The Billionaire's Poor Lover

Change of life .

~Arabella~

The moment I stepped out of his office, the air around me felt heavier, like it had thickened with tension.

Damn it! That guy was the most wicked fella I had ever come across . He has a way he plays with you psychologically and wants you to remain in that fire as long as he wants.

My hands trembled slightly , but noy from weakness . I couldn't stop thinking , couldn't stop calculating every possible consequence of what had happened .

I goy out of the office almost banging the door behind him. The furiosity with in me was so much than what my whole body can even take in at the same right now.

So he thought because he is the boss and so he could do anything that he wanted.

The memory of him standing there , perfectly poised, his hands resting casually on his desk , his eyes locking into mine with unnerving precision , replayed in my mind over and over.

His words still ecohed louder than any sound in that office, “One night in my bed.”

He had said so casually as if discussing a minor transaction rather than proposing something that should have made me recoil in shock.

I had frozen , my heart threatening to burst through my ribcage. My mind a whirlwind of disbelief , anger and a strange as well an an involuntary curiosity.

The audacity of him , the confidence and the power were out of this world. I swear it was all new.

I had barely managed to walk out of that office without tripping over my own feet. The hallway stretched endlessly before me, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging in my mind.

Ham's voice cut through my thoughts like a lifeline.

“ Are you okay?”he asked , his grip firm on my wrist and his eyes wide with concern..

“ Ehmm ..” I muttered panicking since I didn't even hear what he said exactly.

“ Bella, are you really okay ?” he asked again the same question this time with much more concern in his voice than the first time.

His tone attracted a few of the fellow workers looking in our direction but they soon turned back to their respective works.

How could I explain what had just happened? How could I articulate the suffocating mix of fear, anger and indignation that Mr Jed had ignited in me ? Even I wasn't sure I fully understood it yet.

“ Ham, what are you doing? You are risking your job.” I go on to plead with him but he doesn't listen to any of my pleas.

“ What did he do to you ?” Ham asks first thing we get to the corner away from everyone else.

Ham's brow furrowed , his gaze searching mine for a flicker of honesty he could behold onto. He had always been my anchor, my protector . The one person whose judgement I trusted without question.

And now all I wanted was to shield him from this mess. I could not let him know the full extent of Jed's proposition...at least not yet.

Instead of saying or doing anything all I did was to just look on my mouth widely open to an extent that I could hardly close it. Ham's behavior was nothing like what I expected .

He tugged me gently but firmly bto a quieter corner of the construction site, away from prying eyes of the workers band supervisors alike.

After some time , I suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter at the amusement of Ham who is all serious beside me .

“ Someone who doesn't know us would think you are my boyfriend .” I said trying to control the laughter that was still trying to take over me.

“ Bella am serious. Tell me everything that he did to you. I swear I will not hesitate but go and attack him immediately.”

“ Come on, Ham. You are not that kind of person. " I said sincerely to him.

“ And don't forget who you are talking about , our boss.” I reminded him.

He gets all uneasy as he passes his hands through my hair over and over.

“ That is the problem...they think they will use their positions to harass the workers.” Ham got even more mad.

For sure Ham gets even more confusing with every second that passes by .

“ He just doesn't have the place but he owns the whole place.” I made it more clear to him since it seemed like he had not really understood what this is really about.

Ham's eyes darkened with a mixture of worry and frustration. He leaned closer b, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face , his voice low and urgent.

“Bella, tell me what he did . What did he say ? Pleas don't leave anything out.”

I shook my head. He needed to know just a little bit of it.

“It is a job , he has offered me another job back in the city.” I decided to disclose what I would to Ham. Of Course I didn't tell him what exactly it was about.I just couldn't imagine how he would react once he found out every detail.

Ham's Jaw tightened , his fists clenching in visible tension. I could see the storm brewing behind his eyes

“ WHAT!!” Ham yelled.

“ I know ,” I said softly, forcing myself to remain calm

“It is only a job, nothing more .” I tried to act calm so that I didn't want to upset him even more.

“ What good intentions would he have after what happened back on the street , Bella don't let that jerk fool you at all. You know that is the nature of those rich boys.”

“ But this is a job , plus I am at least assured I will get a bit more money which will help me pursue a course which has always been my life time ambition all this time." I further went on to convince my best friend.

“ Bella, don't forget the story we have about your father and how he mercilessly died at the hands of those rich jerks.”

How I wish he knew I am doing it for his own sake. It was the only option that I had left. Mr Kigongo said I either go work with him or Ham loses his job.

There was no way I would let my bestie lose his job. Everything that happened that time was my doing and so it is me who is supposed to pay for my damage.

“ Ham, don't believe in those bedtime stories , we didn't even know what existed at all. I don't know any about my father and you know that.”

“ Yes, yes , you are right. But I think you also know why I am doing all these . I don't want you to go . You know I treat you ..no , you are actually my sister.” he said looking emotionally down.

Anyway it is better for him to think things are like that other than him knowing the real truth.

We got back to work as I knew today was my last day at work and then tomorrow I will be moving to another part of the country, that is to the city. Sincerely that was the part that I have not been all my life. It is not that I didn't want to go there but the thing is I never got a chance to

All my life I have been drawn to this slum part of the country and all the problems that are associated with it.

However, the way I was heading to the city was not the way I expected. For sure I have no idea what Mr Kigongo has in stock for me but i am more than sure it is not a bed of roses. A night in his bed could let him take me to the city.

“ Mom, father... guide and protect me wherever you are. I need you .”

The whole night , I hardly had a single bit of sleep .It was not easy for me to do it.

I have so much looming into my head. I don't even know where to begin from in the first place.

Tomorrow , I would step into a new life.I had no idea what awaited me , but I was ready. I had to be. For Ham and for me .For the fragile thread of control that I still clung to.

And with that thought , I finally closed my eyes , letting the tension bof the day seep slowly from my body and then holding onto one of the undeniable truth...I would survive and ensure that Ham's world remained intact no matter the price.