Chapter 11 Space
1403 Words
Rose didn't remember how she got home.
One moment she was running out of the restaurant, tears blurring her vision, and the next she was standing inside her apartment with the door shut behind her.
The silence felt suffocating.
Slowly, she slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor.
Her chest hurt.
Not the dramatic kind of hurt people talked about in movies.
This was worse.
It felt personal.
Humiliating.
Painful.
She buried her face in her hands.
How could she have been so blind?
How?
She didn't even know his surname.
The realization hit her like another slap.
Ade.
Even the name wasn't real.
No.
She paused.
Maybe not entirely.
But he had still hidden the truth.
The biggest truth.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
So the mysterious CEO she spent weeks talking about...
The boss she complained about...
The man she joked about...
The man she admired without knowing...
Was Yoseph.
The same Yoseph who sat across from her every day listening to her stories.
The same Yoseph who laughed with her.
The same Yoseph who acted surprised whenever she mentioned Dekan Tech.
The same Yoseph who knew everything.
Every.
Single.
Thing.
Rose felt tears sting her eyes again.
The job.
Akin's help.
The bonus.
The rides.
The coffee incident.
Everything suddenly made sense.
She had thought she earned her place through hard work.
Now she wasn't even sure anymore.
And that hurt most of all.
The fact that she had trusted him completely.
Told him things she never told anyone.
Allowed herself fall for him.
Only to discover he had been keeping a secret from her the entire time.
She curled up on the floor and cried until her head hurt.
Back at the restaurant, Yoseph stared coldly at Felix.
The moment Rose disappeared, the warmth left his eyes.
"What are you doing in Lagos?" he asked.
Felix smirked.
"Is that how you greet family?"
"We are not family."
Felix chuckled.
"Still holding on to that?"
Yoseph's jaw tightened.
"You exposed me on purpose."
Felix shrugged.
"How could I have known she didn't know you were the great Mr. Dekan?"
His mocking tone made Yoseph's fists clench.
"Stop lying."
Felix leaned back.
"You really like her."
Silence.
That silence was enough confirmation.
Felix laughed.
"You've always been lucky, haven't you? Everything comes easy to you."
Yoseph stood.
"Stay away from her."
"Or what?"
The warning in Yoseph's eyes should have been enough.
It wasn't.
Felix kept smiling.
"You know, she looked really hurt."
The punch landed before he finished speaking.
Felix staggered backward.
A second punch followed.
Then another.
People around the restaurant gasped.
Chairs scraped.
Managers rushed forward.
Still, Yoseph didn't stop until Felix's lip split open.
Blood stained his shirt.
Felix laughed despite the pain.
That only made Yoseph angrier.
"You think you're better than me," Felix spat.
Yoseph grabbed his collar.
"No."
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"I know I am."
He released him and walked away.
Monday morning arrived.
For the first time in weeks, Yoseph didn't use the private elevator.
He walked through the main lobby hoping to see Rose.
She wasn't there.
Tuesday came.
Still nothing.
Wednesday.
Nothing.
Thursday.
Nothing.
Friday.
Nothing.
The calls he made went unanswered.
The texts remained unread.
Every passing day tightened the knot in his chest.
He missed her.
More than he thought possible.
Rose stayed away from work the entire week.
She couldn't bring herself to step into the building.
Couldn't bring herself to face him.
Every time her phone lit up with his name, her resolve weakened.
So she stopped looking.
Stopped reading.
Stopped replying.
It was easier.
Or at least she told herself it was.
On Friday afternoon she finally forced herself out of the apartment.
The refrigerator was nearly empty.
She needed groceries.
The supermarket wasn't crowded.
Rose pushed her trolley through the aisles absentmindedly.
Her thoughts drifted toward Yoseph despite herself.
A memory.
A smile.
A laugh.
A forehead kiss.
A lie.
She sighed.
"Miss Rose."
She looked up.
Felix.
For a second she almost didn't recognize him.
The bruises on his face had turned darker.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
Felix touched his cheek.
"Oh."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Nothing serious."
