He stormed into the house and headed straight to where he knew he would find his father at that time; in his study.“This should be the last time you ever set me up on a date with someone, Father. I am not interested!” Jaden raged at his father.“Young man, that is not how to greet one's father” Mr Brooks said in a rather calm manner, as he got up from his chair while holding his walking stick.Jaden responded with a regretful tone.“I am sorry father, it wasn't my intention to speak in such a terrible way. I'm just tired of the fact that you keep setting…”“It’s what I have to do as your father,” Mr Brooks interrupted him. “I promised your mother on her sick bed, may her soul rest in peace, that I'll make sure you get married and give birth to children that will carry on the name of this family and inherit the company”.Remembering his mother at that moment, Jaden bit h
“Oh my God, oh my God”.Matilda hurriedly grabbed her bag from her brother's hospital bed stand, took her shoes then gave Niki a quick kiss before dashing out of the clinic.She waved down many cabs, but no one was stopping for her.The chilly morning wind did not even have any mercy on her, as it blew particles of sand into her eyes.Eventually, she got a cab and headed back home to freshen up.Matilda prayed silently for a miracle as she walked towards Jaden's office. There was no use running, she was hours late already.“Come in”.Jaden's voice jolted her back to reality that, she was actually in a deep mess.“Good morning sir”“And what is so good about the morning?”. Jaden looked up from his desk, and gave her a stern look.“I'm so sorry sir, what happened was that…”“I do not need any explanation!”Matilda shivered and jerked from the angry tone of Jaden's voice. She cannot afford to lose her job now.She immediately knelt down on both knees, Jaden's eye widen because he was not
“Yes, good morning Mr James…oh you sent it to my email already? Alright, thank you for helping out in such a short notice…have a nice day”.Jaden hung up the phone and placed it on his desk. He stood up and walked towards the printer in his office, he printed out a few copies of paper.He went back to his desk, cleared his throat and picked up the intercom.“Matilda come to my office, now”.Knock“Come in”.“Good morning sir”. Matilda greeted politely.“We already saw each other this morning, why greet me again? Sit”.Jaden said with his commanding voice, ushering Matilda to sit.“I thought about your request from yesterday, and I put one and two together and I figured I can't just help you without collecting anything in return”.Jaden paused to study Matilda's face.She looked pale, and anxious. Matilda was anticipating the condition her boss was going to throw at her.So many thoughts ran through her mind, she bit her lower lip out of anxiety.“Here”. Jaden flipped the printed paper
Matilda immediately withdrew her hands from Jaden's, as Tiana walked towards them.Matilda scanned Tiana from head to toe and did a quick check. She looked so pretty in the off shoulder gown she wore, exposing her flawless skin and collar bone.From the way she walked and carried herself, Matilda knew she was from a wealthy family.“Relax, alright. I don't bite”.Tiana laughed as she stood beside Jaden, she began to rub his shoulders.“Take your hands off me woman”.Jaden pushed her hands off his shoulder, his eyes becoming bloodshot from anger. Tiana held her hands up in defence“Okay okay, I will back off. At least, you should offer your guest a seat”.She drew a chair out for herself and sat, heaving a sigh.“You are not my guest, I did not invite you here. By the way, what do you even want here, in my office?”Jaden asked with his face in an irritating form, mashed up together like someone that just ate a bad fruit.“Well, I'm a shareholder of your company so…”“Point of correcti
CHAPTER 6Matilda picked up the books from the floor and stood up from where Tiana threw her.Squeezing her eyes shut, she winced from the pain. She had a cut on the back of her left hand, it was caused by Tiana's push.She looked left and right, to see if anyone had witnessed what happened. The last thing she wanted right now, was to be the talk of the office.Matilda raised her head to prevent tears from falling, it's still working hours, and no one should see her crying.She sat on her seat and logged into her laptop to continue working. She tried to drown herself into work, to take her mind off everything that just played off.The intercom on her desk rang, it was Jaden.“Come to my office”.Matilda buried her head in her hands, hoping Jaden did not call her to lash out at her too. She had had enough for today.She stood up and adjusted her clothes, she used a little napkin to take dust off her clothes.She proceeded to Jaden's office.Matilda knocked thrice and there was no respo
“Good evening sir”“Good evening Matilda, I'm sure you know why I'm here”. The landlord adjusted his glasses as he spoke, squinting his eyes through them to have a proper look at Matilda.Matilda held onto the door handle very tightly, she looked down at her feet to avoid his intense gaze.“You promised to pay this week, Matilda, I have not seen anything from you yet”.“I'm sorry sir, I…I will definitely pay before the end of this week, please just give me a little more time”.Matilda pleaded with her bright eyes shining in the dark, she pouted her mouth in expectation of what the landlord might say.“Well, the end of this week then. Do not let it get past this week”.He raised his finger in a warning sign, and stared at Matilda for a while before heading down the stairs.“Thank you Mr Wells, I'll definitely pay before next week! Have a good night!”Matilda yelled back at the landlord as he headed back to his quarters. He waved his hands at her without looking back.She locked the do
“This is…this is wrong sir”Matilda forcefully pulled away from his tight grip, wriggling her hands with so much power.Jaden scoffed and pushed her off of him, using the back of his hands to dust his shirt like she had stained him of dirt.“Do not flatter yourself, nothing will ever happen between us”. Jaden spoke like he was giving her stern warning, sizing her up and down with a look of disgust.Matilda felt a sharp pin was poking her all over her body, she wanted the ground to swallow her up and escape this embarrassment.Jaden puts his hands in his pockets and begins to pace about that basement.“I have played my part, you got your money. Now it's time for your first mission”.Matilda watched him as he blew off dust from the shelf he was standing next to.“What could that be if I may ask sir?”His eyes moved from the shelf back to Matilda, he cleaned his hands.“Meeting my father, this Saturday to be precise”.Matilda's heart almost came out of her chest, the thought of meeting
“You've got to put that down Tiana, don't do this”.Mr Brooks pleaded with Tiana, and started to move closer to her.“Do not come any closer, else my blood will be all over the floor here”. Tiana threatened, her eyes red tearing up with tears, she held out her hand, the broken glass in the other.Jaden ran and took Tiana's hand, he threw the glass away. She fell into his arms and started to cry.“Please Jaden, don't leave me…please”.Tiana looked up and met Jaden's gaze, he pushed her gently off his body, and made her stand straight in front of him.“Look Tiana, you're a great woman, but I do not love you okay?”Jaden tapped on her shoulders lightly, and looked at her for a few seconds before leaving for his room.Tiana fell to the floor and wept profusely, holding her chest tightly as she screamed her lungs out.Mr Brooks went over to where Tiana was and hugged her.“Please Tiana, please. Let me tell the driver to send you home. I'm sorry”.Tiana kept screaming and kicking the floor