Chapter 5

Promote

"WHY are you letting him talk to you like that, huh Klara? I'm really trembling in anger for that man, as well as for you," Brianna shouts in anger. I could understand her anger because I knew she pitied me. We're just two of us working together in our life.

Like me, she was an orphan too. Like me, she also experienced living alone and wandering the road. Like me, she also ran away from those who adopted him because he was also being abused by his stepfather.

Brianna is half a year older than me, we have the same life story. She also worked in one of those exclusive clubs. She also admitted that the job was included as it was also needed. One is where we survive by earning easy money to live, and the second is to educate ourselves.

I bowed my head while I was quietly crying. "I-I always wanted to explain to him, but I just couldn't do it, because he was so angry. He was so angry with me. He had closed his mind for me, especially his heart."

"Did you try? Or maybe you just let him do it because you were guilty of leaving him behind?"

I stopped talking for a while because she was right, I didn't try to explain my side. I let him tell me the wrong things. It was also my fault that he never stopped insulting me.

"Ghad, Klara? You should love yourself, please, Klara. That is your second life, so be careful and take care of it."

"I-I wish I had just gone out of this world. That way I would never have to feel the pain when we face again." My tears continue to flow. "I-I used to fight for him, even though it was so difficult for me to return and to beg for his forgiveness."

Brianna shakes her head while placing her hands under her waist. "So you've lived to correct everything, right? So why are you letting him insult and hurt your feelings now? Why don't you defend yourself with him? Why?"

"I admit, I'm here for him. But I thought I had something to come back to." I looked up at Brianna. "It hurts, Brii when you come to know that the one you love is already engaged to someone else. It's also hurt that he's proud to tell me that he is happy with other women now. My heart does not accept it. I cannot imagine that he has loved another, it is not okay for me. I want to fight my love, but how, Brianna? " then I sob hard because of so much pain.

It was a pity that she came and embraced me. "There is nothing we can do if he is engaged now and if he loves someone else now, Klara. Unless you can force him not to marry his fianceé. Please stop crying, Klara. You always tell me that you are a strong woman, don't you?"

"I wish we had never been reunited. So he wouldn't hurt my heart anymore."

"Stay calm. Don't cry anymore. The important is we already knew the truth about why you left him before, right?" I nodded. "You are innocent. That's all you have to think about. Okay?"

"Thanks and I'm sorry for worrying you, Brii."

"I'm probably really worried about you. Hey, stop crying and please just don't ever drink and take cigarettes again, okay? You know that's bad, especially for your health."

I just nodded again.

"Now you rest Klara, not just your body, but also your heart and mind. Come, and I'll take you to your room."

She accompanied me and laid me down on my bed. Brianna had no idea what had happened to me. I didn't even let her know that Logan uses my body immediately. Because if I had said that, she would have gone from being annoyed and angry with Logan to me.

In bed I was suddenly drowned with drowsiness, it is because of the medicine I was taking to make myself feel better.

____

HEAVY, painful whole body and senses wake up in my spirit. I was also shocked to see the clock on my wall.

I immediately got up on the bed. But I immediately feel the pain at the center of my body, mostly in my feminine part. Ugh! It hurts! I was so reluctant to go into the bathroom.

I look at myself in front of the huge mirror. I silently curse as I caress the bruises everywhere on my body, especially the part of my chest where there is a bruise due to his reckless restraint on me last night. Even my inner and lower core. I caress my lips and jaw, it also has small and light bruises. It was also because of his reckless kisses and hugs at me last night.

Tears start falling from my eyes and cheeks when I remember what happened last night. For the one million, he was to pay, this is what he did in exchange for my body. He really made me his dirty slave and submissive woman last night. He did whatever he wanted from my body just to please him. Even when he was angry he brought it to me by insulting me over and over again.

One million dollars to possess my body. Damn him! The wealth they have. They can afford to buy my whole being.

I hardly bite my lip. Because I feel sorry for myself.

I hope, he'll understand why I have to leave him before. I wish he understood that it wasn't money and enrichment I did when I left him.

I wiped away my tears and began to take a shower to calm myself down.

After adjusting myself I headed to the kitchen. There I notice a sticky note from my best friend, Brianna.

'Eat the food I've prepared for you. Don't go to the office. Just rest and relax all day, Klara.'

I eagerly ate the food she had prepared for me. Then I got out of the house and got in my car.

I'm on my way to the office when someone calls me on my phone. I accept the call when I see the caller ID, it's my boss, Mrs. Evelyn Salazar.

["Klara."]

"G-Good morning ma'am," I replied immediately.

["Where are you, Klara? I need you here badly in my office. We have something to talk and I have something to tell you."]

"I'm sorry ma'am if I can only report this afternoon into the office. Due to my headache. I'm so sorry," I shyly explained.

["It's okay. At least you are coming now."]

"Yes ma'am, I'm on my way now."

["Good. Come to my office right after the lunch break."]

"Noted ma'am."

I sighed as she dropped the call. It was already break time at the office, so I was definitely not late to go to my boss's office.

"Klara?" it was Brianna's voice. "Did you read my sticky note?" I nodded. "Then why are you here now?" Her eyebrows rose.

"Brii, I'm bored of staying at home. Madam also called right away, she's been looking for me since this morning."

"I already let her know that you're sick." She shakes her head. "Really our, Madam is always looking for you."

"It's okay. Maybe it's because of my meeting yesterday."