Rose frowned.
"It doesn't look like nothing serious."
Felix hesitated deliberately.
Then sighed.
"Mr. Dekan got upset after you left."
Rose blinked.
"What?"
"He thought I ruined everything."
His smile looked forced.
"It's fine though."
Rose stared.
Yoseph had done this?
Because of her?
A strange emotion flickered inside her.
Before she could think too deeply about it, Felix continued.
"Actually, I wanted to apologize if I caused any misunderstanding."
"You didn't."
"Still."
He smiled.
"Can I get your number? Just in case I need to reach you."
Rose didn't think much of it.
After all, he seemed harmless.
So she gave it to him.
Neither of them noticed how perfectly that fit into Felix's plans.
The following Friday, Rose finally returned to Dekan Tech.
The towering building stood exactly as she remembered.
Yet everything felt different.
She took a deep breath.
Then walked inside.
Straight to Human Resources.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
She was resigning.
The director looked surprised when she entered.
"Miss Olumide."
"Good afternoon, sir."
She placed an envelope on the desk.
"I'd like to submit my resignation."
Behind her, Akin froze.
His eyes widened.
Resignation?
Oh no.
Without wasting a second, he stepped back into the corridor and dialed Yoseph's number.
Inside the CEO's office, Yoseph answered immediately.
"Akin."
"Sir."
Akin swallowed.
"Miss Olumide is resigning."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Then—
"What?"
Back in HR, the director cleared his throat.
"May I ask why you're resigning?"
"I don't think this environment is suitable for me anymore."
Before the director could respond, his phone rang.
After a brief conversation, he looked up.
His expression had changed. "I'm sorry, Miss Olumide."
Rose frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The CEO would like to see you personally before any resignation can be processed."
Rose's eyes narrowed."And if I refuse?"
"There is a one million naira early-termination penalty in your contract."
Rose nearly choked."What?!"
The director offered an apologetic smile.
Rose clenched her fists. That shameless man. Threatening her now?
Fine.
She would see him.
And this time she wasn't holding back.
The door burst open.
Akin winced.
Rose looked furious.
Yoseph stood from behind his desk.
"Rose—"
"Don't Rose me!"
She marched forward.
"You lied to me!"
Yoseph remained silent.
"You sat there every single day and watched me make a fool of myself."
"Rose—"
"You knew everything!"
Tears filled her eyes.
"And you said nothing."
Yoseph's chest tightened.
Seeing her cry hurt more than any insult.
"Rose, listen to me."
"No!"
She threw her handbag at him.
It hit him squarely in the face.
Akin, watching through the glass, nearly fainted.
Only one person in Lagos could throw something at Yoseph Dekan and survive.
Apparently that person was Rose.
"You think this is funny?" she shouted.
"You think people's feelings are a game?"
Yoseph didn't move.
Didn't defend himself.
Didn't get angry.
He simply listened.
Because every tear she shed was his fault.
When she finally stopped speaking, the room fell silent.
Rose's breathing was uneven.
Yoseph spoke softly.
"The only thing I hid was my position."
She looked away.
"I never lied about how I felt."
"That doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything."
Rose refused to meet his eyes.
Because a small part of her knew he was telling the truth.
And that made forgiving him harder.
Not easier.
After a long silence, Yoseph finally sighed.
"I'll give you space."
Rose looked up.
His eyes were tired.
"You don't have to decide anything now."
He slid her resignation letter aside.
"I won't process it."
"Yoseph—"
"You can take all the time you need."
His voice softened.
"When you're ready, we'll talk."
Something in Rose's chest wavered.
But she quickly hardened herself again.
"I don't need special treatment."
A sad smile appeared on Yoseph's lips.
"Maybe."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then added quietly,
"But I'll still wait."
Rose grabbed her bag.
Turned.
And stormed out.
The office door slammed so hard the glass walls trembled.
Akin jumped.
Inside the office, Yoseph stared at the closed door and shook his head helplessly.
Even angry, she still had a talent for banging doors.
And somehow...
He missed her already.
- Writer
