Rita's POV
I just arrived at the company and I have just spoken with Finn over the phone, we agreed to meet in his office and sort things out if possible.
On my way to the passage that led to his office, I met Charles who was just coming out of the elevator, heading towards the office too.
He sighted me before I could turned to leave or hide from him.
“Rita” He called my name and moved closer to me.
“Good morning Charles” I avoided eye contact with him.
“Charles is my second name but it's fine if you no longer wanna call me by the name Zane”
I didn't say anything.
“I texted you last night but you wouldn't reply” He said.
“I… I don't know, I was so tired last night I guess” I responded, obviously not interested in having this conversation with him.
I placed a palm on my forehead like I was having an headache just to give a hint that he stresses me out.
“Are..are you okay?” He empathetically asked softly, he placed his hands on my shoulders and I took his hands off me.
“I'm fine. Listen Zane..uhm.. I.. I ..mean Charles, I've accepted the fact that we used to have something in the past but it's all past” I said.
“What do you mean?”
“We no longer have anything together “ I explained.
“We never broke up…not even officially” He retorted.
I couldn't believe he said that after everything he did.
“I haven't spoken to you in weeks, and I moved on, I have a fiancé and you know it! It's over between us Zane! Get it straight!” I said.
“Uhm.. but…” He wanted to say something.
I interrupted by giving him a stop right there hand signal and walked away from him. Not towards Finn’s Office since that's where he was also headed.
***
Finn’s POV
I was expecting Rita, so once I received a knock on my door, i said. “You don't have to knock baby”
I opened the door for her..but saw him instead.
“I don't have to knock? Wow that's new. Thanks for opening the door for me” Charles grinned.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“What am I doing here? I work here have you forgotten?” He said, moving towards his desk.
“Oh, that's right” I went to my table and took the sack letter I already asked the secretary to type for me.
“Maybe I was just too eager to give you this letter”
I returned to his desk and threw it on face.
“You are F.I.R.E.D!” I said.
“What?? Why?” He exclaimed.
“Why are being respectful? The other day, you don't care about this job or company and you didn't do anything for me yet I pay you every single time! Well, henceforth your services is no longer needed here” I said.
Charles looked at me and laughed hysterically as if I had just cracked a joke.
“There goes your true character” I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check.
“You are firing me because of my relationship with Rita” He spoke confidently.
“You have no relationship with Rita” I fired back and he laughed again.
“Didn't I tell you that Rita and I have come a long way and she’ll come back to me once she finds out who I am?” Charles said.
I tightened my fist ready to punch him on face if he tries nonsense with me.
“Sit, let me give you the full gist. Rita and I were lovers, I mean we are lovers. We have had an amazing time together even though we have never physically met. It's high time our love story began to blossom since I'm back into her life”
“Shut up your dirty mouth! Shut up you motherfucking liar!” I shouted.
“You think I'm lying? Go ask Rita, she’ll confirm it to you”
“You are not Zane! You never dated Rita. Why the heck are you impersonating me!” I said.
“What?” He exclaimed.
“Why are you impersonating Zane? Oh! the only way you could think of to win a girl’s heart is to lie that you’re her ex online lover?” I confronted him.
“Are you Zane?” He asked me instead.
“Don't ask me stupid questions, get the hell out of my office! “ I screamed but Charles didn't move an inch, his smug grin unfaltering, he leaned back in his seat, feigning nonchalance.
“I said get out my office!” I stomped my feet against the ground.
He reluctantly stood up and took his things, shot his gaze at me before leaving the office.
I heaved a sigh of relief and shoved out my phone because it beeped. It was a text from Rita.
It read thus; “Let's meet at the conference room”
I took my keys and left the office immediately to the conference room.
*
“I met Charles on my way to your place, so I couldn't come” Rita said.
“I fired him already. We have nothing to be scared of now” I said.
She exhaled in relief.
“How are you?” I asked.
“I was doing fine until the whole Charles Zane thing came up. He even chatted me up last night” She told me.
“Charles chatted with you!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, on Kikachat with his Zane account to prove to me that he is the one”
“Oh My God, My God. This is serious” My heart pound a frantic rhythm in my chest.
“Not anymore, I mean you’ve fired him and I also said it clear right to his face that we are engaged and I can never continue a relationship with him” Rita said giving my hand a light squeeze.
“I'm glad you made it clear to him”
She put on her most beautiful smile; ”We have succeeded in letting go of your past which is Vanessa and my past which is Zane. It calls for celebration don't you think so?” She suggested, sliding her hands on my chest.
“Why don't you come live with me forever?” I asked her.
“Oh, there we go again” She rolled her eyes.
“Pretty please “ I pleaded by fanning a kiss on her lips.
“Uhm, I'll think about it”
“Else I'll pick you up by surprise my wife” I teased.
She kissed me back; “ I should return to the office now. See you whenever you come pick me up by surprise I guess” She chuckled, I finally let her go haven had enough warmth and touch from her skin.
***
I returned to my office, feeling excited and a bit relieved that I've settled and worked things out.
But I received the greatest shock when I opened the door to my office.
It was Charles
He was on my seat, operating his laptop.
“Charles, are you in your right senses at all? What..what are you doing here? How dare you walk back in here?”
Each spoken word like a spark threatening to ignite a raging inferno.
I cannot believe this guy has no respect for me.
“So are you Zane?” He asked me instead and didn't care that I was fussing.
“Securities!!!” I yelled and walked towards the alarm button to call their attention.
“Oh..Ho … hold on right there. There's something I'll like you to see” He turned his laptop screen for me to see.
On the screen was a picture of Rita putting on a fish net lingerie.
“Uhh…you probably didn't see that clearly. Here’s another one “ He swiped the screen to a picture of Rita stack naked.
“Take a look at it very well, is she the woman you wanna marry?” Charles asked me.
I felt my throat constrict and my temper seemed to slow down even when the tension was still very heavy.
Charles stared back at me with a sickening grin of satisfaction.
*****
To Be Continued