She scowls. "Didn't you say yesterday that you did not succeed at your meeting?"

"Yes." I avoid looking at her. I didn't even mention that Logan was my meeting client yesterday. "I-I don't know what we're talking about with Madam right now."

"You are really our Madam's favorite employee, that's why she is always looking for you. Oh, yes. Have you eaten your lunch yet?"

I feel relief. "Yup at home. Thanks for the food, sis." Then I smile at her.

"Welcome, are you okay now?" she still looks worried for me. "Is your stomach still aching?"

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm really okay now. Don't worry."

"Okay. So, I have to leave you now, I still have a meeting to attend at the other branch of the company."

"All right, always take care, Brii."

But before she left my table, she faced me again. "Are you going to drink alcohol, and cry again later?" She raises her eyebrows again. "I truly pinched your groin. Remember, you're not allowed to drink alcohol, right?"

"Yuh, I know that. Promise I won't do that again. It's only last night. Promise."

She nods. "You wait for me here okay? Let's just go home together later after I meet with my client. 'It's only 4 PM since it's over."

"Okay."

When I'm all alone, I immediately set myself up just before 1 PM.

10 minutes before 1 PM I immediately moved to go to our boss's office on the 10th floor of the building.

"Lisa, is Ma'am already there?" I asked Madam's secretary.

"Oh, Klara. Yeah, madam is already inside, and she's expecting you now."

"Ah, alright. Thank you."

I knock three times before I went into his office. The smiling face and kind middle-aged woman immediately greeted me as I entered.

"Good afternoon, ma'am."

She stands up from her swivel chair when I'm in front of her table. "Congratulations, Klara." She extends her hand to me. Surprisingly I accepted it. "You may take your seat, first." I nodded and joined her as she sat.

"Ma'am, what are we going to talk about now?"

She smiles. "I know you still have no idea why I need to talk to you right now. Well, Klara, it is about your meeting with Mr. Falcon yesterday."

I frown. "H-Huh? Ma'am, I'm sorry if, Mr. Falcon wasn't impressed with my presentation yesterday." That is the second time I have told her, yesterday and today. So I wonder why she congratulates me now.

"Klara, the Falcon Company's made a call this morning. Mr. Falcon was already changed his mind and now he's already accepting the deal. He just figured it out that our company has a good offer, he also said, he reviewed the documents and your good strategies."

Oh, why? Shit! Why did he even recover? He's a liar. He was just lying because I didn't really have any documents left yesterday. Maybe he's guilty. Guilty of what he did to me. He really doesn't want free service, huh? Is this his paycheck because I don't want to accept her money?

Damn it! Damn him! Until this moment, is he still insulting me? Damn you, Logan!

"Klara, are you with me?"

"O-Oh, yes ma'am. D-Do they really include us in their exclusive international housing project?"

"Yes, dear..." She smiled at me. "Now, as I promise you in return. I will now promote you as our top agent and architect of this company, and it's valid for today."

"H-Huh?" My mouth arched.

"I promise you that position, Klara. Wow, I'm so proud of you. You're really great and smart, almost all of those big companies, you are the only one who has managed to close the deals effortlessly. You really impressed me, dear. Especially with this last deal. Falcon Company is my company's top target to have a deal with us. I am so lucky to have you here in my company, Klara. Again, congratulations. Welcome to the Architecture office as our junior architect consultant."

Ohmygod! Ohmygod! I can not believe it. It's also my greatest desire to be on at least one of that teams. Then now, I'm already one of the top agents. Oh good God, thank you for these blessings.

I accepted my boss's handshake. "Oh ma'am, thank you. I'm so glad about this promotion, and opportunity. I can't really believe it. I thought, I failed."

"You should celebrate it then, Klara. Your teammates are waiting for you in your office. I'm sorry to spoil their plan, but they have done something to welcome you now to their team. And they are also excited and happy to work with you on the team."

I was shocked at what she said. But then I manage to smile again. "Ma'am, do you think I can be a junior consultant in the Architecture Office?" I asked in a hushed tone.

"Of course, you will Klara, you can do it. You have your superior there, you can ask her anytime. Mrs. Fortuno is kind. I think you two are compatible when it comes to your taste and the whole design."

"Thank you, ma'am. All right, I'll do my very best for my new job here at your company."

"Yeah, that's right. Impress me more, Klara." Then she smiles. "Anyway. Mr. Falcon would like to have a meeting with us again. This time I come with you for both of us to sign his contract with our company. It's next week I think."

Why am I still need to be there? Shit! I don't want to face him again.

"M-Ma'am, can you please replace Liza at the said meeting? Because -"

"Hm? No, you should be there. That's what, Mr. Falcon asked for, too." There was a smile on his lips while saying it. "It seems you did capture the eyes of Mr. Falcon, Klara. After all, you have your innocent and lovely looks of course. Well, if you will just allow me, I will have to introduce you to my only son." I smile. "I heard that Mr. Falcon is going to marry the daughter of their family business partner. It's very fortunate."

Suddenly my smile disappeared on my lips, and I suddenly stopped looking at her.

Yeah, I already know that news.

I swallowed as I feel the pain in my heart. Although I may not agree with that idea, I can't do anything more. He had already forgotten about me and traded with others. Well, that was four years in total, what would I expect, right? I hope my heart just doesn't stop and thinks that he still loves me and that he can wait for me to come back. I must have forgotten him when I left and I would have just given up on living. If that does happen, I didn't feel any pain in my chest now.