You're dead, Nathan.
2282 Words
Valerie
I watched Alina leave her room to get snacks for us while I went into her closet to drop off her designer bag. About to step out, I heard a sharp voice in the room..
“Oh s**t”
I peeped. Nathan….
“Listen up.” His voice was raised while he was on call.
“I've tried everything to get promoted but it won't work. Not after those f****d up slideshows. Without that document, I won't get the promotion.”
“What's he up to?” I whispered..
“It's with Valerie. My ex. The one with the amnesia shit.”
I froze.
“Yes. A flashdrive I left with her because I thought it wasn't important. Now I need it back and guess what? I don't know what to do or how to reach her. I want to manipulate her but I have no idea.”
I smiled. This useless d**k.
“Thanks man. I'll try to get it. I don't know how but I need to do everything I can to be CEO of TonyTowers.”
I noticed he ended the call the moment Alina swung the door open.
“Hey, who were you calling?” I heard her sweet voice.
“Oh baby.” He fell on her bed and groaned. “A board member. Work…. again. I'm trying to fix a report on the company's stock projection.”
Liar.
“Oh. Hope it's going well?”
“Um, well, I wouldn't say that.”
“Don't stress yourself, okay.”
“I won't. But I have to go now….I have to get some documents modified.”
“Okay babe.”
“When was the last time we had s*x? Damn, I've been craving for your sweet pussy.” He chuckled and I held back the urge to throw up.
I knew Alina would be irritated but she had to pretend.
She giggled. “When next you come, you'll have me all to yourself.”
They both kissed before he went to the door. “I love you. See you.” He disappeared.
“Okay. Val. You can come out now.” Alina says after shutting the door.
“That was wild!” I laughed.
“Trust me, I wanted him out already. What did you hear?”
“Alot. Nathan's such a big fat liar. Do you know he was talking to someone random and not any f*****g board member?”
“Tell me about it.”
“Nathan is trying to retrieve a particular flash drive from me…..” I explained everything in single detail and she opened her mouth..
“So what now?”
“I have a better plan. I intend to meet with Nathan.”
“What about—”
“Forget about amnesia. I could just say I remember what happened and I'm still in love with him. I'll tell him I'm traveling and want to return a property of his which is the flash drive.”
“But we can't give him that.”
“Exactly. That's why I need your help. I'll give him a fake one but identical.”
Alina smiled. “ I'm loving this.”
“Do you have a blue and black drive I can see?”
She went to her drawers and I followed her.
“I have all types.”
I picked one, compared it to the picture of Nathan's flash in my phone. It was the same.
“Perfect.”
“Now, we drag a fake document inside. Put a cartoon or meme s**t. Rename it core market expansion report. That was exactly what it was.”
Alina did as I said and while it was successful, we cheered.
Sitting crossed legs on the bed with her, I dialed Nathan's number and it rang.
We both giggled and Nathan's voice came through.
“Who's this?”
I took a deep breath, my voice softening. “Hey, it's Valerie. This is Nathan right?”
A pause. “Huh?”
“This is important. Please don't hang up.”
“What do you have to say?”
“I'm over my amnesia sickness and I remember—”
“Shit.” I heard him curse.
“Wait. Wait. Don't hang up. It's important. I have something of yours I'd like to give you.”
“And what is that? I'm not interested, okay?”
“I'm leaving town soon and I saw your flashdrive you left with me. The core market expansion report but since you're not interested……I'll just stop.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. Did you just say flash? Please don't hang up, Valerie.”
Alina and I stifled a laugh, hands over mouth. It was working.
“What do you say we meet tonight so I can give it back.”
“Yes….p-please…I…where do we meet?”
“The restaurant at Crestview. It's on me. Tonight by 7.”
“I'm getting dressed.”
“Good.”
I hung up.
“Ahhh!” Alina jumped on the bed, laughing hilariously and I did the same too.
“Well, I have another plan.” Alina adds.
Two hours later, I walked into the restaurant and chose a table for three even though it's me and him ... .for now.
“Will your guests begin joining you soon?” The waiter asked.
“Yes.” I smiled and ordered a drink.
I kept on waiting as minutes passed. I was confident but my stomach churned. Meeting eye to eye with the person that used me.
As I thought, I sighted Nathan walking in and I took a deep breath.
Asshole!
“Hey.” He smiled, staring at me like I was a random person to him. How did I manage to date an i***t like this before?
“Hi. How are you….dear ex?”
“You look amazing.” He dodged my question. “You told me you're no longer sick.”
“Yes. I regained my memory but not all of it. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that I wanted to give you a flashdrive.”
“Ma'am, your order.” The waiter dropped the dish and left.
“My favorite. Creamy shrimp Alfredo pasta.” He chuckled.
“Yeah. I never forgot.”
“So, how has life been?”
“Where's the flashdrive?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes and brought it out from my purse. His eyes turned hungry.
“Thank you so much Valerie.”
I wonder if he has no shame remembering how he treated me at the hospital.
“So, do you have a girlfriend?” I asked.
“No. I'm just single. Trying my best to work hard since we broke up.” He turned away.
“Why did we break up?” I asked, wanting to hear his response.
“I don't wanna tell you the reason why. You did something. I'm sure you don't remember because earlier you said you didn't remember all of your memories. So it's better left unsaid.”
