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 correction, you are not a shareholder in this company. It is your father.”
Jaden retorted back, with his finger held up towards Tiana.
Tiana's eyes moved from Jaden to Matilda, and then back to Jaden.
Matilda stood transfixed like a robot, all through their conversation. Bids of sweat had started to gather on her forehead, due to the anxiety that was building up.
“Can we at least talk, please?”
Tiana asked in a pleading voice, pouting her lips, which also sounded kind of mocking.
“Matilda, you can leave”. Jaden ordered Matilda out, she walked to the table and took the contract.
Matilda held the paperwork close to her chest, bowed to Jaden and proceeded to leave Tiana's voice stopped her.
“Hey, you. Get a drink or coffee. Whatever”.
Matilda turned back to look at her, she was dumbfounded by how rude Tiana sounded. She parted her lips to speak, but before she could, Jaden interrupted.
“Hey listen, you have no right to order my secretary around or anyone here at that. Matilda, leave”.
Jaden spoke with a voice like thunder, it was full of anger. His jaw began to twitch as he focused his gaze on Tiana.
Matilda left the office, and deep down somewhere she grew excited.
“Jaden stood up for me, it feels like I'm dreaming”.
She smiled sheepishly to herself, giggling as she headed to her desk.
**************
“You know you didn't have to disgrace me like that in front of that woman, a mere secretary”
Tiana raised her eyebrows as she spoke.
Jaden scoffed “I can speak to you however I want to”.
Tiana rose from her seat, and began to walk towards where Jaden was seated. She walked like she was counting her steps.
She bent down and began to whisper into Jaden's ears, in a seductive manner.
“We should not argue or fight, we should learn to tolerate each other as we are getting married soon”.
Tiana gave Jaden a kiss on his cheek, but he jerked away from her.
“You better stop this nonsense, I will never get married to you. I stood you up the other day, is that not enough clue for you?”
Jaden's voice growled like that of a beast, filled with resentment. His face started to turn red.
Not giving up, Tiana slowly walked towards Jaden again, this time trying to unzip her dress as she walked.
Jaden grew furious, realising what she was trying to do. He made a U turn, picked up Tiana's bag and yelled at her.
“Leave my office, now! And never come back”.
Jaden spoke through gritted teeth, pointing towards his door, urging her to leave.
Embarrassed, Tiana zipped up her dress. Her face was flushed with anger, as walked towards the door and picked up her back.
“You will regret this Brooks, and I'm definitely coming back. My father's a shareholder here after all”.
She snapped at him, and left his office. Tiana slammed his door so hard that a book fell from his shelf.
“Good riddance”
Jaden muttered.
***************
“Hello my little pumpkin. How are you doing?”
“Hi Matilda, I'm doing fine. You are calling me during school hours, is everything alright?”
Matilda chuckled.
“Of course Niki, I was just excited and couldn't wait to tell you the good news I have”.
“Please tell me, you're making me anxious. My heart's beginning to race”.
Matilda moved in her seat, her face clouded with worry.
“Niki, are you alright? Check your pressure right now, how fast is it beating? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that to make you…”
“Heyy Matilda, I'm fine, okay? My heart is not racing, I was only kidding”.
Niki laughed heartily at Matilda's action.
“You should not joke like that, Niki. Anyways, the news is that…I already have a means of getting the money for your surgery”.
“Oh my God oh my God, Matilda! Are you serious?”
Niki's voice grew excited, he yelled into the phone that Matilda had to move a little away from it.
“Yes my little pumpkin, I'm as happy as you are too”.
“Did you have to work overtime again to get the money?”
The excutm in Niki's voice was gone.
“No no my little pumpkin, don't be sad. I didn't work overtime to get it, I'll tell you all about it later”.
“Okay Matilda. If Dad and mum were still alive, you wouldn't have to work this hard. You always have a hard time because of me”.
Matilda was almost moved to tears by Niki's words, his voice began to break as he spoke too.
“No Niki, do not speak like that, it is not true. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me”.
Matilda's focus moved from her conversation with Niki on the phone, to the figure that just approached her.
“Niki, I have to go now, I'll see you later. Love you”. She hung up the phone and her gaze was still fixed on Tiana.
“You're Matilda right?”
Tiana asked, looking at Matilda with disgust in her eyes.
“Yes, I am”. Matilda tried not to sound scared.
“I was ridiculed in front of you, because of you this good-for-nothing”.
Tiana's nostrils flared, waving her hands up and down, sizing Matilda up like she was a thing.
“Excuse me ma, you have no right to…”
“And what the hell would you do about that? Do you know who I am? Huh?!”
Tiana growled, her lips tightening together. She clenched her fist like she was going to throw a punch at Matilda.
Matilda flinched, she guided her face with her hands to avoid Tiana's punch.
“Now, let me make this clear. Henceforth, whenever I come into this building, I will always make it a living hell for you. Mark my words”.
Tiana kicked her table, flinged books off the table and screamed out of annoyance.
Matilda bent down quickly and started to gather her books. Tiana pulled her hair from the back and threw her to the ground.
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
“Did you just slap me?”Jaden placed his hands on his face, his eyes blazing with fire. His voice sounded like thunder.Matilda's lips trembled, she could not believe what she just did. Her hands were shaking.“Sir..sir I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's just that, you can't just kiss me whenever you want to”.Jaden grabbed her by her arms again, his hands were almost penetrating her skin. Matilda winced in pain, a tear escaped her eyes.“I can kiss you and touch you whenever I like, the contract never said otherwise. Now clean those tears and get into the car. Am I clear?”His voice bellowed in the dark, the light of the night penetrating his eyes which made them glow.Matilda could not speak, she cried silently. Jaden let go off her arm, and went into the car. The tears gathering up in her eyes, made her vision blur. She struggled to get to the car, and as she was walking, she accidentally stepped on her dress and it got torn.She got into the car and Jaden did not bot
“How dare you talk back to me? I ordered you to change my coffee and you're questioning me!”Tiana raised her hands in an attempt to slap Matilda, Jaden came in and held her hands.She tried to free herself, but Jaden's grip did not allow her to.“Look Tiana, this is an official business meeting. You will respect yourself or leave this place, now!”.Jaden's words felt like a spear, piercing through Tiana's heart. She could not believe he would speak to her in such a manner, in the presence of everyone seated.“This is uncalled for, such an act of insolence!”A board member made this remark, and Tiana glanced at the member terribly.“No one asked for your opinion here Mr, just mind your business and shut your…”Jaden immediately took Tiana's hand and dragged her out of the room.“What has come over you Tiana? What disrespectful stunt did you just pull there?”Jaden's eyes looked like it was shooting out lasers, his eyebrows arched and his jaw twitching as he spoke.Tiana rolled her eye