chapter five

Paul was furious,he never expected Stephanie to be this difficult. He was stressing himself too much over her issue,he didn’t know what else to do.

She outrightly rejected all his offers and what really baffled him was the fact that she had nothing and yet acted like she had everything. She was like a stranger!,perhaps he’s never really known her.

After their last conversation where she told him that she’d terminate the pregnancy,he didn’t know what else to do. He doubted the possibility of her actually going through with it,but he knew better than to provoke her any further.

He wanted her to terminate the pregnancy at first,but she insisted on keeping it and now that he also wants her to keep it,she’s threatening to terminate it!. What the hell was wrong with this woman!

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Goddamit! Stephanie!”he yelled out aloud and laid on the sofa,trying to clear his head of the events of the past days. He would figure something out,he always does,he thought and closed his eyes.

Stephanie was about to take a shower when she heard a knock at her door. She sighed because the last thing she wanted was company. She was too tired and wanted to shower and go straight to bed.

Slowly dragging her feet to the door,she opened it to find Ciara.

“I wasn’t expecting you” she stated and Ciara plopped herself onto one of the sofa.

“You look like shit” Ciara exclaimed and Stephanie sighed,closing the door.

“I had a long day” She dully stated and sat down too.

“You told him you’re going to accept his offer right?” Ciara questioned.

“About that…” Stephanie was still talking when she was cut off by Ciara.

“Don’t tell me,you’re still acting stubborn”

“Well its not being stubborn.. and besides i told him i was going to terminate the pregnancy..” Stephanie was saying.

“What!!!!! Did you say?” Ciara cut in,wondering if her friend had totally lost her mind. “You acted like you were going to bring down the heavens in order to protect this child,now you want to terminate it?,what is wrong with you?” She yelled.

“Well,thats better than letting Him take it away from me” Stephanie quipped.

“This child is your ticket to a better life,you can still see it and know that you have a child,he’ll make sure he or she has a better life,far more than you can give it,a life better than the one you lived,that child will never lack anything and it’ll be happy and maybe someday,will inherit Costa incorporation. And you,you’ll move to a better apartment,you’ll pay off all your debt and you could even start your own business if you want!.” Ciara stated,making Stephanie envision such a life.

“The only advice I’ll give to you is to take his offer” she added.

Stephanie thought for a moment, “but it’ll seem like I’m selling out my child”

“A child that is already his?,or do you really want to drag out this issue?,you know how rich he is,when he wants something,he’ll get it,no matter what it takes and by then,you’ll be at loss. I mean you work for this man!,you know what he’s capable of” Ciara said again.

Stephanie promised to think about it and take Paul’s offer.

That night,after Ciara left,Stephanie thought hard about it and was still unconvinced about the idea,she wanted her child to herself.

She was about to sleep when she saw a newspaper article that caught her eyes. She read the contents and an idea came into her mind

Kenneth smith,CEO of Rion groups was in need of an accountant with a degree in accounting and the interview was tomorrow!.

She’d always wanted to be an accountant and she knew she was qualified,she just wasn’t lucky to get any job ,but she’d try this one.

There was a problem however,Kenneth smith was Paul’s best friend and what if Paul already told Kenneth?.

She decided to just take chances and the following morning,she sent a text to Paul that she wouldn’t be available that day.

After taking her shower,she tried putting on the skirt she kept specially for the interview and squirmed when she realized she’d gotten fatter and there was a slight bulge in her stomach. She was about to burst into tears,unable to believe that the pregnancy was already visible and wondering how she’d look like in the coming months.

Sighing,she decided to just go with the outfit as she was running late. She stared at herself in the mirror and cursed out aloud. The blouse was almost squishing her breasts tightly and the skirt hugged her hips too much that she was scared it would give the wrong impressions. She hopped into the four inched heel and grabbed her bag

She quickly grabbed a Nutri bar as she exited her apartment.

“Good morning everyone,I’m Kenneth Smith andI’ll be conducting the interviews myself today” He said.

Stephanie had been here for about 15 minutes and there were about 30 people who came for the interview.

After introducing himself, she watched as his eyes slowly assessed everyone before his gaze landed on her. His brows shot up in surprise before he regained his composure and went to the office.

About twenty people were called before she was called in.

“Stephanie Hathaway” he said as she sat in front of him,while he read her files.

“Yes sir” she replied.

“So why did you decide to work for me?,you already have a job with Costa incorporation” he asked as he wondered why she was here,she was highly skilled,His friend had told him so and when he asked his friend why he hadn’t employed her as an accountant,he had given some excuses.

“I believe that a change of environment will be good for me,especially one like Rion Group” she said.

“Does Paul know?” He asked looking at her intently. Perhaps she realized that she would never be given the job there. Paul had said that she wanted her to work for him,if possible forever.

“No” she said slowly and He realized that indeed she looked different,probably because she wasn’t putting on her glasses and her eyes!,they were so blue and beautiful and she was curvy!.

He cleared his throat and dropped the file, “you may go,we’ll get back to you soon” he said.

Stephanie thanked him and left the office,hoping that she’d get the job.

Paul was signing some documents when Keneth called him,narrating how he found Stephanie among the applicants for the post of an accountant in his company and Paul was dumbfounded.

“What did you do to her?” He asked from the other end of the line.

“Really??” Paul questioned and Kenneth laughed

“I was really surprised” he said.

Paul’s jaw tightened and it was visible that he was angry,he couldn’t believe that Stephanie could go to his best friend. Just who the hell does she think she is?,he thought.

“I’m sending the result tomorrow and she’s qualified…” kenneth started but was cut off by paul.

“You cant employ her,you wont!!!” he stated firmly.

“A threat?,really?!” Kenneth asked,surprised and Paul sighed,running his finger through his hair.

“Look man,i’ll explain everything to you later,just forget that you interviewed her today” paul said.

“Fine!,you owe me an explanation” Kenneth said and disconnected the call.

Paul sighed in frustration. She was proving much more difficult than he thought and he was honestly tired. He was going to see her tonight and will do everything possible to ensure that she agrees to his offer.

That evening,he drove to her house and she was surprised when she saw him in front of her door. This time she was dressed in baggy top and a comfy pant.

She let him in and sat down facing him.

“What is it you’ve come to offer this time?” She asked and he exhaled loudly.

“You keep pushing me Steph!,you keep doing things that infuriate me!” He said,crossing his kegs

“Its all your fault” she said almost in a whisper. She suddenly wasn’t feeling very well. She closed her eyes and sighed.

“You have given me no choice but to do this” he said,bringing out a file from the folder he was holding.

“Sir..” she said almost shakily as she felt her head swirl and her vision blur as the darkness enveloped her.

He saw the blood first and caught her quickly before she fell to the ground. He was suddenly filled with a sense of dread and panic.

She was bleeding too much,he thought and hastily carried her in his arms, bridal style, to his car outside.