THE CEO’s MISFIT

CHAPTER 2

Big Choice.

"Mom, what's going on here? Who are these men, and what are they doing in our home?” Mabel screamed in shock, seeing some hefty men throwing their properties outside the house while her aged mother watched helplessly and wept uncontrollably.

"Mom, I'm talking to you. Can someone please explain what the f**k is going on here?” she fumed and attempted to stop the men.

“Please stop whatever you're doing, or I will be forced to call the cops to have all of you arrested.”

"The cops? Maybe you should ask your mom what happened before thinking of calling the cops. Don't fight a battle you can't win.” One of the men threatened Mabel and sent tiny shivers down her spine.

Narrowing her gaze to her mother, Mabel asked. “Now I demand an explanation for this madness going on here. Why aren't you making efforts to stop them?"

"Are you going to sit here and fold your arms while they make us homeless? Say something, Mom. I'm sick and tired of your silence."

"Stop yelling at me. I'm still your mom. There's nothing I can do about this. The bank ordered the confiscation of the house after your father took a loan of $100k before his death,” her mother finally disclosed and dropped the bombshell that nearly ripped her heart apart.

"Loan? How? When?

Why didn't you tell me about it?”

"Tell you about it. Remind me of your wages as a janitor at the bank where you work? I thought I was going to fix it. I'm so sorry,” her mother wailed, pleading for forgiveness.

"You didn't want to tell me? I still found it anyway. What difference does it make? The damage has been done already. Now we need to find a way to fix it. What are we going to do now? Don't tell me you want to give up without a fight."

"I'm equally confused as you are. I tried pleading for more time, but they ignored me and threatened to hurt me if I got anywhere close,” her mother explained.

"They wouldn't dare touch you. They can't be so…" Mabel paused as a ridiculous thought hit her head.

"You could file for a divorce after five years,” Harry's crazy offer echoed in her head.

"Give me a second, please,” she asked her mom and motioned to one of the hefty men and demanded to speak with the bank representatives.

"What for? Are you ready to repay the loan? We were ordered to ensure all of you evacuate this building, and until that mission is accomplished, we are not leaving this place,” one of them vowed.

"That's the s**t I'm referring to. I'll make the payment this time tomorrow, but not until I speak to the bank's representative first," Mabel insisted.

"If you're making payment tomorrow, there's no point in speaking with the bank's representative. I'll just call them straight up and disclose what you just said,” the man said and made a few calls right in front of Mabel.

After a few minutes of telephone conversation, he told Mabel. “Don't play games with us. We want the money ready this time tomorrow.”

"Thank you so much. You've got nothing to worry about. You can trust me on this,” Mabel assured and rushed to console her mom, who was already panicking.

"Whatever! Let's go, guys. We'll be back tomorrow,” the leader shunned her heartfelt gratitude and departed the premises with his men.

"How about the properties? Are you going to abandon them outside to get drenched by the rain?” Mabel screamed from afar but received no response.

"What just happened? Where on earth are you getting $100k from? We both know how much you're getting paid working as a janitor. What are you up to?” Seeing how Mabel discharged the men, her mother raised the alarm.

She's quite aware of the penny Mabel earned, but how she plans to repay the loan is what her mother doesn't understand.

"You worry too much, Mom. I got this covered already. You've got nothing to worry about. How I intend to raise the money is none of your business. The good news is that we won't be homeless after all." She waved it off and avoided the question.

"Now let's go back inside the house. I'll just take the properties back inside. It might rain soon. I can't allow these properties to stay more minutes outside.” Mabel accompanied her mother back inside and returned the properties inside, pretending everything was fine.

Deep down, she is aware of the risk involved if she doesn't provide the $100k tomorrow as promised.

Still not convinced about their freedom, she called Mabel for a discussion. “Mom, if this is about the loan, I'm not ready to talk about it. I said this a thousand times: I got this covered."

"Why are you bringing up the same topic again? I thought we already discussed this. I'm so tired, Mom. I haven't even rested since I got back from work,” Mabel yawned in fatigue, hoping her mom would stop asking about the loan repayment.

Suddenly, her best friend, Beverly, walks inside, all smiles. “Hi, everyone. Did I miss anything? I could hear Mabel's voice from outside."

"Thank goodness you are here. Perhaps you should ask your friend where she intends to get $100k to repay the loan her late father took after using this house as collateral. The bank was here a few minutes earlier and almost rendered us homeless.

Not until Mabel showed up and promised to foot the bill of $100k. I don't want to believe she has $100k saved up somewhere. Where would she get the money from?” Olivia turned to Beverly, leaving Mabel confused.

"Wait a minute. I don't even understand what's going on here. The bank, the loan, $100k?” Bewildered, Beverly asked for clarification.

"All I meant was..." Olivia attempted to shed more light but was interrupted by Mabel.

"Mom, please. You've said enough!”

"Hey, Beverly. Can we discuss it outside the house?” Faking a smile, Mabel winked at Beverly and dragged her outside.

"But I only just got here. Are you sending me away?” Beverly protested and expressed her disappointment.

"Keep your voice down. I'm ready to disclose everything, if only you'd seal your lips. My mom has been asking questions lately about the $100k. Once I'm done talking, you'd leave immediately. I trust my mom. She won't rest until she gets the answer she seeks,” Mabel whispered and revealed Harry's crazy contract marriage and how she intends to get the $100k.

"This is nothing but a mad joke. Are you planning to accept the marriage contract just because of your mom's debt?” Beverly was shocked.

“Like I have a choice? We can't afford to start roaming the streets homeless. I'm never going to let that happen. And please—don't bother trying to advise me because it's never going to work. I already made a choice, and there's no going back. Tomorrow morning, I'll go meet with Harry and accept the offer. Please, my mother mustn't know about this, hence my reason for telling you personally.”

"Sure! But… never mind. Can I go back inside now?” Beverly vowed to keep Mabel's little secret.

"Go inside and do what exactly? I thought we already agreed. Do you want my mother to revisit the situation? Please, get going.

Whatever you want to discuss can wait until we link up at the workplace tomorrow." Mabel stopped Beverly from coming inside and saw her off.

Arriving at the main road, awaiting a cab home, Beverly couldn't stop thinking about Harry's crazy offer to Mabel.

“All my years I've worked for Lion Microfinance Bank trying to impress Harry, yet he ignored me and opted for Mabel, a common janitor? Who's she compared to me? I'm 100 percent better than her in all ramifications."

"I won't let that happen. There's no way I'm going to sit back and fold my arms while my man gets stolen from me by a leper like Mabel. If I don't get Harry, no one will. He's mine forever!” Beverly secretly plotted evil means to stop the contract marriage from happening. Even if it means plotting for Mabel to be sacked.