“Ohh. Would you like us to continue seeing?”
“I don't know if that's a good idea.”
“Oh. Too bad, I…I actually got in touch with the owner of TonyTowers.” I started a lie. “ And I know this may sound crazy but he's on the verge of making me CEO.”
“What?”
“Yes.”
“How? How do you know him?”
“Connection though. His daughter would be traveling to another country to run his other smaller business. That's what he told me.”
“Hold on.” He laughs. “Are you joking? Since when did you know this man ... .how could you be CEO?”
“Remember I'm a business woman too? I know how to handle one. I can make you CEO instead but you don't want us seeing each other again.” I said with a sad face.
“No. No. Wait. When I said we should see, I didn't mean it. I meant, of course we should meet up.”
“Why didn't you say so before?”
I loved how he was falling for the lies.
“Because I thought…. Valerie I love you. Let's get back together please. I'm single, I haven't met anyone since we broke up.”
“Yes. Let's get back together. I really miss you.” I almost forced a tear.
“Thank you.” He said bitterly. Damn, he was such a good actor.
“I promise I'll be the best thing to ever happen to you again and you'll become CEO I promise with my help.”
“I love you my girl.” He kissed my knuckles.
“I…..love you too.” I said with hatred.
We continued talking and laughing. “Why did you…. arrange a table for three when we're just two?”
I smiled, whispered and leaned closer. “ Because we have another special guest.”
Just then, Alina walked in and sat on the empty chair.
“A–Lina?” He started stammering.
“What are you doing here Nathan? Who is this lady?” Alina asked, looking at me in disgust. I tried not to laugh and also pretend to be confused.
“Babe. Who's this?” I asked.
“Babe? What did you mean babe. This is my boyfriend.” Alina protested.
“Say something.” I looked at Nathan who froze like he saw a ghost. His face drained
“I…. she's…. she's just.” He starts choking. It was working. The nut he was allergic to. Alina and I had sprinkled inside the pasta.
“You okay Nathan?” I laughed.
I leaned in. “Funny thing about memory loss, Nathan. It clears your heart ... .but not what you used to know, like your allergy.”
Alina acts surprised. “Oh my what's happening to you?”
His face turned red and he started jerking. Tries to get a glass of water but I pushed it away. He stumbles and falls to the floor.
“Help….. please.” Eyes bloodred and chest rose in ragged gasps.
“You fool!” I stood up and stared at him in disgust.
“S–s–ave….me…. p-please.” He managed to talk barely a whisper and held the hem of my dress.
“Beg me like you mean it. You fool!” tears slipped from my eyes and I tore him a hot slap and he fell back.
“You manipulator!” I used my heels to kick him mercilessly on his stomach.
“Valerie. It's time…. “ Alina stopped me. “The doctor is waiting.”
She signaled the waiter and two of them had lifted Nathan from the floor. It was all plan work.
We took him to the hospital and this is all Alina's doing. Thanks to her influence, we paid a doctor to act for us.
At the hospital, I peeked through the window as Nathan was finally up. Breath shaky.
“Oh baby. You're up!” Alina rushed to the bed and cupped his face.
“What happened to me….what did you do to me? Why didn't you save me?” He wailed.
Alina's mouth gaped and she started crying. Damn. My actress.
“What are you talking about? I rushed you here to the hospital while you started hallucinating. You scared the s**t out of me!” She sobbed.
“H–hospital?” He looked around.
“After what she did…. Valerie.”
“Who's Valerie? Why do you keep mentioning her name? Are you seeing someone?” Alina starts her gaslighting techniques.
“But, I…we….you were…. didn't you…” he panicked.
“Babe. Please. We were home, about to have an intimate time and suddenly, you went crazy. I told you several times to stop doing drugs. You don't listen.”
She stood up and paced the room. “Why is it so hard for you? Why are you making this hard for us.”
I smiled.
“But you were there…I saw you and….my flash.” He searched his chest. “Where's my suit?”
“What suit?” She made him feel stupid.
He stared at his clothes. Plain hospital gown.
“Oh my gosh. Baby. Look at me. Just look at me.” She cupped his face again. “ You started acting delusional. Like you're seeing things. You passed out and I brought you here.”
“But—”
“Just like a psychopath. I was scared. Too scared.”
“But I saw her….she—”
“Saw who?” She glared and he kept shut. Anything he says would guarantee he's a cheat.
The fake doctor walked in with a clipboard in hand.
“Mr Hart, you're possibly suffering from mental illness, triggered from stress and harmful drugs.”
“No! No!”
Alina holds him tight.
“If you continue this way, we'll have to send you to the psychiatric department.”
“No, no, no. I'm not crazy!” He holds unto the bedrails. “Valerie what did you do to me?!”
I smiled coldly behind the glass. Alina glanced back and smiled back, giving me a nod.
“Calm down!” Alina yelled back..
“I'm not crazy! Where's my flash? My phone, my suit. Dinner and that witch!”
I hit the window on purpose and made him see me but then I walked away, smirking.
His wails filled the hallway but I didn't look back.
Alina texted me. “What next?”
“I'm destroying the real flashdrive. He won't take over TonyTowers.”
- Writer
