“Hey, darling why the hell is going on, why are you crying” Natasha worries for me as usual but this time I'm crying to her worst enemy “Freddy…” I cry out pulling out my words.
“What the hell has that bastard done again?” she frowns. “He’s going back to Boston. But he said he will come back for me. But I don't know why, I feel like he's laying. I mean, I caught him packing out like a thief like he wasn't planning to inform me and that's what pains me more” I burst into tears again and again with tears helplessly rushing down my cheeks.
“Oh, my baby, it's fine… Men are scum, they come like angels and run away like thieves… You will get over it. I'm so sorry, but he's such a dumb ass for leaving you because he has no idea of what he’s forfeiting” she says while cuddling my hair. I'm leaning and crying on her shoulder and soaking her with my tears.
“See you later…” without letting any sound Graham, murmurs to Natasha. She blinks his eyes at him as he sneaks out of the house without me noticing. I came to her house unannounced without even giving her time to offer a word. I hear the sound of the door locking. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were with somebody. I'm so sorry" I cry.
"No, you ain't, it's fine. After all, you didn't plan to have a heartbreak this evening. Shit does happen" she says. "Indeed. Maybe I'm just overreacting and he will come back for me?" I seat up, facing her with my face filled with hope.
“Sheila, I have no idea about what he's thinking. But I think you should prepare yourself for the worse, such men never come back" she says and before she can end her phrase, I'm already bursting into tears. "But who knows, perhaps he will come back for you," she says just to console me and I know it.
She consoles me as I cry nearly the whole night before falling asleep without realising it.
Then the next day morning…
“Sheila, it's barely 6 am what are you doing up?” Nat wonders as she finds me in the kitchen making breakfast. I couldn't sleep. I had to do something to keep myself busy.
“I have to go to work. Freddy isn't around to find excuses for me and you know how much, Olivia hates me for no good reason. I'm sure now that he's not around, she will make my life a living hell at work” I explain with a smile like nothing happened last night. “Sheila, you don't have to do that” Nat says.
“Have to do what?” I look at her with slight confusion “You mean going back to work?” I glare at her and say “You know I have to. Since I've been working there, I have been able to take care of my mum better!” I say. “Sheila, stop acting. It sucks! You know what I mean. You ain't okay and it's normal, you need time to get over the pain. I mean, it can't just disappear overnight,” she yells at me.
“Oh, I see!” I move back to the cooker saying “You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine. All the tears and sorrow of yesterday are enough. Where are come from you can't miss a day of work because your boyfriend broke your heart? Haha, nobody gives a shit about that!” I laugh but she doesn't find it funny. “Then that's sad because I gave a shit about you,” she says seriously.
“You have don't to, after all, it's my fault. I knew what I was getting into it when I sign those papers. I won't lament over it like I was forced into it. Nat, don't bother about me, I'm fine. I want to move on” I move to her, hold her hands and lead her.
“Just sit down and have breakfast with me. I made some Cameroonian scramble eggs with much onions, tomato, etc… in my country, some even call it egg source, can you imagine?” I laugh alone “You will like it, it has many, onions, tomatoes, peppers, etc… You first fry all that before pouring the eggs that come last…” speak nonstop. And all that sounds like bullshit to Nat. Meanwhile, for me, I think I'm teaching her something new.
I quickly make it and then dish it out to her. She takes a few bits “I like it, it's nice but too oily!” she says. “I know right, even Freddy used to complain about that and said no wonder I had all these thick curves” words honestly escaped my mind.
“Awww, the same Freddy who ran away? He’s a bastard” Nat says ruthlessly. “You don't have to do that, Nat. I promise you I'm fine!” I insist. “I hope so too!” she isn't convinced and she doesn't hide it at all and that's kind of pissing me off. She makes me feel like a liar.
“I have to leave for work. I don't want to run late” I give her a perk on the jaw before rushing to the living to grip my bag and rushed out. She rushes out of her seat and follows me shouting “I'm coming with you” she rules. “Hahaha… You can't. I'm going to work and you don't work there. Nat doesn't be silly because you are being to piss me off” I frown.
“Hmmm, right now, you can hate me, yell at me but I'm sorry I don't trust you. I will drop you there, period,” she rules. “I'm not a baby Nat, and you won't be always there to protect me” I pout. “Whatever, I insist. What matters is that I'm here for now. Wait for me here” she rushes to her room to change.
Then she comes back in a long white gown. “You suck do you know that?” I whimper as we move out of the car. “Whatever!” she says as we get in and she drives off…
We finally reach my workplace and she wants to follow me into the building. “Nat this is too much, you have to leave,” I had to stop her by all means. “I just want to be sure that you are well settled in your office before I leave. I don't want any unpleasant surprise,” she explains.
“Why will they be any? Freddy is gone, nothing else can surprise me here. Just leave, everything will be fine until he comes back” I say but she isn't convinced. She insists until we move in and go right to my desk. “I hope you are happy now?” I glare at her wearily then I add “I'm comfortably seated on my desk so you can leave” I point at the door.
“Fine, I'm gone. But remember, I'm not the enemy here” with this said she leaves immediately. “I know!” I murmur as I watch her leave.
“For a poor and miserable African girl who has barely made a year in the USA, I must admit that you are a very smart, — a good gold digger. You are excelling, a young girl. Presently you own a house which is in your name as you insisted, you are friends with Natasha, the daughter of a very big businessman in the country. And let me tell you something else you didn't know, Freddy was about to buy you a car but I had to stop that for you ruin that stupid fool!” she says and I look at her with slight confusion.
“Don't look at me like that, I always do my assignment. I have the means to get all the information I want whenever I want” she brags. “But once more, Wow! You are good!” she claps her hands with admiration and it's so embarrassing and annoying because all that she says has nothing to do with me.
“You are very wrong, you don't know me” I frown yet I speak politely
“I know you and I know you are from the ‘Bamiléké’ tribe of Cameroon and people from your tribe are we-known to be money lovers... And girls turn to gold diggers to quench their uncontrollable thirst for money. If not tell me why Freddy has spent so much more on you than he usually does with his other whores?… Or perhaps are you using a charm on him” she says.
“I'm flattered, I must say about what you know but trust me if I had used a charm on him, I would have been owning this company and all that he has by now, plus you and you're entire family. But I don't do that and I don't even know how such things work, so, please let me be. I'm tired of your insults!” I say while pulling out a file to start working but she stops me.
“Unfortunately, young lady, not every beautiful story has a happy end. I'm so excited because I have the honour to announce to you that this is the end of your story with Freddy and everything related to him. ‘Game over” she jeers as if it's funny. “You can't do such a thing” I grumble.
“Freddy, left very early this morning for Boston,” she says while looking at her wristwatch. “He will be landing in a few minutes from now. So as the new CEO of this branch, you are fired with immediate effect. Your stay here has come to an expiration. Haha, without Freddy you are of no use to me” she brags
“What?” I widen my eyes in shock “But… Freddy told me that has will be back soon. Please, I need this job” I whimper in shock and beg “Oh, sorry but Freddy isn't coming back any time soon. I advise you to move on with your life. Oh, before I forget I was asked to hand this over to you” she flings the brown envelope on my desk.
“You have just an hour to take all your things out of this building” with this said she leaves. “Why do you hate me this much?” I scream and she turns back.
“Do you really want to know why?” she moves back to me. “Yes!” I seriously nod my head.