“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 expecting her to portray such actions.
“Please sir, I had an emergency. My brother…my brother fainted and his school called me. I had to rush to the hospital”.
There was no much tears left to flow, she was already drained. Still, the sadness could be heard in her voice.
Jaden cleared his throat, “still you should have given me a heads up. I needed those paperworks today”.
Matilda lifted her head and her eyes grew wild with eagerness.
“I can do all of them right now, I will get them done right away, sir”
Jaden waved his hands, “it's of no use, I already did them myself”.
“I'm sorry sir”, she bowed her head once more, remorseful.
“Just get up and go back to your desk”. Jaden sounded rather uninterested.
“Thank you very much sir”. Matilda happily got up and dusted her knee, about to leave.
Jaden scoffed, “ don't thank me yet, I already told the accounting department to cut little out of your salary this month”.
Matilda's shoulders dropped, dejected and sad. Now, she really wanted the tears to come, but there was nothing left.
“What? You don't like that? Would you rather have me sack you then?”
Jaden tilted his head, his eyebrows arched, with his fist on the table like he was going to pounce on her.
Matilda stuttered, “Of..of course not sir, thank you for your generosity”.
“I thought as much”. Jaden made the remark, as he returned to what he was doing.
**************
All through the day, Matilda could not concentrate on her work. Niki was the only person lingering in her mind.
The thought of also where to get his money for surgery, clouded her mind.
The hospital already called her and informed her Niki already regained consciousness. She was asked to come take him back home,that there was no use keeping him at the hospital. All he needs right now is surgery.
Matilda kept staring at the wall clock, it was already 30 minutes to closing hour.
She hurriedly began to pack her bag, in anticipation to go pick up Niki from the hospital.
“And what do you think you're doing?”
Matilda was startled by Jaden's usual scary voice.
“It's almost closing hour sir, so I'm packing to go…”
Jaden didn't even allow her finish
“Come to my office”, he walked away.
“Will this ever end?”
Matilda murmured to herself as she followed him.
“I'll need you to work on this and bring it in tomorrow morning, no excuses this time”.
Jaden spoke with authority in his voice, as he passed a file to her.
“Yes sir”.
Matilda knew she would have to work overnight, again.
“No rest for a poor girl”, Matilda sighed as she swinged her bag over her shoulder.
***********
“ Stop staring at me like that Matilda, I'm fine”.
Niki's weak voice did not assure Matilda that.
“You are so strong my little pumpkin, I'm proud of you. Don't worry, after your surgery you will be able to play and live like normal kids”.
“Really?”
“Yes my little pumpkin”
Matilda stroked his hair as he responded to her with a rather weak smile.
“I'm happy, can we go home now?”
“Of course love, let me get your bag”.
********
As Matilda stepped into the house, she was welcomed with the cold air around the room.
She had not paid for their energy bill that month,the bills just kept on piling up for her.
She made dinner for Niki and herself to eat, although she didn't have any appetite, but she forced herself to eat something.
Matilda helped Niki change into his pajamas, and tucked him into bed. She sat beside him, their hands intertwined.
“Big sis has got a lot of work to do this night, so I just want you to sleep soundly. I'll try not to wake you up with any sound”.
Matilda caresssed his face as she spoke, Niki nodded.
“You should go now, so you can start the work early and sleep on time”, Niki suggested.
“Look at my little pumpkin being considerate and looking out for me”,
Matilda gave Niki a little tickle.
Niki tried to free himself while laughing heartily.
“I'm not little anymore, I'm 12 now”.
“Even when you become an adult, you will still be my little pumpkin”.
She gave him a kiss on his forehead and muttered a “goodnight” to him.
Despite Niki's suggestion, she waited till he fell asleep before she left.
Matilda changed into her own pajamas, tied her hair and picked up her system to begin her work.
She managed to work half through, before the thought of Niki struck her again.
She dropped her system and crawled up into her bed, hugging her pillow to her chest.
There was no one to lend her that huge sum of money.
She had no property to lay down as collateral even if she wanted to take out a loan.
“Wait…”, Matilda said to herself as her eyes sparkled with the idea that just came to her.
Jaden…she would beg Jaden to pay her a upfront of her salary.
She knew it was a 50/50 chance, with her scary and cold-hearted boss, but that was the only option she could think of.
“Yes!”.
Matilda was delighted once a again, it was like life had given her and Niki a second chance again.
She rose up from her bed and began to work steadfastly, her hands moving freely on her keyboard, with the thought to impress her boss tomorrow by finishing up the work he gave to her.
**********
“You are kidding right?”
Jaden asked with a grin and a half wicked laugh.
The world came crumbling down at Matilda's feet again, the little ounce of hope she had was gone.
“Why would I pay you 8 months upfront of your salary?” , Jaden asked, his face filled with irritation.
Matilda sat upright, adjusted her shirt and looked directly into Jaden's eyes. She had to do this, for Niki, even if she had to walk into a lion's den.
“My brother has a coronary artery disease. He has been on drugs since I can remember, always in and out of hospitals. But now, the doctor said he needs surgery at this point and that…and that…”
Matilda sniffed, trying to prevent the tears that was building up from falling. She had to finish her story.
“The doctor said if he doesn't get the surgery before the end of next month, my brother might die”.
Matilda couldn't help the tears from falling this time, her heart ached from the thought of Jaden not helping her out even after hearing her story.
Jaden's face did not show any expression, he still looked cold.
“I'll think about it and get back to you”
Jaden said, trying not to sound sympathetic or cold.
“Thank you very much sir, thank you!”.
Matilda cried and laughed at the same time, her beautiful set of teeth was visible at this point.
Her hope was revived once again.
*********
Jaden paced round his room, with his both hands on either side of his hips.
“I can't just help her without collecting anything back in return, no.”
He continued to pace about, but this time faster. He came to halt and stood facing his
reflection from the standing mirror beside his bed.
“Jaden, you're a genius”.
He made this remark with a smirk on his face, as he reached for his phone and dialed his lawyer's number.
“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
Matilda placed her hand on his chest and tried to push him away, his grip was stronger.She could taste him, he tasted like mint. He kissed her so gently, allowing his tongue to move swiftly in her mouth. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy it.The feeling did not last long as Jaden pulled away from her, fastened his seat belt and put on the ignition.Matilda touched her lips and looked at Jaden, he was acting like nothing happened. She felt like she was being taken advantage of.“Sir why…why did you do that?"Jaden was focused on the road ahead of him, he acted like Matilda was not there. Her words fell on deaf ears.“I already told you there were some things we needed to practise, so stop making a fuss about the situation”.Jaden changed the gear as he spoke, with his gaze still fixed on the road.Matilda hugged herself, as she looked out the window. The last thing she wanted to look at now was Jaden's face.Jaden swerved and put the car to rest, which made Matilda's ga
“Look dad, she is my girlfriend and I love her”.Matilda looked at Jaden in bewilderment, her eyes almost popping out of the socket from hearing Jaden's words.She has never been in a romantic relationship before, no one has ever asked her out even in high school or college. So, hearing Jaden say he loved her, gave her butterflies in her stomach even if she knew it was all fake.“You love this woman? Your secretary?”“Yes dad, I do”.Jaden's next action was something no one would have predicted. He went over to where Matilda was, and held her hands.It felt like cold shivers ran down her spine, as she felt his hands envelope hers. He dragged her close to his body, to assure his father that they were a real thing.Jaden put on a fake smile, and nudged Matilda. He spoke through gritted teeth while smiling.“Smile Matilda, smile”.Matilda immediately wore her “this is my best smile” type of smile. She wished there was a mirror around, to see how she looked right now, with the fake smile